The Big Three (and a cake)

And Logan turned the big THREE.
Here's a little early birthday present for Logan and Nola...



THANKS Evi!

And thank you Dollar Store for all the birthday supplies I needed!


A few yellow gift bags and a Sharpie and voila! Goodie bags for a construction themed party (and with only four kids to cater to this only took about 30 min)





And onto the cake... Construction is the theme... I bought tractors and chocolate cake mix, brownie mix and a few other candies to make a construction scene on a cake...

First there was the Circus Peanuts.. the most disgusting candy ever but as orange as a construction cone! I cut and molded them into cones... sticky, sticky, sticky!


And a pan of brownies to make into boulders... first I scooped out spoon fulls of baked brownie:


Rolled them into balls and dusted them in powdered sugar...


And we have brownie rocks! so so so so so yummmm! (in my opinion, the best part of the cake)


I baked a chocolate cake, iced it with green icing and made a road from black licorice. I put it on the bottom side of a sheet pan (cookie sheet) and iced that too.


Then I dug out a hole or two from the cake and let the chocolate cake pile up like dirt, surrounded then with hazard cones, stuck the construction vehicles on with icing and added boulders and additional cones.... TaDa! A construction cake!







Logan loved it!

Happy Birthday Little Baby Boo.

And then he opened his present from his sister, a Thor helmet and hammer...

Happy Birthday Thor! He is kinda big and blond like an Azgardian.

Hot Salt!

What's better on a super snow day than something super HOT? Hot Salt!

I had all these hot peppers drying from the summer and kept meaning to do something with them... So I decided to not just make pepper flakes, but hot pepper salt.

Started out with a plate full of dried Pinata Peppers that I grew this past summer.


I took the tops and stems off and put them into the food processor.


A couple pulses of the chopper and they were broken down to large flakes.


So I added some Kosher salt and mixed it a few more times...


And voila! Hot Salt! And this stuff is on fire! I've added it my salads and to spaghetti... WOW! Burn Baby Burn!


I'm just proud of myself for actually doing something useful with something I grew. I think this stuff will last us a long time, seeing as that you can't really use too much at a time...

Seeing Red(sauce)

Well - first of all - here are all the types of squash from the garden, just showing them to you all together.


Okay! Now on to the tomatoes! Some of these are mine, but most are from my mom's tomato jungle.


I've never made my own read sauce. I've never really made anything from my garden tomatoes except slices. I usually don't get enough to go through any real trouble. But since I was given all these tomatoes I figured I would give some red sauce a try. So since I don't follow recipes well but had no idea what to do, I just looked up 'red sauce to freeze' on Google. I read about five or six versions of what to do. Then I just went into the kitchen to give it a shot.

First you have to peel the tomatoes. In order to do that you blanch them (drop into boiling water for about a min, or until the skin splits - then drop into ice water to cool off). So I ended up with a pile if skinless tomatoes - which I will say look like hearts, and feel kinda gross... but hey - whatever. My fingernails looked like I had been bleeding. Okay, yuk - back to the food!


After they were peeled I had to core them, get the seeds out, and cut them into chunks. This is about an 8-10 qt bowl of tomato meat.


I sauteed some onion - about one medium, and about five gloves garlic. Took those out of the pan and added the tomatoes. I let them cook as I mushed them. About 30 min, till they were softer.


Then I went outside and picked some herbs - basil, oregano and thyme. Chopped those up and added them into the tomatoes. Added a little sugar because that's what everyone else did (but I forgot how much, so I just threw in a palm full).


After this I started thinking it was too chunky. Which is a-okay with me, but if I wanted my kids to eat this, which of course I did, it would need to loose the chunks.
Tomatoes = Bad. Red = Good.
So I ladled it out and into the food processor. A couple of spins later it was back in the pan. I also put the onion garlic mixture into the food processor and gave them a whirl. And then I got tricky! I grabbed some cooked carrots (cause orange is pretty much red people!) and gave them a whirl and added them to the sauce as well. More secret veggies for the kiddos - they'll never know. For that matter, neither will the husband. All in and on the stove for some slow cooking and reducing. I put the flame on low and just let is sit for about two hours, stirring every once in a while.


And after a couple of hours and some flavor adjustments - it was too sweet and I had to counter with vinagar and salt - I let it cool on the stove for about 30 min. Then I got it ready to freeze. About 2 - 2 1/2 cups in each freezer bag and about 2 or more cups into 1 1/2 ice cube trays. (I always freeze red sauce in ice cube trays and then pop the cubes out and into a freezer bag for quick use - otherwise I would waste a lot, which I used to do all the time.)


So that is my first ever red sauce. I think I will leave out the sugar and basil next time due to the sweet factor - I'm not a fan of sweet red sauce. Husband said it tasted just like REAL red sauce... go figure!

You can freeze it for up to a year - but I'm sure we will have eaten it way before then!

Next up - purple pole beans (they're so purple!)

Seasonal Projects

I keep adding new projects onto my mental to-do list... I think it's a mile long already! I just spend too much time online looking at what other people are doing (projects, art, sewing, recipes, etc.) and I want to do them all myself!

I tend to spend more time gardening and reading in the the Spring. Planting new seeds, uncovering last years beds, planning new beds and dreaming of vegetables. And this Spring I really started reading again, much to my liking. It had been way too long since I read more than one book in a several month span. And the beginning of this year has seen at least 15 books!

The Summer gets so hot and the kids want to be outside all the time. The plants are all planted and there isn't much to do but wait and harvest... So this year I started painting. I hope to keep it up, even if it becomes a smaller hobby once my current project is finished. But I already have part of my room set up for it, so I might as well keep it that way. And my reading binge has come to a halt. There's something not so appealing about trying to loose yourself in a book while covered in mosquitoes and dripping sweat. But I do have the harvest to look forward to - lots of cooking and freezing for the Winter.

The Fall is when I really start cooking and getting out the yarn. There are so many things to make to stay warm and make the house all good smelling. And candles! Fall is a great time for burning candles all over the house. Maybe this year I will try to maintain my habits of reading and painting into the Fall as well. Fall is also when I start scouting out the locals for a pregnant person to make a baby blanket for.... This year, so far, I don't have a candidate.

And Winter is all about staying inside and crocheting something, blankets, scarves, whatever - I just love to have the warm fuzzy project in my hands. This year I have several ideas piled up. I want to make some dolls for the kids... also possibly for other people's kids if they aren't too hard to make (hello! Christmas presents!).
(side note to all crafty folk out there: I found this awesome blog that stemmed my ideas for the dolls. It's called Dolly Donations. If you have it in you to be crafty and like making things, you should totally check this out! Or just check it out anyway and maybe it will inspire you to be crafty and generous as well.)

And there are the ever-ongoing-never-finished projects. I have photography ideas that could go on forever. Hopefully these will pan out and either turn into some sort of income earning source or if nothing else, more Christmas presents for friends and family.

Right now I have the photo projects I'm working on and the paintings for Cayce's house. I should probably be working on those instead of typing here...

BLT Pasta Recipe

I found a recipe for a BLT pasta in a freeby magazine from the mail. I don't like to follow recipes... I like the ideas, but don't care for the exacts. So I got this idea for a BLT pasta and here is what I did with it. (If you are a measurement, specific, instruction following type, just look up a version of this - there are sure to be plenty.)

First, I took about 6 slices of bacon


Cut and pan fried them. That is, of course, the 'B' in the dish.


Then we have our 'L' and our 'T'... The magazine recipe used leeks as it's L... but also included spinach. So I chose to go with just the spinach Leaves as my L. And grape tomatoes, halved, are our T. I also have onion, just a slice the size of an orange wedge, basil from the garden, and garlic. I love garlic and have no reason not to use it in excess.... for those of you still worried about your breath - you may want to lessen the amount (I used six cloves). You will also need about 1 cup of chicken stock.


Look at these tomatoes! I can't wait until I have fresh ones from my garden to use!


And we have our pasta. The recipe called for a pasta I had never heard of and, not surprisingly, that my grocery store did not carry. I opted for this noodle - my kids love it.


They're like noodle straws... fun! And they hold the sauce in really well.


So, to get to cooking. Cook your bacon and set it aside, removing most, but not all, of the bacon grease from the pan. Start your pasta cooking, this type takes a little longer than regular spaghetti. Chop the onion and toss it into the pan. After it has become clear, add the garlic and bacon back in. After about 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly so the garlic doesn't burn, add your tomatoes. Let them heat up just a bit and then add the liquid. Stir and let come to a simmer.


Once your pasta is done (to an al dente state) drain it. Surely this is obvious.... Then add your basil, chopped, and your spinach to the sauce.


Stir gently as the spinach wilts. Once all is incorporated the sauce will look very liquidy and you may think to yourself, 'There is nothing to thicken this up... what did I do wrong?' Don't worry! Just toss in your noodles. Fold it over itself a few times to mix it all up. Turn off the heat and let it sit for about 10 minutes, folding every few minutes. During this 10 minutes you can get the table ready, make some garlic bread, shave your legs, I don't care.... just let the noodles soak up the sauce....


And then.... and then.... here you have it:

BLT Pasta!
It was so yummy.
I loved it, the husband loved it, and the kids ate some....
which is all I can ask from picky little ones anyway.

I hope you make this for yourself and let me know if you do - and even more so if you have any improvements to add!

Pork-Fried Lady Fingers

Whaat? Yeah, I said pork-fried lady fingers.... Guess what happens when you are frying pork chops and one of them slips off your fork and splashes into the very hot oil in your frying pan. The fork that you were holding just inches away from the oil as to NOT splash... Pork-Fried Lady Fingers - that's what!

Technically I may not be a lady... and technically there were no fingers involved - it was my thumb. But I burned the hell out of myself. The oil splashed up and left raw red marks exactly where it landed. I had a splash pattern going from the side of my hand up around my thumb. It's still mostly there but the pattern isn't as impressive anymore. I had several small blistered areas and one main blister right on the 'knuckle part' at the base of my thumb. As the rest of the burn darkened and started to fade, the blister popped... and now I think I will have a scar for sure.

Sorry if this is gross... it's just all I could think to write about today. Wanna see pictures?

This is about 8 hours after it happened... doesn't look too bad (and Kirk admittedly told me later he thought I was a bit of a drama queen with all the crying and whatnot...)


This is today, about 8 days after it happened.... Looks worse, hurts less.


But, I must say... the pork chops were really, really good! Not worth the pain and scarring... but a very good meal.

A Jumble of Stuff

So July... not much happened in July.

I did get lots of veggies from the garden.... Below is a meal I made mostly from the garden: sauted squash and zucchini, a tomato and basil salad, and a pasta with tomatoes, fresh green beans and basil.... YUM YUM YUMMY!


Also finally finished the laying of stones in my new patio area... I even decided to get creative one morning with Nola and add a decorative center with small colored rocks... I really really like how it turned out:



And here's a little bit o' Logan:


And what's the best way to have a wagon ride? Laying down on a soft blanket with your juice and being pulled around the yard....


But it's also nice to have company on the ride.... Look at his fat belly!


And big news in Logan Land... Standing up! All by himself! Well, not getting up to standing without support, but staying up once up....



And I'm starting a new blanket. For my cousin Ashley's baby boy to be, Oliver. I emailed her pictures of several color combos and this is the one she picked... more pix to come as I actually get to crocheting....

(that's a chocolate brown, a light mustardy brown and a light bright teal)


And my latest project is planning Logan's first birthday party - Whoo Hoo! He will be one on August 19th! We are having his birthday in the same park we had Nola's first birthday party, which we have since renamed the Birthday Park. Here's the big boy waiting to be one:

And the theme of the party is....

SHARKS!

So that's my big jumble of stuff....

Ground Beef Sunday

So - it's raining today - all day so far. No gardening for me today. My big plan for today is to cook and prepare all the ground beef I have in my fridge... Unfortunately I just don't feel like it! But I will do it before the giant amount of pink meat turns gray and goes to waste.

I think I will make some meatballs to freeze - probably two freezer bags full. And possibly prepare a lasagna to bake tomorrow or the next day. And I have to make something for dinner tonight.... Oh what to make? I can't decide between patty melts and meatloaf. I think I just decided that patty melts will be easier... so patty melts it is!

(By the way - I'm only writing this because I'm bored and waiting until nap time starts in 20 min... both kids are currently occupied with Baby Einsteins).

Here are my steps:

Meatballs
Big bowl - lots of meat.
Add eggs (already whisked)
Italian Seasoning, salt, pepper, garlic salt, oregano, whatever else I find that matches
Add breadcrumbs
Remove wedding rings and mush mush mush
Roll into balls
Put more breadcrumbs into a bowl or plate
Coat balls with crumbs
Put onto wax paper lined cookie sheet(s) - or just onto the metal
Freeze separately for at least an hour or so
(this is so they don't stick together in the bags)
The put into freezer bags, lay flat in freezer
When ready to use, pull out, open bag, defrost in microwave
Cook and eat!


Ok - I had to stop there. As I was typing and Nola was watching Baby Einstein's on the couch she started screaming and crying about her finger... I finally figured out that she bit her own finger. Yes, that's right... bit her own finger and then was shocked by the outcome. Brilliant thinking on her part. And apparently she bit it rather hard. And I think she did it on purpose.

So, now she's sleeping and I'm off to put the baby to bed then on to my ground beef marathon....
See Ya!

What's Eating Me

Well, it seems lately like the all consuming thing in my life is FOOD! That is what's eating me.

I am over weight, have been for some time... so food is constantly an issue. I hate to be that person who thinks about food all the time. I never used to be (maybe that's how I got into this situation in the first place!) But now I'm trying to get back to some familiar form of myself - ie. a skinnier form of myself. So I've started trying to think about the food I eat. I don't enjoy this at all. Especially since you put on top of that the fact that I'm the grocery shopper and personal chef for everyone in my household. I would probably be happy just eating veggies and salads 90% of the time but that wouldn't go over well with anyone else who lives here. I married a meat and potatoes man who want big meals and lots of them. That's fine - except along with that deal comes a wife who eats big meals and lots of them.

Yes, yes, I know I could just NOT eat what he's eating - but that's easier said than done. I do enjoy food - another reason I'm in this situation... And if I've spent half the morning making a lasagna, or enchiladas, or roasting a whole chicken, I'll be damned if I don't get to eat some myself! And yes, I also know I could eat smaller portions... but our lunch meal is the only real meal I eat all day. I skip breakfast (bad, you don't have to tell me). And I usually just make a sandwich or some other type of quick toddler food for dinner when it's just me and the kids. And dinner usually hits around 430 or 5pm.... So by 830 when all the kids are asleep my tummy starts to rumble and I find myself scouring the kitchen for something - anything to eat. Bad habits.... whatever.

Then we have our latest food issue - the 2 year old. I have never had to fight with someone so much just to eat a meal!
"What do you want?"
"peanut butter jelly sanwich"
"Okay, here you go"
"NO! I don't WANT IT!"
Seriously - every meal, no matter what the food, same story. I want this, No I don't, Yes I do, No I don't. THEN DON"T EAT! But it's probably illegal to starve a child. I guess she does drink 3 glasses of milk a day - she can liv eon that until the phase is over... that and crackers. I have to constantly adjust what we eat to create something appealing to her and for what, for her to turn around and push it across the table, or worse, onto the floor. I think I quit. Eat or don't child - you probably won't starve.

And then there's the baby. He is starting to eat real food.... Well, he should be. I'm slcking on that as well. To have to make three different meals at a time is just too much for me. He's still on the babyfood, and that's fine. But I know he could be eating more table food if I would just make it for him. Mushed up veggies, mashed potatoes, maybe scrambled eggs.... Myabe I will just start making all that and calling it "kid food". I could serve it to both kids and whoever eats it gets to eat - whoever doesn't, doesn't!

Maybe I could just quit doing anything else around the house and just cook full time! Salads for me. Steak or Burgers for the husband. PB & J's or mac & cheese for the toddler. And homemade babyfood/table food for the baby! As soon as we've cleared the table I could just start on the dishes and the next meal! I think that's a brilliant plan!

On that note, I have to go make dinner.... Here is a direct quote from now:
"Nola, what do you want for dinner?"
"I want star snacks. I don't want to eat dinner!" (star snacks are the baby disovable puff things that she insists are for her and not her brother)
"What about a sandwich?"
"I. DON'T. WANT. TO. EAT. DINNER!"

Ghetto Tuna Casserole

We almost had plans tonight... but they fell through. And when you tell a two year old that you're doing something or going somewhere and then you don't... you'd better think of something else to do to distract them. So I asked Nola what she wanted to do. She said she wanted to take pictures. It was dinner time and I needed to make something quick because Logan was getting restless so we compromised. A Food Photo Shoot! So here is our photo shoot of what we proudly refer to as Ghetto Tuna Casserole.

First of all you need to start with all store brand ingredients:
Schnucks Brand Macaroni & Cheese - one box
Schnucks Brand Tuna - one can
Schnucks Brand Peas - however many you have left over
Schnucks Brand Cheese Slices - just one will do
And the regulars: milk, butter, salt & pepper

First, boil some water in a pot. I think that's pretty obvious, but directions are directions.
Then completely cook the box of macaroni noodles.
When that's done I start to get the rest ready.
I like to drain my tuna and peas directly into the pasta strainer in the sink.
Nola pours these things in - not too much she can mess up here.

Leave the tuna and peas in the colander.
Drain as much of the pasta water directly into the sink, not through the strainer.
The rest, just pour on in.
The heat of the water and pasta warms up the tuna and peas.

In your empty pot, with heat still on medium to low, toss in a clump of butter and your slice of good ole processed cheese!
(the kid does this part too - she's good at dropping things in)

Then pour in some milk, a large splash.
And add some salt and pepper.

Stir that up and then you add the magic powder.
The neon orange mystery cheese powder.
Where that color comes from is one of the mysteries of the universe I think.
Either way, pour it in and stir it up.
Turn off heat while stirring so your milk doesn't burn.
Burnt milk tastes like crap.

Now it's time to combine it all together.
Dump your colander full of goodies into the pot.
Fold! Fold! Fold!
Don't stir too hard or you will mush up all your peas and have what looks like vomit.

Now, get out your best China... or Chinette... or paper!
Pile on as much as you think you can eat.
But don't worry, it saves pretty good.
Throw the rest in to a tupperware and microwave it for later.

And there you have it!
Ghetto Tuna Casserole.
Also know as: Macaroni & Cheese, Tuna & Peas (it rhymes you see)

All that's left is to season it to taste.
You can stick with basics, salt & pepper...
Or you can toss a little bread crumbs on top,
maybe even some Parmesan cheese, aka Shaky Cheese.

I will say this....
I do not advise you to put your two year old's dish in front of her on the table and go make a bottle with the task of "season to taste" at hand. My kid really likes pepper.

We had to throw this bowl away and get a new serving.
And I think we all sneezed through dinner.
Oh well!
I hope you have enjoyed our little Food Photo Shoot with bonus recipe.