Easter 2009

The Bunny or the Egg?

According to Wiki, Easter eggs are specially decorated eggs given to celebrate the Easter holiday or springtime.

The egg was a symbol of the rebirth of the earth in Pagan celebrations of spring and was adopted by early Christians as a symbol of the rebirth.

The ancient Persians painted eggs for Nowrooz, their New Year celebration, which falls on the Spring equinox. The Nawrooz tradition has existed for at least 2,500 years.

We Wonder Why We Are Wreally Wilting

We have been trying to get outside as much as possible. I believe the cabin fever has set and we all need to open the doors that hold our comfort and warmth in from the cold winter and see that the sun is starting to come out. Our grass is turning green, my outdoor plants are wanting to bloom, while my indoor plants are wilting. Does that tell you anything?

Isabella Update: I wanted to write down some of the expressions that Isabella is currently using because I think they are absolutely adorable and funny. In the morning she tells us that she has "crumbs" in her eyes. Which if you think about it is an excellent analogy of what it look and feels like. We recently tried to tell her that is "sleep", but while saying it we could see how that is very confusing. Another phrase that Isabella is currently using is when we comb her hair in the morning she wants to know why the "nuts" are in her hair.

Scratch isn't a ingredient, you pancake!

When I was growing up there were some things that we ate that I was completely resigned to the fact that you only bought it and it wasn't made. Mac and cheese was one and making pancakes is another. I completely thought that you buy a box and add water, butter, etc was it. later on in life I have come to find that is not the fact at all. Also when you do make these from scratch it is a completely different experience altogether. Most people have the majority of the ingredients to make pancakes from scratch. (Excluding the house of A.E.M.M., you know who you are!)

This kids loved them and they are fun to make! All the ingredients your kids can dive their hands into with no issues. This time the girls didn't join because everyone was sleeping in!
Anyway, there are a few chefs that I follow loyally and this recipe is not an exception... Try Alton Brown's recipe this weekend you will not be disappointed!

"Instant" Pancake Mix
Recipe courtesy: Alton Brown Show: Good Eats
Episode: Flap Jack Do It Again
Ingredients * 6 cups all-purpose flour * 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda (check expiration date first) * 3 teaspoons baking powder * 1 tablespoon kosher salt * 2 tablespoons sugar
Directions
Combine all of the ingredients in a lidded container. Shake to mix.Use the mix within 3 months."INSTANT" PANCAKES:
* 2 eggs, separated * 2 cups buttermilk * 4 tablespoons melted butter * 2 cups "Instant" Pancake Mix, recipe above * 1 stick butter, for greasing the pan * 2 cups fresh fruit such as blueberries, if desired. Heat an electric griddle or frying pan to 350 degrees F. Heat oven to 200 degrees F.Whisk together the egg whites and the buttermilk in a small bowl. In another bowl, whisk the egg yolks with the melted butter.Combine the buttermilk mixture with the egg yolk mixture in a large mixing bowl and whisk together until thoroughly combined. Pour the liquid ingredients on top of the pancake mix. Using a whisk, mix the batter just enough to bring it together. Don't try to work all the lumps out.Check to see that the griddle is hot by placing a few drops of water onto to the griddle. The griddle is ready if the water dances across the surface.Lightly butter the griddle. Wipe off thoroughly with a paper towel. (No butter should be visible.)Gently ladle the pancake batter onto the griddle and sprinkle on fruit if desired. When bubbles begin to set around the edges of the pancake and the griddle-side of the cake is golden, gently flip the pancakes. Continue to cook 2 to 3 minutes or until the pancake is set.Serve immediately or remove to a towel-lined baking sheet and cover with a towel. Hold in a warm place for 20 to 30 minutes.Yield: 12 pancakes

Update Isabella

What goes through the mind of a little girl. Here is a picture of some her most prized possessions.

Contents: Princess candy, baby doll brush, "Special Lotion" (hand sanitizer)

Alas, poor Yorick! I knew his apples well!

Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio; a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy; he hath borne me on his back a thousand times; and now, how abhorred in my imagination it is! My gorge rises at it. Here hung those lips that I have kissed I know not how oft. Where be your gibes now? (Hamlet, V.i)

Pretty much every time Isabella holds an apple she reminds me of Hamlet.

O brave new world!

In 1931 Aldous Huxley wrote a novel named Brave New World, this book was set in London 2540 AD the novel anticipates developments in reproductive technology and sleep studies that combine to change society.

This weekend Isabella had a sleep study to see if we could find out more information about her large adenoids and sometimes she stomach becomes distended after she eats.
Her sleep technician that helped Isabella out keep calling her a robot, which made me think of the Huxley book. Which had nothing to do with robots but it did had sleep studies and was set in the future.

She was an absolute trooper. She never cried until the morning when we had to take off the "stickers".

Over all she had 5 leads attached to her scalp, 5 on her face, 2 on her chest, 4 on her legs, 2 elastic belts around her chest, a rope around her face to hold the tube around her nose.and finally a oxygen monitor attached to her finger. 21 wires, and 2 tubes!

Until Sunday she would not let us take off the "stickers" that were on her chest and legs. If we talked about them she broke down crying. So even though she put on a strong facade I believe it was gilded.

If you ever have to do this with one of you children my suggestion would be to call everything stickers, and to make sure you discuss what is going to happen in an exciting way long before you get there. All week we talked about, "Daddy and Isabella are going to sleep at the doctors house for a sleep over this weekend, isn't that fun?", "The doctors is going to put special stickers all over your body, you love stickers right?"

Taking a page out of the book.

Last week I mentioned on this blog a book by Gordon Ramsay. Some of the words really hit me and I wanted to get Isabella in the kitchen and learning about where food comes from and how to cook it. While she was out I mixed up some fresh pizza dough so it could rise. I also cooked up some fresh pizza sauce so it could cool down as well. (Yes one weekend I would like to have her a part of the entire process. Note about the book, we have cooked 4 recipes so far and every single one is good and easy to make. Highly recommended! I may have to go out and buy it.)


I put everything out so she could assemble the pizza with Nicki.





She had a great time and we had some great pizza from scratch. Fresh always tastes better than take away.

Now That's Amore!
A major hit, signature song for Dean Martin in 1953.

City Slicker

Even though we only live about 15 minutes away from downtown we do spent a lot of time in the suburbs. Although today we went downtown and ate at a deli that over looked High Street. Isabella could not take her eyes off all of the hustle out on the streets. I think she may be a big city type of girl.

According to Wiki: Slicker came from a Western term for an orphaned calf. It referred to the naive nature of people from the Eastern cities. City slicker was derisively given to these Easterners for their assumption that their "book-learnin'" gave them superior intelligence.
I bet you didn't know that!

One Cupcake to rule them all...

"In the Land of Kids where the children lie.
One Cupcake to rule them all, One Cupcake to find them,
One Cupcake to bring them all and in the giddiness bind them"

Nicole has been testing different style cupcakes on all of the kids at daycare. So far this is the clear winner. The kids loved them! You should try it.

Plant Update

Our plants are growing well so far. Some sad news was the first sprouted plant had to be removed becuase it happened to be a stray seed. We put that plant in another container we hope it lives.