Today's Dinner

Orange Glazed Chicken with Carrots and Bulgur
from Martha Stewart's Everyday Food Magazine --
April 2009

Per my previous post, I am being budget conscious. This meal is supposed to cost $9.90 and serves four. It cost me $7.81. It's very reminiscent of a slow-cooker meal I made last week, but was worth trying. I calculated the cost of each ingredient based on how much I actually used, as did the magazine.



8 Chicken Drumsticks (about 3 pounds total - these are BIG) -- $4.02
Course Salt and Pepper -- $.02
1/2 Cup Orange Marmalade -- $.85
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil -- $.05
4 Medium Carrots, cut into 1" chunks -- $.67
1 Cup Bulgur (I used Couscous...more on that later.) -- $1.53
1 teaspoon Lime Zest, plus 1 Tablespoon fresh lime juice -- $.67

1. Preheat the oven to 475 degrees. On a large rimmed baking sheet, arrange chicken in a single layer; season with salt and pepper. (I always line my baking sheet when cooking meat; it makes clean up easier.)

Here's the chicken waiting for the oven to come up to temperature.

Roast for 10 minutes. Brush with half the marmalade, and rotate sheet.

Be generous with the marmalade....it goes a long way.

Continue to roast, brushing once more with marmalade, until chicken is browned and cooked through, 10 to 15 minutes more.

Now for the side dish - delicious!

2. While chicken is roasting, heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high. Add carrots; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until beginning to brown. (Well, I blackened mine a little bit and they still tasted okay!)

Before the carrots were neglected.

Add bulgur and 1 1/2 cups water; bring to a boil. Cover, and reduce heat to low; cook until bulgur is tender, 10 to 12 minutes. Stir in lime zest and juice; season with salt and pepper.

Here are the limes awaiting their début.

Serve chicken with bulgur mixture.

Table Ready!

The verdict? Loved by everyone! Including the hungry toddler who threw the couscous everywhere when he was done eating. Clean up was worth every ounce in gold to hear his giggles.

One last note...if you are like me and have couscous in your pantry v. the bulgur. Cook the carrots in the water for 10 to 12 minutes covered and then add the grains. I think it would be closer to the intent of the meal.

Bringing Out the Budget Shopper in Me

I'm being completely cliché and I know it, but in these economic times, I've had to think about ways to save money. When it comes to clothes, furniture and other fun things, I love to bargain hunt. But, when it comes down to food, I spend full price on everything. So when Jeff recently had to take a paycut I started to take a look at how we spend our money. I know we can cut out the typical coffee runs and such - that's easy. But, we want to continue to whittle down what's going out and maximize what's coming in.

My friend Bev recently announced that she saved $88 dollars in one week of grocery shopping. I immediately wanted to know how I, too, could save such a large amount of money on a weekly basis. She sent me to Coupon Mom. There I read about Strategic Shopping and how to maximize the use of coupons. Now this week, I was in a big rush to get to the grocery store. We had been out of town all weekend and came home with a hungry baby and no food - not even milk! So, I skipped the coupons and just used the Strategic Shopping techniques. Guess what! I saved at least $40 -- and in comparison to really spendy weeks, $80!

I'm so excited that I have to share. As I said earlier, I don't want to give up the stuff we love when it comes to food. With the menu I used this week, we don't have to give up taste for cost. I used the April 2009 issue of Martha Stewart Everyday Food magazine to develop it.

Monday - Mediterranean Salad with Green Beans and Feta
Today - Orange Glazed Chicken with Carrots and Bulgur
Wednesday - Irish Hand Pies (I know - a day late for St. Patty's...This is from the March issue of Everyday Food. These are pre-made and ready in my freezer. I have plans for the night.)
Thursday - Slow Cooker Beef and Black Bean Chili
Friday - Broccoli, Tomato and Mozzarella Stromboli
Saturday or Sunday - Mediterranean Chicken Packets

Later today I will also show step by step the Orange Glazed Chicken with Carrots and Bulgur as well as the cost break down. Plus reviews from the hubby and baby!

Today, Quinton....

It seems like only yesterday that we carefully drove home through a blizzardy winter evening for the first time. You were all bundled up like a perfect delicate package. Tucked inside that hand knit sweater was one shriveled little baby with all ten fingers and ten toes. All we could do was stare in amazement and dream of what you would become. Who would our new little creature turn out to be?

Today, Quinton, you turn six months old. You have come so far in a matter of moments. We see glimmers of who you are becoming. Those moments take hold of us, like the wind being taken from our lungs. They glimmer with hope and joy. Today, you squeal in laughter as Brutus and Daphne pass your outreached arms. Today, you cry out of frustration because you cannot do all the things your mind tells your tiny little body to do. Today is the one time in your life where you can relish in the fact that you are completely dependent and yet you strive to be independent. We see you roll to get where you need to go, drink from a cup, communicate through babbling. Today, you do not know anger. Instead when you don't know what else to express, you show us love. You reach your tender little hands out to our face and lay a bit wet one on our lips - to our delight. Today, you study the most mundane with such curiosity. In the same turn, you become a clown and make everyone in the room laugh. Today, you bring joy to all who see your smile and laughter. Today, you take solstice in my arms and in your father's voice. Today, you have grown to be nearly 17 pounds and 26 inches long. Today, we have a better idea of who you are becoming. Today, we wait to see what other surprises you have in store.


Our family's strength and love grow every day. Today, we love you, but not as much as we will tomorrow.

The Nursery

Now that we know we are a little further into the pregnancy, it's time for us to make some more solid decisions about the nursery. We have decided to keep the color of the room as it is - it's a cross between avocado and pea green. (Yes, we like our vegetables in this house!) The floor will remain wood just as the rest of the house is. We are debating about rugs and have narrowed it down to three options.

Option #1
Option #2
Option #3

As of today we are leaning towards option #3, but of course with Jeff and I that could change tomorrow.

If we work our way up from the floor the next thing we need to consider are some storage options. We already have a dresser that we like picked out from IKEA. It's just waiting for us to come and purchase it. We will dual purpose this dresser as a a changing station with an accompanying contoured pad. This way the dresser can grow with Baby.

Dresser

We may end up with a matching dresser that's a high boy as well. I think it all depends on how empty the room looks with just a rug in it.

We are going to leave you hanging on the crib. Dad Reece has costumed designed it and has already begun to build it. I'm certain that it will be able to withstand Hell and High Water given his construction techniques. When the crib is completed we will devote a whole blog to that!

Knowing how most babies like to be rocked, we do plan on a rocker for the room. Most of you know how obsessed Jeff is with Eames design. So, of course that's what we picked out.

Rocker

As far as decor is concerned we are going to keep it simple. We have selected a line of peel and stick vinyl wall graphics that we think are fun. There's also matching flash cards that would be simple to create a mobile from. Check them out...

Wall Graphics
Flash Cards
plus
Mobile Kit

Equals lots of fun!

Thanks for taking a tour of our soon to be nursery for Baby Rohlfing.

With the baby comes...

One of the first discussions Jeff and I had when we found out we our good news was child care. As we all know a large portion of infant care is managing their "bathroom" needs. Right away the question of disposable v. washable popped into our overwhelmed-with-excitement-brains. With a little research we have decided to go washable. Here are some of the products that convinced us why:

The Cotton Babies Try It Kit
Bum Genius

I mean who can resist the ease of disposable with the environmental friendliness of washable. Check it out! They are high tech and CUTE!


And of course every cloth diapered baby needs a few accessories. Check out these I think will work great in the nursery.

Diaper Pail Kit
Diaper Organizer

Now I think until the baby comes, I've had enough chatting about diapies!

Ciao!