Walking the Pups

Tonight while I was walking Gus and Sadie it made me think of a lot of things I learned about them and about people here over the months since arriving in Doha.

Things I have learned about the dogs:

• Sadie walks on the right, Gus on the left (Always!)
• Sometimes they walk side ways and it seems like their back legs are going faster
• Cats are fascinating to bark at but you know I think they just want to say hello
• Sadie is terrified of feathers- she can jump a mile when she sees one or it blows near her
• Most dogs even big ones are scared of Gus
• There are a lot of tasty things outside, at least they think so
• Gus knows how to untangle himself from his leash but Sadie will stop and not move until you fix it

Things I have learned about others:

• The sight of dogs can make a person slow down or even flat out stop 
• The dogs provide great amusement for children (most of the time that is who is stopped to look at them)
• That those that do NOT want to pet them will make gestures and noises that makes them want to go closer to them. (I would love to inform them that if they don't want them close just keep on walking)
• The dogs barking will make almost all delivery men stand 6 or more feet away from the door and keep backing away

 Tonight we are on to day three of Jennifer's meal plan show and we are trying a recipe from Jennalaughs.com - Cashew Chicken in Lettuce Cups. Then to follow that up from Our Best Bites - Chocolate and Strawberry Nachos.

Tonight's Dinner - Chicken Cashew in Lettuce Cups

Tonight's Dessert - Chocolate and Strawberry Nachos

Cashew Chicken in Lettuce Cups
By Jenna

3 or 4 large chicken breasts, cut into cubes
1 tablespoon oil
2 small garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon peeled and minced fresh ginger
1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon honey
2 -3 tablespoons dry roasted, unsalted cashews, diced
Boston lettuce
Salt and pepper, to taste

Put chicken in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat with 1 tablespoon oil, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Let brown. Cook chicken until almost done, but not quite, about 6 minutes. Add garlic and ginger, stirring constantly. Let cook for a few minutes, being careful not to burn the garlic.

Add soy sauce, brown sugar and honey to pan. Stir well, then leave alone to caramelize, about 4 - 5 minutes. Sauce will start to bubble and thicken. Stir it a few times until it coats the chicken. Throw in cashews, mix well. Remove from heat.

Spoon 1/4 cup chicken mixture into individual leaves of Boston lettuce. Serve immediately.




Baked Cinnamon Chips
by OurBestBites.com 
Flour Tortillas (6″ ones)
Melted Butter
Cinnamon/Sugar Mixture

Preheat oven to 350.

Lightly brush one side of each tortilla with melted butter.
Then sprinkle on some cinnamon sugar. A little or a lot.  
Use a pizza cutter to cut tortillas into wedges. 
Place them on an ungreased baking sheet (sugar side up) and bake them in the oven for about 10-12 minutes. They will crisp up. Watch for the edges to turn up.
Remove from oven and let cool. You can put them on a cooling rack so you can fill up the pan with more, but they can just cool on the pan as well.


Strawberry & Chocolate Nachos
by OurBestBites.com 
Chop up the strawberries and let them sit in a spoonful of sugar for a bit.  Just so the sugar dissolved and forms a nice light syrup.
Then sprinkle them all over the crispy cinnamon-sugar coated chips.
Grab some chocolate chips, eat a few.  Then put some in a bowl to melt in the microwave.  Then eat some more.
Adding just a touch of vegetable oil or shortening to your chocolate makes it nice and smooth for drizzling.
When it’s nice and melted, you can start drizzling.
The finishing touch is a few drops of whipped cream. 

 

Menu Planning

So yesterday I woke up more refreshed than I had in a while. I can thank little Xavier for that it was the second day in a row we had a long stretch at night, 6 hours. He is doing better with his tummy problems but he does still have his bad times. If we can get the pups all healthy again that would be great, we are watching Gus he might have an infection. Poor pups, but they do snuggle more when they don't feel well. I always have a full lap and who could complain about that, right?

So after dusting off the cobwebs in the old brain I sat down to do some meal planning for the month. I haven't done it for a while, I did it for a few months back in Kentucky. There are some old favorites planned and there are a large handful of recipes from the different blogs that I have been exploring recently. I have known about blogs a long time but I hadn't really wandered around them very often until now.

So we will be trying out several recipes and we will post the results here and maybe you can find something new to try too! I guess I can't complain that Zach is on-board with trying all these new dishes, I am certainly a very lucky lady.

Here is the board I use. It is a fluid system so if something needs to move or if we feel like having something else than you just move it to that day or switch things around. This is a great way for us to eat at home and try to save some money. So I will keep you all posted on how it goes.

The Beginning of PanDoxie News

 

So over the last few days I have decided to start a blog, so here it is. No, it's not going to be anything fancy and probably not very exciting for most of you that find yourself reading it. However, I thought as Zach and I are on our new adventure of parenthood while living abroad that it might be a good idea to write down things that go on so we can remember them later on. 

I have been told by several people to write down all these things that happen to us or that we see here in Doha, so it will all be here in this blog. I also thought I would write about my adventures in parenthood with our handsome Xavier Reid. It is very interesting being a new mom and I am learning a lot since I feel like I don't know anything.

Sadie and Gus sure are adapting to the new family member in the house. I wasn't too sure at first if they were going to settle down and accept Xavier into the pack but they did. They are always worried about him and they check to make sure that we bring him home and like to see for themselves. They will also help me check on him when he wakes up from a nap and are right there to see him when he is on my nap and will snuggle up right next to us so they are close by.

Xavier is growing strong everyday. He almost has control of his neck and just this week he has begun to smile on purpose. It is too cute and my goal is to capture it on camera soon. We are still working through his baby colic and there is bad times mixed in with the good. We are trying to learn his signs and listen to his cries so we can put to use the things we are told or have read. However his cries sound a lot alike most of the time and I would just like to say how not helpful the information is when hungry and tired sound alike and you keep trying things to help him but it doesn't help. Oy! He does love his swing which is nice to put him in there and be able to get something done around the house.

I hope you enjoy and maybe come back from time to time to check up on us.