Learn, Love, Laugh....

I finally took a few pictures-just for kicks.

The water droplets on the grass caught my eye one morning when I was outside with the little ones:

And then I had to take the obligatory dandelion shot:

Then I decided to get a little closer....

and lastly, a little fun; faux thru the viewfinder dandelion. Probably my favorite actually, but I confess, I have a love for scratched, damaged, old looking images.

Oh, yes, all these were taken by 32-week-pregnant, big-bellied ME. You could only imagine how hideous I looked crawling on the ground to take pictures of weeds. Thankfully, I don't believe any of our neighbors were out to witness the horrific event.

Cooks Illustrated, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I usually don't have much to say about my cookbooks or magazines. (not on here, anyhow.) I love cookbooks and collect them, yes. I have an insane amount, according to my husband. After boxing up dozens (maybe hundreds) of cookbooks that I could live without, but still want to keep forever, what remain are.... hundreds of cookbooks on a bookshelf devoted entirely to cookbooks. So now that it's established that I am a cookbook freak, let me say this. I LOVE COOKS ILLUSTRATED. The magazine, the website, the cookbooks and even--corny as it may be--America's Test kitchen. LOVE LOVE LOVE. So why am I freaking out today? Because....after being a member of Cooksillustrated.com for--I don't know--years?? I realized just today that you can browse their current edition and previous editions online. No joke. If that is something that  other people knew, don't stop in to tell me.  Just say "wow!" like you didn't already know. Please. I am nearly ashamed of myself for not knowing it sooner. Maybe I knew subconsciously. ;)

1) I always love to browse the CI website for equipment reviews. I don't think I spend even 10$ on some trinket for the kitchen without at least seeing what CI has to say about it first. Sometimes I disregard the reviews, sometimes I don't, and sometimes I can't find any information that I feel is current enough to influence my opinion. But I always check, and appreciate their reviews. I feel that they are very thorough and fair in their testing. Don't get me wrong, I wish that All Clad didn't always rank so high because that is one  item that is RARE in my kitchen--but not non-existant--I DO have a 12" skillet in stainless. But I LONG to have more. Oh how I dream of the day....

2) I love the recipes. In the books, magazines (Cooks Illustrated, Cooks Country, Entertaining), and on the site as well. I am able to read and see if the end result of the recipe is what I am hoping my end result will be. (If that makes any sense at all.)  When I read the recipe for oatmeal raisin cookies, I know that I like a slightly crisp, inside chewy oatmeal raisin cookie. Not dry or crumbly OR cakey. Nope. Crispy-chewy.  I can tell from their results what I am going to get. I appreciate all of the time that is spent testing their recipes and that they tell you the many different attempts they made in getting to that end result. Sometimes I think to myself "FORGET that. I am not going to brine a 24 lb turkey. HECK NO!" but sometimes I will go to great lengths to follow their recipes and have never regretted it yet. 

3) Taste Tests! I love the taste tests. If nothing else they are entertaining to read. Often they are informative. There are some tests that don't really matter to me in the end--like the peanut butter one. I've tried nearly every brand they have tested, and I have my own favorite, but I still enjoy reading the reviews. Still, they have an entertainment value to me. LOL

4) Read the current issue! --the link. Ok, that's my new found love. I cannot believe how many times I have overlooked that little link on the CI website!  My subscription to the magazine ran out and then I could not find it in the local grocery so I came home to look up what recipes are in the current issue and found that I could actually READ the current issue. I was thrilled to say the least. Then I found the browse previous issues--and found a recipe for that salmon I just bought--specific for the gas grill. Yay! I am so eager to grill my salmon now. I can hardly wait until dinner time. 

5) Magazines. I just love something new to read every other month, or quarterly ( for Entertaining magazine) .  I even love the covers. So, I confess, I love food, and photography, and the covers combine two of my loves! The back cover of the current Entertaining magazine has an artsy looking 'painting' or drawing of different kinds of fresh beans. I even like that. Its pretty. I'd frame it and hang it in my kitchen. But then, I do love beans. And maybe even more importantly, Its NOT AN AD. This may be what thrills me most about the magazines. The lack of ads. Oh sure, I still close the magazine with a long grocery list and an even longer wish list, but at least its not from all of the ads in the magazines. And finally, the magazines are portable. I can read them in the doctor's office (and it seems I'm spending a lot of time in waiting rooms these days). I can read them on the back porch swing while the kids play outside--I'm just not one for taking my laptop outside in the back yard with flying water, and possibly flying sand. Ah--magazines--they can usually survive in tact.  Usually.

So, I love the pictures, love the directions, explanations, reviews, taste tests, handy tips and portability of the magazines. 

I am sure I am forgetting something. but I need to go browse the BEAUTIFUL issue of Summer Entertaining. Its so full of yummy recipes I wish I had purchased it before I went to the grocery....now I have to go shopping again!

The green smoothie vs the peanut butter cup.

Travis and Tara are used to green smoothies. They drink spinach/water/banana smoothies any day. So one day I was making a big batch of green smoothies with just that--lots of spinach, some water and two bananas (yes, nice and sweet.) and Thomas heard the blender going. (Who couldn't? It sounds like a jet engine.) So he asked me if I would make him one with peanut butter. I told him if he tastes my smoothie I will make him one. So he did, and he thought it was "Yucky". He mentioned something about grass and banana.....haha. So he wanted me to make him a peanut butter smoothie. I really had no clue what to do precisely, so I just threw in some milk, ice, a couple scoops of Ovaltine powder and a big scoop of PB. 

Blend. 

I tasted it to see what I thought. YUM. drinkable, icy peanut butter cup. I poured some of it for Thomas then Travis wanted some. I told him when he was finished with his [yummy green smoothie] he could have some of Thomas's peanut butter smoothie. Later when he was finished (but not much later because he's a beverage person--he loves his drinks), I poured him some of the delicious PB smoothie and........ he thought it was gross. LOL He changed his mind and wanted more green smoothie. The child preferred green smoothie over the peanut butter cup. 

A beautiful princess...

The other day Tara asked Daddy what he wished for. He told her something silly like cookies or dinner. Then he asked her what she wished for. She said "I wish I was a Beeuteeful princess." AWwww. He told her that she already is one! (what else could you say?) 

I know what Yoda is.....

Travis was on the floor playing with this big box of Star Wars toys when he had a revelation. He stopped what he was doing and said, " I know what Yoda is." 

I said, "Oh, yeah?" 

He said, "yeah. He's a little Star Wars boy..................................a creepy, little star wars boy." 

I am not sure what about that was HILARIOUS, but it was. I could barely speak because I was laughing so hard. A creepy little star wars boy.

This may be the funniest thing he's ever said.

Ok, then just to shine a little light on Tara. Tom asked Tara "what are we going to name your baby sister?"  She thoughtfully replied, "Diaper Rash!"

Aren't they so funny? 

Just a pic of the little ones enjoying the outdoors--

now that its finally warming up a bit!

Travis

I have to post a pic of Travis if I post one of Tara, right? So the thing is, I have the hardest time taking pictures of him. He wears glasses--I'm not complaining, I think he's CUTE with them on, but they are an added obstacle, and he squints a lot too. But, isn't he a sweet boy anyhow?!  

My baby is 3

I want to shout it and say it all happily, but its bittersweet. She's growing up!  She's a doll though. She's so sweet and so smart. Isn't she a doll? It was so windy, her hair was all over the place....just ignore that.

I cannot believe that my oldest child.....

is 16!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! TALK about making me feel OLD!  

Tomatoes

Ok. Playing in the kitchen again--with my flash off camera and my trusty reflectors. 

I had the urge to try to light glassware. Oh, not good.

So I was playing in the kitchen with my Nikon sb800 off camera, and some reflectors. I felt happy to be taking pictures again. These are so far from good that I feel almost embarrassed to post them, but on the other hand, with no experience and no training in shooting glass, I am not going to be too terribly critical of myself. (for once. ;) )

I'm Back!

I haven't posted in forever with deaths in the family, holidays, birthdays,  pregnancy problems and illness it seems that there's always been something preventing me from taking the time to catch up on my blog. But I *think* I'm back!  Now that spring seems to finally be here, I almost feel alive again. I didn't realize that I felt...well... less than alive until one day the air hit me and I felt alive. I am just glad to finally be feeling better.  Please let spring be here! I am so ready for flowers and bees and warm, sweet air!!!!!

OH. MY. GOODNESS.

As I was leaving for my Grandpa's funeral, I got the call from my mother-in-law. Tim passed away around 9:00pm Monday. Please pray for his wife and daughters. I cannot imagine the pain they must be in. My heart is broken for them. 

Heartbroken

I am completely heartbroken for so many people during this holiday season. My grandpa was very sick for the last several months and just when we thought he couldn't get worse, he did. Until Friday, when he passed away. I am relieved that he is no longer in pain and suffering, but I am so sad for my grandma. She misses his presence in the big old house they built many years ago when they still had kids at home. Now my little grandma goes out at night, all alone, to take care of her animals and when she comes in, its to an empty house. I hate thinking of how alone she feels. Today we will attend his funeral.

I also feel so heartbroken for a friend who's baby grandson died just a few short weeks ago. I do not even know the details, but I do not need to know any more to know that the death of a baby is horrific and I cannot imagine her pain-- or that of the mother and father. I have to stop myself from imagining what I think they must be going thru and I would venture to guess, its a million times worse than I could ever imagine.

My final bit of sadness during this Christmas season-so far. My sister-in-law is grieving and struggling to take care of her ill husband. He was diagnosed with cancer 4 and a half years ago and he is now at home, rarely conscious and in tremendous pain. He is 36 years old and he has two daughters who are young teens. I can't even continue talking about it. Those girls have had to watch their dad suffer and just in time for Christmas they are wondering if he'll be there for another day or not. I have to go cry. 

Having fun with sunflare

Again, at a wedding with Niki (Eloquence Photography).

YUM

One of my favorite things in the whole wide world is food. Not only do I love to eat it, but I love to cook it too. So yesterday I had chicken breasts in the refrigerator that needed cooked and I had no idea what I wanted to do with it so I threw them into a soup pan with some chicken stock and let it simmer until I could pull the chicken apart with forks. Then I added the rest of the carton of stock, some water, seasoning (thyme, salt, pepper, bay leaf) and chopped up 3 peeled potatos and a bag of frozen mixed vegetables. In another pan i threw in half a stick of margarine and a chopped onion--then added some flour, cooked it a little then dumped in lots of fat free half and half. MMMM. like gravy.  Then I dumped the "onion gravy" into the soup. It made YUMMY creamy chicken vegetable soup. YUM. It really was good. I was in the mood for something more substantial than just regular ol' clear broth soup. I guess this was more like chicken stew. Anyhow, it was actually good.