Chicken.

On Saturday I was digging in my fridge. Jess wanted to put ice in JAC's cup and opened the freezer. Out of nowhere I frozen chicken breast came flying out of the freezer and collided with me head. Instantly angry, and feeling the top of my head begin to swell, I let out a string of curse words and retreated to the basement. My head is now more pointed than usual. On the bright, at least it was chicken and not a frozen turkey breast.

Morocco and My Friend Cate

While Jess was in Iraq my friend Cate stayed with me. She kept me sane. She sympathized because her fiance was in Iraq too. When we both were emotionally exhausted we went running and we ran fast.

Cate is one of my favorite people on earth. We trained together for the marathon. I don't get to see her often because she has a very important job but when I do it is always special because Cate is an extremely thoughtful person.

When Cate was on her honeymoon she stopped in Morocco and picked up these bowls. I love them because even though we can't travel internationally right now I like to look at them and imagine what Morocco might be like. A great gift has a way of transporting you to a special place.

In honor of my friend Cate, I'm posting this delicious Moroccan recipe. I cooked it last night and it was simple and amazingly yummy. I hope you enjoy it too.

Chicken Tagine

1 T. Oil
3 lbs of Chicken (I used thighs because they were on sale)
1 medium onion sliced
2 cloves of garlic chopped
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1 t. ground cumin
1 t. turmeric
1 t. ground ginger
1 t. cinnamon
1 t. salt
1 cup chicken broth
1 14.5 oz can diced (undrained tomatoes)
1 cup dried plums diced into bite sized pieces
1/2 cup whole pitted green olives
1 lemon sliced

* couscous for serving

Directions:
1. Cook chicken skin side down in oil in a dutch oven for appox. 5 minutes.
2. Turn Chicken and add onion, garlic, and cilantro
3. Add all spices on top of chicken
4. Cook for another 5 minutes. Check that chicken doesn't stick.
5. Pour broth and tomatoes in pot.
6. Continue to let chicken simmer stirring occasionally so chicken is completed coated in sauce.
7. Stir plums, olives and lemon.
8. Cover, reduce heat and allow to simmer for about 30 minutes
9. Remove chicken and keep warm.
10. Turn up heat, cooking sauce down for 5 minutes

Serve chicken on couscous and cover in sauce. This recipe looks challenging but was actually really easy. I hope you enjoy it!

Friday Adventure Pictures

Free is my favorite number. There are lots of free things to take advantage of in the D.C area but today Jess and I were itching to leave the traffic behind and go for a hike. We headed to our favorite nearby National Park - Shenandoah. The park features a scenic drive, and a large network of trails including portions of the Appalachian Trail.

As luck would have it, it was "Fee Free Week" for all National Parks. That made the hiking even better. Towards the end of the hike a buck deer walked across the trail. We always see interesting animals when we visit the Shenandoah. Last year we even saw a bear.

JAC hasn't quite caught onto the idea of hiking but he's getting better. The weather was beautiful and it was fantastic to be outside especially with forecasters predicting 4 days solid of rain starting tomorrow.

The National parks host Fee Free days throughout the year. Here's a link. I hope you too can enjoy a great hike. http://www.nps.gov/findapark/feefreeparksbystate.htm

Let's Go Nats

Our neighbor gave us four tickets to the Nationals baseball game. The seats were on the front row. The weather was nice and our good friends came to the game with us. It was their daughter's first baseball game and our first game of the season. The Nats lost but we still had a good time. Here's a couple of pictures to commemorate the event.

Pack Horse

About once a week I find myself hauling around a kid and all the kid accoutrement and wonder if the little horse that carried are gear in Mongolia felt like this. Motherhood renders you a virtual pack horse and I long for the days when all I'll carry is a purse.

I once heard a story of a farmer who bet his friends that he could lift a full grown steer. The farmer had never lifted a steer before but he knew he could lift a newborn calf. He guessed if he went to the barn and lifted the calf every day by the time it was full grown he would be conditioned to lift a steer.

I've done my own version of this experiment. I've been hauling JAC around in his baby backpack since he was 5 months old. It used to seem like an easy solution but on Friday I came to a distinct conclusion. I cannot lift this calf anymore. After carrying him for just two miles I was absolutely wiped out. I took him out and we slowly walk back to the car. This pack horse is officially whooped!

Friday Adventures

Now that the weather is finally nice I plan on taking at least one adventure a week. Freedom to explore at your own pace is one of the greatest perks of being a stay at home mom.

Since we moved here I've been wanting to go watch how money is made at the Bureau of Printing and Engraving. The tickets are free but they are first come, first serve so you have to show up early. On Friday, I loaded up JAC and headed downtown in hopes of securing tickets. By the time we arrived they were out of morning tickets but I noticed they offered tours at 5:30PM.

I asked for 2 tickets and gave Jess a call with a proposal. Could he leave work a few minutes early? We would come and pick him up and we could all go on the tour together. He agreed and it turned out to be a really fun trip.

Here's a couple of random facts about money that we learned.

1. The paper money is printed on is actually 75% linen so paper money is more cloth than paper.
2. 95% of money printed is replacement money for worn out bills.
3. The average worker at the bureau will print more than his annual salary in less than an hour. (That has got to be mildly depressing.)
4. Money engravers must go through a 10 year apprenticeship.
5. The first letter in the serial number on a bill indicates where it was first shipped. For instance, the letter L means the bill was originally sent to the federal bank in San Fransisco, CA.

They wouldn't let us take pictures during the tour but we stopped at the Tulip Library on our way home and took a couple of pictures. Enjoy.

Just a Lazy Saturday....

Here's a video for my mom. It's a lazy Saturday and we're all rocking out to the music on my cell phone. I everyone is having a great weekend. www.jesseandtoniconnelly.blogspot.com

Unsolicited Running Advice - It's Physics

I want to be old and gray and still running with Jess. Or, perhaps we will have matching mountain bikes. Basically, I'm crazy about this guy and always want to be his buddy especially in outdoor adventures.

This morning on the trail I was admiring all the couples walking hand in hand. When I got done thinking the aforementioned mushy thoughts I started analyzing my running form.

I have never had much upper body strength. I'm just not built that way. I think lots of girls have this problem and it often manifests itself in one typical running error. Runners often pull their arms up to their chests or swing them across their bodies when they are tired.

This might seem natural but it works against yourself. If you think about the physics of it all when your arms are pulled in they shift your weight side to side rather than helping propel you forward. It's wasted energy.

When I was younger both my parents tried to help me get stronger and more coordinated. My mom told me to envision two ropes on each side of your body horizontal to the ground. Envision each arm reaching forward to pull on this rope while you run.

I still think about this when I get tired and it seems to really help. My mom has always been great at teaching us to use mental pictures.

Put the Lime in the...

Lately I've been on a lime kick. Here's two of my favorite lime recipes. Enjoy:

The Easiest Key Lime Pie on Earth
1/2 Cup Lime juice
3 egg yolks
1 can of sweetened condensed milk
1 ready made graham cracker crust
some whip cream

Combine the first three ingredients. Pour into crust. Bake at 300 degree for 25-30 minutes or until firm. Let cool and serve with whip cream.

Corn Salad Fiesta
3 Cups cooked corn
2 diced tomatoes
1 seeded diced jalapeno
1/2 bunch sliced green onion
2.5 cups cooked black eyed peas ( I typically cook them with 2 teaspoons of salt)

Dressing
1/2 cup olive oil
2 Tablespoons lime juice
1 teaspoon sugar
dash of Tabasco sauce

Mix this all together and serve. Jess and I ate the whole batch in one sitting but we're fatties.

Run Fast and Then Party

Jess and I are the Yen and the Yang of running. I'm a pace runner. I like to settle into a steady pace and cruise on home. Jess is a rabbit runner. He speeds up and then slows down. We both get the job done but in our own way.

Sometimes, I find Jess' rabbit habits a little infuriating. He always seems to speed up right when I have found my comfortable pace. Tonight we headed to our favorite running trail and hit the pavement. I unleashed my secret weapon - The jogging stroller.

Let me explain. I've been jogging with stroller since JAC was an infant and it takes some practice and a little finesse to get good at it. Jess always volunteers to push the stroller when we run together but I'm so used to it that I typically just do it.

Tonight when Jess started his sporadic running patterns I surrendered the stroller. Instantly I felt free and I wanted a little payback. Without the stroller I could use my upper body and push the pace. I settled into my my eight minute mile pace and pulled ahead. My inner Puma was out and I was making a dead sprint for the last two miles. I felt fast. I felt free. I didn't feel like a jogger. I felt like a runner.

Luckily Jess took this all in stride. I'm always impressed with how well he gets me. He said he knew I need a good hard run and he was right. When we arrived at our car there was a Salvadorean dance troop practicing in the parking lot. They had a minivan blasting traditional Salvadorean music while they practiced. JAC started stomping his feet and clapping. Jess and I encouraged him and started dancing too. A few minutes later I looked up and there were other people grouped around watching the dance troop, swaying to the music and clapping. It was like an instant block party and it was magical.

The Nothing Post

This post is about nothing. I have nothing on my mind but I didn't want my one loyal reader to give up on me.

Today I had my best run of the year. It was awesome and reminded me why I run. After the marathon I took most of the winter off. I have decided to blame the mountains of snow. When spring came JAC and I hit the road again and it was PAINFUL. I wasn't paying attention and while I was hibernating JAC gained over ten pounds. Pushing a 30 pound baby in a stroller, up hills while trying to breath often results in pain.

The weather here is awesome. DC really does spring right. JAC and I both are looking a bit tanned from hours at the park.

We went to a wedding shower last night. I knew there would be lots of party food so I fed JAC a healthy dinner before we left. JAC wasn't buying it. He wandered around the house stealing food off party trays. When I wasn't looking he ate 5 chocolate chip cookies, a strawberry and a bunch of chicken nuggets. My kid is getting to be a fatty.

Jess was out of town this weekend. I was on my own to get JAC ready to go to church. While I was madly digging for a skirt JAC climbed on my bed and rolled around like a wild animal. He promptly fell off backwards and upside down and bonked his head. Amidst the crying I decided we weren't going to make it for Sunday school. After getting us both ready I was rushing around cleaning the house. It's always nice to come home to a clean house. While I was shoving clothes in a dresser drawer I accidentally slammed JAC's fingers in a drawer. I felt horrible. I get the mother of the year award. I blame it on the devil. He didn't want us to make it to church.

Easter Part 2

We kept our Easter celebration small this year. We went to church. JAC had to get dumped in the nursery after making a mad dash towards the front with his favorite paint brush in hand. Jess and I sang. The sermon was great and when we got home there was only one thing on our minds. We really needed a nap. I put JAC in bed and curled up with Jess. In an instant we were both snoring and it was wonderful.

JAC took the world's shortest nap. I am sure he was deeply excited about the arrival of the Easter Bunny. I sneaked out of bed and let Jess sleep. I knew he really needed it. JAC and I made a yummy late afternoon lunch. Of course the highlight was the pear bunnies.

Pear bunnies are a tradition in my family and Jess loves them. They are pear halves with cottage cheese tails, almond ears, and dates for eyes. I just get a kick out of food shaped like animals.

Before dinner we attempted a quick Easter egg hunt with JAC. He loved the first two eggs he found but then cried when we attempted to get him to put them in his basket. Finally I rolled the eggs within his reach and he tried his best to hoard them far away from me. A few minutes later I caught both JAC and the dog with chocolate drool coming from their mouths and foil candy wrappers wedged between their teeth.

We had planned to take the whole family to a Wizards basketball game. Our neighbor had given us free tickets but JAC seemed really tired. Instead I went to the game and left the guys at home. Holy Solitude!!! It was awesome. It was my first NBA game and the seats were only a few rows from the floor. It wasn't a close game but it was a great treat to have the whole night to myself and experience an NBA game.

Easter - Connelly Syle Part 1.

We had gorgeous Easter weekend weather and tried to take full advantage of it. On Saturday morning we woke up early and headed to the National Zoo. Jess and I both love the zoo and we're both eagerly awaiting the day when JAC will love it too. Unfortunately we didn't calculate for two things. First, everyone else decided to go to the zoo too and it quickly became and elbowing match to catch a glimpse of the Panda. Secondly, you can't make a one year old like the zoo and JAC seemed less than thrilled. I mainly think he was exhausted because the moment we loaded him in the car he was out.

All parents know the golden rule. If your kid falls asleep never never never wake him up. Plus, Jess and I were itching for an adventure. When we were a kid free pair we would often take random unplanned trips. For instance, one day we were heading to our local kayaking spot, got stuck in traffic and decided to just keep driving to the Outer Banks, NC instead.

We made a quick stop to grab the dog and some provisions and headed for Charlottesville, VA. We had dreams of an exciting impromptu getaway. About thirty minutes down the road, JAC woke up with a fury. Faced with a screaming kid we decided to stop at the first place we saw. Luckily it was the Mannassas Battlefield. We hiked for almost 4 hours and JAC protested for approximately 3.5 hours. We had a significant difference in opinions. JAC wanted to get out of the backpack and walk. Unfortunately that really meant JAC wanted to sit on the ground and dig in the mud - an action not entirely compatible with hiking. Despite the cranky kid it was great to be outside and I know at least the dog had fun.

Moving Part A

Jess and I talk a lot about moving. I grew up moving every few years and this rolling stone prefers not to let the moss grow. Fortunately, Jess serves as our anchor and prevents me from turning our little family into a band of gypsies.

We actually love the people here but wish we could trade the traffic for some mountains or perhaps a beach. This winter was arduously long and as we packed up another friend last week a serious case of wanderlust set in. I wished we were packing up too.

Today something great happened and it served to beat back my gypsy tendencies once again. The weather turned warm and I loaded up JAC for an adventure. We went and saw the Cherry Blossoms at the Tidal Basin. This is always a highlight of my year and I am frequently surprised by how many Americans have never witnessed it. The spectacle of color is absolutely breathtaking and all of a sudden I am glad that I live right here.

A Bad Combination

Yesterday, for the fun of it I made my favorite cookie bars. They're coffee flavored and covered in chocolate. I was so determined to make these cookies that I manufactured my own brown sugar because I was out of the real stuff. I had dreamed of these cookies for at least two days.

That's when things went really downhill. I lost all forms of self control and consumed half the batch. I instantly regretted this decision and when I became overwhelmed with guilt I decided to go on a run. I instantly regretted that decision too. I'll spare you the details but this morning when I saw the left over cookies on the counter I almost lost it. I never want to see another cookie again. I'm throwing out my bag of sugar. The thought of a cookie makes me feel chagrined.