Thursday, July 31, 2008

The newest Vitale has arrived!


Stephanie Anne Vitale arrived Thursday am at 8:59 weighing 6 pounds, 10 ounces. Jeff, Stacy and big brothers are thrilled :)

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Two and a half Chicken Recipes

Since "Recipes" is in the title of this blog I think it's high time I post one, or two...I actually combined the below two and the dinner got rave reviews by the hubby and in-laws. and me. and the kids.

Beth's Chicken Recipe:
Ingredients:
4-6 Cutlets, pounded thin
Arugala
Boursin cheese spread (Garlic & Herb)
Chicken Stock
Juice of 1 Lemon

Season Chicken w/Salt & Pepper
While chicken is flat, put a mound of Arugala & Boursin in the center.
Roll up & stick w/toothpick
Have a hot saute pan with some olive oil ready.
Sear the chicken, and brown on all sides.
Once the chicken is browned, take them out, and add Chicken stock....
I guess about 1/2 cup to 1 cup depending how many cutlets you had.
Add lemon, put chicken back, cover & cook for about 15 minutes.
Add fresh parsley!
I served mine w/rice & arugala & watercress salad. Yummy...bon appétit

Michelle's Chicken Recipe
(wing the amounts. If I can, anyone can):
Cutlets, pounded thin
Sundried tomatos
Olive oil
Fresh Smoked Mozzerela

Throw the sundried tomatoes, and mozz cheese and olive oil in the cuisinart. Puree.
Spread the Puree on the chicken
Roll up and stick with toothpick
Wrap in parchment paper
Bake - assume 350, I forgot to ask

I combined the above two recipes -
My Version:
Followed Michelle's recipe up until the parchment paper...I instead seared in olive oil then removed from pan. Added chicken stock to the pan (as Beth did minus the lemon) and when hot, put the chicken back in, covered and cooked for about 15.
Served with arugala and shaved parm salad with Olive oil/lemon dressing. And sauteed red potatoes
My cooking is inconsistent, pretty good at best and this one was good.

Monday, July 28, 2008

So now I'm a YouTube Fool but this one might even beat the earlier one.

Click here to see Christian the lion reunited with his (groovy) human friends (and listen to a sappy song as a bonus, an oldie but goodie!)

This is sooooo sweet, click here and get some goosebumps!

Friday, July 25, 2008

HUGS (Helping Ugandans Grow Stronger)

Please see the below from my sister-in-law, Courtenay, who is reaching out to help a cause that a good friend is working to assist:

I have an incredible friend that just returned from Uganda who had the heart to spend over a month there, working with an organization called HUGS (Helping Ugandans Grow Stronger) - orphans whose parents have died of AIDS!
Needless to say, it was life changing experience for her. Her heart for this missionary work there continues...my admiration is immeasurable. I am trying assist her (with your help) in being part of next year's mission team and help this incredible cause once again.
HUGS (Helping Ugandans Grow Stronger)
Currently more than 50,000 orphans live in Rakai alone. These children must do for themselves. Many homes in the Rakai District are “child-head-of-household”. The struggle to survive results in an inability to grow crops properly to sustain life, and an inability to obtain basic medical care when needed and attend school. In a child-run home, no one is there to provide support for the emotions left after the parent dies, and no one is there to guide the child into adulthood. This is just a small piece of the devastation that this country has seen (the website goes into detail)

If you are so inclined, please give what you can!! A small amount will go a very long way.

Donations can be mailed to:
Staci Thornton for HUGS 1015 Cedar Lane
Brielle, NJ 08730
Checks can be made payable to Staci Thornton HUGS

Please forward this along.
Thank you in advance for your help!
Courtenay

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

NJ Coalition For Vaccination Choice

We have posted about this before the reality is this - the mandating of MORE vaccines in the state of NJ is scheduled to take effect in SEPTEMBER, 2008. There is a petition that we can all sign. The petition's goal is to provide parents with a Conscientious Exemption to Mandatory Vaccinations, that twenty other states currently allow. The petitions group believe it is medically, ethically and scientifically irresponsible to mandate vaccination.

A little bit of info:

New Jersey now mandates more vaccines than any other state in the country or around the world: 35 doses of 13 different vaccines. New Jersey also has the highest rates of autism: 1 in 60 boys; 1 in 94 children. Sadly, 1 in 6 children in our state is diagnosed with learning disabilities. NJCVC does NOT believe this is a coincidence.
Regardless if you believe this is a coincidence or not, this petition is worth signing. The Governor or anyone else should NOT be able to force me to give my babies a flu shot. Full stop.

Sign the petition! It just takes a few seconds...

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

NJ Summer Rentals

Hi Everyone,
My family and I are looking to rent a house for a week or two next summer on the NJ Shore. I thought I'd put up a post and ask if anyone knows of someone that has a rental that they'd recommend. We would consider most towns - Avon, Belmar, SL or SLH, Sea Girt, Manasquan, etc... We'd like about 4 bdrms and something fairly nice but not too crazy expensive. If anyone has any ideas please either post or email me directly at kdeignan@pvmc.org. Hopefully we'll see some of you next summer!

Friday, July 11, 2008

Facebook

For those of you who have not checked out Facebook I think you should! it is quite a riot. It is easy to get started and when you start finding people and poeple find you it gets really fun! I have reconnected with people that I wouldn't have otherwise. I was skeptical at first but there is a reason why so many people are on it...

Sunday, July 6, 2008

Book Swap for the library challenged

All - I just read a good book, Wonderful Tonight, an autobiography by Patti Duke. Patti is called Rocks most infuential muse, or something like that. She was married to George Harrison, who wrote 'Something' about her and then she left him for Eric Clapton, who wrote "Layla" about her, as well as "Wonderful Tonight"...
Anyway, it was a good book. The story is interesting so it was definitely good, the writing isnt going to win any Pulitzers (that is the literary award, right?) but the story is interesting - Sex, Drugs and Rock& Roll.

I finished it and just bought Clapton's autobiography, looking forward to hearing his side :)

If anyone has any interest in reading Wonderful Tonight, let me know and i can pass it along.
Most of the other books I have read recently I have given away.

So - if anyone else is interested in either lending or borrowing books perhaps we can organize. If you are looking for any in particular just ask and if you are willing to pass some along pls share.

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Organic Farmers Market in Bradley Beach

Ladies - every Wednesday at least in July, maybe the whole summer, will be an organic local farmers market in the parking lot of Giomanni's (sp? - 301 Main St) restaurant in Bradley Beach. Produce, fish, cheese and maybe more. I'm clearly missing some details, it was in the paper but I missed it, my step mom told me about it. I think it sounds great. Everything you read promotes buying locally even above buying organic. The fuel etc it takes to get the produce here from Chile or FL or wherever is 1) expensive and 2) not enviro friendly. I dont always do this as I have no idea what NJ farmers spray on their crops...and I have not been able to find an organic local market until now. I plan on going tomorrow, will add a comment with feedback!