And Baby Makes Four...plus one furry friend!: March 2011

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Cardboard Box

Wouldn't it be cool...

If all of us...

Held on a little tighter...

to that childhood curiousity and wonderment about all things...

And really took the time to enjoy even the smallest things!

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Beth and baby Sean came to visit!

I was so excited for my friend Beth and her adorable

baby boy, Sean to visit us today!!

He is just darling... always moving and wiggling around...

He reminds me of Quinn at three months old!

Speaking of Quinn, do you see how

interested in the baby he is?!

...at first I thought Sean would get a little overwhelmed with a big one year old trying to get into his car seat (while he was still in it!) ...

However, I quickly realized Sean can take care of himself!

So serious!

Cutie...even when crying!!

Thanks for stopping by, Beth and Sean!

Quinn and I had a great time seeing you both.

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Not your typical dessert!

We made ice cream using liquid nitrogen...

So my parents tried out a new recipe...

The liquid nitrogen made the half and half turn into ice cream consistency...

Here is Mandy trying it out... YUM!!!

Can you tell is was also St. Patrick's Day?!

Quinn getting a magic carpet ride...

(aka: Diaper changing mat ride!!)

Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream Recipe (if you can get your hands on some good 'ol liquid nitrogen, that is! ...not sure how available this stuff is!)

4 cups whole milk
1 vanilla bean, split
1 cup sugar
3 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Place three cups of the milk in a saucepan with the vanilla bean over medium-low heat.
Meanwhile, pour the remaining 1 cup milk into a large glass measuring cup. Add the sugar and the cornstarch. Mix well.

When the milk starts to simmer, remove it from the heat and pour in the cornstarch mixture, stirring the whole time. Return the saucepan to medium-low and stir, stir, stir, until things start thickening up, 10 to 12 minutes. It should end up thicker than, say, a runny milkshake, but thinner than a frosty one.

Pour the mixture through a strainer into a mixing bowl, whisk in the vanilla extract, and let it cool on the counter for 20 minutes or so. I like to then chill it in the refrigerator for a few hours or overnight until it is completely chilled.

Now you are ready to place this mixture in a metal-bowl mixer and do the liquid nitrogen thing (see above links and do your safety reading and research first), or you can just freeze this using the manufacturer's instructions on a standard ice-cream maker. Serves 6.
http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/001366.html

Jalapeno Chicken Pizza

Our favorite recipe(s) - 2nd addition

Here is my audience! Quinn loves helping in the kitchen.

You can add more or less of the chilpotle peppers --
{depending on how hot you like it!}

I found this recipe about a year ago, and I've tweaked it

a little to more of my liking... it feels like we're eating healthy {even though it's pizza!} ...The best part is that it's quick and easy to make!

...The ingredients below are enough for two pizzas, since most pre baked crust shells come in a package of two. I make it all together, and then pop half of the sauce in the fridge for when we have our 2nd pizza later in the week....

Ingredients:

4 garlic cloves, peeled
4 tomatoes (plum tomatoes work great)

1 cup of fresh cilantro
4 tablespoons of tomato paste
4 teaspoons of chopped chilpotle peppers in adobo sauce

1 (or package of 2) prebaked thin crust

4 cups shredded cooked chicken breast

1 1/2 cups of Mexican cheese blend

2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and sliced

Preparation:

Place the first five ingredients in a food processor; cover until blended. Drizzle 1/2 teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil on pizza crust and then place mixture on pizza crust. Top with chicken, cheese and jalapenos. Follow baking instructions on pizza crust package...

***a dollop of sour cream right before serving it is perfection!!

Enjoy!!

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

To laugh or not to laugh?!

Someone thinks putting sticky peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in their hair is hilarious...

Whenever I would look at him, he would break into a huge smile and then start to laugh uncontrollably!

...it doesn't matter how well I clean him off after he eats, it never fails that I find little fragments of sticky grape jelly in his hair throughout the day...