Santa Visited Hudson with his Reindeer

• Pumpkin Rice Pudding

· 2 cups water

· 1 cup arborio rice

· 3 cups reduced-fat (2%) milk

· 1 cup solid-pack pure pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)

· 3/4 cup honey

· 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

· 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, plus more for garnish

· 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

· 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

· 1/4 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup heavy whipping cream, whipped Preheat the oven to 375F.

Bring the water to a boil in an ovenproof 4-quart saucepan. Stir in the rice and cover. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until the rice is nearly cooked, about 20 minutes.

In a large bowl, whisk together the milk, pumpkin, honey, vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and salt.

While the rice is still hot, add the pumpkin mixture to the saucepan and stir well to combine. Cover and transfer to the oven. Bake until the liquid has reduced by about a third and the mixture is foamy and bubbling, 45 to 50 minutes. Remove from the oven and stir well to combine all the ingredients. Transfer to a large bowl, then cover and chill in the refrigerator for at least 8 hours or overnight. The pudding will keep for up to 4 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Serve with a dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkling of cinnamon.

Serving size: 1/2 cup rice pudding and 1 1/2 tablespoons whipped cream

Per Serving:Calories 240; Total Fat 6 g (Sat Fat 3.5 g, Mono Fat 1.5 g, Poly Fat 0 g); Protein 4 g; Carb 42 g; Fiber 1 g; Cholesterol 20 mg; Sodium 120 mg

More Holiday Stuff

Pumpkin Pudding

Serves 8

Ingredients

( I used Cool Whip instead of heavy cream. The kids loved it.)

• 1 can sweetened condensed milk (14 ounces)
• 1 can pumpkin puree (15 ounces)(not pumpkin pie mix)
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1 teaspoon ground clove
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 package instant vanilla pudding mix (5.1-ounces)
• 3 cups heavy cream
• 1 box Ginger Snaps (12 ounces)

Preparation

In a medium mixing bowl, combine the sweetened condensed milk, pumpkin, spices, pudding mix and a good splash of water (about 1/4 cup). Using an electric mixer, beat everything together until smooth and thickened, about 2 minutes. Set aside.

In a large bowl, whip the heavy cream with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form. Gently fold the whipped cream into the pudding mixture until blended and no streaks of pudding remain.

To assemble, layer the cookies and pudding mixture in a serving dish (or several individual dishes) in whatever fashion you like. Cover the puddings with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 and up to 8 hours (you want the ginger snaps to soften up from sitting in the pudding mixture).

Top with some ground cinnamon or more whipped cream if you like, and serve cold.

Gearing up for Thanksgiving

We are in Wisconsin... so the start to the gun deer season should be mentioned! This photo came from the trail camera in front of a certain deer stand in a certain forest, of undisclosed location. Perhaps there will be more to mention about it after season has concluded!

STRAWBERRY PRETZEL JELLO SALAD

Read more about it at www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1843,159175-243197,00.html Content Copyright © 2010 Cooks.com - All rights reserved. 2 c. crushed pretzel sticks 3/4 c. melted butter 3 tbsp. sugar 8 oz. cream cheese 1 c. sugar 8 oz. Cool Whip 1 (6 oz.) pkg. strawberry banana Jello 2 c. boiling water 2 (10 oz.) pkgs. frozen strawberries, partially thawed Mix first three ingredients and press in bottom of a 9"x13" pan. Bake at 350 degrees (metal pan) or 325 degrees (glass pan) 8 minutes. Let cool completely. Beat 1 cup sugar and cream cheese. Fold in Cool Whip. Spread over pretzels. Mix Jello and water until dissolved. Add strawberries. Stir into Jello, then set aside for 10 minutes. Pour over cheese mixture. Chill.

PISTACHIO COOL WHIP SALAD

Read more about it at www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1743,146161-227199,00.html Content Copyright © 2010 Cooks.com - All rights reserved. 1 (3 oz.) pkg. instant pistachio pudding 1 (9 oz.) container Cool Whip whipped topping 1 (16 oz.) can crushed pineapple, do not drain 1/2 c. miniature marshmallows 1/2 c. chopped pecans With spatula, lightly mix Cool Whip and dry pistachio pudding together. Add remaining ingredients. Must be chilled overnight.

another good recipe

Butternut Squash Soup with Sage

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon vegetable oil 2 1/2 pounds butternut squash, peeled and seeded and cut into 1-inch cubes 2 medium Granny Smith apples, cored and sliced 1 large onion, chopped 1 tablespoon sugar

3 cups chicken broth 1 tablespoon butter or margarine 1 teaspoon dried sage

Directions:

1.	Heat oil in saucepot over medium heat. Add squash, apples and onion and cook until almost tender. Stir in sugar, coriander and red pepper. Cook and stir 2 minutes.
2.	Add broth. Heat to a boil. Cook over low heat 10 minutes. or until squash is tender.
3.	Place cooked squash mixture in food processor, using a slotted spoon. Cover and blend until smooth, adding enough cooking liquid to make soup of desired consistency.

Random stuff

These are a few of the photos from the past few months of chasing kids and watching them grow.

The kids enjoy the playground area at church.

Quentin has been asking for a cherry tree for the yard. We planted one this summer for him. Not sure which one of them is growing faster....We visited the zoo one afternoon. They had some fun displays set up. Lars got gobbled up!

Quentin enjoyed the tropical area of the displays.

Quentin created this salt dough witch one morning before school. He is such a little artist!

Quentin in his full armor for Halloween trick-or-treating. Lars had a full match in gold. He took part of it off for a party at the YMCA, then refused to pose for a picture in his full gear!



In an effort to get back into a regular routine of posting family pictures and some of the good food we try feed the children.

Sweet Potato Casserole
Makes 6 servings
Prep time: 20 minutes. Baking time: 40 minutes
Casserole:
2 lbs sweet potatoes
½ cup egg beaters
½ cup maple syrup
2 Tablespoons melted butter
1/3 cup milk
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
Salt and pepper
Topping:
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 Tablespoon maple syrup

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray casserole dish. Peel and chop the sweet potatoes into medium chunks. In a large pot of water, boil the sweet potatoes until tender, about 10 minutes. Drain the sweet potatoes along with the beaten eggs, ½ cup maple syrup, butter, milk, nutmeg, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Spoon the mashed sweet potato mixture into the baking dish.
In a small bowl, mix the chopped pecans, 2 additional tablespoons of butter, and on tablespoon maple syrup. Sprinkle mixture evenly over the top of the sweet potatoes. Bake for about 40 minutes.

Birthday Party

We had an early birthday party for Quentin. The YMCA has sports parties. We added dodgeball the mix for the kids too! They all had fun!

The referee called him "out"!

Focus... focus...
A good old game of stomp the balloon and make some noise! A hit all around with seven year old boys!

May updates

The month went very quickly. The boys enjoyed some time at the park. One of the neighborhood parks has had some recent equipment additions, the boys are never afraid to explore and burn off a little energy.

Quentin's Kindergarten Class visited the Fire and Police Department. Of course, my son was the one who asked the officer to put the handcuffs on him. He thought it was really funny until the officer had to look for his keys to unlock them.

Quentin with his friend Fallon.

Peaceful weekend

The weekend was wonderful. Jamie finished his finals for classes and we were able to spend the whole weekend as a family without any homework to be done. I realize this will come to an end too soon, as Quentin is wrapping up his Kindergarten year... there are many more years ahead. We spent Saturday doing a bunch of odds and ends in the afternoon and watched Nim's Island together in the evening. It was refreshing to see a movie that did not cast adults or parents as bumbling fools. Quentin wasn't feeling well Saturday evening, I suspect he got some bad food at some point earlier in the day. Deli meat is a mysterious thing....
Sunday morning we lounged in our pajamas, played with kids relaxed. We had a family outing in the afternoon to celebrate Mother's Day. The Winzer Stube is minutes away from home and had wonderful food. The kids had onion rings for what I believe was the first time for each of them, they loved it. Lars liked the breading, then he discovered the onion inside. There was an accordian player for entertainment. The kids were enchanted with the costume and the music... perhaps even more so, with the sight of their parents singing along! We had a lovely weekend.

Spring Fling

Quentin was chasing giant bubbles outside at the church Spring Fling today. He had so much fun!
Lars had his face painted. He pretended he was a cat most of the day. The face painting included a little tail coming from his mouth. He said it was a mouse tail.

rhubarb

The Rhubarb is large enough to pick and make a cake! Joyous day!!!!

Spring updates

The boys and I were goofing around for the camera. Not much else to say about this one, pretty obvious we were playing it up!

Jamie reading to Lars on Sunday evening. The little guy was so tired he fell asleep in his Daddy's lap....

We had a some much needed rain and the flowers came to life. (Ignore the dandelions...)


Quentin refuses to smile nicely for the camera lately. So, as any good mother would do... I took a few pictures to use as bribery in future years... this one may resurface at some point when it will serve me well. Got to love the kid, he was getting tickled relentlessly and still refused to smile with his tongue in his mouth. Charisma?!

Lars has been absolutely insistent that we spend every possible waking moment outside. He was able to spend some time at the park with me this week.
Broccoli Cream Soup
Cream Soup Base:
¼ cup chopped onion
¼ cup chopped celery
¼ cup butter
¼ tsp sea salt
1 ½ cup chicken broth
1 (12oz) can evaporated milk

For Broccoli Soup:
2 cups frozen or fresh broccoli, cooked and chopped
¼ tsp garlic

(We have made this twice and loved it. The last time we doubled the broccoli and added a cup of left over mashed potatoes as well. I intend to try this cream soup with variations of vegetables throughout the summer. I think it would be great with asparagus too.)

Loving this Weather!!!!

Gardening and preparations have officially begun at our house. The whole family gets in on the fun. The boys have spent a lot of time outside playing in the yard, digging in the raised beds, and picking the "bad guys" otherwise known as dandelions. We start seeds indoors in January every year, in the past two weeks all of the seedling have been moved to the three season front porch and are being hardened off with the breeze and the temperature variations. The picture above is of a Rosa Bianca Eggplant that is doing well.

This is the prizewinner so far, this lovely tomato has been growing wonderfully and seems to have a great start on the growing season.

We start saving our plastic and metal containers in the fall every year in order to use them as pots for the seedlings. We could use the same every year, but there is something about saving a yogurt container in December while thinking of the wonderful plant that will take root in the spring.

Lars outgrew his puddle jumpers from last year, and managed to blow a hole in one he wore them so often. We repurposed them into planters for a few sedum varieties, and some pansies for the spring.

This old metal pail had actually rusted spots through in the bottom. Lars and I decided to use it for a planter in the flower garden. We added and Hens and Chicks, I suspect they will tolerate the summer heat well. It is hard to spot, but Quentin found a bird feather in the garden and stuck it next to the rock too. Perfect.

The Tonka jeep was a garage sale find last fall, Quentin decided it should house a pansy for spring. The only way Lars agreed to give up a toy, was knowing that when the heat became too much for the pansy in the summer, we would clean the jeep out and he could play with it again.

Spring Monday

I spent a some time today wondering how I was going to get list of household and yard tasks done, sort of rushing through the tasks instead of savoring the spring day, birds, new flowers, etc. Then as I was reading this evening this jumped out at me.
“Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.” (Mt. 6:34)

Tea Cup

This is beautiful... I had to share. I have an aunt who send weekly inspirations. This is one of those times I really needed the reminder that there are tests and trials for reasons that I may never fully understand. Thank you Sara.

THE TEA CUP
~ Author Unknown~
There was a couple who took a trip to England to shop in a beautiful antique store to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. They both liked antiques and pottery, and especially teacups. Spotting an exceptional cup, they asked "May we see that? We've never seen a cup quite so beautiful."

As the lady handed it to them, suddenly the teacup spoke, "You don't understand. I have not always been a teacup. There was a time when I was just a lump of red clay. My master took me and rolled me pounded and patted me over and over and I yelled out, "Don't do that."

"I don't like it!" "Let me alone," but he only smiled, and gently said; "Not yet!"

Then WHAM! I was placed on a spinning wheel and suddenly I was spun around and around and around. "Stop it! I'm getting so dizzy! I'm going to be sick!", I screamed. But the master only nodded and said, quietly; 'Not yet.'

He spun me and poked and prodded and bent me out of shape to suit himself and then he put me in the oven. I never felt such heat. I yelled and knocked and pounded at the door. "Help! Get me out of here!" I could see him through the opening and I could read his lips as he shook his head from side to side, 'Not yet'.

When I thought I couldn't bear it another minute, the door opened. He carefully took me out and put me on he shelf, and I began to cool. Oh, that felt so good! "Ah, this is much better," I thought. But, after I cooled he picked me up and he brushed and painted me all over The fumes were horrible. I thought I would gag. 'Oh, please, Stop it, Stop, I cried. He only shook his head and said. 'Not yet!'.

Then suddenly he put me back in to the oven. Only it was not like the first one. This was twice as hot and I just knew I would suffocate. I begged. I pleaded. I screamed. I cried I was convinced I would never make it. I was ready to give up. Just then the door opened and he took me out and again placed me on the shelf, where I cooled and waited and waited, wondering "What's he going to do to me next?"

An hour later he handed me a mirror and said 'Look at yourself.' And I did. I said, That's not me; that couldn't be me. It's beautiful. I'm beautiful!!!

Quietly he spoke: "I want you to remember, then,' he said, 'I know it hurt to be rolled and pounded and patted, but had I just left you alone, you'd have dried up. I know it made you dizzy to spin around on the wheel, but if I had stopped, you would have crumbled. I know it hurt and it was hot and disagreeable in the oven, but if I hadn't put you there, you would have cracked. I know the fumes were bad when I brushed and painted you all over, but if I hadn't done that, you never would have hardened. You would not have had any color in your life. If I hadn't put you back in that second oven, you wouldn't have survived for long because the hardness would not have held. Now you are a finished product. Now you are what I had in mind when I first began with you."

The moral of this story is this: God knows what He's doing for each of us. He is the potter, and we are His clay. He will mold us and make us and expose us to just enough pressures of just the right kinds that we may be made into a flawless piece of work to fulfill His good, pleasing and perfect will.

So when life seems hard, and you are being pounded and patted and pushed almost beyond endurance; when your world seems to be spinning out of control; when you feel like you are in a fiery furnace of trials; when life seems to "stink", try this.

Brew a cup of your favorite tea in your prettiest tea cup, sit down and think on this story and then, have a little talk with the Potter.

Spring Batting Practice

The boys have gotten alot of use of the batting tee this spring already. The clips below are of the kids playing outside during the nice spring weather.

Easter 2010

We had a nice Easter day. Bryson helped the boys find their eggs. He was nosing them around in the yard, but did not pick any up in his mouth. He is such a fabulous dog, we are very lucky to have him in our household. The children had candy for breakfast. Lars is enjoying a few minutes on the bench with Jamie in the photo below.

Quentin was very interested in counting the eggs and making sure he and his brother had an equal amount. It is amazing how well the bunny can count!

Quentin was very happy to show the camera his loot! Our children may be the only kids who got plain plastic pails for baskets this year. I thought they would get a lot more use of them. I can already imagine all the bugs, worms, toads, rocks and sticks that the boys will be toting around in them this summer. Boys will be boys...

Risen!

Happy Easter!

Easter Weekend

Saturday morning was egg dying (and finger dying) morning at our house. The boys were up for the challenge. Two dozen eggs, two boys, six bowls of food coloring, one newspaper.... let it begin! Quentin is an old pro at decorating eggs, I think this may have been Lars first egg extravaganza!

(A little tip- foamy shaving cream works wonders for cleaning the table and fingers after a project like this!)

Wonderful Monday

What a wonderful day! Lars and I spent some time with Grandma today. We visited her new apartment, played outside and had lunch. Grandma and Lars really enjoyed eachother outside. Lars rode his bike on the sidewalk and stretched his legs a good bit. We enjoyed lunch with Grandma in the common lunch area. Lars poking at the baked apple with cinnamon may have been the best entertainment of the morning. Hope everyone is enjoying the sun.

Spring

Sorry it has been so very long. We are all feeling refreshed since spring arrived in Wisconsin. It feels a bit early, but we aren't complaining. The winter has kept us busy. Quentin is two thirds of the way through Kindergarten and doing well. Lars has started attending daycare a few days a week. He enjoys playing with the other children, but does not enjoy being away from his Momma. We are glad he has started this transition now, or it could have been tough for him as school started. He is actually registered for preschool in the fall, and tells us he is excited to be in school too. He'll have the same preschool teacher Quentin did. Mrs. N is made for being a preschool teacher. If God has a mold he uses to create a wonderful early childhood teacher, she was definately created with it!

Quentin is riding his "two wheeler" these days. He still prefers the grass and going straight to hard surfaces and turning, however we are extremely proud of him for making the leap. Lars is riding his tricycle very well, and has actually begun to ride the small bike with training wheels too. He has a bit too much of the fearless Norse Viking blood in his veins. I have stopped him from riding down the stairs more than one time already!
The boys have been enjoying the batting tee and wiffle balls tremendously this spring also. Bryson has also been enjoying the game of chasing the balls. He is not so great at bringing them back to the kids, but there is a reason we buy them by the bucketload.

The spring bulbs have begun surfacing in the past week, a few crocuses are blooming this week already. It would be lovely to have a few more in time for Easter. We are hoping the bunny comes to our house this year. The kids have been doing a wonderful job eating their fruits and vegetables lately, they heard that the bunny is extra kind to children who eat healthy, especially carrots.