Chef Melissa

This years winner of the Next Food Network Star was Melissa D'arabian. She's a stay at home mother of 4 daughters well, until she won. I love her recipes and I love her show. Here's just one of Melissa's recipes I have made several times and it's a keeper! Hope you think the same!

Cafe Green Salad

Mustard Vinaigrette:
1 garlic clove, sliced in 1/2
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
Small splash soy sauce
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons olive oil

Directions
3 cups mixed greens, the darker the better (not iceberg)
Rub the inside of a large wooden bowl with the garlic clove and then either discard it or save it for another use. Put the mustard in the bowl and whisk in the balsamic vinegar and soy sauce (a French secret!) vigorously for about 10 seconds to get a creamy consistency. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Drizzle in the olive oil as slowly as possible with 1 hand while whisking as quickly as possible with the other hand to emulsify. Lay the salad greens on top of the dressing and toss just before serving.

Like Mother, Like Daughter

4 months old

Happy 4 month birthday Isaac Christian! We love you beyond words.

These days you:

* love to laugh

* scream kind of like a jungle man, we sometimes call you Mogley after the character on Jungle Book

* drool and drool

* love to nurse and definitely prefer breastmilk ~ you've only downed a few ounces of formula

* like your binkie when you are going to sleep

* just NOW you are starting to get on a schedule- your Mommy is really thanking you for this! Those cat naps are for the birds!

* get up once at night to nurse (usually)

* you watch every little move your sister makes and she's a busy lady

* you are my cuddle bug

* have not mastered rolling over but I bet you check that off your list very soon

* you clasp your chubby hands together and hold them just in the sweetest way possible

* after you are done nursing you smack your lips together many times as if you are just making sure you have every drop in your tummy

* when your Daddy comes home from work you give him a big ole smile and like to keep him in your sights at all times

* how can I give you a stunt pill?

My sweet son, I love you so much!

"I touch it Mommy"

One of my little treats that I enjoy at some point in my day is a Casey's Diet Coke. Casey's and the water tower are quite close and we drive by the water tower to get "Mommy's special treat". Every day for quite some time Audrey would see the water tower and say "I touch it Mommy". So, this day WE TOUCHED IT. We stopped, got out and touched the water tower. This was a big day in the life of a two year old and we had a ball getting up close and personal with the water tower.

The walk.
Sure, I think I can climb it too.

My new, blue, best friend.

A complete touch.

Wow, that's really tall.

Kara, two friends, a helmet, neon vest and a SEGWAY

The girls got away to take a 2 hour SEGWAY tour of Chicago. We had more than a blast just being girls on Segway's, without babies, without husbands and just the wind in our face and the need for speed! Oh, it felt soooo good! I'd do this again in a heartbeat!

Topolobampo

Saturday night we ate at Topolobampo and it was spectacular! We had a 9:15pm reservation and we got seated around 9:30. We were still eating at 12:30AM! It was so FUN and so relaxing and just AHmazing food.


Sabana de Jitomates
thin, beautiful slices of locally grown heirloom tomatoes (some from our rooftop garden) with guajillo-sherry dressing. Nasturtium leaf, sweet corn jellies, Mexican gherkins and chile-tossed muskmelon.




Sopa de Flores de Calabaza
squash blossom soup with garlic-grilled summer squash, black bean "cubes," Oaxacan-style quesillo and Gulf Royal Red shrimp.

Baja-style fish "tacos"

mahimahi two ways (poblano seared, beer-battered), with fresh-made tortillas, homemade lime mayo, Tracey's pea tendril salad, pickled vegetables, avocado-tomatillo salsa, lime-Corona "air."

Elisian Fields lamb "ribeye" in dark pasilla chile sauce (infused with black garlic). Fava bean puree, chochoyotes (corn masa dumplings), herby Kickapoo green bean salad.

* this is my description- couldn't find Topolo's description:

Dessert- was a devils food cake with mint ice cream- it was just good! Yes, that's three pieces of watermelon.

Isaac & the chicks

Oh, we had a great time in the city. Isaac was a great traveler ~ it's pretty easy traveling with just one child who is a baby. (much easier than a toddler).

Here's Isaac, Zoe & Kali.

Mommy & Daddy to be

Yep- that's right there's another baby on board in the Scoby family! Ben & Christina will welcome their bundle in early March!! We are all excited for this addition to the family and are so happy for Ben & Christina ~ they will make great parents!

Check ya' later

I'm hoppin' on a jet plane tomorrow to hit the city with some chicks ~ one's older and one's younger. This man's got the best of both worlds baby!

The First of Many

The first fight occurred this morning, with many, many more to come!
Audrey leaned down to give Isaac a kiss and her sweet brother grabbed hold and wouldn't let go! I was laughing my head off, Audrey was screaming and Ike was making lots of noise ~ pretty sure it was noise of sheer delight!

Topolobampo

A week from now six adults (and NO babies) will be dining at this restaurant in Chicago. It's a Rick Bayless (Food TV guy) restaurant and is quite famous. The earliest reservation we could get, which was a month ago was 9:15pm. It's going to be a fun evening!!

http://www.rickbayless.com/restaurants/topolobampo.html

Labor Day to do's

With Chris on call, Audrey and I made a to do list for the weekend. Have a wonderful weekend- keep your labor to a minimum and your fun to a max!