Perfect Summer Meal

Saturday night we had Craig's boss and his wife over for dinner. 

I love saying that... Because it sounds fancy.  The guy at the grocery store meat counter said "oh... the boss is coming for dinner=Big Deal".

Most people think so when I say that, but they just don't realize my husbands boss and his wife are like our family.  When the boss man hired my husband on for this job it required us to relocate and move to a new state, new town, new job on the Monday following our wedding.  I'm serious. 

But let me tell you... They welcomed us and included us and acquainted us with this little place we now consider home.  If we are here for holidays, we are with them, when any of us have anything (sick, happy, sad, tired) we cook for each other... Their daughter is our dog sitter/house sitter/baby sitter extraordinaire and our little boy is apparently head over heels for their little boys (who is actually about to graduate from high school) girlfriend.  Who knew a 1 year old flirts, but Jo Jo you have some competition!!

So after they treated us to "homemade coca cola BBQ sauce" pulled beef and pork sandwiches on Saturday for lunch we decided to have them over for a little pre-summer dinner.  I got the idea for this very very very yummy meal from PointLess Meals.

I was originally excited about the flank steak... then I saw the tomato salad... then I was drooling.  We added some grilled corn and had the perfect meal! 

I am going to be crazy and just give you all three.  They are all easy peasy and ah-maz-ing!

Originally From Pointless Meals

 

Printable Version

 

Serves 4 (sparingly... if you are feeding men I would recommend doubling the recipe)

Ingredients:

• ¼ c. balsamic vinegar
• 1 T. Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tsp. dark brown sugar
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 lb. flank steak
• salt and pepper

Directions:
Combine first four ingredients in a large Ziploc bag. Add steak, turn to coat; marinate for 30 minutes at room temperature. Grill until desired doneness. Let stand, covered loosely with foil for 10 minutes, before cutting in thin strips against the grain.

adapted from Pointless Meals

 

Printable Version

 

Ingredients:

• 2-½ c. grape tomatoes, halved
• ⅓ c. diced red onion
• 3 T. Gorgonzola cheese (or double if you love this stuff as much as I do:)

Dressing:

• 1 Tbs olive oil
• 1-½ tsp. white wine vinegar
• 1 Tbs balsamic vinegar
• ¼ tsp. salt
• ⅛ tsp. pepper

Place tomatoes, onion and cheese in a bowl. Mix dressing ingredients together. Drizzle over tomato mixture. Toss to coat.

Grilled Corn

Place the cleaned corn on the cob in foil.  Salt and pepper the corn and then place a few pats of butter on top.  Grill for 20-25 minutes.  Open foil and sprinkle a little Parmesan on top.  Serve warm:)

Alright.  That is a heck of a summer dinner post.  I cannot wait to make this exact meal again very soon! 

Enjoy:)

The Mom



Whats been playing here lately....

"The Scientist" cover by Willie Nelson? ummmmm yes, please!



to get into "The Hunger Games" mood... as if seeing the movie twice has not been enough!



one of the eight million reasons that I love Booth and Bones... They have good taste in music!



and this song just says it how it needs to be said so that is what has been blaring through the iphone/itunes! life with background music makes me happy:)

The Mom

We EGGED Our Friends

Friday nights are crazy around here.  We spend our Thursday nights stuffing eggs (with non chocolate candy in case of melting... we are in the South) and then we distribute to our favorite kiddos the next night.  I cant think of much better than quality time with my men doing things for our special friends.

This idea was so much fun. 

To prepare for and then to do together.  Our little man was almost no help, and at both of our friends houses really did NOT understand why we were not there to play.  He kept trying to get in their doors and gates. 

We used this sign above from eighteen25 and taped it to their doors.  Then we hid 25 easy eggs around their landscaping and front yards pretty much:)  There is a 4 year old at one house and a 2 year old at the other.  We didnt make it too difficult:)  Here are a few pictures of our little buddies hunting their eggs and then enjoying what was in them:)

Happy Almost Easter!

Love,

The Mom

Toddler Muffins

I have a toddler.  Hes a great eater... When it is something he wants to eat.  The problem is that the things he wants to eat are not fruits or vegetables (with the exception of bananas and applesauce).

I found these on Pinterest and immediately knew I had to try them.  So get all the ingredients together and then just dump one at a time into your mixer or a bowl with a hand mixer or get a good arm workout... whatever floats your boat.  They are adult and kid friendly!

Toddler Muffins

Originally from AllRecipes

Printable Version

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, or to taste
• 2 large bananas, mashed
• 1 (4.5 ounce) jar baby food squash
• 2 carrots, grated
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup oat bran
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. Preheat an oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease 24 mini muffin cups or 12 standard muffin cups.
2. In a mixing bowl, cream together the butter and brown sugar until smooth. Mix in the mashed bananas, squash, carrots, and eggs. Stir in the flour, oat bran, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice, and salt until just combined. Spoon the batter equally into the prepared muffin cups.
3. Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 15 to 20 minutes. Cool in the pans for 10 minutes before removing to cool completely on a wire rack. Store at room temperature for up to two days, or freeze.    

Hope your little person enjoys these as much as mine did:)

The Mom



        

    

The Houston Zoo

I love a good family outing. 

My brother, sister in law, and two precious nieces came to visit this past weekend.  We love some family time and the weather is gorgeous... So we ventured out to the Houston Zoo.  If you are ever in or around the Houston area it is a must see place.  Its amazing.  Sprawling.  Beautiful.  Amazingly well maintained.  God's creatures everywhere.  It is worth every penny.  Bring your stroller, wagon, shades, sunscreen, whatever... Just be prepared and you'll always have a better trip.

 (We stop at a Fiesta Mart and buy our tickets ahead of time.  They are $2 cheaper per ticket and you get to skip the ticket line at the gate... Just a little tip... You have to buy them in cash at Fiesta, but there are 33 shopping markets in the Houston area so you are most likely passing one on your way to the zoo any way you go)

So here are some pictures I snapped while also chasing around kiddos and trying to not get separated from my group. 

The end of a long day... The cousins all had a great time. 

Yes, the Hubby is always silly in pictures. 

Love,

The Mom

What We've Been Up To...

How about a few high quality iPhone pictures to show you...

I made my little man a jar of hearts. 

 Its a cute little decoration for Valentines Day and a fun game of dump and fill for him.

I am obsessed with felt lately!

Valentines Cards for Daddy and to mail to our Grammie and Pops in Arkansas.

Valentines for our cousins went out in the mail last week.  We miss them all so much!

I could not resist including both of these.  I gave my guys their Valentines treats Saturday morning.  The 3 of us don't wake up at the same time during the week and I wanted gifts followed by breakfast.  They had both just woken up, but check out our little guys face in the first picture... melt my heart... and I like how it looks like they were both showing off their treats in the second.  Total fluke cause my little guy was probably trying to rip open his newest chugger.

(Notice the Hubby's new chalkboard heart coffee mug in the bottom.... I was gonna make, but Target sold them, so we both got one:)

My man working hard in the garage on a wedding present for some of our favorite folks.

A homemade dirty murder board.  My husbands family plays this game and all have homemade boards either from his Grandpa, or from his Dad. 

 We have our friends, Samantha & Tucker, play with us when they come over and they requested one of their own... They will be tying the knot on 3/3/12 (notice the adorable dice placement).  We are so excited and happy for them and hope they enjoy their board and always have fun together:)

Their present kicked off our Dirty Murder Dinner Party.  Four couples.  A couple kiddos running around and some amazing food... check out the birthday boys steaks.  Mr. Jefferson makes an ah-maz-zing steak.   

and my new favorite go to dessert for a group.... Rolo Brownie Bites with Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting from Cook Lisa Cook.  Make them.  You will love them.

and a night cap with Lucas... he would be very unhappy with me calling him that and quickly tell me "I am not Lucas"... one of our best buddies and our neighborhood super hero!

A few highlights from our month thus far.  I have been cooking up a storm too... More to come!

Thursday Night=Date Night

 

We were slow to start this, but better late than never.
 The Hubby implemented date night a few months ago. 
Being parents is the biggest blessing of our lives, but being grown ups, adult conversation, dressing up, and a trustworthy amazing babysitter make for a nice few hours a few times a month. 
(We tried for every Thursday originally, but its unrealistic at this stage of work and one year old, so we try for any Thursday that works out... usually about twice a month)
We rarely do movies, because you cant talk, I like to talk, but I have had movie gift certificates since my birthday (last April) so probably time to use them, right??
{Cheese and Sprinkles will you count the commas in that sentence... Did I teach high school English?  I wonder if they are used correctly?  I don't care, but I will text MJB and get a grammar check... She likes stuff like this}

So I won a bet... The Hubby loves a wager... I usually win!  I don't know why he keeps betting me!  I recently beat him in our College Bowl Game Pick Em and got a weeks worth of foot rubs.  The most recent win got me this movie pick, and anyone who knows me knows the following
1.  I love numbered lists
2.  I am a sucker for a feel good/grown up Disney type movie/animal movie
3.  By feel good I know I will cry, several times, but I love creatures...


Happy Thursday Peeps
Love, The Mom