Picnic Table

This is "the husband."  You know, the one who objects to Tiffany's excessive use of vegetables and lack of meat in many of the dishes she posts on this blog.

Now, don't get me wrong.  Most of the food she prepares is delicious,  but I am required by the rules of manliness to object when the meat/vegetable ratio becomes skewed in the wrong direction. 

Anyways, I have commandeered Tiffany's blog to bring you a recipe of my own:

Picnic Table

No, it is not edible, but many delicious things can be eaten on it (like meat).

Now, without further ado, here is my recipe for Picnic table:

1 "Octagonal Picnic Table" blueprint from amazon.com
1 Compound Miter saw
1 handheld power sander (belt, or otherwise)
1 power drill
1 hammer
Lots of galvanized screws (details in blueprint)
Lots of galvanized finish nails
2x6's and 2x4's in massive quantities
8+ trips to Home Depot
2+ trips to Lowes

Step 1: Go to Home Depot, ask if they carry cedar wood.  Salesman takes you to the fence aisle.  Ask if they have 2-bys.  They say no.

Step 2: Go to Lowes.  Repeat step 1.  They finally find the 2-bys.  Rummage through entire stack of 2x6's, looking for wood that is worthy of your table.  Fill half of your quota.  Ask the salesman if he can open up another stack.  He says no.  Rummage through stack again.  Pick out less suitable 2x6's.  Note annoyed look on salesman's face.  Rummage through stack again.

Step 3: Repeat step 2, except looking for 2x4's.  Note at this point, salesman starts pointedly telling his co-workers he will "take his lunch break later."  Add an extra rummage through this stack for good measure.

Step 4:  Bring wood home, begin following instructions on blueprint.  Cut a few pieces as specified in blueprint.  Quickly realize that measurements in blueprint are wrong.  Commence cursing.

Step 5:  Find out jig saw is required.  Go to Home Depot.  Purchase one.  Continue following instructions.

Step 6:  Learn that not only are 2x4's not actually 2" by 4", and some of your pieces are not even 3.5", but vary by at least 1/4".  Realize you need to re-cut everything again.  Continue cursing.

Step 7: Finish Step 3 in the blueprint. Admire your handiwork thus far:

 Step 8: Realize you have just spent a week on these three steps.  And you have 11 more to go.  Commence crying.

Step 9: Begin work on table top.  Start ignoring blueprint.  Feel better about your project.  Learn the subtle art of "eyeballing it."  Feel much better.

Step 10:  Get to step 7 in the blueprint.  Notice it says "due to the differences in mass produced lumber, you should double check each board and measure separately for fit."  Yell at blueprint "Why couldn't you have told me that in step 1!!!!"

Step 11: Admire handiwork:

Step 12:  Attach frame to table top, remembering once again to pointedly ignore the measurements in the blueprint. Admire handiwork:

Step 13:  Start work on table legs and seats.  Realize you are actually starting to have fun. 

Step 14: Realize none of your drill bits are long enough to drill through 6" of wood.  Take a trip to Home Depot to purchase longer drill bit.

Step 15: Finish step 13.  Admire handiwork:

Step 16:  Sand everything.  This will take several hours.  At this point a neighbor will come and visit, note your progress on sanding, and offer you a larger power sander.  Graciously accept the sander.  Finish sanding in 1 hour.

Step 17: Stain and attach table top to table frame.

Step 18:  Have a friend help carry your table to the backyard.  Admire handiwork:

Step 19:  One day later, while admiring your handiwork, notice that someone else has been admiring your handiwork:

Step 20:  Log in to computer.  Begin searching for bird deterrents.

Morroccan Lamb

Have I ever mentioned that lamb is delicious?  Worth the extra few dollars when you really want the taste of lamb.  This dish was quite tasty and made a ton.  If I did it again for my small family, I would probably cut it in half and save the extra lamb for something else (2 lamb recipes for the price of 1!)

1 lb ground lamb
2 C sliced onion
1/2 C carrot, sliced 1/4 inch thick
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground coriander
1/4 tsp ground red pepper
2 C chicken broth
1/2 C rasins
3 Tbsp tomato paste (freeze the rest of the can if you don't have immediate use)
1 1/2 Tbsp lemon rind
salt
1 can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1/2 C fresh cilantro, chopped
1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 lemon, sliced

Cook lamb over medium heat.  Remove from pan.  If needed, drain excess drippings.  Add onion and carrot to pan, saute 4 minutes.  Add cumin, cinnamon, coriander, and pepper.  Heat spices for 30 seconds, stirring constantly.  Add chicken broth, raisins, tomato paste, lemon rind, chickpeas, and cooked lamb.  Sat to taste.  Bring to boil.  Reduce heat and simmer 4 minutes.  Stir in cilantro and lemon juice.

We served with a lemon slice (it needed just a hint more lemon) and leftover rice form earlier in the week, though it would be even better to serve with couscous. 

Some more pictures from the Children's museum.  They have this fun area with dozens of tricycles, walkers, cars to scoot around in, etc.  We tried to put Isaac in some of the cars or on the tricycle.  But that was too confined and he would start crying.  He just wanted to wander around, pushing whichever thing on wheels was closest at the time.  Occasionally to the distress of children seated in the car he was trying to push.

And now, the little boy.  His last 1 year old molar finally came in.  Hallelujah!  He didn't just get cranky with those teeth, he became a storm.  And who can blame him?  The top two molars burst blood vessels causing the gums  around the molars to become black and purple and swollen for about 3 weeks.  When we saw the doctor (for one of his many ear infections) she said the teeth, or I should say gums, just looked horrible.  She said that as the tooth came in it would constantly be pressing on that burst blood vessel.  So imagine someone putting a lot of pressure on a really bad bruise.  All day long.  For 3 weeks.  Then, the bottom molars started to come though.  One side wasn't bad, but the other side got a blood blister on top of the gums for 3 or 4 days before the tooth finally came in - through the blood blister.  Needless to say, I'm hoping little boy gets a nice long break before his canines start working there way in.  Poor little boy.

It has been nice here in Houston.  To those of you enjoying 10 inches of snow - don't get too jealous.  Come summer you'll have beautiful weather and we'll be living with 90% humidity and 100 degree temperatures.  So of course we've been enjoying going to the parks.  Isaac just loves the parks.  He likes to run, and explore, and eat mulch and sand, and mostly run some more.  Countless parents have said to me, usually as I start running after Isaac to get him away from the parking lot, that that little boy is FAST!  After fetching him from the road (where Isaac is pointing and saying "car car") I set him down in the furthest corner and have maybe a few minutes before I have to fetch him again.  I have two friends with little boys 2 months younger than Isaac.  There sons sit in their laps or on a blanket and contentedly play with toys or enjoy snacks while the mothers sit and chat.  I can't even imagine Isaac contentedly sitting on a blanket.  But he sure is cute, even with a mouth full of mulch.  And I suppose he gives me good exercise.

Stuffed Acorn Squash

Every time I think we've stuffed everything that can be stuffed, we come up with another veggie or fruit to stuff, bake, and eat for dinner.  I've never had acorn squash before but am always happy to branch out to another veggie.  Isaac ate a little but he doesn't like rice (unfortunate as we eat rice a few times a week) and acorn squash clearly was not his favorite squash.

3 small acorn squashes
8 oz Italian sausage - we used chicken apple sausage links instead and it was yummy
1 onion, diced
2-3 stalks celery, diced
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 C cooked rice
1/3 C craisins
3 Tbsp fresh chives (didn't have any so we left this out)
salt and pepper
1/4 C Parmesan cheese, grated
1/4 C Swiss cheese, shredded

Bake squash at 425 degrees for 40 minutes, turning over after 20 minutes.  Make sure they are just tender before removing from oven (we didn't bake it long enough and had to put them back in).  Let stand for 15 minutes.  Halve squashes and scoop out the seeds.

Saute Italian sausage until browned.  Remove sausage from pan and drain drippings if you have a ridiculous amount (Chicken sausage barely gives off any drippings).  Place onions in pan, saute for 4 minutes.  Add celery and cook another 3 minutes.  Add garlic and cook one more minute, stirring constantly.  Stir in sausage, rice, craisins, chives, salt and pepper, and parmesan cheese.  Divide rice evenly among the squash halves.  Sprinkle with Swiss cheese.  Place on baking sheet and broil 4 minutes until cheese is melted.

Delicious!  But how can you go wrong with rice and sausage?

And now for little boy:

Playing with Tina!

Grandma just came out to visit little boy and he was happy for about the first 3 1/2 days - possibly a record for him.  He just got over another ear infection and another bout of bronchitis and just finished with his top two molars (all of that in the course of 10 days) so this was a pleasant change.  By Sunday night though, he started fussing again and pulling his ear and by Monday we were back to the Isaac we normally see around here.  It was good for Grandma to see crazy boy - the one who screams so thoroughly - so she doesn't think I exaggerate too much when I say I've had it and am ready to sell him to the Russians.  Russia's far away, though, so usually I just sell him to daddy.  We are expecting his bottom two molars any day now.  Mothers who don't have fussy teethers are truly blessed.  On that point, mothers who don't encounter ear infections are blessed.

While some days I threaten to sell him, I do have to say, he sure is a cute little monkey.  He just started giving hugs and they are the most wonderful thing in the world.  Sometimes he may be squishing your face, sometimes they may be a little wet, but one hug from him and everything is forgiven. He also likes to hug Tina, something I'm not sure she appreciates, though she kindly puts up with it.  And on another note, he truly is a monkey.  Yesterday we went to chick-fil-a with some friends.  The play place has a toddler's section with mirrors and switches and things to spin but he disregarded that and promptly climbed to the top of the tower.  From up their he had an excellent vantage of the play car that sits at the top of the play place to which he happily pointed at and screamed at for the next 30 minutes.  It was the most relaxing afternoon I've had in a long time.  After my initial fear of him breaking his neck up on the tower, I then just sat at our table and enjoyed watching him stand on the platform pointing at the car and smiling down at me.  I did eventually have to climb up and get him and carry him down so we could leave. He loudly informed the whole store of his displeasure.

At the Houston Children's museum they have an awesome toddler exhibit with slides and mirrors and things to climb on (safely) and blocks and things to spin and doors to open ad this awesome car to sit in.  Isaac loved it.  He came back to it time and time again.

He also loved the ball pit, especially throwing the balls out.

Fried Rice

1/4 C soy sauce
1/4 C brown sugar
Sesame oil
4 large eggs, lightly beaten
3 shallots, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 chopped serrano chile
4 C brown rice, cooked
salt and pepper1 1/2 C thinly sliced daikon radish (we got a daikon radish.  I think it tasted pretty similar to normal radishes so you could use those instead)
1/3 C fresh basil
1/3 C fresh mint
1/3 C fresh cilantro
1 lime, cut into wedges

To make sauce: Combine the soy sauce and brown sugar.  Bring to a boil in a small saucepan.  Simmer 2 minutes or until reduced to 1/4 C.  Set aside.

Heat sesame oil in a large skillet.  Pour in eggs.  Cook, stirring once.  Remove from pan.  Add more oil to pan.  Add shallots, garlic, and chile.  Cook 1 minute.  Add rice, cook 3 minutes.  Add back in the eggs, soy sauce mixture.  Salt and pepper to taste.  Top with radish and herbs.  Serve with lime.

Original Recipe from Cooking Light Magazine Aug 2011


And now some Isaac stories:

Isaac is officially a little boy.  We gave him his first haircut and with the loss of his cute wispy baby hair I've had to admit that my baby is gone, replaced by a giggling, running, hugging, goof of a boy.  It breaks my heart how fast he's grown but he is so fun and so silly that I suppose it's ok.

His number one hobby is books.  I'll be playing the piano, or working in the kitchen, or on the computer and he'll periodically walk over and hand me a book.  We then read that book three or four times in a row as he cries when we get to the last page so we immediately start the book over which immediately brings a smile back to his face.  His number two hobby is trucks.  They are doing some construction on a road across from our house and Isaac will go stare out the front window to watch.  I think all mothers of boys need to be blessed with construction out their window.  It brings some wonderful moments of peace.  This hobby of trucks brings us to his third word.  He started with mama and dada a month ago and just recently added vroom vroom.  Is he a little boy or what?  I mentioned his love of books and crying on the last page.  There are a few exceptions to that rule.  We never get to the last page of books with pictures of trucks anymore.  Once we see a picture of a truck he holds the page corner down so that we can't turn the page.  Then he sits there saying vroom vroom.  What a goof.

Well, I'm afraid no picture of the little one today.  The camera battery is dead and if I wait to post this until after it's charged, it will probably take another week, the rate I'm blogging (I had uploaded the stir fry picture a few weeks ago with intentions of blogging, hence why we have that picture and no picture of Isaac).  So imagine a cute, wild boy attacking a dog while carrying a book in one hand.

Christmas Goodies!

In Christmas tradition, we have filled the house with ample amounts of sugar loaded treats.  In addition to the two cookie recipes below, we made toffee and oreo truffles.  Fortunately for my waistline we gave most of the treats away.  But as always, Geoff, a healthy example I should follow, nibbles at the treats on rare occasions, leaving me to binge to my hearts content until I go to bed still tasting sugar on my tongue.  Now, if I filled the house with salty, cheesy treats the roles would be reversed.  In fact, for Geoff's birthday yesterday rather than end our meal with dessert, we instead indulged in seared mozzarella - delicious.

Pumpkin Spice Cookies
1 (15 oz) can pumpkin
1 spice cake mix
1+ C chocolate chips

Combine all ingredients.  Bake at 350 for 12-15 minutes.  Delicious.  And easy (a must when your little one has bronchitis and an ear infection).

Grasshopper Mint Cookies

This recipe was chosen because I couldn't run to the store until after naptime and so I needed something I had all the ingredients for.  And it was delicious.  I guess this is the year of the boxed cake mix for Christmas goodies. 

Cookie bottom:
1 Devil's Food Cake Mix - I didn't have devil's food, I used triple chocolate or something
1/2 C oil
2 eggs

Mix cake mix, oil, and eggs together. Drop spoonfuls of dough onto baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 6-9 minutes.

NOTE: the peppermint frosting recipe and the chocolate topping recipe made enough for a double batch of cookies (2 cake mixes worth)
Peppermint Frosting:

1/2 c. butter, softened

2 Tbsp. milk

2 C powdered sugar

1 1/2 tsp. peppermint extract

Green food coloring

Cream the butter.  Gradually add 1 C of the powdered sugar.  Add the milk, extract, and food coloring.  Gradually add the remaining C of powdered sugar.  Add more powdered sugar for a thicker consistency, if desired.  Spread on cooled cookies

Chocolate Topping:

2 1/4 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips

3/4 c. butter

Melt chocolate chips and butter together in a double boiler OR in a microwave (30 second intervals, stirring in between - do not over-microwave.  It shouldn't take more than 1.5-2 minutes). Spread melted chocolate on each cookie.

Merry Christmas!

BIRTHDAY CAKE!

Happy Birthday to this little monster!  This morning Geoff looked at Isaac and said, "One year ago, your mom was going 'eeeeeaaaaaaaahhhhhh'." He thought it was funny.  He got a flat face and a "thanks, dear" in response from me.  You could hear the eye roll dripping through in my voice.

To preface this recipe, Geoff said I should title this post "Most Delicious Cake Ever".  Apparently it was delicious, chocolaty, and moist.  And for my part, I will say that for a cake it was pretty good (I'm  not a huge cake fan).  I will also warn, the batter is super, super runny.  Not a problem usually but be warned: don't try to use the spring form pan.  That would be a disaster.  Batter would flow out all over your counter.

Chocolate Cake with Cream Cheese Filling:

2 C sugar
1 3/4 C flour
3/4 C cocoa powder
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 eggs
1 C milk
1/2 C vegetable oil
2 tsp vanilla
1 C boiling water


Combine sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.  Add the eggs, milk, oil and vanilla.  Mix thoroughly with a whisk or electric beater.  Stir in the boiling water.  The batter will be very, very, thin.


Coat 3 8-inch round pans with spray, line the bottoms with parchment paper, and spray again.  Divide batter evenly between pans.  Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.  Cool for 10 minutes in the pan.  Dump cakes out to a wire rack to finish cooling.


Wrap cakes in plastic wrap and refrigerate for several hours or overnight.  If needed, level each layer.


To assemble cake, layer as follows*:
Cake
Cream Cheese filling, leaving 1/4 inch margin around the edges
Cake
Cream Cheese filling, leaving 1/4 inch margin around the edges
Cake

Frost the top and sides with chocolate buttercream.

Cream Cheese Filling

1 C cream cheese
3/4 C butter
1/2 Tbsp vanilla
6 C powdered sugar



Beat the cram cheese and butter with an electric mixer for about one minute.  Add the vanilla and beat for another minute.  Reduce the mixer speed to low and add the powdered sugar, about 1/2 C at a time.  Once all the sugar is added, beat on medium speed for two minutes, until fluffy.
 
 Chocolate Buttercream

1 C butter
1 3/4 C cocoa powder
6 C powdered sugar
1/2 C + 3 Tbsp milk
2 tsp vanilla

Combine the powdered sugar and the cocoa. In a large bowl, beat the butter with an electric mixer for about one minute.  Reduce the speed to low and add the sugar/cocoa about 1/2 C at a time.  Halfway through this process, add the milk and vanilla.  Once all the powdered sugar/cocoa is added, beat at medium speed for about two minute, until fluffy.

*As mentioned, I only had 2 round pans so I thought I could use a spring form pan as my third pan.  This was a mistake.  A messy mistake.  Fortunately the cake spilled out all over my counter rather than all over the oven.  I was able to salvage most of the batter from the spring form pan, dividing it between my two round cake pans

Original Recipe from The Nonpareil Baker.

Now, you will have to indulge the string of photos.  He's just so cute, I have a hard time only choosing a few photos.  Plus, we all know you're actually here to see the little boy, not to see the recipes.

He was really concerned about so many people singing to him.  He didn't even notice the cake, let alone the candle.

We finally had to point out the cake to him.

And then it was all business.  No time for smiling, no time for jabbering, just constant and methodical eating of cake.

Isaac would have happily just played with the wrapped boxes.  Who needs to open them?

A big smile when he sees a car from Grandma and Grandpa.

Excuse the runny nose.  He's had a cold.

Cute boy with a "5 Little Monkeys" finger puppet from Grandma and Grandpa.

Fun blocks from Po and Ted.  And after we showed him how, he started ineptly putting blocks together.  A little engineer in the making (or as Dilbert's doctor would put it, I'm afraid he has "the knack").