Saturday, April 17, 2010
Friday, April 16, 2010
Great Outdoor Challenge- April 16th
So far it's been super easy to get outside each day. We've been blessed with such gorgeous weather! It's hard to want to be INSIDE! This morning we went and played with some friends and had lunch with them. We played at the park by their house, but I forgot my camera for that one. Then after nap time today we spent all afternoon and evening out in the yard working in the garden, playing on tree stumps on the empty lot behind us, digging in the sandbox, jumping on the trampoline and more. It is so wonderful to be outside!!!
Pizza!!!
A friend of mine gave me this recipe for a yummy pizza crust. I'd been searching for a really good crust recipe for quiet sometime, but never found anything that we all thought was really good. This one is super easy to make, and very delicious!
Pizza Crust
1 1/2 cups warm water
2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
1/2 teaspoon brown sugar
Mix these ingredients together in a large bowl and let sit for about 10 minutes. Then add:
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
2 Tablespoons olive oil
3 cups flour (I use a mix of spelt, whole wheat and all-purpose flour)
thyme, oregano, parsley, garlic powder to taste (We just use the oregano and garlic)
Mix together then place in a greased bowl and let rise for about 45 minutes. Flatten on a warmed pizza stone (I coat the dough and my hands with some olive oil so it doesn't stick since the dough is fairly sticky). Add sauce and toppings of your choosing. Bake at 400 degrees for around 15-20 minutes.
Enjoy!
My Pizza Sauce...how I sneak veggies in.
1 can of tomato sauce
various veggies:
carrots, red or orange peppers, red cabbage, peeled zucchini, anything that won't alter the color of the sauce much.
olive oil (I just pour a little in...anywhere from a teaspoon to a tablespoon)
garlic powder or fresh garlic
oregano and other herbs of your choosing
Mix all ingredients together and process in a blender until smooth. Depending on how much extra stuff you add in your sauce, you should get enough sauce for 2-3 pizzas. My husband and son aren't very fond of veggies so this is a great way to make sure they are still getting veggies. :)
Pizza Crust
1 1/2 cups warm water
2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
1/2 teaspoon brown sugar
Mix these ingredients together in a large bowl and let sit for about 10 minutes. Then add:
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
2 Tablespoons olive oil
3 cups flour (I use a mix of spelt, whole wheat and all-purpose flour)
thyme, oregano, parsley, garlic powder to taste (We just use the oregano and garlic)
Mix together then place in a greased bowl and let rise for about 45 minutes. Flatten on a warmed pizza stone (I coat the dough and my hands with some olive oil so it doesn't stick since the dough is fairly sticky). Add sauce and toppings of your choosing. Bake at 400 degrees for around 15-20 minutes.
Enjoy!
My Pizza Sauce...how I sneak veggies in.
1 can of tomato sauce
various veggies:
carrots, red or orange peppers, red cabbage, peeled zucchini, anything that won't alter the color of the sauce much.
olive oil (I just pour a little in...anywhere from a teaspoon to a tablespoon)
garlic powder or fresh garlic
oregano and other herbs of your choosing
Mix all ingredients together and process in a blender until smooth. Depending on how much extra stuff you add in your sauce, you should get enough sauce for 2-3 pizzas. My husband and son aren't very fond of veggies so this is a great way to make sure they are still getting veggies. :)
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Great Outdoor Challenge- April 15th
Digging in the garden, watching the worms, and a little hopscotch...
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Great Outdoor Challenge- April 14th
I didn't find this out until a couple of days ago, but April has been declared Children and Nature Awareness Month. In honor of that, 5 Orange Potatoes (found via my cousin's blog) started a Great Outdoor Challenge. Get outside with your kids everyday this month and take a picture of them outside in our wonderful world!
We are jumping in with the challenge starting today. And we couldn't have asked for better weather! The girls and I were outside for about an hour and a half before lunch, and we are planning on going back out after nap time.
Here are some pictures of our time outside. Now it's your turn to go outside and have some fun! Enjoy!
We are jumping in with the challenge starting today. And we couldn't have asked for better weather! The girls and I were outside for about an hour and a half before lunch, and we are planning on going back out after nap time.
Here are some pictures of our time outside. Now it's your turn to go outside and have some fun! Enjoy!
Hannah enjoying a quiet moment in the front yard.
Some of our violets by the front door. They always look so cheerful!
We took a nice walk around the neighborhood. Hannah doesn't look very happy, but I assure you she had a good time. She loves to go for walks and ride in the stroller with sissy.
Me and Ellie xoxoxo
Hannah with her pine cone she found..."God made the pine cones, Mama."
Sooo happy the lilacs are blooming! If only they bloomed all summer!
My sweet girls!
Ellie loves the grass.
We have a nice crop of dandelions growing. And it appears we need to mow the lawn. There is something beautiful about the free and wild look though. LOL
Wishy!
Making a wish!
Random weed growing in the yard...
Enjoying some time in the tipi. Soon we'll have some flowers growing up it!
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Oops!
Almost forgot!! We also have 25 strawberry plants that we added to our landscaping this year! Hopefully they will grow into a nice ground cover around our tree and give us lots of yummy berries! They are already looking really good considering they were pretty much just roots when I got them...in the mail. :) Now I just need to get some more mulch to finish up the project.
Garden Time!!!
Oh, my! I have had so much to write about lately, but just haven't actually had the time to do it. Not even sure where to start back in a this point. So I guess I'll just jump in with the garden update so I can start keeping track of how the garden grows.
About 3 weeks ago I got my hubby to help me make a greenhouse over one of our raised beds so I could start planting some crops. I definitely had spring fever!! We got a couple of PVC pipes and some plastic, bent the pipes over the garden bed, covered them with the plastic and VOILA!! Instant greenhouse! A few days later I was able to have some time to go out and plant on a nice sunny day. Of course, Hannah was my super, good helper. I made the holes for the seeds and she dropped them in and together we covered them up. I made a diagram in a notebook to record which squares had what growing in them. (We use the Square-Foot Gardening Method)We have about 4 different types of lettuces, two types of spinach, kale, swiss chard, bush peas, carrots and chives. It felt so good to get something started!!
Speaking of getting started...my seedlings that I have inside are doing quite well, and had their first visit to the outdoor world today. Soon it will be time to transplant them into the garden. Yippee! Also, the seeds that I started outside this winter are doing well. I just learned about this method, called winter sown, and wasn't sure if it would work or not, but I am so impressed with how the seeds did that I can't wait to try it again next year!
As of today, all of our seeds in the greenhouse garden have sprouted and are growing nicely. One square of spinach is almost ready to begin harvesting. They did have a head start though...the winter sown way! It won't be too long and we'll be having lettuce to go with that spinach!
Anyway, I guess I'll leave it at that for now, and try posting a few pictures. And maybe, just maybe, I'll do a better job of keeping you updated on things.
Greenhouse all planted and ready to grow! (March 23)
Winter Sown seeds outside. So fun and easy to do!
A little over a week later...seeds are sprouting! (April 1)
3 weeks later...spinach almost ready to eat! (April 13)
About 3 weeks ago I got my hubby to help me make a greenhouse over one of our raised beds so I could start planting some crops. I definitely had spring fever!! We got a couple of PVC pipes and some plastic, bent the pipes over the garden bed, covered them with the plastic and VOILA!! Instant greenhouse! A few days later I was able to have some time to go out and plant on a nice sunny day. Of course, Hannah was my super, good helper. I made the holes for the seeds and she dropped them in and together we covered them up. I made a diagram in a notebook to record which squares had what growing in them. (We use the Square-Foot Gardening Method)We have about 4 different types of lettuces, two types of spinach, kale, swiss chard, bush peas, carrots and chives. It felt so good to get something started!!
Speaking of getting started...my seedlings that I have inside are doing quite well, and had their first visit to the outdoor world today. Soon it will be time to transplant them into the garden. Yippee! Also, the seeds that I started outside this winter are doing well. I just learned about this method, called winter sown, and wasn't sure if it would work or not, but I am so impressed with how the seeds did that I can't wait to try it again next year!
As of today, all of our seeds in the greenhouse garden have sprouted and are growing nicely. One square of spinach is almost ready to begin harvesting. They did have a head start though...the winter sown way! It won't be too long and we'll be having lettuce to go with that spinach!
Anyway, I guess I'll leave it at that for now, and try posting a few pictures. And maybe, just maybe, I'll do a better job of keeping you updated on things.
Greenhouse all planted and ready to grow! (March 23)
Winter Sown seeds outside. So fun and easy to do!
A little over a week later...seeds are sprouting! (April 1)
3 weeks later...spinach almost ready to eat! (April 13)Monday, March 1, 2010
Ellie is 6 months old!!!
Today Ellie is 6 months old!!! I can't believe my little baby is already a half a year old!! Where did the time go?? It seems like we just brought her home last week!!
At her well baby check-up today the doctor said she is healthy and is growing well. She is in the 25 percentile in her weight and height...14 pounds, 5 ounces and around 24 inches long (I can't remember exactly since the nurse didn't write it down for me. LOL).
Ellie is rolling over from her back to her tummy now. And she can scoot herself backwards and in circles. I'm sure soon she will be going forward, and then watch out!! :) She loves to reach and grab and play with toys and is quite good at putting her binki in and out of her mouth. I just love watching her learn and grow and do new things everyday!!
We are sooo blessed to have a happy, healthy baby!! God is good!!
Happy Half-Year Birthday, Ellie!!! xoxoxoxo
At her well baby check-up today the doctor said she is healthy and is growing well. She is in the 25 percentile in her weight and height...14 pounds, 5 ounces and around 24 inches long (I can't remember exactly since the nurse didn't write it down for me. LOL).
Ellie is rolling over from her back to her tummy now. And she can scoot herself backwards and in circles. I'm sure soon she will be going forward, and then watch out!! :) She loves to reach and grab and play with toys and is quite good at putting her binki in and out of her mouth. I just love watching her learn and grow and do new things everyday!!
We are sooo blessed to have a happy, healthy baby!! God is good!!
Happy Half-Year Birthday, Ellie!!! xoxoxoxo
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