Back in the Kitchen

Now that I'm somewhat back on my feet, I am also back in the kitchen and experimenting with easy recipes that I come across from pinterest, friends, etc.

Rice Cooker Mac'n'Cheese was something I had to try. Granted, mac and cheese is easy enough to make, but this Rice Cooker method makes it EVEN easier and only one pot to wash. Score!

I usually create the mac'n'cheese base that can last several days, and then the day of, I try to throw in leftover meat and veggies so the kids have a complete meal.

On this particular day, I woke up to E sleeping in our bed in the wee hours of the morning. I just had to take a photo of this. People think snuggling with a sleeping kid is so peacefully bliss. It is definitely cute, but this is also REALLY how it is. Ryan's lucky he didn't get the foot in the face that morning!

Pumpkin Pie Cupcake (I just call them pumpkin muffins) was a staple weekly affair last year during pumpkin season. I'm back to making this one again often. We especially like this recipe because it leaves the insides all gooey like pumpkin pie. Best to eat it warmed up!

Along the same lines, for Liam's birthday this year, I tried the next recipe, the Pumpkin Cake Bar with Cream Cheese Frosting. I obviously replace the egg using the EnerG Egg Replacer and reduce the sugar. Another tip for easy removal of the cake is using a foil lining.

Pre-Oven...

Post-Oven..

Finished product!! Liam finally gets a cake for his birthday!

I alo like checking in with my friends' blogs/facebook to get inspired. Such as Sam & Christina's long ago post about sous-vide cooking (on my wish list or this at some point and time in the future!) and Monica's recent blog and recipe about banana pancakes. Sounds so easy and fun, we had to give it a try! I utilized child labor and put Emilia to work! =)

Mixing the egg replacement powder + water.

Mashing bananas.

Eating the pancakes before I even have a chance to finish cooking up the batch.

And, of course, feeding the Liam (aka sharing) behind the kitchen gate. =)

Thanks for passing along your recipe, Monica! The kiddies and I LOVED it!

Pumpkin Patch Fun!

The Corn maze.

Old school tractors.

Petting farm animals.

Whoops. Little Billy goat with the bandana scared Liam with a nip.

Antique truck.

Mo' tractors.

Kiddies try to climb everything, such as pumpkins and giant measuring sticks.

Awaiting for their turn at the pony ride.

First impression didn't go so well.

Em's liking her pony ride.

Liam's not so sure.

And finally warming up to this.

He much prefers hay barrels, solid ground, or old school truck beds.

Definitely prefers the hay!



On top of the hay barrel!

Now how do I get down?? Help!

Train ride.

Mo' old school truckbed.

Fun pumpkin patch day with the kiddies.. and all tired out... except for lil' boy!

Good night!

More Pumpkiny Fun... Pig Races @ the Pumpkin Patch

Best part about October, pumpkin patches and a holiday that is about silliness and fun! Pig Races!

Kids WWF & Parkour

Ah... the kids have been displaying natural wrestling and parkour tendencies...

Liam-isms : ABCs and more

Liam's at the age where he soaks ups things he learns from the environment and wanting to do things himself. He started off with singing "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" and "XPialidocious" (attempt at Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious) all the time to now singing the "ABCs".



Latest things he likes to say are "knucklehead"... he picked that up from *someone's* driving habit... and "Look, mommy, look!". I've really been enjoying him repeating over and over again "Look, momma, look!". I don't know where he picked up that saying, but I like that he constantly verbalizes that he wants my attention. It really reminds me to foster that sense of security that I am there for him. And that smile that he gives me when I do look is the best! I hope to catch it on camera before he moves on to the next catch-phrase. Once he sees the camera though, he stops all kind of activity, so not too easy to capture his cute little Liam-isms.

Officially Pumpkin Season!

We've harvested the pumpkins from our pumpkin plant, perfect timing for PUMPKIN SEASON!! We harvested 9 decent sized mini-pumpkins (1 not pictured since the kiddies are playing with it) and 1 dwarf-sized mini-pumpkin. Pumpkin season is my favorite time of the year.. for many reasons, with the obvious being all the pumpkin foods.

Trader Joes loves me as I do them! They know me well and give me updates on the latest and newest pumpkin arrivals. Last year, they had ~25 pumpkin items on the shelf. This year, so I've been told, they expect ~45 pumpkin items. I must admit that I try almost all the pumpkin products (Paleo eating is on hold for the next few months). Also from last year's experience with my favorite items being sold out, I want to make sure not to miss out on the good stuff. So yes. I've been keeping tabs on the pumpkin stock. =P I highly recommend the Pumpkin Spice Rooibos Tea and the Pumpkin Biscotti, both not pictured below! However, this link here did a great summary of the current pumpkin items at Trader Joes (though he did miss a few items.. pumpkin ravioli, pumpkin butter, pumpkin cream cheese muffins, pumpkin bagels, pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin soup, pumpkin waffles, etc.)

And, of course, to start off the pumpkin season right, I made the kiddies their first batch of pumpkin pie muffins (modified to be eggless by using Ener-G Egg-Replacer so Liam can partake in the pumpkin goodies.)

Both kiddies gobbled up 'em pumpkin muffins and then off to play!

Happy kids + pumpkin comfort foods = happy mom. =)