This is an oldie, but a goodie! And of course...easy!
Artichoke Dip
8oz artichoke hearts (plain)
1 cup mayo
4oz grated parmesan cheese
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
pinch of garlic
1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Drain artichokes and using your hands, squeeze out the excess juice from each one.
3. In a bowl, combine all ingredients until mixed
4. Pour into pan (I used a 9" pie pan)
5. Bake for appx. 25min or until lightly browned and cheese bubbles
(Notes: I used light mayo and for the garlic I used garlic powder. I usually serve this with Triscuits or some sort of cracker.)
*Sorry I don't have a photo!
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Monday, December 17, 2012
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Cookie Dough Bites
Everyone loves cookie dough, right?! I mean c'mon...it's the best part about baking cookies! Who doesn't love licking the beaters/spoon when you're done?!
I admit, I'm a batter eater...eggs or not...shame on me, I know but I just can't resist it (although I didn't eat it all while pregnant). And I'm not picky-cakes, brownies, cookies...it's all tasty! But probably one of the best is chocolate chip cookie dough. YUM! I could eat the entire bowl (and probably would be sick to my stomach after).
So when I saw this recipe for eggless cookie dough, I jumped on it! Do NOT wait to try these...they are so.darn.good! I made them for a party and they went like hotcakes-I went through the entire batch in no time! I think I only tried 1 or 2 of them but they were delicious and I'll have to make some formyself us soon!
Cookie Dough Bites
1 stick butter, softened
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup sugar
2 tbsp milk
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/4 cup flour
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
melting chocolate
1. In a bowl, beat butter and sugars until fluffy (~3min)
2. Add milk and vanilla and mix some more
3. Add salt and flour and beat until well combined
4. Stir in chocolate chips
5. Put dough in the fridge until cold enough to roll into balls (they recommend an hour)
6. Roll dough into balls and place on a cookie sheet lined with waxed paper. Freeze for at least 15min.
7. Melt chocolate in a bowl and dip cookie dough balls into chocolate until coated. Place back onto waxed paper and decorate if desired. Put in the fridge until hardened. Bites should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge.
(Notes: I left my dough in the fridge for several hours before rolling into balls and it was fine. Same with freezing them-they were in there awhile before I got to coating them in the chocolate. My only suggestion is to try and take out a few at a time to roll in the chocolate. I took out the entire tray and once and towards the end, the chocolate wasn't sticking very well because the dough was getting too warm. Next time I'll have to do a few at a time. I also didn't use melting chocolate-I used chocolate chips instead which worked just fine. They also suggested doing these on lollipop sticks, which would make dipping them in the chocolate easier. I didn't feel like going through the hassle of that, but it would make dipping easy-that was the hardest part of this recipe!)
I admit, I'm a batter eater...eggs or not...shame on me, I know but I just can't resist it (although I didn't eat it all while pregnant). And I'm not picky-cakes, brownies, cookies...it's all tasty! But probably one of the best is chocolate chip cookie dough. YUM! I could eat the entire bowl (and probably would be sick to my stomach after).
So when I saw this recipe for eggless cookie dough, I jumped on it! Do NOT wait to try these...they are so.darn.good! I made them for a party and they went like hotcakes-I went through the entire batch in no time! I think I only tried 1 or 2 of them but they were delicious and I'll have to make some for
Cookie Dough Bites
1 stick butter, softened
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup sugar
2 tbsp milk
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/4 cup flour
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
melting chocolate
1. In a bowl, beat butter and sugars until fluffy (~3min)
2. Add milk and vanilla and mix some more
3. Add salt and flour and beat until well combined
4. Stir in chocolate chips
5. Put dough in the fridge until cold enough to roll into balls (they recommend an hour)
6. Roll dough into balls and place on a cookie sheet lined with waxed paper. Freeze for at least 15min.
7. Melt chocolate in a bowl and dip cookie dough balls into chocolate until coated. Place back onto waxed paper and decorate if desired. Put in the fridge until hardened. Bites should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge.
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Daycare Party
Yesterday Avery
had her daycare holiday party. I left work a little early so that I was able to attend.
Of course it was really, really cute!
All of the kids came out with (fake) candles and sang "Candle Light" to us:
Then they did a few other songs-"Jingle Bells", something about a snowflake:
Then the older kids sang "Rudolph" to us with these really cute reindeer hats on that they made. They all passed out presents to the parents that they made for us-they were chalkboards with their handprint in the corner-very cute! After that, we all had some snacks and they did a gift exchange between the kids. We had a very nice time!
Of course Cassandra had to try on the reindeer hat-it was a little too big and she wasn't into wearing it at all!
Of course it was really, really cute!
All of the kids came out with (fake) candles and sang "Candle Light" to us:
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| That's her BFF next to her! |
Of course Cassandra had to try on the reindeer hat-it was a little too big and she wasn't into wearing it at all!
Monday, December 10, 2012
Garden Factory
Yesterday
we took the kids to the Garden Factory for their holiday fun!
We got Cassandra all bundled up in her stroller (first time in the umbrella stroller!):
We started out waiting in line to see Santa. I'm guessing we waited 20mins or so. Avery was excited!
When we got up to him, she didn't want to sit with him. I was just about to crouch down next to him and have her sit on my lap but then things changed. I gave Cassandra to him and before I knew it, she was on his lap! I don't remember if he picked her up or if Gabe plopped her on his lap or what, but before I knew it, there they were sitting with him! Avery told him what she wanted too!
After Santa, it was time for the rides! She rode on pretty much everything and even braved the ferris wheel for the first time!
Of course we didn't leave before filling our cart up with a lot of poinsettias! Avery helped pick out the colors too!
We got Cassandra all bundled up in her stroller (first time in the umbrella stroller!):
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| She's in the top one on the left side |
Sunday, December 9, 2012
In Loving Memory
Yesterday we paid tribute to a very important man in our lives.
My Grandfather.
Back around November 8th, I got a call from my Dad that my Grandfather was in the hospital. (FYI he lives in Las Vegas) From what I know, he called an ambulance because he was having trouble breathing. Upon admission into the ER, the stopped breathing and was put on a ventilator.
My Dad, his brother, and my Aunt (my Uncle's wife) all flew out to Vegas that Saturday (the 10th) to see what was going on and to make sure things were taken care of. They had my Grandfather sedated so that he wouldn't pull the ventilator out, but when my Dad and crew went to visit, they would wake him up. He was unable to talk, but would communicate with them by writing things down.
Of course they found out he had no health care proxy and nothing written down about his wishes. Luckily they were able to communicate and ask him these things in the event that something did happen.
They were supposed to leave Vegas on Thursday the 15th, but he was still on the ventilator at that point and they were waiting for answers. They were going to try weaning him off of the ventilator to see how he responded to that. They did try weaning him I think on Friday and he did really well until they turned it way down-then he struggled and was gasping for air. So the outlook turned grim as the doctors informed them that he probably wouldn't be able to live without the ventilator. They were going to try one more attempt by using CPAP on the following day. Well, again that attempt failed. Unfortunately they had some decisions to make, which had to be extremely difficult for them.
The ventilator can only stay in for 7-10 days. If they're unable to wean you off of it, then they have to do a tracheotomy (put a breathing tube surgically in your throat). My Grandpa decided that he didn't want to have a trach put in and he also decided he did not want to be resuscitated if anything happened to him (DNR).
I got the call Sunday 11/18 around dinner that the end might be near. The ultimate decision was that they would gradually turn down the ventilator until it was off. They gave him morphine so that he was comfortable through the process. Once the ventilator was off, he breathed on his own for roughly a half hour and then he passed away. My Dad, Uncle, and Aunt were all in his presence at the time.
It's hard losing someone you love no matter when it happens, but 4 days before Thanksgiving really makes it difficult.
We postponed the services because the cremation process in Las Vegas takes forever! He wasn't even cremated until last weekend which is 2 weeks after he passed! So the services were yesterday and it was very nicely done. We had a mass at a church in Buffalo. So many people came-it was amazing! And my Grandpa's sister did a very touching eulogy off of the top of her head! Then we went to the cemetery afterwards and we all gathered in the chapel for a prayer and military service ("Taps" and flag folding which was very neat to watch).
Of course the guilt kicked in as soon as I got word he was in the hospital. I only saw my Grandpa once a year or so if I was lucky...and that's since I was a child (he lived in Vegas since before my parents were married!)! He wasn't a big talker on the phone so phone calls between us didn't happen very frequently. In fact, I feel terrible saying that I don't even remember the last time I spoke with him. My Dad talked with him almost daily so I'd get updates through him. But now I wish I would have taken a few minutes every week or so just to say hello to him.
I'm so very thankful that my Grandpa was around as long as he was. I'm so glad he got to meet Gabe several times and that he was there at our wedding. I'm also thankful that he got to meet Avery a few times as well. Of course it saddens me that he never met Cassandra, but he did see plenty of pictures of her!
Here are a few pics I have on my computer of my Grandpa
Rest in peace, Grandpa. We love you and miss you so very much!
"Perhaps they are not stars, but rather openings in heaven where the love of our lost ones pours through and shines down upon us to let us know they are happy"~Eskimo Proverb
My Grandfather.
Back around November 8th, I got a call from my Dad that my Grandfather was in the hospital. (FYI he lives in Las Vegas) From what I know, he called an ambulance because he was having trouble breathing. Upon admission into the ER, the stopped breathing and was put on a ventilator.
My Dad, his brother, and my Aunt (my Uncle's wife) all flew out to Vegas that Saturday (the 10th) to see what was going on and to make sure things were taken care of. They had my Grandfather sedated so that he wouldn't pull the ventilator out, but when my Dad and crew went to visit, they would wake him up. He was unable to talk, but would communicate with them by writing things down.
Of course they found out he had no health care proxy and nothing written down about his wishes. Luckily they were able to communicate and ask him these things in the event that something did happen.
They were supposed to leave Vegas on Thursday the 15th, but he was still on the ventilator at that point and they were waiting for answers. They were going to try weaning him off of the ventilator to see how he responded to that. They did try weaning him I think on Friday and he did really well until they turned it way down-then he struggled and was gasping for air. So the outlook turned grim as the doctors informed them that he probably wouldn't be able to live without the ventilator. They were going to try one more attempt by using CPAP on the following day. Well, again that attempt failed. Unfortunately they had some decisions to make, which had to be extremely difficult for them.
The ventilator can only stay in for 7-10 days. If they're unable to wean you off of it, then they have to do a tracheotomy (put a breathing tube surgically in your throat). My Grandpa decided that he didn't want to have a trach put in and he also decided he did not want to be resuscitated if anything happened to him (DNR).
I got the call Sunday 11/18 around dinner that the end might be near. The ultimate decision was that they would gradually turn down the ventilator until it was off. They gave him morphine so that he was comfortable through the process. Once the ventilator was off, he breathed on his own for roughly a half hour and then he passed away. My Dad, Uncle, and Aunt were all in his presence at the time.
It's hard losing someone you love no matter when it happens, but 4 days before Thanksgiving really makes it difficult.
We postponed the services because the cremation process in Las Vegas takes forever! He wasn't even cremated until last weekend which is 2 weeks after he passed! So the services were yesterday and it was very nicely done. We had a mass at a church in Buffalo. So many people came-it was amazing! And my Grandpa's sister did a very touching eulogy off of the top of her head! Then we went to the cemetery afterwards and we all gathered in the chapel for a prayer and military service ("Taps" and flag folding which was very neat to watch).
Of course the guilt kicked in as soon as I got word he was in the hospital. I only saw my Grandpa once a year or so if I was lucky...and that's since I was a child (he lived in Vegas since before my parents were married!)! He wasn't a big talker on the phone so phone calls between us didn't happen very frequently. In fact, I feel terrible saying that I don't even remember the last time I spoke with him. My Dad talked with him almost daily so I'd get updates through him. But now I wish I would have taken a few minutes every week or so just to say hello to him.
I'm so very thankful that my Grandpa was around as long as he was. I'm so glad he got to meet Gabe several times and that he was there at our wedding. I'm also thankful that he got to meet Avery a few times as well. Of course it saddens me that he never met Cassandra, but he did see plenty of pictures of her!
Here are a few pics I have on my computer of my Grandpa
 |
| 4 generations-Grandpa, Dad, Me, Avery (1wk old) |
 |
| Grandpa and Avery (on my Grandpa's B-day) |
 |
| 4 Generations (Avery 1yr old) |
 |
| 4 Generations (Avery 2yrs old) |
"Perhaps they are not stars, but rather openings in heaven where the love of our lost ones pours through and shines down upon us to let us know they are happy"~Eskimo Proverb
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Let the Crazy December Weekends Commence!
Every weekend in December is crazy busy for us....seriously every weekend.
This weekend just kicked it off!
Yesterday we bummed around a little bit in the morning. Cassandra played with some laundry:
I went grocery shopping in the afternoon and then in the evening, my Sister-In-Law had an ornament party so Avery and I went. We had a lot of fun!
Today was very busy. Avery had swim lessons in the morning which went ok. Right when we got home, her and I cut out our Christmas cut-out cookies. I made the dough Friday night so it was all ready to go when we had some free time. She really got into it this year sprinkling the flour on the counter, cutting out the shapes, etc!
While they baked, she had lunch. After lunch, Gabe took her to see a play of "Knufflebunny" with his sister and Dad. They got home and we were all going to go and get our Christmas tree, but Cassandra was still napping when they got home! We decided since the weather was semi-decent that Gabe would just go with his Dad and Avery to get the tree and I would stay home with Cassandra. I was a little bummed I didn't get to help, but dragging the baby along would have been a little bit of a pain as well. It all worked out-they picked out a beautiful tree and we set it up as soon as they got home.
After dinner, Avery was dying to frost the cookies (I was hoping we could delay it another day or so) so I figured we'd just get them done. Again, she had a blast! She frosted some 100% by herself and loved putting on the sprinkles!
Here are a few of her masterpieces (can you tell they're loaded with frosting and have about a pound of sprinkles on them?!):
One busy weekend down, several more to go!
This weekend just kicked it off!
Yesterday we bummed around a little bit in the morning. Cassandra played with some laundry:
Today was very busy. Avery had swim lessons in the morning which went ok. Right when we got home, her and I cut out our Christmas cut-out cookies. I made the dough Friday night so it was all ready to go when we had some free time. She really got into it this year sprinkling the flour on the counter, cutting out the shapes, etc!
After dinner, Avery was dying to frost the cookies (I was hoping we could delay it another day or so) so I figured we'd just get them done. Again, she had a blast! She frosted some 100% by herself and loved putting on the sprinkles!
Here are a few of her masterpieces (can you tell they're loaded with frosting and have about a pound of sprinkles on them?!):
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