Green

Green

We saw so much beauty and variety on our trip from Seattle to Alaska, but the predominant color was most definitely green.

green

Yes, I know I should label all the pictures with the specific locations where they were taken. Maybe next time I take a trip, I’ll take better notes to accompany the photos.  Or, even better, I’ll have a camera that records GPS coordinates in the photo’s metadata. I’m all for technology that allows me to be even more lazy.


Pomegranate Chicken Recipe

Chicken stewed in a gravy of pomegranate and ground walnuts

Ingredients

3 Tbsp olive oil

1 large leek

2 lbs chicken (I like thighs because they’re juicier and more flavorful, but breasts will also work well)

1 tub Knorr Chicken Homestyle Stock concentrate

2 cups pomegranate juice

8 oz walnuts

1/4 tsp cardamom

basmati rice, prepared

Directions
  1. Add the olive oil to a large skillet over medium heat
  2. Thinly slice and caramelize the leeks, and brown the chicken. Make sure the leeks are well caramelized, releasing all their sugars. This will help to counteract the tartness of the pomegranate juice.
  3. Add one tub of Knorr Chicken Homestyle Stock concentrate and thin with the pomegranate juice.
  4. Grind the walnuts to the size of breadcrumbs in a food processor, and add to the pot along with the cardamom.
  5. Cover and allow to simmer for approximately 20 minutes. Cook time will vary, just make sure the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165°.
  6. Shred or cut chicken into bite size pieces and stir back into gravy. Remove the lid to allow the gravy to further reduce. It should be thick enough to sit on top of the rice rather than run right through.
  7. Serve on basmati rice.

Notes:

  • If the gravy is a little too tart, add a tablespoon of sugar, but not too much. This isn’t supposed to be dessert.
  • Cooking the chicken in larger pieces results in juicier meat, but if you are in a hurry, cut the chicken into bite sized pieces before browning, and do not cover while simmering to significantly cut the required cooking time.

pomegranate chicken

This isn’t a pretty dish, but it’s yummy. In fact, you might even find yourself closing your eyes as you enjoy it.

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FTC disclaimer: I received free product from Knorr for use in creating this recipe.

First flight

First flight

Here we are somewhere between Alaska and Seattle, most likely over Canada. This was baby girl’s first flight, and she spent most of the flight in this posture, watching Curious George on my computer.

first flight

She did peek out the window a few times to make sure we were still up in the air, and then she would announce to me that we were “flying in an airplane.”

Wish I could sit that comfortably in an airplane seat. There are benefits to being that short.

Dear Gem – Month 27

Last month you spent more than 3000 miles in the back seat of grandma’s overpacked car.  It took us 10 days to drive from Seattle, Washington, to Soldotna, Alaska. But then we took the long way through the Canadian Rockies, and did a little sight seeing as well.


View Larger Map

I was a little worried about how you would handle all that change, and all that time in the car, but you were a little champ. It turns out that you are a great traveler.

You tolerated the tight quarters
322

You slept in a different hotel every night
002

You picked too many dandelions to count
045

You explored a “castle
244

And after that, anytime you had a chance to get your hands on a couple rocks, you stacked them together and told me you were “building a castle”
146

You saw rock sheep
255

and buffalo
351

and bears
464
oh, my…

And spent a lot of time walking around on trails
419

exploring
092

and running around
130

You played in some of the coolest playgrounds anywhere
045

but it didn’t matter how cool the playground was
158

you were mostly interested in playing in the sand, and building a sand castle
010

And through it all, you kept a smile on your face (well, most of the time) and made the trip fun for me, and grandma, too.
091

Since we got back from that trip, just a couple weeks ago, we moved to a new home. Now there’s a big adjustment for you, too. But as usual, you roll with the punches, and find all the fun new things to enjoy about your new home.

Thank you for reminding me to look for the joy in everything.

I’m so lucky that I get to be your mommy.

I love you.

The most fascinating animal at the zoo

Camels, tigers, polar bears… what animal at the zoo would most capture a toddler’s attention?

Could it be a squirrel?

006

Dee took us to the Alaska Zoo during our recent visit, and Gem was captivated by this little red squirrel.

009

He didn’t move a lot at first

011

But I promise he was real

014

see…

018

They played peek-a-boo and hide and seek for a while

020

Then one last peek as we said good bye.

025

The days are already getting shorter

The days are already getting shorter

I took this photo at my friend Dee’s house in Chugiak, Alaska, on Friday night. It was midnight.

midnight sun

You’d think after all those years growing up in the land of the midnight sun, I’d be used to this. But no, I had to stop and take a picture. I can’t believe the days are already getting shorter.

In the few short days since I returned home from Alaska, the summer solstice passed and the days are already getting shorter again.

A few minutes at a time.