New Year's Resolution: Return to Blog

We are still alive. I've just succumbed to the busyness of the season, I suppose. Fear not, though, I have hopefully returned from the land of TV-watching and pie-eating. My poor body hopes so, at least.

We had a wonderful Christmas. We were able to spend multiple days with both of our families (which rarely happens these days), although I'm sure they would have held us hostage in North Georgia for a few more months if they could have. Jonathan had no idea what was really going on of course, unless the true meaning of Christmas is snuggling 24/7 and never being without a playmate. He loved spending time with his aunts and uncle, and being completely and utterly doted on by his grandparents. (Can I just say that being a grandparent, especially a grandmother, is like the most cushy job ever? All the fun of having a baby without the work! Ok, my mom would probably argue that now she just has someone else to worry about and pray for, but still... I think they secretly revel in watching how I am occasionally astonished at the difficulties of motherhood... Certainly makes me appreciate my parents - the moment they've been waiting 24 years for has finally come!) ;)

Snuggling with his grandma "Ruru."

In his Christmas outfit from "Aunt Abby's" grandparents. So stylin'!

Playing with his new blocks from Jon's parents.

Listening to words of wisdom from my dad, also known as "Cap'n."

Playing with his "busy beads" from my parents.

Christmas Morning pic! The awesome football is from his Uncle Chip.

Before Christmas, I had the most wonderful birthday. I confess that I was a little bummed out at the beginning of the week because Jon was going to have to work the night of my birthday and we didn't really have anything planned. Such a silly feeling to want to feel special on your birthday, but feeling too "adult" to ask for it. Feels like you might as well say, "I'd like a Funfetti Barney cake with Elmo sprinkles and a My Little Pony barn full of horses! With Lisa Frank stickers on it, of course." (Do kids these days even know what those things are?) I should be correct in saying that we actually did have a little weekend in-town "getaway" planned later on. Our sweet friends from church, Justin and Jessica, had agreed to stay with Jonathan for a night the weekend after my birthday, so we could go off for a few hours. We had a FABULOUS time. :) But back to my actual birthday. There is just something, in my opinion, about the actual day of your birth that merits some time being set aside to celebrate. I grew up in a family where on your birthday, a shiny "Happy Birthday" banner was hung in the kitchen in celebration, the birthday boy/girl got to eat on the red, "You Are Special" plate (which is kind of ironic if you know my mom), and got the same number of roses of their new age from Dad. (My brother Chip did not get roses, don't worry.) What I didn't know was that this year would be no different!

Thankfully Jon was able to get off work for the evening of my birthday, so I was looking forward to that, but I had to go into work for rotations (the real world is so lame). Mid-morning, I received a beautiful flower arrangement from my darling husband at work. Around lunch time, the door to the pharmacy opened, and who walks in but my mom, sister, Jon, and baby Jonathan?! Carrying 24 red roses from my dad and a strawberry Cecelia's cake (no Barney, but I'll let it slide). I know my face turned red in shock. I'm pretty hard to surprise most of the time, but they totally pulled one over on me. We were able to go and have a nice lunch downtown together, and then Mom and Betsy babysat Jonathan that night so Jon and I could go to dinner. What a great birthday! Not too many moms would drive 3 1/2 hours one way "just because she had yet to not lay eyes on me on my birthday." I'm a lucky girl.

Flowers from my hubby.

My Cecilia's cake. 

I have so many fun new recipes I want to share, one of which is from a little "rehearsal" Christmas dinner we hosted at our house a couple weeks before the actual holiday. But that will have to wait until I write about it. :) Until then, here are a couple of new ones Jon and I have enjoyed in the past week.

Pork Carnitas

from The Smitten Kitchen

3 pounds boneless pork shoulder or pork butt, cut into 2-inch cubes

1/2 cup orange juice

1/4 cup lime juice (from about 2 to 3 limes)

4 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon Kosher salt, plus more to taste

Corn tortillas, for serving plus
Avocado slices, chopped cilantro and fixings of your choice 

1. Place the pork in a large Dutch oven or heavy pot. Add the orange juice, lime juice, garlic, cumin, salt and enough water to just barely cover the meat.

2. Bring the pot to a boil and then reduce the heat to a simmer. Simmer uncovered for two hours. Don’t touch the meat.

3. After two hours, increase the heat to medium-high and while occasionally stirring and turning the pieces, continue to cook for about 45 minutes, or until all of the liquid has evaporated, leaving only the rendered pork fat. Let it sizzle in this fat long enough to brown at the edges, turning pieces gently (they’ll be eager to fall apart), only as needed.

4. When pork has browned on both sides, it’s ready. Adjust seasonings to taste and serve on warmed tortillas with fixings. (I topped mine with avocado, onions, and some cilantro. Jon isn't a fan of onions or cilantro, so he abstained from them.)

Apple Fritter Rings
Adapted from this blog.

1/3 cup sugar + 1 Tbsp

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 cup milk

1 tsp veg oil, plus 1 1/2 cups for frying

1 large egg

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

pinch of salt salt

4 med tart apples (such as Granny Smith), cored, peeled, cut into 1/2 inch-thick rings

1. In a medium bowl, combine the sugar and cinnamon. In another bowl, whisk milk, 1 tsp oil and eggs. Stir in flour, 1 Tbsp sugar, baking powder, and salt.

2. In a large, heavy, high-sided skillet, heat 1 1/2 cups oil until it registers 375 with a candy thermometer (or if water spatters when you flick drops of it in). In batches, coat apples in batter and fry until golden brown, about 4 minutes per batch, flipping halfway through.

3. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined baking sheet to drain. Toss apples in cinnamon-sugar and serve immediately. MAKES ABOUT 20.

Katie's Note: I only made half of the recipe, since there were only two of us eating them, so we used 2 apples which made about 8 fritter rings.

In baby news, Jonathan has begun to sit up by himself pretty well. Still hasn't rolled over, but what's the point of that anyways?

Getting married and having a baby has made me so excited to start our own traditions and to carry on some from our respective childhoods. What did your families do for birthdays or Christmas that were unique?