Memorial Day

Memorial Day Weekend! It was cold! Oh well. We stayed indoors most of the weekend. One of our puppies was sick, so it was good that we were not busy and could stay home to watch (and clean up after, ewwww!) the little guy. We did manage to have some fun though!

Friday night, Brett made us this special treat, Pina Colada, drizzled with grenadine, whipped cream and toasted coconut. Yummy.

Monday afternoon, we drove to James' grandma's house for a BBQ. Here is Brett relaxing in her beautiful backyard.

Like I said, it was cold, but Tutu (Tutu is Hawaiian for grandma) turned on the spa so the kids could swim anyway! Matt, Tyler, James, and James' step sister Charlotte. Matt loves her to pieces.

Tutu!

Tutu is a great cook. Here's the tiramisu she made for dessert.

Dirty Snowball

When I get a craving for something, I have to make it. Tonight I wanted savory crepes, like they make at this little restaurant at the mall. I made crepes, filled them with pesto, parmesan, cream cheese and mozzarella. Then I sauteed chicken, turkey sausage, and mushrooms in a garlic cream sauce. It turned out a little rich, but still delicious. Everything in moderation!

THEN.......I wanted toasted coconut. So I made an a white cake, filled the middle with toasted coconut and frosting, and did the same on the outside. IT IS SO GOOD. I'm going to call it my dirty snowball cake.

Yum!

Wild Rivers

Today was member preview day at Wild Rivers Water Park in Irvine. I had never been, but had heard how great a deal it was to get the passes. It is! With the purchase of our season passes (which were very reasonably priced) we got free tickets to Lego Land. Thats the only theme park around here that I have never been to. Also, to bring a buddy with us only costs the buddy ten bucks. Great deal. The park was so fun, and I am so sunburned. Ouch. I am taking advantage of this park all summer.

Here's Matt, very excited about pools that are shallow enough for him to walk around in.

Tyler was a little skeptical about the larger attractions, he played in the kid area all day.

Here's Brett and the Pifer's (bestest friends and neighbors) enjoying the shade and an icee.

Tyler and Matt.

Woo hoo!

Beef Carbonnade

I wanted to make something manly for dinner tonight. A dish to impress my husband who works twelve hour days and comes home tired and hungry. Comfort food! This dish was well worth the three hours of preparation and cooking! I found this recipe in one of my old Cooking Light magazines, and tweaked it a little to suit my taste.

1/2 pound of bacon, diced
2 1/2 to 3 pound boned chuck roast, cut into bite sized cubes
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 large white onion, sliced thin
4 tablespoons flour
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar
1 can beef broth
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar (optional)
1 12oz can or bottle of beer, your choice (I used a pilsner)
1 bay leaf
12oz pkg of egg noodles (I used whole wheat)

In large pot, cook diced over medium high heat bacon until crispy, remove bacon and set aside, leaving drippings in the pan. Add cubed beef to drippings, along with the salt and pepper for about five or six minutes. Make sure its just brown all over. Add the garlic at the last minute and let it cook for about thirty seconds. Remove beef and set aside, leaving drippings again. Add sliced onions to pan, cooking for about ten minutes. Stir occasionally. Add flour, cook two minutes. Add white wine vinegar, sugar, beef broth, beer and bay leaf. Bring to a boil. Add beef and bacon back to pot. Cover and let cook over low heat for two hours. When there was an hour left, I added the balsamic and another tsp of sugar, just for fun. The meat will be falling apart and the onions practically disappear. Throw over noodles and garnish with grated parmesan and parsley, if you want. Yum. Don't forget to take out the bay leaf!

David's Video

Falling Down

Here is baby brother David, tempting fate, jumping out of a cessna.

In the plane, getting ready!

AHHHHHHH!!!!!! David is in the middle. Good form!

Minden, NV

Do you think he was wondering who packed his parachute at this point?

And the chute opens, phew!

Oh Brother!

As I type this, my little brother David is taking his first jump out of an airplane. Solo! Not tandem! He promises me pictures AND video, stay tuned.....

Bread Pudding Sabotage

Bread pudding made with ciabatta bread, drizzled in caramel-rum sauce, and a dollop of whipped cream. Forty five minutes on the treadmill should take care of this cheat.

Right?

And just for Theresa, here is my recipe:

About five cups of diced ciabatta bread
(I liked the ciabatta because its crusty enough to absorb and still keep texture)
six eggs
one can sweetened condensed milk
two cups sugar
two tsp vanilla
one cup raisins
one stick of butter
half a cup of rum or bourbon
cinnamon

I cut all the bread into small pieces. In my kitchen aid, I beat the eggs, half the can of condensed milk, vanilla, one cup of sugar, half the stick of butter (melted), and I put lots of cinnamon. You can do yours to taste, I like lots! I put the bread in a large shallow glass pan, sprinkled on all the raisins, and poured the egg mixture over the bread. I kind of pushed all the bread down a bit into the mixture, just to make sure it was all coated. I even sprinkled a little extra cinnamon and sugar on top. Bake at 350 for about 35-45 minutes, until top is brown and toasty and bottom is set. While cooling, pour the rest of the condensed milk into a small pot, add last cup of sugar, rum or bourbon, and bring to boil while stirring, after about five minutes of boiling, add the other half of the butter stick. Let boil for about three or four more minutes while still stirring. Remove from heat. Let cool for just a few minutes, poor over a chunk of the bread pudding, add whipped cream and serve! Soooooo good.

Soup and Chocolate

New recipe day! Thai coconut chicken soup with lemon grass and baby bella mushrooms.









Dark chocolate cake mixed with cherry cream cheese frosting, dipped in milk and white chocolate. Bite sized. I was supposed to have them on lollypop sticks, but I couldn't find any.

Girls Night! Angel's Game!

It was a girls night out at Anaheim Stadium this evening. One of my bestest friends Desiree, her mom and I, went to an Angel's game. Desi's parents are season ticket holders. They were great seats. I haven't been to a game in a few years, I had lots of fun. Any day that ends with me eating cotton candy is bound to be a good one. Thanks to Desiree's mom for having me along!

Anaheim Stadium, my foot.

Me and Desi.

Matthew's Spring Sing

Today Matthew had a Spring Sing at school with all the other kindergarten classes. It was terribly cute. They sang all the songs they have learned this year, complete with hand motions.

The multi-purpose room was packed with parents.

Here's Matt with his fellow classmates.

Liam and Matthew. Best buddies.