A Fun Week

This past week has been a busy one around the B house. We've had so much fun. OG and EJ had birthdays AND we attended the "School Days" at the Renaissance Festival. I also had the opportunity to enjoy a rare "movie day" with a couple friends. Our movie selections included "Sense and Sensibility" (one of my most favorites) and "Elizabethtown". I took an artichoke & spinach dip to the movie day. The girls asked if I would share the recipe, so here it is:

Artichoke & Spinach Dip

1 16oz. can artichoke hearts, drained & chopped

2 c. fresh spinach, chopped

1 4 oz. can diced green chilie peppers

1 c. mayonnaise

4 oz. cream cheese, softened

1 c. Parmesan cheese, grated

salt & pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients well. Pour into a greased 8"x8" baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until hot, bubbly and edges begin to brown. Serve with crackers or toast points.

As mentioned in a previous post, we join some other home school families for history and creative writing a couple times per week. This week I served fried rice for supper. Here's the recipe:

Fried Rice

6 tablespoons oil

6 c. cold cooked rice (I use brown rice)

1 c. frozen corn

1 c. frozen peas

1 stalk celery, diced

2 carrots, diced

1 1/2 onions, diced

4-6 green onions, diced

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 c. cooked meat, (chicken, pork, beef, seafood, etc.)

1 tablespoon soy sauce

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon paprika

1 teaspoon cumin

1 teaspoon turmeric

1/2 teaspoon lemon grass

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

4 eggs, beaten well

In a large skillet saute over high heat diced onions, carrots, celery and meat in oil until tender. Add garlic, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce , spices; mix well. Add cold rice, stir and mix well. Add corn and peas; stir and mix well until hot. Remove from heat, stir in green onion.

(note: I always pre-measure all ingredients during my prep time when preparing this dish).

Here's a few photos from our week:

Birthday Cake
Gifts from Aunt Liz

A new outfit