Thursday, November 29, 2012
Lentil Stew with Rice
A friend posted this recipe a few months ago and we have been LOVING it! We skip the achiote and serve it with rice and a fried egg on top. Yum!
Friday, November 2, 2012
Pork Minestrone Soup
We have lots of pig in our freezer in the form of bacon, chops, and ground pork :) Thank you Bob and Barb! I haven't cooked with pork all that much so we're exploring some new recipes these days. Surprisingly, I also have never made minestrone soup so away we went.
Pork Minestrone Soup
1 lb ground pork
1 carrot, chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped
1/2 onion, finely diced
2 cloves garlic
1/2 zucchini, thinly sliced and quartered
1/2 c frozen green beans
1 can (15 oz) Italian tomatoes
1 can (15 oz) garbanzo or red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 1/2 c water
4 c vegetable broth
1 t parsley
1 t oregano
1/2 t basil
1/2 t salt
1/2 t pepper
1/4 t thyme
1 1/2 c shell pasta (farfalle is what I had on hand)
Brown meat in large pot. Once cooked through, transfer to small bowl.
Add carrots, celery, onion, garlic and zucchini to pot. Saute 5-8 min or until onions are translucent.
Add meat back to pot along with remaining ingredients except pasta. Bring to boil and then simmer for 45 min, adding pasta in for last 20 min.
Pork Minestrone Soup
1 lb ground pork
1 carrot, chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped
1/2 onion, finely diced
2 cloves garlic
1/2 zucchini, thinly sliced and quartered
1/2 c frozen green beans
1 can (15 oz) Italian tomatoes
1 can (15 oz) garbanzo or red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 1/2 c water
4 c vegetable broth
1 t parsley
1 t oregano
1/2 t basil
1/2 t salt
1/2 t pepper
1/4 t thyme
1 1/2 c shell pasta (farfalle is what I had on hand)
Brown meat in large pot. Once cooked through, transfer to small bowl.
Add carrots, celery, onion, garlic and zucchini to pot. Saute 5-8 min or until onions are translucent.
Add meat back to pot along with remaining ingredients except pasta. Bring to boil and then simmer for 45 min, adding pasta in for last 20 min.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Mac 'n Cheese
When we leave the boys with a babysitter their special treat is getting to eat mac 'n cheese. Though still not exactly "healthy," it's better than the box, right?!?!
Baked Mac and Cheese
1 lb pasta (macaroni or shells)
5 T butter, divided
4 T flour
3 cups milk
2-3 inches Velveeta cheese, cubed
Parmesean cheese to taste
3/4 c shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 c plain fat-free yogurt
1/4 t black pepper
12 ritz crackers, crushed
Cook pasta as directed.
Cheese sauce: Melt 4 T butter over low heat in medium sauce pan. Add flour and whisk until smooth. Heat milk in microwave until warm and then add slowly to butter/flour mixture. Again, whisk until smooth. Add Velveeta and whisk continuously until melted through. Be sure not to heat to high!
Mix pasta and prepared cheese sauce together. Add 1/4 c cheddar cheese, yogurt, and pepper to mixture and pour into 9x13 pan.
Melt remaining 1 T butter and mix together with crackers.
Sprinkle remaining 1/2 c cheddar cheese on top of mac and cheese and then top with the crackers mixture.
Bake at 375 for 20 min. Allow to stand 5 min before serving so sauce can thicken.
Baked Mac and Cheese
1 lb pasta (macaroni or shells)
5 T butter, divided
4 T flour
3 cups milk
2-3 inches Velveeta cheese, cubed
Parmesean cheese to taste
3/4 c shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 c plain fat-free yogurt
1/4 t black pepper
12 ritz crackers, crushed
Cook pasta as directed.
Cheese sauce: Melt 4 T butter over low heat in medium sauce pan. Add flour and whisk until smooth. Heat milk in microwave until warm and then add slowly to butter/flour mixture. Again, whisk until smooth. Add Velveeta and whisk continuously until melted through. Be sure not to heat to high!
Mix pasta and prepared cheese sauce together. Add 1/4 c cheddar cheese, yogurt, and pepper to mixture and pour into 9x13 pan.
Melt remaining 1 T butter and mix together with crackers.
Sprinkle remaining 1/2 c cheddar cheese on top of mac and cheese and then top with the crackers mixture.
Bake at 375 for 20 min. Allow to stand 5 min before serving so sauce can thicken.
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Signs of Fall
A few weeks ago we went for a "fall leaf drive," a family tradition of mine growing up. We ended our drive at Grandma and Grandpa's for some farm fun! Oh how I love fall!
Some other signs of fall around our house:
- pumpkin bread, muffins, scones in the oven
- soup on the stove (several nights a week)
- pumpkins on the front porch and by the fireplace
- hat and mitten bin by the coats
- crunchy leaves in little boys' pockets
- slippers on big and little feet
- runny noses on two little brown faces
- snot smears on the couch (and way too many other places in our house)
Some other signs of fall around our house:
- pumpkin bread, muffins, scones in the oven
- soup on the stove (several nights a week)
- pumpkins on the front porch and by the fireplace
- hat and mitten bin by the coats
- crunchy leaves in little boys' pockets
- slippers on big and little feet
- runny noses on two little brown faces
- snot smears on the couch (and way too many other places in our house)
Friday, September 14, 2012
Boy Updates
My boys turned 5 and 2 a few months ago (I'm a little late, I know). It is crazy. But even more crazy than their ages is how much they've changed since they've arrived in my arms! Below are their stats and some notes on their progress :)
Owen:
- Has grown 5.5 inches and gained 5 pounds since he arrived almost 17 months ago.
- Learned how to ride a bike without training wheels less than 3 months after he came home.
- Started Early Kindergarten this fall and is LOVING it.
- Is EXTREMELY detail oriented in his questions and drawings.
- Is excellent with little kids. So patient, so gentle.
- Brings EVERYTHING back to God and is a faithful reminder to his mother of how big God is!
Gibson:
- Has grown 7.25 inches and gained 10 pounds since he arrive home 12.5 months ago (he may surpass his brother soon...).
- Is talking up a storm and loosing some of his "baby" words (bittersweet for mom).
- Sleeps on the bottom bunk.
- Has been potty-trained for 6 months, thanks to his big brother's inspiration and grandmother's encouragement.
- Is a bit protective of his mother when it comes to her holding other children. The transition of adding two girls could be a bit interesting...
- LOVES music, especially Coldplay and Ebenezer.
Here's a pic of my boys from Owen's first day of school, which was also just a few days before Gibson's Gotcha Day.
Owen:
- Has grown 5.5 inches and gained 5 pounds since he arrived almost 17 months ago.
- Learned how to ride a bike without training wheels less than 3 months after he came home.
- Started Early Kindergarten this fall and is LOVING it.
- Is EXTREMELY detail oriented in his questions and drawings.
- Is excellent with little kids. So patient, so gentle.
- Brings EVERYTHING back to God and is a faithful reminder to his mother of how big God is!
Gibson:
- Has grown 7.25 inches and gained 10 pounds since he arrive home 12.5 months ago (he may surpass his brother soon...).
- Is talking up a storm and loosing some of his "baby" words (bittersweet for mom).
- Sleeps on the bottom bunk.
- Has been potty-trained for 6 months, thanks to his big brother's inspiration and grandmother's encouragement.
- Is a bit protective of his mother when it comes to her holding other children. The transition of adding two girls could be a bit interesting...
- LOVES music, especially Coldplay and Ebenezer.
Here's a pic of my boys from Owen's first day of school, which was also just a few days before Gibson's Gotcha Day.
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Hide in the Corner
When Owen first arrived home he wanted to hear the song "Corner" by Allie Moss ALL THE TIME. I think he must have been playing with one of our phones (in our not knowing what else to do with a child dropped into our lap! ha) and discovered it. He knew ZERO English at this point but this song was so soothing to him. It is crazy how the words describe exactly how he must have been feeling.
Lyrics to "Corner" by Allie Moss
When your world trembles and quakes
And your footing suddenly shifts and shakes
Take my hand
We'll hide in the corner, hide in the corner
Take my hand
We'll hide til it's over, til it's all over
We have choices to make
We have promises that we can't break
There is nothing left to lose
So hold on to me, I'll hold on to you
Take my hand
We'll hide in the corner, hide in the corner
Take my hand
We'll hide til it's over, til it's all over
He has been asking to hear it again lately, though I don't think it's because he is having similar feelings as he did when he arrived, he just wants to have a song to request constantly because his little brother is always requesting "Paradise" by Coldplay :). However, it has made me reflect on that time and also look ahead to the feelings our sweet girls will be having when they arrive home. Their world will be quaking (as will ours) but we will hold their hands through it. We have made a promise to do that. And we may all be hiding in a corner for a while :)
Lyrics to "Corner" by Allie Moss
When your world trembles and quakes
And your footing suddenly shifts and shakes
Take my hand
We'll hide in the corner, hide in the corner
Take my hand
We'll hide til it's over, til it's all over
We have choices to make
We have promises that we can't break
There is nothing left to lose
So hold on to me, I'll hold on to you
Take my hand
We'll hide in the corner, hide in the corner
Take my hand
We'll hide til it's over, til it's all over
He has been asking to hear it again lately, though I don't think it's because he is having similar feelings as he did when he arrived, he just wants to have a song to request constantly because his little brother is always requesting "Paradise" by Coldplay :). However, it has made me reflect on that time and also look ahead to the feelings our sweet girls will be having when they arrive home. Their world will be quaking (as will ours) but we will hold their hands through it. We have made a promise to do that. And we may all be hiding in a corner for a while :)
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Pizza on the Grill
One of our weekly summer meals is pizza on the grill. It is SOOO yummy, quick, fun and a good way to avoid heating up the kitchen. I use the Betty Crocker recipe for the pizza dough and a slightly altered version of this sauce recipe (I use a 6 oz can of tomato paste, 1 1/4 c water, and 1/4 c honey).
Here's the grilled pizza process:
1. Mix up the dough
2. While the dough rises, make the pizza sauce, pre heat the grill (to 350-400 (ish)), and prep the toppings (we typically do pepperoni, onions, peppers, cheese - you'll want to have these on a tray that you can take out near the grill so you're ready to throw the toppings on)
3. Roll out the dough, transfer to pizza pan and take everything outside.
4. Grease the grill grate with olive oil, and place pizza dough directly on grill. Allow to cook ~2 min or until grill marks are clear, dough has cooked through.
5. Remove from grill, flipping grilled side up onto pizza pan. Top (on grilled side) with toppings - this should be done as quickly as possible to avoid crust sticking to pan.
6. Put pizza back onto grill, and allow to cook ~4-6 min more or until cheese is melted. Serve immediately.
Here's the grilled pizza process:
1. Mix up the dough
2. While the dough rises, make the pizza sauce, pre heat the grill (to 350-400 (ish)), and prep the toppings (we typically do pepperoni, onions, peppers, cheese - you'll want to have these on a tray that you can take out near the grill so you're ready to throw the toppings on)
3. Roll out the dough, transfer to pizza pan and take everything outside.
4. Grease the grill grate with olive oil, and place pizza dough directly on grill. Allow to cook ~2 min or until grill marks are clear, dough has cooked through.
5. Remove from grill, flipping grilled side up onto pizza pan. Top (on grilled side) with toppings - this should be done as quickly as possible to avoid crust sticking to pan.
6. Put pizza back onto grill, and allow to cook ~4-6 min more or until cheese is melted. Serve immediately.
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