French Toast Kabobs

I haven't tried these, but I thought Martha had a fun idea.


Serves 4
Ingredients
8 large eggs, lightly beaten
2/3 cup nonfat buttermilk
pinch of salt
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 loaf (one-pound) unsliced dense white bread (such as pullman), crusts removed and cut into 1-inch cubes
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 pint fresh blueberries
1/2 pint fresh raspberries
2 bananas, sliced
Maple syrup (optional

Directions
Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Place a rimmed baking sheet in the oven to warm. In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, buttermilk, salt, and vanilla. Stir in bread.

In a large saute pan set over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons butter. Place half of the bread mixture in pan; cook, turning occasionally with a spatula, until browned on all sides. To keep warm, transfer to the oven. Cook remaining bread in the remaining 2 tablespoons butter as before.

Thread bread cubes onto skewers alternating with blueberries, raspberries, and banana slices. Serve immediately with maple syrup, if desired.

Use the Force

A had his b-day party on Friday and I made these cupcakes and some star wars goodie bags. If you like, you can read about how they were created.

Let us Discuss

The Twi-hards at church are getting ready for the big release of the last Twilight book. I found this magazine photo and I thought you ladies might want to comment on it. I think that it looks like Edward ate a cherry Otter-pop before the photo shoot. And what about the chest hair?

Here is the lastest movie trailer too.

3 Hours in a Row!

Our Little Wyatt actually slept for 3 hours in a row last night. I know that's not amazing for some of you, but he had been getting up every hour to two hours to eat, and let me tell you I have been sooooooo tired! He is only 3 weeks old now, and hopefully the older he gets the more he will sleep. I feel like a new woman today, it's amazing what a little extra sleep can do!

In the delivery room,

One Day Old,

Wyatt's First bath,

First Fo-Hawk!

Soft Pretzels

After seeing these pretzels made on Good Eats I decided it was something that Kendall and I could tackle during one of Gage's naps. I was really surprised at how yummy and easy they were. I gave Kendall a ball of dough to form at the end when I was rolling the rest into pretzels and she had so much fun. In the end she said hers was a dinosaur but it was just a big lump of small dough balls stuck together. I brushed hers with melted butter, cinnamon, and sugar and did the rest like it says in the recipe. They were WAY good, soft and chewy.







http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/homemade-soft-pretzels-recipe/index.html

My secret food weapon

Kendall is a picky eater and it can be hard to get her to eat things besides cereal, string cheese, pancakes, and pb&j sandwiches. Unless it's junk and then it's never a problem. So lately I've been putting a tiny bit of sprinkles on top of things like yogurt and fruit and my word she will gobble it up.

Here's her lunch, grilled cheese and fresh pineapple. She was so excited to see sprinkles on the pineapple and she asked me to put some on her sandwich too. Nasty but whatever gets the job done.

She's such a princess I swear.

Belly cream

Do any of you have recommendations for belly cream?  I just used regular lotion with both pregnancies but I think I'll need all the help I can get to NOT get stretch marks this time around.  I'm not even sure they work but I thought I'd ask anyway.

Bubble Boys

For those of you who are out of the loop the state of California is on fire. I know your saying to yourself , "it's always on fire". Well, the smoke is trapped here in Sacramento valley and for the last three weeks have looked like some "Day after Tomorrow" type movie.

The sky at 8 am.

Besides the smoke it has been around 100* degrees. My boys are losing it! I have tried to find things inside for them to do. We go to the library and inside fast-food play places. We have been advised not to go outside and not to use our cars, "spare the air ". We usually go to the pool, but my son's swim lesson are cancelled because so many people are getting sick when they go outside. We are running out of friends to have over and coloring and play-doh are done. We have made forts and filmed music videos. We've watched enough T.V. for the rest of the year. I have intense morning/evening sickness, so doing cartwheels and somersaults with the kids ain't happening. I need help, I need like "thinking outside of the box" ideas. I have a 3 year old, so they can't be too involved. They are boys, so they need to get as much energy out as possible. Thanks

Twice the fun!!!

I'm offically anouncing I'm prego with twins.  Most of my family knows this but for the rest of you, SURPRISE!!!! I get to get stretched to the max and gain a bunch of weight.  No I'm kidding, we're very excited....still getting used to it though.  Currently, everything looks good to go.  I'll continue to have updates and pics of my growing belly on my blog.  Please feel free to take a peak.  

Just so you all know, I will be seeking advice through all of this and continue until after the kiddies are here.  Be prepared!

Baby Food

I've always wanted to make my own baby food, but never got around to it. I might give it a try with one of these.

They have them at Williams-Sonoma and here is what they say about it.

Beaba Babycook
The French baby-food maker that has won praise throughout Europe is finally available to American families. This compact countertop appliance multitasks as a steamer, blender, warmer and defroster to prepare fresh, healthy meals for baby. It starts by steam cooking vegetables, fruits, meat and fish in less than 15 minutes, preserving their vitamins and flavors, then purees or blends them to the desired consistency. You can also use it to quickly reheat or defrost precooked foods. With it comes a 2 1/2-cup plastic bowl, cooking basket, spatula and recipe booklet. The bowl and basket are dishwasher safe. 11" x 5 1/2" x 8" high.

Sale

Old Navy is having a pretty decent sale on some of their summer stuff. I got myself a bathing suit for less than 10 dollars, one for Kendall for 7.25, and a few other warm weather things. We went to the store and the selection wasn't great but I got everything I wanted online.

Just FYI.

Pancake Cups

I take absolutely zero credit for this idea, my friend in Boston got it from a friend of hers. It looks like something you would see on this blog, so I copied it. I know you Supermommies will try it and I want to see some pictures. I think it would be great for a baby shower brunch.This idea sprang from a recipe she found in the book Kitchen Playdates by Lauren Deen. In her version thinly sliced wheat bread forms the cups instead of pancakes. She didn't have any thinly sliced bread on hand nor did she want to run to the store so she gave pancakes a try. It was great!

Here's how to do it:

Step 1: Make your favorite pancake batter but add a few extra tablespoons of water. Add 1 tablespoon at a time to make sure the batter doesn't get too thin. You want the batter thinner than usual but not watery.

Step 2: Use a 1/4 c. measuring cup to add the batter to the pan or griddle. Cook pancakes.

Step 3: Lightly grease your muffin cups with butter. Don't forget the sides

Step 4: Gently press pancakes into the muffin cups. Remember to press around the bottom edges of the muffin cups.

Step 5: Bake in a 325 degree oven for 5-8 minutes.

Step 6: Let pancakes cool in the muffin tin.

Step 7: When ready to serve, remove your pancake cup, place on a plate and reheat in the microwave (if desired.) Fill with yummies and eat!





Filling ideas:

Strawberries and whip cream (as shown)

Scrambled eggs, bacon and syrup drizzled on the plate (as shown)

Peanut butter and bananas

Blueberries

Ricotta cheese and berries

Lemon curd, raspberries and a dollop of whip cream

July 4th Traditions

Every July I get each of my kids a new white t-shirt and then let them paint it with red and blue fabric paint and sponges and let them wear it on Independence Day. They LOVE it and it is worth the mess (only once a year.) Then on the morning of the 4th we go to the city park where there is a big celebration and take the kids on rides and browse the vending booths. Then that evening we have a big backyard BBQ, complete with hamburgers, potato salad, watermelon and homemade root beer. Then of course we have our own fireworks to do with the kids before we watch the city fireworks. Then it's into bed and the kids sleep late the next morning. It was such a fun day! What are your 4th of July traditions?

Where Everybody Knows Your Name . . .

. . . and they're always glad you came . . . You wanna go where people know, people are all the same, you wanna go where everybody knows your name.

So I had a SUPER awful day yesterday full of lame drama and I was feeling really bad about something that happened and then that made me feel bad and sad about other stuff. I spent a lot of yesterday crying and ended up with a GIANT headache. It stunk! Plus, I hardly ever cry. Seriously, I can count the times I cry each year on one hand. It kind of takes a lot of stress and drama to make me cry.

I had to return some books to the library and no joke, as soon as I stepped through the doors I felt a little weight slide off my shoulders. I browsed the cookbook section and new non-fiction and looked around in the kids' books as well.

When I went up to the circulation desk to present my card and check out my books, the librarian said, "Oh, I already pulled you up on the computer, Tara." Then she smiled her warm friendly librarian smile. A few days ago a book I requested and had been waiting for for about a month came in and when I went to pick it up one of the librarians said, "we knew you would be really excited that this finally came in!" I know they are just doing their job, but they really make me feel like they actually know me. I know this sounds really sentimental, but it is true and with all the dumb haterade in my life right now, it just feels good to know that there are people out there in my community who care about me, even if it is just book related.

The library is my home away from home. I go there a few times a week and check out at least 50 books at a time. The librarians call me "the lady with the bottomless bags" and always laugh when they give me a 6' long receipt of all the books I've checked out and say, "this one is even longer than the last one!" I can put my feet up and read while the kids look at books or play with toys or play on the computers. I feel so relaxed in the library, even the smell of books is soothing. The librarians are my Sam, Cliff, Norm, Diane, Carla and Woody--the books my addictive relief.

Is there a place you go where everybody knows your name and they're always glad you came? Do you have a home away from home or a peaceful spot you can escape to when everything in your life seems stressful?

Me? The Public library for Union County, ahhhhhhhhhhh. . . .