Hadley has developed a sudden flair for photography. At dinner tonight, she asked if she could take a picture of her corn on the cob. Yep, to my three year old, taking pictures of your food is a totally normal thing. Here are a few of her best shots, as well as her recipe for sweet corn.
What's for dinner tonight? Corn
What is your recipe? You put it in oil and put it in water, hot water.
How long do you cook it? Um, three hours
What do you put on the corn when it's done? Um, corn holders, butter and pepper.
Do you eat pepper? Um, someday!
So, what do you like about taking pictures? Good picture, Mommy! I did yours in a flash again. Smile!
Blake and Hadley were arguing this morning, as they usually do, when all of the sudden Blake wrapped his arms around Hadley. And Hadley wrapped her arms around him. And they hugged it out. They stood there so long that I was able to get a picture. So long in fact, that I started to think perhaps they were calling a lifelong truce. Maybe they were coming to a mutual agreement that they would stop all of the fighting, screaming, toy stealing and hair pulling. An agreement that said, "let's go easy on Mom and Dad, and just be kind and loving because we are siblings.
Then, as quickly as it had begun, it was over. Hadley pulled me back into reality by saying, "Mommy, I was really sweet to my brother, so now I get a sticker." For a brief moment, I thought about explaining to her that we don't do kind things just to earn stickers on her chart. But then I realized that she was only a few stickers away from earning her chosen reward of going out for ice cream, which meant that I too would be going out for ice cream.
"Yes, Hadley, that was very kind. Here is a sticker for your chart."
Using random.org, the winning comment was #11, Kate D. Congratulations! I've sent you an email requesting your mailing address so you can receive your new comfort mat! To everybody else: treat yourself and order a mat for your kitchen. They are wonderful!
I could tell you about the other night, when I was peeling carrots for a stir fry that I would make the next day, but all I could think about was turning them into carrot cake. I could also tell you about how, late that night, I couldn't sleep because I kept thinking I should go rescue the carrots from the container of other veggies, lest they start to taste like an onion. I could tell you about how I thought about carrot cake all day long, and stopped at the grocery store to buy all the ingredients on my way home. Then there's the part where I got home, and the kids both screamed for 2 hours straight, no matter what I did. I could also tell you that I even tried to bribe them with chocolate, but it didn't work. I should tell you that at one point, after realizing that I wasn't going to cure their crabbiness, I said, "I'm leaving!" and walked from the living room to their bedroom to get away from the noise. I should mention that Hadley ran in sobbing, "Don't leave us mommy, please!" and now I'm sure I've created abandonment issues. The next thing you should know, is that carrot cake saved the night. I decided to head to the kitchen, turn on the food processor, and grate about 60 baby carrots, with the intention of the noisy food processor drowning out the screaming and whining of the kids. I might mention that it completely worked, and the noise distracted them to the point that they forgot they were crabby, and life became 30,000 times better.
But I won't tell you about all that nonsense, because for the sake of this story, there are only three things you need to know about that night:
1. The kids were monsters.
2. I made carrot cake.
3. The world was right again.
In case you run into your own cranky-whiney-child-parenting-nightmare, I want you to be prepared. To make the carrot cake, follow this recipe. Be ready, it's not a wimpy spice cake with a few carrots mixed in. A slice of this cake is like a meal in and of itself. I've tried many carrot cake recipes, but this is my favorite. I use pecans instead of walnuts, about 1/2 cup extra carrots, and bake in three layers for 25 minutes each. Also, I subbed part whole wheat flour (1 cup) and half apple sauce for the oil. For the frosting, I typically use a basic cream cheese frosting (you will need 1.5 batches if you are going to frost the sides), but whipped cream cheese frosting is a nice lighter (in texture) option. The cake always tastes better the second day, but make sure you take it out of the fridge at least 20 minutes before serving.
Enough with the details about the recipe, because there are really only three things you need to know about this cake:
1. It's delicious.
2. It is a completely legitimate breakfast food.
3. Two cakes are better than one.
In case you don't like carrot cake (weirdo), here is one more way to cure the crabby kid blues:
Bonus points: What did this post have to do with naked mole rats? If you don't know, then you need to be introduced to Mo Willems. Our favorites are here and here.
Sadly, this is not my kitchen. Photo from www.imprintmats.com
*Update- the giveaway is now closed*
A few months ago, I wrote about buying Crocs to wear in the house as an alternative to using a gel mat in the kitchen. Well, the Crocs are great, but the kitchen still needed a rug by the sink. The rug also needed to be comfortable, because I wouldn't want Tyler's feet to get sore while he washes dishes. I tried two different "cheap" rugs that cost between $20-$30 each. One was very thin, the other had a very strong chemical smell, and both started to fall apart in less than a month.
I decided it was time to bite the bullet and buy the expensive gel mat that I had previously tried to avoid. The problem was, I couldn't find enough information about what the mats were made of, and if they were going to be safe to be in our kitchen. Like it or not, the kids are going to eat off the floor, and I wanted to be comfortable knowing that the mat would be safe for them to eat off of. This is why I was so excited when a google search led me to the Imprint Comfort Mat. From the company website, the mats are:
I was sold. The best part- these mats are really affordable. The MSRP on the 20x36 inch mat is $69.99, although I bought mine at a great sale price through Home Depot.com. While they still may cost more than a standard kitchen rug from a department store, they come with a 7 year warranty, so you won't be purchasing a new one every few months.
So, how does it feel? Amazing! I love to watch our guests when they step on it for the first time. They always pause, look down at the floor, then exclaim something along the lines of "This mat is awesome!" Tyler and I both agree that it was an excellent purchase, and our kids fight over who gets to lie on it, especially during that post-nap, extra cuddly time:
So, here's the great news! I emailed the company to tell them how much I love my Comfort Mat (because everybody loves a compliment, right?), and they want to give a mat away to one of my readers. Just because you're awesome, and you deserve to wash dishes (or do laundry, or brush your teeth) in comfort.
To enter:
Leave a comment on this page telling me which mat is your favorite and what room you'd use it in.
For a bonus entry, "like" Imprint Comfort Mats on Facebook and leave me another comment to let me know.
If you are not commenting through an account that will link to your email, be sure to leave me your name or an email address so I can contact you. The contest will be open until 10:00 PM PST on Sunday, July 24th. The winner will be chosen at random and will receive a standard size (20x36") mat from the English Fern Series in the Cocoa Metallic color.
I like to cook, and I think many dishes are better when homemade, but pizza is not usually one of them. Pizza should be one of the easiest foods to make, but for some reason I've never been able to master it. But tonight I came darn close.
I started with breadmaker pizza dough:
1. Put all ingredients in bread maker in order listed and set on "dough" cycle.
2 tsp yeast
3 cups bread flour
1 tsp salt
2 TBSP sugar
2 TBSP olive oil
1 cup plus 2 TBSP water
2. After cycle has ended, place the dough in a greased bowl, rolling it to coat all sides. Cover and let sit for 30 minutes.
3. Roll or stretch the dough into 1 very large or 2 medium pizza crusts.
4. Bake the crust for 10-12 minutes at 435 degrees. Use a pizza stone if you have one.
5. Remove from oven, add toppings and return to oven for 10-15 minutes or until cheese is bubbly.
(We were trying to creatively use up items in our fridge, which resulted in zucchini, kale, mozzarella and goat cheese pizza. I just used a jar of pasta sauce with some basil, garlic and oregano added in. The end result was surprisingly delicious!)
...A chocolate and peanut butter addiction. The snicker's bar that I ate for lunch today wasn't enough. Nope, I had to go and make a chocolate peanut butter cake. Specifically, a three layer chocolate cake with peanut butter cream cheese frosting and chocolate peanut butter ganache. In my defense, it was a gift for somebody, and I gave most of it away.
As far as layer cakes go, this one is pretty quick and easy, but the results are delicious and impressive. If you decide to make this, I'd line up a few taste testers to help you eat it; it's very rich.
For the cake portion, I used Ina Garten's recipe for Beatty's Chocolate Cake, baked in three layers instead of two (in my oven, they take about 20 minutes). A tip: I've made this recipe countless times, and I find that you don't need a mixer (a plus when baking during nap time). I mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl, mix the wet ingredients in a large pyrex liquid measuring cup, then add wet to dry and mix well. The batter will thin out enough to mix out any lumps after the addition of coffee.
For the frosting and ganache, as well as assembly instructions, follow this recipe from Smitten Kitchen.
Did you know you can make your own Snickers bars? Of course, you could just buy them at the store, but these are totally worth making. Originally, I felt a little letdown, but after sampling eight a couple of them, I've decided that they are pretty awesome. That is also the general consensus from my co-workers, friends, patients and Tyler's co-workers (yep, this recipe makes a lot).
I found the recipe here, and made it more or less as written. Plan for at least a couple of hours to make these, as they require time to cool and set between each layer. They are anything but healthy, organic or natural, but we can't be good all the time, can we?
I've been reading about vertical gardening, thinking it would be a great idea in our small yard, but the cost of vertical planters seem pretty prohibitive. I was so excited when a google search led me to the image above. I happen to have that very same hanging shoe holder in my closet right now. I used it to store baby clothes when my kids were young and still sleeping in our bedroom; the pockets are the perfect size for storing onesies and other tiny clothes.
I know that it's late in the summer to start, but I might still try the planter for a few quickly growing plants or herbs. I'm a bit concerned about the canvas breaking down from the sun and water, so it may be a one season solution. I'll let you know how it works.
Did you know that Sirius/XM radio has a Pearl Jam station (ch. 22)? This may be the best news I've heard all week. I secretly couldn't wait to drive to work this morning, and I found myself wishing that 1: My commute was a little longer, and 2. That I had heard about this station months ago.
And then there's this:
I should probably apologize, because now you are going to be singing this song all day.
We took a family shopping trip to Target the other day. Hadley learned that the third time is a charm, as we finally bought a pair of swimming goggles that fit her. Thanks to Target, this picture was possible.
How can you look at that without smiling?
Hadley wasn't the only one that made us laugh that night. While Blake was riding in the cart, he yelled out:
"Baby coming!"
We asked, "Where is the baby?"
Blake then lifted his shirt, puffed out his tummy and said:
"Right there! Baby in belly."
Naturally, I wanted to know more about my future grandchild. I asked when it was going to be born. His reply, "Um, right now!" When I asked what kind of baby it was, he said, "Um, girl baby." Of course, this really ticked off Hadley, and she quickly informed Blake only she could have a girl baby and he would have a boy baby. Pretty soon, I found myself telling Hadley that Blake could have whatever kind of baby he wanted. "Just because he's a boy doesn't mean he can't have girl babies in his belly."
Oops. I think I've just made the future "birds and bees" talk exponentially more difficult.
Holidays mean we have a rare family day, with neither of us having to work.
We decided to take a walk downtown and hit up some of the Fourth of July events.
The kids enjoyed the Kiwanis pancake feed. They became fast friends with our table mates, a sweet couple about 25 times their age.
Who would have known that the bandshell would be such a great place to play?
I literally had to chase Blake down to get him to leave.
After a stroll through the beautiful rose garden, it was off to the parade.
The streets of Boise were lined in red, white and blue.
Blake loved all of the different cars and trucks.
We did not run through the fountain, but it was tempting!
We crossed back over the river to get to the chalk art festival.
Several people were already setting up camp for tonight's fireworks. In a few hours, every inch of the park will be packed.
Blake, reminding us to stop and smell the flowers.
This is actually a photo from the 2010 chalk art fest. By the time we made it there this year, the kids were reaching meltdown point, so we didn't get to see much.
What do you do after 4 hours of walking (or riding) in very hot, sunny weather? I think Blake had the right idea!
Happy Birthday, America - 235 years! Wow, I remember your 211th birthday like it was only yesterday. We've both changed a bit, for the better, I'd like to think. For example, back then, I looked a little something like this:
That's me, second from the right. Few people can rock a bowl cut like that.
Luckily, some things stay the same. Barbecues, parades and fireworks...like most holidays, this one is all about traditions. We are adding a pancake feed in the park and the chalk festival to the list this year. Let's hope for sub-90 degree weather, as we are planning to walk down to the festivities.
In case you have yet to finalize your Independence Day Menu, may I offer up some suggestions? Yes? Good, here we go. Here are some recipes from a dinner we made the other night. Both are spiced up versions of standard summer meals.
Sixteen Spice Chicken is a recipe we discovered a few years after eating at Mesa Grill in NYC. We have made this recipe many times and many different ways, and it's always delicious. Most recently, we used boneless, skinless organic chicken breasts, 14 of the 16 spices and cooked it on a gas grill. If you can't find the different types of chili, feel free to substitute what you have.
For a side dish, try Grilled Corn with Cheese and Chili. Again, this is a flexible recipe, and if you do a google search for Cuban Grilled Corn, you'll find many variations. Pick a recipe, get the floss ready and enjoy; it's delicious!
Of course, don't forget dessert. Homemade angel food cake with whipped cream and strawberries. Add blueberries to get the red, white and blue effect. Yum!
If you live in Boise, get yourself to the zoo and check out the new butterfly house. It's impossible to be unhappy while you're standing in a space filled with flowers and beautiful butterflies. Unless you're my kids, then you'll be completely freaked out. Seriously, we were there a week ago and Blake still randomly says, "No go in butterfly house!" Yep, these kids need a little more exposure to animals. Where to start? With a Butterfly in a Jar, of course.
Seriously, this looks like the kind of thing that should be sold on an informercial, or perhaps in the coupon section of the sunday paper, next to an offer for "3 comfort bras for $9.99." This thing serves no true purpose, and most likely it will soon end up in our donation pile, but that's okay. For the time being, it is wildly entertaining. After seeing one at work, I showed Hadley youtube video and asked if she'd like her own butterfly. She asked, "Will it get out of the jar? Will it touch me?" Once she determined that she would be safe in the presence of the blood-sucking butterfly, she decided she wanted a pink one. Right now. Amazon has them in stock, but after being asked 100+ times (no joke), "When will my butterfly get here?," I decided that we needed to shop locally. A google tip lead me to Grocery Outlet, and within minutes we were loading up the car and heading out to meet the newest member of our family. Her name? "Alex, but not Alex the fish, Alex the the butterfly."
Oh, Grocery Outlet, where have you been all my life? Can somebody tell me why I've never shopped there? Not only did we get our butterfly (the last one!), but we found so many other great deals. They have a lot of organic and natural foods, many were the same items that we normally buy, but at much lower prices. Organic orange juice- $6 at our grocery store, $2 at Grocery Outlet. Natural frozen pizzas: $2.49 (or was it $2.99?) at G.O., MSRP $7.99 (although I think our grocery store often has them on sale for $6)... organic chicken nuggets for 50% less than the co-op... Some of the items were close dated, so make sure you check the label before you buy. The store was nothing fancy, but it looked clean and the employees were very friendly. It certainly won't be my primary grocery store, but I'll be sure to stop in occasionally. I love a good deal!
The Sky Lodge deal that I told you about yesterday got me thinking about Park City. Have you heard of the Sundance Resort? I never knew that the Sundance catalog was born out of the resort gift shop. Pretty neat. Sundance is known for it's jewelry, some of which comes from a Boise artist, Jamison Rae. Also part of the Sundance family is the Sundance television channel, and the Iconoclasts series. The show matches two people, both well known, but unlikely as a pair, to do one on one interviews. I've only seen couple of episodes, but they were so good that I watched them a second time. You can buy entire seasons for $9.99-$14.99 each on iTunes, or rent them from Netflix.
So, just in case you are thinking, "Wow, she watches documentaries on the Sundance channel. She's so cultured," well, ummm I'm currently watching Sex and the City 2 on HBO. And it's pretty mind numbing, but I'm watching it for the second time in a week, just because it's on. I think I might be drawn to this movie for one, and only one scene, and how well it relates to my life right now. I can't embed the video, but here is a link. Being a mother is hard!
Well, it's time for me to go say goodnight to Alex and Alex and get myself to bed.
