Easter Ideas

Big brought home a coloring sheet from school today which was a version of this picture.  I know it's not a super original idea but I thought it was cute and I liked how it made the 5 year olds giggle.  I don't have anything against the Easter bunny or Santa Claus and I love holidays in general but it was a good reminder to keep Easter about the spiritual meaning that is so important to our family.

Here are some Easter activities (the first two involving food) that I'm hoping to do with my girls this year:

Make Empty Tomb cookies - we did this a few years ago and Jenna asked for it again this year.  Then, they made them with the kids at church last weekend.  It was a big hit and she wants to make them again at home.

Make Hot Cross Buns - I've read that this is a Good Friday tradition and it seems like a fun one to start since my girls have been asking to bake lately.

Dye Easter Eggs - a classic and something I always enjoy.  I am seeing visions of egg salad sandwiches in our future.

And, this year we're not going to pull off this craft but I bookmarked it (yay for Pinterest) and am hoping to get my act together for next year:  Mini Easter Gardens.

Hope you have a blessed Easter!  I'll post some photos if I'm able to pull off my activities this weekend!

February 2013

February is the shortest month, often doesn't have the greatest weather, and is the month that I and Tiny were born.  I was organizing my photos the other day and couldn't believe the things I packed into those 28 days.  Before I move on posting about other stuff, I wanted to recap our family happenings in February 2013.

On February 1st, I took both girls to California Adventure by myself . . . which later I decided wasn't the smartest decision I've ever made but we had a great day.  The girls bought Jessie hats with some of their Christmas money.

Big learned to ride a 2 wheel bike without training wheels and amazed us by zooming up and down our cul de sac.

 Little turned two and a half on February 4th.  I took her to the park for the morning while Big sister was in school.

On Saturday the 8th, it hailed and we had friends over for dinner.  Between the 3 couples there are 3 February birthdays which we celebrated along with long-time friendships, better health and baby Gwendolyn - sad I didn't take any photos!

Then the next day, I took my girls to the Aquarium of the Pacific with our Claremont friends.  I had been promising this trip for a long time and wanted to make good on it before baby girl arrived.

We celebrated Valentine's Day at home with pink drinks, heart shaped sandwiches, and a "fancy" dinner at home.

My family celebrated my 35th birthday at family dinner with an amazing meal, fun gifts, and a birthday cake!  Although I was told a few times in the coming weeks that 35 is officially "advanced maternal age" I kept protesting "but I just turned 35!"

My husband and I had a night away at South Coast Winery in Temecula.  Because my doctor told  me to take it easy and come in every 3 days for non-stress tests (photo below), we missed our walking tour of the winery but had a delicious dinner and a much needed break (translate:  conversation without being interrupted by our kids and a full night's sleep that didn't involve sleeping on our kid's floor or in their bed with them because they are scared)

And, you all know the end of the story (which happens to be the end of the month) but it's the best part . . . Tiny baby sister made her appearance on 2/26 and on 2/28, we took her home with us!

An early surprise (of the best kind!)

So, last Tuesday I had a baby!  For months I've been telling people how much I need baby girl to hang on and wait until her due date (March 16th) to be born.  I'm in the middle of a quarter at work and my maternity leave was supposed to officially start on March 5th.  I've been planning for my March baby and then, she decided to be born in February!  Having a baby is a perfect example of how little control we have over things in our life and how God knows what's best for us and will bring everything about in his perfect timing.

For about a week before her birth, the doctor was concerned about baby girl's rate of growth and had scheduled non-stress tests and an appointment with a specialist.  I reconsidered my work schedule and decided to go in only one more time, on February 25th, and finish my class by working with my students online and grading their work at home.  On my way home from my last day in the classroom, I realized I was having contractions (which I've had on and off this pregnancy) that were pretty regular.  I thought I'd lay down, go to sleep and they'd go away.  Instead, the next morning (and about 45 minutes after we arrived at the hospital), our daughter was born!  The doctor was right in predicting that she'd be small - at 4 lbs 6 oz, she's little for a 37 week baby but like our other girls, she's strong and healthy.  Had I made it to my appointment with the specialist (scheduled for 24 hours after she was actually born), it's likely they would have induced labor or I would have had a c-section.  Everything worked out and our little miracle was born at the perfect time - even though it's not how I thought or what I had been wanting in terms of my own convenience.

We are so grateful for her safe arrival, her good health, and our family of 5.  We are also grateful for all of you that have been praying for us and all your well wishes.  Allow me to introduce you to our brand new baby daughter!

Minutes old - in Daddy's arms

Alert from the beginning!  She doesn't want to miss out on anything.

Middle looks so grown up now that she's the "big sister"!

For some perspective, this is Mini next to Big's American Girl doll.  And Mini is 2 inches shorter!

Comfort food for the whole family

Around Christmas, I saw a recipe idea on Pinterest that involved pillsbury crescent rolls, nutella, and I think some cinnamon sugar topping.  I bought the ingredients but it never went from "good idea" to an actual item that we ate.  I used one can of the pillsbury rolls to make a breakfast casserole on New Year's Eve and last week, realized I should use the other can before they expire.  I know that crescent rolls are not super healthy and are filled with some mysterious ingredients but I hate to waste food and I found a way to make dinner that everyone actually liked.

These little chicken bundles were terrific comfort food.  It tasted to me almost like the creamed chicken over biscuits that my mom used to make or a little pot pie but the filling wasn't runny. The recipe isn't exact - take it as a basic idea - and I think it's something your kids will actually eat (mine ate about 1/2 of theirs which is pretty good for them).  We had a salad and broccoli with them and my husband finished up the girls' plates - I think a good serving would be two bundles per adult because with the regular crescent rolls, they end up smallish.

Like it says below, I divided the filling to make 2 kinds (plainer ones for the kids) but you can make it all the same to make it easier.  

Pillsbury Chicken Bundles (makes 4).

1 can pillsbury crescent rolls
1.5 cups cooked chicken (I used a rotisserie chicken)
4 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
2 T julienne cut sun dried tomatoes (the kind packed in olive oil)
dried Italian seasoning
salt
pepper

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  In a bowl, combine the chicken and cream cheese.  Divide the mixture in half.  Stir the cheddar cheese into half of the mixture and season to taste.  In the other half, add the parmesan, sun dried tomatoes, and season to taste.

Unwrap the pillsbury crescent rolls from the tube and separate them so you have 4 rectangles (instead of 8 triangles).  Press the center seam together to make each rectangle one piece of non-perforated dough.  Put a small scoop of chicken mixture in the center of each rectangle and bring the edges up to the middle.  Pinch together so you have a neat little bundle that won't leak filling all over your oven.

I sprinkled the top with a little ground pepper and additional parmesan cheese.  Put the bundles on a foil lined cookie sheet and bake for 15-25 minutes or until nicely browned.  Serve warm.

Potatoes Anna

The other night I made this for the second time and I really like the simplicity of the recipe (check out that ingredient list) and the crispy potatoes.  It's a versatile side dish for lots of kinds of menus.  We usually have it with grilled salmon or steaks.  The original calls for all white (russet) potatoes which you can certainly use, but I like it with a layer of sweet potatoes in there.  I use my mandolin slicer to get really thin slices.

Middle layer

Top before going into the oven

Potatoes Anna (serves 6-8)

from Martha Stewart's Everyday Food

6 russet potatoes (or 3 sweet potatoes and 3 russets)

6 tablespoons of butter, melted

salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Peel potatoes and using a mandolin or sharp knife, thinly slice into rounds (1/4 in. thick or thinner).  Martha says not to put the slices in water - you need the starch to bind the dish together.

Brush the bottom of a 9 or 10 inch cast iron skillet with about a tablespoon of butter.  Place a layer of potatoes, slightly overlapping, in a circular pattern covering the bottom of the skillet.  Brush with another half tablespoon of butter, sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Repeat for two more layers.  I usually put the sweet potatoes as the middle layer.  

Place the skillet over high heat on the stovetop until the butter sizzles (about 2-4 minutes).  This will brown the bottom layer.  Put the skillet in the oven for about an hour or until the potatoes are fork tender and lightly browned on top.  Remove from oven.

Martha says to run a small spatula around the potatoes and invert onto a serving platter.  I've made a huge mess trying this so I serve them from the cast iron skillet.  But, I'm sure if you're more coordinated than me, it's beautiful that way!

S'Mores Bars

I cut out a recipe for baked s'mores months ago and bought a package of Marshmallow stackers - these cool square, flat marshmallows that are easier to bake with.  Then, I lost the recipe, got busy, and forgot about it.  However, the bag of marshmallow stackers in my pantry has been absolutely taunting my girls . . . every couple of weeks, they bring the bag to me and beg for a marshmallow.  I tell them that we're going to bake with them someday but they're not for eating.  

This week, I decided to finally make the bars when we had company for dinner.  A google search didn't yield the original recipe I remembered which had a graham cracker layer, a brownie layer, and a marshmallow layer on top.  However, I was intrigued by one recipe I read that had a dough made with graham cracker crumbs.  This recipe had Hershey's bars for the chocolate layer and marshmallow fluff for the marshmallow layer so I modified it a bit.  The end result was really good - gooey, so sweet it almost hurts your teeth - just like a s'more should be.  I figure with Valentine's Day around the corner, 'tis the season to eat sweets.  

The first 3 layers in the pan

Before putting it into the oven

Warm and gooey out of the oven

S'mores Bars (makes an 8x8 pan)

Adapted from this blog

1/2 cup butter, room temperature

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

1 egg

1 1/3 cups flour

1 tsp. baking powder

3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs (about 5 large crackers)

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Half a bag of Marshmallow stackers (see note below about substituting)

Preheat oven to 350 and grease the bottom of an 8x8 pan.  In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugars.  Add the egg and vanilla.  Beat until completely combined.  Next, add the flour, baking powder, and graham cracker crumbs and mix until a dough forms.  

Press half of the dough into an even layer on the bottom of the pan.  Sprinkle with semisweet chocolate chips.  Cover chocolate chips with an even layer of marshmallow stackers.  

Put the rest of the dough on top.  This was a little tricky for me.  You can see from the photo above it wasn't perfect and I had decent luck squishing bits of dough into squares with my fingers and carefully setting them on top of the marshmallows.  I also think my bottom layer was thicker than my top layer which turned out okay.

Bake for 30-35 minutes or until the top is lightly browned.  Let cool for a few minutes before serving.  These are best served warm (and cut warm) because the marshmallow layer hardens up as it cools.  You can put any leftovers back in a warm oven for a little bit to soften them up before eating.

*If you can't find marshmallow stackers (flat, square marshmallows), you can cut large marshmallows in half (probably 12-15 cut in half will work in an 8x8) or use 1.5 cups marshmallow creme / fluff instead.

Baked Oatmeal

I love hot breakfast or going out for breakfast.  My recent routine on Wednesday mornings is to grade papers at Panera while Little goes to MyGym Breakfast Club (drop off class where they feed the kids breakfast).  While Panera isn't my first choice, I really like their oatmeal and the free wi-fi.  At home, I usually have greek yogurt with Fiber One or granola and the girls usually have cereal.  I've been trying to change our routine a little and make hot breakfast at home for the girls more often - usually pancakes or scrambled eggs.  I've been on a roll lately with making this baked oatmeal.  If you have someone in your family who doesn't like oatmeal because of its texture (mushy), try this one - it's a little crunchy on top, drier than typical oatmeal, and delicious.  

I love the cooked blueberries but you could easily leave them out (today I used dried cranberries instead) or substitute some other fruit.  Adjust the brown sugar (or leave it out) according to your family's tastes.  If you double the recipe, use a a 9x13 pan.  Other easy add-ins are ground flax seed or chia seed, chopped nuts, dried fruit (cranberries or raisins), fresh chopped strawberries, raspberries, fresh cranberries - the recipe is pretty versatile.  If you're cooking GF, double check that you have gluten free rolled oats (TJs or Bob's Red Mill are two I've used).

Celebrate National Hot Breakfast Month and make a pan of baked oatmeal!

Baked Oatmeal (4 servings)

1 eggs
1/4 c. canola oil
2 c. oatmeal (old-fashioned, rolled oats work best)
1 c. chopped apple
1 tsp baking powder
1 c. blueberries (fresh or frozen)
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 c. milk
1/4 cup brown sugar, divided (optional)
1 T cold butter (optional)
Mix eggs and canola oil together. Then stir 2 T of brown sugar and the rest of the ingredients. Spread in greased pan (8x8 or 2 qt) dot with chopped up butter and sprinkle with the remaining 2 T of brown sugar. Bake at 325 degrees for 25-30 minutes. Serve with warmed milk.