Productivity!

Our minds have been racing a mile a minute since we found out that Baby Bo was Baby Girl Bo! Now that she is a she my To Do list has expanded. This was the first full weekend in a very long time that we had no plans and thank goodness because we kicked this weekends butt! Let me preface this post with a disclaimer....I did absolutely no baking. But I did cook...kind of.

Normally we save our big meal of the week for Sundays but this weekend Saturday held the main meal of the week. We started the day off by going to the Farmers Market early Saturday morning. Maybe not the warmest day ever but definitely a good time of year to go. Less crowds, BEAUTIFUL tulips, and huge onions! Of course we came away with a bag full of goodies: spicy hot cheese bread from Stella's Bakery, bushel of green onions, locally made Gouda cheese, one Sweet BBQ meat stick (which I ate while walking), one Cranberry Oatmeal scone (which I ate while walking), and Jalapeno popper bread.

There is a little German Sausage Haus on the way home that Andy has been dying to go into since the day we moved into our house....3 years ago. Every time he thinks about going they are closed. The poor guy had the worst luck, until yesterday. We finally made it in only to buy Red Beer Brats and Garlic Summer Sausage. I think Andy was so overwhelmed he had no idea what to get!

So our menu for dinner created itself:

German Red Beer Brats
Summer Sausage Bow Tie Pasta
Sauteed Zucchini

Summer Sausage Bow Tie Pasta


My measurements don't quite exist with this recipe but if you want/need them I can dig up the exact recipe for you. But just eye ball it and it will be delicious I promise!

Ingredients
1 Summer Sausage (I like garlic) cut up into chunks
1 pound of Bow Tie pasta
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Green Onions
Oregano
Salt
Pepper
Grated Parmesan Cheese

Directions
Cook the entire box of Bow Tie pasta. Meanwhile, cut up the summer sausage and green onions. When the pasta is done, drain and rinse in cold water. Place in a big bowl. Combine the summer sausage and the pasta. This is where the eye balling takes place. Pour the Extra Virgin Olive Oil in with the pasta, green onions, and summer sausage. Stir. Then add oregano, salt, and pepper to taste. Stir again. Right before serving, mix in the Parmesan Cheese.  Put in the refrigerator and try to not eat the entire bowl!

Substitute ideas: instead of summer sausage you can use salami. I used green onions this time because we bought them at the farmer's market but I usually use yellow/white onions.

One more thing! I have to show off the new console table we purchased from Target. I have been searching for an end table for months now to go next to our couch. Every one I find is either too low or not wide enough. Until we found it at Super Target! Of course when I said I wanted it Andy said, "you don't need it." I knew he would cave and sure enough the next morning he volunteers to go get it for me as long as I put it together! I did and it's amazing! It's the right color, height, width, and gives me more storage!

Strawberry Jello Trifle

I have this fantastic trifle dish that I haven't used. I got it at my bridal shower and have used it more of a display item. I've been wanting to make something in it for years but never found anything that caught my eye. Anyway, I was in charge of bringing "something with jello" to Auntie Susie's for Easter. So, I scoured the internet for Jello recipes and finally came across something I thought looked yummy.....and easy. I found it on www.allrecipes.com and the only difference I made was that I added more fresh strawberries. And yes I bought the pound cake. We were limited for time this weekend!


Now I'm not a Jello or Cool Whip fan so this dessert was definitely not for me (I actually didn't have any). However, I did bring home an empty (but still pretty) dish! 

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups boiling water
• 1 pkg. (8 oz) JELL-O Brand Strawberry Flavor Gelatin
• 1 1/2 cups cold water
• 1 package frozen pound cake, thawed, cubed
• 1 tub COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, thawed
• 2 cups sliced strawberries
• 
  
• Directions

1. Stir boiling water into gelatin in large bowl at least 2 minutes until completely dissolved. Stir in cold water. Pour into 13x9-inch pan. Refrigerate 3 hours or until firm.
2. Cut gelatin into 1/2-inch cubes. Place in 3-1/2-quart serving bowl. Cover with layers of cake cubes, 1/2 of the whipped topping and strawberries. Top with remaining whipped topping.
3. Refrigerate at least 1 hour or until ready to serve. Store leftover dessert in refrigerator.

Easter Chex Mix

There are a few things in life that I am 100% positive about and one of them is that my husband makes the best, absolute BEST, Chex Mix I have ever tasted. Why is he so good? I have no idea because he won't tell me the "recipe." He won't even start making it until I am out of the kitchen. His Chex Mix only makes an appearance a few times a year and it's usually about Thanksgiving and Christmas so when he started talking about making it for Easter at his Auntie Susie's I knew he had to make it. But he likes to tease me with it and then says "I'm retired from making it." This doesn't fly with a 18 week pregnant wife who now has a craving for his signature recipe. So, what would any wife do? I gave him an ultimatum. He had 2 choices. To make the Chex Mix or to write me an apology letter (handwritten) for even mentioning the idea. Because he is a wise husband he immediately went to the store and stocked up on what he needed. A few hours later (yes hours, he makes me wait while it settles before I can eat it) it was done and I could begin to stuff my face. 

Unfortunately, I have no recipe to share. I can't even share the ingredients because he always adds something new to it. This time he added sesame sticks (I'm not a fan but I would never dare complain about this to him.) All I have to share is a picture of the goodness that I am enjoying. And yes, Auntie Susie we are bringing some to your house. We are just keeping the bigger bowl at our house! 

And YES I would have made him write me a letter! I believe he has learned his lesson but he has especially proven that he is the BEST Chex Mix Maker in the world and the BEST Husband ever as well! 

Nutella Cookies

Yum yum! I love Nutella! In the beginning of my pregnancy the only thing I could eat for breakfast was a bagel with Nutella and crunchy peanut butter.  


Now that I have enough energy to bake again (yay!) I wanted to start with a comfort food and Nutella won out. I wanted a new recipe and found this one on www.allrecipes.com. 


I also have to point out that my hubby, Andy, enjoyed these cookies but requested powdered sugar on top! 

Ingredients
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 pinch salt
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup Nutella

Directions

1. Preheat an oven to 350 degrees.

2. Combine the graham cracker crumbs, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl.

3. Add the egg, vanilla, and Nutella and mix by hand until well blended. 

4. Form the mixture into 1 1/2-inch balls and place on a baking sheet 2 inches apart.

5. Bake in the preheated oven until crispy on the outside, 8 to 10 minutes. Allow to rest on cookie sheet a few minutes before moving to a wire rack to cool.

Baking v Pregnancy

I can't believe how long it's been since I baked anything! No seriously, I haven't baked ANYTHING! I have barely even cooked anything besides mac and cheese and grilled cheese let alone whip up a batch of cookies.

The first trimester really kicked my butt. Now, I am safely into my second trimester (18 weeks tomorrow) and anxious to get baking and cooking again. So, thank you for your patience. I have received a few emails from you-not-so-patient people but I'll be back on track soon!

In the meantime, here is a pic of the bump to tide you over!

Hot Mulling Cider

This recipe is perfect for cold winter nights. It's easy and delicious! 

Ingredients

1 cup brown sugar
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. ground cloves
1 tsp. dried ground orange peel
1 tsp. ground allspice
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg

Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and stir well until well blended. Divide into 1/4 cup single serving portions for gift giving (perfect size for baby food jars) or in a larger jar for entire mix.

Directions
To make one serving, add 1/4 up hot mulling spice mix with 1 cup apple juice or wine and 1/4 cup water. Heat on stove and serve.

Whirlwind few weeks!

As many of you know, Andy and I were fortunate enough to have an unexpected trip to watch the Badgers play in The Rose Bowl. We drove down to Nashville, flew to San Diego, and then drove to Santa Monica. It was a crazy time, but overall, I have extremely grateful to John, Andy's very generous boss for taking us down there.

Because of this whirlwind I haven't had time to clean my house let alone bake something. I promise I will soon! In the meantime, here are a few pics from our trip to admire!