Almond & Flax Crusted Fish Sticks

I found a recipe using ground almonds as a coating on fish and was inspired to make some fish sticks based on this concept. For once my made-up recipe turned out amazing! Jared has never been so excited about anything I've made and Grey loved it too. It is super healthy and a great way to add fish into your diet without tons of added oils and chemicals from store-bought fish sticks. We ate them too quickly so I have no pictures. This is a perfect recipe to double or triple and freeze the extras for lunches or quick dinners.

Almond & Flax Crusted Fish Sticks

3-4 tilapia fillets (I use the frozen, bagged fillets from Costco-thawed)
3 tbsp whole wheat flour
2 egg whites or 1 egg  beaten
4 tbsp bread crumbs
4 tbsp finely chopped almonds (I put mine in the food processor until blended to a consistency of fine bread crumbs)
3-4 tbsp ground flax
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp minced onion
salt & pepper to taste (I didn't measure--sorry)

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with foil and spray with cooking spray. Cut tilapia fillets into fish stick size--I cut mine into fourths. Rinse and pat dry with paper towels.

Set up a "dipping station" with the remainder of ingredients. Place flour on a small plate. Put eggs into a small bowl. In a third dish combine bread crumbs, almonds, flax, garlic powder, onion and salt & pepper. Coat the fish sticks in flour first, then dip in the egg mixture, lastly dip in bread crumb mixture to coat.

Place fish on cookie sheet and either spray tops with cooking spray or drizzle with a small amount of canola or olive oil. Bake until fish begins to slake when tested with a fork. I flipped mine halfway through so it would be nice & crispy on both sides. It took about 10 minutes. Serve with tartar sauce or even just a squeeze of fresh lemon. Enjoy!

Happy Mother's Day

I am sure everyone has seen this by now, but if not--you must!

Motherhood is divine! I am learning that fact bit by bit. I had a realization last week that taught me the importance of keeping a home. I sometimes feel that my wifely and motherly duties of taking care of a home are dull and meaningless. It is draining, exhausting and downright mundane to cook, clean, do laundry, iron (for some women!), run errands and chase after little ones.

But I realized that through these tasks I am making our home a nice place to be. A place where my family enjoys each other and where we like to spend our time. The home is the most sacred place on earth besides the temple. What an AMAZING responsibility we have as mothers to keep our homes clean and comfortable. Imagine if we viewed our homes the way we look at caring for our church buildings or temples. I think I would find much more satisfaction in my day-to-day tasks.

On another note, I am so grateful for my own mother. She has taught me so many things and inspired me to be a better woman. She has taught me so many things from cleaning and laundry to budgeting and saving to relying on the Lord through trials. She has taught me to keep on going... I love her so much!

Happy Mother's Day to all the other women in my life! Each and every one of you inspire me and teach me every day!

First of the Season

I got by bike and bike trailer all fixed up for our first ride of the season. Grey obviously loved it as always--Elise wasn't too sure. She did not like being buckled in and cried pretty much the whole ride. Ugh. I sure hope she learns to love it. I need to be able to get out!!!

One more left

Around 1983

One more year of my twenties that is. Today I turned 29! The day could not have been more perfect, but my mood for the last few months--not so much. This has been a hard age for me. It might be more the fact that I have two kids and I am living the part of my life I looked forward to the most for so long. Kind of like when Christmas Day is almost over... Or that I'm starting to really notice the wrinkled, dry hands and spotty skin on my face. Oh-or my balding hair that is still terrible from having Elise. I'm talking serious bald spots. Or the aches and pains that are apparently only just starting! I really, really want to be the kind of person that is excited about getting into my thirties. So I guess I have a year to change my bad attitude around!

I will stop whining now because I know it isn't THAT old. :) Plus I did have a wonderful day. My step-dad came and watched the kids while my mom took me for a delightful pedicure. Why don't I do that more often?!! Then we all went to lunch at Cafe Rio. *bonus: I filled my card up so the next salad is free!* I can't remember what I did the rest of the afternoon. I did however refuse to do any laundry or cleaning. Then I got ready for my surprise date with Jared. He wouldn't tell me where we were going but to dress up. I love surprises!!! He took me to Del Frisco's for an amazing steak dinner involving steaming bread, blue cheese wedge salads, mashed potatoes and the free jelly beans we kept scooping out by the front door. Oh my hubby knows me all too well. It was so nice to have some alone time with him and to feel like Christina and not Mom for a couple hours. He is so good to me!

I guess growing up is hard because I am realizing how quickly life goes. It feels like if I blink, I am going to miss it! Having kids accentuates this "can't catch up to life" feeling. They grow so quickly and now I am getting close to the age that I remember my MOTHER at which is really strange.

Apparently I am getting wordy in my old age. ;) I will leave you with the only picture I took on my birthday to email my sis!

Rite of Passage

Elise's First Experience at the "Breakfast Foods"

Pretty scary as a "crawler" with the crazy big kids knocking her over. But as a mom I don't care as much the second time around.

A happy girl + a worn-out Grey = one thrilled mom

80th Birthday (part 2)

I am sure I made everyone bored with that last post besides my family--but hang on for one more post to finish out our fabulous weekend.

Saturday morning, my lovely aunts hosted a lingerie shower for my cousin that is getting married next month. It was so much fun to have just the girls together. She got some pretty fun stuff... (wink, wink)

Little Brenna enjoyed the gifts too. ;)

Emily (the bride-to-be) and Jess

Caitlin, Mindy and Auntie Colleen

Aunt Kathlyn and Grandma

Grandma had us giggling a bit too...

Grandma, Sarah, Emily, Jess & Brenna, Aunt Gloria

Elise & Christina

All of the girls

After the shower, the whole family met up for more food, a quiz on my grandpa's life and a slideshow.

My grandparents with their five children

Mike, Kathlyn, Laura, Colleen, Shaun

It was an amazing weekend and I am so glad we were able to be there. We sure missed the family members that weren't able to make it! But I am pushing for a beach reunion summer 2011--who is in? :)

80th Birthday (part 1)

I have soooo many pictures so I must break this up in two parts. My grandpa turned EIGHTY last week and almost the entire family went out to St. George for a long weekend to celebrate with him. He is a wonderful man and I am so grateful to be in his family. He has passed on so many amazing qualities that I hope to pass on to my children. I respect him so much for ALL of the things he has done with his life including with his job & education, church service and especially for our family.

Jared & I packed up the car full of snacks, lunches and lots of activities. The kids did amazing considering how it could have been.

(Grey thought he was a pilot when he wore the headphones)

The first day we were there we went to the fun rec center pool to play. I will be honest---I spent most of the time going down the huge slide by myself! I am such a kid. It was also the first time Grey has put his head under water... finally... and by accident. He sat down on a step and ended up being completely underwater. When we pulled him up, instead of freaking him out, I made it all exciting and told him to go tell daddy he put his head under. He went over to Jared and said, "I did this dad!" and dunked his head under. I know it is lame, but I was proud!

Day two started with the 3-mile walk my grandpa does 5 days a week. Grey ran with my Aunt Gloria the first mile and a half then begged us to carry him the rest of the way.

Then we met back up at our house for dinner, presents, cake & ice cream.

When you turn 80 you get TWO birthday cakes!

My child always has to be a part of everything--helping blow out candles

Sarah, Josh, Mindy, Lorin

Grandma, Jess, Caitlin

Jared & Grey

Opening one of the gifts--this was a book I put together filled with old photos and letters written by the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren

FOUR GENERATIONS!

My mom, Grandma, Christina & Elise

Oh I love my cousins! We had such a great time together.

Jess, Mindy & Christina

I pulled out an old picture of us--just because it was too funny. This was about 20 years ago and we are in the same order here:

My cousin's band (We are Blackhounds) happened to be starting their tour in St. George that night, so my sister and a few of my girl cousins went to watch. It was a blast and so much fun to see him play!