TIDBITS.

1. the last of the etsy wrapping paper shipments.. 2. homemade sweet potato and banana baby food.

3. rides to the laundry room. 4. almost roasted veggies.  5. nom nom.

-Amanda

ps. don't forget to enter the giveaway!!!

VANILLA MILK- A Recipe.

Ingredients:
1 gallon organic whole milk
1/2 cup sugar
3 T. pure vanilla extract

Whisk or blend all ingredients together. Serve or keep refrigerated.
(this recipe could easily be halved.)

So easy, right? As I was planning Ethum's birthday party I was trying to come up with a fun drink. Last year, I made fresh-squeezed lemonade but I didn't feel like it quite paired with chocolate whoopie pies. Then, I thought about chocolate milk but I didn't want to mix chocolate with chocolate. It seems like every time you serve chocolate with chocolate, the sweeter one stands out and other one becomes not so tasty. Then, I remembered how much Ethum loves Horizon's vanilla milk, so I browsed a few recipes online and this is what I came up with.

-Amanda

FISH TACOS - A Recipe.

Ingredients:
A handful each of panko, corn flour, and corn meal
2 T. flax meal
1/4 t. turmeric
1/2 t. garlic powder
1/2 t. dried lemon grass
1/2 t. dried coriander
1 t. paprika
1 1/2 t. cumin
salt + pepper
1 egg
1/4 cup milk
about 1/2 cup vegetable oil
4 tilapia fillets, cut in half, long-ways
sour cream
salsa
tortillas
cilantro, avocado, mango (optional)

Combine all the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Whisk egg and milk together in a medium bowl or pie plate. Cover bottom of skillet with vege oil and bring to medium to medium-high heat. Dip fish in egg mixture and then toss in dry mixture. Fry each side for 3-5 minutes or until golden.

To make the sauce, whisk together equal parts sour cream and salsa.

I like to set out the tortillas, fish, and topping and let everyone build their own.

In the same fashion that most of my "i basically made this up without a guide" recipes come about was the question, "why the heck would I pay 3 dollars for a tiny bag of fish fry that is probably loaded with sodium?". One day, I just threw some things in a bowl and this was the outcome (and I say its pretty good). I highly encourage you to add or subtract any ingredients that you see fit - make it your own! :)

-Amanda

ps. I realize grilled fish might seem healthier but with a nice dose a flax meal for fiber, and cancer-fighting turmeric, I just prefer fried when making them at home.

A CUPCAKE DATE.

On the day after Christmas we hit the town for cupcakes, coffee, and a yummy dinner. We'd been there for four days and hadn't been anywhere but family's house and church - it was high time we did some running around. We ended up at Sara Sara cupcake, Coffee Slingers and Iron Starr Barbeque. It was all pretty fantastical.

Oklahoma City has another great cupcake shop (Cuppies and Joe) but they are closed on Monday. We had been to Sara Sara a few years ago but it wasn't a very relaxed date spot. This time, we were most impressed. I just love all their touches of hot pink- so modern and fresh. I had the strawberry cupcake and guess what, it really tasted like strawberries. Yum!

If you ever end up in OKC, I highly recommend all of these places.

this is dave's brother, jake, in case you were wondering.



-Amanda

ROASTED CUMIN CARROTS- A Recipe.

Hey there! Here's a super fast and easy side for when you're looking for a nutritious dinner and you don't have a lot of time on your hands.

Ingredients:

• 8 medium carrots, sliced however you like them
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• salt +_pepper

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with foil. Toss carrots with olive oil and sprinkle with cumin. Season with salt + pepper. Roast for about 15 minutes. Serve! They lose their heat quickly, so try to take them out of the oven immediately before serving (or after you've said the prayer.ha.ha.)


So, we are leaving for OKC in the morning. (Hip hip hooray!) As I am preparing to leave, I was just thinking about how "unconventional" my preparations are. Here's what I'm doing:
1. Making a steak dinner. 2. Baking berry muffins for a grab-and-go breakfast. 3. Making chicken stock with leftover vege's and rotisserie chicken carcass. 4. Making peppermint bark for a hostess gift.
Never mind wardrobe planning and 'don't forget your toothbrush' note making! Also, it is hilarious that my husband isn't thinking twice when I list off all the things I have to do before I go to bed.

Night, friends!
-Amanda

PEPPERMINT BARK - A Recipe.

Are you ready? I'm going to share with you my peppermint bark recipe. I could eat this stuff everyday- no lie. I never liked peppermint bark (even the kind from william-sonoma) until I figured out a little trick called 'peppermint flavor'. This recipe is also on the Christmas tradition list. I made it up while Dave and I were still dating and it is something of a miracle that it turned out to be this good. I had good intentions and really enjoyed to cook/bake but I didn't quite know what I was doing back then. Try it, you'll like it.

Ingredients:

• 1 bag or around 2 cups of dark chocolate chips
• 1 bag or around 2 cups white chocolate chips
• 1 teaspoon peppermint flavor (I use a high quality organic)
• 20 mini candy canes

Instructions:
Break up the candy canes with a food processor or put them in a plastic bag and crush them up with a rolling pin (alternatively, you can do it the super classy way, using a hammer...ahem). Using a double boiler or a sauce pan,bring 1 inch of water to boil. Pour dark chocolate chips into double boiler or a glass/metal boil and stir chocolate until completely melted. Spread the melted dark chocolate on foil lined baking sheet (it doesn't have to be perfect, as you are going to break it up anyway). Put the baking sheet in the refrigerate for 30 mins or until it is completely solid again. Now you are going to melt the white chocolate the same  way. Stir in the peppermint flavor and then spread the white chocolate over the dark chocolate. You need to be very careful not to let your spatula/spoon too close to the dark chocolate when spreading or you will have chocolate swirls. Sprinkle the crushed candy canes over the top and refrigerate for another 30 minutes. After its completely solid, peel the foil off the bottom and break up the bark while its still cold to prevent chocolate finger prints. Enjoy!


Notes: 1)I recently found that Kroger'shouse brand 62% cacao tastes very similar to Ghirardelli. 2)Plain red and white candy canes look best, but they were sold out. 3) You can use less candy canes if you wish, but I really enjoy the  'crunchies' on top.


-Amanda

OUR FRIDAY NIGHT.

Last Friday night, we went to our favorite spot in Houston, DownHouse. They have excellent everything- food, coffee, ambiance, staff, you name it! Our plan was to try out a brand new restaurant in the neighborhood called Liberty Kitchen, but they were booked with an hour wait. We were starving and had the littles in tow, so that was a no-go. DownHouse was also packed but since no one had the 'private room with the large table' reserved, they gave it to us- how nice!

Ethum had fried chicken strips with french fries. What kid doesn't love that combo? This was the most delicious fried chicken and french fries I have ever had! YUM!! They use local 'proteins' and produce- we love that. I had the warm green bean salad, complete with pear, bacon lardons, and a poached egg. Who on Earth came up with that combo?! I don't know, but it was amazing. Also, I have never eaten so many green beans in one sitting! Dave had the longhorn burger and he was all about it.

                                    

It was a late night and the boys were tired so we decided to keep them entertained with a little face-time on the iphone.

It was the best family outing we've had in awhile. I hope you had a super fun weekend too!

-Amanda

PECAN SNOWBALLS.

Pecan Snowballs- Mmmm-mm-mmmmm. These cookies made it to my Christmas tradition list the first year of mine and David's marriage. They seem to be a hit... I sure think so. Now, these do have a bit of almond extract, and I realize that some people have an aversion to it but I highly recommend using it anyway. It adds a certain depth, cuts the sweetness just a bit, and sets it apart from every other joe schmoe pecan snowball out there.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup pecans
• 1 cup butter, room temp.
• 1 3/4 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon pure almond extract
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups unbleached flour

Instructions:

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Toast pecans for 5-8 mins depending on how toasty you want them to taste. Let cool, chop.
2. Beat butter and 1 cup of the sugar. Add vanilla and almond extracts and salt.
3. Add flour and stir in pecans.
4. Roll into tablespoon size balls and place on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.
5. Refrigerate for about 30 mins.
6. Place half of the balls to another parchment paper lined baking sheet and bake for 18-20 minutes. Let them cool on baking sheets for 10 mins.
7. Place 1/2 cup powdered sugar in a bowl and toss cookies. Just before serving, sift remaining 1/4 cup powdered sugar over cookies.
8. EAT!

I hope you enjoy these and have lots of powdered sugar coated lips to match!
Have a magical weekend!!
- Amanda

BROTHERLY LOVE.

It has just been a cookie fest over here this week. This is the third batch of spritz cookies I made (this week). We made batch one with a friend and her four little ones, batch two was just Ethum and I for our family and the guys Dave works with, and the third batch was for Dave's brothers, Joe and Jake, who are away at college. I'm such a good sister-in-law, right? Well, the truth is that Joe is halfway through his third year of college and this is the first box of goodies we've sent. Even though I have been meaning to send some since year one. ha. ha. Anyway, these cookies are addicting- my goodness! I just made the recipe that comes with the cookie press, minus the almond extract and add a little extra vanilla. I almost need to hide them from myself. nom nom. Also, this week I made my first attempt at my granny's fudge... and failed. I think I need to invest in a digital candy thermometer, as the recipe says to take the fudge off the heat at exactly 234 degrees. The fudge never set and is now in a mason jar in the refrigerator, labeled 'fudge sauce'.  I just couldn't dump all that chocolate-y goodness in the trash, now could I?

What have you been baking lately?

-Amanda

LAST WEEK...

1) Me watching Ethum go crazy bonkers at Beck's Prime. 2) Homemade whoopie pies.

 3) Sewing my life away. 4) I want that sign in my kitchen. 5) Snack attack.

- Amanda

FIRST BITES.

Over the weekend, we decided to let Avre try rice cereal for the first time. I am totally weirded out by the fact that he is already old enough to eat food! It has gone by so much faster than with Ethum. I guess it's that way with every one's first baby. I never really could get Ethum to eat the stuff and quite frankly, I don't blame him. It's just so bland and blah. This time, I mashed a bit of banana into it. I realize that some people think that their baby will only have a sweet-tooth if you give fruits first, but I home make all of their baby food and they hardly even get to drink juice. They'll be okay. Also, my two year old enjoyed plate of chicken tikka masala with us tonight.. I think he has a balanced palate. Sorry, I think that was called ranting.ha.ha. Anyway, it appeared that he kind of liked it. He ate about 3 bites before making that sour face you see below. Oh, babies are fun...

-Amanda

GET A LITTLE FANCY.

Here's a super easy way to spruce up anything from beef teriyaki to baked potatoes. All you have to do is cut your green onions or chives diagonally instead of straight. Voila! Could it be any easier? I bet you'll really impress your friends with this one :) You can also use this technique for other vegetables like carrots and asparagus.

 -Amanda

A BIRTHDAY TREAT.

Last night my husband, David, made me this delicious dark chocolate bark with pistachios and sea salt as a belated birthday treat. It was such a pleasant suprise. He even found the recipe himself. I think I've got a keeper ;)