Yummy Fish

Yummy, originally uploaded by bossamama.

I used to be a full-on vegetarian. But during my first pregnancy, I had this uncontrollable urge to eat fish. Ever since then the whole family has eaten fish along with me. After many years and many freaked out moments (I still have a hard time with the whole this was once alive thing) I have learned many ways to cook tasty fish. My darling husband tells me he likes my fish more than any restaurant's. It's actually the easiest thing to cook, now that I know how. Here is a recipe I have been stuck on lately, you can use just about any kind of fish, I think. I usually use tilapia or salmon. I got it off the internet, but adapted it a bit and now just do it from memory. I changed it enough to make it my own. If you can even call it a recipe, it's so simple.

Panko Fish
You need a fish filet of some sort or several if small
Also need:
Panko bread crumbs (panko are better than regular-trust me)
Dijon mustard
Olive Oil
Trusty S +P
All you have to do is stir about a 1/3 cup of panko crumbs (adjust according to size of fish) up with some S+P and about a tablespoon of olive oil (or enough to coat the panko nicely) in a small bowl. Next, spread a layer of mustard over the top of the fish which will be nestled in some sort of dish. Put the panko/oil mixture on top of the fish, mush it down in a nice thick, even layer over the fish that is facing up (don't worry about the bottom.) Then put it in a 400 degree oven for however long your particular fish needs to cook. (Could be 10 minutes or 20- depending how thick.) You can check by inserting a knife into fish to see if it's done. The layer of mustard leaves the fish very tender under the panko and has a nice flavor. You can also mix various spices in with the mustard or panko. Experiment! You can also substitute mayonnaise for a different taste and more calories.

Let me know if you try it!

I married a mad scientist

He's crazy! But really, he was just awarded another patent (along with colleagues) for a very complicated laser contraption that is already in use. If you want to see his official patent click on the link above. I'm very proud of him, even if I don't quite understand the things he makes. He can always answer my math and science questions with ease!

Falling Down

It's always scary when a child falls and hits her head.  But two times within a few days?  Sunday, we decided to check out our friends' church.  We were leaving and chatting and Lilah was toddling down the sidewalk with Spiderman in one hand and two tiny panda bears in the other. Suddenly she tripped and fell flat on her face, not letting go of her toys.  We all heard the smack as her little head hit the sidewalk!  Immediately a huge blue bump appeared on her forehead. It was a panicky moment- Lilah screamed, ice was found and people buzzed around.  I was afraid to let her take her nap that afternoon, fearing she had a concussion.  She was fine of course, and the next day the bump and bruise were hard to see, crisis over! 

Yesterday, I put her to bed for her nap, was walking back to enjoy my lunch and heard a strange thump.  Mother radar caused me to run to her room, where I found her laying on her back in front of her crib!  Her mouth was open in a silent scream, that was slowly forming into a shriek heard round the world.  She had leaned forward in her crib- with the side down- and I guess did a total flip to land on her back.  It was a scary moment for both of us.  Again, I was worried about concussion and didn't want her to go to sleep.  I didn't know if she lost consciousness, even for a second, since I wasn't there.  But after she calmed down, she seemed fine, except for a bitten lip.  

But still, I looked up head injuries in books and online. I talked to Mark on the phone, who was not worried. I knew if I called the pediatrician, it was going to end up in the ER.  When she was about 9 months, she fell out of a chair and landed on the ceramic tile face first.  I called then, and they said they could only send us to the ER.  There, she was strapped to a table for a cat-scan, held down for x-rays and irritated beyond belief by having to wait for hours.  And of course, everything was fine.  After her fall yesterday, after she turned into Monster Lilah for lack of a nap, I put her back in her crib to let her sleep. (With the side pulled up!) She woke up later, fine and dandy.  Babies and children are built for falling I guess. Mom's just aren't built for not worrying and for always fearing the worst.

Am I really 40?

Went to the library today and ran across a book called "40 over 40." It was all about how to dress when you pass 40. It just freaked me out a bit. I know I'm not supposed to wear what teenagers are wearing, but do I really have to change my whole wardrobe now that I'm 40? Is 40 really middle aged? (I guess I'm not going to live to be 150, so yes.) But middle age has such a connotation- crisis and all that. Am I to be lumped over the 40 hump now? No longer able to commiserate with my under 40 friends? I have young children. I still feel young, I don't feel like I fit into that category yet. I still feel slightly hip. I don't know if I look very hip, but I like to try, without being silly. Maybe I'm just fooling myself. I hate being pigeon-holed according to age. But hey there's always Sarah Jessica Parker, I bet she never read a book like this.