Christmas Recap and NYE

I am realizing lately that I am behind on my blog updates and have a harder time sitting down at the computer. We had a very sweet little Christmas at home with the kids. Santa came and spoiled them rotten, and by rotten I mean, they were little angels most of the day and then started suffering from the "I got too many presents" meltdowns that always seem to occur with little kids on holidays and their birthdays.

It was a pretty laid back day as I had been gone the days prior and wasn't around to meal plan or have the house in tip top condition. It was nice though. We just hung out in our jammies all day and played with the new toys. A very relaxing day overall.

Christmas was on a Wednesday this year and Tim had the whole week off. On Friday we loaded up the car to celebrate Christmas with Tim's family at the cabin. Grandma Sue and Papa Wayne had the cabin all decorated for Christmas with a fun all white Christmas tree dressed up as a snowman. The kids decorated cookies with Grandma Sue and we celebrated by opening lots and lots of presents and having a "French" meal. Tim's family does a different theme meal every Christmas and lots of planning go into the menu. It was quite a success this year I think. I'm kicking myself for not taking more pictures. Must get better at that!!! Another thing to add to my 2014 list.

Evie and Cousin Mara

Grandma Sue and the grandkids frosting cookies.

For New Year's Eve we rung in the new year with what is becoming a new little family tradition of ours and made our own pizza from scratch. I broke out the bread machine and made a fresh batch of dough, then we topped it with sauce, fresh mozzarella cheese, spinach, olives and mushrooms. It was pretty delicious. The kids helped with the toppings of course. We had movie night and watched Despicable Me 2 (which Miles LOVES right now). Kids were in bed by 8:30 and Tim and I were both lights out by 10:30. I love being old, married with kids. It is quite nice. 2104 is going to be a good year.

Ringing in 2014 with a home made pizza!

Vitamix, Vitamix, VITAMIX!!!

Love at first sight. Vitamix!!! I have always always always wanted a Vitamix. Ever since I can remember, but knew better because it is hard to spend so much money on what looks like a blender. Well, Santa was extra sweet this year because one showed up on my doorstep before I left on my big trip, and let me tell you, it is simply the best thing ever. Seriously!!! This thing made peanut butter in less than 2 minutes from a handful of peanuts. It also whips up a mean smoothie and grinds down my chia seeds into nothing in seconds.  Tim has even started using it (this is a really big deal).  When I was gone he was mixing all kinds of goodies for the kids. Guacamole, sorbet, smoothies, almond milk, the list goes on. A new favorite with the kids is something as simple as frozen berries and yogurt, blended up to be almost like an ice cream dessert. So good that Miles said he'd put it on a cone instead of ice cream. I made a smoothie with an entire apple, large carrot, an orange (peeled of course),  a ton of spinach and romaine lettuce and some frozen cherries. And guess what? My kids fought over it! They drank the entire pitcher and I had to make another batch for myself as I get one sip. We are loving this machine and wondering why we didn't get one sooner. Amazing. And the best part, this magical machine self cleans itself. Today kale and pear smoothie. Oh and did I mention the Christmas in a glass drink I mixed up? Apples, cinnamon, cranberries and ice. It doesn't get much better than that.

Surprise! Off to WA I go!

So I was spoiled rotten for Christmas this year. I don't know why because I don't remember being very nice this year, with all the yelling, crabbiness, sleep deprivation and frustration of the terrible 2's (Evie). But somehow I got on the super nice list and was showered with all kinds of lovely things, the best being my surprise trip to Washington to visit my family ALONE this past weekend, right before Christmas!!! And if that wasn't awesome enough Tim flew me out there first class. It was my very first time flying first class, and let me tell you, it was AMAZING. I almost wish I wouldn't have gotten to experience how fantastic it was because now flying coach will seem even worse then it already is. I spent 4 days in Olympia with my family, enjoying the nice break from the daily grind of motherhood and Minnesota winter - um, it was 50 degrees pretty much the whole 4 days I was there. Anyway, it was such a great trip and much needed as I hadn't been out to WA to visit my family in over a year and a half.  I hope we can all be in the same state or at the very least, region in 2014.  I got back to MN right in time to celebrate Christmas Eve with Tim and the kids, and it was so cold here my car wouldn't start. I really extra appreciated not traveling with the kids during my flight back on the 24th as I witnessed so many stressed out families trying to get somewhere for Christmas while their children screamed and cried in the airport and on my flight.

Pasta with Roasted Broccoli

This is such a quick and easy recipe. I made it tonight for dinner and threw in some cauliflower too since I had it on hand. I got it out of a magazine years ago. I'm always looking for ways to get veggies in and we always enjoy it.

Pasta with Roasted Broccoli  (serves 6)

6 cups fresh broccoli florets
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
3 T olive oil
12 ounces whole wheat rotini pasta
1/2 cup broth
2 T butter
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

Heat oven to 400 degrees and bring a large pot of salted water to boil.

Combine broccoli, garlic, walnuts, salt and pepper in a medium size bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and stir until coated. Place broccoli mixture on a large rimmed baking sheet and roast at 400 degrees for 13 minutes, stirring twice.

Cook pasta following package directions and drain. Return to pot. 

Add broccoli mixture to pasta pot and stir in butter, broth and parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.

I always top with extra parmesan and leave out the nuts so my kids can safely enjoy (I don't trust Evie with nuts yet).

I need to go to IKEA.

OMG I love this.  I need to go to Ikea and start working on the large wall in our basement where I hang the kids' artwork. I want to remember this arrangement so I have to post it here. These are the pictures from the site I found this idea from. No I do not have a daughter named Kate and no, no room in my house is this cute.

Old Friends and Blueberry Coconut Muffins

This morning we went on a family trip out to visit some old friends who moved quite a ways out of the city last year. We miss them dearly, and it has gotten harder to find any time during the week to see them, so we planned a little Saturday morning gathering at their house.  The kids got along GREAT and we were able to drink some yummy home made chai tea (Jennifer I still need this recipe from you) and eat these fabulous muffins and let's not forget the delicious garden cheese spread that we are now going to search out at the grocery store. Jennifer and I met over 4 years ago at our very first ECFE class when Miles and Everett were just little babies. We became friends immediately and started hanging out weekly as we lived less than a mile away from each other. We would meet and swap out recipes, share crafty projects together and let the boys play. We've always had a lot in common and I miss our time together so much. Anyway, whenever she makes something new, I need the recipe and we both usually love the same types of foods. These muffins that she made are soooooo good. I could have eaten them all (I'm pretty sure Evie had several). To my surprise they are actually a recipe off a food blog that I follow called Two Peas and Their Pod. I am making these ASAP. We are big coconut fans around here.

Blueberry Coconut Muffins

Yield: 10 muffins

Cook Time: 18-20 minutes

Coconut muffins made with white whole wheat flour, coconut oil, coconut milk, coconut, and blueberries. Coconut fans will go crazy for these muffins!

ingredients:

1 1/2 cups Gold Medal White Whole Wheat flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 cup coconut oil, melted and cooled to room temperature
1 large egg (or flaxseed replacement, see note)
3/4 cup lite coconut milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut
1 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen)

directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease muffin pan or line pan with muffin liners. Set aside.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder.

3. In a separate medium bowl, mix coconut oil, egg, coconut milk, and vanilla together.

4. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir with a spatula. Stir until just combined. The batter will be thick. Gently fold in the coconut and blueberries.

5. Divide batter among prepared muffin cups. Bake muffins for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean. Transfer muffins to a cooling rack and cool.

Note-you can make this recipe vegan by replacing the egg with 1 tablespoon ground flaxseeds and 3 tablespoons water. Stir together until thick and add to coconut oil, coconut milk, and vanilla.

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It's that time of year again....Cranberry Apple Walnut Bread

One of my all time favorite things to make around the holiday season is a recipe out of The Moosewood Cookbook that my Mom used to make when we were growing up.  Anytime I make it for a group, I get rave reviews and everyone wants the recipe.  It is so yummy and packed with healthy cranberries and apples you don't even feel guilty eating it. I usually leave out the walnuts so my kids can enjoy and when making it for a group (Tim's office requests it every year for their holiday potluck). You just never know with nut allergies these days. Either way it is delicious.

Cranberry, Apple, Walnut Bread (adapted from The Moosewood Cookbook)

Ingredients:

1 cup flour
1 cup pastry flour (I use whole wheat)
1 3/4 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup veg oil
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
2 cups apples, peeled and diced
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9x13" glass pan.

In a large bowl, mix together the oil and sugar until creamy, then add the eggs and vanilla and beat well.  Sift flour and all dry ingredients (minus the nuts, cranberries and apples) in a separate bowl and mix well.

Add dry mix to oil mixture and beat well (I use a handheld mixer as it is kind of a tough consistency). Add cranberries, apples, and walnuts. Spread into well greased 9x13" glass pan and bake at 350 degrees for about 40-45 minutes.