Stock Up!

Awhile back, I found a really simple recipe for making use of your leftover chicken/turkey dinners to make home made stock.  (I unfortunately do not remember where I got the recipe from.)  I've always wanted to learn how...not only does making home made stock make great use of leftovers from those huge dinners we make over the holidays but it gives us the opportunity to make it to our own tasting AND save a little money while we are at it! 

On Christmas Eve, I made a small (yet big to my little family) chicken dinner with all the extras including stuffing, green bean casserole and salad.  It was delicious!  Following dinner and removing any leftover meat from the chicken carcass, I put the remaining chicken into a large pot with a few other ingredients, let it simmer for an hour and voila!  It had to be the best chicken stock my palate has ever tasted!

If you are interested, below is this super easy recipe:

• 1 turkey or chicken carcass, meat and skin removed
• 1/2 cup white wine (optional)
• 1 onion, quartered
• 2 carrots, cut into chunks
• 2 sprigs fresh thyme
• 2 bay leaves
• 4 whole peppercorns

Add all the ingredients into a large pot, cover with water, season generously with salt and bring to a boil.  Cover and simmer on med-low for one hour.  Strain broth into a large bowl and discard remains.  Use in any recipes that call for broth:)

I halved the recipe since my chicken was very small and the stock turned out wonderfully.  When it was finished simmering, I let it completely cool, then put it into a container and let it further cool in the refrigerator. Then, I put it into a freezer safe container to be frozen until needed.

Enjoy,

Mommy Bridget

Happy Holidays from the Curious Mommy and Book Giveaway Reminder-ending 12/27

From my family to all of yours, I wish you all wonderful holidays!  May your days be blessed with happiness and good cheer...

Also, I know you are all busy busy with family plans over the next few days.  But don't forget my final giveaway of the year is ending on Sunday 12/27 at midnight.  This giveaway is so great...and surprisingly, I have not had one entry.  So any of you interested in winning a great book filled with inspiring stories of what it truly means to give during this giving season...your chances are great great GREAT!!!  To enter the giveaway, click here.

Stay tuned for many new and exciting giveaways to come in 2011!!!

Mommy Bridget

Having a New Baby, I Could Never Live Without My...

In preparation for baby to arrive, I've been going through the baby items I have, marking off what I won't be needing and writing down items I would have liked to have last time around.  This was so much fun for me and so I thought, for any of you about to be first time moms, this list could be really helpful.  

I remember feeling overwhelmed when I was doing my baby registry last pregnancy because I really had absolutely no idea what I would be needing.  I had a good friend meet me at my registry stores to go through the items and tell me what I would need (and better yet, explained to me what the items were for!)  Anyways, I hope this is helpful.  For anyone else who thinks I forgot something important or would like to add anything, please do!  (By the way, the brands of items are my personal preference.  There are many great brands of the types of items below and I was in no way paid for advertising said items.  These are truly my faves!)

• Aden + Anais swaddle blankets (because I can't stress enough how swaddling your baby is KEY)

• Wipey Warmer  (Trust me when I say, you don't want to shock your baby's bum with cold wipes.  This helps make diaper changing a breeze.)

                                                      

                                                                         

• Earth Mama Angel Baby Bottom Balm (We might have been just plain lucky, but Park never had diaper rash.  This bottom balm was always a part of our after bath time routine and I attribute it to this wonder balm.)

 

• baby nail clipper (Any brand will do, as long as it is made for baby fingers.  But it is very important! Babies little finger nails are like razors and they easily scratch up their little faces with them if they aren't trimmed properly.)
• Diapers and wipes:)
• digital baby thermometer
• Infant Tylenol (good to have on hand in case it's necessary)
• burp cloths
• pacifier (if your baby takes it, use it!)
• soy latte (for me! self explanatory)
• midwife (for support)
• nursing pads (if breastfeeding, these are a necessity) 
• nursing tank top
• nipple cream (I used it everyday and never had any cracking or bleeding like I've heard can happen.)
• baby wrap for infants ( I never left home without one!  I could do anything as long as my baby was inside our wrap.  He would sleep snugly or when he was awake, he was very content.  I don't think he cried while inside this once.  My baby was so cozy being held close to me and there are a multitude of benefits to wearing your baby.)

•  Modmum sling carrier once your baby is up, alert and likes to see his surroundings.  This sling is so handy to take anywhere, it fits nicely in your purse and takes 5 seconds to put on and put you baby inside.  Park and I used this until he was 2 years old.

• Nature's Baby Organics baby wash (This is what we used, still use and will swear up and down is perfect for baby skin.  Any mild, non-toxic and extremely gentle baby wash will do.)  

 
              
That is all for now.  I can't think of what else I highly recommend.  And again, as I said earlier if anyone wants to add anything, please do!



~Mommy Bridget

Recipe: Blueberry Croissant Bread Pudding

Despite the name, this delectable dish isn't so much a pudding because it has the consistency of a quiche.  Nonetheless, it doesn't even matter...it is SO yummy!  I made it for the first time yesterday and loved it so much that I knew it would be wrong not to share it with you.  This is a great dish to make any day of the week, or for a holiday brunch or even for a play date hosted at your house!

'Tis the season to enjoy!

Blueberry Croissant Bread Pudding

• 2 extra large croissants or 3 regular
• 1/2 cup Smucker's Orchard's Finest Northwoods Blueberry Preserves (or equivalent)
• 3 large eggs
• 1 14 oz. can Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk
• 3/4 cup water
• 2 tbsps. melted butter
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/4 ts. cinnamon

Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Coat 9" square baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.  Cut croissants in half, lengthwise.  Spread each half with 1 tablespoon preserves and replace tops.  Cut into small strips and place in prepared baking dish.  Using small spoonfuls, dab remaining preserves sporadically over the top.

Whisk eggs.  Whisk in condensed milk, water, butter, vanilla and cinnamon until blended.  Pour over croissants, pressing down large pieces so the liquid can cover them.  Let stand 5 minutes.

Bake 45 minutes or until done.  Cool 15 minutes.  Serve sprinkled with powdered sugar.

Enjoy!!!

Druide Winner

Congratulations to Yuki, the winner of the Druide giveaway!  Thank you to all for entering and please check out the wonderful products by Druide online.

Her entry below was chosen at random:

Yuki said...

I follow The Curious Case of Mommyhood on Google Follower

December 16, 2010 1:03 PM

 

You have 48 hours to respond to this giveaway.

 

 

Air Pollution and Autism

For close to a decade now, I've seen the same reports of autism rates in Utah as one of the highest per capita in the nation.  Before I ever began looking deeper into the subject of autism, I always asked myself the same question over and over again...what is it about Utah that could make autism rates so high?  What is it in our environment that distinguishes our children from other children in the US?  And time and time again, I came with this answer: our air pollution.

It is my strong belief that individuals are genetically predisposed to autism.  Furthermore, I believe that there are environmental factors that can "trigger" autism in those same individuals.  Those triggers COULD be toxins in our air, toxins in our water, and vaccines, (to name a few).   These days, all I ever hear or read about is whether or not vaccines cause autism.  So when a friend of mine with Utah Moms for Clean Air came across this article and sent it my way (thank you Cherise!), I couldn't pass up the chance to share it with all of you.

Here is the link:

http://www.latimes.com/health/la-he-autism-20101217,0,2040535.story

I strongly believe that more attention and research needs to be focused on links between autism and toxin exposure, specifically in utero and during the first 2 years of life. 

~Curious Mommy

My friend Mel sent me this link to another great article from Huffington Post that is a really great read and further supports this possible connection.  This link is:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-mark-hyman/autism-research-discovery_b_794967.html

Thanks Mel!

Druide Giveaway Ending this Friday-12/17 LOW ENTRIES!!!

Hello everyone!  The fabulous Druide giveaway is ending this Friday and entries are low.  If you are interested in winning the product of your choice (yay!), click here to enter before midnight 12/17.

Good luck to you all,

Mommy Bridget