Delicious!

I had a great friend over for lunch on Thursday and I felt inspired to make one our favorites:

It's one of Barefoot Contessa - aka Ina Garten's amazing recipe's. It's the perfect lunch and I occasionally add chicken and serve it for dinner. It's the perfect all in one meal, combining protein, carbs, and veggies all in one dish.

Of course I served it with a french baguette (I never miss an opportunity to squeeze in some bread with fresh salty butter!) and to drink we simply had water served in a pretty pitcher with ice and a sliced blood orange. Refreshing and beautiful! I made a lemon cake in a bundt pan with a simple glaze of powdered sugar and lemon juice. It's pretty much sinful it's so delicious! It was so tasty we ate it for dinner that night too. I have probably made this 20 times and not once have I ever thrown even one tiny morsel of it away. We eat it again and again until it disappears. That's my idea of a successful recipe!

Ode to 2010

I can't even began to process the happenings and emotions of 2010 in one blog post but in an effort to recap I figured I would highlight some key moments of last year.

In 2010:

• I struggled to watch my born too early daughter fight for every breath, and fight for her very life.
• I fought with doctors that I loved and respected to try new and un-tested methods to teach her to eat so that I could bring her home.
• I prayed more than I ever have in my life.
• I felt more fear and hope simultaneously than I could have imagined possible.
• I was wheeled out of the hospital with my arms full and my heart overflowing as I took my beautiful, perfect, miracle home.
• I got spit up on, pooped and peed on, and lost hours and hours and hours of sleep and realized that even miracles are exhausting.
• I heard my baby laugh for the first time and I was awestruck.
• My cheeks have hurt from laughter more times than I can count.
• I kept meaning to get more done. I dreamed of cleaning more, organizing better, cooking more, sewing more and exercising more.
• Instead I laughed more, hung out on my floor more, snuggled more, sang more, and got more slobbery kisses than I could have ever wished for.
• After 11 years I stopped working full-time and became a part time employee and full-time Mom.
• I am still figuring out how to do a good job at both.
• I sometimes miss my "career" but I would trade a thousand careers for the chance I have now to be home with my girl.
• I missed my son desperately.
• I learned that sorrow and joy are not mutually exclusive.
• I watched my husband become a Dad and I have never loved him more.
• I watched my parents become grandparents and they are perfect.
• I learned that I serve a God who is trustworthy in times of sorrow, and in times of joy just the same.

I am thankful that 2010 was better than the year before, and am looking forward with great hope toward 2011.