Food Fun Part 1

I've been slacking on updating here lately. I have been having some fun in the kitchen, but sadly my camera was no where near me at the time. I was trying some new creations for me, and didn't really want to document the possible failure. So what have I been up to?

First: Canning! I have never canned anything, however I grew up on self-preserved foods as we lived on a huge farm and my mother would have to put foods away from the garden and could only make it to the store maybe monthly. So, after reading lots of blog posts from one of my new faves/and old friends Yankee Hoosier Momma, I got inspired to finally give it a try. I had 12 peaches that were about to turn and no interest in eating them at the time. So, of course I go to the internet and see how many peaches I need to make preserves. Lo and behold I find recipes calling for 12 peaches. Awesome!

I take AJ out to Walmart to see what is needed for canning and what the prices will be. Of course this means I come home with all the equipment. M knew I wasn't actually going to look at that stuff and then leave. Now to show just how not with it I am, I look at the water bath canner pot and think, "hey, that looks just like a lobster pot". Um, yeah, I had always seen lobsters being cooked in that pot, so I completely thought that was a lobster pot. My mother had to explain to me the difference later that day. My bad. I get another vote of confidence when while checking out the cashier says "I always wanted to know how to make jelly", and I respond with "I'm hoping to learn today". She stares at me dumbfounded "you're going to teach yourself?" "Yep :)". Hey, isn't that what the internet is for?

So, back to home, and looking up lots of recipes to figure out where to start. First I have to find out how to start prepping. I get that done, and I'm off. It was surprisingly easy, which was great for a first attempt. I made 8 jelly jars and they all sealed without an issue. Yay me! It tastes very peachy and I'm really excited to attempt to make more jelly/jam/preserves and then as the season moves on, I'm on to pickling and relishes. Woot!

So, anyway, here's the recipe for the peach preserves I made, however I used less sugar, only 5 1/2 cups.

Peach Preserves

Ingredients: Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method Cooking Directions: -------- ------------ -------------------------------- 4 pounds peaches -- peeled, pitted, and thinly sliced 1 package Ball 100% Natural Fruit Jell Pectin 2 tablespoons lemon juice 7 cups sugar Prepare Ball brand or Kerr brand jars and closures according to manufacturer's instructions. Measure 4 cups sliced peaches. Combine peaches, Fruit Jell pectin and lemon juice in a large saucepot. Bring to a rolling boil, stirring occasionally. Add sugar, stirring to dissolve. Return to a rolling boil. Boil hard for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Skim foam if necessary. Carefully ladle hot preserves into hot jars, leaving 1/4-inch headspace. Wipe jar rim clean. Place lid on jar with sealing compound next to glass. Screw band down evenly and firmly just until a point of resistance is met -- fingertip tight. Process 10 minutes in a boiling-water canner. At elevations higher than 1,000 feet, boil 2 additional minutes for each additional 1,000 feet elevation. This recipe yields about nine 8-ounce jars.

Maternity Monday

Ok, I missed last week. Thanks for calling me out on that one Jen :)

How Far Along: 13w5d

Total Weight Gain: ?

Maternity Clothes: All snaps/zippers/buttons have been retired until 2012. Not quite into maternity shirts yet though

Sleep: Back pain wakes me up a few times a week causing me to move to the couch, or wake up M with my tossing and complaining. Looks like sleep is going to be an issue with this one. 

Cravings or Aversions: Nothing specific

Best Moment This Week: AJ is starting to use the potty. So, now there's a fighting chance we'll only have one in diapers at a time. I know it's a long road, but I have hope.

Movement: I'm waiting to feel those first flutters, but it's getting closer.

Gender: Still thinking girl, now that's based on the fact that M and I have come to agreement on two possible boy names, and can't even narrow down our list of over 100 possible girl names.

Labor Signs: Please no.

Belly Button in or out: In

What I miss: Nothing at the moment.

What I'm Looking Forward to: having a real bump and not the pudge

Weekly Wisdom: Enjoy the journey

Milestones: Second Trimester!!! Oh, and it's been a full week since I last took Zofran

What the baby is up to:
Baby's now the size of a peach!Your fetus is forming teeth and vocal cords...savor this, their nonfunctional phase. Baby is approaching normal proportions, with his head now only one third the size of his body. And intestines are in the process of moving from the umbilical cord to baby's tummy -- much more convenient.

Sundae Sunday

For AJ's first birthday we did a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse theme. Since it was her first, we went all out. We rented out the church hall, set up a photo slideshow and invited close to 100 people (we only invited family, we have big families).

This year it will be just immediate family, which for most would be a small gathering. For us, that still means over 30 people. So a theme is requried. My sister-in-law is an amazing party thrower. I can remember each year of her kids by the theme of the party. I want AJ to have the same, or at least I want to feel the same for her. I had a great (I thought) idea of Candy Land. Cute candies, lots of color, sugar and fun. One big problem... AJ isn't a big candy fan. Hmmm. How about cupcakes? Lots of choices, combos and fun for me. I love the idea, and will still use some cupcakes, however... AJ isn't a fan of cake. Yep, I got one of those odities as a child, one who prefers crackers to sweets. How is a baker to deal with this?

Find the one sweet she actually likes. ICE CREAM!!!

AJ's birthday is on a Sunday this year, so we will be having a Sundae Sunday. I'm super excited to figure out toppings for our ice cream shmorgasbord. There's a place I grew up going to that has a huge ice cream buffet. M and I brought AJ there last fall, and she loved it. So many options, each bite could be different. Yay!

I still plan on making cupcakes, maybe just two kinds though. Some people (read: me) will want cake too at a birthday party, so there will be cupcakes decorated like... you guessed it. Sundaes.

I am super excited to start thinking and planning, and try to ignore the difficult part that my little baby will officially enter the Terrible Twos.

3 years ago

It was 97 degrees with 100% humidity.

I was tied into a corset

We borrowed my stepmother's truck to "get away"

It was free ice cream cone day at Friendly's and I was bummed to miss it

I danced in public for the first time

Family and friends put away their differences, even for just one day.

All of this because 3 years ago, I got married

Maternity Monday

How Far Along: 11w5d

Total Weight Gain: NONE!!! I got on that scale at the OB office, and it's the same. Woot!!!

Maternity Clothes: I spent Sunday shopping for a bathing suit. Not a lot of fun when not in first tri, even more horrid after having one kid. Absolutely wrong when both of those combine. After 7 stores and 4 hours of searching, I finally broke down and went to Motherhood. I like the one I found, and it fits, which is both good and a bit of a bummer. Oh well, at least AJ can go swimming with Momma this summer.

Sleep: I'ave been having more and more restless nights.

Cravings or Aversions: Nothing specific

Best Moment This Week: First OB appointment. One heartbeat measuring on track.

Movement: I'm waiting to feel those first flutters, but it's getting closer.

Gender: Right now, I'm thinking maybe a girl, but who knows. The OB guessed boy.

Labor Signs: Please no.

Belly Button in or out: In

What I miss: Nothing at the moment.

What I'm Looking Forward to: Scheduled my anatomy scan ultrasound and it's the end of next month, that sounds so soon.

Weekly Wisdom: I am not fat, I am pregnant. Now repeat and believe it. After bathingsuit shopping, I'm keeping this one.

Milestones: 12w (well, just about)


What the baby is up to:
Baby's now the size of a lime!Your fetus currently enjoys a 1:1 ratio between body and head, and has skin so transparent that blood vessels show right through it. But fingers and toes are no longer webbed, and hair follicles, tooth buds, and nail beds are forming -- setting up a significantly more attractive future.

So tired

There's no real reason for this post. I guess the only reason I'm bothering is because I know no one else wants to hear about my mini gripe.

AJ woke up at 5AM yesterday. I took the opportunity to sew the blanket my brother had asked me to sew for him a while ago. I was seeing him yesterday. The problem was he bought what he thought was a fleece throw. Turns out it was two panels to make a fleece throw. Oops. So, I got the blanket sewn up, even did some hand sewing, which I never do. After that, I had to run errands, and then make a dip for the party we were attending.

We head to the party, AJ, my mother and me. M is at drill this weekend. Once we get there, I am asked to be the photographer as my sister doesn't have any memory left on her camera, and no time to get the pictures on to the computer. Ok, that just means my mother is on AJ duty for me. It goes well, the party lasts 7 hours, and I get 505 pictures.

So after a day of pictures, playing, kiddos and sun (not to forget the first trimester exhaustion), I get home, get AJ to sleep and put my pictures onto the computer while watching the Stanley Cup Final. My own bad decision on that part. I finally head to bed around 10PM.

AJ has a horrible night. She needs me to go in to check her 6 times between 12AM and 5:30AM. Finally silence until the late morning of 6:30. Yep, that's sleeping in for her. Now another day of her and I, and I'm exhausted.

The kicker, I need a bathing suit. Blech! Nothing like trying on bathing suits in those horrid fitting rooms while staring at that not quite baby pudge. Fun times.

Sun, fun, family and 30

Now, that's how to spend a three day weekend.

Saturday was spent baking from 5AM until 8AM, then again from 11AM until noon. I made angelfood cake trifle, Peanut Butterscotch Chocolate Crispy Bars and Chocolate Chip Cookie Brownies. Sadly, after the first round of baking, I was cutting things up to put them into their travel containers and realized these didn't actually bake through. So, back into the oven then went. 45 minutes later, I had to pull them out and pray they set up enough to serve. Well, they were still soup when we arrived at the party. Apparently it was really tasty soup though as my cousins were fighing over who would get the batter soup off the pan.

The party was fantastic. A huge bounce house, kiddie pool for the little ones, a slightly larger pool for the slightly larger kids, horseshoes, what we call horse balls (two balls on a string that you throw to wrap around a ladder. I have no idea what the proper name is), grilled foods and great family. We came "out" to the family so it's official. Everyone knows we're hoping for a Christmas addition. My cousin, the hostess of the party even got me a personal birthday cake with a 30 on it.

AJ had an absolute blast on the bounce house. She didn't want to get out, ever. M went in with her a couple of times, but she was content to bounce around, even with the 12 year old boys in there. She fell, flopped, bounced and laughed the whole time. A fantastic day.

Sunday was another cookout. This one much smaller, just us heading over to M's brother's with his wife. Later in the day our niece showed up and we set up the sprinkler for her and AJ. Nice and low key.

Monday we headed up to what I consider one of the most beautiful parts of our state. A slightly larger cookout, but still fairly low key. AJ and her cousin, a couple uncles an aunt, two grandparents, four dog and three horses. More sprinklers were involved, added a slip and slide, which AJ HATED, mainly because M thought it would be okay to just let her go down alone face first. Not a fan. He tried to get her to go down again, I told him to hold her the whole way down, and he again pushed her from the top and let her go. Again, ending badly. So, that was the end of AJ on a slip and slide for now. Another function is planned up there in July, so hopefully it will go better.

All of this, slight sunburn and Memorial Day Weekend spent with my favorite soldier and kid. Yep, a pretty graet weekend.