sorry i've been a bit absent lately!
we've been working on a new blog :)
we'll let you know when it's up and running.
and i'm not abandoning this one...just putting it on pause while we travel.
then, we'll be back in the gdkitchen :)
but, for now, bear with us as we construct the new one...
hope everyone had a great new year's!
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
Thursday, January 1, 2015
a wonderful Christmas!
we had a great Christmas season.
we spent a "first" Christmas down in san antonio, visiting mike's parents and grandmother. mike's dad had a company Christmas party but unfortunately, due to a babysitter's emergency and a house alarm that wouldn't shut off, mike and i stayed behind to watch the kiddos. so, we poured a glass of wine and watched Christmas movies! on sunday, we filled the stockings with care and after church, opened our first Christmas. the boys had a blast picking out the little dutch treats that gma had found in the little dutch store in michigan. i had a blast sorting through all the essential oils that my mother-in-law had gifted me and setting up my awesome new waterproof, shockproof camera for south america! we even squeezed in a trip to seaworld the night before we left! fun!
we came home to a full house...uncle vince had made it home from med school in st. vincent! the boys were beyond thrilled and even baby gabe fell in love immediately :) we attended the family "midnight mass", at 5:30pm, and the boys gladly went to bed early, after setting out cookies and milk for santa. it took them awhile to fall asleep...no sugarplums dancing here ;) Christmas morning was filled with surprises...wooden bird mobiles, handmade by nanny and paw paw, and a special surprise for us - a 1900's door handle from the now-demolished Jewish temple in marshall, that a former mayor had rescued and my parents snatched from an antique store! the perfect "first gift" to our future house. ...a house i've already started building in my head. :) anyway, it was a joyous morning and was topped off with a Christmas ham, sweet potatoes (with marshmallows, of course!), and mulled wine.
the very next day, my grandmother came into town and helped us set up for baby gabe's baptism weekend! my in-laws and brother and sister-in law arrived that evening and we all went out to dinner on the square. we walked around with the kiddos and showed them the Christmas lights and had a merry time. saturday morning was a big brunch at the house and then a (muddy) trek around the property, showing mike's family the greenhouse, chicken coop, pond, and the land that my parents gave us for our future house! we all broke for a much-needed nap and had more friends over for a big fish fry that evening. all the kids wrestled with mike that night and had a grand ole time. but on sunday, it was raining and cold, the boys were in foul moods, and baby gabe decided to cry the entirety of the sermon. not a great morning. but he finally passed out in his daddy's arms and ended up sleeping through his entire baptism! we got the boys doughnuts after church, said goodbye to gma, poppy, uncle keith, aunt abby, cousin daisy, and memere and headed home for a nap!
finally, on the 29th, my parents and brother watched all three kids and we headed out for a nice anniversary dinner and movie! a great end to a very busy and very enjoyable holiday season!
we spent a "first" Christmas down in san antonio, visiting mike's parents and grandmother. mike's dad had a company Christmas party but unfortunately, due to a babysitter's emergency and a house alarm that wouldn't shut off, mike and i stayed behind to watch the kiddos. so, we poured a glass of wine and watched Christmas movies! on sunday, we filled the stockings with care and after church, opened our first Christmas. the boys had a blast picking out the little dutch treats that gma had found in the little dutch store in michigan. i had a blast sorting through all the essential oils that my mother-in-law had gifted me and setting up my awesome new waterproof, shockproof camera for south america! we even squeezed in a trip to seaworld the night before we left! fun!
we came home to a full house...uncle vince had made it home from med school in st. vincent! the boys were beyond thrilled and even baby gabe fell in love immediately :) we attended the family "midnight mass", at 5:30pm, and the boys gladly went to bed early, after setting out cookies and milk for santa. it took them awhile to fall asleep...no sugarplums dancing here ;) Christmas morning was filled with surprises...wooden bird mobiles, handmade by nanny and paw paw, and a special surprise for us - a 1900's door handle from the now-demolished Jewish temple in marshall, that a former mayor had rescued and my parents snatched from an antique store! the perfect "first gift" to our future house. ...a house i've already started building in my head. :) anyway, it was a joyous morning and was topped off with a Christmas ham, sweet potatoes (with marshmallows, of course!), and mulled wine.
the very next day, my grandmother came into town and helped us set up for baby gabe's baptism weekend! my in-laws and brother and sister-in law arrived that evening and we all went out to dinner on the square. we walked around with the kiddos and showed them the Christmas lights and had a merry time. saturday morning was a big brunch at the house and then a (muddy) trek around the property, showing mike's family the greenhouse, chicken coop, pond, and the land that my parents gave us for our future house! we all broke for a much-needed nap and had more friends over for a big fish fry that evening. all the kids wrestled with mike that night and had a grand ole time. but on sunday, it was raining and cold, the boys were in foul moods, and baby gabe decided to cry the entirety of the sermon. not a great morning. but he finally passed out in his daddy's arms and ended up sleeping through his entire baptism! we got the boys doughnuts after church, said goodbye to gma, poppy, uncle keith, aunt abby, cousin daisy, and memere and headed home for a nap!
finally, on the 29th, my parents and brother watched all three kids and we headed out for a nice anniversary dinner and movie! a great end to a very busy and very enjoyable holiday season!
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
Sunday, December 21, 2014
sushi salad
My boys love sushi.
It's amazing how, if you offer your one year old, then toddler, then four year old, new things to eat all the time, what good eaters they will become :)
We always make our own sushi at home. Cheaper and alot easier if you have little ones.
And we always offer it to our kiddos.
And they always love it.
They love dipping the sushi into their own little bowls of soy sauce, spiked with a couple red pepper flakes.
But, it does get a little messy.
So, I came up with a sushi "salad" to eat in a bowl with a spoon!
All the same ingredients of your favorite vegetarian sushi in an easy, bowl form!
No rolling or fussing with wet hands and sticky sesame seeds.
Just a big bowl and a big spoon!
Easy peasy and delicious for mommies, daddies, and little ones alike!
Sushi Salad
Serves 2-4, if you include kids :)
One recipe sushi rice, warm or room temperature
2-3 sheets nori
1 cucumber, peeled and seeded
3 green onions
2 carrots, washed and peeled
1-2 cups shelled and steamed edamame
2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
Soy sauce and sriracha or wasabi, to taste
Additional add-ins: smoked salmon, chopped cold shrimp, crab, chopped asparagus, cooled scrambled egg, chopped almonds or peanuts...whatever you like in your sushi roll!
Place sushi rice in a large bowl.
Slice nori into thin shreds and add to bowl.
Chop cucumber, green onions, and carrots into small dices, and add to rice and nori.
Add edamame and sesame seeds and toss to combine.
Add in any additional add-ins you might like.
Serve in bowls and dress with soy sauce and sriracha or wasabi, to taste, and enjoy!
It's amazing how, if you offer your one year old, then toddler, then four year old, new things to eat all the time, what good eaters they will become :)
We always make our own sushi at home. Cheaper and alot easier if you have little ones.
And we always offer it to our kiddos.
And they always love it.
They love dipping the sushi into their own little bowls of soy sauce, spiked with a couple red pepper flakes.
But, it does get a little messy.
So, I came up with a sushi "salad" to eat in a bowl with a spoon!
All the same ingredients of your favorite vegetarian sushi in an easy, bowl form!
No rolling or fussing with wet hands and sticky sesame seeds.
Just a big bowl and a big spoon!
Easy peasy and delicious for mommies, daddies, and little ones alike!
Sushi Salad
Serves 2-4, if you include kids :)
One recipe sushi rice, warm or room temperature
2-3 sheets nori
1 cucumber, peeled and seeded
3 green onions
2 carrots, washed and peeled
1-2 cups shelled and steamed edamame
2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
Soy sauce and sriracha or wasabi, to taste
Additional add-ins: smoked salmon, chopped cold shrimp, crab, chopped asparagus, cooled scrambled egg, chopped almonds or peanuts...whatever you like in your sushi roll!
Place sushi rice in a large bowl.
Slice nori into thin shreds and add to bowl.
Chop cucumber, green onions, and carrots into small dices, and add to rice and nori.
Add edamame and sesame seeds and toss to combine.
Add in any additional add-ins you might like.
Serve in bowls and dress with soy sauce and sriracha or wasabi, to taste, and enjoy!
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
roasted acorn squash with grapes
this sounds so weird.
grapes?
roasted grapes?
but it was way too interesting for me to pass up!
i tweaked and tweaked some more and the end result was actually really, really good.
enjoy this delicious, winter dish either as a light supper or next to a big grilled pork chop!
grapes?
roasted grapes?
but it was way too interesting for me to pass up!
i tweaked and tweaked some more and the end result was actually really, really good.
enjoy this delicious, winter dish either as a light supper or next to a big grilled pork chop!
Roasted Acorn Squash with Grapes
Serves 2.
1 acorn squash, halved and seeds scooped out and discarded
Olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 onion, thinly sliced
2 big sprigs of rosemary
1 pound of red, seedless grapes, destemmed
2 cups of your favorite rice pilaf (or cooked quinoa, couscous, etc)
Preheat the oven to 425*F.
Rub the acorn squash halves with olive oil and then liberally salt and pepper the insides. Place them facedown on a large, rimmed baking sheet.
Spread the onions, rosemary, and grapes around the pan and drizzle with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper and toss with your hands to coat.
Roast for 20-30 minutes until the squash is tender when poked with a sharp knife.
Remove from oven and carefully turn the squash over onto a serving plate.
Fill with rice pilaf and mound onions and grapes on top and all around. Discard rosemary. Drizzle with a bit of olive oil and enjoy!
Sunday, December 14, 2014
egg muffins
Need something easy to munch on as you run out the door for Christmas shopping??
Look no further!
So easy and quick and a bit hit with the whole family!
Enjoy!
Egg Muffins
Makes as many as you'd like!
No recipe needed...it's so easy :)
Sauté sausage, chopped mushrooms, diced onions, broccoli florets, minced jalapeños or whatever you'd like in a large saute pan, over medium-ish heat.Makes as many as you'd like!
No recipe needed...it's so easy :)
Cool slightly.
Spoon into the bottoms of a greased muffin tin.
Top each with a bit of shredded cheese.
Blend eggs and pour into prepared muffin tins, about 3/4 of the way full.
Bake at 350* for about 20 minutes, or until golden and puffed.
Cool slightly then remove and enjoy!
Can be individually wrapped and frozen.
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
homeschooling wrap up: november!
this month was a week short because of our awesome trip to michigan for thanksgiving but we still got a lot done and had a great time doing it!
enjoy!
toilet paper tube "leaf" stamping
five little scarecrows felt song
working hard on a sticker mosaic
fun fall food!
pumpkin-scented homemade playdoh
beautiful leaf handprints
mv rocking some numbers tracing
a candy corn turkey (fail!) ;)
turkey toast!
jack's shape and color of the month was yellow star
mv and i did a little oil painting
we collected leaves all month and created art with them!
we handprinted some turkeys for placecards at thanksgiving but sadly, mommy forgot to pull them out of her luggage and no one got to see ;(
autumn sunflowers!
and more turkeys ;)
letter finds
beginning math
and scissor skills for the pre-schooler!
sight word search
sounding out words
and even homeschooling on the road! or in the airplane...
another great month!
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