...as i see it

new recipe dinner #1 accomplished...

last night, i made two new recipes from this book. 

chicken lettuce cups + kid friendly kid sushi w/ brown rice. i turned the sushi into a rice bowl instead, thinking that springing seaweed on ella on a random tuesday was just silly. we'll work our way up to that one.

here's how it all went down:

this is what my kitchen looked like in mid prep stage. perhaps i should work on the "clean up while you cook" technique?

another look @ the mayhem:

that's me working on those darn water chestnuts like i meant it. there was a lot of chopped very finely in this recipe:

ben takes over on the water chestnuts. that my boys came into the kitchen to help me was by far the best part of the cooking experience.  

noah stirs the main course. that's my tofu version in the smaller pan.

i can hardly stand it. three of my favorite boys in all the land helping me. 

final verdict: NO on the lettuce cups (too salty) and YES on the chicken sushi.

here is the super easy recipe for the chicken sushi:

6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (i used 4 breasts)

1/2 cup asian sweet chili sauce

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup cooked brown rice, at room temp.

4 sheets nori paper

*wash and dry chicken breasts, pound to about 1/4 inch, marinate in chili sauce in refrigerator a few hours or overnight.

*grill or broil chicken (i broiled). allow to cool and slice into long pieces.

*place a sheet of nori on a sushi roller and spread 1/4 cup brown rice on top. place a few chicken slices on rice and roll. cut into pieces and serve.

so there you have it. the food was sort of a bust. even the store bought fortune cookies were sort of crappy. and stale. but the company was terrific. and kind.

and my cookbook has soy sauce on the page and looks like i actually use it (and am not, in fact, a big fat liar).

all in all, a really good tuesday...

perfect day...

we had a really happy day.

as you can see, the weather was ridiculous. notice the football huddle in the left of the picture. the three of them played football a l l* d a y * l o n g!

swinging + jumping off into the leaves:

everybody loves jeannie:

sunshine halo:

while we were busy playing outside, grandma kim was hard @ work inside. the fancy dinner was so yummy! thank you grandma kim (and babe!).

what's on the menu for next sunday?

big fat liar...

 

it's me.

i'm the big fat liar.

it has come to my attention that i own quite a few cook books (and purchase new ones pretty regularly). and yet i continue to prepare the exact same food - just about every week.

now that i have called myself and on this... i intend to make one new recipe per week for the next four weeks. (i know, i am starting with a baby step, people).  

and, in the spirit of accountability, i will post the results here. 

anyone want to join me in my efforts to dust off the old cookbooks and spring something new on the family?.. anyone?

a two for one special...

after school today, there were TWO little girls @ my door.

two little girls who are very sweet, very silly, and very busy!!!

a few snaps of them hanging out @ the art table:

the busy part:

the silly part:

and the sweet...

big ben...

how did this happen?:

because just yesterday, the three of us were here:

sporting his clifford onesie, handpainted by my dear friend elizabeth (the coolest librarian ever):

ben's first trip to the big apple:

i love you big ben.

you are still my very favorite ever blue eyed boy.

and you always will be...

flat georgia and puffy ella...

yesterday ella received a surprise in the mail.

a big, yellow envelope that flew here all the way from new jersey!!! 

inside she found a flat georgia + instructions for taking care of her, writing in her journal and sending her safely back home. 

ella has taken her job very seriously and has already made her a bed + flat pancakes for breakfast.

thanks georgia. i think the only thing that could have made ella more excited is if you had been in that big, yellow envelope yourself.

xoxo

 

who knew?...

take a gander @ the fabulous cake katie made for sunday dinner. very fancy, no?

the whole family (especially these two cuties) were quite impressed. can't wait to see what she whips up for charlie's birthday cake! (no pressure...)

boo...

hope your halloween was happy and spooky and filled with full size candy bars.

a peak @ our halloween:

we carved the night before the big day. this year, they went old school (forgoing the store bought stencils). i think they look great, don't you?

milo was @ the door all day long. i told him the kids don't come until it gets dark, but he wasn't buying it.

girl primping. the two of them were in full prep mode ALL DAY LONG!!!

ella hangs out on the back porch w/ her big brother. if there was an award for most excited about a holiday, she would be the winner. 

my very favorite kids in all the land + their dog milo.

me and my boys. i am wearing my highest heeled boots here, people. the little werewolf is gaining on me. and what's up w/ the giant boy to my right? 

my little vampire queen, waiting patiently to start the trick or treating portion of the evening. notice the flat pillowcase. she will bring that baby home full if she has to walk her poor dad 100 miles to do it. do you remember the tireless pursuit of halloween candy? 

happy halloween to you!..

backyard project update

so...

the mister has been busy in the backyard.

you can see for yourself all the craziness happening around here.

right now, he is in the fence building portion of the show. he is really working hard (our neighbors have come over to check on him several times). i'll show you more as it all comes together. but for now, here's the scoop:

after much digging and cementing and ripping up our backyard, this giant truck pulled up (there were actually two giant trucks) and filled said hole:

here is the spiffy pool cover + neato sucking device that keeps it clean:

here are my two favorite ever fence builders. i married one and am the mom of the other. although i am pretty used to looking @ my 13 year old son, it still gets me sometimes that he is so grown up. notice milo (ball in mouth) trying in vain to get SOMEONE TO THROW THIS THING...

so there is your peek @ our crazy backyard project. please feel free to come on over next summer and play with us. i'll keep you posted as my handyman/landscaper/cabana boy husband moves forward w/ this project.

big foot

mr. milo napping on the red sofa today. (notice the why do you INSIST on waking me with that camera face i'm getting...)

i love his big, goofy paws hanging off the end of the sofa. and i love how he naps with his head up like that.

check back tomorrow because i am going to show you what's happening in the backyard. crazy hilton project!!!!