Dirty Thirty I Is

When I was a little girl I used to tell my mother (in a very defiant and dramatic voice) that I wanted to die when I was thirty.  Turning thirty meant I would be old and I never wanted to get old.  I'm sure you can imagine my mothers response which included exasperated sighs and telling me I was ridiculous.

Well mom, you were right.  Today I am thirty and I do not think I am old.  I actually think quite the opposite.  And I am still ridiculous so you were right about that too

Today is quite melancholy for me and I am not exactly sure why.  Its not a sad feeling, but an anxious one.  I feel like the winds have shifted and a huge change is on the horizon.  I think the fact it is dark, raining and 60 degrees might also have something to do with it.

Bec--Can you believe this was six years ago?  Where has all the time gone? It sure doesn't feel like this was six years ago, but look at us!  We're a couple of babies!

Last night I had a hankering for chilli and made up a huge pot, (which is going wonderful with my sulking around the house today!) I had made up this recipe years ago, before I began my adventures in vegetarian land.  I don't normally put my staple recipes up here but this one is to good not to share.  Lets call it my 30 year old birthday present to the world.

*this recipe has had its ingredients modified many many times throughout the years.  The only part I stick with consistently are the first four ingredients and the beer. 

Crystal's Chilli Con Carne

• 2 TBS Chili Powder
• 1TBS Ground Cumin
• 1 TSP Dried Oregano
• 1 TSP Spanish Paprika
• 2 lbs Lean Ground Beef (I use pork)
• 1 TSP vegetable oil
• 2 M onions (diced)
• 8 Cloves of Garlic (minced)
• 1 TSP Salt
• 1/4 TSP Pepper
• 1/8 TSP Ground Cinnamon
• 1 28oz can Diced Tomatos
• 1 12oz Bottle of Beer
• 1 14 oz can black beans
• 1 14 oz can pinto beans
• 1 14 oz can kidney beans
• 1 14 oz can chili beans

1. In a small skillet combine the first four ingredients.  Cook over M heat , stirring till fragrant and lightly toasted.  (This will take 1-2 minutes.)  Immediately transfer to a small bowl.
2.  Cook meat till well done and transfer into a colander.
3. Cook the onions in the vegetable oil until soft.  (3-5 minutes)  Add garlic and cook for 1-1 1/2 minutes longer.  
4. Now add everything except the beans.  Bring it to a boil.  Cover and simmer for 30 minutes.
5. Add the beans.  Let simmer (uncovered) for thirty more minutes.  Stir frequently, until thickened.
6. Eat this deliciousness over a bowl of rice! 

This recipe is very mild. (Perfect for kids!)  I always add some peppers from the garden to kick it up a notch.  If you like real spicy chilli you can always add 1/2 tsp of cayenne to the first step. 

 Happy Monday, Folks!

Birthday boy

Because you only turn one (and seven simultaneously) once........

I went and found the biggest freaking birthday bone I could.

This bone used to be in the leg of a stegosaurus, I believe.

The expiration date said 12/15.  We took bets to see how long we think it will last.  The mister says next year.  I say October.

Happy Birthday Buehrle Bradford and to many many more!!

Puddles!!!

As most everyone remembers, here in the midwest we were recently plagued with a week of unbearable hell where you couldn't even go outside without feeling like you were melting away.  (I seriously moved far away from the south so I wouldn't have to deal with htis kind of heat.  You walk outside and it feels like you are walking through a vat of creamy potato soup.)  FINALLY we got some relief in the form of a massive downpour.  

As you can tell from this picture the baby and the puppy were so happy to be free from the house and run run run run run through the puddles!!!!!!!!!  

Summer Nights Are So Magical!

Dairy Free Strawberry Ice Cream

There are two things that have been very consistent with our summer.

1.  No matter how many times a day I wash Clara's face dirt streaks will find their way back within 5 minutes.

2.  Everyday Clara will ask for cake.

Since the kid obviously has inherited my love for cake I feel it is necessary for me to continue on for my search of the absolute best dairy free "ice cream".

Strawberry Dairy & Sugar free "Ice Cream" 

•  Frozen Bananas 
• Strawberries
• Splash of Almond Milk

*I used 1 1/2 bananas and 3 large strawberries which made about 2-3 cups of "ice cream"

1. Put frozen bananas and splash of milk into your food processor.  Blend for about 3 minutes until they become very creamy  and airy.  
2. Add strawberries and blend one more minute.

That's it!

Even the Mister, who absolutely despises bananas gobbled this up!  It ended up tasting like a really thick frozen custard that is ridiculously healthy for you.

Happy Friday!

Is Summer a Vacation?

Summer has been keeping us mighty busy.  The Mister always triples his workload in the summer which means the baby and I have lots of time to go swing and swim and play play play play play and it gives me time to make all sorts of new and delicious treats!!

Instead of photo-bombing you with all the fun I will specifically stick to the fourth of July, (since it is still July.)

Last year, I remember exactly where I was and how I was feeling on the fourth of July weekend.  Instead of enjoying the holiday with my family and watching Clara experience fireworks for the first time I was in the hospital, sitting by the Misters side closely monitoring the machines he was hooked up to and doing the best I could to help his pain management.  Due to the way he received his injuries and strict hospital regulations I wasn't allowed to speak to any of our friends or family at all.  When he did sleep for short bursts I watched the fireworks from his hospital window.  (He was going in and out every ten minutes or so.)  I started thinking with those three days I had by myself.  I have always been a back up plan b, c, d, e, and f kind of girl.  If something were to go wrong in life it would be okay because I had all those other plans to fall into.  For the first time ever I realized that I didn't have a backup plan.  What was I going to do if he didn't make it?  Where would the girls and I live?  Where would I work?  Raising one girl alone was hard enough, how in the world was I going to raise two?  The whole experience made me realize how incredibly foolish I had been the past four years that we had been together.  No matter how happy you are with your life you absolutely never in a million years know when life is going to throw you a curveball.

Since we both missed out on Clara's first Fourth we were very excited to celebrate with her this summer.  On July 3d we packed up the car, headed to the burbs and enjoyed an evening together under the stars starting with a good ol' fashion picnic.

Then the band started....And what's a party without a little dancing?

Clara clapped and cheered at the end of each song (cutest thing EVER!)

We played around with glowsticks........

Until it was time for the big event....

And she laughed like a mad woman the entire time.

I think it was the most magical night of her life as to date.

Mister-saves-a-lot

This is what happens when you put your husband in charge of buying the household items like paper towels.....

We also have enough toilet paper in storage right now to TP three whole houses.

And he says I'm the ridiculous one.

Breaking In

I was finally able to break in my new kitchen a couple days ago.  Let me tell you, from someone who enjoys cooking and eating homemade healthy meals, not having a kitchen for over a month was just complete and total torture.  There really is not a whole lot of decently priced, healthy, vegetable heavy fast food out there.

Watch out Mister, you think I made you eat to many vegetables before?  

Just you wait until I get back.  

We will be going completely vegetarian for quite some time now.  ;)

Also, we were able to get our little garden going for the year.

This was a huge day for my sanity, I tell you what.

Ready for the garden line-up for this year?  

Peppers
peppers
peppers

peppers

Pickles

And coming soon.....Tomatoes.  However this year I can't kill my tomato plant.  The Mister says if I do this year I am not allowed to grow them anymore.  

We'll see about that.

Happy Monday Folks.