Fish and Chips My Way

Charlton and I are addicted to the BBC's Downton Abbey.  To celebrate Season 2's premiere on PBS a few weeks ago I decided to make a healthy (gluten-free, dairy-free) version of fish and chips for dinner that night.  I used Elena Amsterdam's recipe for Fish Sticks which all four of us LOVE!  If your family doesn't eat fish, this is a great way to get them to eat it.  The almond flour breading is so yummy!  For the "chips" I used Alexia brand frozen sweet potato french fries.  I can't tell you how much I love these.  The boys think they're eating french fries.  I know they're eating vegetables.  It's a win-win situation.  And since they don't count the fries as a vegetable I threw some roasted broccoli in as a side.  So healthy, so delicious!  I'm telling you that you have to make this- your family will call you an English hero...or at least ask for more.

Cooking notes:
Elena doesn't recommend using Bob's Red Mill Almond meal/flour for her recipes because it is coarser than regular almond flour.  But it is the easiest to find (Kroger and HEB both carry it though it is MUCH cheaper online!!) so that's what I used.  I do only use half of the amount of flour at a time though because it does tend to get wet and clumpy half way through the breading process.  I also use coconut oil instead of olive oil and grape seed oil.  I have used cod the last few times and it cooks perfectly.

Fish Sticks

1 pound white fish (such as cod, snapper or tilapia)
2 eggs, whisked
1 cup blanched almond flour
1 teaspoon celtic sea salt
¼ cup olive oil
¼ cup grapeseed oil

1. Rinse fish fillets in cold water and set on a plate
2. Cut fish into 1 inch by 5 inch pieces, following the lines of the fillets and removing any bones
3. Place eggs in one dish and flour and salt in another
4. Dip fish sticks in egg, then flour; reserve to a plate
5. Put 2 tablespoons grapeseed oil and 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet and heat oil on medium high
6. Place half the the fish sticks in the pan, leaving enough room around them so that they aren't crowded
7. Cook for a few minutes on each side, until well browned, then remove fish sticks to a plate lined with a paper towel
8. Add oil --2 tablespoons grapeseed and 2 tablespoons olive to pan and fry remaining batch of fish sticks
9. Serve with ketchup

Serves 4

Day-After-Christmas Christmas

As I mentioned in the last post, we decided to have Christmas with Mimi and Popo (& Co.) on Monday so we could have the whole day together.  The newest addition to the cousin clan is baby Josh who was born on December 14.  Since he had to spend several days in the NICU, this was the first time we actually got to hold him.  8 cousins total- all ages five and under- makes for a lively time.  It was a blast!

 All 8 cousins with Mimi and Popo  

 Mimi and Popo bought the kids motorcycle jackets and hats while they were on vacation at the end of the summer.  So of course we tried to get a picture of them all together in their jackets...and the hats.  James was the least cooperative.  In fact, I think we cured him of ever wanted a leather jacket or a motorcycle which makes me very happy.

 James gave Santa a big smile and walked right up to him at first, but he was NOT going to sit on his lap.

 Earlier in the week, I had pointed out a man dressed as Santa, and Steven who was very put out with me said, "Mommy, Santa is not real."  He did, however, enjoy Santa Popo quite a bit for someone who doesn't believe in Santa.  Uh huh.  I told him it's fun to pretend.      

 

 Steven and Saige (the oldest cousins) play with someone else's present.

 James and Nick (10 days apart) playing paddy cake with Mimi.  I think it's hilarious that Nick put the Mr Potato Head glasses on himself and left them on for a long time.  James had to be the inspiration there.  Can you tell that James loves music?  Unfortunately, the only time he doesn't care about it is when we are taking pictures.  I snuck these in.

 Giving Josh some welcome-to-the-family love.  We are so thankful he is happy and healthy!

 James giving his new puppy some love 

Christmas Morning

Christmas day we mostly spent as a family of four.  We opened presents and stockings as soon as the boys woke up at 7, and had a leisurely morning of playing and getting ready for church.  A Sunday Christmas is special, and it definitely changed things up a bit from our usual Christmas morning routine.

  Every year we switch off which grandparents' house we celebrate Christmas day.  Since Christmas fell on a Sunday this year and everyone in the family goes to a different church, we decided to wait until Monday so that we would all have a full day together.  I really enjoyed going to church the morning of Christmas though.  It felt good and right to gather with our church family and celebrate our Saviour's birth together that day.  As parents, we say that it is what the holiday is about but actually going to worship forces the focus on Christ instead of just paying lip service between the opening of presents and stockings. 

   

 Christmas felt special this year and part of that was probably because Steven is a year older and understands so much more of what Christmas is about.  Steven had his first communion 2 Sundays before Christmas (we are trying to recover the pics on a memory card that decided that day would be a good day to break).  We feel so much joy that God is working on his heart and Steven loves Jesus.  The last month or so, he has been carrying Charlton's bible around with him and "reading" it.  Christmas morning we gave him his own- same color as Daddy's- with his name on it.  He was thrilled!

 James was all about the festivities once he got a snack cup full of cereal.  That boy does not wait for his food so a later breakfast was out of the question. 

 Playing with a new toy

 James is opening his present from Steven.

 Steven is showing James how to use his new book.

 Alien Legos he's been asking for

 Good-bye diaper bag!

 With my boys

 Dressed for church; the boys have on their outfits that Mammaw bought for them.

 Steven enjoyed a lollipop from his stocking after lunch.

 A great day, and to top it off we spend the evening with friends from church.   We are so blessed to be surrounded by such a great community of believers.  

Christmas Eve

This year we spent Christmas Eve at my parent's house.  Aunt Lindsay, Uncle Kyle, and Cousin Tommy were also there and we had a fantastic day with all of them.  The boys loved playing with Tommy; Steven showed him things and helped him open his presents.  In fact, I think he helped most of us with a present at some point.  He loves to help so when it comes to presents he was even more enthusiastic than usual.   

James in his snowman onesie that Mammaw gave him.

 Helping Tommy open his present from us.  

 Pappaw showing James how to use his hammer.

 Cousins playing

 Tommy showing off his crawling skills.

 Playing with Mammaw's Hallmark doggy.

 We waited until the last minute to stick James in for the cousins' picture.

 It worked for about a second.

 And then things feel apart...

 With the grandparents