10 Very Random Things About Me

1. My grandmothers are both named Helen and have lived on the same street since they got married. (One of Brian's grandma's was named Helen too) Therefore myy middle name is Helena.


2. My parents lived 2 blocks away from each other their entire lives and never met until college, where they fell in love.


3. I am an only child but I was not spoiled like one. I will not let my son be an only child, although somedays it's very tempting!


4. I am a jack of all trades. I have a bachelors degree in Architecture (which I don't use). I once quit my job to start my own painting business (did that for about 1 year before wanting to kill every client I did a proposal or job for). And now I teach chilbirth classes while being a stay-at-home mom. Could these things be any more unrelated!

5. I LOVE to cook.


6. I HATE to be over heated because I sweat a lot. (i know, gross. Sarah can relate)


7. My maiden name was Watt, my married name is Surowiec. I pleaded for hours to have him take my last name. It didn't work, and now all carry out orders are placed in the name "Brian" or whatever I feel like calling myself that day. Betty, Wilma, Fred, Barney, any of the Flintstones will do.


8. My first name is totally and completely made up. There are many other versions, Deidre, etc. but my hippie parents decided to name me Daedra because they didn't like Deidre. I've only seen one other person with the same name and it was some black female basketball player, and I'm sure she didn't pronounce it the same way as I do. (it's DAY-DRA people!!)


9. I once had a high school teacher call me Deborah all year. I didn't correct him because everyone thought it was funny and he was old so I felt bad for him.

10. Brian and actually I met for the first time when we were 4 years old and our moms took a piano class together. And then we didn't meet again until high school (even though we attended the same junior high). We didn't date until we were in college, 2 different colleges. Moms beware, you never know which 4 year old tramp is going to take your son away from you in the future.

I want to hear 10 random things from JMack, LMack, Grande, and Josie

Currently Cooking

This sounds totally disgusting but is actually really good and my 2-year old loves to eat it. It's really fast to make too. Last night I made dinner in the time it takes to boil water and cook some pasta.

Pasta Salmon Supreme serves 4

8 ounce cooked rotini noodles (sometime I use the tri-color ones to mix it up a bit)
2T butter or margarine
1-6.5 ounce can of salmon, darined and flaked
1/4 cup grated parmesean cheese
1 cup of sour cream

Cook noodles al dente and drain. While the noodles drain melt the butter in the pan on medium-low heat. Add salmon and stir while it heats through over low heat. Add noodles, stir in sour cream and parmesean cheese. Serve with a green vegetable like steamed brocoli for a complete meal!

Currently Cooking

This is a guaranteed crowd and kid pleaser. I will usually make this one when I bring a dish to a family with a new baby. Goes great with garlic bread and a salad.

Easy Cheesy Mostaccioli (beware - whole recipe serves 12!)

1-16 ounce package of mostaccioli pasta, cooked al dente
1 28 ounce jar of tomato sauce
3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
1-11 ounce can of cheddar cheese soup

Prehear oven to 350 degrees. Drain noodles and place the tomato sauce and cheese soup in the pot. Heat the sauces through and then add to a large baking dish with the cooked noodles. Mix in 2 cups of the mozzarella cheese. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top and bake for 40 minutes.

What would you do?

I'm the dark blob working on her front yard about half way through this.

So, I pray a lot for protection from this guy. And even though we've had some interaction with him (and by we, I mean Brian) I still feel this overwhelming desire to move my family away from this whole crazy situation. I'm just wondering what other people would do, especially mothers.
To give you an idea of his personality, whenever I'm in the front yard and he is outside he will stare at me as long as I stay outside. This is his way of showing dominance over women. One time on the way back from a bike ride he walked halfway back around the block to stand there and watch be bring my bike back into my driveway. I told my husband this and how it made me feel very uncomfortable and he laughed and said "that's funny". I didn't laugh back.
I don't feel comfortable in my own front yard and I'll never feel comfortable letting my son play alone outside no matter how old he is.
Whatever, please just keep us and our neighbors in your prayers. Maybe ask God that Ken move to the middle of nowhere, or to a villiage full of God's only prophets (I'm sure there are more of them out there!)

Potty Training in China

My son would fit in great in Beijing.

Check out this article to see how they do potty training in China. Quite interesting. Discuss...

Currently Cooking

This is soooo yummy that people will think you slaved away for hours on it, but you didn't. I can't take credit for this one, it's a Rachael Ray favorite of ours. I just served this tonight with steamed rice and fresh steamed spinach with lemon, mmmm. In the picture it doesn't look very pretty but your taste buds will think it's a beauty.

Lemon and Brown Butter Fish Fillets serves 4

2 Tablespoons EVOO

1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped

Salt and pepper

4- 6 ounce tilapia, skate or Dover sole fillets (I use Tilapia everytime and it's very good, you can get them in a large package for a good price at Whole Foods and freeze them until you're ready to make this dish)

Flour for dredging (I use whole wheat flour to add some fiber)

4 Tablespoons cold butter

Juice of 1 lemon

Preheat a large skillet over medium-high heat with the EVOO. Season the fish with salt and pepper and dredge in flour. Once the oil is hot, shake the excess flour from the fish and add to the skillet. Cook the fish for 4-5 minutes on each side, or until firm to the touch and cooked through. Once cooked, transfer the fish to a serving platter and cover with aluminum foil to keep warm.

Wipe the skillet clean and return to the cooktop over medium-high heat. Melt the butter; but keep your eye on it, it will go from melted to brown pretty quickly. Once the butter is brown and smells slightly nutty add the lemon juice and the parlsey. Pour the brown butter over the fish and serve.

Chopper circling my house

Currently there is a Fox 2 News chopper circling my house. It's 2:40 in the afternoon so the news isn't on and I have no idea what they're looking at. Oh goodness, I hope they're not filming my laundry on the line outside. That'd be bad to see your undies on the 5:00 news. Maybe it's a story about people saving energy the old fashioned way! Must be a slow day...

Watch the news tonight and see if you see me standing in my yard staring at the sky for about 5 minutes looking really confused.

Update: A neighbor just informed me that tomorrow night at 10:00 Fox 2 is doing a story about our neighborhood, probably focusing on this neighbor of ours.
I saw a camera man at the end of our block last week while I was working in the front yard. So, not only will you see me staring at the helicopter in the sky but you will more than likely see me bent over working on my grass. (maybe my butt will be hanging out too, how lovely).

2 Minutes for Slashing

My dear sweet husband taught my dear sweet high energy son how to shoot a goal with a hockey stick. (notice the full-size hard plastic blade on the stick in the photo above) While in the basement today Adam decided he was going to start playing hockey while I did the laundry. I came out of the laundry room and was standing next to a table when I got slashed on both ankles by a hockey stick. I know he's only 2 years old but he swings this stick with all the power he has (which is A LOT). I immediately fell to the ground screaming and crying in pain, I've never felt pain like this and I gave birth without meds. Needless to say I won't be joining a hockey team anytime soon, I'm way too big of a wimp if my 2 year old can bring me down.

Funny thing happened last night at the Marriage Course at MDCC. We're all sitting in the sactuary and as usual the side door to outside is open for air flow. Suddenly a squirrel decides to come into the room!!! When we tried to chase him back out he ran up to the stage jump up onto a speaker and launched himself off of it in an attempt to get away. Brian was running around trying to shut all 6 thousand doors in the sanctuary in an attempt to keep him out of the rest of the building. Alas, he got out and into the main hallway. The main entry door was open and the squirrel took off down the hallway and out that door.

I guess I'm feeling adventurous today. I decided I was tired of looking at the stains on Adam's car seat cover and wanted to wash it an let it dry in the sun for a while. After wrestling with the car seat for about 30 minutes I finally got the cover off. Now let's pray I can get that silly thing back on the way it's supposed to go!

Currently Cooking

This is another one of our favorite Rachael Ray recipes. Wondering what to do with that arugula and all those pears you got in your box? Try this one, it's very easy and VERY yummy! I use whole wheat kaiser rolls and it creates a meal that includes whole grains, protein, greens and fruit all wrapped up in one sandwich.

Warm Lemon Chicken Sandwich with Arugula and Pears (serves 4)

2 lemons

1 tablespoon of dried thyme

salt and pepper to taste

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard

2 Tablespoons white wine vinegar

5 Tablespoons EVOO (extra virgin olive oil)

3 Tablespoons grated parmesean cheese

4 kaiser rolls, split

butter

garlic salt

1 ripe Bartlett, Anjou or Bosc pear

1 large bunch of arugula, cleaned and trimmed

In a shallow bowl, combine the juice of 1-1/2 lemons, the thyme, salt and pepper. Add the chicken breasts and toss to coat. Marinate the chicken for 5-10 minutes.

In a small bowl, combine the Dijon mustard with the vinegar, salt and pepper. Whisk in 3 tablespoons of EVOO, then the grated parmesean. Toast the kaiser rolls, lightly butter and sprinkle with garlic salt.

Preheat a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of EVOO to the pan. Cook the chicken for 5-6 minutes on each side or until fully cooked. Remove to a cutting board and cover with foil.

Thinly slice the pear, and toss in a salad bowl with the juice of the remaining lemon. Add the arugula leaves and toss with the dijon dressing. Thinly slice the cooked chicken. Layer half of the chicken slices onto the rolls and top with the arugula-pear salad. Add the remaining chicken and roll tops.

Currently Cooking

I grew up with this recipe and hated it. Now that I'm an adult I've learned to like asparagus, this isn't Brian's favorite dish but he dines like a king in our house so I don't care. This dish is an acquired taste but if you're stuck with some unexpected asparagus in your box you can rest in knowing it won't go to waste with this one.

Asparagus Pasta serves 2

8 ounces of a thin spaghetti pasta, cooked al dente (I use whole wheat pasta)

1 bunch of asparagus tip cut into 1" pieces

1-1/2 Tablespoons butter or margarine

1 large clove of garlic, minced

Juice of 1-1/2 lemons

1 Tablespoon of worchestershire sauce

While pasta cooks melt butter in a medium saucepan, add garlic and cook for a few minutes not so long that it begins to brown. Add asparagus tips and toss to coat. Add lemon juice and worchestershire sauce. Cook on medium-low heat until asparagus has heated through but is still a nice bright green (don't make them mushy or it will be gross). Toss pasta with asparagus mixture and serve topped with freshly grated cheese. Good sidedishes: fresh steamed green beans and garlic bread (see post below).

Cook's tip: to find out what an asparagus "tip" is just take your stalk of asparagus and hold one end in each hand. Bend the stalk and it will naturally break the end off. Cut into 1" pieces from there.

Currently Cooking

The best garlic bread in the whole wide world. It's easy as can be and has less junk in it than store bought frozen garlic bread. I also prepare sections ahead of time and stick them in the freezer for use in the future.

Garlic Bread a whole loaf will make enough for a large family.

1 frech baguette, sliced in half lengthwise.

1 stick if butter or margarine, softened

2 cloves of garlic, finely minced

2 Tablespoons of finely chopped fresh parsley

2 Tablespoons of finely chopped fresh basil leaves (if I don't have this I omit it and the recipe still works out well)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Stir together butter, garlic, and herbs in a small bowl. Spread the garlic-herb mixture over both halves of the bread and sprinkle with freshly grated parmigiano reggiano (optional). Bake for 15 minutes or until slightly browned. Slice into servings and enjoy with your favorite pasta dish. YUMMM

Currently Cooking

Ever want to impress someone with a really fancy delicious dessert that looks like it took a ton of effort but really didn't? This recipe is for you! You can use regular yellow pears too, just make sure they are quite ripe. Oddly enough this one is figure friendly too, I got it out of a diet book! Just don't eat one every night....

Roasted Pears with Raspberry Sauce - serves 2

2 red pears, cut in half and cored (using a melon baller makes coring a cinch)

1/2 cup white wine

6 ounces of frozen raspberries, thawed

1t cornstarch

1 T of semi-sweet chocolate chips

1-1/2 T coarsely chopped pistachios, toasted

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Arrange pears cut side down in a shallow baking dish. Pour white wine over pears and bake for 18-20 minutes or until tender. Meanwhile, puree the raspberries in a food processor; strain into a small sauce pan and discard the seeds. Transfer the roasted pears to serving plates, cut side up, sprinkle with chocolate chips and allow to melt while you prepare the sauce. Combine pureed raspberries with the remaining liquid from baking dishes in the saucepan; add cornstarch and cook over high heat constantly stirring until sauce has thickened. Spoon sauce over pears and top with pistachios.

Currently Cooking

If you can't tell already, I like to cook. I had some extra ripe bananas so here is yummy recipe:

Banana Bread

1-3/4 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

2/3 cup raw sugar (using raw sugar makes the top extra crunchy and yummy)

1/3 cup butter or margarine, softened

2 eggs

1 cup (approximately 2) mashed bananas

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl sift together dry ingredients. Add butter, eggs, nuts and mashed banana. Beat until well blended. Pour into a well greased 8"x4" loaf pan and bake for 1 hour.

The way things work out so perfectly

Two weeks ago I had one of the couples I teach call me 1 hour before the start of our 3rd class to tell me they'd decided to quit. I tried to convince her otherwise but it did not work. I ended up having to refund her $100 and was very disappointed. I immediately laid down on the floor and began to pray (I had to teach in under and hour and was feeling very down). Within 15 minutes I sat up, refreshed by the Lord and decided that I was going to move on with my life. I actually heard the Lord say "This is a blessing, you just can't see it yet." I could see it a little bit, this couple was not very committed, they weren't doing their homework and she wasn't eating very well. But God meant something else, I just didn't know what. (right Linds?)

I've been attending these free events at Babies R Us called "Baby Fest". There are basically 6-8 vendors with their information at tables when customers walk into the store. They have one every month and they each have a different theme. Saturday I was at the Health and Wellness Baby Fest. The store creates this game called Baby Fest Bingo where the customers visit every table and get a sticker in order to get a free prize at the end. (people will do anything for free stuff!) Last month the girl who handed out the bingo cards did a great job, this past Saturday a different girl handed out the cards and she was really slacking. Almost no one came to our tables throughout the day!

However, the first couple that walked up to my table was really interested in what I have to offer. Long story short, they are joining my class this week and I have to catch them up on the first three classes this evening!! It's alot of work on my part but God really brought this through for me and I thank Him so much!

Currently Cooking

Here's another good one in case you have some left over oats. These are the cookies that are very similar to a nature valley granola bar. I brought them to the last game night at J.Mack's, they're always a hit and are VERY addicting when they are still warm. mmmmm

Crispy Oatmeal Cookies

2 cups quick cooking oats

1/2 cup light brown sugar

1 egg

4 Tablespoons vegetable or coconut oil

2 Tablespoons maple syrup

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease 2 cookie sheets.

Mix the oatmeal and sugar in a bowl, breaking up any lumps in the sugar.

Add the egg, oil and maple syrup and mix well. Then leave to soak for 15 minutes.

Using a tablespoon, place spoonfulls of the mixture well apart on the prepared cookie sheets. Press each mound into a 3" flat circle with a fork dipped in water (to prevent sticking)

Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Leave to cool for a few minutes on cookie sheets then transfer with a spatula to a wire tray to cool. When cold, store in an airtight container.

Currently Cooking

Instead of currently reading or listening I'm now creating a Currently Cooking post for every week on my blog. Each post will include a favorite recipe of mine that I'm cooking this week.

Here's the first one! For all you wannabe hippies out there....

Basic Granola

4-5 cups of oatmeal
1 cup of almonds (or your favorite nut)
1/2 cup flax seeds
1 cup of raw sunflower seeds
1/2 cup wheat germ
1/3 cup coconut oil (or vegetable oil, but coconut oil tastes great!)
1/2 cup honey
1 cup raisins (or your favorite dried fruit) optional

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients together and put on a lightly greadsed cookie sheet. Bake for 20-30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes, until golden brown. Keep an eye on it so it doesn't burn!
Remove from oven and allow to cool in pan stirring every few minutes to prevent sticking. Once cooled store in an airtight container or bag.

**Cook's tip: Honey is so sticky that it won't all come out of your measuring device, well when adding honey to a recipe you will usually be adding oil as well. Just use the same measuring device for each ingredient but add the oil first. When you put honey into a measuring device coated with a small amount of oil it will slide right out! Tadaa**

My Space

I'm now on MySpace, check it out: www.myspace.com/daedra27

Wisdom from a 2 year old

A few of the recent conversations with Adam that astounded me or made me laugh:

Last week

I'm lying on the floor on my back upset mentally because one of my students just called to quit my class. Adam sits down next to me and says this:

A: Mama, alright?
D: No honey, mama's not alright.
A: Dear Jesus, heal mama, amen.
Then he proceeds to lay hands on me and by his next words you will know where he has his hand.
A: Dear Jesus, heal mama's boobies, amen.

Today

Brian is reading to Adam out of his little kids story Bible about Abraham having to sacrifice his son Isaac. At the end of the story they have you ask your child who they love the most.

B: Adam who do you love the most?
A: Um, I love Jesus the most.

Makes me choke up a little when I realize we're teaching our son something really good in life. (Nevermind the boobies comment ;)