Damn You, Netflix!

Sigh. How can one be a blogger, yet not keep up their own blog? When your brain lacks the strength of a spry 20-something year old - you all of a sudden can only do one job at a time.

Moms are known to multitask 24 hours a day. Yes, even when sleeping, we somehow manage to listen for the pitter - patter of little feet making their way to take over the bed. I can write an article, make AJ a snack, and find Dora on the TV all at once. Really, I can. But can I physically sit down to write in my personal blog? No.

Why? My brain just doesn't seem to ......

What was I talking about???

See what I mean?

Anyways - you get the idea. I once again have to make a point to commit to writing in this blog on a more regular basis. I have become a blogger who writes for everyone - but herself. Not fair.

Let's begin with an update on what's really happening around here and what keeps me so busy:

• I am doing a lot of writing for the WhatToExpect.com blog - Word Of Mom
• I have been taken on as a content writer by a few local web, social media and SEO specialists.
• I just mailed off wedding invitations this morning! That was actually a lot of work to put together.
• I have a toddler. 'Nough said. 
• D figured out how to get American Netflix on the Xbox. Very distracting. 

It's been a struggle to find a good balance with my work and family life. It is really a team effort. But I think it is beginning to fall into place, and I will have this blog back up and running in no time!

I Wonder How It Tasted

I love a pot of homemade soup. I have no real clue how to make it, but I still give it the old college try now and then. I usually end up with a soup worthy of a hospital cafeteria as opposed to Tim Horton's, but it's edible none the less. 

After today, I will be sticking to Campbell's. 

I had some beef cubes leftover from a fabulous fondue party that D "arranged" for my birthday a couple weeks ago. I use "arranged" loosely because he may have invited my partner- in -wine and her hubby over, but I did all the work. That's a post for another day.

Anyways, the plan was to make a stew, or soup type dish with these leftover beef cubes. D found an Un-domestic Goddess proof recipe for a beef vegetable soup which I made yesterday. Smelled yummy, looked yummy, and probably tasted yummy. But I wouldn't know.

I made it late in the day with the idea of having it for lunch the rest of the week. D is not really a soup guy, so it was all for me and AJ. By the time it appeared to be ready, I unplugged the crock pot with full intentions of transferring the contents to a smaller pot to then put into the fridge - after I put AJ to bed. I wanted it to cool down a little bit first. We unfortunately had one of those bad "I don't wanna go to bed" nights that ended up in me carrying AJ back up to bed about 6 times. When she finally decided to stay in bed - I was ready for mine.

So yeah, I woke up this morning to find my soup still in the crock pot sitting on the counter - cold.

I plain old forgot about it.

Here is proof that it existed:

Forgive Me Chef Ramsay For I Have Sinned

It's no secret that I am not a great cook. I certainly do not deny that. But tonight, I pretty much set in stone that I suck at cooking!

It has been said that even the worst of cooks can at least make things like toast, cereal, grilled cheese sandwiches and Kraft Dinner. Those are staples in life and who doesn't ...... wait a minute ..... did I say grilled cheese sandwiches???

It was either me or the frying pan, but wow. I had a complete grilled cheese fail tonight.

I am so ashamed.

And for the record, I did use butter and cooking spray!

My Drunk Kitchen

I want to introduce you to Hannah Hart. She is someone I can totally relate to as I feel she is a version of myself.


Watch this: My Drunk Kitchen

That is ME! Come on, you can't deny that's me!

Yummy Alert!: Spiced Fried Chickpeas

D bought me a subscription to Food Network magazine as I still struggle with cooking, but also love watching that channel.  I have the idea of beginning a recipe collection and hope to share some of my discoveries as I go along.  My first installment is: Spiced Fried Chickpeas.

AJ and I LOVE chickpeas as they are, but who can argue when a well known food magazine gives you the go ahead to deep fry them??? Not me!

The process is really simple:

1. Drain and rinse a can of chickpeas; pat dry 
2. Heat vegetable oil to 375 degrees 
3. Fry chickpeas in batches for until a light golden brown and crispy; about 4 minutes 
4. Drain on paper towel then toss in spices 

The recipe I have calls for salt, cumin, coriander and smoked paprika, but being the un-domestic Goddess that I am, I only have salt. Although, they really don't need them, I did sprinkle on some sea salt as they were drying. YUM!