Last night we taught at church and were late getting home.  I use the term "we" quite loosely.  Pretty much I do nothing.  Joel does it all, which he likes and I don't mind either.  I'm not a big talker in front of people!  Tonight, I got all of the cleaning done except for the vacuuming...this should make tomorrow easier.  We also picked up my new glasses tonight, and I am getting used to this new prescription.  Everything is a little clearer, but it still hurts my eyes if I turn my head too fast. 

So with all of that exciting news, I leave you with this:

Naan

The girls and I made Naan today.  It was really good!  I used this recipe, which has step-by-step photos and made it easier as I knew what things were supposed to look like. 

This is the dough before it rises or anything.  It is pretty sticky.  The girls wanted to eat it, but I said no.

You cook the first side in a pan, but then you can toast the other side over an open flame if you have the option.  It smelled awesome!

I seasoned one side with garlic salt.  I wasn't very adventurous, but we have never had it before so I wanted to try it without it tasting like something crazy.  Next time, we want to put cinnamon and sugar on it for a kind of dessert.

I think the girls are starting to go a little stir-crazy having to be inside so much, especially since we had those 2 nice days last week where we got to go out.  Now they are more impatient than ever to go outside!

Crazy post-nap hair:)

She didn't even take a nap.  Don't let her fool you.

This monkey is giving me a hard time every afternoon so I can't get any sewing done.  He is only napping for about an hour in the afternoons.  His morning naps is nice and long, and he won't even go upstairs in the evening until it is time for bed.  I'm not sure which one of us is in charge.

Three Recipes!

It has been a while since I have really posted recipes!  I cooked lunch for my mom and Randa today, which was fun because they took care of the baby while I did it.  That is my main frustration with cooking right now...usually he starts crying when I am halfway through!  So anyways, here are the recipes:

Garlic Roast Chicken with Rosemary and Lemon from Classic 30-Minute Meals on page 116

1.5-2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into large chunks
4 cloves garlic, crushed
4 sprigs fresh rosemary, leaves stripped and chopped
3 T EVOO
Grated zest and juice of 1 lemon
Salt and pepper
1/2 c chicken broth

Preheat oven to 450.  Chop chicken and spread evenly through pan.  Add garlic, rosemary, EVOO, and salt and pepper.  Stir to distribute evenly in pan.  Cook for 20 minutes.  Add broth and lemon juice.  Let stand in oven, which you have turned off, for 5 more minutes. 

I got these other 2 recipes from Tasty Kitchen.  That is a great resource!

Mixed Green Salad with Fresh Raspberry Vinaigrette, Feta, and Pecans

3 T red wine vinegar
2 T honey
1 T Dijon mustard
1/3 c canola oil
1/8 t pepper
1/8 t salt
1/2 c fresh raspberries, rinsed
1/4 c pecan
3 c mixed salad greens
2 slices red onion, separated into rings
1/4 c fresh raspberries, rinsed
1/4 c Feta cheese

Make dressing:  In blender, combine honey, mustard, oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper and blend to combine.  Add 1/2 c raspberries until pureed.  Pour into serving jar.
Toast nuts:  Place pecans into saute pan and cook over medium heat until fragrant, tossing occasionally.
Put salad together.  Use the rest of the raspberries in the salad. 

*I didn't toast the nuts.  I think they would be good candied!  Isn't this a pretty salad?

Caramel Apple Crostata

Crust:
2 c flour
2 T sugar
1 t cinnamon
1/2 t salt
3/4 c cold cubed butter
1 egg
5 T ice cold water

In food processor, pulse first 4 ingredients.  Add butter and pulse until combined.  Add egg and pulse until mixed in.  Add water 1 T at a time until crumbly/clumpy.  Can use more water if necessary, I only had to use 4 T.  Turn out onto lightly floured surface and knead until formed into a ball.  Form a disk and wrap in plastic wrap.  Refrigerate for 1/2 hour.

Filling:
5 whole apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
1 t cinnamon
1/2 c sugar
1/4 c brown sugar
10 pieces caramel candy, cut into 4 pieces each
milk for brushing crust

Place apples in a bowl and mix in everything else but the milk.  Make sure everything gets distributed evenly over the apples.  Roll out dough into 9-10 inch disk on floured surface.  Place dough on cookie sheet covered with parchment paper.  Pile apple mix in center of dough.  Fold dough over the apples about 2 inches in...it shouldn't meet in the middle.  Pinch the folds of dough together to seal.  Brush exposed dough with milk.  Bake in 425 oven for 25-30 minutes.  Awesome with ice cream!

We loved this.  My mom thought it was better than apple pie.  The crust was so flaky and yummy!

Kissable

For Aunite Rannah

Randa got Pilly this outfit for Christmas.  Well, the long-sleeved shirt and pants.  Up until now, Pilly wouldn't wear the pants because they fall down so much.  So she finally wears them and makes it so that you can't see the cute bunny on the shirt!  I'm always interested to see what they are going to come downstairs dressed in.  Every day is an adventure with these monkeys!

Day with Gramma

The children (I almost wrote girls) and I had a fun day with my mom.  She has to go back to work tomorrow, and Joel was going out for supper with a friend so I thought we should try to visit her one more time before she returns to the prison she calls a job.  We visited a fun educational store where we all ran around like crazy because we were so excited, and the girls have some new school books to work in tomorrow.  LB got a neat tractor book and some Richard Scarry books that were on sale that are super-cute.  Do you know that I would rather buy books than anything else?  I would choose browsing a bookstore over eating out oftentimes!  Pnut wanted to stay at Gramma's and tried to say she wasn't coming home with me.  LB gave his Gramma some nice smiles and talked to her a bit.  Pilly dressed all the stuffed animals for Gramma.  It was a fun day!

Happy Valentine's Day!! and Drop Sugar Cookies

We started out our Valentine's Day with pancakes with pink sprinkles, which the girls loved.  Later after LB went back to bed, we made drop sugar cookies, which were lots of fun, super easy, and really good:

3/4 c sugar
2/3 c veg oil
2 t baking powder
2 t vanilla
1/2 t salt
2 eggs
2 c flour

Preheat oven to 400.  Mix everything but flour in bowl.  Add flour and mix thoroughly.  Drop dough onto baking sheet.  Press dough with glass, dip glass in sugar, press again.  Decorate with sprinkles if desired.  Bake 8-10 minutes.

I let Pnut crack the eggs for the first time ever.

Stirring is hard work...

...especially if you only use one hand!

The red sugar really dyes fingers!

The cookies also passed taste inspection with flying colors!

They passed so well I barely got a picture of this kid before she finished hers!

They really turned out beautifully with nice edges, soft, and not too browned!

So we wish you a very happy Valentine's Day and a year filled with love!

And because we can never have too much of this baby!!: