Blog Hop - Kid's Pictures

This week's Blog Hop's mission is to pick a favorite Kid's picture. That is really easier said than done. Picking a favorite picture of my kids is like asking to pick a favorite song, there are just too many good ones. :) Especially if I go back through the years... So I'll just put up a couple of my most recent favorites.



This first one I love because of the short story behind it. I put Noah down on a little play mat with the little Boppy pillow, and Ohlen wanted to join him. So I found the big Boppy pillow and let him use that. He insisted on being right next to him, and he wanted to be covered up with the beach towel. :) I love pictures that show my boys interacting, and love that Ohlen loves him so much.




Just another picture of them together. I like that this one shows how they compare size wise.

Strombirdie and Bluebirdie Cobbler

First and foremost, a couple of posts ago I mentioned that I was toying with the idea of making a second blog for recipes. What I have realized in the past weeks is that I really am not going to keep up 2 blogs when I can barely keep up one. Soo, I am just going to post recipes here.

Last night we had company and I made Stromboli and Blueberry cobbler for dessert. Ohlen, for whatever reason, can't quite get the -oli or the -erry out, so they are both ended with -irdie. Cracks us up.

So, on with the Recipes and pictures.

Stromboli

First off you need some pizza crust dough. If I have time, I make mine in the bread machine. The recipe says it's making 4 12-inch crusts, but I like mine thicker, so for me it's actually 2 crusts (and two stromboli)

1 1/3 c Water
1/4 c Olive Oil
2 tsp Salt
4 c Bread Flour (I use Thesco Flour)
2 1/4 tsp Active Dry Yeast OR 2 tsp Bread Machine Yeast
Parsley, Basil, Oregano, and Garlic Powder (amounts up to you, I just sprinkle how ever much I'm feeling for the day)
Use Dough Cycle



If you don't have a bread machine or are pressed for time you can use the prepackaged mixes and add the seasonings to it. Or use this recipe for a quick dough. I don't think it is near as good, but it is a whole lot quicker.

Simple Pizza Crust (This will make One Stromboli)

3 c flour
1 tsp salt
2 1/2 tsp Active Dry Yeast (1 pkg)
1 Tbs sugar
2 Tbs Oil
1 c warm water
Oregano, Parsley, Basil, and Garlic Powder to taste

Combine Dry ingredients. Mix in oil and water.




After you have your dough, separate in two (if you are using the bread machine recipe) Grease a cookie sheet.





Stretch dough so it is a little longer than the sheet and a bit wider than you want the finished product. Put desired toppings on the dough. Last night I made one with Pepperoni and Mozzarella cheese. The other had American cheese, Mozzarella cheese, Ham, Pepperoni, Green Pepper, Red Pepper, and Onion.



Fold the sides up over top of the fillings and press dough together. Leave some small holes on the top for venting, or if you'd rather, you could close it all up and then cut in slats with a knife. If making immediately place in a 375 oven for about 35 minutes. If you aren't baking it right away, wrap each individual stromboli with plastic wrap and place in refrigerator. If they aren't covered, the dough dries out, and dried out dough is not happy dough.

I serve mine with some room temperature sauce.



All that was left.






**Bread Machine recipe (minus the seasonings) is from the manual I got with my Bread Machine which is a Welbilt. (and it is well built, it's been making bread since we were married in 2002.)**


Blueberry Cobbler

1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 c sugar
1 stick margarine (softened)
1/2 c flour
1 pint blueberries (or other fruit, fresh or frozen)
1/2 c sugar



In greased medium casserole dish beat up egg, vanilla, sugar, and margarine. Add flour. While making above, boil fruit and sugar. Batter should line casserole, pour fruit into the middle.
Bake 35 minutes at 375. Serve hot or cold, good with milk or whipped cream.




**Recipe from Jonathan's great Aunt Erma Ewert, although her recipe featured frozen sour cherries rather than blueberries.**

Blog Hop - Recipe

This week's Blog Hop mission is to post a Favorite Recipe or Dish. While this isn't my personal favorite, it is definitely a family favorite. Be forewarned, I'm not much of an exact measurement person...

Baked Salmon

2 or 3 Salmon fillets (I like Tilapia better myself, and it works as well.)
Paprika
Seasoning Salt
Pepper
Garlic Powder
Ground Red Pepper (omit if you aren't into spicy foods)
Parsley Flakes
Onion Salt
Any other seasoning you would enjoy in the mix.

Preheat oven to 425 F. If fish is frozen, defrost. Place each fillet on a piece of foil. I take off a piece, fold it over three times, and then place the fish on top. Then place on a baking sheet. **
In a small bowl mix together all seasonings. My mix usually consists of a whole lot of paprika, and a little of all the rest. Spoon mix over each fillet, rubbing it to cover the whole thing.
Place in oven for about 7 minutes, or until fish is nice and flaky.

** I usually serve this with baked french fries or roasted potatoes. To save on dishes, I put the fries in first on half of the baking sheet, prepare the fish, and then place the fish on the same baking sheet.

Constumer Service Win

I recently purchased a Baby Trend Sit-N-Stand stroller at a garage sale for $15. I was pretty pumped because I had wanted one, but didn't want to pay the full over $100 for a new one. It has faded fabric, and according to the sticker, was made in 2001 but it is pretty good shape. (I was also allergic to something on the fabrics, but I'm pretty sure I washed it mostly away.) It came with an attachment to use with car seats, but didn't have the screws to attach it, and also didn't come with a manual. So I searched high and low online to try and find a manual for this old of a model of this stroller, but couldn't find anything. So I used the Contact Us button on Baby Trend's site and asked if there was any way I could get a copy of a manual. Less than a week later I received an email that simply said "It's in the mail." This is my idea of perfect customer service. No long drawn out email. Just short and sweet, and answered in a timely manner. I haven't got the manual in the mail yet, but I'm hoping it will come soon. I'll post a follow up once I get it.

Also, we used the stroller today for the first time. Noah was in his car seat in the front of the stroller, and then Ohlen could either sit or stand behind him (closer to the "driver") Ohlen loved it, and so did we. I really like that Ohlen can walk until he gets tired, and then has a place to rest for a while. Now there isn't really any way that he could sleep on it, but I can't see that being an issue unless we are somewhere for a really long time. It isn't the smallest thing when it's folded up, but we aren't really cramped in the van.

Speaking of mini vans. I just have to say that I love mine, and will probably drive one until I'm not driving kids around any more. They drive so smooth and so much like a car - at least the one that we have. Never thought I would be a mini van driver, but I wouldn't want anything else now.

Pictures from the zoo to come soon.

Summer

This summer is going by so fast. It seems like every weekend is already booked. It will be fall before we know it. (Yay! My favorite season.)

I've been toying around with a recipe blog. Mostly for my own retention of my made up/ messed with recipes, but I'll share too. I'll put up the link as soon as I get it up and going.

The post below is a start to try to pump some more life into the blog. To remind me I still have it. Seems like it will be alot of fun to keep up with.

Pictures of some of our summer fun to come later.

Blog Hop

Benny Bringer of Light, one of my favorite nonkid pictures.