Chicken-Coconut Soup

Straight out of the Clean Eating Magazine is this AWESOME soup! It is my new favorite. I've made it now about 3 times and I'm not yet sick of it. Soups have become my "go-to" food for when I'm hungry and need something FAST! I usually double the recipe so that it makes enough to last through the week.

Chicken-Coconut Soup

Serves: 4 Total time: 30 Minutes

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp EVOO (extra virgin olive oil)


• 1 clove garlic, minced


• 1 medium onion, chopped


• 1 cup carrots, scrubbed and chopped into approximately 1/2-inch pieces


• 1 cup small white or red potatoes, scrubbed and chopped into approximately 1/2-inch pieces


• sea salt and ground black pepper, to taste


• 1 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth


• 1/2 cup light coconut milk


• 1/2 cup skim milk


• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (4 oz. each)


• 1/2 cup snow peas, cleaned and cut lengthwise


• 1 tsp red chile pepper flakes (or to taste)


• 1 to 2 tsp fresh lemon juice


• 4 tbsp cilantro, coarsely chopped

Instructions

1. Heat oil in a pot over medium heat. Add garlic, onion, carrots and potatoes. Season with salt and pepper and saute' until onions are lightly translucent.


2. Add broth and coconut and skim milks. Bring to a light boil.


3. Add chicken, cover and let simmer for 12 minutes over medium-low to medium heat.


4. Remove chicken and set aside. Add peas and chile flakes to soup. Simmer for 2-3 minutes.


5. When cool enough to handle, slice chicken and add pieces back to the soup.


6. Season with additional salt and pepper, if desired. Add lemon juice, sprinkle in cilantro and serve.

Nutrients per 1 1/2-cup serving: Calories: 250, Total Fat: 12 g, Sat. Fat: 4.5 g, Carbs: 18 g, Fiber: 3 g, Sugars: 6 g, Protein: 16 g, Sodium: 150 mg, Cholesterol: 30 g

Bon Appetit!

Glenn's Pre-Midlife Crisis!

Glenn's been talking about getting a faux-hawk for about a week now. I've ignored the talk, and assumed he was just being his usual goofball self. Until I got a phone call yesterday afternoon...

Lucinda: Hello?
Glenn: (half laughing) I think we're going to have to break up for about a week.
Lucinda: (half laughing too) Ok, why?
Glenn: Because I'm one sexy mother-f right now with my new faux-hawk and all the ladies are going to want me.
Lucinda: LOL! Yeah, Ok...Did you really get your hair cut in a faux-hawk?
Glenn: Yeah man! And I look HOT!
Lucinda: (still laughing at him) Well I think you're right. We ARE going to have to break up for a week, because I'm going to be too embarressed to be around you with your hair like that!

The boys and I went out to eat at Nino's Restaurant and Pizzaria because I promised them pizza for dinner. Glenn was still at the office, so I picked up a pizza for him and Shane and delivered it to the office where I got to whitness his new faux-hawk haircut. I was pleasantly surprised. It actually wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be. Here's a couple pics of his New-Do!

Glenn will be turning 30 on Saturday. So I have to assume that his new "hip" haircut, is because he is officially going to be an old man. Maybe his new faux-hawk makes him feel young again.

Here's the "Day After Faux"...Glenn said he styled it better today.

After I showed him the pictures I took of him last night, he was unhappy with them. So he decided to take some self portraits of "The Faux".

And my personal favorite....Faux in the Shadow!

Aidan & Rylan GreenThumb...Happy Earth Day!

I actually forgot that today was Earth Day. Had I remembered, I would have saved our flower-planting activity for today. The boys planted flowers on Monday using all the goods they received in their Easter baskets. We went to Wal-Mart a few days prior and the boys picked out what pot they wanted. Aidan and Rylan had fun putting soil in their pots, sowing the seeds, and watering their plants. They each put a little windmill in their pots and get a real kick when the wind blows and it spins. We go out everyday and water their little sprouts. I can't wait until they start to grow and peek through the soil. Maybe if we are successful growing these plants, I might get a little brave and start a real garden. I'm dieing to grow my own herbs...it would save me a pretty penny at the grocery store! Hope everyone had a great Earth Day!

Putting soil in their pots

Watering the seeds

Eating a popsicle for their hardwork

A little brotherly love

...and a kiss too!

I Heart Bethenny Frankel

Bethenny Frankel from Desperate Housewives of NYC is my new favorite reality TV star! She totally cracks me up. Her impressions of the other housewives are hysterical and I love her quick wit. I found the following video and was DIEING when I watched it. I think she should be my BF!..even if she is a New Yorker! LOL! J/K..I love New Yorkers :)

Here's the link

I sent this post from my iPhone.... Just checking to see if it works! Isn't technology grand?

Are They Twins?

I get this question A LOT!! Actually, almost every time I take them anywhere, someone will ask me if they are twins. Sometimes, I want to say yes, only because I think having twins is so cool. But I tell them "no, they're 13 months apart", and then I get this look of disbelief. Usually it takes them a second to do the math. They figure it up in their heads that 13 months minus 9 is only 4 months. And then the next remark is usually, "Wow! you have your hands full". And the reality is, I DO have my hands full. I'm not offended by these type of remarks, not even in the least, because the truth is, any mother who says that they don't have their hands full is LYING! We certainly did not plan to have our kids that close together, but when I think about it now, I'm so thankful. I suppose that there is no perfect age difference between siblings, but I LOVE having them so close. I probably wouldn't have had the same response if you asked me 2 years ago! The hardest part thus far was having a 1 year old and being an enormous 8 month heffer! (no offense to anyone who's pregnant, but that's just how I felt) It was a VERY uncomfortable time for me.

I assume the main reason that people always ask me if they are twins is because they look so much alike and are almost the same size. It's true, there is only about a 3 pound difference between them, and Aidan is just a few inches taller than Rylan. Today they fell asleep in the car, and I couldn't believe how much they resembled eachother, even in the way they sleep!



I have to say, I do love that they look so much alike. And although I told myself that I would never dress them alike (like my mother dressed me and my little sister), I am totally guilty of it! My favorite thing to do is put them in matching "themes". If one is wearing a blue and red stripe shirt then I usually try to put the other in a similar (not identical) shirt. Or, if one is wearing some kind of disney shirt, then the other usually is too. I have issues, people!

Here's a few pictures of both boys when they were little. Can you tell who's who?