New on ChronicConversations.com. 

Please help me pick my kid`s pictures...

Some of you-- (well two) asked for this recipe. I am delighted to share it. My mom discovered it sometime in my childhood and made it a lot for us.

I remember it was always a "pet food" of my sister Julana`s. She made it often at home for the family and then for company after she got married. I made it for the first time a year ago or so, and had no idea HOW EASY it was to make!

So... I have been cranking it out many times since. The lovely thing is-- it makes yummy microwave leftovers (that`s rare) AND as long as you have baby carrots on hand you probably have all the ingredients you need.

Disclaimer: I looked on Google for a picture of what this dish would look like to show ya`ll and saw that the traditional Orange Chicken (like Panda Express sells) has a shiny, orange glaze on the chicken. While I`ve had it that way-- and it`s so good-- this recipe isn`t quite the same as what you may be thinking of when you picture traditional "ORANGE CHICKEN". Just don`t want you to be disappointed.

Here goes:

Like PW says,

The Cast of Characters:

Baby carrots, flour, fresh ground pepper, chicken breasts, lemon juice (or a real lemon) rice, salt and orange juice (or a real orange).

SO SORRY STICK OF BUTTER AND PARSLEY FLAKES MISSED THE PHOTO SHOOT. Add them, please.

(Something about drama going on between Nutmeg and Party Sprinkles in the spice cupboard...)

Ready? Let`s go.

Thaw and cut up 4 chicken breasts into a little bigger than bite size chunks.

Put 1/2 cup flour, 1/2 tsp. salt, 1/2 tsp pepper in a large plastic bag. Add raw chicken chunks. Shake well.

Melt a 1/2 stick of butter in a frying pan. Medium heat. (Recipe asks for a whole stick of butter, but a half always did fine for me)

Add chicken chunks. Cut all baby carrots into half with a kitchen scissors. Add to butter mixture.

Flip carrots and chicken until browned. It takes a little while of flipping until all is cooked and brown.

When ALL IS BROWNED! and not a moment before, slosh in a generous portion of both lemon juice and orange juice.

(I like a lot of citrus) Taste it as you slosh.

Shake on a little PARSLEY for fancy`s sake. Serve over your favorite kind of rice.

Enjoy!!!! Serves 5.

BTW, this meal is best, served with a side of fresh cut corn from your freezer. I don`t think my mom or sister ever served it any other way.

These pictures are from weeks ago, but thought "various ones of you" might want to see them.

We still don`t have the ten year reunion pictures up because Galen is waiting on a scanner, to scan in his class picture from 1998. I think I have the year right. Lots of jollies there I`d have to say.

Hope soon-- hang in there with us, Chums/ Fellas/Swell Pals of `98.


In G`s parents front yard. The perfect fresh garden meal. The willow tree made it really quaint and romantic.
A fun night.




Elle is overwhelmed by her love for baby Brennan and over expresses herself with a smothering hug.


They thought it was grand to be pushed around with this buggy...


...But their night got kicked up a notch when "the dads" decided to tie it to the back of the moped.

Sheer delight! And my baby wasn`t even scared. I was so proud.

Mainly because the timid child that I was, would have most likely bawled and begged to get off.


Elle is thrilled to open a birthday gift from grandma K.

Her mother is happy shlepping around in ugly old Ts from 1998.
______________________________________________________________________________


This was from the week we spent in Fort Wayne, IN.

We had just left Olive Garden and I had let Elle have her own Ande`s after-dinner mint... G chuckles at my ignorance.


We spent so much of our week killing time at beloved Barnes and Noble-- that I just had to get a picture...


Elle and I were both a little under the weather this whole week. She had a fever and I was at the prime of my pregnancy style illness.

We spent a lot of time in our room or at the pool. Just trying to ease the pain. It worked pretty good really. Pools are like that.

In case you are wondering, when my daughter is feeling sick I Do let her wear pajamas and I DON`T  always stick big annoying bows in her hair.

"Poor kid"-- I know you thought it!

_______________________________________________________________________________________


One night us, Joes and Brents went to Broken Rocks Cafe in Wooster. We had never been there before, but due to a rather large gift card we had been given from a rather nice co-worker of Galen`s, we decided to "hit it" and take some friends.

The place is rather swanky, but not out of reach. I loved it and plan to go back. Pretty sure we will too, because we still have gift card $$ left over. I had a fresh squeezed lemonade and meatballs and spaghetti. It was mouth smackin` good!

The only sad thing is it`s one of those places where nothing comes with your meal (salad, side etc) and the portions are real teeny.

Because I am all about the generous portion.


"What now?"
"Lerch`s donuts?"


The whole Heatwole family apparently missed the memo about it being "green night".

AND. I was proud to see that I happened to snap this picture at what must have been THE HEIGHT of a killer awesome funny from The G.

Only Heather was able to tear her eyes off of the jokester. I like it, though, that she can`t help but smiling still.


Yeah, lime green. I know kinda shocking-- what happened was...

I spent WAY to much time killing time at the H and M store when I was waiting on G to get done with classes in Fort Wayne. That stupid stylin` baby mannequien they had there, called out to me over and and over--

"Buy me! Buy me! I am so hip and original".

Sadly, I did. And sadly, it isn`t a favorite on Elle. She just wasn`t formed in my womb with an intent to look good in lime green.

________________________________________________________________________________


"Love Comes Softly" -- Micah I see that hand!

Looks like the "maternity for children look" is really in.


If I`m not mistaken, when I took this picture Curt Yoder mockingly said,

"Is this going to be on XANGA?"

Well, yes, it is Curt, yes it is. And a fine picture it is.


Another one for spite.

You mock me, you will always pay.


Little Kate and little Sophie.

Or Rose Red and Snow White.


Elle of the ill fitting outfit,  joins in.

Really sorry that I do not have a princess name ready for her.


Is it really sad that after I wrote about the meatballs from Broken Rocks; that the whole rest of this post was side tracked with thoughts of those delicious little nuggets of love?

Now I can`t stop.

But now I`m off to go make Orange Chicken `n rice for supper. To celebrate G`s first day of school...