This is her bunny friend that we always say hello to when we go for a walk or bike ride.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Kaitlyn's Photographs
Kaitlyn recognizes that the adults in her life have real cameras that take 'cool' pictures. Here are some photographs that she snapped by herself in our neighborhood. We have a little photographer on our hands!
This is her bunny friend that we always say hello to when we go for a walk or bike ride.
This is her bunny friend that we always say hello to when we go for a walk or bike ride.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Dave's Birthday Cake Disaster
Dave loves ice cream cakes. Given the success on Kaitlyn's Rapunzel tower I thought that I would make Dave an ice cream cake for his birthday. I blocked out the disaster with Madelyn's first birthday cake and went for it. As the pictures will show, this cake became a monstrous disaster!
Here is the cake batter. It tasted delicious and baked up so nice. The cake itself, before I froze it, was great. Bummer!
Cake base with buttercream icing - should have just stopped here as the cake and icing along were perfect.
Kaitlyn and I crushed Oreo cookies and mixed them in with softened vanilla bean ice cream, which turned out great on it's own. What I hadn't thought about was the weight and size. The ice cream layer here is way too thick. I should have made it like 1/2 or even 1/3 of the thickness.
You can also see the buttercream being smooshed out with the weight of everything. There is also some chocolate ganache in between layers. Yes, I had a vision of decadent beauty in mind head. It didn't translate in real life.
I attempted to salvage it by doing some decorations on top. I really just should have gone to the grocery store and bought a store made cake. I feel bad that I love to make cakes and totally blew it on my honey's birthday!
Daddy being a good sport and blowing out the candles with Kaitlyn.
Daddy and his girls.
Dave attempting to cut the cake. We let it sit out for 10 or 30 minutes (can't remember), but that certainly didn't help. I think we may have used the mallet and a different knife to finally get through it.
Yes, I am holding the cake up with a meat fork. That's how solid it was.
At least I learned a few things from the experience.
Here is the cake batter. It tasted delicious and baked up so nice. The cake itself, before I froze it, was great. Bummer!
Cake base with buttercream icing - should have just stopped here as the cake and icing along were perfect.
Kaitlyn and I crushed Oreo cookies and mixed them in with softened vanilla bean ice cream, which turned out great on it's own. What I hadn't thought about was the weight and size. The ice cream layer here is way too thick. I should have made it like 1/2 or even 1/3 of the thickness.
You can also see the buttercream being smooshed out with the weight of everything. There is also some chocolate ganache in between layers. Yes, I had a vision of decadent beauty in mind head. It didn't translate in real life.
I attempted to salvage it by doing some decorations on top. I really just should have gone to the grocery store and bought a store made cake. I feel bad that I love to make cakes and totally blew it on my honey's birthday!
Daddy being a good sport and blowing out the candles with Kaitlyn.
Daddy and his girls.
Dave attempting to cut the cake. We let it sit out for 10 or 30 minutes (can't remember), but that certainly didn't help. I think we may have used the mallet and a different knife to finally get through it.
Yes, I am holding the cake up with a meat fork. That's how solid it was.
At least I learned a few things from the experience.
- I need to put the plan in my head on paper and draw it out. I did this with Kaitlyn's and got the proportions right. I did not with Madelyn's cake and it was way too big. In doing this, I must realize that bigger is not better and that I don't have to use all the cake better in the cake I'm working on at the time.
- Recognize that a simple cake that tastes great is just as good, if not better than, doing a crazy, difficult cake with tons of layers. Keep the audience in mind and the stress level in check!
- I will never make an ice cream cake again, why?
- Frozen chocolate cake isn't as good as the real thing; I ruined a wonderful chocolate cake that Kaitlyn help me make by freezing it.
- Frozen icing doesn't taste as good as when it is fresh or just out of the refrigerator. The butter flavor came through most of all. It was very disappointing given that I made Dave's favorite icing.
- Ice cream is heavy, the cake almost fell over b/c the weight of the ice cream on the cake was too much. Oops!
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Summer Fun
Kaitlyn in her new big girl booster seat (sniffle, sniffle). She loves that it has cup holders. We made a special trip to Target to get her a water bottle that fit into the cup holder.
Madelyn also graduate to the baby/toddler car seat. Only bummer is that when she falls asleep, there's not taking this seat out of the car.
Madelyn loves putting on sunglasses. She'll grab any pair she can find and try to put them on. Sometimes mommy and daddy have to help.
The girls playing together. Madelyn loves her big sister Kaitlyn.
Madelyn having fun stacking blocks. This is a new activity that she loves!
Madelyn also graduate to the baby/toddler car seat. Only bummer is that when she falls asleep, there's not taking this seat out of the car.
Madelyn loves putting on sunglasses. She'll grab any pair she can find and try to put them on. Sometimes mommy and daddy have to help.
The girls playing together. Madelyn loves her big sister Kaitlyn.
Madelyn having fun stacking blocks. This is a new activity that she loves!
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Booster Seats
Madelyn has outgrown the infant her infant car seat, so it's time for her to graduate to the Britax car seat. In doing so, we had to purchase a booster seat (tears!!) for Kaitlyn. I can't believe it!!
Since we are the research type, we used three sources to ultimately decide to purchase a First Years B540 booster seat since it was highly rated in two of the three sources we used. I will admit that I was shocked that Britax boosters did not perform well or lacked ratings in the sources. Guess it shows that just because it costs a lot does not always mean it is the best. Although I will caveat that we have Madelyn is moving to a Britax marathon car seat that we love and was highly rated when we purchased it for Kaitlyn.
The reason I am writing this blog is to include the three sources in case any of my friends need want some information on booster seats as their little ones get older.
National Highway and Safety Transportation Board (NHSTB): http://www.nhtsa.gov/Safety/CPS and click on the Ease of Use link for booster seat ratings.
Consumer Reports: www.consumerreports.org - you need a membership for these rankings.
Insurance Institute of Highway Safety: http://www.iihs.org/research/topics/boosters/default.html
Hope this information helps!!
Since we are the research type, we used three sources to ultimately decide to purchase a First Years B540 booster seat since it was highly rated in two of the three sources we used. I will admit that I was shocked that Britax boosters did not perform well or lacked ratings in the sources. Guess it shows that just because it costs a lot does not always mean it is the best. Although I will caveat that we have Madelyn is moving to a Britax marathon car seat that we love and was highly rated when we purchased it for Kaitlyn.
The reason I am writing this blog is to include the three sources in case any of my friends need want some information on booster seats as their little ones get older.
National Highway and Safety Transportation Board (NHSTB): http://www.nhtsa.gov/Safety/CPS and click on the Ease of Use link for booster seat ratings.
Consumer Reports: www.consumerreports.org - you need a membership for these rankings.
Insurance Institute of Highway Safety: http://www.iihs.org/research/topics/boosters/default.html
Hope this information helps!!
Friday, July 15, 2011
PKK: Peanut Butter Balls
Princess Kaitlyn decided she wanted to make peanut butter powerballs again. This time, she crushed the graham crackers all by herself with our food mallet.
Then she used the rolling pin to make sure the graham crackers had a fine crumb texture.
She measure (with a little help) the remaining ingredients and mixed them together.
Voila! Peanut butter powerballs that we stored in the refrigerator and used as snacks throughout the next several days. Shhh...mommy snuck a couple for a night time snack. I just love peanut butter!
Here Kaitlyn is sprinkling powdered sugar with a tea holder onto her waffle. She loves this part when she gets a waffle and fruit for breakfast.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Homemade Steak and Cheese Sandwiches
For my birthday, I decided I wanted homemade Steak and Cheese sandwiches. We have never attempted to make them before, but I couldn't resist. We had the butcher shave a rib eye steak into thin slices and package it for us to bring home. They turned out delicious and our only critique is that next time we will make a horseradish cream sauce to go on the bread. Great football season food!
Ingredients:
1 3/4 to 1 lb. ribeye steak, shaved
1 green bell pepper, cut in long strips
1/2 yellow onion, cut in long strips
Kosher salt and ground black pepper
1/2 tbsp olive oil or canola oil
provolone cheese slices
Scali rolls (couldn't find a pretzel roll)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Season peppers and onion lightly with salt and pepper. Pour oil in saute pan and turn burner on to medium high heat. Saute pepper and onion in saute pan until tender, but not too soft. Meanwhile, heat griddle pan (high heat for a sear on meat as you don't want to overcook it) and slice the bread in half to lay flat (we left one side attached). Lay bread out on parchment lined baking sheet. Lightly season meat with salt and pepper and put on griddle. Flip meat and move around so it sears evenly on all sides. Sear for only probably 3-5 minutes. Pull meat and place on bread slices. Add onion and pepper and cover with provolone cheese. Place in oven until cheese is melted and bread is lightly toasted. Add horseradish cream sauce or desired dressing after the sandwiches come out of the oven.
These were the yummy cupcakes we had for my birthday dessert!
Ingredients:
1 3/4 to 1 lb. ribeye steak, shaved
1 green bell pepper, cut in long strips
1/2 yellow onion, cut in long strips
Kosher salt and ground black pepper
1/2 tbsp olive oil or canola oil
provolone cheese slices
Scali rolls (couldn't find a pretzel roll)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Season peppers and onion lightly with salt and pepper. Pour oil in saute pan and turn burner on to medium high heat. Saute pepper and onion in saute pan until tender, but not too soft. Meanwhile, heat griddle pan (high heat for a sear on meat as you don't want to overcook it) and slice the bread in half to lay flat (we left one side attached). Lay bread out on parchment lined baking sheet. Lightly season meat with salt and pepper and put on griddle. Flip meat and move around so it sears evenly on all sides. Sear for only probably 3-5 minutes. Pull meat and place on bread slices. Add onion and pepper and cover with provolone cheese. Place in oven until cheese is melted and bread is lightly toasted. Add horseradish cream sauce or desired dressing after the sandwiches come out of the oven.
These were the yummy cupcakes we had for my birthday dessert!
Monday, July 4, 2011
Happy Birthday USA!
We had lots of fun 4th of July weekend. Kaitlyn played in the water, visited friends, ate cake, and just had lots of fun overall.
It's been so hot here that we opted for a little water toy to let Kaitlyn run around in to burn some energy, yet stay somewhat cool. Here she is flying like a reindeer with daddy.
Just a cute picture of Madelyn before we dressed her in her red, white and blue. We didn't want to get it dirty too early!
This is a red white and blue(berry) tart that I made for dessert - yum!! I swear, I could eat the whole thing myself.
We spent the afternoon and evening on the 4th with cousins. The kids get along great and Kaitlyn and Madelyn had a great time!
Kennedy trying to straighten out the jeep or turn it.
Carter showing Kaitlyn all the fun paths around the yard.
Carter and Kaitlyn in the pool.
Carter and Kaitlyn on the double swing.
Josh and Dave playing bean bags. It's funny how after they left the bean bags ended up in a water toy.
Kaitlyn pretending to be Captain Hook.
My cousin Cris and I finally snap a shot with each other. We have lots of photos of our kids together, but not many of us. Thanks for hosting Cris and Josh!!
It's been so hot here that we opted for a little water toy to let Kaitlyn run around in to burn some energy, yet stay somewhat cool. Here she is flying like a reindeer with daddy.
Just a cute picture of Madelyn before we dressed her in her red, white and blue. We didn't want to get it dirty too early!
This is a red white and blue(berry) tart that I made for dessert - yum!! I swear, I could eat the whole thing myself.
We spent the afternoon and evening on the 4th with cousins. The kids get along great and Kaitlyn and Madelyn had a great time!
Kennedy trying to straighten out the jeep or turn it.
Carter showing Kaitlyn all the fun paths around the yard.
Carter and Kaitlyn in the pool.
Carter and Kaitlyn on the double swing.
Josh and Dave playing bean bags. It's funny how after they left the bean bags ended up in a water toy.
Kaitlyn pretending to be Captain Hook.
My cousin Cris and I finally snap a shot with each other. We have lots of photos of our kids together, but not many of us. Thanks for hosting Cris and Josh!!
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Fresh Pitas and Svoulaki
After eating fresh pita bread in Washington D.C., Dave and I decided to try to make it on our own. Not to toot our own horns, but it turned out great and was relatively easy. We were so excited!!
I found the recipe at: http://www.thefreshloaf.com/recipes/pitabread
So after letting the dough sit, we created the pita balls and started baking them. Here are four of them waiting to be cooked.
We wanted thin pitas, like at Zatinya, so we rolled them out very thin.
We were amazed at how they puffed up in the oven.
Here was the first attempt of pita bread. It was light, airy and tasted very good. It went great with chickpea puree and chicken for dinner that night.
This is a whole wheat/all-purpose flour version of the pita. You can see it has better color and it had better tasted. It tasted more hearty, yet remained the fluffiness and lightness from our first batch.
Setting the scene: We had an awesome dinner at our friends house and they made us souvlaki and showed us the truly Greek (they grew up there) way to eat it with mustard, tatziki, a red sauce, onions, peppers, parsley. It was delicious!! Given our interest in culinary adventure, we tried to recreate the souvlaki and tatziki at home. The whole wheat pita above was made for the souvlaki.
Princess Kaitlyn took a break from playing at her castle and helped her mommy make tatziki - a cucumber, yogurt and dill sauce.
And we used pork tenderloin for the skewers and marinated them overnight using a the following souvlaki recipe: http://www.food.com/recipe/greek-souvlaki-110939. We marinated the meat overnight and they tasted great!!
As you can see, we have our pita, skewers, tomato, parsley and onion, mustard and tatziki.
For our first attempt at souvlaki, it tasted great. However, I do need to get the red sauce recipe from my friend (possibly a combination of tomatoes and sweet red peppers) and rework the tatziki recipe as it didn't have enough flavor despite sitting for 2+ hours and draining the water from the cucumbers and Greek yogurt. Regardless, this was a fun series of culinary adventures that we'll be sure to try again!
I found the recipe at: http://www.thefreshloaf.com/recipes/pitabread
So after letting the dough sit, we created the pita balls and started baking them. Here are four of them waiting to be cooked.
We wanted thin pitas, like at Zatinya, so we rolled them out very thin.
We were amazed at how they puffed up in the oven.
Here was the first attempt of pita bread. It was light, airy and tasted very good. It went great with chickpea puree and chicken for dinner that night.
This is a whole wheat/all-purpose flour version of the pita. You can see it has better color and it had better tasted. It tasted more hearty, yet remained the fluffiness and lightness from our first batch.
Setting the scene: We had an awesome dinner at our friends house and they made us souvlaki and showed us the truly Greek (they grew up there) way to eat it with mustard, tatziki, a red sauce, onions, peppers, parsley. It was delicious!! Given our interest in culinary adventure, we tried to recreate the souvlaki and tatziki at home. The whole wheat pita above was made for the souvlaki.
Princess Kaitlyn took a break from playing at her castle and helped her mommy make tatziki - a cucumber, yogurt and dill sauce.
And we used pork tenderloin for the skewers and marinated them overnight using a the following souvlaki recipe: http://www.food.com/recipe/greek-souvlaki-110939. We marinated the meat overnight and they tasted great!!
As you can see, we have our pita, skewers, tomato, parsley and onion, mustard and tatziki.
For our first attempt at souvlaki, it tasted great. However, I do need to get the red sauce recipe from my friend (possibly a combination of tomatoes and sweet red peppers) and rework the tatziki recipe as it didn't have enough flavor despite sitting for 2+ hours and draining the water from the cucumbers and Greek yogurt. Regardless, this was a fun series of culinary adventures that we'll be sure to try again!
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