Yummy

Oh my goodness - work needs to calm down. I can't wait to go on leave and catch my breath! But, here are some of my favorites for this week that I wanted to share. Samoas are my favorite Girl Scout cookies, so imagine my delight when I found they are made into an ice cream! Oh my goodness, it is fantastic! Fortunately, our freezer is small (and right now filled with other Girl Scout cookies and frozen soup) otherwise I would have filled it up with this! I'm on a mission to get our freezer really organized before Baby Icing arrives, and mostly stocked with healthy dinners/lunches, but I think there might be room for some emergency cartons of this stuff!

I also wanted to share a delicious recipe from Real Simple that I finally tested out yesterday! I'm a big fan of the magazine - I love their aesthetic, the cleaning tips, and especially their recipes. So, yesterday afternoon, when I realized that I had two big bags of frozen corn in the freezer, I thought what could be better than corn chowder?

Corn Chowder (From Real Simple, February 2008)

8 oz bacon (chopped into small pieces)

1 large sweet onion, minced (I added in a minced carrot and a couple ribs of celery for added flavor)

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1/2 tsp smoked paprika

1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (I added more, because I wanted more heat)

2 10 oz packages frozen corn (I used 2 16 oz packages because I had them and I like thicker soups)

3 cups low sodium chicken stock (I mixed it up and added a half cup of white wine in there)

1 cup half and half

4 scallions, trimmed and thinly sliced (I added chopped parsley because I didn't have these)

1. Cook the bacon in large saucepan over medium heat until crisp. (They take the bacon out and use it as a garnish at the end, but I left it in the soup for more flavor). Whatever you do, when the bacon is crisp, add the onion and stir occasionally until soft (5-7 minutes).
2. Add garlic, paprika and red pepper, and cook for 2 minutes, stirring. Stir in the corn, broth and half and half and bring soup to a boil.
3. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 15-20 minutes. Puree half the soup in blender until smooth. Add back to the pot and make sure all soup proper temperature. Garnish with parsley or scallions.
4. YUMMY!

Misc Projects

I had the most wonderful coconut pancakes at brunch today, and a nice visit with one of my friends who is expecting a baby in September. I'm glad to know some other mums, and am glad that Baby Icing will have some friends!

Yesterday I did basically nothing - other than see "I Love You Man" which was really funny. I may take myself to see "Duplicity" next week for a matinee, or go with N next weekend - we're trying to see all the movies we can now. I think I redeemed myself today - I finally got out the work baby shower thank yous, and am doing laundry - all of Baby Icing's little snapsuits and onesies will be nice and clean for her! I wanted to share a couple pictures of the things that I've gotten done (and look for a later post with corn chowder - depending on how it turns out)!

This little bubble is so sweet - it's one of mine and I think it looks good for being 30 years old! I can't wait to dress Baby Icing up - it's going to be a hot summer here, so I want to make sure she stays cool and comfy. Bubbles are nice and light, but they are still a little bit dressier than snapsuits.


Here's the crib with the bedding - TA DA! I'm thrilled with the quality and with how it all looks together...we just need a baby in there (hopefully one who sleeps!)

Here's the stroller that I built- and per MMM's review over on her blog, she has really liked it so far, so I'm thinking that we made the right choice. It has certainly been fun to practice driving it around the condo! (Much to the consternation of my cats).

Speaking of cats, there is fortunately nothing terribly wrong with my little girl cat - she has to go in for some further tests, but it sounds like she may just need to switch diets to avoid getting another bladder problem! Thank goodness. We've been spoiling her with lamb baby food (which is DISGUSTING, but she loves).

Definitely...Maybe

I have had a legitimately crazy week at the office. Ai yi yi. I'm sitting in on a depo taken by our outside counsel on Monday, and then on Wednesday observing the potential start of a trial. Can anyone say - that's a little much for someone right around 37 weeks pregnant?

The good news is that Baby Icing is taking it all in stride. Thank goodness I'm not actually litigating anymore - budgets and strategy are stressful enough! She is definitely a girl, and looks pretty darn adorable (and in the right position) on our ultrasound. My doctor estimates that she is perfectly and completely average - somewhere between 5-6 pounds.

So, in that vein, I'm enjoying some March madness while N and the cats nap on the couch. My poor baby girl cat has been a little under the weather (and not doing her business where it should be done.) Please keep your fingers crossed that the vet tests will reveal nothing is really wrong with her - she's so cute snuggled up right now!

Happy Weekend!

Dinner in Paris

Do you ever feel like chicken breasts are boring? I do! But, they are so healthy and cook so quickly. This recipe is my secret weapon for making them fancy enough for company, and delicious enough for lazy me to make them for myself even when I start cooking at 8:00 p.m.

The recipe was in Gourmet Magazine's Paris special last year, and I can't urge you enough to try it!

Roasted Chicken with Dijon Sauce

1 package chicken breasts (3-4)
1 TBS vegetable oil
2 small shallots thinly sliced (I go heavy on the shallots)
3/4 c. dry white wine (California Chardonnay)
3/4 c. reduced sodium chicken broth (sometimes I leave this out if I don't have it in the house)
1/4 c. heavy cream (whipping cream works too)
2 TBS Dijon mustard
1 TBS finely chopped chives (you can substitute parsely too)

1. Preheat oven to 450 with rack in the middle.
2. Pat chicken dry and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a 12" cast iron (or other oven safe) skillet over medium high heat. Brown the chicken in batches (if chicken has skin, brown skin side down first) for about 2.5 minutes per side.
3. Return all chicken to skillet and put in oven until cooked through - 15 to 20 minutes. If you cook more chicken, let it cook longer than if there are fewer pieces.
4. When the chicken is done, remove it from the skillet to a platter. Add the wine and shallots and broth to the skillet and boil for 2 minutes, or until reduced by half.
5. Add cream and boil until slightly thickened, about 1 minute.
6. Strain sauce through a sieve - I always skip this step!
7. Whisk in mustard and chives. Return chicken to skillet and toss with sauce. Enjoy!
   

Things Pregnant People Like When They Are Pretending They Are No Longer Pregnant

Welcome to week 36. Baby Icing is kicking up a storm, and is clearly getting ready for her big debut at some point in the next month or so. I am pretending that it is late May, and I'm taking Baby out for some air and cupcakes in her adorable stroller. And, what better for kicking around the neighborhood than these beautiful earrings from Turq? (Here's the link: http://turqjewelry.com/sl4.html).

Because I'll be looking for more machine washable clothing than my current business casual wardrobe, isn't this dress from J. Crew darling? It's nice and light cotton for those hot days on the westside of L.A.

Throw in a pair of flipflops or Loeffler Randall peep toes, and there's my fantasy baby care outfit. Spitup not included. A girl can dream, right? I think the reality is more Lululemon pants and tanks...

Also, on a more philosopical note- why are most prenatal yoga classes during the weekday during normal business hours? I realize this is the West Side, but come on, doesn't anyone else work? Doesn't that seem a little silly?

Spring is Here?

Monday is over. I found this lovely image of a sunny day on this adorable website - http://www.pugslife.org/ which showcases adorable little pugs.

It was a perfect early spring day here - very windy, but clear and right around 70 degrees. I'm a total slug at work mentally, so I was happy to leave early to go meet with a pediatrician. Hope I don't get in trouble, but I told everyone where I was going - and I feel like at almost 36 weeks I should get kudos for still thinking and showing up in the morning! She was great. Not only is the office walking distance from our place, but they have really nice hours and a great on call policy. The only downer is that she doesn't have privileges at the hospital I'm delivering at, so Baby Icing will be making an early trip out of the house for a visit!

That's one thing down off the list of prenatal projects - hopefully I can get cracking on the remaining ones this week. I can't believe how close we are getting to anticipated arrival - and I surely do hope that Baby Icing is prompt! We have our final ultrasound and 36 week appointment this Friday, and I'm hoping everything looks good.

I'm starting to plan some fun projects/activities for my time off - it starts next week! The first day I'm having lunch with a friend and then going to a lecture about anesthesia (that won't be so fun, but I think it will make me feel better to learn more about pain relief). Then, I've got to get a haircut and color, and maybe a facial - I probably won't have time to do any spa days for the next 18 years! But, I want to make sure that there's lots of time for puttering around the house and general relaxation. What would you do if you had three weeks at home relaxing? Any projects? Any books/DVDs that you would finally watch?

Weekend Update/ Baby Reviews

Last week was CRAZY busy. Work was nuts! One of the projects I'm managing just kicked into high gear, perfect timing for my maternity leave. So, I was jumping around trying to put out various fires, and not have my blood pressure go through the roof! I just keep reminding myself that there is a much bigger picture, and that my biggest concern is not stressing out little Miss Icing.

On Wednesday, we had a nursing class. I have to say, it was a very big disappointment. I went in expecting to learn about how to feed a baby, and how to approach different breastfeeding challenges. Instead, N and I were forced to sit through about an hour and a half of the benefits of breastfeeding (we are in the class, clearly we believe in the benefits) and lots of anecdotes. I can understand the place for those things, but what I really wanted was to learn how it works. I also wanted to know what to do if you need a cesarean, if you have a sick baby, etc - all the things that would make breastfeeding tricky. No such luck. I hope the class is sort of useful, and I guess I can always call in a lactation consultant or hit up one of the Pump Station support groups after Baby arrives.

The good news - after we snuck out of the class early, is that one of our good college friends was in town visiting with his girlfriend. So, we had a lovely, but late, night eating some delicious take out Thai food and wondering how we all got so grown up all of a sudden!

Thursday, I had a lovely dinner with girlfriends at Gulfstream - try it out - it's in the Century City Mall, and it is delicious - I had Brazilian Cioppino and a few bites of their ice cream sundae! (I may need to do a post on making hot fudge sauce shortly.)

Unfortunately, Friday morning I woke up with a fever and chills. I had to be in court to watch a hearing, so I dragged myself into the office and to the hearing, only to find out that the decisive issues won't be decided until a couple weeks from now! I went home, called my doctor, and found out that I can take anything in the Tylenol family. I took a four hour nap, and then just did a little work.

N has been sick all weekend too. Yesterday, I managed to drag myself out for a walk, and to my eyebrow appointment, before we lay on the couch all day watching basketball. I did make Irish Bread and laundry, but other than that, I was unproductive.

We're feeling a little better today, though sad that USC is out of the tournament. Oh well, maybe next year? Now I'm settling in for the evening, and writing thank you notes for my work shower.

Oh, and I read the book pictured above. I can't recommend it enough. It is a very fair look at all sorts of pain relief measures during labor - from what do do when you're just a little uncomfortable, to what to do when you need serious relief. It really gave me a good understanding of my choices and options. I'm going to recommend it to anyone who wants to understand modern choices - all of them. I'm so glad that I read it. It also has a really nice section describing pain relief choices for cesarean recovery too!

Only 30 days to go...and 8 days left of work!