Say Posciple!

Kade’s favorite summer time treat!

I was just trying to get him to say “Popsicle” because the way he says it melts my heart.

It’s a long video – the cuteness is just after a minute.

Get It

Every. Last. Drop.

Pink Sprinkles!

Today we went on an adventure with Owen and Juney.  A trolley ride and a doughnut will brighten any rainy day.

I love how all three kiddos gravitated to the doughnut case in awe and were so excited at the sight of such goodness.  I think they were more excited to pick out a doughnut than they were to actually eat it!

Mmmmm….

Popcorn for Dinner

Our final Husky game of the season = Kade’s first taste of popcorn

Tip off was at 6pm so instead of trying to eat fast before we came, Kade and I packed his dinner.

Then our friend Heidi came to visit and say hello to us at the game.  She had popcorn and shared with Kade.  We had never given him popcorn before because of the kernels…and really, we don’t often get popcorn.  He LOVED it.  Heidi left and went back to her seat.  Enter five year old who sat in front of us, with a bag of popcorn that shortly after sitting down, he spilled all over the floor.  Kade could not focus on the game or the W’s or anything else but that popcorn on the floor.  He wiggled and squirmed and fought until we decided it was way too early in the game to deal with this for another hour and a half.  So, Kade got his own bag of popcorn, didn’t eat a lick of his dinner or anything remotely healthy; but we all enjoyed the game.

 

Take That Peanut Butter!

Get Your Jam On

Our raspberry bush is insane this year.  I’m not sure what we did differently last year (maybe all this rain was a good thing?  Ack!  I can’t believe that just came out of my mouth.) but we’ve got berries coming out of our ears!  What to do with cups and cups of berries?  Jam!

I’ve never tried canning before but it’s kind of fun.  Kind of fun after the stressful parts.  What if I cook it too long?  What if the lids don’t seal?  What ? How?  Why?  Bah!  Stressful! 

Then you hear a “pop” of the lid being sealed and all is well.  And after that you get to eat it.  Then it’s fun.

I tried this recipe because I like vanilla.  Needless to say, I didn’t use mixed berries.  It’s all raspberries, all the time in the Charboneau backyard.  The jam turned out really yummy!  One batch down, another on the way and who knows how many more after that.  Don’t be surprised if you get jam for Christmas!

 

Kangaroos

First we spotted them.

Then Kevin ate them.

What we learned:

Kangaroo is like a very lean steak, without being tough.  It’s quite nice if you don’t think about the fact you’re eating a kangaroo.  We also had a crocodile appetizer that tasted like….chicken.  It was more chewy than chicken, but not in a gross, overcooked way.  It wasn’t bad.

Garden Party

One of the things we were super excited about in our new house were the ready-made garden beds outside and the abundance of herbs scattered about the yard.  We planted tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, peppers, squash and tried a cantaloupe.  Admittedly, we cheated this year with starters but we are still very proud of our blooming little guys!

 

We had our first taste of garden love when we made this light, yummy summer dinner.  We used our own mint and basil…but the zucchini isn’t ready yet and we don’t have peas.  With or without your own garden goods, there will be a party in your mouth!

 

Peppers!

Tomatoes!

Baconopolis

I claim to not be a bacon lover, but I think my taste buds, they are a changin’. It’s not that I don’t like it. I don’t like that it over powers whatever else you’re eating it with. Stand alone, I like it fine.

I accidentily came upon this Tom Douglas event, Baconopolis, and immediately thought of Case. So, she, Mark, Kevin and I indulged our inner pork this past Friday. We ate ten different bacon dishes. Ten. Some people might think you can never have too much bacon. I hate to tell you, we were all baconed out by dish number 8. It did take that long. But we did suck it up and eat all ten.

Salty-Crispy-Fun!

The Bacon Menu:

B.L.A.T.
Bacon Cured Whole Pig
Bacon Cornbread Muffin
Pork n’ Beans – Mark’s favorite
Bacon Explosion – mine and Case’s favorite
Elvis’ Favorite: Hot Peanut Butter, Banana and Bacon – Kevin’s favorite
Classic Carbonara
Bacon Fried Rice
Bacon Biscuit Sandwich with Gravy – a close second for me
Bacon Filled Doughnut with Maple Glaze and Bacon Salt – the overall winner of night

For the love of bacon!

Figgy Me Silly

My work participated in the annual Figgy Pudding caroling competition, a benefit for the Pike Market Senior Center and the Downtown Foodbank.  Despite our best vocal efforts, I think we frightened more downtown shoppers than got them to donate.  The mayor donated to us though! 

We sang all of the classics, over and over and over, including  “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” which is what peaked our figgy interest…just what the heck is figgy pudding?  Neither Kevin or I have had it so could not understand why they  insist on getting some figgy pudding and not going until they get some.  I mean, according to the song, you pretty much can’t have a Merry Christmas if you don’t have figgy pudding.

So we made some.

And were not impressed.  It smelled good while baking…but it really doesn’t deserve two whole song verses.

We also made a Fig and Blue Cheese Stuffed Pork Tenderloin and Fig-Pecan Macaroons which were both pretty tasty.  And we went to Cupcake Royale and tried their Figgy Pudding cupcake, which was much, much, much much, better than what we made. 

In conclusion, we don’t want your figgy pudding.  So don’t bring it right here. 

We do though, [in tune, please] Wish You a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!