Easy Hummus and Pita Chips

Easy Hummus and Pita Chips

For hummus:
1 lemon
15 oz canned chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1/2 clove garlic, minced
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup water

Slice lemon in half and juice it. Measure 1/4 cup of the juice. Pour into food processor. Add chickpeas, garlic, vegetable oil, cumin, cayenne pepper, salt, pepper, and water. Process until smooth.

For pita chips:
4 pita breads
1/4 cup olive oil
garlic salt
pepper
2 Tablespoons dried basil

Heat oven to 400. Cut pita bread into wedges and separate the top from the bottom. Arrange the pita wedges on two baking sheets. Brush the tops with olive oil, then sprinkle them with garlic salt, pepper and dried basil. Bake 4 minutes and then rotate baking sheets. Bake another 3 minutes or until lightly browned. Let the chips cool on the pans on wire racks. Serve with the hummus.

Brent's Home Brewing - Batch #7 - Rothenbrau

Above is batch #7 - Rothenbrau

PJ bottom's for Bryce's 2nd Birthday

How do you make a 2.5 year old cry? Tell him he's just the model, that these pj's are for his cousin for his 2nd birthday. Guess I'll be heading to the fabric store to pick up more of this fabric to make Andrew his own pair :)

Andrew's first Easter Egg Hunt!!!!

The Gresham Stay at Home Mom's had a Easter Egg Hunt today at one of the mom's house. Andrew and I were so excited! He had a great time picking up the eggs and putting them in his basket. Can't wait for future egg hunts :)

Fruit Spring Rolls

Fruit Spring Rolls

For the rolls:
1 1/2 cups cooked Pad Thai noodles, cooked, cooled and drained
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup fresh mint leaves, finely chopped
6 (8-inch) rice paper rounds
6 medium strawberries, sliced
1 mango, halved, peeled, seeded and sliced

Put the noodles in a medium bowl and add the honey and the mint, toss together until noodles are coated. Lay a damp paper towel on a work surface. Soak a rice paper round in warm water for 20-30 seconds until softened. Put the rice paper on the damp towel. Add 1/4 cup of the noodle mixture, 1/6 of the strawberry slices, and 1/6 of the mango slices in the center of the rice paper. Roll the rice paper around the filling and seal the ends with a little water. Repeat with the remaining ingredients. Wrap the finished spring rolls in damp paper towels and store in the refrigerator.

For the dipping sauce:
1/4 cup packed fresh mint leaves, finely chopped
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup fresh lime juice (about 2 to 3 large limes)

In a small bowl, combine the mint, honey and lime juice.

Makes 6 rolls
Adapted from Food Network

Andrew and Maggie!

Andrew got to see his Godmother today!

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies
1 1/2 c all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoons ground cinnamon
1/2 tablespoon ground ginger
1/2 tablespoon ground cloves
1 c packed dark-brown sugar
1/2 c vegetable oil
1 1/2 c pumpkin puree, chilled
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 350. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves; set aside.
3. In another large bowl, whisk together brown sugar and oil until well combined. Add the chilled pumpkin puree and whisk until combined. Add egg and vanilla and whisk until well combined.
4. Add the flour mixture over pumpkin mixture and whisk until fully incorporated.
5. Using a small ice cream scoop with a release mechanism (about 1/8 cup if you don't have one), drop heaping tablespoons of dough onto prepared baking sheets, about 1 inch apart. (I got approx. 24 "cookies" to make 12 total pies.)
6. Transfer to oven and bake until cookies are just starting to crack on top and a toothpick inserted into the center of each cookie comes out clean, about 15 minutes. Let cool completely on pan.

Vanilla Bean Cinnamon Cream Cheese Filling
1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon

1. Sift the powdered sugar into a medium bowl; set aside.
2. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter until smooth. Add the cream cheese and beat until well combined. Add powdered sugar, vanilla bean paste and cinnamon; beat until smooth.

When the cookies have cooled completely, place a large dollop of filling on the flat side of 6 of the cookies. Sandwich with remaining cookies, pressing down slightly so that the filling spreads to the edge of the cookies. Transfer to a container and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate cookies at least 30 minutes before serving.

Adapted from Martha Stewart

new sleeping situation

We converted Andrew's crib into a toddler bed. He has only fallen out of bed a few times...this particular time he didn't even try to climb back into bed...he just went back to sleep on the floor! :)

Winterhawks Game

We went to the Winterhawks Hockey Game tonight...we had a great time!

Brent's Home Brewing - Batch #6 - XXXV Espresso Stout

Above is batch #6 - This was a special batch for Brent's 35th Birthday.

Tissue Paper Cherry Blossom Tree

water
brown or black paint
straw
thick paper
assorted pink tissue paper
glue
pencil or hands

Mix your paint with equal parts water. Put a glob on one side of your canvas. Using the straw, blow the paint/water mixture so it starts branching out. Allow paint to dry. Cut your pink tissue paper into small squares. Crumple up the small squares and glue onto branches or wrap tissue around eraser end of pencil, apply glue and place on branches.

Blueberry Squares

I will definitely be making these again and trying cherry or strawberry...whenever Andrew willing eats something it goes in the "keeper" folder :)

Blueberry Squares

baking spray
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
4 eggs, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups flour
1/2 cup canned blueberry pie filling
confectioner's sugar for dusting http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Spray baking spray in a 13 x 9 inch baking pan.
3. In a large bowl, with an electric mixer, cream the butter with the sugar until smooth. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the vanilla. Add the flour and mix thoroughly.
4. Spread the dough evenly in the pan. With a sharp knife, score into 24 squares. Place a teaspoon of pie filling in the center of each square.
5. Bake for 30-35 minutes. Cool to room temperature, then sprinkle with confectioner's sugar before cutting and serving.

Serves 24
Adapted from My Kitchen Adventures

Vanilla Mallow Mousse

Vanilla Mallow Mousse
1 cup cold milk
1 package (4-serving size) vanilla instant pudding
1 cup thawed whipped topping
1 cup miniature marshmallows

Pour milk into large bowl. Add pudding mix. Beat with wire whisk 2 minutes. Gently stir in the whipped topping and marshmallows. Spoon into serving bowls. Refrigerate at least 1 hour.

Adapted from: Kraft Foods

Andrew/Headphones/Treadmill