Derby Day!

It's the first weekend in May and after you marry a Kentucky boy you realize that it is no longer just "May Day" but this little thing called the Kentucky Derby is run each year.  This weekend becomes synonymous with many things such as your sister-in-law's wedding anniversary (Isaac still has no idea when it really is, he just knows they got married on Derby day and therefore he should tell them happy anniversary each Derby...though the date of the derby changes since it is always on a Saturday...).  It is also the time each year we get together with some friends, convince as many people as we can to wear silly hats, and make a few traditional derby items. 

My husband is a little odd in that he LOVES chocolate but when it comes to chocolate birthday cake, he would rather have brownies or a derby pie.  Now, the true recipe for the derby pie is kept secret but there are many, many, great recipes out there for it.  What I am about to share with you is the one that we like best and I make every year for derby and most of his birthdays.  Think of it like a pecan-chocolate chip pie with a little something-something extra...you won't be able to eat just one piece :) p.s. the dessert section in my cookbook is by far the most populated. This recipe is on page one.

Isaac's Derby Pie

1 9" pie crust
4 lg eggs
1 C light corn syrup
6 T melted butter (unsalted)
1/2 C sugar
1/4 C brown sugar (light or dark depending on your preference or what is in your pantry...)
3 (liberal) T of bourbon (Makers makes the best for pies in my opinion!)
1 T All purpose flour
1 T vanilla extract
1 C chopped pecans
1 C semisweet chocolate chips

Lightly beat eggs then add the next 6 ingredients (all but the chips and pecans if you don't want to count...) Whisk these all together until smooth. Stir in the chips and pecans and pour into your pie shell. Bake at 350 for an hour, or until set (I do 50 minutes and then check...)

Wait as long as you can to cut into it but it is best a little warm (ooey gooey yummy chocolate...)

Now, pick your favorite horse, find a mint julep, and enjoy the most exciting 2 minutes in sports!! 

One of these things is not like the other...

I know, I know, it has been nearly a year and I come back with a post of Oreos...well you have to start somewhere and my nap time craving was some of these and I found a little gem! Ok, maybe it was just the mistake of a robot that makes cookies but I find it unique and special and a reminder that even a mistake can be good from time to time. Life has been crazy, challenging and overwhelming at times but just as little Eli says, "swing batter batter!" you have to swing at what you are given and you might just knock it out of the park. I hope to be back on here more often. I have enjoyed some time away from the home and am now back with cooking, projects and kiddo time galore. 4 -6 weeks to go until we have a new "Littlest VanHoose" and I can't wait to see what God has in store for our changing family.

It may not look like we think it should but it might just be the same thing only better!

A Need to Knead

Some days, no matter what it looks like outside or what you feel like inside, you just need a break from it all.  We have had a great day thus far...a happy baby at 6am (ok, 7am would have been much nicer...), a great breakfast, I drank an entire cup of joe as opposed to my normal third, and Eli and I had a swim date with a dear friend and her two little girls.  It has been great!

As Eli snoozed, I have been prepping for dinner--BBQ chicken pizza.  We love pizza and typically have it a couple of Friday's a month but lately we have been ordering out more than in.  I found a recipe and in typical fashion altered it a bit to fit what I had in my pantry.  I had no idea that as I worked that dough that tension would release in my back and shoulders! I found myself saying a few prayers, breathing more easily and even closing my eyes as I turned the dough over and over. Giada's recipe said to work the dough about 10-12 minutes and I'm telling you, I didn't short change it at all.  I got every second out of that dough before I let it rest back in its oiled bowl.

Who knew that I could find such joy and relief in preparing dinner...I think the Italians are on to something; it isn't just the wine that can have so many health benefits, simply working the dough has done wonders for my mood today :)

Cin, Cin, and bon appetit!

Pizza Dough (Makes 3)

1 1/2 cups warm water
1/2 t sugar
2 1/4 t active yeast (or 1 packet)

3 cups all purpose flour
2 cups whole wheat flour
3/4 t kosher salt
olive oil

stir the sugar and then the yeast into the warm water and let it sit while you prepare the flour.

In a large bowl stir the flour and salt together with a wisk.  Add the yeast mixture to the dry ingredients and stir until combined.  I actually took my rings off half way through this process and started combining with my hands.  If the dough is too dry, add water a teaspoon at a time.  If it is too wet, add flour a Tbsp at a time.

Turn the dough out onto a slightly floured surface and with floured hands knead it for 10-12 minutes.  Enjoy every second.  Let your mind rest and just relax!! Once the dough is nice and elasticky (that is so a word) rinse out your dough bowl, dry it, drizzle in a little olive oil to coat the sides and bottom and place your dough in it.  Cover it with a damp dish towel and let it rest in your oven, undisturbed for about 2 hours.  Gently deflate it and separate the dough into three balls and place them each into an oiled bowl.  Let them rise again for about another hour.  You can refrigerate for a day, wrap in plastic then foil and freeze, or make 3 pizza's.  We made two...carmalized onion, bbq chicken and a summer squash with spanish olives and 3 cheeses...both were better than imagined! Have fun and make your pizza your way!

I grew these!

They may just look like your Kroger green beans but these beans are special. These beans are the first we will harvest this year. They are the first thing I have ever grown from a seed and can actually feed to my child. These beans give me hope that I might just learn how to garden. I might just learn how to grow enough to put away for the winter. Ok, baby steps, I might be able to grow enough to put a can or two away (I don't think I will be able to convince Isaac to till up half the back yard yet but, maybe if these beans taste like my grandpa's he might not need as much persuading).

I love these beans :)

Ninja!

While I took my cake decorating class, Isaac's office ate most of my projects. Today is the company's "quadrennial" party at the boss' house and he asked me to make one of my cakes. Isaac said he asked for a Ninja cake. I didn't have a ton of time, Eli's nap time, but I think it will do! What do you think? It is chocolate with chocolate and peanut butter chips with a homemade strawberry jam filling. Buttercream icing :)

Derby day treats!

Can you guess what these are going to be??

Absence makes the heart grow fonder

Yes, I know what you are thinking...where did she go? Well, let's just say that the few hours I had to sleep in the past month, I took them! I had no intentions of April being a busy month, in fact, I had a nice little to-do list to help me stay stress-free as Eli's first birthday approached.  Best laid plans my friends.  That just didn't happen! One thing after another and I found that naps weren't long enough and I was ready for bed around the same time as Eli...though I rarely went then.

I have been trying out a TON of new recipes though. I love the Jessica Seinfeld books more and more with each recipe. 

More details will follow, but let your tastebuds be teased with these pictures of "what I ate" this past month:

 Some fun with Easter :)

 Polenta topped with eggplant, mushrooms, onion, marinara and mozzerella

 Black bean burger with provolone, avocado and spinach (Eli LOVED this) and some homemade mac n cheese...both recipes out of Seinfeld's book!

 Tilapia with Mango/Avocado salsa

 Mexican style polenta

Pumpkin pancakes with some Glier's Goetta