A little "me" time . . .

I was in training this week and went to lunch at a restaurant on my own. I went to Café Asia, a restaurant we used to frequent when we lived in Arlington and had my favorite dish, Chicken Thai Basil. At the end of my meal, I still had time to spare so I treated myself to some Mango with Sticky Rice. Noah is usually very well behaved at restaurants, but eating alone and not having to worry about if he’s grabbing something, sitting upright in his high chair, or if there’s a changing table in the restroom was quite refreshing. Taking some time for myself and enjoying a meal in peace and quiet – ahhh, it’s the little things that make a new Mom happy.

Washington Nationals

On Monday we went to the Nationals Home Opener. This was the first time I've been to this park. It was a lot of fun. We baby bjorned Noah on the metro and packed up his diaper bag. I specifically got seats in left field in the back of the section so Noah would be in the shade if it was too sunny or protected if it rained. We were in Section 108 which was also near the Family Restroom. The only negative was that the seats were a little small so I had to make sure Noah wasn't grabbing the guy next to me. We lasted until about the fifth inning when the temperature started to drop. We didn't want Noah to get sick so we decided to leave early. Noah was more interested in watching the scoreboard instead of the field, but otherwise, he had a good time. He was knocked out on the way home. The park also had other things for kids to do like a playground, arcade, and family picnic area. If you're looking for something fun to do with the kids this summer, a baseball game at the Nationals Park is a great idea!

Graco Infant SafeSeat (Step 1)

I got my infant car seat at my baby shower. I registered for the Graco Infant SafeSeat (Step 1) in French Roast. I chose it for a couple of reasons. Graco is a reputable brand. They have two types of infant car seats, the SnugRide and the SafeSeat. I chose the SafeSeat because it accommodates the baby until it is 30 lbs. and 32" as opposed to 22 lbs. and 29" and so can be used longer. So far, I've loved the car seat. We use it with the matching seat base from Graco (one for each car) and the Graco SnugRider Infant Carseat Frame Stroller for the first 6 months. Haven't had any problems with the car seat except that it does not fit in a high chair or in a booth when we are at a restaurant. Otherwise, everything about this car seat is great. The straps and handle are eaily adjustable. It pops in and out of the base quickly and the shade is useful. After Noah reached about 13 lbs., it started to get too heavy for me to carry around but by then he was big enough for me to just carry in and out of the car easily.

Orzo, Pine Nut, and Feta Salad

1 pound orzo
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup pine nuts, toasted
1 1/4 cups feta (6 ounces), crumbled
1 cup thinly sliced scallion greens

Directions
Cook orzo in a 6- to 8-quart pot of boiling salted water until tender, then drain well in a colander.
Whisk together lemon juice, oil, and salt and pepper to taste in a large bowl, then add hot orzo and toss. Cool orzo, then toss with pine nuts, feta, and scallion greens. Season with salt and pepper.

My thoughts: A nice alternative side dish to the usual instant mashed potatoes or rice I typically make. This is great for summer. I added halved cherry tomatoes and sliced black olives. To toast pine nuts, place in a shallow baking pan in a 350°F oven until golden, 5 to 10 minutes. It was light and refreshing, but I think it needed a touch more salt. Be forewarned, a pound of orzo makes a lot! We had a ton of leftovers. Cutting this recipe in half would probably be enough for dinner for two plus leftovers for lunch the next day. Mix in some roasted chicken and it’s a complete meal.

Redbox

As new parents, the hubby and I haven't had a chance to go to the movies like we used to. That's okay though because now we spend our Friday nights renting movies from the local Redbox. Redbox is basically a DVD rental vending machine. Ours is located at our local grocery store. Rentals cost only $1.05/night. Returns are due by 9PM the next day. You can also sign up for their free Monday night rentals where they text you a promotion code that is good until midnight. The machines are stocked with the most recent DVDs and a couple of classics. Since we haven't been able to go to the movies, it is a great way for us to catch up on everything we've missed. Most recently we've gotten a chance to watch SlumDog Millionare, Marley & Me, Milk, and Changeling. If you want to reserve something in advance, you can do it on their website which makes checking out even quicker. The only negative to Redbox is that on Friday and Saturday nights it can be so popular that a long line can form so if you have a particular movie in mind, be sure to reserve it online first or get there early.

Danish Puffcake

4 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
4 large eggs
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
Pinch salt
1/2 cup whole milk
3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
1 cup (6 oz) blackberries

Directions

1. Heat oven to 425 degrees F. Place a 12-inch ovenproof skillet with 4 tbsp butter in the oven (you can also use a 10-inch skillet, but bake pancake for 20 to 22 min).

2. In a blender, combine eggs, flour, salt and milk until a thin batter forms, about 30 sec.

3. Remove pan with butter from oven and pour in batter. Return to oven and bake until pancake is puffy, golden and set, 18 to 20 min.

4. Serve from skillet or transfer pancake to a plate. Drizzle with more melted butter, if desired, and lemon juice; dust with sugar. Serve immediately with fruit. Makes 4 servings.

My thoughts: This beautiful dish is perfect for a light brunch. It is quick to make and requires minimal prep. The recipe only calls for blueberries, but I also added strawberries. I soaked the berries in the lemon juice before adding it to the puffcake instead of drizzling it directly on. It stuck to the bottom of the pan a little bit so using Pam instead of butter might help.

Chicken Cobbler Casserole

6 tablespoons melted butter, divided
4 cups cubed sourdough rolls
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
2 medium-size sweet onions, sliced
1 (8-ounce) package sliced fresh mushrooms
1 cup white wine
1 (10 3/4-ounce) can cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup drained and chopped jarred roasted red bell peppers
2 1/2 cups shredded cooked chicken

Directions
Toss 4 tablespoons melted butter with next 3 ingredients; set aside.

Sauté onions in remaining 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat 15 minutes or until golden brown. Add mushrooms, and sauté 5 minutes.

Stir in wine and next 3 ingredients; cook, stirring constantly, 5 minutes or until bubbly. Spoon mixture into a lightly greased 9-inch square baking dish; top evenly with bread mixture.

Bake at 400° for 15 minutes or until golden brown.

My thoughts: If you're looking for a chicken casserole recipe, this one is excellent. I really like it cause it doesn't require a lot of prep. I usually add more ingredients than what the recipe calls for so I use a large rectangle baking dish instead of a 9" square. Also when I don't have white wine around, I substitute with chicken stock.