I don’t often get too riled up about the news. But this? This story grates on every last nerve in my body.
In case you haven’t been following this throughout the YEARS it has been going on, long story short: David marries Bruna. They have a son, Sean. When Sean is four years old, Bruna tells David she is taking Sean on a vacation in Brazil to visit her family. She is supposed to be back in two weeks, but never returns. (Note: This is called kidnapping.) David files charges and begins court proceedings to try to get his son back.
Meanwhile, Bruna remarries a rich Brazilian businessman, and builds a cushy new life for herself and Sean, not thinking for one moment how she has taken this boy from his father. Then, what do you know? She dies during childbirth. Instead of being returned to the U.S. to live with his dad, courts repeatedly keep Sean in Brazil with his stepfather, even though the rulings all seem to go in David’s favor. Stepfather’s side argues that Sean is happy, has been living with his stepfather for most of his life, and that he should be left alone because he wants to stay in Brazil. Oh, and Sean is now nine. Nine years old! This shit has been going on for FIVE YEARS.
Throughout it all, David has flown to Brazil and back a bajillion times to try to bring his son home, only to face another setback that keeps the boy with his stepfather. Repeatedly, David thinks he’s going to get his son back, only to have his hopes dashed. What an emotional rollercoaster. Not only that, but what a waste of time. It has already been five years. Every day that goes by is another day that David and Sean are apart. Every day is another inch of space between them, another mile in the road to repairing their relationship.
This is the biggest clusterfuck of a situation. What is the deal with the Brazilian justice system? I mean, seriously. Remind me to never, ever go to Brazil. I wouldn’t want to take the chance that I would find myself at the mercy of their courts.
Let’s recap what this story has taught us:
1) If you want to kidnap a child, do it, and then flee to Brazil.
2) Don’t forget to kidnap a child who is as young as possible. That way, the child will view you as his parent, and the courts will argue that the child is accustomed to this life, and is happy, so he should stay with his kidnapper.
The judge, who blocked the latest ruling that stated Sean needed to be returned to David within 48 hours, said today that he wants to put Sean on the witness stand. They want to hear from Sean and figure out what he wants to do.
A nine year old.
A nine year old who has been kidnapped, and has been living with his stepfather since he was four.
Surely these judges are smart people. Surely they can see how messed up this thinking is? Yes?
I understand that this child has a life in Brazil, and that he is probably happy. But it doesn’t make it right. The only reason Sean was given the opportunity to get so comfortable in this situation and grow attached to his stepfather is because of the Brazilian government’s mishandling of this case from the very beginning. The court is responsible for this mess. And it is its duty to fix it.
I just can’t stop shaking my head. The whole thing is ludicrous. It’s like saying that Jaycee Dugard should have stayed with her captor, because after all, she had been there for 18 years and she had made a family for herself; she had kids. Why not keep things status quo?
Ridiculous. It infuriates me. I’m all fired up.
Bring this child home.
When you make your Christmas cookie cutouts this year, you don’t have to make plain ol’ sugar cookies. Instead, you can make this variation on my favorite sugar cookie recipe, which incorporates some holiday spice. Again, this comes from Katie, who provided me with another awesome (chocolate!) variation that I tried out on Halloween.
I first made these back in the beginning of October, but never posted the recipe. When I made them then, we gobbled up many of the cookies ourselves, and even brought them for tailgating at the Buffalo Bills game.
So when I had to make something to send off for the holiday round of Operation Baking Gals, I figured these cookies would be perfect for the occasion. Especially since I could easily make them festive by using Christmas cookie cutters. I also tinted the glaze with food coloring.
These are so much easier to decorate than traditional sugar cookie cutouts since they are simply drizzled with a powdered sugar + vanilla extract + water glaze. I don’t have the energy for traditional cutouts this holiday season, so these are an easier but still delicious alternative! Obviously, if you are feeling ambitious, you can decorate these with your traditional royal icing or buttercream frosting recipes as well.
I actually made the cookie dough a few weeks ago and put it in the freezer, which makes things much easier when it comes time for baking–just thaw, roll out, cut, and bake! To freeze, I wrap the prepared dough in 3-4 layers of plastic wrap, then put it in a freezer bag. It keeps fine for several weeks.
Sugar and Spice Cookies
(Source: Good Things Catered)
Ingredients:
– 1 1/2 cups butter
– 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
– 1/2 cup powdered sugar
– 4 eggs
– 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
– 1/2 tsp. almond extract
– 1 tsp. orange zest
– 5 cups flour
– 2 tsp. baking powder
– 2 tsp. ground cinnamon
– 1 tsp. salt
– 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
– 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
– 1/4 tsp. ground cloves
– 1/4 tsp. allspice
– powdered sugar, for rolling
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Cream butter and sugars in a mixer for 5 minutes.
3. Add eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly.
4. Add vanilla, almond, and zest.
5. Sift in flour, baking powder, spices and salt a little at a time. Do not overmix, this process should take about one minute.
6. Chill dough for up to a week in the fridge, or roll out and cut right away. (Or freeze it.)
7. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and bake cookies for 7-8 minutes (4 minutes for mini ones). Wait until cookies are cooled before icing.
You’ll notice that the recipe for the glaze is not included; I don’t really have a recipe, either. I simply dump some powdered sugar into a glass bowl, and add water a teaspoon at a time and stir. I add a splash of vanilla, and then more water if needed. The glaze should be smooth, but still a bit thick so it doesn’t run down off the cookies. It’s easy; you can’t screw it up! If you accidentally add too much water and it gets too thin, simply add more powdered sugar.
One of the best things about Christmastime is the non-stop Christmas music.
There are XM/Sirius satellite radio stations dedicated solely to the season. There are Pandora internet radio stations with which you can celebrate Christmas 24/7. Even one of our local radio stations gives up all other music to play just Christmas tunes throughout the month of December.
I love all of this. I think it’s awesome.
Except… well, except…
There are some really BAD Christmas songs. Like, seriously bad.
There are Christmas songs so bad, in fact, that I’d rather scrape out my own ear drums than listen to them. I think everybody has at least one Christmas song for which they feel this way.
My LEAST favorite? The worst of the worst in my mind?
I told you mine. Now, you tell me yours. Let’s discuss.
Annnnnd… GO!
A few months back, I was looking for new recipes to try. My cousin sent me this one and proclaimed it as her favorite. I put it in my bookmarked pages and planned to try it soon, but it kept getting pushed further and further down the list.
Earlier this week, when I was doing the meal planning for the week, I came across it again and decided that this weekend would be the time to try it.
The crispy, breaded coating nicely complements the tender, juicy chicken. The lemon/wine sauce spooned over the top kicks the chicken flavors up a notch and makes for a really awesome meal.
We served the chicken with homemade red smashed potatoes and some veggies. Everything came together pretty easily and we were sitting down to eat in no time.
Chicken Piccata
(Source: Ina Garten, Food Network)
Ingredients:
– 2 split (1 whole) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
– Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
– 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
– 1 extra-large egg
– 1/2 tablespoon water
– 3/4 cup seasoned dry bread crumbs
– Good olive oil
– 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature, divided
– 1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 lemons), lemon halves reserved
– 1/2 cup dry white wine
– Sliced lemon, for serving
– Chopped fresh parsley leaves, for serving
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
2. Place each chicken breast between 2 sheets of parchment paper or plastic wrap and pound out to 1/4-inch thick. Sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper.
3. Mix the flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper in a shallow plate. In a second plate, beat the egg and 1/2 tablespoon of water together. Place the bread crumbs on a third plate. Dip each chicken breast first in the flour, shake off the excess, and then dip in the egg and bread crumb mixtures.
4. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large saute pan over medium to medium-low heat. Add the chicken breasts and cook for 2 minutes on each side, until browned. Place them on the sheet pan and allow them to bake for 5 to 10 minutes while you make the sauce.
5. For the sauce, wipe out the saute pan with a dry paper towel. Over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter and then add the lemon juice, wine, the reserved lemon halves, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Boil over high heat until reduced in half, about 2 minutes. Off the heat, add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and swirl to combine. Discard the lemon halves and serve 1 chicken breast on each plate. Spoon on the sauce and serve with a slice of lemon and a sprinkling of fresh parsley.
…to look a lot like Christmas!
I dug the ol’ Christmas blog header out of the archives, and spruced things up a bit around here. I hope it makes you feel very… Christmasy. :)
I’ll be back after the holidays with a more permanent “new look,” but for now I hope you can appreciate Heather Drive’s celebration of the holidays. I can’t believe we’re only two weeks away!
*ahem*
♪♪You better watch out, you better not cry… ♪♪
♪♪You better not pout, I’m telling you why…♪♪
*whistle* *hum*
♪♪…Santa Claus is coming to town…♪♪
*WHEEZE* *COUGH* *SNEEZE*
Ugh. Sorry.
About
I'm Heather. I'm 33 and have been married to Michael for seven years. Together, we have two beautiful little girls we love more than anything, and a miniature dachshund who drives us crazy. I'm a full-time working mom who has very little time for my own "stuff" these days, like home improvement, cooking/baking, cake decorating, and photography. Despite the team not making the playoffs since 1999, I'm STILL a Buffalo Bills fan, which I think speaks to my loyalty AND sense of humor. I can't wait to pick up the pace with travel again some day... you know, when we're done being ruled by tiny fists. Welcome to my blog.
