Because I'm worth it!

This going to be a SAHM post(of me rambling) not a food post, but just in case you are wondering, we had KFC tonight!


So anyway, I had my therapy session tonight. Yeah therapy, so what! I think if more people went to therapy there wouldn't be so many jacked up people in the world.  Go talk to somebody, especially if your insurance covers it.  


As a new mom, it has been a tough transition at times.  Used to go out, get dressed up, put on make up and feel good about myself. Now, ugh, if you're a mother you know what the 'UGH' means! If you don't know, it means, "When will I get my next shower?", "Why do I smell like breastmilk?", "Did I brush my teeth today?", "Why do I have peas on my shirt?", "I can't believe I just went out in public looking like this!!!" Come on now be honest!  If you have a kid you have had moments like these and don't fake like you haven't!


Back to therapy.  I think I was having one of those moments (or weeks...ok month) where I just felt frumpy and unattractive. I didn't like what I was seeing in the mirror. It's not the same women looking back at me that was there before my husband and child.  DIVA!!!! LOL  I was going on and on to my therapist about how I felt ugly and fat and, and ,and.  She asked me what have I done for myself. NOTHING! Wait is that my fault?  I have a kid that nurse like a champion, my husband works all the time, and even though I 'work', I don't get paid, so yes, I have been putting off my massages, manicures/pedicures, and shopping sprees because of time constrains and because i don't like to spend money on frivolous things(anymore).  She, my wonderful therapist, told me that I needed these things.  You would think it was obvious but I have been holding myself back. I am frustrating myself. I told her that I didn't want to spend $40 on a pedicure when I can spend it at the grocery store.  Her response, "Your worth the $40!"  LOL  Well i hope I am worth more than 40 bucks! Anyway It sounded so simple and so silly but she is right!  I need to put me first...
Because I'm worth it! 
Why am I just realizing this?


Oh and for all you SAHMs check out this: http://swz.salary.com/momsalarywizard/layoutscripts/mswl_newsearch.asp
I found out I should be making $131,000/year  Where is my check??? LMAO

Baby food making day!

Every other Sunday afternoon (sometimes every Sunday) I make James' food to last for about a week or two.  Today... Blueberries, apple, and pear puree.  He loves it!

     I get a lot of people asking me why do I waste time and make his food.  Well I actually enjoy it!  I know I am giving him the best I can (fresh food rarely gets recalled) and  I think it makes me feel great because he loves my cooking even if it is simple! LOL  Anyway making baby food is so easy even the working mom can get this done.   There are a lot of baby food making contraptions out there but it can get a little expensive. If you have a pot and a blender or a food processor, you're in business.

1 cup of Blueberries- Fresh or Frozen

1 Bartlett Pear- Peeled, core, and chopped in to chunks

1 Gala Apple-Peeled, core, and chopped in to chunks

Dash of Cinnamon (optional)

Place fruit and cinnamon in to a pot and barely cover with cool water.

Boil for about 10 minutes or until the apples and pears are soft. If you are using fresh blueberries, you may need to add more time.

I like to boil the water down so there is only about an ounce or two of water left.

After that, put you fruit into your food processor/blender and mix until you get the texture you are happy with.  If it is still to thick you can always add a tiny bit of your cooking water.

I like to freeze my baby's food in ice cube trays because it will only last a couple of days in the fridge.

You can find trays made especially for baby food at Babies R Us- http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2721830

I promise you your baby will love it!  BUT Please check with your pediatrician before your baby tries new foods!  Apples and pears make a great starter food (6 months) but blueberries should not be given to your baby until at least 6 months!

For more info please check out these websites:

http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/

http://www.homemade-baby-food-recipes.com/index.html

Here is what I was snacking on while I was cooking! 

Hubby's Turn

I didn't cook last night because my husband offered to!  We both love our slow cooker (you will see a lot of slow cooker recipes over time) so he made chicken noodle soup!  It came out pretty good. I would post the recipe but I have no clue what he did, I was watching TV but I will post a picture!

I Love Gordon Ramsey!

I told my husband for Christmas I want a Gordon Ramsey cookbook! Yes I know Christmas was yesterday but the spirit should last year round, right?  I guess we will be making a quick trip to the book store tomorrow!  I am so excited to get my hands on that hot tempered Brit's book! LOL  I will be posting pictures of what I make from his book!

I LOVE GORDON RAMSEY!!!!

Yea Christmas Dinner & Baby's first Christmas!

First of all let me say that I feel like a terrible mother! I didn't have any "My first Christmas" PJ's for my baby! Oh well what can you do.  He got plenty of toys and clothes and if he knew what was going on, he would be extremely happy!

On to the food!

Last week, my dad asked me to HELP cook for Christmas. Some how I ended up doing the whole dinner, which is fine, but I like to be prepared.  I ended up cooking a large Cornish hen (that my parents already had), string beans, brown Basmati rice, sweet potatoes and corn bread (from Trader Joes...Yum!).

The Cornish Hen- I got this recipe off of FoodNetwork.com that I originally used on some Chicken Leg Quarters but I decided to try it on the hen.

2- Cornish Hen (although I used the big one my parents had)

1- Medium Onion sliced

1-Lemon zested and halved

2-3 Tablespoons of Olive Oil

2 tablespoons of Basil (I prefer fresh basil but I didn't have any on hand)

2 Tablespoons of Thyme (Once again I prefer fresh thyme)

A handful of fresh parsley chopped

A handful of fresh Rosemary chopped

3 Cloves of minced Garlic (I just by the jar of pre-chopped garlic)

Salt & Pepper to taste

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees

Place your hens in a roasting pan

Combine all herbs, garlic, lemon zest and oil in a mortar and pestle until you make a paste. I would add the 

oil a little at a time until you have the consistency that you are happy with

Take your paste and rub it all over your chicken, in the cavity, up under the skin, Everywhere!!!

Take your onion slices and put a few under the skin of the breast, a few on top, and some in the cavity

Squeeze the halved lemon over your hens

The sprinkle your salt in pepper on top

Now I have a roasting pan with a grate that the meat sits on top of so I put a little bit of OJ and chicken broth in the bottom of the pan. Just enough to cover the bottom an I also put a few springs of rosemary in the liquid.

Cover your bird and put it in the oven for about 40 mins (make sure you baste it every now and again), 

Uncover and bake for another 15-20 mins or until the internal temp reads at least 180 degrees

Sweet Potatoes

4-sweet potatoes sliced, diced, or however you prefer

1 stick of butter

1 cup of packed dark brown sugar

Dash or 2 of cinnamon

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Place half of the sweet potatoes in a glass pan, then layer half of the stick of butter (in pats) over the sweet

potatoes, sprinkle half of the brown sugar on top and repeat this with remaining ingredients.

I put a tiny pit of OJ in the bottom of the pan.

Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 45-60 mins. It will depend on how tender you want your potatoes to

be. I would also baste about half way through the cooking process.

Green Beans & Rice

Nothing special. I just steamed the green beans with some butter and Adobe brand seasoning with cummin. 

As for the rice, I just followed the package instructions but used chicken broth instead of water.

And here is the finish product!  Nothing elaborate, but it was good!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve.....

So this is not going to be a food post but it is about one of my favorite Xmas traditions.... A Christmas Story!!! Oh yeah!

So why the "Lion(ess) in a Cage"?

Well in high school my best friend would always say, "My stomach is growling like a lion in a cage!" and I just always thought that was funny. I was looking for a title for my blog that would kind of stand out. I know it's silly but YOU are here reading it! LOL I like food and whenever I look at one of my cooking shows my mouth waters and belly growls like a lion in a cage. If you happened to be a stay at home mom, you will understand feeling like a Lion(ess) in a cage!

I changed it to Lioness because, well, it should be obvious, I am a women and the lioness of my house hold. (I should make a tee shirt or something)

So that is my short explanation of why I chose this name.