The big reveal

Before:

After!

Pretty kitchen!

Isn't it lovely?  Functional?  Relaxing?

Ha ha, tricked you - you were expecting something pretty, I know...but this will be fun.  Did you ever play that game as a kid where you look at a picture and try to figure out what is wrong....what is missing?  Well, look haaaaaard and you might notice in this shot that our counters, drawers, and SINK are missing. And yes, I miss them dearly.  Stay tuned.....tomorrow should show a very different picture.  BECAUSE....our granite friends finally showed up today.  Ryan immediately started having fun with their "bridge":

Fun and fresh pizza recipe

An easy, yummy, and filling pizza recipe that can be made on the grill.  Yeah, we've had a lot of pizza lately - what else are you supposed to eat when you don't have a functional kitchen or running water?  Yeah, we're still pioneers for another 24 hours.  Anyway, enjoy!

1 pizza crust.  Need a recipe - here is a whole-wheat pizza dough that can be made in advance and frozen.

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
1 cup shredded chicken (I "crockpot" mine during the day so it is super easy to shred that evening - freeze your excess chicken for next time)
1/4 cup BBQ sauce
1 pkg crumbled feta cheese
1 small red onion, sliced and separated into rings (optional, I hate onions)

Place pizza crust on baking sheet; sprinkle with 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese.
Toss chicken with BBQ sauce; spoon onto crust.  Top with feta, onions (gag) and remaining mozzarella.
Bake 10-12 minutes at 450 until mozz is melted and crust is golden brown.  Let stand 5 minutes before serving. OR throw it on the grill!!!! (If you grill, put the bare crust on the grill until it is crisp enough to hold the toppings.  Top it, then finish grilling)

Book Giveaway

Don't you love great friends with great ideas and great blogs and great giveaways? Check out my super-cool Sneaky Mommy friend and her book review and giveaway - a children's story book: The Jesus Storybook Bible - packed with great (that's the word for the day) truths for teaching our little ones. Maybe you'll win it....but I hope I do first :-)

Happy Easter!

Can you IDENTIFY with the Resurrection?

My favorite week of the year; capped off with an awesome Saturday and Sunday.

Easter Eggstavaganza:

Bounce House Mania:

"Mom, will do do it for me?"

Seth watching rehearsal:

This is as close as we can get to a picture of the two of them together:

"Seth, stay here and say CHEESE"

Easter-egg hunting in our church clothes - don't ask.

Seth, easily distracted

Easter traditions

Haven't gone an Easter without making these....and I don't even really like coconut.  Oh well, I can't argue with tradition.  For the first time, Ryan actually hung out with me and helped make some treats tonight.  It could be that I bribed him with M&Ms?!?  Oh well - a small price to pay for having some company in the kitchen.  (Dear God, please do not give me a girl that doesn't like to cook.  I ALWAYS loved cooking with my Mom.  *right, Mom?*).

Anyway, we made some birds nests and had a blast.

Then we took some bread crusts out to feed to the birds outside.  Ryan was excited to know that the birds were going to come eat them all while we were sleeping.  Sorry, birds...our dumb dog ate them before you could get to them.  Maybe we'll get a bird feeder.  Hmmmm.  Highly unlikely - Troy is afraid of birds (he won't admit it though).

What was Seth doing this entire time?  VERY serious about his game:

We're excited for a play-date, painting/decorating intervention tomorrow.  I told Ryan that Henry was coming over to play.  His response:  "And Thomas? And Percy?  And James and all the other trains?"   Sigh - I'm really annoyed with Thomas the Train.  I told him that this *real* Henry was WAY better than a train - the lightbulb went off:  "Ok, my friend Henry from my class!  We have to share."  I've got my fingers crossed :-)
Almost 11 - staying up to make stinkin cookies for my friends at CG.  The boys and I are doing a little treat delivery at work tomorrow.  Girls - I know you're reading this: ready or not, here we all come!

Searching for the best macaroni and cheese

I've been on a quest for years to find the tastiest mac n cheese dish.  I've tried dozens of recipes - some have been okay; others have been just odd and gross.  My husband's favorite is one I made WAY back when: a nasty one with tons of that block processed "cheese product".  Gross.  I'm beginning to be a bit of a cheese snob.  Well, I rarely find a Martha Stewart Everyday Food recipe that we don't like.  This Classic Mac and Cheese recipe came close to the top of the list.  Just a warning that the cheeses it calls for are unique ("expensive"). 

6 TBS unsalted butter, plus more for dish

6 slices good white bread, crusts removed, torn into 1/4-1/2 inch pieces.

2 1/4 cups milk

1/4 cup flour

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp ground black papper

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper, or to taste

2 cups grated sharp white cheddar cheese (about 8 ounces)

1 cup grated Gruyere cheese (about 4 oz) or 3/4 cup grapted Romano cheese (about 3 oz)

3-4 cups elbow macaroni (I like the Ronzoni whole grain)

1.  Heat over to 375.  Butter a 2 quart casserole dish; set aside.  Place bread ina medium bowl.  Melt 2 tablespoons butter.  Pour butter into bowl with bread and toss.  Set breadcrumbs aside.
2.  In a medium saucepan, set over medium heat, heat milk.  Melt remaining 4 tablespoons butter in a high-sided skillet over medium heat.  When butter bubbles, add flour.  Cook, whisking, 1 minute.
3.  While whisking, slowly pour in hot milk.  Continue cooking, whisking constantly, until the mixture bubbles and becomes think.
4.  Remove pan from heat. Stir in salt, nutmet, black pepper, cayenne pepper, 3 cups cheddar cheese, and MOST of the cheddar and Gruyere/Romano cheese (resevering some cheese to sprinkle on top); set cheese sauce aside.
5.  Cook macaroni 2-3 minutes less than manufacturer's directions; drain, rinse.  Add to reserved cheese sauce.
6.  Pour mixture into prepared dish.  Sprinkle remaining cheeses and breadcrumbs over top.  Bake until browned on top, about 30 minutes.