Perfect Lemon Herb Roast Chicken

I've been on a mission. Perfect roast chicken. The criteria: TONS of flavor, and not just on the top quarter inch of meat, juicy, easy, and crispy skin. My favorite chicken recipe of all time is my French Chicken, but I needed a classic too. I tried a few, and each time came a step closer... I combined a few different techniques and finally, success! The best roast chicken I have ever made!! It was so good I literally danced around the kitchen. The Geologist still isn't fully satisfied, he wants me to experiment with injecting... *rolling eyes* but that would defeat the purpose! Say it with me: Simple. Classic. 

Enjoy! We did :)

Creamy Steel-Cut Oatmeal

I found the coolest thing waiting in my mailbox for me this morning!!

Isn't it awesome?? It's my new phone case! My friend Beth does henna, and is expanding to decorating items for her Etsy shop, Henna By Beth. She was so nice to get me exactly the same phone case I already have (because I am in love with it) and decorate it for me! I now own a one-of-a-kind work of art! She's adding lots to her store these days, from baby clothes to canvases to Christmas ornaments. I go through and browse every couple of days... I'm eyeing a few things... Go check it out!

Weekly Menu Oct 28

Source: My Paisley World

This week we have:

Creamy Steel-Cut Oatmeal

Perfect Lemon Herb Roast Chicken

Banana Nut Bread

Cranberry Almond White Chocolate Blondies

For today, Oct 28 ...

French Toast Muffins

I know, you didn't get a Chicken Rice Soup post, but honestly, the more I looked at the pictures the less I could stomach posting them. They're awful. So I'll just have to make it again, darn!! It's currently our favorite soup, so you shouldn't have to wait too long.

Anyone have a rake we can borrow?? We want to go to the park and rake leaves to jump in. Living in apartments forever does not lend itself to owning yard implements. And we really need to go somewhere other than here to rake leaves, seeing as how every square foot of ground here is some dog's bathroom... which is a shame, because we are developing some awesome piles. Oh well, this is our LAST FALL without our own yard!! We can suffer through! Our Halloween week has gone swimmingly, even with an overly expensive corn maze that only ended up being about waist high... at least we got hayrides and funnel cake out of it. The boys got such a haul at the trunk-or-treat last night that I can comfortably skip neighborhood trick-or-treating on Halloween. We'll have a spooky movie night or something. I promise to get pictures from my DC trip and our Halloween adventures up by the end of the week. Happy Halloween everyone!!

Small & Wonderful Things 35

AVALANCHE TERRITORY!!! :) I could be a pro-hockey fan. Really, I could. 

 Besides, they have nachos!

Better-Than-Olive-Garden Breadsticks

Oh heavens on earth, I can't wait to move. I know, I know, I say it all the time these days, I apologize! But seriously folks, I am losing my light over here!! All my pictures are turning blue! Sigh. They still look infinitely better than they used to. And I still love my camera. And we close on our house next week! So there is much to be thankful for!

Speaking of things to be thankful for, my Grandma passed away today. That sounds horrible, but it isn't. She's had dementia and medical issues and has been miserable for years. She hasn't known her sons (My dad) for a while now, and while we're sad she's gone, we're relieved that she is no longer hurting. She is with her other two sons, her husband, and lots of family now, and we will see her again! I am grateful for that. 

I've made these tasty little things twice in the past week, and am making them again tomorrow. They're that good. 

Pumpkin Spice Cake with Vanilla Spice Buttercream

My "ittle bittle" is 6 years old!! His new favorite nickname is "green bean", because he's getting so tall and skinny and his favorite color is green and he LOVES beans. 

My Grandma is awesome. She tries her darndest to send out an email with pictures and "blurbs" on every birthday in our whole extended family. She was having computer trouble the night before Joe's, so my Mom took over. Hers was so awesome I simply can't improve on it, so I'm borrowing it!

"The Man of the Hour is Joester, Joebee, or JoeMoe...but just don't call him Jojo, or you'll be ignored, or corrected! He may be small... Only six years old today, but he's larger than life inside. He's pretty intense, and passionate (wonder where he got all that from? *cough cough* parents *cough) He is a musician, and artist, and a great hiker. 

He passed his first parent teacher conference with flying colors, and so it looks like Kindergarten is going to keep him. 

Not even being born waaaay too early could stop this little Mr. Man. He fought for his life six years ago, and has been sucking the marrow out of it ever since. 

*In case you can't tell, Grandma Garney loves her grandson, and can't wait to have lots of hikes with him in Colorado and Utah for years to come."

Happy Birthday Joe!

Now of course, because the boy is obsessed with pumpkins, he demanded a pumpkin cake. Lucky for him, he was born in October!

Weekly Menu Oct 21

Source: pumpkinspice-andeverythingnice

This week we have:

French Toast Muffins

Better-than-Olive Garden's Breadsticks

Pumpkin Spice Cake with Vanilla Spice Buttercream

For today, Oct 21 ...

Apple Pan Pie with Caramel Sauce

The perfect ending to my week of celebrating Fall: An apple pie! Pumpkin recipes and apple recipes, that's what Fall is all about. Pumpkins, apples, and lots of spices. I adore baked apples in just about any form, unfortunately two of my three menfolk disagree. So I rarely bake apple-y desserts. Then again, they also care the least about sweet things in general, so I should really just make whatever I want and hang the consequences! But alas, tis hard for me to resist the urge to please everyone. I got close with this one. The Geologist ate almost half of his serving, and said, "I can tell it's probably completely awesome." Well, he's absolutely right!!

Small & Wonderful Things 34

Snow in October (that promptly disappears the next day)

Source: Pinterest

Snuggling with my husband

Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

It's snowing!!! The Geologist texted me from work, he's already breaking out the Christmas music. Crazy man. I try to hold off till November first. Yes, I'm one of those crazy Christmas people. For us, Thanksgiving is just part of the Christmas season. We like it that way. This snow won't stick, as soon as it warms up two degrees it will be gone, but it's still fun to watch. 

As thrilled as I am about this chilly morning (THIS is what October is supposed to be like in Colorado!) the mood was quite melancholy this morning. Stephen's fish has finally passed on. He kept it alive for almost a year, that's not bad for a seven-year-old. I think we ventured into pet territory a bit too soon for him though, and he is heartbroken, poor kid. One of those life lessons. 

Well, what else do you do on a chilly, emotional, weekend morning? Make fancy pancakes, of course! 

Pumpkin (Surprise!) Cream Cheese Muffins

GAH! This week totally ran away from me! Too much on my mind. Waiting for my new phone, new tablet, cases and screen protectors for both, Old Navy refunds (I ordered an XS and they sent me a M. Argh!) befuddled home loan paperwork, still waiting on a move-in date, planning for our trip next Wednesday... A lot on my mind! But the one thing that keeps me from being stressed??

It's FALL!! It's official, the leaves are turning fast!! In celebration of a gorgeous Fall season that actually feels like one this year, a re-post of my favorite muffin recipe of ALL time. Ever. I've been known to polish off eight of these at once. It wasn't my fault, I was on heavy meds at the time. But it was worth it :) I love these muffins with all my heart and the only people I know who don't like them are my kids, unfortunately. Oh well, more for me!!