Link Love

February 18, 2011 by Aliesha

Here are some good reads for your weekend!

Projects/Creativity
-I want to make this Anthro-inspired lamp
-And how easy does this infinity dress look?
-there is a whole slew of DIY projects here

Parenting/Family
-the essence of home education
-ten reasons to have another child
-something to consider before taking the birth control pill

Kitchen
-list of 101 ways to save on groceries
–making rock candy looks like so much fun!
-this is one of the prettiest cakes I’ve ever seen

Miscellaneous
-great list of ten reasons for contentment
-helpful guide to when it is appropriate to correct someone
-at-home spa treatments you can make in your kitchen

Have a great weekend! I’ll be posting again tomorrow with Vera’s six month photos!

Pink Milk

February 16, 2011 by Aliesha

Growing up, Valentine’s Day was always a big deal in our family. Sometimes we’d have pink pancakes or heart-shaped sandwiches (sometimes with pink tuna fish!), as well as other special treats and little gifts. I want Vera and future children to really enjoy Valentine’s Day as much as I did growing up! Vera won’t remember this year, but we had a fun, special day anyway. Tad, Vera, and I all walked down to the neighborhood bakery (it’s so dangerous having a bakery within walking distance) and he and I got a treat. It was a gorgeous day and we loved the sunshine!

I thoroughly enjoyed my cupcake and pink milk! (The fab red and white straw is from Garnish.)

Tad made a delicious shrimp scampi for us for dinner.

Vera was our little kitchen helper!

We had a great day together as a family. How did you celebrate Valentine’s Day?

Roasted Garlic Hummus

February 15, 2011 by Aliesha

I made this awesome (easy to make!) hummus last weekend, and I’m so happy with how it turned out! I combined a couple of recipes to get this one, and I think it’s a keeper. I will definitely be making this often, especially since there is no tahini in it, so it’s pretty affordable to make. It’s perfect served with fresh veggies, tortilla chips, or pita bread. I can’t vouch for this personally, but I hear that hummus is really good as a sandwich spread. Anyone want to share any creative ways to eat hummus?

Roasted Garlic Hummus

1 small head of garlic (about 8 cloves)
1 tsp. olive oil
1/4 tsp. salt
1 can garbanzo beans (chickpeas), drained (liquid reserved)
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
1/2 tsp. salt
a few grinds of black pepper
1 tsp. ground cumin

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Slice off the top (pointed end) of the head of garlic. Place a square of aluminum foil on a baking sheet and set the garlic head on it. Wrap the foil around the garlic, leaving an opening at the top. Drizzle with 1 tsp. olive oil and sprinkle with 1/4 tsp. salt. Close foil around garlic head, and place in preheated oven for 40 minutes, or until garlic is soft and fragrant.

Into the bowl of a food processor, dump drained chickpeas, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and cumin. Add roasted garlic by squeezing out each clove from the head. Pulse everything in the food processor until well blended, stopping to stir as needed. If not thin enough, add reserved bean liquid (or water), 1 Tbsp. at a time, until desired consistency has been achieved. (We like ours a little chunkier, but you can make it smoother if you want.)