Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Sleet and Thunder Showers
Brr... it is so blustery out there today. Spring is here though, I know this! I was awoke in the middle of the night last night to the pitter patter of sleet on our metal roof and the sound of thunder cracking in the distance. Spring has surely sprung! Today, though, it is quite chilly out there and the rain and wind are whipping at the windows. Every once in a while I will look out and it will be sleeting or hailing again. I am not complaining! I was able to get out yesterday after the kids got home from school and remove all the dead plants and weeds from all but one of my flower beds. Bring on the warm weather! Our daffodils are also starting to sprout, and when I was weeding yesterday I saw that my lilies are also starting to peek through :)
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Bedtime Stories
Man, when did my kids grow up so fast? It's like yesterday they were just little.... and here is another post that makes me realize how fast they really do grow! Bedtime tonight was routine, but instead of stories for each kid or as a group, Lailah wanted to read to her little brother. Melt.My.Heart. It was heartwarming to listen to hear read to him. She is beginning to be such a good reader! She sailed right through that book like she has read it a million times before, and from what I can recall, she hasn't read it at all... She needed help with some words, like Universe and Continent. But other than that she did really well.
The book is Pet of a Pet and is about a sloo of farm animals that have each other as pets and teach each other new tricks. It is really cute actually. Like the Pig has a Rooster named Oink that he teaches how to roll around in the mud.
And his hat... can't forget his hat that he goes to bed with lately either. And how his little duck feathers stick out the back :) The joys of having little boys. :)
The book is Pet of a Pet and is about a sloo of farm animals that have each other as pets and teach each other new tricks. It is really cute actually. Like the Pig has a Rooster named Oink that he teaches how to roll around in the mud.
I adore how my little man has to sleep with one of his trucks or cars every night. He grips it and falls asleep :) Those little hands... melt.my.heart.
And his hat... can't forget his hat that he goes to bed with lately either. And how his little duck feathers stick out the back :) The joys of having little boys. :)
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Vanessa is 5
My little girl isn't so little anymore. Quite frankly, it makes me kind of sad. She is five. It seems like such a huge landmark when they turn five. She turned five on March 16. And that day, I wanted to write 3/16/06 on everything that I signed and dated....
Something about them changes that whole year from four to five. They gain Independence, no longer rely on us for everything. They are more curious and adventurous. They talk more and more, in full sentences and carry on conversations with us. They are joining the world of becoming little people. With intelligence and inquisitiveness. With giggles that turn to belly laughs when you tickle them. Begging for you to tickle them. And running away and coming up with their own thoughts on how fun like that should be had. Their minds create more intense pretend play scenes.
She loves dolls more than ever, and tea parties, and cooking, and doing things a little girl her age should be doing.... but tenfold. Because she is five. And it makes me sad that she is growing up.
Happy Birthday Nessa Noodle! My little Nessie. My Nessa.
And because it is so hard to believe she is just a year older... these side by sides speak for themselves. Exactly a year apart, and worlds different. She is growing up. You know when they say that you shouldn't blink, because just like that they will be grown and flying from the nest? They are not kidding.
And her beautiful haircut on the left (her 4 year old picture.) was done by her.... and a scissors. Behind the couch. Oh that child. But look at the long lovely locks she is sporting this year! And the super short bangs... that she cut, all by herself, behind the couch, with a scissors.... Maybe she has just a tad bit of rebellion showing through, or maybe she wants to be a beautician when she gets big :).
We love you Nessie. - Mom & Dad.
Something about them changes that whole year from four to five. They gain Independence, no longer rely on us for everything. They are more curious and adventurous. They talk more and more, in full sentences and carry on conversations with us. They are joining the world of becoming little people. With intelligence and inquisitiveness. With giggles that turn to belly laughs when you tickle them. Begging for you to tickle them. And running away and coming up with their own thoughts on how fun like that should be had. Their minds create more intense pretend play scenes.
She loves dolls more than ever, and tea parties, and cooking, and doing things a little girl her age should be doing.... but tenfold. Because she is five. And it makes me sad that she is growing up.
Happy Birthday Nessa Noodle! My little Nessie. My Nessa.
And because it is so hard to believe she is just a year older... these side by sides speak for themselves. Exactly a year apart, and worlds different. She is growing up. You know when they say that you shouldn't blink, because just like that they will be grown and flying from the nest? They are not kidding.
And her beautiful haircut on the left (her 4 year old picture.) was done by her.... and a scissors. Behind the couch. Oh that child. But look at the long lovely locks she is sporting this year! And the super short bangs... that she cut, all by herself, behind the couch, with a scissors.... Maybe she has just a tad bit of rebellion showing through, or maybe she wants to be a beautician when she gets big :).
We love you Nessie. - Mom & Dad.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Chocolate Eclaires
Wow, this blog has been neglected these last couple months... I really need to catch back up. Todays post is all about Chocolate Eclaires. I have been craving them like mad lately and really got the urge to make them, because I wasn't about to make a drive and get them from the store. So here goes. How to make Chocolate Eclaires.
First up, the puff pastry! I do not know much about making puff pastry, as this was my first time doing a home made version of it. But what I do know is that if you do not follow the directions to the letter, they will fail, and instead of puffing, they will spread and make a nasty unpuffed cookie.
First step. You will need: 1 cup water, 1/2 cup butter, 1/8 teaspoon salt, 1 cup all-purpose flour and 4 eggs.
In a medium saucepan, combine the water, butter and salt.
Stirring occasionally, bring to a boil.
When it gets fish scale looking, get your flour ready.
Level it off really nicely.
You want to put the flour in as soon as it comes to a boil so that you do not boil out too much of the water. Failing to do so, will result in said nasty unpuffed cookies. And as soon as you put the flour in, stir it around to combine with a wooden spoon. (another key point... using a metal beater or mixer will result in unpuffed pastry.)
Continue to stir until it makes a nice little blob in the pan. It will begin to smell a tad like playdough at this point... don't worry, it won't taste as such when it is done.
As soon as the blob forms, remove from heat and let cool 10 minutes. (again, key note.... 10 minutes is key to the success of the puff pastry... more or less than that? Yep, you guessed it, nasty unpuffed cookies.)
After the 10 minutes has passed you are ready to add the eggs. One at a time. Already whipped. So in a seperate dish, break one egg and whip it up.
Add to the blob in the pan. And, using a wooden spoon, mix it up well. About five minutes per egg.
Repeat 3 more times.
After adding in each egg, you will have a nice smooth mixture of dough.
Scoop out about 2 tablespoons per pastry and put them on a well greased pan.
While you are baking the puff pastries, you can start to prepare the filling. For the filling you will need: 1 1/4 cup milk, 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream, and 1 package instant french vanilla pudding.
Instant French Vanilla Pudding.
1 1/4 cup milk and 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream.
Add the milk/cream mixture to a medium sized bowl.
Add in pudding packet.
Whisk together for about 2 minutes, once well combined put it in the fridge and let set.
Get your cooling rack ready for the puff pastries arrival from the oven.
Clean up your mess...
Beep, Beep, Beep. Remove puff pastries from the oven and adore their heavenly appearance.
Place on cooling rack and let cool for about 30 minutes.
Once cooled, you will need to cut a hole in the top of each pastry.
Save the "caps" that you cut off for later.
Now's time for the chocolate filling. For the filling you will need: 1 1/2 cups semi sweet chocolate baking morsels, 2 tablespoons hot fudge ice cream topping and 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream.
In a medium sauce pan combine the chocolate morsels
With the hot fudge ice cream topping,
and add in the whipping cream.
Stirring often,
Combine until smooth and creamy, and remove from heat.
Put 1 tablespoon of the mixture into each puff pastry. Pushing it to the sides of each pastry as you fill.
After you have filled each pastry with the chocolate mixture, it is time for the pudding filling to get added in. I use a cake decorating plunger so that I can get it filled neatly and pushed to the insides of each pastry. You can use a spoon if you would like.
Squeeze gently and fill each pastry to the brim.
After adding a dollop of chocolate, replace the caps of each pastry.
Be sure to keep them in the fridge when you are not devouring all their heavely goodness.... so the pudding doesn't get all slimy on you :)
First up, the puff pastry! I do not know much about making puff pastry, as this was my first time doing a home made version of it. But what I do know is that if you do not follow the directions to the letter, they will fail, and instead of puffing, they will spread and make a nasty unpuffed cookie.
First step. You will need: 1 cup water, 1/2 cup butter, 1/8 teaspoon salt, 1 cup all-purpose flour and 4 eggs.
In a medium saucepan, combine the water, butter and salt.
Stirring occasionally, bring to a boil.
Before it boils it will get a goofy looking fish scale look to it.
You want to put the flour in as soon as it comes to a boil so that you do not boil out too much of the water. Failing to do so, will result in said nasty unpuffed cookies. And as soon as you put the flour in, stir it around to combine with a wooden spoon. (another key point... using a metal beater or mixer will result in unpuffed pastry.)
Continue to stir until it makes a nice little blob in the pan. It will begin to smell a tad like playdough at this point... don't worry, it won't taste as such when it is done.
As soon as the blob forms, remove from heat and let cool 10 minutes. (again, key note.... 10 minutes is key to the success of the puff pastry... more or less than that? Yep, you guessed it, nasty unpuffed cookies.)
After the 10 minutes has passed you are ready to add the eggs. One at a time. Already whipped. So in a seperate dish, break one egg and whip it up.
Add to the blob in the pan. And, using a wooden spoon, mix it up well. About five minutes per egg.
Repeat 3 more times.
After adding in each egg, you will have a nice smooth mixture of dough.
Scoop out about 2 tablespoons per pastry and put them on a well greased pan.
Put in a 400 degree preheated oven. And close the door, let the magic happen and bake for 30 minutes.
While you are baking the puff pastries, you can start to prepare the filling. For the filling you will need: 1 1/4 cup milk, 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream, and 1 package instant french vanilla pudding.
Instant French Vanilla Pudding.
1 1/4 cup milk and 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream.
Add the milk/cream mixture to a medium sized bowl.
Add in pudding packet.
Whisk together for about 2 minutes, once well combined put it in the fridge and let set.
Get your cooling rack ready for the puff pastries arrival from the oven.
Clean up your mess...
Beep, Beep, Beep. Remove puff pastries from the oven and adore their heavenly appearance.
Place on cooling rack and let cool for about 30 minutes.
Once cooled, you will need to cut a hole in the top of each pastry.
Save the "caps" that you cut off for later.
Now's time for the chocolate filling. For the filling you will need: 1 1/2 cups semi sweet chocolate baking morsels, 2 tablespoons hot fudge ice cream topping and 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream.
In a medium sauce pan combine the chocolate morsels
With the hot fudge ice cream topping,
and add in the whipping cream.
Stirring often,
Combine until smooth and creamy, and remove from heat.
Put 1 tablespoon of the mixture into each puff pastry. Pushing it to the sides of each pastry as you fill.
After you have filled each pastry with the chocolate mixture, it is time for the pudding filling to get added in. I use a cake decorating plunger so that I can get it filled neatly and pushed to the insides of each pastry. You can use a spoon if you would like.
Squeeze gently and fill each pastry to the brim.
Once you have done that, you are going to add one more dollop of the chocolate mixture to the tops of each pastry.
After adding a dollop of chocolate, replace the caps of each pastry.
Then sprinkle with powdered sugar. And Wha-la! You have just made Chocolate Eclaires!
Be sure to keep them in the fridge when you are not devouring all their heavely goodness.... so the pudding doesn't get all slimy on you :)
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