Time for the chickendance!

Yes it may be time for that fun lovin festival Octoberfest at Old World Village down the street but that's not what I'm writing about here. My chickendance is for the roasted chicken I made for dinner tonight. (My sister is about to roll her eyes as I get to the details)

You may think it's just a roasted chicken, so what. But it wasn't. It was a 5 pound roaster that cooked in an hour and 20 minutes. That is so great for a mom that comes home on a work day at 6:00pm. If I were to make this in the oven it would take 30-40 minutes more time. That is precious time, dontcha know.

The other day a very large and heavy box arrived with a note that said, Love Dad. It was my NuWave oven. My dad has had one for a while now and loves it. I am a believer!

The first thing I cooked in this thing was a rather inexpensive london broil. With my dad's advice I didn't use salt or pepper to season. Instead I bought some Lawry's meat tenderizer without MSG and sprinkled some on the steak. In about 25 minutes I had an amazing dinner to serve my very hungry family. Added steamed frozen veggies from the micro of course.

For Jonathan it's tourture. He loves steak and watching it cook was not only entertaining but had to give him a lesson with patients.

As mentioned, tonight was the 5 pound roasted chicken. Seasoned with some lemon and garlic, salt and paprika I put my new centerpiece of the kitchen to work.

My mother lives with us and she is very weird about her chicken. She really doesn't like what the crockpot does to it. So we either buy a roasted chicken on the way home from work at a market or we have to make it at home. Well I have to tell you that at 99 cents a pound for twice the chicken, I would always rather roast it myself. Plus I have control of seasonings my family likes and no added oils when I make it at home.

So I seasoned the chicken and placed it in the NuWave oven. Set the timer to 40 minutes. When the timer went off I had to turn the chicken over. That's right...I had to turn the chicken over. I have to say that this is not easy and I need to figure out an clever way to do this. Once I I flipped it I set the timer to another 40 minutes. By this time Jonathan was saying "oh mommy it looks so good!" And it really did.

When the 5 pound chicken was ready it was only 80 minutes later. I MADE ROAST CHICKEN ON A WEEK NIGHT! Really it was perfect! Perfect, golden and juicy.

So what's on the menu tomorrow? Chicken tacos probably because there is so much leftover and did I mention it was SO GOOD!?!

Thanks again daddy!

A working mom stuck between a rock and a hard place

Last Thursday Jonathan had to stay home from school because he was sick. So of course I have to take a day off of work. I took him to the doctor and she said just give him Motrin and he will be better by Sunday. So I did. And he wasn't. I had Friday off so technically I had to take 1 day off of work. Monday came and J is still ill. I took him to another doctor who took a chest x-ray and sure enough the 1st doctor should have prescribed him antibiotics because he has an infection in his chest. One step away from pneumonia. So here I am on Thursday and I am still not at work and Jonathan is still not at school. I tried, I really did. I brought him to school this morning and as soon as we hit the parking lot he threw-up. I was frightened. I knew my bosses were not going to be happy with me taking yet another day. I was right.

9:00am: My cell rings, it's my boss. She said, this is not good you can't be off this much.

So what is a mother supposed to do? Even if I had a sitter they won't watch a sick kid. Who wants to get sick from watching someone else's sick kid? And Dave can't call into work or he'll really get in trouble. My mom can't watch him for more than an hour at the most.

I run into this problem at least 2 or 3 times a year. How is a full-time working mom supposed to be a stealer employee and a perfect mom?

I honestly don't think the world will ever know.

A book you moms & dads need to checkout in January!!!

So a huge congrats to my friend Rena Jones who is now a published children's book author. Her book comes out January 2009. It's called A New Job for Dilly.

Rena says "it's about a little rat who loves sour pickles. He's tired of having to steal them, so he decides to look for a job from A to Z. It's an alphabet picture book for kids ages 4-8 years." How cute is that!

So here is her very own Author page, again so cool! Check it out when you get the chance.

http://www.4rvpublishingllc.com/Rena_Jones.html

Congrats Rena!

Say Mac and Cheeeeeeeeeese and this that and the other

Just out of the oven is the Stouffers Mac and Cheese. While it's cooling the salmon is in the oven and the green beans in the micro. I am on this blog blabbing while dinner is practically cooking itself and my kid is behind me in the living room watching the Upside Down show. Yes, I do have to get up a half a million times to check on things and it takes about an hour to complete a post. lol!

Do you do this? I work in an office all day so when I get home I have to compact my time into a multi-tasking mish mosh. Thank goodness I have my husband to help me when I get lost in front of my aging monitor. But then before I know it, it's 8:30pm and nothing is actually done except perhaps we are finally eating. Time is precious and there really is not enough of it.

Grey hair. I am 39 and I seem to be seeing a lot of these lately. Maybe I need to slow down? Maybe I need to not stress so much over time. Maybe I just need to dye my hair more and stay in denial that the grey is even there. It surprises me every time though. I think it's because I remember my teens and 20's like it was yesterday. While I am happy to be more mature and wiser, I don't see myself as aging. Well, at least not until I look in the mirror. lol! I do seem to babble on more now then I used to. LOL!

Ok, I am done blabbing now.

I took 3rd again this year

So the judging is in and my Chocolate Chip Poundcake came in 3rd. So I am 3 for 3! I am a little disappointed because I really loved this recipe. But still, this is the 1st time I was in the pound cake class and I placed. Not too shabby!

Last year I received 3rd for my Huckleberry Angel Food Cake and the year before 2nd for my Cranberry Orange Angel Food Cake. NICE!

I'm looking forward to next July.

Mama Sharon's Helpful So Cal tips for a fun 4th

Happy 4th of July!

*When showing up to a picnic late, don't eat the cole slaw that's been sitting out for 2 hours.

*If you are planning to go to Downtown Huntington Beach, make new plans unless you enjoy spending your holiday with 150 thousand people.

*If you are going to bar-b-que, be sure your propane tank is full BEFORE you start cooking.

*Don't get angry that the people on your street are still lighting fireworks at 2am. It's nothing new, you should expect it by now!

*If you decide to go see fireworks at the last minute and realize you drove around too long and missed all of them, don't worry, go the next night to Downtown Disney or park outside of Knotts. They have fireworks every night of the summer.

*Want more tender chicken before you grill? Soak it in buttermilk overnight.

*Please be safe and don't drink and drive!

Angel Flop Cake

Well I guess I will only be making the chocolate chip pound cake for the fair this year. The angel food cake is just not working out. While it's always my favorite cake, the weather is not permitting me to make it. Such a delicate cake need air conditioning and not a house that gets 10 degrees hotter then the temperature outside.

I made the pound cake 3 times already and I have to admit, this is probably the best cake I have EVER baked. The glaze is awesome. It's a rich espresso glaze and it compliments the chocolate so well. I think I have a "fair" chance for 1st this year.

Wish me luck!