Saturday, March 9, 2013
LENT & FISH
Growing up Catholic and living in the midwest, I've always looked forward to Lent and Easter. The whole midwest part of this has to do with Fish Frys. And if this takes place in other places that's awesome, we just didn't come across Fish Frys in Maryland and people thought we were crazy when we asked about it, so I associate it as a midwest thing.
The last few weeks have been absolutely crazy with Mike's job, lots of late nights so we made it to our first fish fry of the season last night. We headed to one of our favorites in a close-by small town just outside of Omaha. I think this is one of my favorites, although it is a toss up between this one and my parents' childhood parish, where the line wraps and goes through the school's underground tunnels.
Fish fry, beer in hand and with my loves....all is right in the world.
The last few weeks have been absolutely crazy with Mike's job, lots of late nights so we made it to our first fish fry of the season last night. We headed to one of our favorites in a close-by small town just outside of Omaha. I think this is one of my favorites, although it is a toss up between this one and my parents' childhood parish, where the line wraps and goes through the school's underground tunnels.
Fish fry, beer in hand and with my loves....all is right in the world.
Anyways....Catholics are pretty strict about not eating meat of Fridays so we eat fish (Church law, not God's law), and many of the Omaha Catholic churches put on Fish Frys where you go to to literally eat a meal of fried fish and some form of potato, coleslaw and dessert.
This is such a big deal in Omaha that my parents' old church in particular has a line that wraps around the church and school, so if you're not there by 4:30-5:00 you can expect to wait for a least an hour. Waiting though isn't all that bad because while you wait in the line, there are beer stops.....yeah it's pretty awesome.
Last night we waited for about 45 minutes, but it was definitely worth it! Our line snaked around the main entrance to the church. Of course we had our beer and people were happy to smoosh together and shuffle along.
Kensi happily munched on bread, potato, applesauce, pickles and sour cream packets....she's been an interesting little eater these last two weeks.
This was my favorite photo from last night. Kensi is always giving us this littler smirk with her lips all curled in, I'm so glad we got a picture of it.
Lent for me is a pretty cool thing too. For my it's such a cleansing process for my mind, body and soul. Growing up I only knew lent as I had to give something up for 40 days that was suppose to be difficult and not eat meat on Fridays. In high school many of my friends had Sundays as their 'cheat' days....where they could do whatever it was that they gave up to make it a little easier...it really is cheating. But now as an adult I not only give something up, but I also challenge myself to do something better. I've decided to give up my lounge clothes during the day (sometimes I won't get dressed for that day until right before Mike comes home! Just so you know, this one isn't going as planned) and I'm challenging myself to be more patient/loving and more organized. Like everyone I have my days where I'm Negative Nelly and I hate that! In addtion to those, I've started a 40 day Bible devotional. It's actually on my phone as an app and it makes it fairly easy.
Friday, March 8, 2013
BABY CHOW: SINGLE PUREES
Around 5 months we started giving Kensi single pureed foods. I would often buy a new flavor at the store before I would make a large batch of pureed baby food. Her favorites are still green beans, mixed veggies and sweet potatoes. Although, I will admit I didn't attempt to make our own green beans and veggies. It didn't take long for her to get kind of bored with single purees and we moved into blends and bite sized foods. But I know there are an array of moms out there....some who only want to make their own baby food and others who'd rather just pick it up at the store. I fall somewhere in the middle and am sharing more of our homemade purees, the directions for the veggies are pretty much the same, only the cooking time varies.
I use a Tupperware microwavable food steamer, you can always just steam over the stove.
For freezing....cookie scoop on to a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Place in freezer for 1 hour. Remove each scoop and wrap in plastic wrap in groups of 4-6. Place in a labeled Ziplock Freezer bag and you're done!
Let's start with the easiest..... single purees.....
Cinnamon Sweet Potatoes
(You can always omit the cinnamon)
Broccoli
1 head of Broccoli
Cut broccoli into small pieces and place in steamer. Add 1/8 cup water to steamer and microwave for 5 minutes. Once broccoli is fork tender, transfer to a food processor or blender. Add water from steamer as you blend. Blend until broccoli is a smooth consistency.
Cauliflower
1 head of Cauliflower
Cut cauliflower into small pieces and place in steamer. Add 1/8 cup water to steamer and microwave for 5 minutes. Once cauliflower is fork tender, transfer to a food processor or blender. Add water from steamer as you blend. Blend until cauliflower is a smooth consistency.
Potato
1 large or 3 small Potatoes (about 1 pound)
**I like Yukon gold because you don't have to peel, but if you use Russet or another potato with a harder peel, you may want to peel it since it probably won't blend up as well.
Peel and cut potatoes into small pieces and place in steamer. Add 1/8 cup water to steamer and microwave for 5 to 8 minutes. Once potatoes are fork tender, transfer to a food processor or blender. Add water from steamer as you blend. Blend until potatoes are a smooth consistency.
Carrot
1 pound of Carrots
Cut carrots into small pieces and place in steamer. Add 1/8 cup water to steamer and microwave for 8 to 10 minutes. Once carrots are fork tender, transfer to a food processor or blender. Add water from steamer as you blend. Blend until carrots are a smooth consistency.
Zucchini
1 pound Zucchini
Cut zucchini into small pieces and place in steamer (I keep the peel on!). Add 1/8 cup water to steamer and microwave for 3 to 5 minutes. Once zucchini is fork tender, transfer to a food processor or blender. Add water from steamer as you blend. Blend until zucchini is a smooth consistency.
Banana
3 bananas
1/8 - 1/4 cup apple juice (no added sugar) or water
Toss everything into the blender or food processor and puree until smooth.
Mango
2 Mangoes
1/8 - 1/4 cup apple juice (no added sugar) or water
Remove peel from mango and cut the fruit away from the seed. (Check out this video for easy mango cutting). Cut the fruit into chunks and place in blender or food processor. Blend with liquid until smooth.
For freezing....cookie scoop on to a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Place in freezer for 1 hour. Remove each scoop and wrap in plastic wrap in groups of 4-6. Place in a labeled Ziplock Freezer bag and you're done!
Let's start with the easiest..... single purees.....
Cinnamon Sweet Potatoes
(You can always omit the cinnamon)
Broccoli
1 head of Broccoli
Cut broccoli into small pieces and place in steamer. Add 1/8 cup water to steamer and microwave for 5 minutes. Once broccoli is fork tender, transfer to a food processor or blender. Add water from steamer as you blend. Blend until broccoli is a smooth consistency.
Cauliflower
1 head of Cauliflower
Cut cauliflower into small pieces and place in steamer. Add 1/8 cup water to steamer and microwave for 5 minutes. Once cauliflower is fork tender, transfer to a food processor or blender. Add water from steamer as you blend. Blend until cauliflower is a smooth consistency.
Potato
1 large or 3 small Potatoes (about 1 pound)
**I like Yukon gold because you don't have to peel, but if you use Russet or another potato with a harder peel, you may want to peel it since it probably won't blend up as well.
Peel and cut potatoes into small pieces and place in steamer. Add 1/8 cup water to steamer and microwave for 5 to 8 minutes. Once potatoes are fork tender, transfer to a food processor or blender. Add water from steamer as you blend. Blend until potatoes are a smooth consistency.
Carrot
1 pound of Carrots
Cut carrots into small pieces and place in steamer. Add 1/8 cup water to steamer and microwave for 8 to 10 minutes. Once carrots are fork tender, transfer to a food processor or blender. Add water from steamer as you blend. Blend until carrots are a smooth consistency.
Zucchini
1 pound Zucchini
Cut zucchini into small pieces and place in steamer (I keep the peel on!). Add 1/8 cup water to steamer and microwave for 3 to 5 minutes. Once zucchini is fork tender, transfer to a food processor or blender. Add water from steamer as you blend. Blend until zucchini is a smooth consistency.
Banana
3 bananas
1/8 - 1/4 cup apple juice (no added sugar) or water
Toss everything into the blender or food processor and puree until smooth.
Mango
2 Mangoes
1/8 - 1/4 cup apple juice (no added sugar) or water
Remove peel from mango and cut the fruit away from the seed. (Check out this video for easy mango cutting). Cut the fruit into chunks and place in blender or food processor. Blend with liquid until smooth.
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
BUILDING AN EASTER BASKET
I can hardly wait for Kensi to celebrate her first Easter! I started building her Easter basket, which I ordered from pbkids.com. I didn't purchase a liner because I didn't love any that were offered. Instead, this year I'll line it myself with some cute fabric I'll pick up at Country Sampler, my go to store for super cute fabric here in Omaha. I have been contemplating on what to put in her basket.....because she is a baby and doesn't get to have the candy filled basket. With all my brainstorming and web surfing I think I have found some creative and fun items our little.
| Balloon Sleep Set | Piggy Paint Nail Polish | JellyCat Bunny | Peter Rabbit: Touch and Feel | Pink Stripe Knot Hat | Wood Teether | Edible Veggie Sidewalk Chalk | Rock Angel Bib Set | T-Strap Sandal |
| Eco-Kids Crayons | Race Track Sleep Set | Neon Fedora | Go Dog Go by P.D. Eastman | Rocket Wood Teether | Neon Twill Slip Ons | Stacker Blocks | Bubbles | Mini Racing Car |
Early last year I came across these adorable Scented Jelly Bean Bags on Etsy....oh yes....very cute! I had them under my favorite items and they couldn't be more perfect for an Easter basket!
Here are some more great ideas to fill an Easter Basket (and it's still candy free!!)
Kite
Watercolors
Crayons/Colored Pencils
Socks
Tights
Coloring Book
Bath time squirters
Pajamas
Hair accessories
Stamp Set
Card Game
Play-doh
Rattles
Kite
Watercolors
Crayons/Colored Pencils
Socks
Tights
Coloring Book
Bath time squirters
Pajamas
Hair accessories
Stamp Set
Card Game
Play-doh
Rattles
Pencils/Erasers
Bunny Ears
Bunny Ears
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
25 DATE NIGHTS
Mike and I have never been the type to bar hop on the weekends....to tell you the truth when we're invited to go out with friends to a bar, we usually have to ask where it is. Not to say we don't like a good drink, because we definitely do! We just like to spend our weekends or our date nights doing things we really enjoy.
Now that we have Kensi, we have to really plan for a date night. Some of our fun and inexpensive
(yes we really do these) date nights are...
1. Pack a picnic
2. Fly a kite
3. Play a board game or card game
(Our favorites are Farkle, Phase 10 & Monopoly)
4. Have a movie marathon
(Can you believe I did this with Mike in high school with Star Wars?)
5. 80's movie night
6. Cook din together
7. Play putt-putt
8. Star gaze
9. Go to live music in the community
10. Movies in the park
11. Check out the local Farmers Market
12. Coffe date at your favorite coffee shop, don't forget to grab a deck of cards
13. Nature walks
14. Try a new restaurant
15. Go to a vineyard
16. Dessert only, go to a local bakery
17. Check out a dive bar
18. Antique shopping
19. Pamper Night---massage, pedicures, etc.
(Yes I've given Mike a pedicure and he loves it)
20. Roller skating or ice skating
21. Go for a nightly road trip
22. Go sledding
23. Go to a Drive-In
(We don't have any in our area now, but we would go quite often in Baltimore)
24. Hit the State or County Fair
25. Take a cooking class together
I hope this somewhat inspires you for your next date night!
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