missed.

there are definitly things that i miss being pregnant, but i think the one thing that i really-really miss on a daily basis, are my morning.  they used to be filled with runny yokes, sweet potatoe hash, bacon, did i say runny yokes?  uh.  i love me some runny yoke eggs…but for now, the site/smell of eggs sends me running for the porcelain. on that note…some of my favorite runny yoke egg recipes that i hope to one day enjoy again.

Eggs in a nest
directions: preheat oven to 370 degrees, line greased cupcake tins with strips of proscuitto (it is much easier to remove the cups if the proscuitto completely lines the cups), crack egg into cups, sprinkle each egg with a little shredded cheese and dash of salt and pepper.  Bake for 15 minutes, let sit for 5 min. 
for sweet potatote hash- peel 1-2 large sweet potatoes, with food processor ‘hasher’ shred potatoes.  i fry my sweet potatoes in ghee, and add a hint of maple syrup.  MMmMMmMm.  you can also make the hashbrowns in the oven if you are making large quantities.
once egg cups have set, remove from tin, and place ontop of has brown, top with green onions.
Ham Eggs Cups

this is a somewhat simplified version of the first recipe!
directions:  preheat oven to 375 degrees- insert thin slices of ham into the cups of a greased (coconut oil, ghee) cupcake pan.  crack egg into each cup.  sprinkle with salt, pepper to taste.  for the ham cups, i really prefer topping with gouda cheese.  the two seem to pair really well.  bake for 15 minutes, or until eggs set.  if you want to get crazy, before cracking the egg, drizzle the ham with a little maple syrup.  i know i’m weird, but i love egg yoke and maple syrup mixed together.
Eggs in the Clouds
This one takes a bit more effort, but is SO worth it.  
directions: crisp bacon- i like to cook my bacon in the over at 400 degrees, for about 15 minutes, until it’s good an crunchy- CRUNCHY. let cool. crumble into bits
increase over temperature to 450 degrees
separate egg white and yokes
whip egg whites until peaks form – fold in bacon crumbles, shredded cheese, and green onion (or chives).
divide the egg white mixture into the number of eggs used and spoon mounds onto a parchment lined baking sheet, create a deep well in the center of each mount.  bake for 3 minutes.  remove from oven, gently add 1 yoke into the well of each cloud.  season with salt and pepper.  bake for addition 2-3 minutes.
Soft Boiled Eggs with Asparagus and Proscuitto Crisps

directions:  
crisps (can also substitute with bacon)-
slice proscuitto into thin slices fry in pan on medium-high heat until crispy.  remove from pan, and set aside on a paper-towel covered plate (helps remove some grease)– keep pan warm and save grease for later
soft boiled eggs-  
boil water- reduce to rapid simmer.  gently lower eggs into the water.  cook eggs for 5-7 minutes depending on how running/firm you desire.  remove eggs from water, and run under cold tap water for 30-60 seconds.  remove from shells
asparagus-
i hate the woody part of asparagus, bleh.  so i take each end of my asparagus, and slowly bend it in half until it snaps. it will snap where the woody part starts.  my favorite way to cook asparagus is to blanch it.  boil salted water, add asparagus- cook for 1 minute, remove from water.  THEN, add the asparagus to the proscuitto pan and quickly fry it a little in the proscuitto grease…MmMmMmm
layer- asparagus, egg (with salt and pepper), crisps.
bon appetite!

lessons from mom

lessons passed down from my mom:
1. people only swear when they can’t think of a smarter word to use
2. girls can use hammers
3. always buy in multiples….
so, i ask you…is this good planning on my part?  or just neurotic?

(above: stella mccartney nude tulle dress with silver polka dots…in sizes 12, 24 and 36 months)

the doom of deli meat

So going into this whole pregnancy thing, I knew I was going to feel a whole realm of emotions.  I knew that I’d freak out, i knew that i’d be ridiculous excited, i knew at some point i’d be impatient, that i’d be moody, and crazy and neurotic…however, no one ever really talks about how extreme some of those feelings can be…and how irrational you might respond to them.  So, since it’s been a couple days, and i am able to look back now and laugh at myself, i thought i’d share my biggest melt-down so far.

so it was sunday, a gorgeous day…a perfect day for a baptism!  yeop, my sweet cousin(?) rylie was baptized on sunday.  of course the event was insanely gorgeous, because her mom, my beautiful-talented cousin, Cassidy, planned out every single detail…and if you know cassidy, you know, that means, every. single. detail. 🙂  i am so happy to have her in my life, so she can help me plan out all the little details in life.

anyways, while at the “small” (100+ people) reception after the baptism,  I scarfed down a delicious sandwich…filled with deli meats!!!  at the time, i didn’t think anything of it (baby brain to blame?).  but then, it all came crashing down.  when i got home, i realized what “awful” thing i did…i had subjected my unborn child to DELI MEAT!  deli meat is on the “AVOID” list…of course, i went straight to the computer to WebMD what might happen, and had started to convince myself that i had indeed put my baby in great harm.  adam, being the ration man that he can be, made me close the computer, and to go for a walk.  while on the walk, i started feeling really nauseous.  and on our way back, it hit…here i was, at a bus stop, with my head in the trash can.  thankfully, no one was around except for the cars speeding by.  but that was it.  that had sealed the deal (even though i’ve been sick pretty much this entire pregnancy).  i knew i had harmed my marshmallow.  i was sobbing. the kind where you can’t breathe.   with adam there, telling me that everything was fine and that i am a good mom, he was finally able to talk me off the ledge (such a good hubby).   He also reminded me that we had a dr. appointment on tuesday, where we would be able to hear little marshmallows heart beating, and talk to the dr. about any concerns we might have.  so, for the most part, i was fine…besides the awful nightmares i had that night.  

well…after talking with my dr., and doing some serious reflecting, i am pretty certain that everything is ok (at least for now).  the truth is, that it wasn’t the deli meats that made me sick…it was my prenatal vitamins!!!  besides forgetting that i wasn’t supposed to eat deli meat, i also forgot that i had taken my vitamin with lunch…  after going through that thought with the dr., she gave me a different vitamin to try….and good news!! i haven’t thrown-up since!!!!

i’m sure there will be more freak out, panic attacks, waves of guilt, etc…but i know i am blessed to have the love and support of so many wonderful people.

friends of the Del

i honestly don’t know how, or why we are so blessed to have so many wonderfully generous people in our lives.  i like to believe it’s becuase we both share the belief that everyone deserves to be greeted with a smile, and treated kindly. 

thanks to some wonderful friends, bill matheny and cheryl ferguson, we were treated to a “bbq”, as friends of the del (hotel del coronado).  and yes, i put “bbq” in quotes, becuase it wasn’t just a bbq, it was a grand feast.  when we sat down, on the menu, there were several salad options, several meat options, and more than several side dish option (see image below for examples of menu item). naturally, we thought that we would be chosing one from each section, oh, but, no…we were served EVERYTHING.  the del wanted to show their friends, ALL the things that they could offer.  my favorite item?  probably was the grilled peaches served with indian ice cream (most likely goes along with my previous post).   the event was gorgeously decorated with white phalenopsis orchid arrangements, and low table succulent centerpieces (of course i HAD to run around and take photos of them). 

Now if you know me, you know that social events, especially ones that entail me not knowing ANYONE…can be, well, streessful.  but the night was wonderfully fun and entertaining, thanks to all our new friends from table 4!  the night would not have been as enjoyable without all the friendly smiles and conversation you all provided.  (we even stayed out past 10pm…which for this mama, is quite the feat these days).   AND THEN!  to top the night off…who do we run into on our way out?  mr. alex montoya… departing from yet another wonderful even being held at the del…. 

….we might be biased, but we really do love the del.