Sunday, January 11, 2009

Hmmm....Roasted Vegetables

So this recipe does take some time in chopping the veggies, but it is so worth it. Also, don't substitute dried herbs for the fresh ones. They just shrivel up and burn, leaving a yucky flavor.

Roasted Vegetables

Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Cook Time: 40 Minutes

Ready In: 55 Minutes
Yields: 12 servings

1 small zucchini squash, cubed

2 red bell peppers, seeded and diced

1 sweet potato, peeled and cubed

3 Yukon Gold potatoes, cubed

10 baby carrots, cubed

1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme

2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary

1/4 cup olive oil

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

salt and freshly ground black pepper

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 475 degrees F (245 degrees C).

2. In a large bowl, combine the squash, red bell peppers, sweet potato, and Yukon Gold potatoes.

3. In a small bowl, stir together thyme, rosemary, olive oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Toss with vegetables until they are coated. Spread evenly on a large roasting pan.

4. Put the root vegetables (potatoes & carrots) in one bowl & the more delicate vegetables (peppers & zucchini) in another bowl, then I divided the oil/vinegar/herb mixture between the two bowls. I put the root vegetables in the oven first & let them roast for 30 minutes before adding the other vegetables at the last 10 or 15 minutes. That way they stay bright colored & didn't get mushy.

Saturday, January 3, 2009

Gingerbread House

So this time we wised up and did the messy activity before bath time. So, here is Ethan decorating the gingerbread house.

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Sienna isn't quite old enough to help with this one, so I decorated her with some of the icing.  She didn't protest.

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However, being the mean mommy that I am, I didn't giver her all of the frosting.  Here is the "protesting" face.

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Why I Don't Get Anything Done

For those of you who wonder why I don't get anything done and you think to yourself, "Julie must watch a lot of TV", or "She must just sit around the house eating treats all day".  Well, here's why. You see, I have a 3ft tall tornado for a son. I'm amazed at what he can get into if I selfishly try to go to the bathroom or brush my teeth. 

The paper shredder. After emptying out the shredder and putting the "shreddings"in a bag near the garage to be taken out ASAP, I was negligent for a moment and Ethan decided they would be an excellent  playground for his construction trucks and trains. Creative little rascal, isn't he?

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What did moms ever do before vacuums?