The girls were off school Monday for MLK day, Wednesday for ice, and today for cold (I guess).
That is just too much time off for us. Yesterday we did workbooks in the morning, built satellites, erupted volcanoes, and learned about the layers of the earth. We had a picnic in the foyer for lunch and did the dishes. We used Google Earth to visit all of our friends and families houses and practiced writing our first and last names. We shoveled and had a snow fight after dinner and then the girls each read a book with Daddy.
I need to think about how we will fill our time today and my God these children better be back to school on Monday or else.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Ava's new favorite food
When we were at Grandma and Grandpa's after Christmas I happened upon a package of plain gnocchi in their cupboard and made them for dinner one night to go with a pork roast my mom was making. The ready made ones found in the pasta aisle are lightning fast to make. Boil water, add, cook until they float (about three minutes). I served the gnocchi with sauteed mushrooms, melted butter and Parmesan cheese. Everyone liked them but Ava went nuts for them.
I shouldn't have been surprised, she loves these http://steamykitchen.com/6515-pan-fried-pumpkin-gnocchi-browned-butter-sage.html but I only make them in the fall when I have fresh pumpkins from the patch and sage from the garden to work with.
The bummer about buying prepackaged convenience food is that a pack of gnocchi from the pasta aisle is about $3.50. If you know my husband and how much he consumes during the course of a meal you'd now that we need two packs per meal. Ouch. Needless to say, gnocchi has become a treat around here. Last night I decided to make some myself using this recipe. http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Sweet-Potato-Gnocchi/Detail.aspx The recipe is imperfect but it's a good jumping off point. I almost tripled the recipe and flash froze a small serving for later use when Daddy isn't around.
I served them with a knock off recipe of OG's Alfredo Sauce and they were delicious. The sweet potato flavor was barely noticeable, I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not. I will be making them again soon.
Here's the recipe for the knock off Alfredo sauce. I use this recipe in my creamed spinach also.
8oz cream cheese (softened)
1/2 c butter
Heavy cream and milk
1 Tsp garlic powder
3/4 c parm cheese
Cut cream cheese and butter into cubes and melt over medium heat in a saucepan, whisking often. When melted, add cheese and garlic along with combo of milk/cream to achieve desired thickness. Serve when warmed through.
I shouldn't have been surprised, she loves these http://steamykitchen.com/6515-pan-fried-pumpkin-gnocchi-browned-butter-sage.html but I only make them in the fall when I have fresh pumpkins from the patch and sage from the garden to work with.
The bummer about buying prepackaged convenience food is that a pack of gnocchi from the pasta aisle is about $3.50. If you know my husband and how much he consumes during the course of a meal you'd now that we need two packs per meal. Ouch. Needless to say, gnocchi has become a treat around here. Last night I decided to make some myself using this recipe. http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Sweet-Potato-Gnocchi/Detail.aspx The recipe is imperfect but it's a good jumping off point. I almost tripled the recipe and flash froze a small serving for later use when Daddy isn't around.
I served them with a knock off recipe of OG's Alfredo Sauce and they were delicious. The sweet potato flavor was barely noticeable, I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not. I will be making them again soon.
Here's the recipe for the knock off Alfredo sauce. I use this recipe in my creamed spinach also.
8oz cream cheese (softened)
1/2 c butter
Heavy cream and milk
1 Tsp garlic powder
3/4 c parm cheese
Cut cream cheese and butter into cubes and melt over medium heat in a saucepan, whisking often. When melted, add cheese and garlic along with combo of milk/cream to achieve desired thickness. Serve when warmed through.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Toothless
Ava came home from school on Friday with a loose tooth. She was so excited I thought she would want to call Daddy at work right away, instead she wanted to surprise him when he got home.
All weekend we checked the progress of the tooth. On Monday I made her a tooth fairy pillow (along with ten Barbie pillows for the girls doll houses). Right before bed I told her to twist the tooth a little. She gave it a good twist and it got stuck in a weird position. There were some tears and Daddy was entrusted to put the tooth back in it's spot. Well, what do you know, the tooth fell out in his hand.
She was beaming with pride and insisted on calling all of her grandparents immediately. Grandpa asked her if the tooth fairy was a boy or a girl, I was consulted and we agreed it's a she. Ava told me that the tooth fairy is about the same size as Tinker Bell.
At tuck-in, after songs she panicked and asked if I would leave the window open so the tooth fairy could get in. I assured her that the tooth fairy can get in through the lock on her door. Luckily that was acceptable.
In the morning Lily had to remind her to check her pillow. Turns out the tooth fairy leaves a dollar bill for every tooth. Score.
All weekend we checked the progress of the tooth. On Monday I made her a tooth fairy pillow (along with ten Barbie pillows for the girls doll houses). Right before bed I told her to twist the tooth a little. She gave it a good twist and it got stuck in a weird position. There were some tears and Daddy was entrusted to put the tooth back in it's spot. Well, what do you know, the tooth fell out in his hand.
She was beaming with pride and insisted on calling all of her grandparents immediately. Grandpa asked her if the tooth fairy was a boy or a girl, I was consulted and we agreed it's a she. Ava told me that the tooth fairy is about the same size as Tinker Bell.
At tuck-in, after songs she panicked and asked if I would leave the window open so the tooth fairy could get in. I assured her that the tooth fairy can get in through the lock on her door. Luckily that was acceptable.
In the morning Lily had to remind her to check her pillow. Turns out the tooth fairy leaves a dollar bill for every tooth. Score.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Oxtails and Chestnuts
Odd, I know, but read the post a few down and you'll understand.
The verdict is...drum roll please...don't waste your time with chestnuts, and oxtails are nasty. Seriously, for the $12 I spent on a package of oxtails, the $30 I spent on the roast, and the $10 or so I spent on other ingredients in the recipe it was not that good. We preferred the salt encrusted prime rib I had made another time. Oxtails are a slimy, smelly, and gross. Dealing with them at all turned my stomach.
There you have it people, you win some you lose some.
The verdict is...drum roll please...don't waste your time with chestnuts, and oxtails are nasty. Seriously, for the $12 I spent on a package of oxtails, the $30 I spent on the roast, and the $10 or so I spent on other ingredients in the recipe it was not that good. We preferred the salt encrusted prime rib I had made another time. Oxtails are a slimy, smelly, and gross. Dealing with them at all turned my stomach.
There you have it people, you win some you lose some.
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