Daddy's away...

Carlos is away for three nights on a business trip so I've taken this opportunity to let my baby boy be a baby boy. Now all you moms of boys out there know exactly what I'm talking about....dad's always want their sons to look cool and be tough. Since Max is turning one in a few days(yes I said DAYS!) I have been feeling a little emotional about not having that cuddly little innocent baby anymore so Max has been crawling around this week in onesies and footie sleepers and I have been rocking him a little bit longer at night. I just can't help it :)

White Chicken Chili

So here's another recipe for you all... This is actually more like a soup than a chili but it is really delicious. My sister-in-law passed this along to me and we liked it enough to share.

3-4 chicken breasts cut-up
1/2 Tbsp Olive Oil
1 medium onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 - 4oz can of chopped green chiles
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
2 cans chicken broth
2 cans great northern beans
6 oz monterey jack cheese
Tortilla chips for garnish

In fry pan, cook chicken, olive oil, onion and garlic over medium heat until fully cooked. Add remaining ingredients except cheese to a warm crock pot and cook on low for 2 hours. Add cheese and crushed tortilla chips to each bowl before serving.

Delicious!

Shedd Aquarium

My brother and his family came down from Wisconsin this weekend to hang out so we decided to go to the aquarium. We had never been there before and it was pretty cool. I didn't get too many pictures of the animals because the kids were so cute I just couldn't take my camera off them...

Cold Morning

Pumpkin Soup

Tonight I made pumpkin soup and it was DELICIOUS!!!! I can't take all the credit since I got the recipe from my sister (even though I don't think she's ever made it). It is definitely a recipe that needs to be shared...(the picture doesn't do it justice-trust me)

2 medium pumpkins

2 cups chicken broth

1 cup water

1/4 cup maple syrup

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp ginger

1 cup half and half

toasted pumpkin seeds (optional)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cut the pumpkins in half, scoop out the seeds and place skin side up in a casserole dish with about one inch of water. Bake for 45 minutes or until soft. Scoop out the pumpkin flesh into the food processor and puree until smooth. Pour pureed pumpkin into saucepan and add chicken broth, water, syrup and spices. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer and cook for 30 minutes. Remove the soup from the heat and add the half and half. Serve with garnished pumpkin seeds if desired.

The Visit

My sister is coming, my sister is coming!

I am so excited...my sister and her kids are coming tomorrow night to visit for 3 days and I CANNOT wait. I have been feeling a little home sick lately so this is perfect timing. I'm sure it will go by too fast so I'm going to enjoy every minute of the visit. I'll report back next week sometime :)

6 weeks

Well today it's been 6 weeks since we left Phoenix and it hit me like a ton of bricks this morning. Up until this point, I have been having so much fun settling into Chicago life and exploring this amazing city without really thinking about how we left all of our friends behind (and I say friends but really most and some of them are really family). I'm sure this is pretty normal and may even be what they call "home sick" but I don't really FEEL "home sick"...I just want all my peeps with me here. So peeps, after you are done reading this pack up all your belongings and move your butts out here! Is that asking too much? lol