E is for Easter

Updated - see below for new picture!

E is for Easter...this picture doesn't to the green paper justice. Like I said earlier...I'm Not Good At This!!! My freehand drawings are sort of sad.

I added this second Easter page after I stumbled upon these cute pictures of Jonah around Easter time...he's picking up Easter eggs and chicks and he just looks so cute. I couldn't resist!

B is for Birthday

Updated - see below for new picture



Alright, B is obviously for Birthday! Here I used his actual invitation along with some fun pictures. I plan on doing one more birthday page for his third birthday...yes I know he's nearing his fourth birthday...I'm late, I'm late!

Ok...I finally got around to finishing the birthday pages...here is his third birthday page!

Y is for Yellow

Y is for Yellow...and yellow is Jonah's favorite color! So in each picture there is something yellow...a yellow swimsuit, a yellow shirt, a yellow golf club, and a yellow weed whacker. What can I say? He loves yellow!

V is for Vacation

V is for Vacation...and so I added a few of our Florida pictures here!

U is for Uncles

Here we have the Uncle page...Starting with Uncle Jeff, then Uncle Ryan, Uncle Ben, Uncle Alex, Uncle Garry, and Uncle Aaron.

K is for Kisses

This picture turned out a little dark, I didn't use a flash. Obviously, K is for Kisses. Who wouldn't want to be kissed by Jonah?

M is for Mom

Updated -see below for new picture! The sides of this photo got a little cut off, but you get the idea! Jonah and his Mommy.

I decided to add another Mom page...I just love the paper that I used here, variations of red and yellow...pretty! I added a few stickers at the bottom...they read "All American Boy" and "What one loves in childhood stays in the heart forever..."

More pages for JDS

First Bath Time...I used a few "crystals" to make a few bubbles, and at the bottom I included a little "letter" in the green envelope that says a little more about his first bath time experience. He hated it!

A picture of when we came home...my sisters had sent me some lovely flowers

Jackson seemed to sleep all the time so it seems important to include a page of him sleeping so soundly. As I look at the picture on the left I'm reminded of just how tiny he was! Look at those fingers!

Another baby brother page. Jonah took such good care of his baby brother when he arrived. He looked after him in such a way that it made my heart melt.

The proud Daddy page.

Sonogram photos that showed we were having a boy!

A new "do"

A was in need of a new do. After much deliberation and talking between many people, this is what I had done:

I sort of feel like saying..."Hi, My name is Rachael Ray, and I make 30 minute meals..." Needless to say, I like it.

A new Scrapbook

I finally got around to starting Jacksons scrapbook. I'm still not very good at this whole thing but am pleased with the results so far.

N is for Nemo

For Jonah's 2nd birthday we got him a pet goldfish, which he properly named Nemo. To this page I added a few flashy fish stickers and I tried to make the letter "e" in Nemo look like a fish. Nevermind that Nemo is dead! He is still in our thoughts...

X is for "Strike!"

This idea came to me after we had gone duckpin bowling. Jonah normally does very well when we go, and he has a lot of fun. Too bad I didn't have any pictures of any of his "Strikes!"

De-Baum Cookies

In honor of my father's birthday today I thought I would post a yummy new recipe that I just tried today. After a few small ingredient changes and a new name (After my daddy of course) they are ready! Enjoy!

De-Baum Cookies
yields about 3 dozen cookies

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup butter, at room temp.
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 tsp. almond extract (I had none so I used vanilla)
3 cups rolled oats
1 cup flaked coconut (for one dozen I chose not to put the coconut in, for my husband who doesn't like it!)
1 cup almonds, chopped fine (I omitted this)
1/2 cup golden raisins (I omitted these as well...didn't have any!)
1 1/2 cups of chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Use a silpat or parchment paper to drop the cookies on, otherwise lightly grease your baking sheet. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a large bowl, cream the butter and two sugars. Beat in the eggs one at a time, beating vigorously after each addition. Beat in the almond (vanilla) extract. Gradually blend in the dry ingredients. Fold in the oats, coconut, almonds, raisins, and chocolate chips. Drop the dough by spoonfuls 1 1/2 inches apart onto the prepared baking sheets. Bake for 8-12 minutes, or until lightly colored. Transfer to wire racks to cool.

Let's all sit down to dunk a few of these yummy cookies and toast my Daddy. Enjoy!

Red Snapper Fish Recipe

Last night we tried something new here. I had gone to Trader Joes yesterday morning while Jonah was in school and came across some frozen Red Snapper fish. I'd never had it but felt intrigued...Red Snapper sounds like a pretty cool fish, right? At the store they had a suggestion as how to prepare it and I took that suggestion and ran with it. Here is what I came up with:

Red Snapper

2 Red Snapper fillets
Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper
2 Limes sliced
A handful or two of small cherry tomatoes, sliced
A quarter or half of an onion sliced
A handful of cilantro
5 cloves of garlic

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Zest one lime to save for later. Add some olive oil to a glass pan. Season the fish with salt and pepper then place inside pan. On top of the fish add the slices of limes, then the tomatoes, and onions. Gently cut up the cilantro and scatter over the fish. Smash - but do not cut any further - the cloves of garlic and scatter around the fish. Go over the entire dish with another round of olive oil, then salt and pepper to season. Take the reserved lime zest and sprinkle that on top. Bake in the oven for about 20-25minutes, or until cooked.

We had a wonderfully zany rice dish (also from Trader Joes) that I got specifically to go with the fish...it was super yummy and everyone here loved it as well. Sorry, I'd link you to it but can't seem to find it anywhere online. It was chimi...something or other...and all I can say is...WOW. So, next time you are in the mood to make something a little fishy, but oh so wonderful, try this refreshing dish!

Countdown List

I've been thinking about the things we have loved while we have resided in Baltimore. Over the next few months I'll be contimplating those things which we will miss...

1. Our church
2. Friends
3. IKEA - need I say more?
   
4. Visiting relatives that come to D.C. for work and/or play
   
5. Trader Joes, especially the curry/simmer sauces like Mojito Simmer Sauce, Masala Simmer Sauce, and Green Thai Simmer Sauce, also the flat pretzel slims, frozen yellow and orange gingered carrots, edamame, to name a few.
   
6. No commute for Mike
7. Duckpin Bowling - yes, it's similar to regular bowling, but you just can't beat the kiddie sized balls.
   
8. Steve and Barry's - cheap, cheap, cheap, and fun clothing for the entire family.
   
9. Crabcakes from Lexington Market - mmmmmmm!
   
10. The variety of parks we can go visit.
11. Closeness to the ocean
12. Aldi - how else will I be able to cut my grocery bill in half?
13. The Baltimore Zoo - I know there is wildlife in SD but I'm not ready to come face to face with a mountain lion anytime soon!
    
14. Free admission to the Walters Art Gallery
15. Living in a city where there are major sports teams...The Orioles and The Ravens.
    

to be continued...

My celebrity look alikes...

Ribs to die for...really, they're that good!

Every once in a while Mike and I like to treat ourselves to a nice homemade meal. We both enjoy cooking, most of the time, and some days we just need to out-do ourselves. Today was one of those days. A while ago we came across a recipe (actually saw Dave Lieberman on Food Network make this and drooled the ENTIRE time he made it - we drooled, not him!) and we had to try it. I used to think that teriaki steak was my absolutely favorite steak but not anymore. No-siree. This short ribs recipe wins hands down. In fact, if I could have these ribs for every one of my birthday dinners, I would...they are THAT good. If you or someone you know loves meat then by all means make this recipe and watch the socks fall off of that special someone.

Braised Hoisin Beer Short Ribs

3 pounds beef short ribs, about 10 ribs
Salt and freshly ground pepper
3 Tablespoons vegetable oil
10-12 garlic cloves smashed
1-inch piece ginger, peeled and sliced into 1/4-inch slices
12 ounces good ale (we recommend Guinness)
3 Tablespoons rice wine vinegar
1 cup hoisin sauce

Season the ribs generously with salt and pepper. Heat the vegetable oil in a large heavy pot with a lit (Dutch oven) over high heat. Sear, and brown the ribs on all sides, in batches if necessary. Remove the ribs and pour off all but a couple tablespoons of the rendered fat.

Return the pot to the stove, lower the hear to medium and saute the garlic and ginger for about 3 minutes. Add the ribs back to the pot. Add the beer and the vinegar. Stir and then cover and simmer for 2 1/2 hours.

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.

Pour hoisin sauce over the ribs, move the pot to the oven, and cook, uncovered for 30 minutes.

Remove ribs and ginger from sauce. Strain fat from the top of the pot so that you're left with just the good stuff. Serve with mashed potatoes and vegetables.