Julie and Julia update

So here's a little update on my cooking challenge.
5 recipes down about 60 to go. (obviously I need to pick up the pace) So far so good.
Unfortunately I haven't taken pictures of everything but it has been fun to make some different things.

Chilaquiles pictured below. I have eaten this before but never made it until "the challenge". Basically you fry corn tortillas and make a tomatillo egg sauce in which you submerge the tortilla chips for a gooey mess.
Mediterranean Pizza: this was pretty good. The pizza dough was full of fennel, garlic and other spices and was topped with goat cheese, spinach, fresh tomatoes, artichoke hearts and kalamata olives.

Cole eating Mee Goreng (fried noodles-from singapore) Noodles with eggs, potatoes, soy sauce, bean sprouts, fried shallots and lime juice. Kind of good but not as flavorful or spicey as I like my food. Cole sure liked it.

Not pictured: Tuna sambal (weird warm tuna creation from a singapore restaurant)

Also not pictured: huevos rancheros. This was soooo good:) Fried eggs with homemade black beans, mashed potatoes and fried tortilla served with a yummy tomato sauce from fresh tomatoes.

I can't believe I eventually have to make duck. Yikes

Me and Mini Me

First let me just say that one of the greatest joys in my life is aunthood. I LOVE being an aunt. I was fortunate to become an aunt for the first time at age 10 and it's been fun ever since. Now for the story.
About 3 months ago I got a bright idea. I wanted to run a 10K race but knew that due to tax season Mike would be unable to come and watch me (and take care of the kids). So I schemed up a little plan. I somehow convinced my 13 year old niece Andi to run it with me and my sister to watch the kids. Andi likes to run but was a little nervous about running a 6.2 mile race. We went on a few long runs together and we both ran on our own as well.
Race day came and we dressed in matching t-shirts. (hence me and mini me) I am proud to say that Andi did awesome!!!!!! She came in FIRST for her age division and even more awesome is that she BEAT me. IN the final push she found her extra gas tank and beat me by five seconds. Whoa this kid has some talent. She showed her old lady aunt how it's done. :)

She said it was the hardest thing she has ever done. Just wait til I convince her to run a half marathon with me:)

Coxinhas- FINALMENTE

In the almost 12 years I have been home from my mission I have made many types of Brasilian cuisine but have always been fearful of the deliciously bad for you deep fried goodness of Coxinhas (pronounced co-SHEEN-yas). It's basically shredded chicken and cheese deep fried in dough that is shaped like a "coxinha" which literally means "little drumstick" in Portuguese.

Last night we went to a little Brasilian dinner party with Brasilian culinary contributions from some friends who also served missions in Brasil.

And now I can say that I am no longer afraid of the Coxinha. Although I am usually not a fan of deep fried things, I have to admit that when I sunk my teeth into these I was back in Brasil. yum:)))

We had so much leftover chicken that we had round 2 for dinner tonight. I'm all deep fried out for the next 6 months or so.

The best part of being a baby

Thoughts from Cole:

Besides the fact that everyone does EVERYTHING for me, the best part about being a baby is that for every meal, I get to eat twice. First I eat what my momma puts on my tray. Then about 30 minutes later, she takes off my tray and I get to eat meal number 2 consisting of all the food that I dropped in my lap during meal number 1. It's awesome, you should all try it. :)

And then after my momma takes me out I get to watch her clean up my mess for the next 10 minutes:)

My Pretty Things

Julia is always talking about her "pretty things" and at all times must be holding something "pretty".
These are my favorite "pretty things" right now in my house.

Oh how I love my new Jasmine plant. I had a really hard day a few days ago and the next day Mike brought this home to cheer me up. (so thoughtful that guy) The smell is absolutely divine and it brings a smile to my face every time I walk into my house.

I love love love daffodils. Yellow is my favorite color because it is just so happy:) I can never resist buying a couple of bunches when I shop at Trader Joes in the spring. (they only cost about a buck per bunch)

Who doesn't love the sight and taste of clementines!!!!!

Oh yes, my very most favorite pretty things. (I don't think Mike will appreciate being called pretty, but you get the idea)

and finally, one very messy thing:)

My beautiful baby

Hopefully Cole won't hate me later in life for this, but sometimes he has to "try on" something I am making to make sure the neck/ sleeves fit right. MIke was really hoping he would spit up all over it but like the good little boy that he is, he just smiled, pink dress and all.

Karma

When you don't see or hear Julia for longer than 3 minutes, be scared....very scared.
What can I say, I had it coming. As a little girl I was attracted to my sisters' makeup like an ant to sugar. I loved getting into it when they were at school. Well apparently what goes around comes around. I was impressed that she actually did get her lashes as well as 30% of her face :)

Oh Julia, you definitely keep me on my toes.