We had a fun and busy 4th of July. My family came down for all the fun in Delta. I ran the 5K race with Erica, Hilary, and Darla in the morning. It was so much fun except we had to climb an 8 ft. fence because someone locked it after it had been unlocked. We were also disappointed to find out it wasn't a full 5k.
Nate broke his foot on the 3rd wake boarding so we broke our tradition of going to the res and went to the parade. Owen enjoyed sitting on everyone's lap and Gavin enjoyed eating the candy. Afterwords we went to the park for some good food and a concert in the park. We also enjoyed four wheeling, taking naps, the derby, and fireworks.
We couldn't have asked for a better day to spend with family and friends.
Gavin and Owen wanted to play with Dandy the other day but it was raining
outside. So I put Dandy in a cage in the kitchen and the boys had a blast.
Gavin likes to act like a dog lately so he was loving being locked in the cage.
outside. So I put Dandy in a cage in the kitchen and the boys had a blast.
Gavin likes to act like a dog lately so he was loving being locked in the cage.
Owen is the messiest eater while Gavin is slower and not as messy. Owen always
has food all over himself after everything he eats. I sometimes have to give him
a bath after every meal.
has food all over himself after everything he eats. I sometimes have to give him
a bath after every meal.
Owen is growing up so fast and has such a contagious smile and laugh. You can't but help being happy when he smiles at you. Just in the past couple of days he has started walking all over the place! It is just the perfect time too, now that it is warming up.
Owen thinks he is a big boy now and has to always feed himself. He screams if I try to help at all. He probably gets more on himself then what he can get in his mouth, but he loves it.
Gavin's favorite vegetable is squash. I can't believe how much he likes it. He gobbles it down like it is
candy. Here he is on the couch eating his bowl of squash.
Owen thinks that he should be able to eat food too when we eat dinner. He has to sit on someones lap at dinner time or he will just cry the entire time we eat. He tries so hard to grab food off everyone's plate. Gavin likes to share his food and sometimes I will catch Owen with food in his mouth. Owen does get to eat baby cereal though and loves it. Soon we will try baby food and before we know it he will be eating at the dinner table along with the rest of the family. They grow up so fast.
We picked our first watermelon from the garden. We couldn't believe how big they got. It was very juicy and delicious. We planted lots from a seed packet but they all died. Instead of buying a new packet of seeds we decided to try planting seeds from a watermelon we had bought from the store. We didn't know if it would work but as you can see it was successful. I think we will do it this way every year now.
Nate is always telling me how good the food in Texas is and how much he misses it. He said that he often ate Okra for school lunch in elementary school. When we planted a garden he wanted to plant Okra. I had never heard of it but was willing to give it a try. One day Nate decided he was going to make me a Texas style dinner. It consisted of Chicken fried chicken, okra, masked potatoes, gravy, and corn on the cob. It was amazing and the perfect comfort food. I would have to say that Nate is an excellent cook.
Chicken Fried Chicken
2 cups flour
1 T pepper
1/2 T salt
2 T paprika
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1 T lemmon pepper
2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts
Mix flour, salt, pepper, lemon, pepper, and paprika together in a large bowl.
Mix the 2 eggs and milk in another bowl. Dip chicken breasts in egg batter then flour ingredients-repeat once more.
Carefully submerge in heated oil. Cook until golden brown on both sides. Approximately 4-6 minutes on each side. Watch carefully - don't burn. Remove and let drain on paper towels.
Drain most of the oil but save the fried bits of the breading and add to a country gravy.
1 T pepper
1/2 T salt
2 T paprika
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1 T lemmon pepper
2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts
Mix flour, salt, pepper, lemon, pepper, and paprika together in a large bowl.
Mix the 2 eggs and milk in another bowl. Dip chicken breasts in egg batter then flour ingredients-repeat once more.
Carefully submerge in heated oil. Cook until golden brown on both sides. Approximately 4-6 minutes on each side. Watch carefully - don't burn. Remove and let drain on paper towels.
Drain most of the oil but save the fried bits of the breading and add to a country gravy.
Fried Okra
2 cups flour
2 cups water
1 tablespoon hot sauce
2 cups saltine crackers finely crushed
12 oz frozen okra individually cut
Canola oil for frying
In a large bowl whisk the flour, water, and hot sauce together.
Place the crushed crackers in a separate large bowl.
Add a handful of okra to the flour mixture and toss to coat evenly. Let stand fifteen seconds. Using a slotted spoon, remove okra and dredge in the cracker crumbs until well coated. Remove okra to a large baking sheet. Repeat this process with remaining okra.
Heat oil to 350 degrees. Carefully place a portion of okra in hot oil. Do not overcrowd. Deep fry the okra for about 2 to 3 minutes or until it turns golden brown, stirring occasionally.
Remove okra from oil and place on a paper towel-lined plate. Makes 6-8 servings.
Dip the okra in mashed potatoes and gravy and enjoy.
2 cups water
1 tablespoon hot sauce
2 cups saltine crackers finely crushed
12 oz frozen okra individually cut
Canola oil for frying
In a large bowl whisk the flour, water, and hot sauce together.
Place the crushed crackers in a separate large bowl.
Add a handful of okra to the flour mixture and toss to coat evenly. Let stand fifteen seconds. Using a slotted spoon, remove okra and dredge in the cracker crumbs until well coated. Remove okra to a large baking sheet. Repeat this process with remaining okra.
Heat oil to 350 degrees. Carefully place a portion of okra in hot oil. Do not overcrowd. Deep fry the okra for about 2 to 3 minutes or until it turns golden brown, stirring occasionally.
Remove okra from oil and place on a paper towel-lined plate. Makes 6-8 servings.
Dip the okra in mashed potatoes and gravy and enjoy.
