New Year .... New Look

I thought the blog was in need of a facelift. 

I didn't much care for the all white, so I was playing with the templates and decided to try this one out for a bit.  I like the dark background BUT I think this means I'll need to post more pictures in order to brighten it up a bit.  All gray and white text is a bit blah.

Christmas Pictures 2010

I am under the illusion that if I pay someone to take pictures of my kids, they'll actually take better pictures than I.  Afterall, I am paying for the.  One wonders when I'll learn that is not the case, especially since I recently decided to upgrade from a basic point-and-shoot to a Canon EOS Rebel T2i.  The picture quality is awesome.  Love it so far.

Anyway, I dragged the kids out last Sunday in their Christmas finery to the local Picture People to have their picture taken.  There were at least 15 people in the tiny store along with three huge strollers.  Kids were screaming, you could tell there were several parents on the edge and it had to be 80 degrees in there.  When it was our turn we were crammed in a room that was too small for the kids and I and the photographer.  it was like they decided they needed to turn their storage closet (that was what the photographer told me it was used for the rest of the year) into a studio.

Thirty minutes, two tantrums and 15 minutes of endless pleading for someone to smile this is what we ended up with:

 Really, do you have to keep kissing me?

Sticking me in this train isn't going to make me smile:



 Note the finger starting to come up as he begins to say the word "No":

Do I have to sit close to her?

May LOOK like a cute picture however, he had a death grip on her hair and this was seconds before the tears started flowing:

So now on to Plan B.  Not sure what that is, but since Christmas is a mere two weeks away I better get busy snapping some pictures around the house.  I really don't think I'm asking too much ... both kids looking at the camera and smiling at the same time.  Maybe I'll just stick a Santa hat on Sophie and she can be our Christmas card this year.  At least she sits still for the camera.

Symphony Brownies

Last night was my department's Holiday Party.  The main course was provided but we needed to provide either a salad or a dessert.  I wasn't feeling very creative in the salad category so opted instead to go with a deseert.  Based off a Paula Deen recipe, these brownies always go over well when I take them places.  They are also pretty simple to put together. 

Symphony Brownies

2 brownie mixes that can be cooked in a 9x13 pan (I used Dunkin Hines)
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (I skipped since my candy bars had almonds)
3 4.5 ounce Hershey's Symphony Bars (I use the toffee and almond ones)

Preheat oven according to brownie mix.  Spray a 9x13 inch pan with nonstick cooking spray.  Mix up one box of brownie mix following the recipe on the back of the box - I use the 'cake-like' recipe when I make these bars.  Spread the batter in the pan.  Lay the 3 chocolate bars side by side on top of the batter.  Mix up the second brownie mix and pour on top of the chocolate bars.  Bake for 40 minutes. 

These will slice up a whole lot neater if you wait until they are completely cool.  If you live in Iowa and it is winter time, stick 'em out on your back porch for a hour or two.

Dominick The Italian Christmas Donkey song

OK, I'll admit it.  This one is one of my favorite Christmas songs.  I remember my grandfather playing a record (yes, I said 'record') of all Italian Christmas songs.  This was one of the only ones that was in English.  C'mon, you have to admit it is kind of a catchy tune.  :)

Turkey Stock

When the little guy looks at you, looks at the plate in front of him, points his finger at you and says 'NO' then it may be time to start thinking about ditching the Thanksgiving leftovers.

I opted to get a smaller turkey this year - a mere 16 pounds for the 4 of us.  It was small enough to stick in a stockpot to brine (rather than dealing with the brining bags) but big enough that we had turkey for .... 8 meals.

Yesterday I took what was left of the turkey:  the carcass, drumsticks and assorted skin and bones.  Threw it in a pot with some water and vegetables, let it simmer and perfecto!  Two big containers of stock in the refrigerator waiting to go into the freezer for a future meal or two of Turkey Noodle Soup.  I think Madeleine got a little nervous when she walked into the kitchen - "Mommy it smells like you're cooking a turkey again.  We aren't eating MORE turkey, are we?"

Turkey Stock

Leftover turkey carcass with a bunch of the good stuff still attached
2 onions, quartered
3 stalks celery
3 carrots, peeled
3-4 garlic cloves, peeled
1 tablespoon black peppercorns
Handful of parsley, chopped
salt

Break the turkey carcass in half and toss in a tall stockpot.  Fill pot with water until carcass is almost fully submerged.  Add the vegetables and seasonings.  Cover and bring to a boil, reducing the heat and let it simmer gently.  I let it simmer for an hour and a half with the cover on and 30 minutes with the cover off so it would reduce a little.

Strain the stock into a bowl (or two) discarding all the solids.  Let cool before placing in the refrigerator.  I typically let it sit in the refrigerator overnight and then skim off the top layer of fat before either using right away or freezing in quart sized containers.  Careful when taking it out of the bowl.  As you get to the bottom of the bowl,  a lot of time some of the 'stuff' that passed through the strainer will have sunk.  I typically use a ladle rather than pouring it right from the bowl to a pot or container.

Smashed Sweet Potatoes

Happy Thanksgiving all!!!  It's been a while since I've posted and I have no excuse other than just being busy.  Taking a break at the moment while waiting for the turkey to cook and the football game to start (GO PATS!!) so I thought I'd post on of my favorite Thanksgiving recipes and pretty much the only way I'll eat sweet potatoes.

I am a huge fan of the Barefoot Contessa.  She is one of the few I can stand to watch on Food Network these days and any of her recipes I have tried have been a success.  This one is no exception.  Simple to put together and the end result is oh so good not too sweet and just the right amount of spice.  Here's hoping everyone is enjoying a wonderful dinner with their loved ones!

Smashed Sweet Potatoes

4 pounds sweet potatoes (about 6 large)
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup heavy cream
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Scrub the potatoes, prick them several times with a knife or fork, and bake them for 1 hour or until very soft when pierced with a knife. Remove from the oven and scoop out the insides as soon as they are cool enough to handle. Place the sweet potato meat into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and add the orange juice, cream, butter, brown sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, salt, and pepper. Mix together until combined but not smooth and transfer to a baking dish.

Bake the potatoes for 20 to 30 minutes, until heated through.

L5/S Microdiscectemy

Sounds exciting, doesn't it?  Isn't that how everyone would like to spend their Friday?

The sciatic nerve pain I was talking about in my last post came back with a vengeance (on my birthday, no less) the day after I started physical therapy.  I spent the weekend in bed, since anytime I tried to stand I had a hot, burning pain traveling from the top of my leg to my ankle.  Hmm, worse than before.  Couldn't be a good sign.

Monday: a phone call to my doctor asking for pain meds and an order for an MRI.  Tuesday I got in for the MRI (I now think I am claustrophic) and the results a few hours later showed a ruptured disc.  The nice nurse at my doctor's office found a neurosurgeon that would see me on Wednesday and the next thing I knew I was being scheduled for surgery for Friday.  Let me tell you, by the time Friday rolled around I was more than ready to have surgery, despite my apprehension about the whole thing.  I liken it to having a baby - by the time Week 40 rolls around you are so big and tired and miserable you just want that baby OUT.  But I digress.

Got to the hospital at 8 although my surgery wasn't until 11:30.  They were 'ahead of schedule' so I actually went in about 11.  One minute there is a pair of eyes asking me to take a deep breath, the next I am trying to figure out why my eyes won't open as I am listening to the nurse's recap of the previous mights Grey's Anatomy.

Surgery was a success.  The doctor was able to remove the ruptured part of the disc from my spinal column and my leg is PAIN FREE.  Cannot tell you how unbelievable it was to be in such pain and waking up to none.  I am sure the drugs helped immensely but even as I hobble around today I am still expecting the pain in my leg and there is none.

My back is a different story though.  Pretty sore where the 2-inch incision is and I am finding I can't sit at all.  I was told to spend today walking a little bit around the house building up each day.  I go back on Friday to have the staples removed (they even gave me a staple remover at the hospital to take with me - weird) and I am supposed to take it easy until then.  No twisting, only sitting up for short periods of time and no lifting anything over 30 pounds. 

I've already spent one week doing pretty much nothing and I don't know if I can handle another week of it.  After playing Mr. Mom for a week, I am sure David doesn't think he can handle another week of me not being able to do anything either!!

Just laying around ...

One would think that when you haven't been able to do anything but lie flat for a week, you might get some things accomplished - updating the checking account in Quicken, uploading the latest pictures to myphotoalbum for the grandparents or even updating the blog once or twice.  It's been 8 days now ... I'm tired of our bank kicking me offline, can't find the camera (can't really look for it either) and well, here is my first post in a couple of weeks.  WAH.   OK, got the whining out.  :)

I'm really not even sure what I did.  I worked out in the garden one night, just picking vegetables and such.  Woke up a little sore Friday morning and by Friday night I could hardly put weight on my left leg, it was hard to sit and it alternated between sharp pain and a burning sensation from the base of my back to my knee.  Being a Saturday, I consulted Dr. Google which confirmed my though it was sciatica and was debating going to the walk-in clinic or not.  A trip to the doctor on Monday got me some muscle relaxers and an anti-inflammatory and the instructions to lay on the heating pad, limited sitting and standing until I was feeling better - should be back to 'normal activities' by Friday I was told.

Fast forward to Friday and me attempting to get into my car to go to work.  I couldn't sit in my car at all and couldn't put weight on my left leg without all the pain.  My doctor was out of town and a trip to the walk-in clinic was useless "you need to call your doctor when she gets back from vacation so she can refer you to someone".  Perfect ... can't sit, can't stand and I am supposed to wait 5 days just to get the number of a doctor to call?? 

Off to St. Luke's ER we went.  If Leo Sternbach were still alive he'd be getting a thank you card from me.  Seriously.  Between the valium and the vicodin for pain I am at least able to navigate around the house (when I am not sleeping that is) and get things to eat and drink.  ER doctor confirmed the sciatica but said at this point there isn't much they can do for it until the inflammation goes down ... in a month or so.  A month.

I will say, David's not making too much fun of me anymore for having a well stocked freezer.  If it wasn't for that, we wouldn't have much of anything to eat.  He's been the one getting meals together and taking care of the kids.  He is also getting a taste of what it is like trying to put supper together while having someone climbing up your leg.  Not so easy, is it? 

It was a little easier to get out of bed this morning so I am hoping that means the inflammation is going down.  I've had issues with my lower back before but never have had anything like this.  Fingers crossed that some physical therapy is going to fix whatever the issue is! 

On that note ... I feel another nap coming on.

Spicy Refrigerator Dill Pickles

In years past, by late August, we have been buried under a ton of produce coming form our little garden.  Not this year.  Other than cucumbers (of which I have picked well over a hundred of regular and pickling combined) we haven’t had much of anything.  Hasn’t been very hot and we’ve had way too much rain this year.

Faced with mounds of cucumbers, I had to find ways to use them up without making the family sick of them.  Canning is out, as the whole process scares me and I fear poisoning the family if it isn’t done properly.  So my focus is on refrigerator pickles.  They’ll stay for a good month in the refrigerator so I don’t have to worry about eating them up within a week.

I found this recipe on Allrecipes and since we all like spicy I thought I’d give it a try.  I had quart sized jars so instead of putting them in whole (plus I didn’t want to wait 10 days) I cut them into spears and stuffed them in 2 jars.  I mixed up the brine and it filled both jars all the way up to the top, with 1/4 cup left over.  Perfect.

I let them sit for a week in the refrigerator and we tried them this weekend.  They were really good – slightly spicy and very garlicky with just a hint of sweetness.  Probably could have used a touch more dill, but my dill plant died last month and I had to go to 3 different stores before I found any fresh.

Spicy Refrigerator Dill Pickles

12 three to four inch long pickling cucumbers
2 cups water
1 3/4 cups white vinegar
1 1/2 cups chopped fresh dill weed
1/2 cup white sugar
8 cloves garlic, chopped
1 1/2 tablespoons coarse salt
1 tablespoon pickling spice
1 1/2 teaspoons dill seed
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste
4 sprigs fresh dill weed

In a large bowl, combine the cucumbers, water, vinegar, chopped dill, sugar, garlic, salt, pickling spice, dill seed, and red pepper flakes. Stir, and let stand at room temperature for 2 hours, until the sugar and salt dissolve.

Remove the cucumbers to three 1 1/2 pint wide mouth jars, placing 4 cucumbers into each jar. Ladle in the liquid from the bowl to cover. Place a sprig of fresh dill into each jar, and seal with lids. Refrigerate for 10 days before eating. Use within 1 month.

Strawberry Picking 2010

A little late (since we went about a month ago) but I thought I'd post this years pictures from our trip strawberry picking.  This year I took a day off from work and we dropped Christopher off at daycare before heading up to Independence.  We managed to get our strawberries picked just before the storms rolled in.  They were behind on picking them because we have had so much rain that a lot of them were overripe.  We ended up with about 10 1-cup containers of freezer jam and the rest were eaten.

Getting ready to walk out to the fields:

I think I picked enough mommy!

Finally finished - just as the thunder started!

Do you think she ate any??

First Garden Harvest

We've had a ton of rain this year and I was beginning to believe that the garden was going to fizzle out like our garden did last year.  Up until Friday, I had picked and tossed 5 or so zucchini which were rotting where they touched the ground.  We've had a couple of nice and HOT days and when Madeleine and I checked it out after work on Friday we were pleasantly surprised:

Between Friday night and this morning we ended up with 15 cucumbers, 8 zucchini/summer squash, one eggplant, 2 jalapenos and 2 cherry tomatoes.  I think pickles (although my dill died) and some zucchini bread are on the horizon. 

One of the potatoes - my 'test vegetable' of the year:

Pickling cucumber.  At least I think it is.  I planted one pickling cucumber and one regular that I THOUGHT was a bush cucumber, meaning (in my mind) grows on a bushy plant.  The two cucumber plants have spread out everywhere and are attaching themselves to everything else.

A green pepper that is supposed to be red.  Had to convince Madeleine we couldn't pick this one yet.

My one eggplant.

Christopher checking out the squash.  At least he didn't take a bite out of one like Madeleine did the first time she saw one.

Grilled Meatloaf

I took out 2 pounds of ground beef out of the freezer and was trying to figure out what to do with it.  I wasn't in the mood for hamburgers and I was at a loss at what to do with it.  Meatloaf always goes over well here with the kids, but I didn't want to heat up the kitchen.  I remembered a recipe I saw someplace for meatloaf burgers but then wondered if I couldn't just make a regular one and cook it on the grill.

Good ole Google had a gazillion hits for 'grilled meatloaf'.  I wasn't looking for a recipe as much as a method.  Found one that simply called for cooking it on top of a piece of aluminum foil.  Seemed easy enough to try.

With the 2 pounds of ground beef I ended up making 2 meatloaves.  I sprayed the foil (one for each loaf) placed them on cookie sheets before putting the meatloaf on, hoping for an easy transfer to the grill.  The grill heated up to 600 degrees (guess I didn't need to have all 4 burners in high).  I transferred the meatloaf on the foil to the grill, cooked them  for 10 minutes then reduced the burners down to low under the meatloaf but left the other one on high.  About 35 minutes later (while the kids splashed in their pool) supper was done.

I thought it was a success.  There was a nice crust on the bottom and the meatloaf was nice and moist.  The little guy scarfed it down, then again he has been caught eating both dirt and dog food so I am not sure how much one should trust his taste buds!

Mini Meat Loaves
Cooking Light Magazine, 2003
Yield: 4 servings

1/2 cup ketchup
1 1/2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 pound ground sirloin
3/4 cup finely chopped onion
1/4 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1 large egg, lightly beaten
Cooking spray

Preheat oven to 400°.  Combine ketchup and mustard, stirring well with a whisk. Reserve 2 1/2 tablespoons ketchup mixture. Combine remaining ketchup mixture, beef, and next 6 ingredients (beef through egg) in a large bowl, stirring to combine.

Divide beef mixture into 4 equal portions. Shape each portion into a 4 x 2 1/2-inch loaf; place loaves on a jelly roll pan coated with cooking spray.

Spread about 2 teaspoons reserved ketchup mixture evenly over each loaf. Bake at 400° for 25 minutes or until done.

What a week ...

I started to get suspicious last weekend when my normally cheerful two and a half foot tornado turned into a clinging fusspot.  Yep, another fever.  My hopes that it was maybe the next tooth coming in were dashed when he woke up Monday morning sounding like a barking dog.

So off to the walk-in clinic we went since his doctor didn't have an available appointment until late afternoon.  One hour later we walked out of there with the familiar diagnosis of a respiratory infection and headed over to Target to get his prescription filled.  Seventy-two dollars and a full cart later ...

Got a call from daycare that afternoon that Madeleine was running a low fever.  It was her turn to go to the doctor yesterday and she has strep throat.  Doctor also said (again) her tonsils are pretty big.  I am guessing they'll be coming out in the near future.

David and I have been switching off going to work - one does the early morning and the other does afternoon into evening.  Thankfully both are back to normal (whatever that may be) and are going back to daycare tomorrow.  Just in time for the weekend!

Jerk Shrimp with Grilled Onion, Avocado, and Mango Salsa

Summer is here!  I love the warm weather but I hate heating up the kitchen to cook.  Back in the day, when I was a carefree single person,  I lived on salads in the summer.  A lot of that had to do with living in Phoenix though.  By the time July rolled around and we were in the 110 range you weren't going to catch me turning on an oven OR standing in front of an open flame.  I think if I tried to serve them salads for supper every night they'd start rebelling by the end of the week.

This one was fairly easy to put together but the next time I will be more than happy to fork the extra $2 a pound for the already peeled and deveined shrimp.  I'm not even sure what I was thinking when I bought them with the shells on.  I would also peel them entirely instead of leaving the tails on.  I am not a fan of having to pick them up one by one to eat, especially when you have the salsa to eat them with.  Plus they turn your fingers an orangey red color -  not all that attractive! 

I only use 1/2 of the cayenne pepper so there wouldn't be too much heat for Madeleine.  I'd also double the salsa next time.  The sweetness was great with the spicy shrimp.

Jerk Shrimp with Grilled Onion, Avocado, and Mango Salsa
Coastal Living
Yield: 4 servings

1 mango, peeled and finely chopped
1/2 avocado, finely chopped
1/4 cup finely chopped red bell pepper
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 pounds unpeeled large raw shrimp
1 red onion, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons Jamaican Jerk Rub
Combine first 7 ingredients in a medium bowl, and set salsa aside.
Peel shrimp, leaving tails on; devein. Toss shrimp and onion with oil in a large bowl, sprinkle with Jamaican Jerk Rub, and toss to coat. Grill shrimp and onion over medium-high heat (350° to 400°) 6 minutes, or just until shrimp turn pink, turning once. Chop onion and add to salsa mixture, stirring gently. Serve shrimp with salsa.

Jamaican Jerk Rub
1/3 cup paprika
2 tablespoons ground allspice
4 teaspoons sugar
1 tablespoon dried thyme
1 tablespoon salt
2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper


Combine all ingredients in a bowl; mix well. Store in an airtight container.

Sizzling Beef and Scallions

Who doesn't want to get something relatively healthy AND tasty on the table in 30 minutes or less?  While I like to cook and actually enjoy spending time in the kitchen there are days that I just want to get something on the table fast without having to go through a drive-thru.

So I turned to the stack of Rachael Ray magazines I have next to the bed (OK, there are a lot more than just Rachael Ray but she IS the queen of 30 minute meals) and picked out a stir fry recipe I had all the ingredients for.  It took me an hour and 15 minutes.  Rachael Ray must not have a 4 year old holper and a 1 year old trying to climb her leg while she cooks.

I couldn't bring myself to use 6 tablespoons of oil so I sprayed my pan with PAM and only used a little bit of oil when adding the eggs.  My holper decided we needed to use the peas and carrot frozen mix and I added 8 oz of sliced mushrooms.  My rice was cooked at the same time so I skipped the last step altogether.

Once I got everyone either coloring with or eating crayons (kidding - I caught him before he swallowed any) it did come together rather quickly.  It is best to have everything all cut up and ready to go as a stir-fry goes pretty quickly.

Sizzling Beef and Scallions
Everyday with Rachael Ray

8 ounces London broil, sliced into short, thin strips  (I used sirloin)
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons vegetable oil   (used less than 1 T total)
10 scallions, green parts thinly sliced, white parts cut into 1-inch pieces
2/3 cup chopped red bell pepper
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh ginger
2/3 cup frozen peas, thawed
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 teaspoon sugar
4 cups cooked white rice, chilled

1.  In a medium bowl, toss the beef with 1 tablespoon soy sauce. In a large nonstick skillet, heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium-high heat. Add the beef and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes; transfer to a bowl.

2.  In the skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat. Add the scallion whites, bell pepper and ginger and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes; stir in the peas. Push the vegetables to one side of the skillet, add 1 tablespoon oil and pour in the eggs. Stir the eggs until they begin to set, then stir in the vegetables. Add the egg-vegetable mixture to the beef; stir in the sugar and the remaining 1 tablespoon soy sauce.

3.  Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil in the skillet over medium-high heat. Add the rice, breaking up any clumps, then cook, without stirring, until heated through, 2 minutes. Stir in the beef mixture and scallion greens.

Birthday Fun

This weekend we had 2 birthdays to celebrate. Madeleine turned 4 on June 4th and Christopher turned 1 on the 6th. I thought it would be great to be able to celebrate both at the same time (since our families are spread out all over the US) but I didn't take into account the fact that I would need 2 cakes.

Growing up my mom always made our birthday cakes. Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, the infamous Panda disaster of 1979, etc. I wanted to do the same for the kids. Worked out well the last couple of years with one child. This year, not so much. Trying to decorate 2 cakes with the humidity was daunting.

Madeleine picked out this castle cake:

I decided to make a circus big top for Christopher.  Not one of my better choices, especially with the humidity (frosting was melting pretty fast, even with the air conditioner on).  I also learned that I can't really decorate cakes free form; I do much better using the character pans where all I have to do is fill in the spaces.

I don't think Christopher minded much.  He really got into his own little cake and even wanted to share it with me:

All in all, I think we had a pretty successful party.  David smoked some ribs (which went fast) and he also grilled up some burgers, hot dogs and chicken legs.  We had enough left over that I didn't have to cook on Sunday and I am estimating I can get us through Wednesday without me having to cook.

While Madeleine is all about princesses and castles, she got a new dress-up outfit in honor of Toy Story 3 coming out.  I think she makes a pretty cute cowgirl.

Happy Birthday Madeleine!!  Happy Birthday Christopher!!

Kansas City Rub

As I sit here with my laptop and a notebook try to come up with a menu (and shopping list) for the kids birthday party (all while fending off a rambunctious 11 month old who wants to pound on the keyboard) I realize I neglected to post the rub recipe that goes with the barbecue sauce. They really do go together.

Use less cayenne (or leave it out) if you aren't a fan of spicy. We've used this on ribs, pork and even a whole chicken I attempted to rotisserie (which was an experience in itself).

Kansas City Rub

3/4 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
1/4 cup mild New Mexico red chile powder
1/4 cup mild paprika
2 1/2 tablespoons kosher salt
2 1/2 tablespoons freshly-ground black pepper
1 tablespoon granulated onion
1/2 tablespoon granulated garlic
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Combine sugar, Chile powder, paprika, salt, pepper, onion, garlic and cayenne together and rub about 2/3 of the mixture well into the ribs (or chicken or pork for pulled pork). Wrap in plastic and refrigerate overnight.

This covers about 4 racks of ribs.

Spring Traditions - Barbecue Sauce

There are a few things that happen around our house each Spring that lets you know that summer is on the way: our vegetable garden gets planted, the garage freezer gets defrosted and reorganized, the familiar cloud of smoke that encompasses David as he mows the lawn with the tractor. Our neighbor across the street knows it's Spring when he gets a call from David telling him he and the tractor are stuck in the mud again ... but I digress.

A number of years ago, when David first got his smoker, we started experimenting with it and one recipe which we've come back to time and time again is a Kansas City Style barbecue sauce that he found as part of a ribs recipe. We've gotten to the point where we just make a double batch at the beginning of the summer and freeze it, so we'll always have some on hand. David decided he wanted to smoke some ribs for the kids birthday in a few weeks, so I have a triple batch brewing on the stove now.

The ingredient list is long but it really is a simple recipe. It tastes sooo much better than bottled sauce. I started leaving out the habanero sauce so it wouldn't be too spicy for Madeleine.

Kansas City Barbecue Sauce

1 cup Coke
1 cup tomato sauce
1/2 cup dark brown sugar -- firmly packed
1/2 cup dark molasses
1/2 cup white vinegar
1 can tomato paste -- (6 ounce)
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 tablespoon dry mustard
1 tablespoon New Mexico red chile powder
1/2 tablespoon kosher salt
1/2 tablespoon black pepper -- freshly-ground
1 tablespoon wasabi powder
1 tablespoon summer savory
1 tablespoon marjoram
1 tablespoon granulated garlic
1 tablespoon onion powder
2 dashes Tabasco Habanero Sauce

Mix all ingredients together and simmer over low heat until thick enough to coat the back of a metal spoon.

Welcome May!

It was a nice, sunny morning when we got up this morning so I packed up the kids in the car, grabbed the stroller and headed over to the town next door. They were having city wide garage sales, the first Farmer's Market of the season and there was a book sale at the local library.

We bought about 15 new strawberry plant to add to our garden, 12 or so new books (cookbooks, kids books and a few books for me), orange juice, a cookie and tattoo and Madeleine had a flower painted on her face all for about $20. Not bad for a Saturday morning.

The Farmer's market was pretty small but it was only the first of the season. I hope it grows as the season goes on because it is literally 10 minutes from the house which is nice. I have limited space to grow anything so it is nice to have a place close by to supplement from. Or in the case of last year, the entire garden tanks and you have to buy all your vegetables anyway. Seriously, even the zucchini didn't grow last year, that's how bad it was. It never really got very hot, which was nice for being at home with a brand new baby but not so good for the garden.

Know what I think?

Last night Madeleine was sitting at the kitchen table after bringing me her dirty dish.

"Know what I think, mommy?"

"No, Madeleine, what do you think?"

"I think little girls who eat all their supper, except for a few carrots, should get to have dessert. I think they should get to have ... chocolate for dessert. What do you think mommy?"

I think that if my almost 4 year old is coming up with this stuff already, I'm in trouble later on. We compromised and she had yogurt for dessert.

Easter Egg Hunt 2010

The annual Easter Egg Hunt down in the Amana Colonies was this morning so Madeleine, Christopher and I went down, along with David's mom and sister who are in town for Christopher's baptism. They had been forecasting rain for today all week but when we got up this morning the sun was shining. A little cold but it really was nice.

We got there and had time to snap a few pictures with the Easter Bunny and stop and pet the live bunnies they had.



They let the kids under 4 go a minute or so before the rest of the kids, so Madeleine was ready to start looking as soon as she let them go. We walked about 3 feet into the backyard ... and she spotted a little basket. Tried to convince her that maybe she could leave that one and we'd find another out in the yard but nope, she was done. Whole thing took about 37 seconds.



A rare picture of the 3 of us since I am always the one behind the camera.

Can't take all the sickness!!!!

I got the dreaded daycare call this afternoon. Christopher is warm, they can't get a good temp reading on him (they do it under the arm) but it was in the range of 98 - 101. He was also Mr. Fussy, which he rarely is. So, I called the doctor before I left and found out I could get in if I could get there in 30 minutes. They really wanted to see him since he had the RSV diagnosis earlier this month.

I debated picking up Madeleine and weighed the hassle of going back to daycare with entertaining both of them while we waited. She's been sniffly and hovering around 99 so I thought maybe we'd get home and get them to bed early. I've been feeling off and battling a sore throat myself so early to bed sound good to me.

We all go to the same doctor so when she knew I went to the walk-in Sunday, and was sent away with no drugs, she checked me out too. Official tally: 3 fevers, 3 ear infections, 1 case of tonsillitis and 1 case of some variation of strep throat. Lovely. We are all on the same z-pack of varying dosages.

David and I talked and he called his mom to see if she could come out here for a week. We'd like to make sure the kids are back to 100% (not just fever free) before bringing them back to germ-infested daycare. Since he can't stay home with him for long periods of time (can't wheel around with him on his lap - Christopher doesn't know to hold on!) I'd be the one to stay home .... and I was already home with him for 8 days earlier this month, a few days last month, a few days the month before. It has been one looooooooong winter.

So, his mom arrives late Thursday morning. I should be staying home from work anyway tomorrow since I am running a temperature and I'm the one with strep. It'll give her the opportunity to spend time with them AND them the opportunity to spend time with her AND maybe mommy will have the opportunity to get a few things done around the house since I'm pretty invisible when Nana comes to town!

English Toffee

We live about 5 miles away from a local community college that offers lots of Continuing Education classes. I've taken a few classes here and there and signed up to take a candy making class last Saturday. English Toffee, Old-fashioned Rock Candy and Truffles were on the agenda.

By far, the toffee was my favorite. No surprise though, since I love the stuff. I've only attempted to make candy once and that was a disaster since the thermometer broke on me in the pan and I had to throw it all out. All I need to do is invest in a decent thermometer and I have another 'tried and true' recipe to add to my must-make Christmas baking list.

David laughed a me for taking a picture, but I don't care. I was proud that it set up correctly! My batch ended up being a lot thicker than it should because we only used one pan per batch. We were supposed to share a batch between 2 people but there were only 4 people in the class. YUM, more for me.

Three pounds is a LOT of toffee. I need to dig out my rollig pin and chop some more up and bring it into work. Whacking the toffee into small pieces is a great stress reliever too - bonus!




English Toffee

1 1/2 pounds unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
1/4 cup corn syrup
1/2 cup water
2 cups pecans -- chopped
1 1/2 tablespoons vanilla extract
2 teaspoons salt
18 ounces chocolate

Melt butter in a pot on the stove top, Add sugars and corn syrup to the melted butter. Stir in water. Cook mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly, until it reaches 240 degrees. At 240 degrees add about 3/4 of the chopped pecans. At 260 degrees lower the heat and finish cooking until it reaches 300 degrees, stirring constantly. Should take 15-20 minutes. Mixture should be a beautiful, bubbly, golden brown color. At 300 degrees remove from heat.

Add vanilla and salt. Stir quickly. Pour the mixture out onto 2 rimmed baking sheets (approximately 10 x 15). Smooth out the toffee to 1/4 inch thickness. After 5 - 10 minutes, sprinkle chocolate chips on top and let sit 5 minutes or until they start to melt. Spread with spatula to smooth over toffee. Sprinkle with freshly toasted nuts that have been chopped fine and allowed to cool. Break into bite sized pieces and store in an air tight container for up to a month in the refrigerator. Will keep for a week or so at room temperature before it begins to break down. Makes about 3 pounds.

Growing up so fast!

Last week Christopher finally figured out how to crawl forward and nothing has been safe since then:



This morning he was playing quietly with a few toys while I got ready for work. I stepped into the closet to grab my clothes, 30 seconds later I stepped out to see this:



When I picked him up from daycare this afternoon he was standing at one of the toy boxes. I called his name and he turned around, smiled when he saw me and threw both hands up in the air and shrieked. Scary part? He was able to balance and stay standing until he realized what he was doing and grabbed back on to the toy box.

What's next?

Diner Meat Loaf 'Muffins'

I've had enough cooking bombs in the last week that I decided to stick with an old favorite for supper tonight. Supper can be on the table in under an hour, unless you have to stop every couple of minutes to fish comeone out of a cabinet, drawer or out from underneath a chair when they get stuck. Christopher finally figured out how to go forward yesterday and hasn't stopped exploring.

I served them with oven fries and broccoli. Madeleine has been randomly complaining about onions, so I threw it in the food processor and pulverized it instead of just chopping it up. They are soft enough that even those with no teeth can gum them. Plates and high chair trays were cleared.

Diner Meat Loaf 'Muffins'
Adapted from Cooking Light, 2006

1 teaspoon olive oil
1 cup finely chopped onion
1/2 cup finely chopped carrot
1 teaspoon dried oregano (I only use 1/2)
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup ketchup, divided
1 1/2 pounds ground beef, extra lean (raw)
1 cup finely crushed fat-free saltine crackers (about 20)
2 tablespoons prepared mustard (skipped, never seem to have any)
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 large eggs
Cooking spray

Preheat oven to 350°.

Heat the olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add chopped onion, chopped carrot, dried oregano, and minced garlic; sauté 2 minutes. Cool.

Combine onion mixture, 1/2 cup ketchup, and the remaining ingredients except cooking spray in a large bowl.

Spoon the meat mixture into 12 muffin cups coated with cooking spray. Top each with 2 teaspoons ketchup. Bake at 350° for 25 minutes or until a thermometer registers 160°. Let stand for 5 minutes.

Yield: 6 servings (serving size: 2 "muffins")

CALORIES 276 (28% from fat); FAT 8.6g (sat 3g,mono 4g,poly 0.8g); IRON 3.9mg; CHOLESTEROL 131mg; CALCIUM 48mg; CARBOHYDRATE 21.7g; SODIUM 759mg; PROTEIN 28.7g; FIBER 1.8g

Mmmmm ... waffles

Christopher had a great doctor appointment yesterday. Fever is still gone and the doctor said his lungs are sounding so much better. He is still coughing a bit but even those episodes are starting to dwindle. I never had to use the nebulizer, which I am very grateful for.

I need to keep an eye on him for the remainder of the week to make sure his fever does not come back. They often see secondary infections pop up in the lungs once the RSV goes away. Keeping fingers crossed the worst of this is over.

I've been home for the lat week, so I thought that I'd do a bit of cooking since I don't have much of an opportunity to cook during the week. The other day I grabbed some ham leftover from Christmas and a bag of split peas I had in the drawer and decided to make some spilt pea soup. Recipe was not designed for the crock pot but I ended up having to throw it in there because I had a fussy baby on my hands. Big mistake. It came out VERY watery.

Last night I decided to make a recipe I found on Recipezaar for Crock Pot Swedish Meatballs. I remember my aunt making them all the time for family gatherings and thought I'd give them a whirl. Another mistake. I baked them prior to putting them in the crock pot and I kept them on low. After 3 hours I had a pasty, tasteless mess. Usually I worry about too much liquid. Not a problem this time.

What have I learned from these experiences? The crock pot goes back into the basement and only gets used for the 2 or 3 recipes I know will come out good.

Is it Spring yet?

This has been one tough winter in our house. Poor Christopher has been sick once a month since September. Last Wednesday he was up a bit in the middle of the night coughing and when he woke up he was looking a little 'off'. His temperature was 99.7 and while he could go to daycare, I had a feeling I'd just be picking him up in a couple of hours. So I kept him home and ended up having to drive up and pick up Madeleine from daycare with a 101 fever at lunchtime.

Friday morning I called and got doctor appointments for the both of them. Madeleine has strep throat and would be good as new after a couple of doses of antibiotic. Christopher, on the other hand, tested positive for RSV. RSV is a respiratory virus and while it would be a bad cold to you and I, it poses a risk to those under 1 as they tend to develop pneumonia. I also learned daycare has a 7-day exclusion policy from the date of diagnosis, that is how bad it is for the little ones.

I was given a lesson on using the nebulizer (had to rent one) and we gave him his first treatment in the office. Oh yeah, trying to keep an oxygen mask on an 8 month old. Good times. He was so ticked he pulled on the elastic that you use to tighten the mask and let go - you can imagine how happy that made him and he ended up with a nice red welt on the side of his face.

They checked out his oxygen levels after the treatment and sent us on our way with the instructions to call if he breathing worsened and if we had to use the nebulizer. Knock on wood, we have not had to use it thus far. We have an appointment on Tuesday morning to go back so they can check and see how he is doing. His fever broke this morning, so I am taking that as a good sign.

It's about time!

YAY! I have my laptop back AND it is working! Last post was over a month ago and the laptop stopped working shortly after I wrote it. The baking has been finished (and handed out and consumed) and the holidays are over.

I have truly felt lost without my laptop at home and I was quite surprised to find how much I relied on it. Checking email (how many people get electronic statements these days?), checking bank accounts, shopping and just random surfing. My recipe software is on my laptop and I felt lost not being able to look up some family favorites. I balance our checking accounts using Quicken and I'm the treasurer of our homeowners association - I wonder if anyone has noticed the dues notices haven't gone out. Of course, most importantly, I haven't been able to get recent pictures out there to the family! Insane how much we rely on our Internet connection these days.

I wish I could say that not having a laptop for the last month has made this house more organized, you know, since I have all this free time on my hands. The office is still in dire need of some organization as is the "storage closet" in the spare room. If anything, we are looking a bit more disorganized since Christmas. There are toys, games and books everywhere it seems. Perhaps next on my to-do list is a trip to Goodwill.

Happy Belated New Year to all!