We are Outdoor Living.

 

These days we are outdoor living.  The pool is full, sprinkler is on, grass is green and long and tickling our ankles.  We've pulled our kitchen table outside into the garden for the summer where we intend on eating lunch and supper.  We are just soaking it all up.

But don't be deceived by the photos.  There is plenty of mess and chaos in this house too--there are abandoned wet towels and bathing suits and training underwear in piles around the house, grass clippings and dirt in the pool and on the hardwood, a naked little potty-training boy running around the house and backyard, whose face is sticky from homemade Popsicles and who leaves dirty handprints on every door and wall.  There are plenty of "indoor toys" that have made their way into the pool.  And so many stories that that I am refraining from sharing here on the blog....  Let's just say, it is all far from glamorous, I'm afraid.   Anyone who has actually visited will know this to be true.  Gabriel sprayed me in my full length dress with hose yesterday and the dog jumped up and ate a chicken drumstick off the table in the garden.  This house is buuuussssy.

However, we are enjoying our chaotic, messy days and all the fun and craziness they bring--sprinkler fun, playdates in the sun, barbequing every meal we can manage, sunhats and sunscreen and bare feet.  Gabriel is a water hound, he can't seem to get enough and wants to be outside from the time he wakes up until sunset.  (I've let him out with the dog in the morning in his pyjamas while I gather breakfast).  He is forever wanting the hose or the sprinkler on and can't be trusted not to jump in the wading pool fully clothed.  I've pulled Maggie's activity centre outside too so we are all able to get some fresh air.  Gabriel has actually started calling her "May-gEE" now and letting us know that she belongs to him by attending to her every squeal or cry with frenetic kisses (and little love pinches).  "That's MY beebee" he says, "She's 'tute."  Maggie just grabs his head full of hair and nuzzles her face into it, leaving behind a puddle of drool.

This kid seriously knows how to have fun.  I wouldn't consider myself a naturally "fun" person.  It hasn't been high on priority list, so Gabriel's been my mentor.  Until the splash pads open, we are making our own happen.

We are experimenting making our own popsicles--mango/canteloupe, kiwi/mango/yogurt, raspberry/mango/yogurt.  Got any other favorites? Share!

We sit and watch all the craziness from these chairs.  Ok, and by sit, I mean for like an entire two minutes all day in five second intervals when I am not cleaning up a mess, fetching a snack or rescuing various items from the pool.

 We are barbequing everything, trying to keep this house cool.  It's been so hot, even at night.

Our staple hamburger recipe, Burgers a la Pizzaiola.  If you've been here, you know this recipe is a good one.

 From our garden to our tabletop.

 Our friend, Tricia, who is moving from BC and brought Maggie a peach tutu!  Awesome and outrageous!

Another favorite, Sweet and Sticky Chicken Drumsticks, slow cooked and then slow roasted on the BBQ.

Every girl needs at least one tutu, right? 

 This has got to be my all-time favorite picture of Maggie and her dad so far.

Yay June! 

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• Sunshine Party.
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What is better than Tiramisu?

Other than..... 

Giada's Chocolate Tiramisu 

The other night, we had the pleasure of hosting more family for supper for a special occasion (cousin Natalie's birthday).  So I pulled out an all-time favorite recipe, Chocolate Tiramisu.  I like tiramisu, but most of them I find a bit mushy or without enough chocolate.  But I think this one, with chocolate mascarpone cream with layered crisp ladyfingers solves all of those problems.  The dry Marsala wine gives it an extra level of sophistication.

I take no credit for this recipe other than a couple simple alternations and the picture above.  I found it a bit sweet and so added another three ounces of mascarpone.  It is a little bit labor-intensive, so I tend to prepare the night before and freeze, then remove from the freezer while preparing and serving dinner so that it is thawed but not soggy.  It is completely worth the effort!  The recipe is Giada DeLaurentiis and can be found here.

Ingredients

Part 1: Chocolate Mascarpone Cream

2 tablespoons whipping cream

1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
4 large egg yolks
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup dry Marsala
Pinch salt

  
Part 2: Finishing the cream

9 ounces container mascarpone cheese
2/3 cup whipping cream
1/4 cup sugar

Part 3: Assembly of Tiramisu layers

2 1/2 cups espresso coffee, warmed
1/4 cup sugar
24 crisp ladyfinger cookies (recommended: Savoiardi)
Unsweetened cocoa powder, for garnish
Dark chocolate shavings, for garnish

1. Add cream and chocolate to a heavy small saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring often, until the chocolate chips are melted and smooth. Set aside and keep warm.

2. Whisk the egg yolks, sugar, Marsala, and salt in a large glass bowl until blended. Set the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water, but do not allow the bottom of the bowl to touch the water. Whisk the egg mixture over the simmering water until it is thick and creamy, about 4 minutes. Remove from the heat.

3. Using a large rubber spatula, fold the melted chocolate mixture into the egg mixture. Cover and refrigerate to chill completely.

4. Place the mascarpone cheese in a large bowl and set aside. With an electric mixer, beat the cream and 1/4 cup of the sugar in a medium bowl until soft peaks form. Fold the whipped cream into the mascarpone. Then fold in the chilled Chocolate Zabaglione. Cover and refrigerate.

5. Whisk the warmed espresso and the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar in another medium bowl until blended. Line a 9 1/4 by 5 by 2 3/4-inch metal loaf pan with plastic wrap, allowing the plastic to extend over the sides. Working with 1 cookie at a time, dip 8 cookies into the espresso, and arrange in a single layer side by side over the bottom of the prepared pan.

6. Spoon 1/3 of the mascarpone mixture over the cookies to cover. Repeat dipping 8 of the cookies in the espresso and layering the cookies and remaining mascarpone mixture 2 more times. Dip the remaining 8 cookies in the espresso and arrange side by side atop the tiramisu. Press lightly to compact slightly (the last layer will extend above the pan sides). Cover the tiramisu with plastic and refrigerate at least 6 hours or freezer the night before and then remove and put in the fridge 2 hours before serving, as I do.

7. Unwrap the plastic from atop the tiramisu. Invert the tiramisu onto a platter. Remove the plastic. Sift the cocoa over the tiramisu, and with a vegetable peeler or sharp knife, make dark chocolate shavings and sprinkle over top.

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Fall Beauty

Fall in Arlington means...

 Gorgeous fall colours

 The crackle of paws on leaves

 Walks in the water of the Potomac River

 A night-shift-induced afternoon excursion

 Exploring new dog friendly trails at Glencarlyn Park

 The blissful excitement of stomping in the leaves

 While wearing t-shirts in the warm Virginian sunshine

And occasionally a warm cozy sweater and warm sweet potato rosemary mascarpone soup, compliments of Giada.  Followed by her Chocolate Hazelnut drop cookies. (Sorry no picture, but both were delicious!)

Happy Fall! 

XO

Ps. How's Squamish?  I miss you!

Gabriel around the house lately

You know when you are expecting something to be really cool and then when it happens you are blown away?  That's how it is with Gabriel.  And I am sure with every mother.  Watching him grow has been very entertaining and incredible to watch.  Especially as his hits the stages with such non-chalance.  It's almost as if he's been practicing all night in his crib so by the time he does it for us, it's not big deal to him anymore.  "What you guys?  I've been doing laps and pull ups in my crib all night, so what?"

We've been laughing at all that Gabriel has been getting into.  Since learning how to "crawl" we finally see what it is that he has really been wanting to touch, taste, see, feel.  Favorites are manipulating books, opening and closing them and pointing to pictures of the doggy and various other animals.  He loves to crawl into the kitchen where he practices opening and closing cupboard doors before pulling all the recycling out all over the floor.  He loves to try to climb into the fridge and can now pull himself using the stairs or the couch, particularly in hot pursuit of my iphone or laptop.  But his all time favorites are "petting" (aka, grabby, claw-pulling) the dog's fur and playing with the wheels of the stroller--back and forth, back and forth.  I used to try to stop him, but he gets so much enjoyments out of the wheels.  So long as he doesn't suck on them, I figure, what's the harm?  And we always wash his hands after.  Some other favorites, when I am not looking, are getting into the dog dish.  I wish I could put it up but until Abe grows opposable thumbs and get walk on his hind legs, I will live a life of servitude.

Jordan has been working night shifts (for an undisclosed amount of time) so Gabriel and I are trying to keep quiet and tip-toe around the house so Jordan can get some sleep.  Generally, we just try to get out with Abe.  But Abe really just wants nothing more than to lay upstairs beside the bed where Jordan sleeps and where it is nice and quiet away from Mr. Grabby-fingers.  We have, however, been enjoying afternoon daylight time together so we can actually get out of the house and go for long walks in the glorious sunshine! 

We stopped off at the library last week after story time and "maxed out" my temporary library card getting two books.  It seems to be the best way to add some variety so I don't drive herself bonkers reading "It's springtime."  Gabriel is very much into books right now.  They are one of his favorite toys.  He finally discovered how to turn pages and that some of the pictures actually move. Unfortunately, it's meant he's torn out the cricket, a dog and the cellar door out of "It's springtime."  You should see him when we read the touchy "Touch and Feel Farm."  He's gets so excited as we pass the chick and the horse in anticipation of "tickle the dog's furry tummy."  Yes, I am starting to memorize all of Gabriel's books.  Fortunately, the library books have helped and amazingly it took Gabriel all week to learn that the toilet seat, cupboard door, washer door and clothing in the laundry basket flip up, down or sideways in the book "Help Maisy Find Panda."  Just in time to give it back.

And we've been having fun exploring Gabriel's taste palatte.  Just bought a fabulous cookbook,  "Weeknights with Giada" which I have to say that I HIGHLY recommend.  (Everything I have made in this book is AMAZING!)  Turkey and pancetta Pot Pie, Spiced pork chops with sweet and sour glaze, filet mignon with rosemary and mushroom gravy, double chocolate and espresso cookies.  I am in food heaven with this book!  (And Jordan and Gabriel are the immediate recipients of this revel in food glory!)  Gabriel has been eating such things as filet mignon, pork chops, tortellini, prosciutto and cheddar crepes (just a taste).  He is already developing a good sense of taste and if something doesn't taste good, he's usually right. Anyway, I have just about cooked my way through Giada's cookbook and looking for other really good recommendations....  Does anyone else have a cookbook that they just can't live without.

PS.  I think I've corrected any problems with posting comments.  You should be able to comment now sans problem!  Merci!