Recipe Friday!!!

I have to say that meals around the Lyda house have been a little lack luster the past few weeks. We have been so busy that I haven't had much time to cook like I would like too. Three nights a week I don't get home until 6:15 and Gideon goes to bed between 6:30 and 6:45 which means that we wouldn't be eating until 7:30 or so... that being said I've been all about easy meals. Here is a recipe for super yum fish tacos. I love this recipe because you can make the majority of it before hand. 

Fish Tacos with White Sauce

White Sauce:
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup mayo
1 lime, juiced
1 jalapeno pepper, minced
1/2 teaspoon oregon
1/2 teaspoon dill weed
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper (add more or less for desired hotness)


Mix the sour cream and mayo together. Then add the lime juice. Stir until smooth and a bit runny. Then add the seasoning. Set aside half of the sauce in the fridge. You will add the other half to the finely shredded cabbage. 


Tacos:
6-8 pieced of panko breaded Tilapia -- found at Costco, or any other fish of your choosing
6-8 flour tortillas
1/2 head cabbage, finely shredded


1. Cook fish @ 425 on a baking sheet for 20 minutes, turning over after 10 minutes. 
2. Put a spoonful of cabbage mixture on a tortilla, the add a piece of fish and then drizzle with white sauce. 

Pretty simple right? Enjoy!!!!

Valentimes Day :)

Well I am going to go out on a limb here and say that yesterday was probably the best "Valentimes" day that I have had yet. I don't really like Valentines day for the same reason that most people don't like it. I want to feel and know that I am loved on a daily basis. I don't feel like my husband needs to spend $60 on a dozen roes on February 14th when he can buy them on May 2nd for $10. They are the same roses, just least expensive. Just because the price is more doesn't signify more love.


I did however feel extremely special and loved yesterday. Jared went out of his way yesterday so that I knew he cared for me and my heart. He wrote me a sweet card and left it for me before he went to work.


The day progressed with him sending me texts just to let me know he was thinking of Gideon and I. We normally have small group on monday nights but at the last minute we decided to cancel. So I ended up getting a heart shaped pizza from Papa Murphy's. (This may be a new tradition for us!!!) It was so yummy and so easy.

Jared then came home with all this yummy goodness... man knows the way to my heart. haha

After dinner we settled in with our snacks and watched a movie. I should also add here that we put Gideon down at 6:30pm and he slept until 6:30 this morning. What a sleeping angle. I feel like a new woman today! 

The whole purpose of writing this blog is to not only give a shout out to my sweet husband for making me feel so loved yesterday but to give a shout out to God who makes it possible for my husband to love me so dearly. We listened to a sermon a while back by John Piper called Gospel. I will post the link at the bottom. I really encourage you to listen to it. Piper is asking the question how does the love God have for me relate to his passion for me? He says that the God-centered way in which God loves us, for his Glory, brings our joy out of self and into the infinite greatness of God, which brings us full and lasting satisfaction. One of the things that stuck out to me is when Piper addresses Christian couples. He tells us to go to the other person often, even before you get married and say to them "You are my second love." If they are not over joyed with the statement then they should not marry that person or maybe the have some adjusting and searching to do. He says that if Jesus is you number one love, your spouse will be a way more loved number two than if they were number one. I am absolutely over joyed at this statement. I am very proud to be a more loved number two. God is my ultimate. Neither I nor my husband is my ultimate. Here is why, God is the ultimate source of joy because He is the Master and Creator of all things. If my ultimate joy is found in another person, that person will eventually let me down and my joy will be jeopardized. People don't make reliable gods, this includes your spouse. There is only One who is reliable. 

Thankful Today

My parents left about a half hour ago and I just tucked my little man into bed for a nap. He is totally worn out. My mom and dad came for a really sort visit but came and blessed us more than they know. On Monday morning, I woke up to the sounds of my sons laughter coming from the other room. I walked in to our guest bedroom to see him cuddled in with his Grandma and Papa. They were so cute tickling him and making him giggle. What a sweet sight for a momma. Not to mention the blessing of an extra hour of sleep... something that has been lackin' in this momma's life since little man started to teethe. 


We then got ready for the day and were off to Spokane. We spent the day hanging out, laughing, and shopping. It was so nice to spend the day with them. I have really missed having them around during this stage. Kiddos grow and change so fast. Its like you blink and you miss it. So every time they have seen Gideon, he is such a different baby. My dad made the comment, as Gideon was enjoying some rice cereal, that he is turning into a little boy... what a true statement that is. 


I am extremely thankful today for the way that God knows our ever need and our every burden. My parents coming up here was a true testament to that. They absolutely blessed us more than they know by stocking our pantry, fridge, freezer, and Gideon's room. Not only did they fulfill that need, but my "love tank" (as my husband calls it) is more than full. I feel so refreshed and rejuvenated. Its amazing what just a day with some of the people who know you best will do for you. I am sitting here blown away by God's love and the way he takes care of us. 


Here are some pictures from our trip out yesterday:

The whole time we were at Costco, my dad kept saying that he was pretty sure he would have to walk home because we had so much stuff... Thankfully we made it all fit because it had just stated to rain. 


Also here is the sweetest picture of my dad and Gideon.. melts my heart.

"I think my God in all my remembrance of you" Philippians 1: 3

What are you thankful for today?!?!

Recipe Friday!!!

We eat a lot of chicken at our house, so I am always looking new ways to fix it. I recently saw a recipe for Breaded Ranch Chicken in the paper but never bothered to write it down. So I just kind of made something up. I looked in The Joy of Cooking cookbook for the baking time. Here is what I came up with... it tasted pretty yummy.

Crummy Ranch Chicken =) 

4 boneless skinless Chicken Breasts 
1 packet of Ranch Dressing, dry
1 cup of Garlic and Herb bread crumbs
3/4 cup grated Parmesan Cheese
1/4 cup (ish) butter, melted


1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
2. In a shallow, mix together dressing, bread crumbs, and cheese
3. In a separate shallow dish, melt butter and coat the chicken with butter
4. Roll the chicken in the bread crumb mixture and the place in a greased  9X13 baking dish. 
5. Bake at 400 degrees for about 30 minutes or until internal temp is 165 degrees. 


I also made a favorite of mine that comes out of one of my best friends kitchens. I remember being in college and my friends mom inviting me over for dinner. She would always make these green beans ands send me home with the left overs. I never complained. Jared just asked if they could make the cut for a "Lyda Family Recipe." I hope thats okay Tonya. =)

Swiss Green Beans

1 T. butter
1 T. flour
1 t. salt
1 t. sugar
1/4 t. pepper
1 cup sour cream
2 cans green beans, drained
2 cups grated swiss cheese


Topping:
2 T. butter
1 cup corn flakes




1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Melt 1 T. butter in a sauce pan. Then add dry ingredients until combined, then add sour cream. Heat until bubbly but not boiling.
3. Mix in drained green beans
4. Put mixture in a greased casserole dish. Top with grated swiss cheese.
5. Melt remaining 2 T butter and mix with corn flakes. Cover top of casserole.
6. Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes.



The great thing about both of these dishes is that you can make them both at the same time. I love everything about that. =)
Happy cooking!!!