Backyard Beach: Italian Deli Pasta Salad

Before Thatkid was born, Thatboy and I had a Fourth of July tradition to spend the entire day at the beach.  We'd pack food, get their early for a good spot, stay for fireworks, and then I'd fall asleep in the car as we sat in packed parking lots waiting to get on crowded freeways to get home.

It just didn't seem sustainable with a small child, so once Thatbaby was born, we started a new tradition of spending the Fourth of July in the backyard with a blow up pool, lots of margaritas, and going to the neighbors to watch fireworks from their front yard.

Last year we went away for the Fourth of July.  Beach, no traffic, and it was so nice we thought we would make that our new annual tradition. But obviously this year that wasn't going to happen.  So we went back to old traditions and turned our backyard into a beach.

The nice thing about your backyard being a beach, is that unlike the real beach, you don't have to be in the water with the kids.

And there's still plenty of lying and soaking up the sun.

We made watermelon coolers with watermelon, lime, cucumber, and ice.  And then drank them all day.  Because fruity drinks feel like a vacation all on their own.

We also turned our water table into a sand table with kinetic sand and lots of sand toys to build castles or sand creatures.

Just like any other beach day, we packed a picnic lunch that would be easy to eat - chicken wraps, watermelon, and pasta salad.

And in the afternoon we broke out the chips and guac.

We spent the whole afternoon reading (grown ups) or playing in the pool (kids) until it was dinner.

Hot dogs, potato salad, grilled corn, and more watermelon.

After we made a "beach bonfire" and made smores, which is a pretty good way to end the the day.

The sleeper hit of the day was the pasta salad I made to have with lunch.  And Thatboy and I had it again the next day for lunch.  And probably would have had it the day after, except we ate had already eaten it all.

I think the secret is the giardiniera, which I would never have thought to put in pasta salad, but there was just something about that salty, briney flavor that had both of us going back for more.  And then Thatboy asked that I bookmark this recipe so I could make it over and over and over again.  So it sounds like we came out of this with a new tradition after all.

Italian Deli Pasta Salad (From Food Network)

 1lb penne, cooked

1/3 cup mayo

3 Tbsp olive oil

3 Tbsp red wine vinegar

16-oz jar giardiniera, drained and chopped

1 cup diced provolone

1 cup diced salami

1/4 cup chopped parsley

1/4 cup chopped basil

1. Mix the mayo, olive oil, and red wine vinegar in a large bowl.
2. Add the pasta and toss.
3. Add the giardiniera, provolone, salami, parley, and basil.  Toss.
4. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

7 Reasons to Visit Hal-Glow-Een at the San Diego Zoo: Pumpkin Macaroni and Cheese

Every year we try to incorporate one new Halloween event into our calendar.  Sometimes they end up being keepers (like the Gingerbread house building we did last year) and other years we decide that we don't need to make it a yearly event.  This year our new event was Hal-Glow-Een at the zoo.   For three weekends in October the zoo, which normally closes at 5pm, stays open late for Halloween festivities.  Prior to us going I could find very little information about the event.  What does it entail?  Is it worth it?  If you're considering making this a family event for next Halloween, here are some good tips to keep in mind.

#1: Music and Dancing

 Hal-Glow-Een is made up of several different areas throughout the zoo with activities at each area.  And a lot of the activities involve music and/or dancing.  We started the evening out with the Skeleton Band, who played a bunch of kid friendly Halloween music that got both my kids up and on their feet grooving.  

We also stopped by Dusty Keys, who, along with his skeleton friend, played Halloween songs on the organ, told jokes, and generally kept the kids entertained.  

Special tip: Dusty Keys is located at the Boardwalk Beer Garden if the grownups want to grab a drink while the kids watch the show.  

And of course, the bubble dance party which goes on all night.  There are black lights, bubbles, and fun music for your favorite little dancer.

Special tip: In addition to the bubbles put on by the dj, they sell light up bubble wands which of course every kid wants.  So be prepared ahead of time to either buy one or tell your child "no" a million times.  

#2: Fun Shows

In addition to the musicians, there are also non-musical shows.  At several times and locations throughout the zoo there are "Animal Encounters,"  a chance to get a closer look at some very cool animals.  Thatbaby made us stop each time we passed one. 

There's also The Spooky Review which features aerialists, acrobats, and jugglers.  We happened upon it early in the evening, but I'm betting it would be even more fun at night when the performers neon costumes glowed.

The kids loved Dr. Zoolittle, which had a ton of crowd participation.  There was magic, bug eating, and a cupcake walk where 3 kids win cupcakes. 

Special tip: Both the Spooky Review and Dr. Zoolittle are located beside restaurants, so they make a great place to stop and grab dinner while you watch the show.

#3: Python Path

Most of the animals don't take part in the Hal-Glow-Een festivities.  With the exception of the reptiles in the reptile house.  Glow in the dark reptiles adorned the wall as we wandered through looking at different snakes, lizards, and frogs.

#4: See the Zoo at Night

Since the zoo normally closes at 5pm, you get to see a side of the zoo that few experience.  Some of the animals are more active as the weather cools down.  Others who may hide during the day come out and sleep in the open at night.  

Special tip: The zoo is really dark at night.  Most of us were using cell phone flashlights to get around.  I recommend either starting at Africa Rocks (which is the easiest to get lost in the dark) or bringing a light source with you.  Glow wands, sticks, and jewelry are definitely helpful.

#5: Boo Crew

Do your kids love costumed characters?  Street performers?  Both? Well Hal-Glow-Een has them! It's pretty cool to see the Boo Crew wandering around and interacting with kids.

#6: Food and Drink Specials

Almost every restaurant had specials for Hal-Glow-Een.  Like spooky straws for your drinks.  Or cotton candy shaped like candy corn with a light up stick.   The zoo doesn't usually run seasonal food specials, so if you like the idea, this is the time to get it!

#7: You Can't Do It All

There's so much to do at Hal-Glow-Een, there were a ton of events we didn't get to.  Other musicians, shows, and even glow in the dark hula hoops.  So if none of the events I wrote about appeal to you, maybe one of the others will!

Know Before You Go:

• Hours: Weekends in October, 5-9pm.
• Admission: Included with the price of zoo admission for adults ($56).  Since the zoo participates in "Kids Free in October" this event is free for kids.
• Membership: Packages vary.  An annual pass is $174 for 2 adults and includes access to the zoo, Safari park, and special events at both locations. 
• See Plan Your Visit on the San Diego Zoo Website for more information

Since Halloween is now over, I'm sharing my favorite "Halloween" recipes that are really great for the whole fall.  Like pumpkin macaroni and cheese.  Fall is my favorite time of year for comfort foods like this.  Comfort foods involving pumpkin.  Really, there's nothing better.  And while savory pumpkin dishes can be hit or miss, this macaroni and cheese hits all the right notes.  It's not overwhelmingly pumpkin spice, instead the pumpkin helps to make the sauce creamy and thick.  And with all the cheese in it, its a surefire winner with small kids.  I didn't even mention the pumpkin addition to mine and my kids devoured it.

Pumpkin Macaroni and Cheese

1lb macaroni or other pasta (I used the pumpkin shapes from Trader Joes)

3 Tbsp butter

3 Tbsp flour

2 cups milk

1 cup pureed pumpkin

1 tsp dijon mustard

1/4 tsp garlic powder

1/4 tsp onion powder

1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded

1/2 cup mozzarella

1/4 cup parmsean

1. Cook pasta according to package directions.  Drain and set aside.
2. In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter.
3. Add in the flour and stir until it becomes a paste.  Cook for another minute or two until the paste starts to bubble.
4. Slowly stir in the milk, and continue stirring until smooth.  Cook for 3-5 minutes until the mixture starts to thicken.
5. Reduce heat to low and stir in pumpkin, mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt and pepper to taste.
6. Remove from heat and stir in cheese.  Continue stirring until all the cheese is melted and incorporated.
7. Stir in the pasta and serve.

Snow Trip: Penne with Jalapeno Penne

A couple of weeks ago, Thatbaby was telling Thatboy that the only thing missing from his holiday was snowman building.  He really wanted to build a snowman at Christmas, if not this year than next year.  Well, living in San Diego, building a snowman isn't really a possibility.  And Christmas-ing in San Francisco is likewise antithetical to his desires.

But we thought maybe we could sneak some snowman building in anyway.  Especially with reports of a huge winter storm making its way to us.  Here in San Diego that meant a full week of pouring rain in 40 degree weather, which usually means snow in higher altitudes.  So I booked us a cabin in Idyllwild and crossed my fingers for bad weather.

Unfortunately, despite the storm, and cold weather down here, it didn't actually get cold enough to snow in Idyllwild.  Undeterred we spent the first day walking around town a little bit and grabbing wood for our cabin's fireplace.  Y'all - I miss a fireplace!

And then...the next day...we found snow!

Just down the road a bit from where we were staying was a park that had leftover snow!  There wasn't a ton of it, and it was a little hard from melting and refreezing, but it was fine for our purposes!

This was the first year our kids had actual snow pants, and Thatbaby quickly discovered they worked just as good as any old sled.

Even Thatboy got in on the sledding action.

And yes friends, there was enough snow to build  a snowman.

We spent the evenings with hot chocolate, in front of the fire, playing games and putting together puzzles.

And of course, we explored the culinary scene in Idyllwild.  We visited some old favorites, but mostly we'd been gone long enough there was a whole new crop of places to try.  Bakeries with flakey, buttery pastries, breweries with one of the best sauces Thatboy has ever tasted, and an Italian restaurant with live music.  The Italian restaurant, Cafe Aroma, had a very unique dish on the menu I had to try - a jalapeno pesto.  It was rich, it was creamy, but I couldn't even taste the jalapeno.  I loved the idea though, so once we got home, I decided I was going to try and recreate it, but better.  I removed the cream, which makes the jalapeno less potent and we had a winner on our hands.  This could certainly be made in the classic style, with basil, but in keeping with the Southwestern theme of the jalapeno, I subbed in cilantro instead.

Penne with Jalapeno Pesto

1 lb penne, cooked according to the instructions on the box

2 cups cilantro leaves

1 jalapeno (use as many seeds as you wish for heat - the more seeds the spicier the dish will be)

2 garlic cloves

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

juice of 1 lemon

1 tsp salt

1/2 cup canola oil

1.  Pulse cilantro, jalapeno, garlic, cheese, lemon juice, and salt in a food processor until well combined.
2. With food processor running, slowly add the oil, continuing to process until creamy.
3. Toss with hot pasta and serve.

Mommy Mondays: Thatkid's Butter Pasta

"Chores" is a word that's loaded more than it should be.  There's debate about at what age what chore is appropriate, whether allowances should be tied to chores, what chores kids should be doing...

This is not where I'm going to get into that, although trust me, I'm just as clueless as you are.

This is where I talk about our decision on one "chore" in particular.  Although maybe chore isn't the right word.  We like to talk about our family as people who help each other out.  Thatboy and I don't really have assigned chores, although there are things we like doing that have kind of become "our chores" and things we don't like doing that we both avoid as much as we can (like making the bed with clean sheets).  But in general, the idea is that we all pitch in.

Now that Thatkid has started kindergarten, we wanted him to pitch in a little more than he does.  Which means he has been assigned dinner duty one night a week.  This has the added benefit of giving him some good life skills, because everyone should know how to cook.

The deal is this: One night a week he makes dinner.  And he is in charge of all of it.  He picks what he wants to make, picks out the ingredients at the store, makes dinner, serves dinner, and then cleans up after.

For the past two weeks, (and possibly the foreseeable future) we have been having butter pasta. Since this is becoming his signature dish, I thought I would share it with you.

The ingredients are simple - a bag of pasta, 2 Tbsp of butter, and 2 Tbsp of parmsean cheese.

1.  Thatkid fills up the pasta pot with water.  Given it's weight, I then transfer it to the stove for him.  He turns on the burner and brings the water to a boil.

2.  Thatkid dumps the pasta into the pot.

3.  I set the timer for the appropriate time for the pasta.  When the timer goes off, we go back and he checks the pasta for doneness. Then he stirs in the butter and the cheese.

4.  He scoops the pasta into our serving bowls.  He always portions Thatbaby and myself first, smaller portions.  Saving giant portions for himself and Thatboy.

5.  He brings everyone's pasta over to the table.  His usual job is to set the table, but since he's doing all the cooking, I've been having Thatbaby get everyone their forks.

6. We eat.  Every week Thatkid has expressed his extreme pleasure in getting to make and eat his favorite food.

7. When Thatbaby goes to take a bath, Thatkid brings the pot over to the sink and washes it and his serving utensil. (I dry).

I'm not going to lie.  Buttered pasta is not the most exciting, tasty, or nutritious dinner.  But it's one night a week.  And the confidence he's already getting is pretty much worth it.  He loves making dinner for us and feeling like he's contributing.  He likes the praise he gets.  Last weekend when I told him how much I love having a night off, he asked if there were any other dishes he could wash.   The benefits far outweigh the relatively plain dinner he creates.  And I'm still hoping that one day he'll branch off to making something else!