Baby Registries, Brownie Recipes, and Lemon Orzo Soup!

I've had several "Baby Related" questions that I've been asked recently, so I thought I'd share how we are prepping for Baby #6, and also I wanted to include the recipe to the brownies and soup that were made on TLC's Counting On, for Jessa's Baby Shower!

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When prepping for a baby, we've learned a lot of do's and do not's!

For example:

DO: Take the time to do a baby registry! It takes awhile, but my foggy pregnancy brain STRUGGLES to remember what we need, and what we don't need! I actually found an online one where you can sync any other registries you have directly to it, so you don't have to have one for Target, one for Walmart, etc. They're all pulled into one clear, concise registry!

This go-a-round, I used myregistry.com/sierradominguez.



A really cool feature is the ability to add random items, from different websites, by adding a "bookmark" to your computer. Then you just click "Add to my registry", and it pre-fills all the needed information, as well as, the online store link! This saved me a ton of time!



DO NOT: Buy the most expensive stroller, carseat, etc, because you think it's better quality! I once found a name brand stroller, that retailed for $700 DOLLARS, at a consignment shop for WAY cheaper. I purchased it, instead of the Graco one, because I figured it was better quality, mechanics, etc. It was first of all, HUGE, and clunky. Also, anytime I tried to just "go on a quick walk" it was an ORDEAL to get it opened, and ready to go. And finally, the last straw was that as I was pushing it, leaving a park, I KID YOU NOT, a wheel came off, and rolled in the opposite direction that I was trying to push the stroller. This happened right by my car, and also conveniently, right by a dumpster. I buckled the kiddos in the car, and chucked the over-priced stroller in the trash.

 Our tried and true brands, that have stood the test of time, are Graco strollers and carseats. They're a great price, and are actually durable! We have had to replace our stroller twice, once in between the 3 boys, and now again, in between the girls, and this new baby. Only because they get weathered pretty bad, but the mechanics last! (2 strollers in almost 8 years is pretty good, if you ask me!) The carseat we choose to replace every time, due to expiration dates, etc.



(My husband once fit 5 kids on ^that stroller. I'll let you use your imagination, as to how he did it! I wasn't there, but received pictures, and laughed really hard!)

We've also had to figure out how to streamline things, so that we can be as efficient as possible! Typically our newest addition will sleep in our room, in their bassinet or mini crib, for about a year. It's just easier when nursing, and trying to get on a schedule! My favorite MUST HAVE for nursing is my beloved Boppy pillow!

The pillow curves around the Momma's tummy, and supports the baby, to provide maximum comfort, when nursing! I still have my pillow, but change out the slip covers, with each new little one!

While on the topic of nursing, my life line is Medela Cream:


All you nursing Momma's know how critical Lanolin is, and this happens to be my favorite brand!

A super sweet thing that friends have done for us, is offer to bring us a meal! It wasn't until we had the girls that people asked if they could just send us a gift card, to a pizza place or restaurant, in lieu of needing to coordinate times, meal plans, dirty dishes, etc. I thought this was genius, and now just call a Momma that is about to pop, and ask her what her favorite restaurant is, and then give her a gift card! You can order food to-go, have the hubby pick it up, and NO MORE THOUGHT PROCESS into dinner plans! A win-win for all! So, on my registry, I went ahead and added our favorite restaurant choices!

("Homemade" by Papa John's. You da bomb, John.)

So those are our some of our "tips and tricks", when it comes to bringing a new human onto this planet! What fun tips and tricks have you found that works for your family??? Comment below!


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I've had a LOT of messages, emails, and requests for the recipes I used for Jessa's baby shower! The recipe below is near and dear to my heart! I've been making it since I was little, and the recipe I wrote down, when I was 10 years old, had the title "Mammy's Famous Brownies". My Grandma JoEllen, who my siblings and I always called "Mammy", could whip these brownies up, at the drop of a hat. Then, when I was old enough, I begged her to teach me how. It came so incredibly natural to her, she couldn't even remember the recipe. She could've baked these, whilst sleeping, I'm sure of it. Finally, she sat down with me, and helped me get exactly how much of each item I needed, on a recipe card. I've been making them ever since.

The joke about the South is that at nearly every holiday, family event, party, etc. there will be a table full of the main course, and 3 tables full of desserts. I literally panic in social settings, when I don't think there are enough sweets to go around, and usually end up making a pan of these brownies. My favorite "version" of them is with the caramel center. But the version where I exhibit the least amount of self control is the plain ol' regular recipe. (Literally, I eat half of a pan. An inch at a time. All by myself.)


Mammy's Famous Brownies

Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 20-25 minutes

3/4 C. Cocoa
1 C. Shortening
4 Eggs
2 C. Sugar
1 tsp. Vanilla
1 1/4 C. Flour
1 tsp. Salt
1 tsp. Baking Powder


1.) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2.) Using a medium-sized saucepan, combine the Cocoa and Shortening, and heat (medium-low heat) on the stove, until melted. (No need to boil, just get it melted, and remove from heat!)

3.) Add Sugar, Eggs, and Vanilla into saucepan, and mix, until well combined.

4.) Add Flour, Salt, and Baking Powder to wet ingredients, and mix until it is a rich, chocolatey dream.

5.) Grease a 9x13 in pan with Shortening, and then dust with Flour, if you're Betty Crocker. Spray with No Stick Cooking Spray, and put a piece of parchment paper down, if you're Sierra Dominguez! ;)

6.) Pour the thick, gooey batter into your pan, and smooth to all 4 corners, using your mixing spoon.

7.) HERE'S WHERE THINGS GET FANCY: At this point you can pour white chocolate chips over the top (about a cup), and press down into batter. OR: Pour half the batter onto your pan, and sprinkle caramel chips (about a cup), then pour the rest of the batter over it.

OR: Leave the batter as is, and bake them.

I can assure you no matter what variation you do, you'll want to eat the whole pan. Or maybe that's just me...

8.) Cook for 21-25 minutes (Of course this all depends on dark or light pan, altitude, oven, etc.) So start at 20 minutes and keep checking on them! :)

Some things to watch out for:

-Don't over-mix the batter. As in, don't "save time" and use a hand mixer, or stand mixer. Mix it the old fashioned way, with a wooden spoon, or spatula! Trust me on this one!

-Don't over-cook the brownies. What you're looking for are nice firm edges, but when you check the center, with a fork, it should come out with a tiny bit of batter on it. They'll finish cooking, in the pan, once you pull them out. So try not to over-cook, if you like obey gooey brownies! If you like hockey pucks, bake those suckers to a crisp. (Just kidding. Why on earth would you do that?!?)

-Once you put a brownie in the bottom of a bowl, scoop ice cream on top, and proceed to inhale the mixture in 3 bites, you WILL BE TEMPTED to go back for more. Do what our family does, and keep a butter knife in the pan, and only cut out 1 in. x 1 in. chunks, until you've eaten half the pan. It burns calories going back so many times. You're welcome.


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I also had requests for the Lemon Orzo Soup I made for the shower! I actually fell in love with this soup from Panera Bread:



(Hello, lovely.)

I got hooked, when I was pregnant with Asher, and literally would salivate at the thought of this soup. My favorite thing to do was to pair it, in my 1/2 and 1/2 combo, with my chipotle chicken panini. #yum

Then Panera quit me. They discontinued the soup, and I set out on a quest to find the BEST copy cat recipe. This chick has a great recipe if you've got loads of time to cook, but I had to streamline it, to make it quickly, for my family! 

Lemon Orzo Soup
Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 20-25 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 large onion diced
• 1 10 oz bag matchstick carrots
• 1 package celery, diced small
• 3 garlic cloves minced
• juice and zest of 1.5 lemons
• 1 rotisserie chicken, de-boned, and shredded
• 2- 48 oz. boxes of chicken broth
• 1/2 cup orzo pasta
• 2-3 cups baby spinach leaves
• 2-3 Tbsp Better Than Bouillon
• Salt and Pepper to taste
• 2 Tbsp Italian Seasoning
• 2 tsp. Mrs. Dash Extra Spicy (This is optional, we just like our soups with a little spice!)

Instructions

1. Start with a large pot and melt 1 tbsp butter or olive oil over medium heat. Add diced onion, carrots, chopped celery, and garlic. Cover with lid, stirring often, until onions are translucent. (About 10-15 min.)
2. Add the 2 boxes of chicken BROTH. 
3. Add the juice and zest of 1.5 lemons. (Here's where you can make it personal. I typically add 2 lemons, but that's because I love the kick of lemon!) 
4. Let the soup come up to a simmer. In the meantime, measure out 1/2 a cup of orzo pasta.
5. Once the soup has reached a simmer, add the orzo and your shredded chicken to the soup. 
6. Add the Better than Bouillon, Salt, Pepper, Italian Seasoning, and Mrs. Dash Extra Spicy. Increase heat, so the soup is a low boil.
7. Once the orzo is cooked, about 15 minutes, turn the heat off. Add your 2-3 cups of baby spinach.
8. Mix well to combine.
9. Don't forget to taste to see if you need more seasoning and/or lemon. Sample until it tastes exactly how YOU want it! (More lemon, more pepper, whatever you prefer!) 

I usually buy a french baguette, cut into slices, and serve with the soup. My favorite thing to do is get a scoop of soup, onto a yummy piece of bread, and take one huge bite! :) My hubby loves soaking the bread pieces in the broth, then slurping to his hearts content! 

So what about you? Any fall favorite soup recipes that are a must-have for your family? What about you new Momma's? Are you in the trenches of nursing, late nights, and eating cold pizza at 3 a.m.? My prayer for you, is that you have a tribe that loves on you, that checks on you, and that feeds you. Because sometimes we need someone to bring us a chocolate chip cookie (or brownie!), and back away, while we inhale it, without judgement. I hope you've enjoyed the recipes! 

As always, folks, 

Choose Joy, Speak Life, and Keep Marching!

XOXO, 

Sierra Jo