Emma Grace

Emma Grace arrived November 7th, 2008 at 11pm. 7 lb 2oz 19inches long.

Hello All!

Well yet again I have fallen behind on my updates so hold on here we go...

I can't believe that Mia will be 3 in three months! How times fly's! She is know in school everyday for 3 hours a day. She loves it and she is starting to really blossom. Everyday she is saying and learning something new. She loves all her new friends.
She seems to know that her little sister Emma is in mommy's belly but, we don't know how well she really comprehends it.

My pregnancy is going well so far. I'm 33.5 weeks pregnant and counting. I am starting to get tired a lot faster these days. I'm carrying so much lower with this pregnancy then what I did with Mia. It's definitely taking a toll on me. In about 5 weeks I will get an ultrasound to try and estimate how big little miss Emma is. Depending on those results, they may or may not induce me early. (I'm not holding my breath but, it sure would be nice!)

School is going well for me. I only have 6 classes left and I will finally be done! THE END IS IN SIGHT!!

Kevin started his school in June and is doing really well so far. He is doing a great job trying to juggle everyday life, work, his family, and his school work. We appreciate him and all that he does for us. He really has been working his tail end off lately.
He has also had a lot of new business coming in for websites and stuff. That's something he has to juggle as well. Sometimes it gets a little overwhelming for him because people demand things done at certain times and they don't get the fact (or they just don't care) that he has another job. Hes doing very well with it all.


Well, I think that's about it for now. Until next time....

4D Ultrasound Pictures

Hello Friends and Family,

Here are the 4D Ultrasound pictures of Emma. She looks a lot like Mia but we are still trying to figure out who she looks like between Kevin and I....

3 Cheese Tortellini with Meat Sauce

Ingredients:

3 Cheese Tortellini with a Meat Sauce
I'm cooking up a pretty simple dinner tonight, and I thought I'd let you in on it. It's 3 cheese Tortellini with a meat sauce. The sauce is from scratch, the tortellini is store bought. It's a very simple dish, it's just a little time consuming.

1 Yellow Onion
2 Celery Stalks
About 1 small carrot
2 28oz cans of whole peeled tomatoes
3 cloves of garlic
Red Pepper Flake
Oregano
Basil
Herbes de Provence
Cumin (not pictured)
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/4 cup Balsamic Vinegar
85/15 Ground Round
Buitoni 3-Cheese Tortellini
1/3 cup Sugar (not pictured)
Salt & Pepper, of course


Step 1:

First things first, I drain the tomatoes. I'm saving the juice, however. If I just used this juice in the sauce, it'd be watery. So I'm going to reduce it down with some other flavors and use it as the base. At this point you may be notice that this recipe looks an awful lot like Alton Brown's Pantry Friendly Tomato Sauce. I guess great minds think alike. Mine's a little different though, plus it has meat.


Step 2:

Next, seed the tomatoes. Just bust them open and swipe out the seeds with your fingers. Seeds go down the sink. Tomatoes go into a separate bowl for now. I'm not anal about getting every single seed, but I do take my time with this. Seeds make a sauce bitter.


Step 3:

Let the tomatoes sit for a minute. More juice will seep from them. Add that to the pot.
To this, I add 1 dash of red pepper flake, 10 dashes of dried oregano, a healthy pinch of herbes de provence, 1/4 cup balsamic, and 1/3 cup sugar. Turn up the heat and let it reduce. This will take a while.

Step 4:

Meanwhile, I chop up my veggies. 1 Yellow onion, 3 large cloves of garlic, 2 celery stalks, and some carrot. This goes into a pan with a little EVOO on LOW heat. I'm just sweating it.

My wife hates chunks of carrot, and I tend to keep little baby carrots around for snacking. So I'm just taking those and thinly slicing them with my peeler.

It'll get the flavor in there, but will practically melt into the sauce. She'll never even know they're in there.


Step 5:

Veggies in the pot...


Step 6:

Sweating...


Step 7:

OK, that's going, now it's time to brown the meat. A little EVOO in a hot pan, and in goes the meat.


Step 8:

1 dash of cumin just for the hell of it, and plenty of herbs de provence (seeing a patern here?).


Step 9:

While that's going, I get my wife to crush the tomatoes.


Step 10:

After they're crushed, I add them to the veggies.


Step 11:

Cook some of that water away.


Step 12:

I had turned off the base reduction a few minutes ago. It's done reducing when the bubbles start to stack on top of each other. It's still plenty hot. Time to turn it back on now and add all these veggies.


Step 13:

I don't want it this chunky, so I get the stick blender and get it down to a smoother consistency. I left some veggie chunks, but not too many. Now, in goes the meat.


Step 14:

Close-up.


Step 15:

I'll let that cook together a bit while I boil this tortellini. It should take less than 10 minutes.


Step 16:

Serve the 3 Cheese Tortellini with Meat Sauce.

Linguine with Vegetable Medley

Ingredients:

We're going to make a cool pasta with veggies. Cut up 1 tomato, 2 small yellow squash, and 2 small cucumbers.


Step 1:

In a mixing bowl toss the vegetables with 1 tbsp white wine vinegar, 1 tbsp parsley, 2 tbsp freshly chopped basil, 1 clove of finely chopped garlic, and 2 tbsp olive oil. Adjust olive oil and vinegar to taste.


Step 2:

Mix together thoroughly, sampling as much as possible to...uh...make sure it taste right. We're shooting for a taste that runs parallel to the tomatoes, with an accent of cucumber sweetness to pick up the pasta with olive oil.

Stir everything together, cover, and let cool.


Step 3:

Boil fresh pasta for a few minutes. Really, use fresh pasta. Not to say that Buitoni or whatever is fresh, but try your best. Fresh is tastier.

Step 4:

Strain the linguine pasta and stir in olive oil or butter to coat. Top with your veggies.

The linguine pasta with veggie/fruits was very light when mixed together. The cucumber taste outweighed the tomato, but yet kept the whole side fresh.

Breadsticks

I don't know about you but, I LOVE BREADSTICKS! My all time favorites are from Olive Garden and Pizza Hut. So, I have finally found the receipes to make them at home and I thought I would share them with you.


Ingredients:

Hardware:
stand-mixer / bread-maker
food processor
baking sheet
brush

Ingredients:

Olive Garden: butter, flour, sugar, salt, yeast, kosher salt, garlic powder

Pizza Hut breadsticks: same + grated parmessan, black pepper, herbs

Pizza Hut cheesesticks: same + mozzerella

Olive Garden

In your stand-mixer or breadmachine, mix together:
1 1/3 cups of water
4 tsp soft butter
4 cups of flour
2 Tbsp sugar
2 tsp salt
2 tsp yeast


Step 1:

Then, roll it out into a log and divide it into 16 pieces.

Roll these pieces into cigar-shaped sticks of bread.
Arrange on a baking sheet.


Step 2:

Cover, and let rise for 45 minutes.


Step 3:

Preheat your oven to 400*F.

Use your brush to butter each stick, saving some butter for later. Sprinkle with kosher salt.

Step 4:

Cook for 15 minutes.

Remove, then brush twice more and add another sprinkling of kosher salt and a light sprinkle of garlic powder.

Tada! Olive Garden breadsticks.


Step 5:

What about Pizza Hut? Do this:
in a food processor, mix:
1/3 cup of parmessan cheese
1 tsp ground black pepper
1 tsp herbs (it's for the green, I used Italian Pizza Seasoning)
1/2 tsp garlic powder


Step 6:

Then shake these onto your breadsticks to your liking (don't overpower the sticks though)

Cheesesticks? Sprinkle shredded mozerella onto the tops, then pop under the broiler until the cheese bubbles and burns a bit. Good stuff.

Want to make it LOOK, not just taste, like their sticks?


Step 7:

Dip ideas: marinara, ranch, or honey.

Stuffed Shells with Marinara

OK, I'm a pasta junkie. Although it was invented somewhere in Asia, nothing is better than a big fattening italian dish. With that being said, here's an awesome stuffed shells recipe. It serves four, but I was serving 8 so while the amounts are for a single recipe, the pictures are of a double recipe.

First start by making the marinara. You'll need the following:
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion
6 garlic cloves
1 pound fresh mushrooms
1/2 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
1 28-ounce can tomatoes, chopped, juices reserved
1 15-ounce can tomato sauce
1 teaspoon sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil
3/4 teaspoon dried oregano

For the shells you will need:

One box of jumbo pasta shells
3 tablespoons butter
2 ounces prosciutto
2 large shallots
8 ounces cremini or button mushrooms (about 3 cups)
1/2 cup ricotta cheese
1 tablespoon dried basil, crumbled
Step 1:

Picture of shell ingredients:


Step 2:

First, prep your fresh ingredients. I like the garlic in thick slices, since it simmers for awhile and it will be nice and soft. Slice up your mushrooms and finely chop your onion. Then wish you had a food processor. It made this whole step take about 2 minutes, if that.


Step 3:

I've heard before that you should never use tomatoes in a cast iron skillet, but I don't care. I've been doing it for years, and the Lodge website even has tons of tomato recipes for use in their skillets. You can use a regular skillet, though.

Step 4:

Saute your onion in your olive oil over medium heat for about 5-10 minutes until soft and very oniony. Then add your garlic and cook for about a minute more. You should be stirring your ingredients around this whole time.


Step 5:

Add your mushrooms and crushed red pepper. It will seem like a lot, until they start to cook down. Cook like this for about 5 minutes, or until it looks like the second picture.


Step 6:

Second picture showing it cooked down:


Step 7:

Add that big can of tomatoes and it's juices, and stir around. Cover, and let cook on low for 15 minutes. If your skillet is like mine and doesn't have a lid, a cookie sheet works wonders.


Step 8:

Cookie sheet instead of a lid:


Step 9:

Uncover, and add your can of tomato sauce, sugar, basil and oregano.


Step 10:

We're reaching a critical mass here! I had to do the only logical thing after it started dripping down the side:


Step 11:

Cover again, and cook for another 15 minutes. Uncover, and season with some salt and pepper. I like kosher salt, but table salt is fine. Let simmer for about 5 minutes uncovered, until it's thickened up some. About this time, you should start boiling some water, and add your jumbo shells.

So now you have your shells in the water, and your marinara simmering to thick greatness.

Boil the shells according to the boxed direction, and drain. Throw them back in the pot to keep warm and flexible, and set aside while you make your stuffing.


Step 12:

Chop your shallots, mushrooms and prosciutto. The prosciutto will want to stick together, but it will seperate as it cooks.

Heat your butter in a skillet over medium-high heat and toss your shallots and prosciutto in. Cook, stirring the whole time, for about 4-5 minutes.


Step 13:

After 4-5 minutes it will look like this:


Step 14:

Toss in your mushrooms and cook until most of the mushroom juices have evaporated, about 8-10 minutes.


Step 15:

In a large bowl, mix the previous with your ricotta and basil.


Step 16:

If you plan on making this now, preheat your oven to 350F. If you plan on stuffing them now and baking later, that's fine, too. They can sit for about a day before baking. Regardless of how you're doing it, pour most of your marinara into your baking dish, and stuff your shells thusly:


Step 17:

Repeat until full:


Step 18:

Top with some parmesian, and bake for about 15-20 minutes, until your cheese is melted. Serve with some more marinara spooned over and some nice crusty garlic bread. Nummy.

Cuban Chicken

1/2 cup lemon juice
1 tablespoon crushed garlic (more if you'd like)
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons ground cumin
Salt and pepper
1 small purple onion peeled and chopped
1-2 cups Mojito Marinade
3 cups rice cooked
1/4 cup vegetable oil vegetable
3 chickens, halved or cut up (1-2 inche cubes)

Mix all the ingredients except the chicken. Add the chicken and marinate in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days. (I usually marinate in a large ziplock bag)

Grill chicken over hot heat until cooked through.
If you do not want to grill you can fry it all up in a pan.

Spaghetti Pie

I got this idea to share recipes from a friend of mine (you know who you are..this picture doesn't do the dish any justice...lol).
So here ya go.


Ingredients:
8 oz spaghetti Box
1 Tablespoon Butter
1 Tablespoon Pepper
1/2 Cup Parmesan Cheese
1 Egg
1, 16oz Cottage Cheese (you can leave this out if you want)
1 lb. Ground Beef
1 Jar of Pegro Sauce (or your choice of sauce)
2 Teaspoons Oregano
1 Cup of shredded cheese.

Preparation Time: 15-20mins.

Cooking Tips:
Cook @ 350*F for 30 mins.
You can use a 9x13 pan or 8 1/2x 11 pan.

Directions:

Break spaghetti up and cook until done.
Put in the pan while still hot and add 1 tablespoon butter and pepper.

Add 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese. Mix all together.

Beat 1 egg; mix with spaghetti

Pat evenly down in pan.

Add container of cottage cheese (16 oz) spread over spaghetti.

Brown, ground beef - drain grease. (add 2 teaspoons of oregano and or sprinkle a little garlic powder and mix)

Add jar of sauce with beef.

Pour over spaghetti and cottage cheese.

Bake @ 350*F for 25 mins. Take out of oven and add one cup of shredded cheese (your choice of flavor) sprinkle over spaghetti. Put back in the oven for 5 more mins.

Let cool for 5-10mins. Serve and enjoy!

Long over due...

Hello all!

I have been told that I am way overdue updating my blog. I managed to squeeze in some time to update you all.

Mia is 2.5 years old now. She's talking more and more. We are trying to get her use to the idea of being a Big Sister. I'm not to sure that she totally understands what is going on but, hope that she will catch on soon. I think that she will be a great Big Sister.

Kevin has been hard at work with his side website business. He has been getting a lot of new jobs too.
He started school in June and has been working really hard in both of his classes. He is doing a great job juggling his job, business, school work, and his family.

I am officially a Senior in college now. I have 9 classes left and I will be done! I can't wait! My projected Graduation date is May 2009.
My last few classes have been pretty hard. Each new class seems to be getting harder and harder too.

My parents were here back in June for a quick visit. We had a really good time with them while they were here. She grew attached to them real quick.
While they were here they gave Mia a CD of 50 Bible Songs. She LOVES it! She sings the ones that she knows when we are in the car. Its the cuties thing I have ever seen. Some of the songs, she has been learning in Sunday School and they are teaching them some motions to the songs. She does them in the car while I'm driving too. Its great! We have been trying to get her on tape doing it so everyone can see her.

I had my 22 week ultrasound today. Everything looked great and everything is on track. I go back in 4 weeks for another check up and then in 8 weeks I will be back for some 4-D ultrasound pictures. We know what the sex of the baby is but we haven't picked out a name yet. (sorry everyone) Hopefully, in the next few days we will have a name picked out.

Well, that is it for now. I will try to remember to keep this blog up to date from now on. Sometimes life just seems to get in the way.

Love to all,
Allison

Its That Time Again...

Hello again family and friends,


Well, Mia is growing like a weed! I can't believe she is two already. Where does the time go?
She has started to talk a lot more now too. Everyday she is saying something new or putting two or three words together. Its fun to watch her learn. She is a very smart cookie.

School is going well. I am in a Literature class now. As most of you may or may not know, I have never liked to read and there is a lot of reading in this class. Its ok so far but still not a favorite class of mine. Can't wait till its done and on to the next class. With each new class, it just means I am that much closer to Graduation.

I was offered a Preschool Teaching position a few months ago and I really was considering it. However, I just found out that they gave my position away faster than I could apply for it. Of course, I am a little bummed out now. I was looking forward to the experience and not to mention being able to get out of the house for a change.
I may look into something else.

Sorry but I will have to cut this blog short. I really don't have any new news to report. Maybe next month :o)


Allison

Happy New Year 2008

Dear Friends and Family,

Happy New Year! I hope that everyone had a very merry Christmas and a safe start to the 2008 new year.

We had a good Christmas. Mia made out like a bandit! She got a bike, basketball set, puzzles, books, coloring books, dolls, toys, stuffed animals and some clothes just to name a few.

I got to cook my very first Christmas dinner. I must say that it all came out very well. Everyone seemed to enjoy it and we had plenty of leftovers for ham sandwiches.

Mia enjoyed her 2nd Birthday. We had her party at an indoor play ground. She loves that place. She got some very nice gifts. I think my favorite was a very cute adorable leather jacket.

I had a friend of mine make the cakes and they came out cute! The theme was Elmo and we also added a Cookie Monster cake too. She of course liked the Elmo cake best.

School for me is going well. I'm almost done with my current class and will be moving on to a Literature class next. I enjoy it so far...except for all the papers I have to do. (yuck)

It's interesting to me how teachers can be so different in their grading. So far, I have liked all of my teachers but one.

I only have 12 more classes to go and I will be done! I will finish February or March of 2009 and I am currently set to graduate May of 2009! I'm so excited I can't wait! Come on 2009!! :-)

Kevin is still awaiting word from the Sheriffs Office position. We have heard through the grape vine that the next class will be in April so that means that they should be doing background checks now and they should be calling references soon. Please continue to pray that this position will fall into place for him soon.

If it does not we have been toying with the idea of moving. This is not a definite thing just a discussion and our thoughts at this time. I would love to move and get out of Florida. So far, Kevin isn't against the idea so that is good :-)
Keep us in your prayers regarding this as well.

Love to all,

Kevin, Allison and Mia