Picnic In The Park: Spicy Taco Meatballs with Cheddar Mashed Potatoes and Avocado

Mertile and I have been trying to get together all summer.  But between our two schedules, it just wasn't happening.  And then of course, it wasn't summer anymore.

Undeterred by the cooler weather and the early sunsets, we made plans to meet up at a park for a picnic.  We got there first, and set up.  

And then the rest of the crew showed up and we spread out our food, and got to munching and talking. Picnics are a fabulous way to catch up.  Especially ones beside playgrounds.

Except this one, where the playground was some sort of death trap.  Thatbaby and I have the scabs to prove it!  So us parents did a lot more running around with the munchkins than talking.

And then it got dark.  Luckily dark meant the kids weren't able to play on the playground, and instead played some sort of game that involved catch and throwing (and searching) for balls in the dark.  And this gave us time to sit around and chat.

Picnic dinners are some of my most favorite.  It makes simple meals like sandwiches and pretzels taste better.  It's fun when something little can make such a difference.

Such was my though about this next entry.  Two simple meal ideas - meatballs and mashed potatoes.  Two little additions - taco seasoning and cheddar.  The result is something that is definitely not ordinary.

Spicy Taco Meatballs with Cheddar Mashed Potatoes and Avocado (From Sarah's Cucina Bella)

1 1/4 lbs ground beef

1 large egg

1/2 cup breadcrumbs

1 packageTaco Seasoning

4 large Yukon gold potatoes (about 1 lb), peeled and cubed

1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

1/2 cup milk

Salt and pepper, to taste

1 ripe avocado, pitted, peeled and sliced

Salsa

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.  In a large mixing bowl, stir together the ground beef, egg, breadcrumbs and taco seasoning. Form into 1-inch meatballs and arrange in a rectangular glass baking dish.
2. Bake for 20-25 minutes, flipping once, until golden and cooked through.
3. Meanwhile, bring a salted pot of water to a boil on the stove. Add the potatoes to the pot and boil for 15-20 minutes, until soft. Drain well, transfer back to the pot and mash. 
4. Add the cheddar cheese and stir well to combine. 
5. Stir in the milk and season with salt and pepper.
6. Top the mashed potatoes with salsa and serve.

2-Rex: Summer Garden Pasta with Bacon

Supertoddler is only 4 days younger than Thatbaby.  Last year, we planned their birthday parties on the same day.  Which meant that our mutual friends were running between the two parties.  After Birthdaypalooza in April, I decided that we couldn't have a repeat this year.  Multiple parties in one day is hard!

This year we coordinated ahead of time, so this weekend we celebrated Supertoddler's Birthday.  Or as I explained it to Thatbaby, Supertoddler's Dinosaur Birthday!

Thatbaby was very excited to celebrate with Supertoddler.  He had been practicing by singing "Happy Birthday to Supertoddler."  And the party was every bit as perfect as you would expect from Supermom - even with a one month old baby!

There was coordinated food.

A giant ball pit.

And even a bounce house!

Although Jurisbaby and Thatbaby were just as happy to play with Supertoddler's toys in addition.

And of course there was cake.  And cupcakes!

Supertoddler did a great job of blowing out his candles.

And Thatbaby devoured his cupcake.

And asked for more!  (which he didn't get)  But which made him not so happy about photo time.

Although not as unhappy as Jurisbaby who didn't get the second capri sun that he wanted.

And even though Thatbaby was a little sad that the present we brought was for Supertoddler and not him, he was pretty happy with the goodie bag he got to leave with.

And we knew the party was a success when we saw this on the way home.

The weather today was also perfect.  It's been cool the past week, but the sun came out today for our second shot at summer.  Which made it the perfect time to try Kelsey's Summer Garden Pasta.  Or as Thatbaby calls it - "green pasta."  Everyone in the family loved it.  It feels very light, probably because of all the veggies in it.  And pesto sauce seems so fresh and green.  It's a great way to stretch out the summer just a bit longer.

Summer Garden Pasta with Bacon (from Apple A Day)

1 lb penne

1 cup corn kernels

1 1/2 lbs zuccini, cut into 1/2 inch thick half-moons

1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

1 cup pesto

salt and pepper

4 oz goat cheese

6 slices bacon, cooked and chopped

1.  Cook pasta according to package directions.  Drain, reserving 3/4 c. pasta water, then drain and return to pot.

2.  Place corn, zucchini, tomatoes, and reserved pasta water in pot.  Cook over medium heat, partially covered, about 4 minutes.

3. Stir in pesto and cook until warmed. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

4. Spoon pasta into a large serving bowl and garnish with goat cheese and bacon.  Serve immediately.    

Mommy Mondays: 24 months

Weight: 28lbs 6oz (+ 21 lbs)

Height: 34"  (+ 14")
Head: 19.25" (+ 5.85")

Sleep: Whatever night terrors he was having, he isn't any more.  Now we're back to normal night sleep and early morning wakeups.

Eating: Eating is pretty much the same here.  Some nights he eats as though he was racing a marathon the next day.  Other nights he barely touches his dinner.  Typical toddler.

Best Moment: It's always the little things.  Like Thatbaby singing in his sleep and waking himself up.  Thatbaby getting so excited about making a "choo choo train" out of a diaper box.  Thatbaby playing with his friends at daycare.  Thatbaby signing Taylor Swift (Oh! Oh! Oh! Trouble, trouble, trouble.)
 

Monthly Wisdom:  You too can make it to two.  I honestly think they're so cute at this age because if they weren't mothers would leave them outside for the wolves.  So. Much. Trouble.  

Goals for the Upcoming Month:
- Birthday Party!  The guestlist includes 21 children.  Should be interesting!

Things Thatbaby is doing:
-  We've moved on from "Wheels on the Bus."  He now sings A,B,C,D on repeat.

- He is now amazing at jumping off things and landing on his feet - without help.

- Tall enough to ride some rides at legoland!

- He is going through a crazy blanket phase.  He loves the blankets Thatmom made for him, and he wants to sit on them, cover himself with them, or wrap himself in them.  All the time.

- He knows "Grandma" and calls for her all the time.

- He picks up the phone and pretends someone is calling.  Usually he picks Grandma or one of his classmates.

- He talks about his daycare friends all the time.  He loves them.

An Apple A Day: Easy Tortilla Soup

One of my favorite fall traditions is apple picking.  I love all "pick your own" fruits, but apples are my favorite.  This year, we decided to do our trip while TMIL was in town so she could enjoy the fall festivities too.  And Thatmom joined us too, so it was a grandma-stravaganza.

L&O went apple picking the week before we did and texted me about the fabulous new orchard she had discovered.  She had such a good experience, we decided to follow suit.

I'm glad we listened, because this was a great orchard!  Lots of apples to pick.

And the apples themselves were big and delicious!  Thatbaby loved eating them right off the tree.  

                                

Jurisslave and Jurisbaby ended up meeting us a the orchard, and Jurisbaby also enjoyed eating his fill of apples.

I like apple picking because the trees are the perfect height for little toddler hands.

As much as Thatbaby loved picking and eating apples, his favorite part of the orchard was the big orange tractor.  It was really hard to get him off, and he continued talking about it for days after.

After the orchard, again at L&O's recommendation, we headed to Jeremy's On The Hill for lunch. Thatboy loved this restaurant and I think it sealed the deal for making this our best apple picking trip to date.

After, we took TMIL into Julian to show her around.

And of course, stopped in at Dudley's on the way home for bread.  We made out with quite an apple haul!

Normally this would be a great time to share an apple recipe.  But I'll tell you the truth.  It's been 4 days since we went apple picking, and those bags are just about as full!  Except for the apples I've been packing in our lunches, I haven't had time to do any apple related baking.  Not with TMIL in town!  It's been all about quick dinners that can feed all of us.

And with my love of tortilla soup, can you blame me for trying to find a shortcut?  I love this soup, but it always takes such a long time to put together.  This is my easy version - especially if you have cooked chicken.  I'm not going to lie - it doesn't have the depth of tortilla soups where the peppers are roasted, but it's much quicker to throw together.

Easy Tortilla Soup

1 Tbsp olive oil 

1 onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic, chopped

1 pasilla pepper, seeded and chopped 

1/2 jalapeno, seeded and chopped

1 1/2 tsp cumin

1/2 tsp coriander

1 Tbsp tomato paste

1/4 cup diced tomatoes

6 cups chicken broth

1 cooked chicken breast, cooked, cooled, and shredded

4 sprigs cilantro leaves, chopped

juice of one lime

1. Heat oil in a pot over medium-high heat.  Add the onions, garlic, peppers, cumin, and coriander and saute until the onions are translucent, about 5 minutes.
2. Add the tomato paste and cook for a minute.
3. Add the tomatoes and chicken broth and bring to a boil.  Lower heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
4. Add the chicken and cook until heated through.
5. Stir in the cilantro and lime juice and serve.

A Very Busy Birthday

We continued the tradition started by my parents, and snuck into Thatbaby's room to place balloons all over the floor.  And to continue the tradition started by Thatboy, we also placed balloons all over his ceiling!

When Thatbaby woke up, he was amazed by the balloons.  It was paradise.

He wanted to hold ALL.THE.BALLOONS!

Eventually we got him interested in his real birthday present - as long as he could take the balloons with him.

We sang "Happy Birthday" for the first of many many times that day.  The theme of today would be "More Happy Birthday Please."

We all got ready for work and school and I dropped Thatbaby off for a fun-filled school day.  I heard there was more singing while he was there.  I picked him up early so we could do his 2 year doctor's appointment, which Thatboy had scheduled for his actual birthday.  When I arrived he was regaling in the piece of birthday cake I had packed for him.

We headed off to the doctor and it was an uneventful visit.  Thatbaby is growing and reaching all the appropriate milestones.  And is apparently a little advanced in the verbal skills.  I guess the appropriate response when asked  "how is he developing verbally?" isn't usually met with "this kid never stops talking."  (On that note, I can't say enough fabulous things about my doctor, who is quick to point out there is such a wide range of "normal."  According to him "At 2, some kids are just beginning to get words, others are stringing them into short phrases, and some are going for longer phrases.")

Only one shot at this appointment - his flu vaccine!  He didn't like the shot very much, but as promised, it was over quickly.  So were the tears.  And then he got to pick a toy from the treasure chest!  After much deliberation, he decided on a little plastic motorcycle.

We came home and he played with balloons while I made his birthday dinner - Pizza!  Aaaand he hardly took 2 bites.  You may wonder what would keep a two year old from pizza?  Well, his silly parents let him open his birthday presents before dinner.  So there was a lot more of this:

Than eating.  

Even though he didn't do a great job with dinner, he still got his super special birthday treat - ice cream!  

Thatbaby rarely gets ice cream.  And when he does, he usually shares mine.  This was the first time he got his own ice cream, which means it was the first time he got to pick out his own flavor.  The entire way to the store he kept talking about his "blue ice cream" (which is what he asks for all the time).  However, once he saw the flavors, it was as though a light went off in his little brain - THEY MAKE PURPLE ICE CREAM?  He was beside himself.  So purple ice cream it was.  With a candle for good measure.  And of course, a couple more rounds of "Happy Birthday."

When we got home, he was washed and out like a light.  After all, it was a pretty big day for a little guy.  Even one who is starting to be a big boy!

2 Years Down...

It was inevitable.  You knew this post was coming.  Especially after me talking about Thatbaby's upcoming birthday for weeks.

Hey, it's a big deal 'round these parts!  I mean, your first born son only turns 2 once in his life!

2 years ago, after a long long long long (did I mention I was in the hospital for quite a while?) induction, this precious perfect boy was placed in my arms.

He was a little shell-shocked from his entry into the world.  And from the moment of his arrival, Thatboy and I have been entranced by how he's grown and taken in this scary, unexplainable world. 

In the past 2 years, Thatbaby isn't the only one who has grown and learned.  I have grown as a woman, a mother, and a person.  I have learned patience and the true meaning of selflessness.  Thatboy and I have become even more of a team - we have to be, it's us against him!

I am still often in awe of the fact that we made this charming little creature.  This boy who loves to make you laugh and smile.  Who pushes every limit, just to see if he can.   And frankly, I'm a bit in awe that we've managed to do okay with this parenting thing so far.  We haven't killed him yet!  And that's saying a lot for someone who can't keep a cactus alive.  

We have a lot of fun planned to celebrate his birthday, and I can't wait to start, because this year I think he's actually going to have an understanding of what's going on.  But for now?  I've got a lot of balloons to blow up!

Adventures with Grandma: Macaroni and Shrimp

TMIL is visiting for the week, in honor of Thatbaby's birthday.  During the week, Thatboy and I are both working during the day, which means we wanted to make sure she had plenty to keep her busy over the weekend!

So Saturday we dragged her to Thatbaby's favorite place - Legoland.  

He regaled her with tales of the "choo choo train" over and over on our way there.  Obviously he was setting her up for his favorite part of the park.  The neat thing is, that since we were last at Legoland, Thatbaby has grown and is now tall enough to ride more than just the choo choo train!  Like the boats.

Thatbaby attempted to steer his own boat, but he doesn't have the skill down quite yet, so I had to help him.  

I think his favorite ride of the day was the airplanes.  And I say this because it was the only ride that he cried when it ended and wanted to go again.  

He was a little more wary of the helicopter ride.  The going up and down can be scary!  Did you notice he picked the police helicopter?  That's for you Mr. L&O!

And of course, he couldn't leave without riding his old favorites!  The choo choo train...

And the Storybook boats.  He enjoyed pointing out all the animals and people to Grandma.

A lot of my life ends up going without plans.  Like our trip to Legoland.  I neglected to check and see what time the park was open until.  And so we headed there after nap.  Not realizing they closed at 5.  My lack of planning meant we ended up eating out for dinner.  

This meal was another unplanned or accidental discovery.  I meant to make shrimp with penne, but dumped a box of elbow macaroni in the boiling water instead.  I decided to go with the mistake, but wanted to change it up from what I had planned.  So I grabbed some aioli I had in the fridge and used it to marinate and cook the shrimp.  It makes a great and easy sauce. Toss in some tomatoes for color an you have a great mistake meal.

Macaroni and Shrimp

1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined

1/2 cup of aioli

8 oz elbow macaroni

1 Tbsp olive oil

1 tomato, chopped

1. Toss shrimp with aioli and let sit while macaroni cooks.
2. Cook macaroni according to package directions.  Drain.
3. Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat.  Add shrimp and cook about 2 minutes per side.
4. Add tomatoes and macaroni to cooked shrimp in skillet.  Toss to combine.  Continue to cook until heated through.