Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Late Blooming Dogwood


This lovely tree was a real surprise. I knew it looked like a Dogwood and I kept waiting and waiting for it to blossom. I finally concluded that something was wrong with the tree once all of the other dogwoods in the neighborhood started losing their blossoms. Then, surprise... This tree popped out the most show-stopping blossoms on top of the leaves. I absolutely love the way that this tree is just laden with white blossoms on top of every green branch! The last tribute to spring!

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Chicken Tikka Masala

I made this tasty dish for dinner tonight. I got the recipe from a friend in my cooking club. If you like Indian food, this is a "must try." Delicious!

Chicken Tikka Masala
1 cup yogurt
1 Tbsp lemon juice
2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp freshly ground pepper
1 Tbsp minced fresh ginger
1 tsp salt
3 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces

4 long skewers

1 Tbsp butter
1 clove garlic, minced
1 jalapeno pepper, finely chopped
2 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp paprika
1 tsp salt
1 8 oz. can tomato sauce
1 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

1. In a large bowl, combine yogurt, lemon juice, 2 tsp cumin, cinnamon, cayenne, pepper, ginger, and 1 tsp salt. Stir in chicken, cover, and refrigerate 1 hour.
2. Preheat grill for high heat.
3. Lightly oil the grill grate. Thread chicken onto skewers and discard marinade. Grill 5 minutes on each side.
4. Melt butter in a large skillet. Saute garlic and jalapeno for 1 minute. Season with 2 tsp cumin, paprika, and 1 tsp salt. Stir in tomato sauce and cream. Simmer on low heat until sauce thickens, about 20 minutes. Add grilled chicken, and simmer for 10 minutes. Transfer to a serving platter and garnish with fresh cilantro.

Friday, May 16, 2008

My New Red Shoes

I finally have a pair of red shoes. I was looking for something comfortable and cute and I found these Keen shoes. They are the most comfortable shoes I have worn. I could go jogging in them, literally. They are a good match for my lifestyle right now (chasing after little boys all day:)

Monday, May 12, 2008

Tutti Frutti Quilt


My sewing machine has sat quietly in its case for far too long, and I have really been wanting to sew something for a special little person in my life. I found this striped and polka dotted fabric called "tutti frutti" and thought it would make the perfect happy blanket. I used several sizes of ric rac to stitch in the ditch, which made "quilting" it so easy and fun. J wants me to make him one with blue fabric and metallic gold ric rac. I'll let you know how that one turns out... :). I've sure loved your recent posts.

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Tulip Poplar

Tulip Poplar Blossom

Do you see all the blossoms on the tree?

O and W checking out their tulip collection

This is a truely 'Dr. Suessical' tree. The tulip poplar grows full size tulips all over. This is the beautiful old tree that we swing on in our backyard. It is enormous. I can't even see the top of it. The flowers have blown out of the tree all over our backyard. The boys have been collecting them and getting their hands all gooey with nectar. I love each and every tulip that I am presented though!


Book Club Food


Now on to my second addiction: baked goods!

I can and do eat more cookies than probably anyone I know! I am trying to stop and recently have started my new once a week rule. Since I have no self control after I start eating a delicious homemade cookie, I am only letting myself eat cookies or treats once a week. So far so good.

For bookclub this past week I made two fabulous desserts. Mare passed this lemon meringue cupcake recipe on to me. I loved them. I made a couple of alterations though. I actually put them under the broiler after topping with meringue so they were cooked like they would be on a pie. I also stuck them in the refrigerator before serving which helped the lemon curd seep into the cupcake and produce the most delicious lemon pound cake. YUMMY! Definitely try these if you like lemon.

I also made a chocolate frosted, chocolate chip, chocolate cookie that was, in my opinion, fantastic. Jana's almond punch was my first try at a big punch bowl. Jenn's Blue Cheese Bacon Dip and Red Pepper Artichoke folds were both very tasty too.

*Please click on the link above to find recipes for the lemon cupcakes, chocolate cookies and blue cheese bacon dip. The other two recipes are below.

Red Pepper Artichoke Cups
24 Square wonton wrapperes
1 can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1/2 cup diced re bell peppers
2 Tablespoons finely snipped fresh parsley
1 lemon rind
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella
1/4 mayonnaise
1 garlic clove, pressed
1/2 cup fresh Parmesan cheese grated

Preheat oven to 350. Press one wonton wrapper into each cup of mini-muffin pan. (Oil the pan and lightly spray the wonton with oil. Bake 6 minutes or until edges of wontons are light golden brown. Remove from oven, leaving wontons in  pan. 

Mix all ingredients (leaving some parmesean cheese for sprinkling on top). Fill each wonton cup with one rouned scoop of artichoke mixture; sprinkle with remaining Parmesan Cheese

Bake 8 minutes or until edges of wontons are crispy and golden brown. 
Remove from pan and serve immediately


Almond Citrus Punch
1 (12 oz.) can frozen lemonade
1 (12 oz.) cans frozen orange juice
5 c. water
1 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. almond extract
1 tsp. vanilla
1 liter 7-Up

Combine all ingredients except for 7-UP. Add soda right before serving.


Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Azaleas


These are two of the azalea bushes in my yard. I am just loving gardening right now! I just planted four more azaleas in my backyard. 

Latest Reads

I have been reading a lot lately. Sometimes I get on a reading kick and I have a hard time slowing down. It is one of my addictions. (I'll detail the other addiction in another post).  This past week I read into the wee hours even with an aching head and throbbing throat. Once I am caught up in a book, I'll sneak into the bathroom to read late at night or early in the morning. S used to try to convince me go to bed, but I think he has given up. I need him to reign me in though. My inability to stop reading while in the middle of a good book is more than a little ridiculous. 

One of my new goals is to look at the clock before I start reading and set a stop time. I haven't been able to actually do it yet, but I'll report back when I have accomplished this goal!

Now on to a few of the books that kept me busy this past week:
.
This is a great book. I feel totally immersed in Afghanistan now. I have a brother-in-law stationed there and feel tied to the country for that reason as well. I watched Kite Runner the night before I read this book. After reading this book, I couldn't stop thinking about how different my life is simply because of where I was born. Things that bothered me the day before suddenly were inconsequential. This book details the lives of two women who endure all that life throws at them from the time of the Soviet Invasion, through the Taliban rule and the post 9/11 events. This book brought me face to face with the unimaginable physical, emotional and sexual abuse women face in this part of the world. The Revolutionary Association for the Women of Afghanistan have a list of the rules women were forced to comply with. It's absolutely incomprehensible that this is all real.


I followed up on this theme with a book called "Princess: A True story of Life Behind the Veil in Saudi Arabia". This book, while not as well written as a Thousand Splendid Suns, is amazing simply because it is true.  It details the ways that women in Saudi Arabia suffer simply because they are women.  While reading this book I began to understand why this vicious  and evil cycle of mistreatment of women continues. John Meyer sums it up with his song. Daughters.

This book explains that boys are treated as kings from the day they are born and follow the example of their abusive fathers, and that daughters are unimportant. The relationships of brothers and sisters were strained because of this tension. Boys don't have girls for friends and vice versa. Girls are be married off as young as thirteen. They then often endure in bad marriages and the cycle starts over again.


Well, this is a long post, but these books have left me with a lot to think about. I definitely feel that I will be much more grateful for my life and blessings and hope that I can find a way to make a difference for all of the people that suffer so much.

Thursday, May 1, 2008

twin tunes

Hooray! I got Audrey's CD in the mail, and I have been listening to it ever since. It was - as Audrey's creations always are - totally great. I can't believe that we didn't include any of the same songs either, though I have to say that I came within a hair's breadth of putting on "Bubbly" by Colbie Caillat, and I can't believe I didn't think to put on "Snow" by Red Hot Chili Peppers. I went crazy for that song a couple of months ago. I love it!



The more I listen to your CD, Aud, the more songs I really really like. I think I am a new fan of Vampire Weekend. La Caution's "The A la Menthe" is awesome. I don't know why, but it reminds me of some music I danced to with the folk dancers. (I busted out a couple of my moves for the four kids I was watching on Tuesday - I couldn't help myself! They were amused.).

E's favorite is "Opposite Day" by Steve Songs. We all like the line about the pancakes eating him for breakfast. "Yikes! Pancakes! One of 'em's got a fork!" (Argh! My video is always sideways! Help! Oh well, she was too cute and I had to share! No guitar this time, though).



I, of course, love "Island in the Sun" by Weezer. It is now officially on my happy song list. This was lots of fun! I think we should do another kind of swap sometime soon - it is great to have a piece of you here with me.