Fun morning

Got this really cool idea to make a masking tape race track from The Mother Huddle. I wanted to make it bigger, but we ran out of masking tape...maybe next time. It was a great morning with my boys. Of course Jayce had to get into the mix too and Gabe did awesome not getting too upset with him. lol

Chipotle Chicken Rolls with Avocado Dipping Sauce

These were a HUGE HIT!!!

Chipotle Chicken Rolls with Avocado Dipping Sauce
From Rachael Ray: 365 No Repeats

Chipotle Chicken Rolls

1 pkg (1 1/3lb) ground chicken breast
6 scallions, thinly sliced, then chopped
1 1/2 C grated sharp cheddar cheese
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, finely chopped or 3 tablespoons of a chipotle flavored salsa
salt and fresh ground black pepper
6 sheets frozen phyllo dough, defrosted
4 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted

Dipping Sauce

1 ripe Hass avocado
juice of 3 limes
handful of fresh cilantro leaves
1 tsp coarse salt
3 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

Preheat oven to 400.

In a bowl, combine ground chicken, scallions, cheddar cheese, garlic, and chipotles and season with salt and pepper. Transfer the mixture to a sealable plastic bag. To turn the sealable plastic bag into a homemade pastry bag, trim 1 1/2 inches off one of the bottom corners of the plastic bag. Push the chicken mixture to the cut corner without pushing it through the hole. Reserve while you prepare the phyllo.

Arrange 1 sheet of phyllo dough with the long side closest to you on your kitchen counter, brush liberally from edge to edge with melted butter, and season with salt and pepper. Place another sheet of phyllo on top, again brush liberally with butter, and season with salt and pepper. Repeat with the third layer of phyllo.

Place the trimmed end of the pastry bag 1/2 inch in from the left side and 1/2 inch up from the bottom of the phyllo sheet. Squeeze half of the chicken mixture from the bag while moving along in a straight line from left to right. Roll the front edge of the phyllo sheet away from you, encasing the chicken mixture. Continue until you have completed a long roll. Tuck the ends in and then brush the entire outside of the phyllo log with more melted butter. Transfer the first log to a rimmed cookie sheet, putting the seam side down. Repeat this process to make a second log with the remaining chicken mixture. Bake 15 minutes or until the log feels firm to the touch.

While the phyllo-wrapped chicken is in the oven, cut the avocado in half lengthwise, cutting around the pit. Separate the halves and scoop out the pit with a spoon, then use the spoon to scoop the avocado from it's skin. Place the avocado in a food processor and combine with lime juice, cilantro, coarse salt, and about 3 tablespoons of water. Process until avocado mixture is smooth, then stream the EVOO into the dressing. Taste and adjust seasonings.

Once the chipotle chicken rolls are cooked, remove from oven and let them cool just enough to handle. Cut each roll in half, then cut each half in 3 equal pieces. Serve 3 chicken rolls per person with a dish of dipping sauce.

Blessed above and beyond

Monkey Man is 8 months old today! Can't hardly believe how fast it's going. Only 4 short months and he'll be ONE?!

Jayce is pretty much crawling. His little scoot is too cute for words and he is STRONG. Time to batten down the hatches as my friend Teresa said. We never had to move anything with Gabe. I'm actually a little scared. I think he's going to get into EVERYTHING! WATCH OUT MAMA!!



He is SO funny...his faces, his noises.
He totally cracks us up.

He NEVER stops moving and it's like wrestling a greased pig when trying to change his diaper or clothes. I pretty much have to put his diaper on when he's on his stomach.

His scream is ear piercing. How did I end up with two very loud kids?

He's sleeping through the night (Thank you Jesus) unless he's sick and doesn't feel well.

He's been getting shy around other people even family. He hides his face and grins. It's the cutiest thing ever.

OH My Gabey
He is very challenging these days, testing his boundaries. He is independent and doesn't like anyone in his space. He is VERY loving, but only on his terms.

He says that he loves me all day long and whispers that I'm pretty. Melts my mommy heart.

He loves to torment our poor Calie girl. They have a love/hate relationship. He is constantly getting into trouble for "beating her up".
Bryan and I have always called Calie, Babae gurl. I love that Gabe calls for her by that name. "Come here babae gurl, come here!"

A couple funnies I don't want to forget"
We were on our way to Target and Jayce always pulls his sock off and scrapes his toes on the seat. Gabe always tells me when he's pulling it off. This time he said "Mama, we've got a Pew Pew" and then he sighed.

After getting the Little colds honey elixir to hopefully help Gabe with his cough. I gave him some and he asked what it was for. I told him it was to help his cough go away. A few seconds later he coughed and said "It didn't work"

I stumbled across a blog tonight about a women who lost her 2 1/2 month old to Pertussis. I sobbed like a baby. Even though these kinds of things make me anxious, I kept reading and weeping. Bryan asked me why are you doing this to yourself? I didn't really have an answer. It was encouraging to read her words, her rawness, her FAITH, her heart. My heart ached for her as I read it.
I prayed for her and her family and counted my blessings. Went upstairs and gave my babies one more kiss before going to bed.

NOTHING in my life makes me feel more blessed than the fact that I have two WONDERFUL BOYS that were entrusted to ME.

I LOVE THEM!

“A year from now you wish you had started today.” Karen Lamb