Easter 2009

Yes, I realize that Easter was a couple of weeks ago, but I'm still not feeling well and don't have much energy for sitting at the computer for long enough to write a post most days. But I figured I could at least upload pictures of our kids for all the adoring relatives! Easter was a chilly day here, highs in the 50s, so I had to improvise with the girls' dresses (gifts from Grandma) and add some sweaters to keep them warm. They still looked darling.

Something New

Notice anything different? If you don't already know, we're expecting baby number 4, due the week of Thanksgiving!!!
This is very exciting for our family, but also very hard right now, as I am one of the unfortunate few who suffer from hyperemisis gravidum, or excessive nausea/vomiting during pregnancy. I haven't been posting for the past couple of weeks because I've been so sick and just didn't feel like it. I'm actually on a couple of different medicines, just as in previous pregnancies, and I'm still not doing very well. Keep us in your prayers, please!
I'm greatly looking forward to my dear sweet mom coming to visit for three whole weeks to help me out.....but she won't get here for nearly two more weeks. Just trying to survive around here until then. I'll try to post more regularly, but until I'm feeling better, there are no guarantees.

In other news, I submitted eight recipes to the Pillsbury BakeOff contest....and last night I had a dream that one of them got selected. I was so excited! Now I'm so hopeful that one of those recipes is a winner, I can hardly wait until September to hear the results!

Bed is calling me....take care everybody!

Meatball Soup

I got this recipe from a friend from church, Kelly. I modified it a bit....and we all really love it! It's easy to make the meatballs ahead of time if you need to, or even make a big batch and freeze them to make soup whenever you get the urge. Note: The soup may thicken up substantially on the second day.....if it's too thick, just add more broth and a little more Italian seasoning when re-heating it.

Recipe:

Meatballs:
1/2 cup dried bread crumbs
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 T. dried minced onions
1 minced garlic clove
2 t. dried basil
1/2 t. each salt and pepper
1 large beaten egg
1 pound ground turkey (or beef)

Mix all ingredients and shape into 1-inch balls. Makes about four dozen. Bake at 350 degrees until browned, about 12-15 minutes.

Soup:
2 T. olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
2-3 stalks celery, chopped
1 lb. carrots, sliced thinly
2 garlic cloves, minced
6 cups chicken broth (or beef broth)
1 (28 oz) can canned crushed tomatoes in puree
1 T. Italian seasoning
1/2 t. salt and pepper, or to taste
2 cups dry pasta (whatever desired shape - I used whole wheat penne)

In a large stock pan, saute onion, celery, carrots, and garlic in olive oil. When veggies are slightly tender, add broth, crushed tomatoes, and spices. Bring soup to a simmer over medium-low heat for 15-20 minutes. Then add meatballs and pasta and simmer until pasta is done.
Serve with additional Parmesan cheese on top, if desired.

Cinnamon Raisin Biscuits

Many thanks to Tammy's Recipes for this delightful breakfast (or anytime) treat! I made these for MOPS and they were very popular. I'll definitely make them again for my family to enjoy.
The biscuits are fine by themselves, but this cinnamon frosting really makes them wonderful. In fact, I could just eat the bowl of frosting without the biscuits. Probably not in my best interest, but mighty tasty.

Recipe:

1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup white flour
4 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
3/4 cup butter
1/2-1 cup milk (use less for hand-made biscuits; more for drop biscuits)
1 cup raisins
Frosting (optional....okay, not really)

Preheat oven to 450.
Mix together flours, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.
Cut in butter until pea-sized.
Add enough milk for consistency.
Add raisins and shape into biscuits.
Place on a lightly greased cookie sheet or jelly roll pan.
Bake for 10-13 minutes. While baking, make the frosting.

Cinnamon frosting for biscuits:
3 Tablespoons softened butter
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 3/4 cups powdered sugar
2-3 Tablespoons milk

Mix together softened butter and cinnamon. Add powdered sugar and stir. Add about 2-3 Tablespoons of milk and beat with electric mixer on HI for a minute or until light and fluffy. Spread over slightly cooled biscuits.

Where Should the Kitty Sleep?

Marissa(3) has a new favorite pastime....pretending she's a cat.

We don't own a cat and never will, due to extreme allergies on my part, and in general, the kids seem to prefer dogs anyways, but Marissa is definitely drawn to cats, both stuffed and real.

She and Corban(5) love to play their own version of "House", (which I can't exactly figure out, by the way, but they both know precisely what to do) in which often times Marissa is being a cat, while Corban is either a dog chasing her or her owner. Sometimes both. Like I said, it's a little hard to figure out.

All that to say, Marissa is frequently crawling around the house meowing, rubbing up against me, pawing at me, and so on. It's really quite pesky, for lack of a better word.

So today, when she was supposed to be getting down for a nap, I went in to her room to close her blinds and saw this.

Apparently she's decided that the storage section of her toddler train bed (hand-me-down from Corban) makes a lovely "Kitty Bed" and is very "comfortable", especially with her blanket and a little pillow. She just curled up in there and meowed. That's the reason her face looks so funny in the above picture....she's meowing.

She wanted to remain in there for the duration of her naptime......but mean old mommy insisted that she get on the mattress instead. Can't have her getting a crick in her neck, you know.

But I have to admit, she's pretty darn cute!

Macaroni and Cheese Dinner

This is one of my family's very favorite dinners. It's easy, quick, inexpensive, and just plain yummy. It may not be the healthiest food in the world, but I've done my best to add nutrition without compromising the taste that we love. It works out just fine using one pound of meat....but Grant definitely likes it if I add another half-pound. It's really up to you.

Recipe:

1 - 1-1/2 lbs ground turkey (93/7) - or ground beef
1 onion, chopped
1/2 t. garlic salt
1 t. chili powder
1 t. cumin
13.25 oz box whole wheat macaroni (or any pasta you prefer)
1 lb. Velveeta Light (or regular) - cut into cubes
1/2 cup milk, or more if desired
1 can Rotel-style tomatoes, drained

Start by getting macaroni cooking, as directed on box. While that's going, brown meat with onion. While cooking, sprinkle with garlic salt, chili powder, and cumin. Drain if desired (with this lean of meat, I don't always have anything to drain off.....use your own discretion!).
When macaroni is done, drain. In the same pot you cooked the macaroni it, pour the Velveeta cubes and milk. Stir constantly over a low heat until melted. Remove from heat and add cooked macaroni, Rotel tomatoes, and cooked meat. Stir until everything is coated with cheese. Serve immediately!

This serves my family of two adults and three young children at least two dinners, plus some leftovers for a lunch or two. And we're hearty eaters.

18 Months Old

Annika is 18-months old today and I wanted to share photos of her identifying body parts, taken on March 2. 2009.

Showing off her teeth

Good old eye poke

Her nose, obviously. She loves pressing noses.

She's starting to grab her ear here.....can't really tell, but I promise, it's true.

Cute little tongue.

Hair...

Belly......

Fingers.....

And cheeks.

She identifies more, but I didn't get pictures of everything.

We're pretty nuts about this girl.