Happy Birthday to Me - Part II

I took advantage of my birthday being on a Thursday to take Friday and Saturday off of work, and spend it in a continued celebration of my birthday and simply enjoying some downtime.  I hadn't had a Saturday morning off of work in a while, so being able to sleep in and then leisurely get up and get ready for the day was a nice treat!

I did work in the morning on my birthday, and go to class but work was light and both my classes were easy since it was the last day before spring break - AND I actually found a nice, close parking spot very quickly for my evening class which NEVER happens, and  though I was late I still beat my teacher to class, so that all worked out well.

The most special part of my actual birthday was getting to Skype with my Knight while I opened my presents and my family sang "Happy Birthday" to me.  Even though he wasn't able to visit over my birthday as we had originally planned, being able to share part of my day with him was very nice indeed.

Photo by my mom

Friday I celebrated by going out shopping with a couple of Khols' coupons that I had saved up and buying myself a new outfit.

After I texted my Knight about five times about how pretty and comfortable it was he replied with a wry "You really like that dress, don't you?"  Yes. Yes I do.

Prior to shopping, my Knight and I went on what we have termed 'a long distance date'.  When we go on such a date, we find a movie with times relatively close to each other (this time we got lucky and had showings at the same time with the time zone difference calculated in!) and then Skype over coffee.  We went to see Non-Stop with Liam Neeson, and while it wasn't a "Oh, we must go and see it again!" film, it was pretty good, and very interesting.  

Saturday was a nice, quiet afternoon at home, followed up by a night out with some of my favorite girls at an Irish Pub near my old college that I have always wanted to go to.  It lived up to my expectations with amazing food and a great atmosphere.  We all had a lovely (if loud at times due to some of us being a wee bit tired... and giggle happy...) time out, and when the under 21-year olds were told to leave at 9, we moved across the street to the most amazing cafe on earth where everything on their menu is chocolate and they have two pages just of hot chocolate and two more of chocolate beverages and then like five pages of chocolate deserts.  It's awesome.

All in all, I have a great birthday weekend, and turning 22 is ranking pretty high on my list of best birthday's ever.  With a start like this, I can't wait to see what the rest of my year holds!

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

We celebrated our Saint Patrick's Day yesterday due to much business today and if you celebrate on a Sunday you don't have to worry about the fact that you gave up desert for Lent on Monday.  Don't worry though - I am still wearing green today!

I was informed that this strange and brightly colored beverage is called Green River soda.  We felt it was appropriate for the occasion, and being from Chicagoland and all.

Our Irish take on "fixing" the bundt cake.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

Full of Fall

Chili cooking on the stove.  Apples being chopped for Apple Almond Bars.  Wax and crayons being mixed down for a fall candle.  Cornbread being mixed to go along with the chili for dinner.

Outside the weather finally feels like October and inside our kitchen is full of fall.

Happy Apple Day!

When we moved into our current house a few years ago, we discovered that the man who built the house had planted all sorts of fruit trees.  We have two pear trees, two grape vines, we had a peach tree until someone ran into it with the lawnmower, two tart cherry trees and six apple trees.

This my friends, is a fancy composite image of our six apple trees.  Except it seems I missed the apple tree in the first one and took a picture of the grape vine instead.

Admittedly, we've never done much with them.  The poor dears have been left to grow as if in the wild with no pruning or anything to discourage bugs.  Last year with the drought we didn't get much fruit, but this year we have an overload!  You wouldn't know to look at them that we've had several different families out to pick apples.  One tree is literally falling apart.

That whole big branch on the side there just broke off!

My father decided that we couldn't have people come and pick all the apples and not do anything with them ourselves, so yesterday he went out and picked somewhere along the lines of 50 pounds of apples and today we turned 21 pounds of them into applesauce.

Hurray for apple-peeler-corer-slicers!

We ended up with four jars of regular applesauce and 5 jars of cinnamon - all in all it took us about 3 1/2-4 hours which isn't bad.  

In addition to the applesauce, we made up some chunky cinnamon apple 'stuff', for lack of a better term, to have with our oatmeal tomorrow morning.

Then, because it is after all the first day of autumn as well as the birthday of Bilbo and Frodo, I made a cake.

An apple pie cake, to be exact.   It's a new recipe, but it seems like it'll be delicious!

In the midst of all our productivity, my mom managed to get a burn on her arm from boiling applesauce, my sister accidentally knocked the blender off the counter and broke it (after we were all done, thankfully!) and I knocked over the sugar container and got about three cups of it all over the floor.  But hey, everyone was in a good mood for the whole afternoon so I consider it to be a successful day.

I think the only fitting way to finish up Apple Day is to have a bottle of Red's Apple Ale with... whatever dinner is.  (The meat was bad, so as of right now we don't have dinner.  We'll figure something out.)

Anyone care to join me?

Fantastic Flatbread

I know, I am not the best when it comes to creating names for recipes.  But hey, it was pretty fantastic and when you have the chance for alliteration, you go for it. 

Today I was pondering the question that continues to stump humanity throughout the ages (namely "What to have for lunch?")  when I recalled the package of flatbread sitting in our pantry.  I pulled it out and after musing over which ingredients to use I hit upon this fantastic flatbread flavor. 

Fantastic Flatbread

1 Flatbread

2-3 tbl  Hummus (I used Sabra Original)

1 Small tomato

4 Fresh basil leaves

2 tbl Italian dressing

3/4 cup mozzarella cheese

Place flatbread on a non-stick baking tray and turn the broiler on high.  Move oven rack to the top.  Spread hummus on flatbread.  Slice tomato into thin slices and arrange on hummus.  Chop basil leaves into small pieces and sprinkle over tomatoes.  Dash the flatbread with Italian dressing and cover with mozzarella cheese.  Broil on high for 2-3 minutes.

I didn't measure at all while I was preparing the flatbread, so the measurements I have written down are approximate. Feel free to add or subtract ingredients and amounts to taste!

Soup Night! : Butternut Squash and Carrot Soup

For the duration of Lent, my family and I have a specific meal assigned for each day of the week.  Tuesday night is soup night.  We allow ourselves a little bit of variety here, rather than only one kind of soup for the whole of Lent.  I'm planning on trying a handful of new soups and thought that I would share each weeks recipe with y'all.

This week we had Butternut Squash & Carrot Soup.

Where I found it: Family Circle Magazine

Prep time: 1 hour

1 large onion, cut in eights

3 cloves garlic, whole

1 butternut squash (2 1/2 lbs), peeled, seeded and cut into 1-inch pieces

1/2 lb carrots, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces

2 tbs olive oil

3/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

4 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth

1 tbsp brown sugar

1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

• Heat oven to 425*.  Toss vegetables with oil, salt and pepper.  Spread vegetables on a baking sheet and bake at 425* for 30 minutes, turning after 15 minutes.
• Puree vegetables and broth in 2 batches until smooth; transfer to a large pot.  Bring to a simmer.  Stir in brown sugar and nutmeg.  Serve with croutons if desired.

Per serving: 144 calories.  Serves: 6  

(I increased the vegetables and the broth to make enough soup for 9 people)

To go along with the meal, I prepared an Olive Garden Salad Mix (with Olive Garden Salad Dressing) and Olive Garden Breadsticks.   The breadsticks are amazing, by the way.  They really do taste like the ones that you get from Olive Garden!  I was very, very happy with how it all turned out.

I had a few hesitant reactions to the words "butternut squash" and "carrots" prior to dinner time, but this ended up being a meal that everyone actually enjoyed.  I think it's a keeper.

7 Quick Takes - Vol 6

1.

First off.. a little bit of a promotional! My friend Elizabeth and I started up a business of designing and creating custom costumes for little girls from toddler up through about age thirteen.  You may have noticed my link to it up at the top of my blog... Your Little Princess Costume Design.  We don't have all the details finalized yet, but within the next few weeks we'll be announcing a Costume Giveaway... the lucky winner will get 50% off of the dress of their choice!  So keep an eye out for the official announcement coming soon!

2.

My family and I listened to the Presidential debate Wednesday night on the radio.  It was kind of neat, doing it that way.  Other than that... yeah. We listened to it.  Pretty much what I expected.  And... I'm not terribly political so that's about all I have to say on that subject. Because really... I am of the opinion that until it is made illegal, abortion is the greatest and only issue when it comes to choosing who I will vote for.  In a situation where one candidate is pro-life (a little is better than nothing at all) and one candidate is not, I will always vote for the one who is more pro-life.  Once abortion is illegal, then I will be concerned about the other issues.  Because none of them matter if you aren't alive.

3.

This week on Pinterest.....!!!!  I actually haven't tried any new recipes this week.  Shocking, I know.  However this Brown-Sugar Pumpkin Cheesecake with Chocolate Shortbread Crust is high up on my list of desserts to try out this fall.  It looks soooo good....

4.

The weather has been pretty lovely around here lately... in the 60s or low 70s... cool, crisp.  And then yesterday was nearly 80, reminding me of how lovely that temperature can be.  Today.... predicted high of 54.  How do we go from 80 to 54 degrees?  Oh well - hot chocolate and tea and favorite sweaters from last fall and jeans to the rescue!

5.

Once Upon a Time is back!  I finally got the chance to watch the first episode this past Tuesday and... just wow.  This was a strong opening episode, making me hope all the more that OUaT will maintain the high levels of awesomeness that it attained mid-way through Season 1.  We got to meet three new characters and see many of our old favorites - including Snow, Charming and Emma's reunion as a family.  Without giving anything away... I thought that the explanation as to why everyone is still in Storybrooke and how the season will be able to continue with both the Fairy Tale World and Our World was very well done.  I won't say anymore, you must go and watch it yourself!  (But only if you've finished Season 1 - definitely watch and finish Season 1 before you go onto Season 2.)

6.

A few months ago I became aware of this amazing sounding store relatively near to where I live.  I have not yet had the opportunity to visit said store, but I got my paycheck last Monday and as soon as my friend and I can figure out a day, we shall venture forth to explore the magical world of Half Price Books.  You may expect a full report of my findings once this mission has been accomplished.

7.

Yesterday The Piano Guys released their latest music video, "Titanium/Pavane".  This one is so beautiful, and sweeping and inspiring.  And it was filmed on the edge of the canyon.  These guys seriously need to go into the piano moving business.

7 Quick Takes Friday - Vol. 5

1.

It is now officially fall, as of last Saturday.  Hurray!  After how hot this past summer was here in IL... I am ready for the cool fall weather.  It's been mostly in the low 70s and upper 60s - heaven after months of 90s and 100!  I'm slowly starting to get out my fall clothing, enjoying being able to drink tea, and wearing all my fun scarves.

2.

Sister 2 has been reading Les Miserables for school, and so on my last trip to the library I picked up the original cast highlights from the musical CD.  I'd gotten it a while ago and fell in love, but it wasn't until this time around that the Les Miz love spread to other members of the family.  I've never seen the musical performed before... but I am SO excited for the film adaption coming out in December!  I think that it will end up being an incredible production, and I am eager to hear how the music turns out.

3.

From An Edible Mosaic

Twice this week I have tried out two Pinterest recipes, and they both turned out splendidly!  Monday morning is muffin/coffee cake/breakfast bread morning at our house, and so I made Pumpkin and Cheese Spice Bread.  It was the perfect breakfast bread... a little bit of sweetness in the pumpkin, but muted by the cream cheese topping to keep it from being too sweet.

4.

Photo from Erin's Food Files

The second recipe was Pumpkin Cream Cheese Truffles.  (Can you tell I have a thing for pumpkin and cream cheese?)  I made this dessert yesterday as part of the "Desert-a-Month Club" that we give to our grandparents as a Christmas gift every year.  Each month for the whole year they get a homemade dessert.  This one was pretty simple to make, and it came out tasting delicious!

5.

There is sadness and potential tears on the TV horizon... tomorrow will be the airing of the fifth episode of this seasons Doctor Who, and we will see the final departure of the Ponds.  Amy and Rory have been around for two and a half-ish seasons now, and I've spent longer with them than any of the other companions.  I am excited for the new companion at Christmas.... but yeah.  This is going to be sad.  

6.

On a happier TV note - season two of Once Upon a Time starts on Sunday! OUaT really hit its stride about mid-season last year, and from what I've seen and read, it sounds like they haven't dropped the ball on this one.  We'll get to see Storybrooke with the magic returned and several new characters like Captain Hook, Mulan and Sleeping Beauty.  I am quite thrilled to discover what will happen next.

7.

Your Little Princess Costume Design , a small business that I co-operate with my friend Elizabeth, will shortly be announcing the addition of four new designs to our pre-designed costume line!  If you haven't seen our designs that we have already, I encourage you to check them out!  Elizabeth is an incredible seamstress and artist, and the dresses she's imagined are really lovely.  If you like what you see, and you have a little princess of your own - then please consider interviewing us or featuring us on your blog!  In return, we'll give you 10% off the dress order of your choice.

7 Quick Takes Friday - Vol. 4

1.

It's that time of the week again!  I really do need to start blogging a little more in between Fridays... lately my blog has been Quick Takes... Quick Takes... 1 other post... Quick takes... 1 post... Quick Takes.  I mean to write at least one or two others, but Friday always seems to come around then the inspiration to write does.

2.

The skit in this video was performed several months ago by seminarians from my diocese, but I only just now got around to watching it.  In one word... Hilarious!  If you do nothing else today, you absolutely must watch this video.

3.

This is the first school year that I am both a) not being homeschooled myself and b) at home.  In the afternoons when I am not at work, I have been practicing my homeschooling skills (sort of) by giving Brother 1 and Sister 4 piano lessons once a week, and guiding Sisters 1 and 2 through a book on Format Writing.  The piano lessons are going along rather well, and Brother 1 is picking things up very quickly.  In the writing class I have gotten my first experience with students who work better at different paces, and have had to adjust my original syllabus for the semester.  With the adjustments I think it is going to go a little smoother, and they haven't hung me and abandoned the class yet... so I guess that's a good thing!

4.

Brother 1 has begun to cook a dinner one night a week, and last night it was pizza.  Pizza, being Italian, reminded me of a... rather traumatic even that occurred several weeks ago.  Somehow, the topic of our ancestry had come up and my dad remarked that one of his great-great-great..... grandparents was Native American.  This sparked a several day spree of playing Indians in the younger ones, and an interest in ancestry in us older ones.  I found the partial family tree that my great-aunt had compiled and sent to me several years ago.  As we looked it over, we calculated that we were about 12-15% British (Yay!).  Then we started figuring out our Italian estimate.... now for years, we had somehow gotten the impression that between my grandpa on my dad's side and my grandma on my mom's side, we were half Italian.  We sat down and actually thought about it... and realized that we were only a quarter Italian at best.  Needless to say, we were devastated by this discovery that our entire lives were a lie.  ;-)

5.

The Pinterest recipe of the week... a Pumpkin Spice Frappe.  This sounds soooo good and seems pretty easy to make.  Not a coffee fan?  Not to worry!  The creator of this beguiling beverage also has a recipe for a coffee free version.

6.

Returning to videos for a moment... this week a second trailer for "The Hobbit" was released!  There are so many new clips, and from the looks of it this is going to be one incredible film.  As my Knight said "This was an awesome trailer!  I hope they make a feature length film of it!"

You can visit the Official "The Hobbit" website to view the trailer... and not jsut the trailer, but the trailer with five different endings!

7.

Now my quick takes must come to an end, but first a little something to take with you my friends.  Five lessons in life, from the good Doctor Seuss, to carry and remember wherever you choose.

7 Quick Takes Friday - Vol. 3

1.

There has been a chill creeping into the air as of late, a very welcome change from the 90 and 100 degree weather we've been having around here the past few months!  I am rejoicing in the temperature drop for many reasons, one of which is... it is now cool enough that I can drink tea again without overheating!  In celebration I picked up a few new flavors from the store to try, a vanilla caramel, mandarin orange spice and a chai spice tea.  The vanilla caramel and mandarin orange are fighting for the place of favorite tea right now.

2.

I realized the other day that as of next week I will have been working at the office for four months now!  On the one hand, it doesn't seem like it's been that long already, on the other I feel like I have been there much longer!  I am really enjoying working there, and I realized today that I now recognize almost everyone who walks in the door.  There are some very lovely people who come in, and while some days are stressful, it really is a fun and enjoyable place to work.

3.

Chilly weather and fall also means another one of my favorite things... pumpkin!  I have yet to bake my first pumpkin recipe, but I'm think I will be giving these Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls with Cheesecake Frosting a try very soon.

4.

'Tis also the season for new season's of favorite TV shows.  My family and I have already begun watching the episodes of BBC's Doctor Who each Saturday.  Our viewing list will soon be joined by the new season of ABC's fairy tale drama Once Upon a Time, and from the glimpses I've seen in the trailer and photos of new characters, I think this promises to be a very good season.  OUAT really hit it's stride in the second half of the first season, turning out some brilliant episodes, and I hope that it continues with it's winning streak throughout all of the second season.  The new season of ABC's Castle is also starting up again soon, and as I have only seen a few of the episodes, my plans are to start watching the previous seasons and hopefully catch up before too much of season five goes by.

5.

For any writers out there, Ink and Fairydust - a bi-monthly emagazine that I assistant edit - is hosting a fiction contest.  Winners will get their works published in an upcoming issue of the magazine! We are accepting submissions of short stories (2400 words or less), poetry (1200 words or less), and comics (8.5x11 page or smaller). Just email any submissions to Submissions@inkandfairydust.com by November 1st!

-You must be an I&F subscriber to enter (Not a subscriber yet? Simply email Subscriptions@inkandfairydust.com!)

6.

A lesson in paying attention... an older gentleman came into the office the other day, and he was sampling some of the walnuts that a different patient had brought in from her tree.  He proceeded to tell us how the other day, he was eating almonds.  He had them sitting out on the table in front of him, and while he was eating, he took out his hearing aid and set it on the table as well, as he was going to change the battery.  He didn't do so right away, however, and as he was talking to his wife, he continued to eat his almonds.  Without looking down at the almond pile, he picked one up, put it in his mouth, bit down... and realized it was his hearing aide!  We all got quite the laugh out of that one... I wonder how he'll explain it when he orders a new one!

7.

At this weeks meeting of Spirit and Truth (a Catholic group for young adults) we got to hear a little bit of the vocation stories of two of the married couples in the groups.  They each shared how they met, and a little bit of what they experienced during dating.  It was a nice treat to get to hear their stories... as one of the couple's pointed out, you hear the vocation stories of priests or religious all the time, but it's not that often that married couples share theirs.  Yet marriage is just as an important of a vocation, and one that the majority of people are probably called to.  It was very helpful and encouraging to get to hear the stories of young, Catholic married couples for a change of pace.