Tuesday, January 27, 2009

HAPPY 2nd BIRTHDAY ISAIAH!!!!!


































Time goes by so quickly, it is unbelievable!!!! It is hard to imagine, that just one year ago, we were celebrating Isaiah's first birthday! He has grown so much over the last year, and has made and surpassed so many milestones! Many of which, people said he wouldn't meet. We had a very nice night with Isaiah! We opened presents, ate pizza, and had a birthday cake (ice cream cake of course, which is daddy's favorite!)


















Sunday, January 18, 2009

Clean, Clean, Clean



This was the cutest thing ever...Isaiah was helping Paul vacuum and we just had to sneak a pic! Enjoy your week!

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Tuna Casserole...With a TWIST!





I was poking around our cupboards after work yesterday, wondering what I would make for dinner. We had two cans of tuna lying around...but unfortunately, no cream of mushroom soup so tuna casserole was out! So, I went online looking for something along the lines of tuna casserole and came across a recipe that took tuna to a whole new level! The pic above is of the final product from the website (I substituted things along the way), but it is really easy to make and SO TASTY! Isaiah LOVED it and couldn't stop shoveling in into his little mouth. So here, it is...

1 6 1/2-ounce can water-packed light (not albacore) tuna, drained
** I used two cans instead of one

1 to 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (to taste)

1 garlic clove, minced **I used one teaspoon minced garlic

1 cup fresh tomato sauce or a good prepared marinara sauce **I used two cups marinara sauce (Italian sausage and garlic flavor)

2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley or slivered fresh basil **I used one tablespoon basil

Salt and freshly ground pepper

1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes (optional)

1/2 cup pitted imported black olives, cut in half or into quarters lengthwise **I used a cup of green olives instead of black olives, and left them whole

3/4 pound penne, or spaghetti ** I used linguine

Freshly grated Parmesan for serving (optional)

1. Begin heating a large pot of water for the pasta. In a large pasta bowl, break up the tuna. Heat the olive oil in a small frying pan or saucepan over medium heat, and add the garlic. Cook, stirring, just until fragrant, and remove from the heat. Add to the tuna. Add the parsley or basil, and mix together.

2. Add the tomato sauce to the pan, heat through, and then add the red pepper flakes if using. Stir in the olives.

3. When the water for the pasta comes to a boil, add a generous tablespoon of salt and the pasta. Cook until firm to the bite, following the cooking instructions on the package but checking the pasta a minute or two before the indicated time. Remove two tablespoons of the cooking water, and mix with the tuna.

4. When the pasta is cooked, drain and transfer to the bowl with the tuna. Add the tomato sauce with the olives, toss everything together, and serve. Pass the Parmesan at the table.

Yield: Serves four

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Yummy Blueberry Cream Muffins!!


Blueberry muffins are Paul's favorite, so I decided to whip up a batch of homemade ones for him. They turned out AMAZING! He was also amazed because the recipe I used does not include butter!


Ingredients

4 eggs
2 cups white sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups sour cream
2 cups blueberries
"Sugar in the Raw" as needed


Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease 24 muffin cups or line with paper muffin liners.
In large bowl beat eggs, gradually add sugar while beating. Continue beating while slowly pouring in oil. Stir in vanilla. In a separate bowl, stir together flour, salt and baking soda.
Stir dry ingredients into egg mixture alternately with sour cream. Gently fold in blueberries. Scoop batter into prepared muffin cups.

Sprinkle sugar in the raw over the cups
Bake in preheated oven for 20-25 minutes (until browned and tops are firm to the touch).
Makes 24 small muffins or 12 large

Happy 3 months to us!


Lake Morton Historic District Sign






















He was SOOO excited when he saw them eat the bread he threw them!!




One last festive pic!

Well, today is January 11, which marks three months since Paul and I got married! VERY exciting for us!!! We can't believe how FAST time flies!! This weekend was BEAUTIFUL out! High 70's, possibly even low 80's and not a cloud in the sky. We decided to go to the library (which is on this lake) and then feed the ducks after!! Isaiah had a BLAST! He was so excited to feed them! Come visit soon, we know you guys up north are having a rough winter!! Although, I must admit, I DO miss the snow!

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Lasagna--OUT OF THIS WORLD!

I honestly thought this recipe sounded disgusting when a friend of mine sent it to me! Buffalo lasagna?! I think not...and made in a crockpot? No way! Well, the two things Paul loves best in this world are buffalo wings and lasagna. So, I figured I'd try it...why not? The results were amazing!!!!! It is a highly recommended recipe and very easy!!

Ingredients
3 already cooked chicken breasts, cubed
jar of prepared pasta sauce (20 ounces)
1 cup buffalo wing sauce
tub of ricotta cheese (15 ounces)
2 cups shredded cheese (cheddar and mozzarella blend)
1/2 cup blue cheese crumbles
1/2 cup of water
uncooked lasagna noodles

Use atleast a 5 qt crockpot, or cut back on the amount of ingredients
In a large glass bowl, combine the chicken, pasta sauce, and wing sauce
Ladle a big spoonful of the sauce blend into the bottom of the crockpot
Cover with a layer of lasagna noodles. You will have to break the noodles to get a good fit
Add a smear of ricotta cheese to the top of the noodles
Sprinkle a handful of shredded cheese on top

Repeat the layers until you run out of ingredients

Add the blue cheese crumbles to the top
Put the 1/4 c of water into the empty pasta jar and shake
Pour the water over the entire lasagna.

Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hrs or on high for 4-5

**I used hot wing sauce bc it is Paul's favorite. It was hot, but he LOVED it. If you want to tone it done, use a mild wing sauce.

ENJOY!!!!!

Cook's Corner

I have tried some recipes lately that have turned out delicious! It has been fun exploring and trying new ideas, and below you can share in some of the ones that we have really loved!

Oven Roasted Potatoes, A Tried and True Delight!
1/8c olive oil
1 Tablespoon minced garlic
1/2 t dried basil
1/2 t marjoram
1/2 t dried dill weed
1/2 t thyme
1/2 t oregano
1/2 t dried parsley
1/2 t crushed red pepper
1/2 t salt
4 large potatoes cubed

Preheat oven to 375F
Combine all seasonings and olive oil together & mix
mix potatoes in it
spread evenly in baking pan
Roast for 30 min

Enjoy!


Skillet Beef & Beer Stew--An American Favorite!

ingredients
olive oil cooking spray
12 oz lean beef round roast (Cut in cubes)
1 medium onion chopped
1 medium bell pepper chopped
1 t minced garlic
2 medium potatoes peeled and diced
24 baby carrots
1 cup at free beef broth
8 ounces light beer
1/4 c evaporated fat free milk
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon paprika

Coat large skillet with spray
Heat over medium/high heat
Add beef,onion, pepper & garlic. Cook until browned (about 3 min)
Stir in potatoes, carrots, broth & Beer
Bring to a boil
Reduce heat, cover & simmer for 30 minutes
Stir milk, cornstarch, paprika in a small cup
Add to beef mixture
Cook about 5 more minutes
Remove from heat & let stand for 10 minutes.

YUMMMM!
PS- for all you weight watchers out there, 1 1/2 cups is 5 points!

Bake Away!

OK, so I will fully admit that most recently I have become very interested in baking and cooking. So, the tides are changing, and I am cooking almost on a daily basis. Paul still does too, because he loves to cook so much, so we are sharing that role now! Over the holidays I baked a lot, and wanted to share a few of my recipes! Enjoy!

Kelly's Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies

ingredients:
1 cup butter or margarine (softened)
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
2 1/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
12 oz semi sweet choc chips

Preheat oven to 375F
cream butter, sugars and vanilla
beat in eggs
fist flour, baking soda and salt in separate bowl
gradually add cream mix, mixing until well blended
fold in choc hips
bake for 10 minutes
VOILA!



Sugar Cookie Jewels

ingredients
1 c butter or margarine
1 c granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 t vanilla extract
2 cups all purpose flour
1 t baking soda
1 12 ounce bag m&m's or m&m mini bits
sugar as needed

Preheat oven to 350 F
cream butter & sugar
add egg & vanilla
combine flour & Baking soda in separate bowl
add to mixture
stir in m&m's
put dough in 1 in balls on baking sheets
using a teaspoon dipped in sugar, flatten dough slightly
Bake 10-12 minutes

Oh So Yummy Banana Bread!

ingredients
2c flour
1t baking soda
1/4t salt
1/2c butter
3/4c brown sugar
2 eggs beaten
2 1/3c mashed bananas

Preheat oven to 350F
In a large bowl, combine flour, baking soda & salt

In separate bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar, then stir in the eggs and bananas
Stir both mixtures together
Pour in bread pan
bake 60-65 minutes
NOTE: No nuts were used in this recipe, due to Isaiah's allergies! It was still DELICIOUS!!!!!

Friday, January 2, 2009

Christmas Day!



Our tree Christmas Morning! Santa came!


Bella waiting for the excitement to begin!





Isaiah just got up!

His first glimpse at the tree and toys! He's trying to wriggle out of my arms!


Boys meets bike...


...and fell in love!

opening the dogs stockings!




Isaiah's stocking...


...and homemade present for us


stockings all the way from NH! Santa left them under grandma Kathie and Pepe's tree for us!


Present from Uncle Mark
Opening lots and lots of gifts from Grandma Pat and Grampa!
And even more gifts from Grandma Pat and Grampa!

Yay! First collectors Hess Truck from Grandma Kathie and Pepe


My beauuuutiful necklace from my darling husband!

Isaiah's Christmas Bear from Grandma Kathie and Pepe

Piggy Bank from Auntie Allie

Putting quarters in it from Allie...He's rich!


The marching band from Granny...Isaiah LOVES IT!



Isaiah dancing to christmas carols!!


beautiful clock from Allie

My bakeware set! YAY!
Complete shock when I saw my necklace!!

Opening stockings



My beautiful ornament from Paul


Yay! Santa even came for Isaiah at Grandma Hannah's!


The Elmo lego set from Uncle Donnie! Isaiah LOVES "Melmo" ;-)


Grandma's beautiful tree



awww




Isaiah is a ham now and gets so excited when he sees the camera!
Christmas morning was so much fun, watching Isaiah get so excited when he saw the presents Santa left for him...including his new bike! We spent the morning opening gifts. I received a HUGE surprise from both my grandparents in NY, and my wonderful husband! My granny put together a sentimental gift for me, including a decorative marching band that my father had given her as a gift years ago...she passed it down to me and my family. I remember always asking to play it when we were at her house for the holidays. My brother, cousins, and I loved it. Of course I cried my eyes out when I saw it! It was such a wonderful surprise!!!
My wonderful hubby surprised me with a beautiful ornament, and a necklace to match the earrings he surprised me with on our wedding day! I was so shocked, I had no idea he had gotten it or me!!!! After present opening, we headed over to Port Saint Lucie to visit with my grandmother and my brother. We did see my aunt and uncle and cousins later in the evening too, which was fun. Megan was feeling under the weather, but it was so nice to be able to visit for them for awhile because Isaiah loves Megan and James! We had a GREAT day!
We hope you had a wonderful holiday too!! MERRY CHRISTMAS!