The leaves are all turning color and the air has become colder. That means it's stew time!!
Last night for dinner I made Beef Stew and it was fantastic! I don't have pictures but here is the recipe - Adapted from the Betty Crocker website.
This recipe fed 3 adults and 1 preschooler dinner and there were left overs for Heidi and I to take to lunch.
I paired it simply with french bread - it really hit the spot. Do not be intimidated by the three phases, it's not that bad. It takes about 20 minutes (depending on how fast you chop) and 3 to 3.5 hours to cook.
Ingredients for Phase 1:
2 tbsp Olive Oil
About 2 lbs beef stew meet or beef roast cut into 1 inch cubes
6 cups water (next time I will try 3 cups red wine and 3 cups water or beef stalk or broth if I have it in the house)
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
Ingredients for Phase 2:
2 large carrots - cut into 1 inch pieces
1 large potato - I used 1 large (minus the parts that Heidi dropped on the floor and 1 med so it probably was closer to 1 large and 1 small or maybe 2 mediums?)
1 med green bell pepper (I used 1/2 large and that was enough for me)
1 med celery stalk (mine had very large leaves on top so I used 2)
1 small onion - I like yellow (I used 1/2 large but I could have used the entire thing)
2 tsp salt (I used sea salt for cooking)
2 bay leafs
1 lb bag of mixed frozen veggies
Ingredients for Phase 3:
1 cup cold water
4 tsp flour
Phase 1:
In dutch oven (or any large pot that has a lid) heat the oil over medium heat for 1 to 2 minutes. (Instead of measuring I just lightly coat the bottom of the pot)
Add Beef and cook about 15 minutes - meat will be brown on all sides.
Add water (wine, broth, stalk... whatever liquid you are using), 1/2 tsp salt and the pepper. (I don't like to measure salt or pepper so I just put a bit of salt in my palm and then grind the pepper over top of the pot.)
Heat to boiling
Reduce Heat to low and cover (on my gas stove with my large pot, if I actually turn the burner all the way down to low it does not heat the pot so I am just below medium)
Simmer for 2 to 2.5 hours. The beef will be almost tender so the timing will depend on the cut of beef you are using.
Phase 2:
All all ingredients listed in Phase 2 above. You can change out any of the veggies for other or use only fresh or 2 lbs of frozen, whatever you like!
Cover and cook for 30 minutes or so - check the veggies, if they are all cut about the same size they will cook evenly, move to phase 3 when the veggies are how you like them (firm or soft)
Phase 3:
Put Flour and Cold Water in a tight container and shake well.
Gradually stir into the pot.
Heat to boiling and stir (this will take about 1 minute) and will thickens up liquid so you have stew instead of soup.
I don't know the caloric content but since this can modified in so many ways I am not even going to guess. If you trim the fat from the beef it will be healthier, frozen veggies will have more sodium than fresh... In any case it's...
Yum! Enjoy!!
Monday, October 19, 2009
Monday, October 12, 2009
October Snow
We woke up on Saturday morning to a covering of snow. It melted shortly after the sun came up but is was a beautiful sight.
It has been a very cold October so far. We should be in the 50's or 60's right now but it's snowing! This morning, Monday morning, we woke up to heavy, wet snow. With the promise of more coming until the afternoon.
It is so lovely but I am left to wonder what happened to fall?
This shot is of my favorite tree. It may be the only time we see snow on this tree this year. Half of it fell in a wind storm last year and we are going to take it down over the winter. What a shame. It has to be 50 years old and provides shade to the entire north side of our house and our driveway. It also covers a large part of the neighbors yard and provides shade to the south west side of their house.
I love when snow is so wet and heavy it just sits where ever it falls turning ordinary object like a gate into something wonderful to look at. Then when it starts to get to heavy it falls off in huge snow ball like chunks.
Wish us luck on our commute today. I am very comfortable driving in the snow. But like most other things in life, it's not how careful or competent you are, it's how careful and competent the people around you are.
Happy snow every one and best wishes for a white Halloween!!!
It has been a very cold October so far. We should be in the 50's or 60's right now but it's snowing! This morning, Monday morning, we woke up to heavy, wet snow. With the promise of more coming until the afternoon.It is so lovely but I am left to wonder what happened to fall?
This shot is of my favorite tree. It may be the only time we see snow on this tree this year. Half of it fell in a wind storm last year and we are going to take it down over the winter. What a shame. It has to be 50 years old and provides shade to the entire north side of our house and our driveway. It also covers a large part of the neighbors yard and provides shade to the south west side of their house.
I love when snow is so wet and heavy it just sits where ever it falls turning ordinary object like a gate into something wonderful to look at. Then when it starts to get to heavy it falls off in huge snow ball like chunks. 
Wish us luck on our commute today. I am very comfortable driving in the snow. But like most other things in life, it's not how careful or competent you are, it's how careful and competent the people around you are.
Happy snow every one and best wishes for a white Halloween!!!
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Again With The Little Things...
When Heidi was about 18 months old Shannon was caring her out of a Target Store. Heidi was wearing a dress but she didn't have on one of those diaper cover things.
Outside the store they have these big red balls. They are used to deter people from driving their cars through the front of the store or on the sidewalk.
Shannon put her on the ball and Heidi thought it was the best thing ever.
When we were walking to the car Heidi kept saying "my butt is falling out!"
We didn't know what she was talking about until we got to the car and realized that when Shannon picked her up off the ball her diaper had come undone and her butt was hanging out!
Now, every time we walk past one of these balls Heidi wants to climb on it.
One night, after enjoying dinner at the Olive Garden in Maple Grove, we walked across the parking lot to whatever that sporting goods store is.
These were really cute. She is cheer leading on the basketball.
And on the soccer ball.
And now she is practicing her karate. Hi-ya!
Outside the store they have these big red balls. They are used to deter people from driving their cars through the front of the store or on the sidewalk.
Shannon put her on the ball and Heidi thought it was the best thing ever.
When we were walking to the car Heidi kept saying "my butt is falling out!"
We didn't know what she was talking about until we got to the car and realized that when Shannon picked her up off the ball her diaper had come undone and her butt was hanging out!
Now, every time we walk past one of these balls Heidi wants to climb on it.
One night, after enjoying dinner at the Olive Garden in Maple Grove, we walked across the parking lot to whatever that sporting goods store is.
These were really cute. She is cheer leading on the basketball.
And on the soccer ball.
And now she is practicing her karate. Hi-ya!
Saturday, October 10, 2009
A New Critter In The House
A few weeks ago Shawn's brother Tony found a very large caterpillar at work. He brought it home for Shawn and Heidi to take care of.
That night we put it into Heidi's butterfly house for safe keeping. She wanted to show it off to Grandma and Grandpa and to take it over to Pat's house. Since it was already late we told her we would do all of that the next morning, put the butterfly house in her room and went to bed.
When we got up the next morning it looked like this:
It cocooned so quickly we were not able to show it off or take pictures of it. I am not sure what kind of moth it will be if it ever does hatch.
The night it was a caterpillar it was very large, bigger than a man's middle finger, and it was green. It did not have hair and I don't recall what the legs looked like. But it's size was amazing. I kept thinking of the Very Hungry Caterpillar book.
Heidi brought it to school for show and tell at the end of the first week. Her teacher said that she had caterpillars like this before and they never came out of their cocoons. She also said that her sister had some that came out after hibernating all winter.
Now I am wondering how long we should keep this thing before we decide it's not coming out. If it hatches before the winter is over we will not be able to put it outside. Looks like we will have it until the spring and then have to figure out what to do with it.
Oh, the joys of having a insect loving daughter and a biology loving husband... :)
That night we put it into Heidi's butterfly house for safe keeping. She wanted to show it off to Grandma and Grandpa and to take it over to Pat's house. Since it was already late we told her we would do all of that the next morning, put the butterfly house in her room and went to bed.
When we got up the next morning it looked like this:
It cocooned so quickly we were not able to show it off or take pictures of it. I am not sure what kind of moth it will be if it ever does hatch.The night it was a caterpillar it was very large, bigger than a man's middle finger, and it was green. It did not have hair and I don't recall what the legs looked like. But it's size was amazing. I kept thinking of the Very Hungry Caterpillar book.
Heidi brought it to school for show and tell at the end of the first week. Her teacher said that she had caterpillars like this before and they never came out of their cocoons. She also said that her sister had some that came out after hibernating all winter.
Now I am wondering how long we should keep this thing before we decide it's not coming out. If it hatches before the winter is over we will not be able to put it outside. Looks like we will have it until the spring and then have to figure out what to do with it.
Oh, the joys of having a insect loving daughter and a biology loving husband... :)
Friday, October 9, 2009
To a 4 Year Old... It's The Little Things
A good friend of ours is having a baby so she is turning her crafting room into a baby room. Since she needs to purge her crafting supplies she send this big box of paper over to Heidi.
It is stacked full of different kind of paper. I assume it was for scrap booking but Heidi has other ideas.
She had a great time digging through it. She only made it 1/4 of the way down before she was inspired. I think this box will hold a lot of inspiration throughout the winter!
Heidi loves to make birthday cards for people. Now she has a lot more options!
She spent about 45 minutes working on her project. So much thought went into each cut and each paper decision. She was also very excited to realize that colored paper is what white crayons are made for!
She hardly even knew I was taking the pictures. So intense for a preschooler! Oh, and if you look closely you can see some of her play room that is slowly coming back together.
This is her first project. It's a butterfly for her aunt Briana. Great job Heidi, Briana is going to love it!
It is stacked full of different kind of paper. I assume it was for scrap booking but Heidi has other ideas.
She had a great time digging through it. She only made it 1/4 of the way down before she was inspired. I think this box will hold a lot of inspiration throughout the winter!Heidi loves to make birthday cards for people. Now she has a lot more options!
She spent about 45 minutes working on her project. So much thought went into each cut and each paper decision. She was also very excited to realize that colored paper is what white crayons are made for!
She hardly even knew I was taking the pictures. So intense for a preschooler! Oh, and if you look closely you can see some of her play room that is slowly coming back together.
This is her first project. It's a butterfly for her aunt Briana. Great job Heidi, Briana is going to love it!
Thursday, October 8, 2009
And Here is What 11 Tons of Sand Looks Like Part 2
And here is what 11 tons of sand looks like in a sand box. 
It took Shawn about 8 hours to move all of this from the driveway to the back of the yard by wheelbarrow. For the first four hours he had some help.
Heidi and I raked the sand when he dumped it. Jess and Ryan came over to help also. Jess pulled weeds from the dirt and Ryan delivered a few loads of sand.
We started Saturday night and by Sunday it was done. Then it started to rain and get cold so play time in the sand has been limited but we will certainly enjoy it next summer!!
And here is a picture of Daisy Mae because she is a ham when the camera comes out.
How can you not love that face!!!
It took Shawn about 8 hours to move all of this from the driveway to the back of the yard by wheelbarrow. For the first four hours he had some help.Heidi and I raked the sand when he dumped it. Jess and Ryan came over to help also. Jess pulled weeds from the dirt and Ryan delivered a few loads of sand.
We started Saturday night and by Sunday it was done. Then it started to rain and get cold so play time in the sand has been limited but we will certainly enjoy it next summer!!
And here is a picture of Daisy Mae because she is a ham when the camera comes out.
How can you not love that face!!!
Monday, October 5, 2009
It's Time To Nut Up Or Shut Up
October 2nd was our 10 year anniversary so as most couples would we celebrated by seeing a Zombie movie. I am a firm believer that there should be a genera called Zombie-Comedy.
Here starts my lame attempt at a movie review.
YOU HAVE TO GO SEE Zombieland. It is a freaking laugh riot.
After Patient Zero is infected with a virus from eating bad gas station food the world is taken over by zombies. There are only a few non-zombies left.
A college student, known as Columbus, is making his way back home to Ohio to find out if his parents have survived the zombie out break. On his way he meets Tallahassee who is also a non-zombie. To make character development even better - Columbus has IBS and Tallahassee has a heck of a craving for a twinkie.
On their adventure they meet only a few people who are non-zombies. Telling who would count as a spoiler so you will just have to go see the movie.
My only complaint - it feels like the roll of Columbus was written for Michael Cera.
Trust me on this one, it rocked! And if you liked Shuan of the Dead you will love Zombieland.
Here starts my lame attempt at a movie review.
YOU HAVE TO GO SEE Zombieland. It is a freaking laugh riot.
After Patient Zero is infected with a virus from eating bad gas station food the world is taken over by zombies. There are only a few non-zombies left.
A college student, known as Columbus, is making his way back home to Ohio to find out if his parents have survived the zombie out break. On his way he meets Tallahassee who is also a non-zombie. To make character development even better - Columbus has IBS and Tallahassee has a heck of a craving for a twinkie.
On their adventure they meet only a few people who are non-zombies. Telling who would count as a spoiler so you will just have to go see the movie.
My only complaint - it feels like the roll of Columbus was written for Michael Cera.
Trust me on this one, it rocked! And if you liked Shuan of the Dead you will love Zombieland.
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