Dear Food Network... Copy That!

Dear Food Network,

I'm your next star! I'd like Bobby Flay to produce my show and if my set can look like Ina Garten's that would be great. I know you've already got a gig with Paula Deen and her sons, but just wait til you see my babies - they are going to rock the network! Here's a picture of us at our local elk sanctuary. Aren't they sooooo cute?!? Can't wait to get started. Let's start filming soon. Until then... I'll keep reading your magazine and daydreaming about having my own show!

Love, Brittany

If only! I wish. __________________________________________________________________

So I've been moseying through the latest edition of Food Network magazine, and loving all the summer-inspired dishes. The "Copy That!" spread caught my eye this month and I just had to try my own little version of "this is the BEST grilled cheese I have ever had in my LIFE!" - quoting my husband.

Cosi has got nothing on me! I only wish I had had some fresh mozzarella to work with. That would've been epic. But alas, the grocery budget has been spent, and we "suffered" (HA!) through some sliced mozzarella instead.

I didn't have time (mother with 2 children under 2 here) to whip up the bread this recipe called for. But I used my favorite pizza dough recipe, added onion powder, garlic powder, and oregano to the mix, and made perfect loaves for this deal. Baked them for about ten minutes @ 425 degrees. YUM! Smelled like a bakery in our house!


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So all you need for the sandwich is:

flatbread
sliced tomato
mozzarella
fresh basil

And for the dressing/dipping sauce:

3 tbls. balsamic vinegar
3 tbls. dijon mustard
1/4 tsp. dried basil
pinch of sugar, sea salt, & black pepper
1/2 C. extra-virgin olive oil

I held WAY back on the EVOO.
Probably only used a tablespoon or two and it was great.
Just added a little water to dilute the vinegar.
This dressing went right on the sandwich when grilling,
and straight to the table for dipping!

Nathan was ooooo-ing and mmmmm-ing through all of dinner.
He said the dressing was "WOW."
Yea...I try. I'm a WOW wife who makes WOW food! Haha.

This was a perfect weeknight dinner.

I had spent half the day shopping at the mall,
trying to find a dress for some upcoming Fall weddings (exciting!),
and chasing babies around the play center!
Momma likes easy, crowd-pleasing, FAST dinners!
Served these sandwiches with some veggie soup. Money!

Even if you never hire me, I am thankful for the inspiration, Food Network!

Worth Something to Him

It seems to be written in our DNA. From the moment we are born, we begin a lifelong quest to satisfy a desire that we can barely even identify. It is this longing deep in our hearts; a great thirst desperate to be quenched. There are many of us who find what we are looking for quickly and easily in life. But for some of us, the quest proves to be deadly.

It was 12:04A.M. and I was pulling into my driveway. I was living-up every day of my 18 years. Even though I think my parents would label me as a rebel, I wasn't a bad kid. I just wanted to taste life and test the waters a little bit. I needed to test the waters. Strange, I know. I wanted to feel the boundaries. As I skipped up the back steps and pulled open the screen door, there was my father; pulling open the main door and shaking the portable phone at me.

"I've been trying to call your cell phone," he said.
"Curfew is midnight and you know it.
I worry about you. I love you too much.
You're grounded. Good night."

I can see it so vividly in my head as if this just happened last night.
I took off my shoes, hung up my purse, and crashed in my bed... one, very happily grounded, young woman.
Seriously. Daddy loved me.

This happened more than once in my career as a "daughter of the curfew police." I would TEST my dad ON PURPOSE sometimes. I needed to know that I was WORTH something to him. I was in high school when I tried to get out the door in a short skirt and tank top without my parents seeing. My mom saw me... my siblings saw me... and THEN my dad saw me.

"Brittany... you're not going out dressed like that."

I am SURE I argued with him. My nature is to challenge authority. "WHY?!" Oh I needed to hear him tell me why.

"You are a beautiful woman
and there are men out there who will NOT respect you
for the treasure you are if you are wearing this outfit."

I remember that I could not argue with him.
His covering was what I was CRAVING.
I changed my clothes that day... and my heart was forever changed.
I was worth something to him.

We were all sitting in the living room at my grandma's house this past Easter, getting ready to leave for vigil mass, when my little sister came bounding down the stairs in her new dress. She twirled around in the living room for all to see. My mom saw... my siblings saw... but the ONLY person she addressed was...

"DAD, what do you think?!"

"You look BEAUTIFUL!" he replied.

... and then she walked out of the room! WHAAAAAT?!?!
I was a little put-off that she didn't want my "big sister opinion."
She got what she NEEDED. She needed to know she was worth something to him.
I know that I am blessed in the father that God chose for me. The woman I am today would be a completely different story had my femininity not be covered so well by my dad. I am sure I would have tried anything and everything - from lowering my shirt, hiking-up my skirt, giving away pieces of my heart and body to any boy who would look at me - to find the AFFIRMATION and COVERING I think we all crave as women.

I'd be lying if I said that mine and my father's relationship was perfect. We're both human and we've had our ups and downs throughout the years. But he is HUMAN. I take the good... and let God cover the rest! It is CRAZY how so many people apply the image of their earthly father to their HEAVENLY FATHER. What daddy does on earth... "daddy" does in heaven? Yea, I've bought that lie too.

I have full confidence that my heavenly Father loves me for who I am, and so diligently seeks to uplift me as the woman He has created me to be, because my dad has done this throughout the years. I am worth something to HIM - my God.

I fear that there are many broken hearts out there; bleeding for lack of affirmation. It is sad that so many fathers don't rise to the occasion to lead and cover their children. I believe this is what leads so many of us, as daughters AND sons, to begin searching for that fatherly covering in other ways.

"Words were said, painful worlds. Things were done, awful things. And they shaped us. Something inside of us shifted. We embraced the messages of our wounds. We accepted a twisted view of ourselves... We also developed ways of trying to get something of the love our hearts cried out for. The ache is there. Our desperate need for love and affirmation, our thirst for some taste of romance and adventure and beauty is there. So we turned to boys or to food or romance novels; we lost ourselves in our work or at church or in some sort of service. All this adds up to the women we are today."
- Stasi Eldridge: Captivating
Some of us will embark on a quest
that leads to spiritual, possibly even physical, death
as we try filling the gaping VOID in our life with
drugs, sex, alcohol, immodesty, food, violence, you-name-it, etc.

Some of us will see through Satan's lie,
and know that our heavenly Father loves us SO MUCH MORE than our earthly fathers.
We will find our covering and peace in HIM - who is in heaven.

Who will you be?

We are all chosen, cherished, and covered by THE greatest Father - our awesome God!

He is there to pick up where daddy left off.

He is there to fill the gaping voids and save us
from our perilous quests for love and affirmation.
He is SHOUTING OUT for you to know that...
YOU ARE PRECIOUS. YOU ARE A TREASURE. YOU ARE WORTH SOMETHING TO HIM.

"Like a lily among thorns, so is my darling among maidens."
- Song of Songs 2:2

Bean Salad Happiness

I know what you are thinking!

"How good can bean salad actually be?"

I thought the same thing when my sister-in-law sent me this recipe.
But wait. Get this. When I made the dish it actually flew to the TOP of my "favorite veggie food" list!

Yea. Bean salad happiness, folks. Check it out...

I tweak this recipe every other time I make it.
Mainly because I don't ever seem to have ALL of the ingredients in my kitchen at one time.
Each batch has been STELLAR though.

RECIPE

veggies...
fresh sweet corn off the cob (2 ears)
1 orange bell pepper
1 small red onion
1 large tomato
1/2 tsp. finely chopped jalapeno

protein...
1 1/2 C. black beans
1 1/2 C. edamame
1 1/2 C. whole grain brown rice

sauce...
these little guys are best friends!
4-5 tbls of ume plum vinegar
1 tsp. dijon mustard
(whisk and pour)
1/4 C. chopped cilantro



I can't eat this salad without some homemade guacamole!!!!

THERE YOU GO!
And get this... I think that this salad is so pretty-fabulous that it
would be great to serve at a veggie-friendly party as an appetizer or what not.
I think it looks mighty classy in some romaine "cups" - if I do say so myself!

Ok... and it gets EVEN BETTER!

Let's talk leftovers.
Who doesn't like a night off in the kitchen?!
I am sure to make enough for a second round of
BEAN SALAD QUESADILLAS!
These can be all veggie with chipotle hummus
(as the cheese! - don't judge til you try!)
or you can use mozzarella... which is aaaaamazing too!!!

I love taking care of these veggie-powered boys!!!

Feast Day Festivities!

Hey all! Just wanted to post some pictures of our day!!!

Here's how we have been celebrating the Feast of the Assumption!



Our friend made us some beautiful, little herb bouquets to leave at Church this morning! The kids loved that!

I transformed our dining room into an enchanted indoor garden for dinner. Isaiah was loving the lights on the ceiling!
What kid wouldn't?! Christmas... in August?

The kids enjoyed coloring some pictures of Momma Mary while I made us some earth tacos.
If you haven't tried making some meatless tacos - I highly recommend that you get on that!

I decided to make a more "fun" dessert to share as a family this evening.
Sugar cookies with cream-cheese-cool-whip "clouds"....
with strawberries and blueberries on top!

RED berries to represent Jesus' sacred heart - taking His mother's immaculate heart to be with Him in heaven.

We all loved assembling and DEVOURING these!

Thank you, Jesus, for sharing your mother with us!

Happy Feast Day!

The List

When I was about 16 years old, my mom encouraged me to write a list
of things I was looking for in a future spouse.
All 16 year olds think their moms are crazy, right?!

My little rebellious spirit told her that I was NOT making a "grocery list" of things I wanted God to "pick-up" for me in a husband...haha...and then I went to my room and secretly composed a list and kept it hidden in a journal under my mattress.
I was such a girl!

3 years later, when I was dating Nathan Vail,
I figured I had better check that list and see if he lived up to the bill!
I say that in total jest. For it was NOT a bill, but the desires of my heart that I was sure my God would deliver.

"Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will grant you the desires of your heart." -Psalm 37:4.

ENGAGEMENT!

3 years ago, today, I married my best friend!

"the man of the list"

In honor of our 3rd anniversary, I wanted to share the list with you
and THANK THE LORD that He is faithful and gives good things!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
JULY 23, 2003

funny, but knows how to be serious
makes me laugh
charming
out-going
not afraid of a challenge
gentle - in a "man sort of way"
sentimental
romantic
full of life - ready to try anything & everything
thoughtful & considerate of others feelings
someone who makes me come out of myself
someone who challenges me to be a better person
adventurous
loving, sweet, genuine - not out to impress
a leader
musically inclined would be a BIG plus
respectful of women
responsible

close relationship with Christ
not afraid to live his faith
likes to share his faith with others
maintains a serious prayer life
someone who will be a spiritual leader in our home
full of apostolic zeal
good morals
honors his parents

taller, dark hair, beautiful eyes, good hands, older... would be good too!

must be Catholic.

Well, I can't believe I did it. I feel better. Now I can't let myself fall for anything less! All my love, Brittany GraceAnn
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The last "request" was actually penned in a different color at a different time than the original entry (not sure why or when that happened, but it was BEFORE I started dating Nathan). I think it is kind of funny - because when we began our relationship he was NOT Catholic... but later came into the Church. The "request" seemed like a last minute idea... and it matched up with what actually happened!

Nathan was ALL that and more!!!
God has blessed me abundantly in my best friend husband!

August 14th, 2009

I just want to encourage all you single ladies out there
to HOLD OUT for Mr. Right. Do not settle.
God has a PERFECT plan and man for you.
HE (both Jesus and your husband!) are worth waiting for!

I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM I LOVE HIM!!!
I am so blessed to call him my husband and the father of my children!!!

"The heart's longing for a lasting love between a man and woman
points to the human yearning for the God, who is eternal love.
Here we also catch a glimpse of the sacramentality of marriage.
Sacraments are an earthly foreshadowing of heavenly mysteries.
They are signs in the here and now
that truly communicate divine realities to us,
but only to the degree that they accurately signify divine realities.
When man and woman become one flesh in the sacrament of marriage,
their union is a great mystery that truly reveals and communicates
the union of Christ and the Church."
-Christopher West / The Love that Satisfies


I LOVE YOU, NATHAN!

Pancakes with Momma Mary

We have been trying really hard to bring the liturgical year to life in our home.
It is awesome to watch the kids light up with the little crafts, songs, food, prayers, etc. that we have been doing
... as we breathe with the Church!

The home is meant to be an extension of Mother Church. A domestic church. Such a radical and beautiful idea!

"When they were converted, they desired that 'their whole household' should also be saved. These families who became believers were islands of Christian life in an unbelieving world." - CCC 1655 / Acts 16:31

"It is in the bosom of the family that parents are 'by word and example
... the first heralds of the faith with regard to their children.'" - CCC 1656

So this morning, over chocolate chip pancakes, I was brainstorming through ideas on how to celebrate the upcoming
Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary!

These hardly qualified as breakfast!

Recipe for 4-5 Pancakes:

1 C. whole wheat flour
2 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. flaxseed meal
1 tsp. sugar in the raw (2 tsp. honey or rice syrup works great too!)
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 C. unsweetened applesauce
1 C. vanilla-flavored rice milk (almond works too - or regular rice milk)
1 handful of chopped dairy-free chocolate chips

Strawberry-Maple Applesauce Dip:

3-5 strawberries
a dash or two of natural apple juice
maple syrup - til your heart is content!
... blend that up and serve on the side!

It was like a chocolate covered strawberry... BACKWARDS! Strawberry-covered-chocolate-chip-pancakes... yes yes yes!!!

FEAST DAY IDEAS!

My kids are small. So I thought a coloring page would be simple, easy, and perfect! A good visual and fun to do!

We ALL love something sweet to eat, right?! Catholic Cuisine had some great ideas for yummy feast day food and THIS caught my eye!

-photo from Catholic Cuisine-

I am going to tweak the recipe a little to make it animal-free for my family, but the original recipe looks quite heavenly!
The little "cloud" of whipped cream is a sweet idea!
...We may just have to use a little whipped cream for the occasion!

I was also finding lots of ideas on creating a summer feast of herbs and fresh fruit. This seems to be a European tradition, but I LOVE it! Thinking about a summer-fresh dinner under the "stars" - Christmas lights and colorful scarves look great draped around the dining room! Will try and post pictures!

I also want to take a bouquet of fresh herbs to Mass on Wednesday morning to leave as a gift for our Lord and His mother
... they make a great team!!! I know Isaiah will get a kick out of this!

Happy Feast day celebrating, my friends!!!

“This feast tells us that we too will be with Jesus in the joy of God
and invites us to have courage, to believe that the power
of the Resurrection of Christ can work in us as well.”
~~~
"Men and women today are also the recipients of God's love
and must do as Mary did – accept Christ in faith,
be enlightened and guided by his word and follow him every day."
- Pope Benedict XVI... Feast of the Assumption 2011

Making Dinner with Momma

Not gonna lie. Being the head chef of our home kitchen has its perks.

Like... I get to pick my sous chefs!

If you are under 36" tall and just happen to be the cutest baby in the world... you might just get hired!

Nathan asked me the other day how I can feel so great all the time and not work-out.
Not work-out?!?! Please.
I lift babies all day. And groceries. And laundry baskets.
Oh and dinner doesn't just appear on the table!

If only I could be Samantha from Bewitched! That. Would. Be. Awesome.

I try to limit myself to less than 1 hour in the kitchen to prep and serve dinner. Or else the small people in my house start a riot.
Been there? Yea, all you mommas out there know what I'm talking about!

Toys start flying, clothes come off, water suddenly appears in places other than the sink, inedible objects go in the mouth!

- KEEP CALM AND COOK ON -

Here's how I try to do it these days. Zay is 2 and Judah is 11 months old. 15 months apart and the best of friends :-) We have a little table and chairs in the kitchen that they LOVE to sit at... and stand on. BOYS. Sigh. I usually hook them up with some coloring books, crayons, little toys, and a light snack to keep them occupied while I chop, prep, and deliver a non-processed dinner like the culinary goddess I am.

Now I'm going to be very truthful here...
and say that making dinner was CRAZY as usual the other night.
The table with toys and snacks only works for so long. Sigh.

Before I could finish, Judah decided to upgrade our kitchen tile to a nice shade of Crayola purple...

And Isaiah lost no time in stealing my stainless steal strainer
and rearranging his bedroom.

Please note that Judah is now shaking the piggy bank diligently
trying to get the coins to come out so he can put them in his mouth.

Good times! No, great times.
I know that I will miss these days.
So I don't take ANY OF THIS for granted.
This is the BEST GIFT of my life!

ANYWAY! We've been gifted with some garden goodness over the past couple of weeks! Can I just say a big THANK YOU to those who have shared the wealth of the land with me and my family! I was 2 hours too late on nabbing a spot in the community garden this year
(I am STILL beating my self up over that)...
but here's what we're eating from other people's gardens!



So the other night for dinner I wanted to use our garden gifts...

KOHLRABI GREENS OVER LONG GRAIN BROWN RICE
- topped with tomato & kohlrabi bruschetta -

The rice had ground cashews & nutritional yeast in it

- a plant lover's parmesan cheese -

Lots of garlic and sea salt too!



PAN-FRIED POTATOES WITH FRESH SWEET CORN & SAGE

Nathan had a long day at work and said that this meal was filling and satisfying!

If there were super heroes in the vegetable world, KOHLRABI would be one of them!

rich in vitamins and dietary fiber

only 27 calories per 100 g

negligible amount of fat - the healthy kind!

zero cholesterol

its anti-oxidant property helps body protect
from diseases and cancers by scavenging harmful free radicals from the body

packed with vitamin C

contains health-promoting phytochemicals such as
isothiocyanates, sulforaphane and indole-3-carbinol
- to protect against prostate and colon cancers

contains many B-complex vitamins

beautiful levels of minerals;
copper, calcium, potassium, manganese, iron,
and phosphorus are especially available in the stem

We enjoyed every part of the plant in this dish before we headed out to spy on the community garden!
My kids loves to peak and see what's growing!

... ok ok I love to peak and see what's growing!

Hope this made you laugh a little!

Now get in the kitchen and cook up something yummy for those you LOVE!!!