Beer for dinner!

Ok, well, not exactly. I don't drink the stuff, I think it's nasty. However I love to cook with it. Here are two of my favorite beer based recipes and I love them together. This is probably my favorite cold weather meal. It's also great left over. I prefer the bread toasted after the first day, it's fantastic with real butter. My hubby drinks Newcastle usually but I prefer to cook with Killians Irish Red if we have it, that's what I used in the photos below.

Beef stew: Here are the veggies I like in my stew. Of course you have the obvious: carrots, potatoes, and onion, but I like a different twang. I like the peppery zip that turnips add (they're on the left, the white veggie under the carrots and potatoes). I also like the sweetness of parsnips (that's the ivory chunks in the center). Last but not least I love the meatiness and the texture of portabella mushrooms (that pile is two caps, I don't remove the ribbing because I am too lazy and I like the dark color anyway).I use plain old stew meat, pre-cut and trimmed. I mix about 1/4 cup of flour with black pepper, salt, and some Old World seasoning from Penzeys. Throw the meat in the bag and shake away until coated.

Heat some olive oil and a tablespoon of butter in a dutch oven and add the meat, brown on all sides, but don't stress about it. The butter/oil will make a roux in the bottom of the pot, mix it around a bit and add a bottle of beer and a can of tomato sauce. Stir a little to mix it all in and then add all of your veggies. Now add enough beef broth to almost cover your veggies. Give it one final stir and put on the cover. When it starts to boil turn the heat down so you've got a nice gentle simmer.

Give it a good 2-3 hours, stirring whenever you remember to. When you're ready to eat check the consistency. If it's too thick or thin you can add more broth to thin or remove some liquid to a bowl and add corn starch, mix and add the paste back into the pot, bring to a boil and stir. It'll thicken up, repeat if needed. Mine usually doesn't need any adjustments but if you're veggie amount is off you may need to. No biggie. Ta-Da! Beef stew!

Now for the bread!

I can not stress enough how easy and delicious this is. I got the recipe from Cook's Country magazine and the only thing I do differently is use a stronger beer than they suggest. The only thing bad about this recipe is that the cheese is very expensive. It's in the fancy cheese section of the grocery store and it's usually about $9 for 8oz. In our house this bread is a special treat.

Beer-Batter Cheese Bread
8 oz Gruyere cheese (1/2 shredded, and half cut into small cubes)
3 c all purpose flour
3 T sugar
4 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 bottle of beer (they say light bodied, I say Killians)
4 T melted butter (they say unsalted, I say bring it)

Preheat to 375. Grease a loaf pan. Combine dry ingredients, stir in beer, and mix. Pour into loaf pan, spread to corners. Drizzle melted butter over the top. Bake until deep golden brown, check with a toothpick but make sure you're not in a cheese pocket, 45-50 minutes. They say cool completely. I say serve warm so the cheese is a little gooey and butter melts when you spread it.

Enjoy your beer based dinner!

Momma wants a kindle

Oh baby I've got it bad.

I love to read and I am especially fond of historical fiction. When I read something of that genre I am constantly on wikipedia researching people, places, and events to see how they compare with the authors portrayal in the story. This is one of the biggest reasons I want a kindle. Did you know that you can search wiki while in the middle of reading? How cool is that? So the next time I'm reading about a particular battle in the civil war or a historical figure I can check it out on wiki, see some photo's, and go back to reading.

I've entertained purchasing a kindle in the past but always thought it was too expensive. However, now there is a $139, non 3G, option. Perfect. $139 is still a chunk of change but it's not ridiculous. I have already started a wish list of all the ebooks I want.

Santa better deliver.

To DS or not to DS, that is the question

Lily is a video gamer. She loves playing by herself with Ava in the background as a coach. She loves playing with friends. Her favorite however, is playing a team game with her Dad. They beat Super Mario Brothers for the Wii together and still play it often. They are now working on Super Mario Brothers Galaxy 2 for the Wii. She can hold her own when Jer and I play Smash Brothers and she can navigate any game after about 5 minutes of us helping her figure it out. She has even opened all the race tracks on Mario Kart Wii.

For Christmas this year I thought I'd give her my old DS Lite and a couple games geared for her age group as well as a Mario game that she has already played on the wii, like Super Mario Brothers.

After doing some research I found out that if you have two Ds's they can share games and communicate wirelessly. How cool is that? So my kids in the back seat or kid and husband can be playing the same game together on their little hand helds. I love it. 8 hour car rides will be much less painful.

Buuuuut... I only have one old Ds. I'll have to buy another one at $129. Ouch. And here's the thing. Ava loves to watch video games but plays them less than her sister. If I don't buy her one I run the risk of having a Christmas morning meltdown on my hands and that whole wireless function? all for nothing.

I thought about scrapping the whole DS idea but I keep coming back to it for Lily. She would love it, and it could grow with her. I know it's a toy that I will not be ready to throw out in a year due to uselessness.

I guess my Christmas budget is just going to have to stretch a little further.

Interview with a five year old - The Ava edition

Q: What is your favorite color?
A: Pink

Q: Favorite food?
A: Skyline (kids Psghetti Special, chocolate milk, oreos)

Q: Favorite veggie?
A: Brussels sprouts and turnips, I can't decide.

Q Least favorite food?
A: pink cabbage and also meatballs (pink cabbage = red cabbage)

Q: Favorite show?
A: Shark Tales

Q: Favorite game?
A: don't have one

Q: Favorite book?
A: Mistletoe

Q: What will you be when you grow up?
A: a vet

Q: Will you have babies?
A: Yes, only one. I will name her Daisy.

Q: Will you get married?
A: Yes, I'm going to marry Daddy

Q: Where will you live?
A: Wisconsin, I'm going to be neighbors with Grandma and Grandpa

Q: Who is your best friend?
A: Austin

Q: What is your favorite thing to do with Daddy?
A: Fight him

Q: What about Mom?
A: Cook

Q: What does Dad do for work?
A: Digs for dinosaur bones I think.

Q: How about Mom?
A: Takes care of us.

Q: What did Mom do before you were born?
A: I don't know, a photographer?

Interview with a 5 year old - The Lily edition

Q: What is your favorite color
A: purple and grey

Q: Favorite food?
A: Meatballs and spaghetti

Q: Least favorite food?
A: mac and cheese

Q: Favorite veggie?
A: Brussels sprouts

Q: Favorite show?
A: Tom and Jerry

Q: Favorite game?
A: Red game (Super Mario Bros Wii)

Q: Favorite book?
A: That Christmas mouse one. (A Magical Christmas)

Q: What will you be when you grow up?
A: A Doctor

Q: Will you have babies?
A: No

Q: Will you get married?
A: No

Q: Where will you live?
A: Ohio

Q: Who is your very best friend?
A: Johnathon (preschool friend)

Q: What is your favorite thing to do with Daddy?
A: Play video games

Q: What about with Momma?
A: Cook

Q: What does Daddy do for work?
A: Meet new friends

Q: How about Mom?
A: Stays home with us. And also shops.

Q: What about before you were born?
A: She married Daddy

My fast, easy, healthy soup recipe

This soup is a staple in our house. I make it often during the cooler months, usually on the weekend. It's great with grilled cheese , bonus points if you add tomato slices to your grilled cheese and sprinkle the buttered side with Parmesan cheese before you grill it. If you've never tried the Parmesan cheese thing, please give it a try, you're missing out.


Here it is all prettied up, garnished with garlic infused olive oil, cracked black pepper, and shaved Parmesan cheese. It's so pretty, isn't it?

Here it is all dumped in the pot, just before I took the blender to it. If you don't have an immersion blender I highly recommend them. They make quick work of this soup and you save on dirty dishes, score.

White Bean Soup with Rosemary and Basil

2 16oz cans cannellini beans (white kidney beans), drained and rinsed

2 C chicken broth/stock

1 C your favorite marinara sauce

2 large cloves of garlic, minced (I use jarred)

5-6 leaves of fresh basil*

1 tsp minced fresh rosemary*

1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

* If you don't have fresh herbs use about a tsp of Italian seasoning

Puree everything in a blender (or use an immersion blender right in the pot). Bring to a simmer. Cook 4-5 minutes. Serve with whatever garnish you choose.

Some day I am going to mix it up and substitute black beans, salsa, lime juice, cumin, and cilantro and then serve it with sour cream and quesadillas. The original is so good that I never stray from it.

Apple Pie Baked in a Brown Paper Bag

Picture taken straight out of the oven, I had just cut the hole into the top of the bag.

This is a recipe my mom got out of the newspaper years and years ago. They sell them at The Elegant Farmer in Mukwonago, WI and it's now famous because it beat Bobby Flay's apple pie on the Food Network.

It's easy to make, there are no crazy tricks. The apple part is pretty much the same as every other apple pie recipe out there. It has a sugar cookie like top crust, though it's not really a crust and you bake it in a paper bag that's been stapled shut. The bag does not catch on fire, I promise. The first few minutes in the oven it smells like it may burst into flames but it's never happened to me. Promise. So that's it. Try one today, and if you really want the full WI experience you'll eat your slice of pie with a nice slice of extra sharp cheddar cheese.

Apple Pie Baked in a Brown Paper Bag

(Pie)

2 1/2 pounds apples

1/2 C sugar

2 T flour

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 unbaked pie shell

2 T lemon juice

(Topping)

1/2 C sugar

1/2 C flour

1/2 C butter

Peel, core, and slice the apples. Place in a large bowl. Mix sugar, flour, and cinnamon and sprinkle over the apples. Toss to coat. Spoon into pastry shell and drizzle lemon juice over the apples. Preheat oven to 425

Make Topping: Combine sugar and flour in a bowl and cut in butter until you have fully incorporated the butter and are left with pea sized lumps. Form into a ball, divide into fourths, squish each one into a thin disk shape and cover the pie as best you can, it won't be perfect.

Slide pie into a clean brown paper bag (store logos are fine) on a cookie sheet. Fold open end over twice and secure with paper clips or staples.

Bake at 425 for one hour. After removing from the oven immediately cut away the top of the bag. If you don't it will get mushy.

How did this happen?

The ladies are five years old.

It just doesn't seem right. I have been reminiscing and looking at baby photos. I'm stuck in that in-between place where it feels like yesterday and yet I can't remember a time before them either. That saying, "the days are long but the years are short" is ringing true.

Looking back I have an ache in my heart for Lily's fat rolls and chubby cheeks and for Ava's bird call laugh as well as for all of those firsts. Gone forever but thankfully caught in pictures and video.

On the other hand I see all of the bottles, diapers, sleepless nights, and baby gates that come with being a parent of twins and I am glad that we are beyond them.

So here I sit in the post baby years, feeling conflicted. Wishing on one hand that there could have been more babies for us, but on the other hand excited to start the school years and slowly get back more of myself and my husband.