Random Mobile Shots

While these aren’t totally random, they are all from my phone.

We’ve been to the zoo in Boise twice since moving here and both times we got Lily some popcorn. She loved it, but we hated that it was full of crap so we decided to buy an air popper. I found one at a thrift store for $5.99 and it’s been sitting in a box since that day. We bought some organic popping corn at the food Co-op, so now it was just a matter of deciding that I was adventurous enough to try making it. Today I decided was that day.

Popping pop corn

Lil's checking it out.

I read that you can put 1/2 cup of popcorn in the chamber and that makes about 18 cups of popped corn.  I didn’t want nearly that much so I used the little butter cup that comes with the machine filled most of the way full and was happy with the bowl full of popcorn we got.  It was still too much, but not as bad as 18 cups.

Popping pop corn

The little kearnels are heating up and dancing around.

Lily wasn’t a fan of the machine’s noise, I tried and tried to get a picture of her with her hands over her ears, but didn’t manage it.

Popping pop corn

The corn is starting to fly.

Once it started popping it went very fast.

Popping pop corn

POP, POP, POP

I started to panic that my bowl was going to overflow, but luckily it was just perfect.

Popping pop corn

The blur is Lily trying to hold in her excitment.

Popping pop corn

Which one should she try?

Popping pop corn

This was her fourth or fifth handful.

She loved it and kept stuffing pieces in my mouth because she just had to share the yumm.   She ran upstairs to tell her Daddy all about it too.  I think the Popcorn was a huge success and using the air popper was crazy easy.

p.s.  Lily tinkled in the potty this morning.  YAY!

New state, new germs

We have been in Idaho for about 16 days and are already dealing with our second illness. We had been here just under a week when Waldo started to feel very tired and the next thing you know he’s got a slight flu or something, the next afternoon I come down with it. It lasted about 4 or 5 days. Lily was a little trooper, she never got it and had to deal with us not being up to do anything, but watch movies and snuggle. She got really bored, but did great. We all felt better for about a week and were very thankful because we are moving into the new house this weekend. So of course Lily’s nose started to run last night and she kept being woke up because she needed to cough. I feel so bad for her and myself because my throat is very sore. This new germ thing totally sucks.

Jumping Beans

I talked about watching my niece and how the girls and I made playdough, but I didn’t get a change to write about the rest of the day.

There was a lot of “working” going on.

Playing nicely

It's Livi's turn to work rigth now. I think Lily is telling Livi how it's her turn next.

There was a lot of checking out toes. I don’t get what it is about a toddler and their toes, but both Lily and Livi spent a very strange amount of time checking out their toes.

What is it with toddler's obsession with their feet?

Lily is thinking about those feet again

Lily is thinking about her toes. She hasn't touched them in at least a hour.

What is it with toddler's obsession with their feet?

Got em!

We had a few moments of super sweetness. Livi was signing “twinkle twinkle” to Lily to help her fall asleep.
Livi is singing Lily to sleep

They took turns “falling asleep” and I think you will agree after watching the video that no one was actually going to go to sleep.

And the thing that is most looked forward to, the thing that is most talked about, the thing that is the most fun; jumping on Lily’s bed. There was a lot of that.

Jumping beans

Jumping Beans

Jumping beans

These two certainly know how to have a good time.  They wear me out.

We really miss Olivia.  She turned 3 yesterday.  Happy birthday Livi!

 

Grilled potato wedges

I saw part of a episode of Grill It! with Bobby Flay where he was making some grilled potato wedges and both Waldo and I said almost at the same time that we had to make those.  They looked so good and sounded really easy to make.  I was surprised to find out that they were in fact very easy to make, if you don’t burn your oil.

par-boiling potatoes

Parboiling taters

Grilled potato wedges

My finshed wedges

 

Grilled Potato Wedges with Hot Garlic and Red Chili

adapted from Bobby Flay’s Grilled Potato Wedges with Hot Garlic, Red Chili, Parmesan and Parsley

  • 4 russet potatoes, scrubbed
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/4 cup canola oil Sunflower oil
  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 1/4 teaspoon red chili flakes
  • 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano (which I totally forgot to add)

Put the potatoes in a pot of cold water, add some kosher salt and bring to a simmer over medium heat.  Simmer slowly till soft but firm (about 40 minutes).  The potatoes must be cooked through and fork tender, but still holding their shape. Drain and set aside to cool slightly, then cut each potato lengthwise into 8 wedges.

I carefully covered the wedged (which were on a cookie sheet) with some sunflower oil, salt and pepper, then I wiggled them around to coat all the sides. Grill until golden brown and cooked through, about 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a serving bowl.

Heat the olive oil in a small saucepan until it begins to shimmer, this is very important, shimmer not simmer.  Do not try to simmer the oil, it doesn’t go well. Remove from the heat and immediately add the garlic and red chili flakes and let sit for 1 minute. Season the oil with salt and pepper, to taste, and drizzle over the potatoes. Sprinkle with the cheese (if you don’t forget) and serve immediately.

***

I wish I would have had the parsley that the original recipe called for, but I forgot to grab it at the store. I think it might have added a nice herby flavor.  And I really wish I hadn’t forgotten about the cheese, but you know what, I didn’t notice anything was missing until I saw the cheese on the counter after I was done eating.  Next time I’ll add the cheese for sure.

Collage making

Last week Lily was bored and I had just finished working so I got into my crafting tub and at first I thought about letting her paint and then I noticed the stickers Waldo picked out for her while we shopping.  I decided that a collage would be a better idea.  I had a couple pieces of tissue paper and this kind of shiny, slick, red on one side and silver on the other side scrap of wrapping paper left, so I grabbed them, some small squares of poster board and a glue stick.

I set Lil up at the kitchen table and set to work cutting pieces of the paper for her and explaining what to do.  She’s done a collage before, but it was a while ago so I gave her a small refresher course.  She caught on right away.

Making a college

Making a college

I could not convince her that stickers don’t need glue. I was a little surprised that the stickers stayed on because the paper was so wet from the glue.

Making a college

Lily is really figuring out what being two is all about the last couple of weeks. And the morning of the collage was an especially trying morning and taking a little break to do something fun with Lily was all it took to turn our day around and made all the difference in the world.

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