Grant turns 8!

A few nights ago we celebrated our sweet Grant's 8th birthday.  WOW! Time really does fly.  It really does seem like just a few days ago when we welcomed a 10 pound roly-poly baby boy into our family. What a sweet boy he is! Though he is one of the most thoughtful little boys I've ever known, he is the first to call our attention to any injustice or unkindness that he witnesses.  Grant is in 2nd grade and loves his teacher Mrs. Leake.   I was able to go on a field trip with his class a few weeks ago, and was able to see him really interact with his classmates as well as the people running the tours on the field trip.  How shocked was I to see him raise his hand to answer EVERY question.... most of them correctly:) proud moment:)  Especially since his momma would have NEVER-EVER had the guts to answer any question in class or anywhere else-EVER.  What a great boy.  We are so lucky!

halloween!

Happy Halloween!  This year we had a Construction worker, Witch, Vampire/thief ;) & a zombie (yes I know it's gross- that's the point)    We also had way too much candy- bellyaches abounded

Eggrolls

Last Saturday & Sunday was General Conference.  Knowing this, I went on the look out for some snack ideas...(usually I just stop by Sam's and get  ton's some pre-made frozen snacks. But then saw a eggroll recipe on a favorite food blog.  Simple.  I LOVE eggrolls. My girls really do.  But I really don't enjoy the frying. It stinks up the whole house.  So a  few times a year I break out the fryer and give it a try. I've done a few different versions in the past. They are always pretty good. But never great.  Not really worth the effort or stinky house and mess.  These really were the best ones so far.  I had helper during the prep and rolling. We were snacking on the filling all the while- note to self-YUM!  I've never seen kids  inhale eat cabbage like this. Ever.  It really would be delish over rice or not- just in a bowl. So healthy!  So here is the recipe:

Eggrolls

1 bag of coleslaw mix
Cooked, chopped chicken- I think I used a few tenderloins
Soy Sauce, garlic powder and ginger.  I didn't measure anything just kind of threw it in.  Saute until wilted.
Eggroll wrappers




Place about a 1/4 cup filling on the diagonal wrapper. It really depends on how thick you want them.  Place bottom corner on fillings. Tuck under. Fold over side corners to just about meet in the center. Then roll up. Dip finger in water and seal it closed.  Heat oil in fryer to 350 degrees. Fry a few at a time. Do not crowd them. They will not like it.  Maybe 3 minutes each. Cool on paper towels.  Serve with duck sauce and or sweet chili sauce.

Birthday Girl

Charlotte had her birthday recently- she is 6 years old!  I really can't believe our velvety haired baby girl is 6! I pick her up and her feet reach past my knees!!!  Charlotte is such a sweet-funny-clever little gal!  She is always cracking us up. Anyway, she had been planning her birthday festivities for quite. When I say festivities I mean food. Breakfast, lunch and dinner were to be her choice. And it was also a school day- bummer. For breakfast she chose my homemade biscuits, eggs and sausage, and juice. Charlotte didn't vary to much for lunch- she really is just crackers and fruit kind of girl. With cupcakes for her class. She had all kinds of idea's for din-din- and changed her mind everyday. multiple times.- pizza? Chinese? subway? (yes subway is in it's own category) or go out?  In the end she chose pizza, so Dad picked some up on his way home from work- Thank you Dad!:)  Her cake was also her brain-child. A few days before her day- she saw that I had picked up a few cake mixes. And she BURST into tears because it wasn't what she had want for HER cake. Why do kids get sooo demanding around b-day's?  So it ended up being chocolate cake- plain- no icing- mint chocolate chip ice cream on the side- a glob of real whipped cream on top- with a peppermint patty stuck into it. WHOA mint! Belly-aches abounded that night:(  She had a great day- thanks Grandma & Nana! Next in line is Mr. Grant! The big 8!

Apple picking!

When it starts to get cool outside we get the itch to go apple picking.  This year we had to minus one kid.  Since the earthquake, Dean has school every other Saturday.  It did seem strange to do something like this without him... but it really was the perfect day to go. I was really needing to get out of the house, and the weather was perfect for it.  So we made the drive out to Charlottesville (right near Monticello) to Carters Mountain Orchard.  It is a really pretty spot over looking Charlottesville.  Usually when we make the trip we stop over at Michie Tavern- a delightful spot for some of the best fried chicken around,and really any kind of simple comfort food you could want.  Everyone there is in colonial garb and the food. is. so. good.   Afterwards we normally waddle over to the country store/gift shop. (were were we buy candy for the ride home:)  This time however we limited ourselves to apple picking.  In years past, there have been enormous crowds, but thank goodness we came early enough in the year to miss the mobs.  We got a couple of bags to carry our load and made our way to the Jonagold section.  We did need to go a ways down the rows to get to the fruit, but once we did we hit the mother load.  The kids really could've picked all day. At first I wished we had gotten more bags, but by the time we got back to the register, we had 30lbs!  I really hadn't thought we had got that much (Matt was carrying to bags)  We really do enjoy this little tradition, but I will admit the high light of Carter's Mountain is the warm apple donuts they make. When its really chilly we get warm apple cider to go along with it. It is all so yummy the kids start asking out the apple donuts as soon as we get out of the car. All and all it was a delightful afternoon- with the promise of MANY apple treats on the way:)

Greek Pizza

Matt and I had an excellent date night a few weeks ago. My sister Eva was in town from Idaho., and was able to babysit for us.  Eva just recently got engaged to be married.  We are so happy for her! I know she and her fiance Russell will be very happy together.  We hardly ever go out unless Eva is around- the kids LOVE her. We thought we'd go out for the basics- dinner and a movie.  For dinner we went to California Pizza kitchen.  I hadn't been there in  years, so we thought we'd give it another try.  We were not disappointed!  I ordered some kind of Tequila Chicken pasta and Matt got the Mediterranean Pizza.  We traded plates back and forth- the pasta was good, the Pizza was WOW!  Perfect!   I have- I think done a pretty good job replicating it.  It's bascially pizza crust- a very fresh Chilled Greek Salad - Cucumber, tomato, chicken, kalamata olives-red onions, and  a light tzatziki sauce.  The first time I made the topping I spooned it over a quinoa.  Everyone loved it that way.  Quinoa is now a staple here. Faster than rice- and better for you. Back on topic-  Last night I made up some pizza dough.-no it wasn't gluten free- I have needs- back off me (the kids got a regular pizza)  Sprinkled cheese on a baked it.  Let it cool, cut it, then put the topping on.  It was a really nice refreshing change. Here is the recipe for the Chilled Greek Salad:

1 Large Cucumber seeded and finely chopped
1 Tomato  finely chopped
1/2 red onion finely chopped
Kalamata Olives to taste chopped ( i like alot)
Feta cheese crumbled  to taste
Balsamic Vinaigrette- just a little
The original recipe had a nice tzatiki sauce drizzled on. You can pick some up at the store or make it easily. 
Mix all ingredients and chill. serve. Enjoy!  


No pic- I'm a bad blogger:( For those of you who want to know the movie "Cowboys vs. Aliens" was TERRIBLE.

Spaghetti alla Ceci

I came across this recipe at the library looking for some inspiration in the meal department.  Its from Rachel Ray- I really can't tell you how yummy this is- so creamy without being heavy- And it even had a wonderful heat from the red pepper flakes. In all honesty the kids didn't love it- Matt thought is was good- I was ready to make it again the next day:)  Maybe you could categorize this as chick food.

• 1 pound spaghetti (i used gluten free)
• Salt
• 3 tablespoons olive oil 3 turns of the pan
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 3 to 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1 (14-ounce) can, chick peas, drained (i used great northern)
• 1/2 teaspoon dry thyme, eyeball it
• Pepper
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 1 (14-ounce) can, crushed tomatoes
• Handful parsley chopped
• Grated Parmesan cheese, to pass at table

Directions

Boil water for pasta, salt it, and cook spaghetti to till done.

While spaghetti cooks, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add extra-virgin olive oil, 3 turns of the pan, crushed red pepper flakes and garlic. Place chick peas in blender and pulse grind them to a fine chop. Add chick peas to garlic and season them with thyme, salt and pepper then saute them for 3 to 4 minutes. Add wine or broth and cook down 30 seconds or so then stir in tomatoes and adjust seasoning. Drain pasta and toss with sauce. Top with parsley and grated cheese.

Flourless Chocolate Cake

Awhile ago I discovered that I have a sensitivity to wheat.  As a result I have dabbled in Gluten Free recipes.  To be totally honest- I HATE IT.  I love my pasta, homemade bread, pancakes, biscuits and the rest.  I usually only go for like a day or 2 at a time gluten free.  But truth be told I really do feel much better without wheat in my life.  I just have very little no will power  I have tried a few Flourless cakes, with not much luck. Some were down-right nasty. (insert gag sound here)   A very common Flour substitute is, wait for it...... beans!  I've tried a few different kinds and Garbanzo beans win hands down!   And no you cannot taste the beans. I promise! The texture is different the regular cake- but I really think this is better.  My family really loved it until I told them it had beans. Everyone eats it and asks for more- except for Olivia- she has some issues with beans:(   Here is the recipe:


Flourless Chocolate Cake  
1 1/2 cup chocolate chips 
1 19 oz. can garbanzo beans rinsed and drained. 
4 eggs, 
3/4 cup sugar 
1/2 tsp. baking powder.   Powdered sugar for dusting  Heat oven to 350.  Grease 9 in. cake pan. Melt chips in microwave.  Combine beans and eggs in blender. Blend until smooth. Add sugar and powder. Blend in chocolate. Pour in cake pan. Bake 40 minutes.  Cool on rack. Dust with powdered sugar  

                                                          

Therapy in a crisy crust

I love food- but there are a few foods that have, in my mind, therapeutic qualities.   One of these Valium-esk treats is Spanikopita or spinach pies. Growing up my Mom would make these and it. was. a. big. deal. Mom used to make a lot of things we now make fun of her for: lentils as a meat substitute in spaghetti sauce, millet, cracked wheat cereal (i really did love that) and proably a few other things I've blocked from memory.But the winner is canned turkey chunks from the cannery. My gosh that was like eating cat food. Poor Mom! Mom's try so hard to feed their families good food!  Not an easy task.  But all kidding aside, Mom REALLY made some amazing food for her family.  There were many things we loved.  One of my favorites is Spinach pies. I have distinct memories of controlling (with-holding from those siblings who were not worthy and handing out to those who were) the pan of coveted spinach pies. I'm an oldest child. What else can I say?  If  you've never had them they are basically a 7 filo dough crust, with a spinach/ feta filling with another 7 layers of buttery crust on top then baked.  These are one of my ultimate comfort foods.   I usually partake of these beauties while watching Pride and Predjudice and about to have a complete meltdown. . Here is the recipe: 

Spinach Pies or Spanikopita

2 Packages of frozen chopped spinach- cooked-drained well  
1 package feta cheese - crumbled  
2 eggs  
Dill weed to taste  
Salt  
Olive Oil  
Garlic Powder  
1 roll filo dough 
1 stick butter 
Preheat oven to 375 or 400 depending on how fast you want them:)  Mix spinach, feta, eggs, seasonings, and oil. Set aside.  Melt butter.  Unroll your filo dough on clean dish towel and cover with another towel.  You will need to work quickly with the filo.  Brush some butter into a 9x13 pan.  Then place you first sheet of the filo. Then brush with butter. Then another sheet. Butter. Filo. butter. Filo. butter. you get the idea. Seven layers.  Then add your spinach filling. Then another 7 layers of Filo. Remember to work quickly. Cover your filo each time  you are brushing on  your butter.... filo dries very quickly!!! When you have finished your final layer, place in the nice hot oven and wait. about 40 minutes.  These are very pretty hot from the oven. Even none spinach folks will like these.

The Best Biscuits- Ever! (or Holy Cow Biscuits)

 
I got this recipe from my good friend Lisa- she is one of those friends who you swear knows everything.  Lisa moved a few month's ago and I miss her :(   Well way back she shared a great biscuit recipe.  And let me tell you, they are really good biscuits.  I made a batch just this evening to serve with dinner. Here is the recipe:
I usually double it. 
1 3/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp. salt 
3 tsp. baking powder 
6 Tbsp. cold butter 
3/4 cup milk   In a mixing bowl, mix dry ingrediants.  Cut in butter. Mix in milk.  Knead for 5 minutes ish. add flour as needed.  On floured surface, roll out, and cut with biscuit cutter or a drinking glass.  Place on greased baking sheet.  Bake in 450 oven for 12-15 minutes.  Honey butter is a MUST!

Board and Batten in the Living Room

  Our living room has been virtually empty since we moved in.  Just random pieces of furniture, no paint on the walls, no curtains- NOTHING.  It was so nothing that we even started calling it "the empty room"   Well no more!    I'd been drooling over the board and batten treatments out in blog land.  For awhile actually.  Anyway, Matt was going out of town for work, so I thought it might be the perfect time to do it.   I have a hard time multitasking-  If I have a big project the house looks like a disaster and we eat cereal at every meal.  Seriously. I cannot do both. We started out with a hellish trip to home depot, (the kids were great- I was just sweating like a pig)  got all of the wood into the van. Blah-Blah-Blah.... long story short.  We got started a day later then expected.   It was 3 days of work.. we basically lived/worked in pj's, had movies/Wii/ computer games going nonstop/ as was the miter saw, Olivia founded a newspaper,  no dishes or laundry were done. And the house looked like a sawdust bomb went off. And of course daily swimming breaks were a must.  We ended up getting everything done about 5 minutes before Matt got home.  Dean was a BIG help- although he denies it.  I didnt take a before pic-  I thought I had some- but apparently they are on the old laptop:( Anyway, we love the way it looks- very fresh and clean.

Freshening Up

I had done these really simple curtains in the family room, like a year ago.  Originally I liked the simpleness of them. Then I got really bored.   It really didn't take long to lose interest, they were sooo boring I just couldn't figure out what to do with them next. and was lazy  So there they hung.  A few days ago I came across some really beautiful ball fringe in my bedroom closet...my. closet.   that's another story. I had bought it  years ago for some project that never happened.  Anyway- lately I've been getting the itch for a project.  I hung up the fringe with the curtains- just to see.  AAAHHH- Perfect. Please. Please forgive the awful picture. It was night time and the flash was blinding