A Recipe-a-Week in 2010

Week 26

Mint Choloate Chip Ice Cream



Ingredients

1 cup whole milk, well chilled
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 cups heavy cream, well chilled
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon peppermint extract
shaved choclate (as desired)

Directions

1. In medium bowl, use a hand mixer or a whisk to combine the milk and granulated sugar until the sugar is dissolved, about 1-2 minutes on low speed.

1. Stir in the heavy cream, vanilla and peppermint extract. Turn the ice cream maker ON, pour into freezer bowl through ingredient spout and let mix until thickened, about 25-30 minutes

3. Add chocolate during the last 5 minutes of mixing

***We used a Cuisunart Automatic Ice Cream Maker for this recipe.

***We also added blue and red food coloring, because the girls wanted purple ice cream.

The Tiny Tot Olympics 2010

"O say, can you see...."

Alexandra sang the National Anthem yesterday at the Tiny Tot Olympics.

It was one of those magical mothering moments.

The kind that will be perfectly engraved in my mind forever.

But just in case my mind fails me [someday], I've got it on video.

And I may or may not have already watched this video about a kajillion times.

Because that's what moms do.

"....and the home of the brave!"

[and brave she is!]

Potential

I'll be spending my morning's poolside for the month of July as Alexandra and Lorelai take swimming lessons. I love watching them learn; I love providing them with opportunities to discover their talents and abilities. And often I wonder, what they will grow to be? What will be their niche in life?

The potential is there, the future is waiting. My job is to nurture their abilities; to help them navigate their way through a world of endless possibilities until they [as individuals] find what they were meant for and more importantly, what makes them happy.

And who knows, perhaps this swimming thing will stick. Maybe, just maybe, basic summer swimming lessons will turn into something bigger. After all, their grandfather was a champion swimmer back in the day; an All-American to be exact.

One thing's for sure, the potential is there....

[My dad, swimming the butterfly stroke.]

Hats...

They're all the rage.

Just ask Elisabeth...

[By now you should know to expect posts like this when Jennifer and I are together for a week with a digital camera.]

Independence Day 2010

"My country, 'tis of thee..."






[Jennifer, catching some air.]











"Let freedom ring!"



Speaking of freedom, I am currently reading, The 5000 Year Leap: A Miracle that Changed the World by W. Cleon Skousen. It teaches the 28 principals of freedom that our Founding Fathers believed in. An important book for every American to read...trust me.

A Recipe-a-Week in 2010

Week 25

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cake



Ingredients

1 (18.25 ounce) package chocolate cake mix
1 (3.9 ounce) package instant chocolate pudding mix
1 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
1/2 cup hot water
1 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a Bundt pan.

2. Combine cake mix, pudding mix, oil, eggs, water, sour cream, and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Stir in chocolate chips. Pour batter into prepared pan.

3. Bake for 1 hour. Allow to cool

Recipe here.

"Why hello, Mr. Snake."

[The girls with a 12 foot python.]

[Tortoise time.]


[Touching an alligator.]


[A walk through the gardens.]

Apple, anyone?

The only time that my fridge is this well stocked with fruits/veggies is when my sister Jennifer is coming to town.



Which can only mean one thing....

my sister Jennifer is coming to town!

"Lemonade for sale!"

The girls begged me to let them set up a lemonade stand last winter...but I promised them that the middle of a snowstorm wasn't the time to sell ice cold lemonade.

Yesterday, their 'dream came true' (yes, that is an exact quote). And they did quite well for themselves. They earned $5.50 by selling 11 glasses @ 25 cents each (plus a few generous tips).


[Customers.]




[Finishing off the ice after the last of the lemonade was sold.]

Into the Dentist's Chair

[This is how I found Lorelai this morning.]

Poor Donald, a few days ago he was sitting in Disneyland, basking in all that Disney goodness and today he is heading in for dental surgery....implants to be exact. No fun.

And next month doesn't get better. I have my dental surgery on the 23rd to remove all those decaying wisdom teeth that are lying under my gums, Lorelai goes in for a cleaning next week, and Alexandra is meeting with a pediatric specialist about the fact that her molars have enamel hypoplasia.

What is going on here?

Home from the vacation and into the dentist's chair.

Elisabeth seems to be the only one who's safe.

Lucky her.

SoCal Vacation 2010: Part XIII

"Parting is such sweet sorrow."

[Romeo and Juliet Act 2, scene 2
-Shakespeare.]

It's true, just ask Lorelai.

We had fun, we made memories, and now we're home again....until the next big Sorenson adventure.

SoCal Vacation 2010: Part XII

Vacation means eating lots of good food.




And perhaps gaining a few pounds too.

[Oh well...]