Day at the Beach

This past Saturday, Jason and I packed up the car and drove to the coast.  I love living in a state where not only the beach, but the mountain and desert are all within 2 hours of Portland.

I loaded the cooler with a picnic lunch, snacks and brought a bag of beach toys, towels and a blanket.  We set off with coffee in hand and were in Seaside, on the actual beach by 10:30.

Jack had a blast digging in the sand, walking down to the ocean with me and eating his picnic lunch (he exclaimed "This is a GREAT picnic!").  Cal on the other hand, was content to sit on the blanket or in a lap the entire time.  He didn't love the sand.  I think the texture of it bothered him.

We enjoyed the warm weather and cool breeze until about 12:00 when we then set off for the carousel and the arcade.  Once again, with the change of routine or being out of his comfort zone, Cal was cautious and didn't seem to love the carousel.  Jack loved it.  He also loved being able to play games at the arcade.

Since the boys still need to nap, we left the coast at 1:30 and let the boys nap in the car.  I am glad we didn't stay for much longer because I was getting a little red.  I am great about putting sunscreen on the kids but not great about putting it on myself.

I am excited to take the kids to the beach again.  Especially as they get older and we can stay longer without worrying about naps.

Enjoy the pictures below!

Our blanket all set up

 His pure delight in these pictures is so fun

Running ahead

We brought home a whole sand dollar

Napping with Daddy

Our picnic lunch - including lots of sand

A rare shot of the hubband

An even more rare shot of the both of us

Cal enjoying his trip to the candy store while brother and Daddy played in the arcade.

At the arcade eating his deedee (candy)

Jack collecting all his tickets

Monday Miscellaneous

There is tons going on these days in our house.  I need some motivation and inspiration to blog about profound topics - not like I have ever done anything profound on this blog - and something interesting.

In the meantime, here are my randoms:

* Jack is potty trained!  He still wears Pull Ups for naps and overnights but he is officially in underwear during the day.  Jason and I had enough and just put him in underpants one day.  He did great!  He has had a couple of accidents, typically when he's distracted like watching a movie or eating.  He goes both poop and pee without prompting and he has even has worn underwear with no accidents for outings, church, etc.  He is brave and peed and pooped on toilets that aren't in his home.  Now we need to focus on potty training for naps and overnight.

* We took the boys to the beach this past Saturday.  Jack has been to the actual beach once and Cal has never been.  I packed a picnic lunch, sand toys, blankets and we set off.  Jack had an absolute blast digging in the sand, splashing in the water, and playing games in the arcade.  Cal?  He wasn't thrilled with the sand.  He sat on the blanket or on our laps the entire time.  If we tried to put him on the sand, he cried.  It must have been the texture.  He did have a great time bopping around the town in the stroller and he loved being able to pick out his own candy at the candy store.  Both boys rode on the carousel as well.  I took some pictures but will post those another time.

* I am back to knitting again.  I am currently working on this scarf for my cousin.  It's a long overdue project.  She wanted it in a cream color so that is what I am using.  It knits up really fast and it's using a stitch that I have never tried before.

Project credit:  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/gap-tastic-cowl

I am also working on this scarf for my mom.  It is 99% done and the only reason it's not completely done is because I ran out of yarn!  Of course, the yarn that I need is virtually sold out everywhere.  I had to order from a supplier that had literally one skein left.  So I am waiting for that to come in so I can finish.

Project credit:  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/just-enough-ruffles

This is the yarn I am using.  It's so soft and the color is beautiful.  I do have to say, sometimes it pays to spend more on yarn.  The quality beats the $4 skeins from the craft store by far.

Yarn credit:  Malabrigo Rios in Purple Mystery

Since I have project ADD, I also started a hat for my mom.  She wanted a slouchy beret so I found this pattern.

Project credit:  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/simple-slouchy-beanie

I am using a berry colored tweed yarn.  It's turning out really nice.  When I actually finish these projects, I will definitely post pictures.

* I made this meatloaf the other day per Jason's request. Mine looked pretty close to the recipe when it was done baking.  It was tasty but I am not a huge bacon fan (I know, I am a weirdo).  Jason devoured it and there was tons of leftovers to his delight.  

Some other meals on our agenda for the next few days are Cheesy Spaghetti, Mongolian Beef with rice, Italian Macaroni and Cheese, Pasta salad and baked chicken, Shish Kabobs with roasted broccoli and whatever else I can dig up.  

* Jack got a haircut the other day.  He was getting shaggy.  I had it cut super short for the summer.  It's almost buzzed.  He looks so handsome.

* Jason is leaving town in a couple of weeks for his annual guys' weekend at the cabin.  And he has a white water rafting trip planned for August.  The other day he was mentioning that he thinks *I* need to get away for a kid free weekend.  I was shocked.  I have thought that it would be nice to get away, but never put it into action.  After his comment, I have been looking for inexpensive, dog-friendly hotels on the coast or possibly on Mt. Hood to book.  The thought of taking the dog to the beach, being able to sleep in, drink my coffee in peace, taking walks on the beach, knitting, reading and watching tv sounds heavenly.

* It is so nice having a finished fence!  We can let the dog out and not have to worry about standing there supervising him or having him run away.  Beau loves laying in the sun and running around the yard.  He gets tons of interaction at the dog park.  I try to take him a few times a week either during a lunch hour or after the boys go to sleep at night.  It's fun watching him play and run.  He comes home and just crashes afterwards.

* Jason's 36th birthday is next Tuesday and the only plans we have are for a cake and steaks for dinner.  I haven't even bought him a present yet (he will be leaving town a couple of days after).  Maybe I will go shopping the weekend he is gone but I truly have no idea what to get him.

That is about all for now.  I hope to have a post up about our beach day in a bit.

Independence Day

I am so glad we planned a barbeque this year for Independence Day.  We had such a fabulous time!

Jason invited about 10 of his friends and their family and I invited about the same.  Since it was last minute when we invited everyone, we ended up only having 9 of the originally invited people plus our family of 4.  13 people was actually a good size.  Some of our neighbors popped over for a bit bringing our total to 17 at times.

I am such a superwoman sometimes.  Not only did I mow the yard and get all the toys cleaned up, I cooked some of the food and cleaned the house without help.

Here are some pictures of the day.

Most of the yard.  We had a kiddie pool, a fun sprinkler, the water table, sidewalk chalk, balls and a basketball hoop, and bubbles for the kids to play with.

Both of my cutie pies in their patriotic gear

Jack with Nana and Papa enjoying a snack

Don't worry folks, it was empty

Cal loves his watermelon.  I didn't care if the kids got messy, what they ate, what they played with as long as they were having fun.  They ate a lot of chips and fruit that day.

Jack chilling on the slide eating a snack

Daddy and Jack playing with sparklers.  Side note: I am begging Jason to shave and get his haircut.  He just won't do it.

Like Father, like Son.  They love their fireworks.

Cal and Nana

Once it got dark everyone gathered in the front to sit and watch fireworks.  Jack was mesmerized.

Some of our guests

We had such a great time.  Great food, great guests, fun fireworks.  The boys both stayed up later than normal and they ended up sleeping in the next morning.  I am definitely going to plan a party for next year too!

Cooking and Baking Part Two

Here is the second post in my cooking and baking extravaganza!

We will be celebrating Independence Day tomorrow with a fun barbeque so I am sure I will be posting about that soon.

I do have to brag that I have a pork shoulder in the crockpot right now so our house smells like pulled pork. Mmmmmm.

Broccoli and Cheese Mini Egg Omelets

These were yummy.  And very low Points Plus!  I often make breakfast for dinner (Brinner) and once in a while like to make something other than the standard pancakes, bacon and eggs.

Take a look at all that food!  Two mini omelets, two pieces of bacon, a low fat cranberry orange muffin and fruit salad.  All that food was only 9 Points Plus!  And I was stuffed.

The recipe for this says you can pop these little guys in the freezer once they are done cooking, but our's didn't make it to the freezer.  Instead, I left them in the fridge and had some for breakfast the following days. They were perfect and filled me up along with my morning smoothie.

Angel Hair Pasta with Scallops and Tomatoes

Notice the trend with all the SkinnyTaste recipes? I can't help it!  They are all so delicious!

Of course my finished product NEVER looks as good as her's but it doesn't matter.

I love pasta in any form and of course, loved this one too.  I liked the use of the bay scallops since they are tiny and quick to cook.  I wish I could say my kids loved this but they are picky eaters, so they didn't even try it.  Jason and I loved it though so I will be making it again.  Since it was so fast to make, it certainly is a great addition to a weeknight meal.

Pineapple Popsicles

Want to hear about the easiest popsicle recipe ever?  I didn't even use a recipe.  I made this up and it was super simple.  I took some chunked up pineapple from a fresh pineapple.  Threw that in my blender and added a tiny bit of water.  Blend, blend, blend.  Pour into popsicle molds and froze.

The result?  Happy Boy!

Quinoa

I am new to the quinoa bandwagon but I am slowly adding it to our grain rotation.  My favorite way to cook it is by simmering it on the stove.  I again don't use a recipe but have made a variation of this a few times:

1.  Saute some onion and red pepper in a bit of olive oil until softened.  Set aside.
2.  Combine 1 cup of quinoa and 2 cups of chicken broth and water in a pan.  Bring to a boil.
3.  Cover, reduce heat to a simmer and allow all the liquid to evaporate - 20 to 25 minutes.S
4.  When the quinoa is cooked, add the onion and pepper mix.  Add a pinch of red pepper flakes, salt, and a pinch of thyme.  Stir to combine.

I have added frozen peas in with the quinoa while it's cooking as well.  You can also add herbs, spices or any veggies you like.

Spinach Pie

This isn't really called Spinach Pie but I named it that since it doesn't really seem like a quiche to me.  It's a Weight Watchers recipe and actually called Broccoli and Cheddar Quiche.  

I loved the creaminess of this recipe, as well as how easy it was.  We often love breakfast for dinner and this was a nice change from our standard pancakes.  Hey, I think I said the same thing above.  The kids didn't really care for this, but oh well.  They are picky.  I can't gauge a recipe on their tastes.

Spinach Stuffed Shells with Meat Sauce

Stuffed shells might be one of my favorite recipes of all time.  As a kid, if we would go over to my mom's friend Kathy's house, I would request she make her famous stuffed shells.  I was thrilled to find a recipe that would fit in with Weight Watchers.

This recipe took quite a bit of prep work.  It was delicious but I probably won't make it again.  It took too much time for my busy weeknight meals.  Maybe on the weekend, but Jason didn't love it (hater).  He doesn't care for meals that don't contain a lot of meat (see recipe title doofus) so he complained he was still hungry.

There was quite a bit of the sauce leftover so I served it on pasta later that week.  Yay for using up leftovers!

That is about it for now.  I am planning on making some fun, new and yummy recipes the next couple of weeks so I will be sure and blog about them.

Cooking and Baking, Oh My!

I have been on a roll lately with cooking and baking.  I have made a few things that I have never attempted before and am very proud of myself!  Namely, jam and granola bars.

Here are some of the treats that I have been working on.

Mom's Beef Stroganoff

This recipe surprised me.  I can't recall ever having a stroganoff that had tomato in it.  Apparently it's common but I have never made it this way.

Jason and I both really liked this. The boys wouldn't touch it (shocking) but they are picky.  Even though I try and try to get them to eat new foods.

I roasted up some broccoli (this is my absolute favorite vegetable right now by the way) and served this over rice.

Blackberry Crisp

With the bounty of berries from our picking adventures, I whipped up this blackberry crisp.  I doubled the recipe and am glad I did because even doubled, it didn't make very much.

I realized too late to take a picture so you get stuck with a half empty pan of blackberry crisp.  Oh man, this was good. That little hint of cinnamon really made a difference.  The tartness of the berries and the sweet of the topping.  Perfect dessert.  It didn't even need ice cream.

Coconut Cream Pie

I made this for Jason for Father's Day since it's his favorite dessert.  I love how easy it is.  No baking of the crust beforehand?  Check!  No cooking the filling on the stovetop?  SOLD!

I love how the link takes you to my old food blog where the very last post was Father's Day three years ago where I made the same pie.  Ha, I am predictable.

I cannot speak to how this pie tasted since I hate coconut cream pie.  Jason ate his topped with fresh whipped cream.  Aren't I a good wife to make this for him?

Chicken Fajitas

I followed the recipe above with a couple of modifications.  First, I pre-cut the chicken into strips (quicker cooking).  Second, I let the chicken marinate for a while.  Third, I didn't use a grill pan. I just used a screaming hot skillet to cook the chicken and veggies.  This was SO EASY and probably one of my most favorite meals I have made lately.

I really liked how filling these were for very little Points also.

Granola Bars

Oh.  Oh my.  These?  Amazing!  Forget store bought granola bars from now on.  I will be making these.  Not only do my kids love them, which is unheard of for them to try new things, I love them.  I love the versatility and options.  Don't want to use chocolate chips?  Use butterscotch chips.  Or dried fruit.  Or nuts. Or a combination of all of those.

The only thing I didn't do in this recipe was use organic ingredients.  Other than that, I followed it exactly (omitting the flax).  Sooooo good!

Jam

I have always wanted to make jam but have been too chicken to try thinking it would be hard.  Or time consuming.  Or both. It is SO NOT hard.

I used the Sure Jell recipe which comes inside the box of pectin. Yes, it uses a ton of sugar, but I would rather use real sugar and know where my jam is coming from.  Plus?  It made a ton and it cheaper this way rather than buying jam at the store.  I made both batches of jam during the boys' nap time.

My only complaint is that my jam is a but more runny than I would like.  It still tastes great though.  Just today the kids had some jam on waffles for breakfast instead of pancake syrup.  They love it too!

I made 4 pints of strawberry and 4 pints of blackberry.  We won't need to buy jam for a while!

Sauteed Kale

I haven't cooked kale before except to make kale chips.  I have been wanting to incorporate more greens into our diet and picked up some kale at the grocery store recently.  I served this with our chicken and potatoes.  Even Jason liked this which surprised me!  Next time I won't almost burn the house down though. I scorched the hell out of my favorite pan making this.

I have a bunch more recipes to post, but they are going to have to wait for another day!  How do chocolate chip muffins sound?  Or a yummy way to cook quinoa?

Strawberry Fields Forever

The weather here in Portland has been on and off.  Sometimes it's rainy and cold-ish, sometimes it's sunny and 80 degrees.  Even though the weather was not perfect on Sunday, I took the kids and a friend of mine out to Sauvie Island to go berry picking.  I haven't been berry picking since I was a little girl.

The weather was overcast but not cold.  The drive out to the island is about 30 minutes and we arrived at 10:00 and managed to beat the crowds.  I had researched to see what farms on the islands had You Pick berry fields.  Bella Organic made it to the top of the list because they are organic.  If my kiddos were going to pick berries and eat straight off the plants, I wanted to make sure they weren't sprayed with any pesticides or other chemicals.  Plus, their prices were awesome.  $2.50 a pound for strawberries!

The fields are separated into the sweeter strawberries (Hoods) and the more tart berries (Totems).  Since the Hoods tend to be more picked over, we trekked out to the more abundant fields.

The farm provides buckets to put your fruit in but you can also bring your own.  I used their's with the intention that we would fill our buckets.  I was right.

Cal hitching a ride with me

Jack taking a ride in the wagon.  He thought this was pretty cool.

There was no one else in the fields while we were picking.  The berries were small and super sweet.  Once in a while we would find a large berry.  The boys had an absolute blast picking and eating.  No surprise, they managed to eat far more than went in the bucket.  I didn't even need to feed them a morning snack!  

Cal got heavy in the Ergo (all the bending and standing) so I took him out and let him run free.  Since we were on an island and the fields are all short, I had no worries that he would disappear.  I was right.  He stayed close to the source of food.  

Cal eating and carrying his bucket

Jack and Cathi picking.  It was nice to have another set of hands.  I asked Jason if he wanted to come and since it was Father's Day, he chose to sleep in.  Slacker!

Cal showing off a super yummy berry.  Notice his shirt covered in berry juice and dirt.  He picked berries all by himself.  It just took one pick to show him the red fruit and how to pluck the berry off the plant.  That was all he needed.

Jack stayed much more clean but he ate his share of berries.  I didn't even need to show him how to pick.  Apparently an episode of "Special Agent Oso" covered how to pick berry.  Twist and pull folks.  

After about 30 minutes of picking strawberries, we were ready to head to the blackberry fields.  The farmers told us there weren't many blackberries yet but that didn't detour me!

The boys riding to the blackberry fields.  Pulling 60 pounds of kid is hard!

There were TONS of blackberries.  We didn't even pick for 15 minutes before the bucket was full.  Surprisingly, the boys loved eating the blackberries right off the vines.  They are pretty tart but that didn't stop them.  

Look at these gorgeous berries!

All in all, we picked about 12 pounds total of berries.  Almost 6 pounds of each.  

I wish you could see just how dirty this kid was.  It was so hysterical watching him play in the dirt, stop, pick a berry, eat it, run and play in the dirt some more.

It was seriously a great day.  The boys had a blast, I had a blast and the weather was not too hot.  Once we were home and the boys were down for a nap, this mom got to work!  

The berry haul

So what did I do with all those berries?  

8 pints of jam

I also macerated some strawberries in sugar for strawberry shortcake.  I froze some blackberries for later (about 4 cups worth), we ate some strawberries, I gave two pints of berries to my friend so she could make ice cream, and I have another 6 cups of fresh berries in the fridge to eat and make into pies.

I am super pleased with how easy the jam was.  I have never made jam and because I am a newb, I did freezer jam.  The only cooking involved was boiling the pectin.  Other than that, it was as easy as mashing the fruit, stirring in the sugar and pectin and then into the jars.

Even though the jam has a lot of sugar, it's cool knowing exactly what ingredients are in it.  I will be happy to put this on toast or sandwiches.  Plus, my kids love PB&J's so they will enjoy the fruits of my labor.

What an awesome day.  I love doing things like this with my kids.  It's something new for them, it's a learning experience and it gets them out of the house, outside in the fresh air.  We will be going back to the island in 2 weeks because blueberries will be in season!