Thursday, April 26, 2012

a very fun family {frost on flower }

This session was both unique and very neat! I met Joanne on Twitter. We both stay at home with our little(s) and, like many moms, have found great community via social networks such as Twitter and Instagram. A couple of months ago we scheduled and session and moved it to the Guthrie Theatre in downtown Minneapolis at the last minute due to unfavorable weather. It's silly - I photographed portraits outdoors in February but was forced to photographed indoors in April.

I met Joanne and her family at the Guthrie Theatre last weekend. We did some exploring, hanging out, and goofing around. Luckily I was able to catch a few moment with everyone together and looking in a similar direction! Most of our time was spent looking out the windows, pointing at things, and being graced by the presence of two very photogenic and eager to be photographed little boys. :)

As usual I have selected some of my favorites to share with you. And as usual... there are a lot. :)

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It was so nice to meet you in person, Joanne! You have a wonderful family! :)

Thursday, April 19, 2012

gluten and sugar free pumpkin cookies.

I whipped up some "cookies" last night and thought I would share. :)

- half of a can of pumpkin purée
- 2 eggs
- 4 tablespoons almond butter
- 3 tablespoons almond flour
- splash of vanilla
- pinch of cinnamon
- dash of nutmeg
- sprinkle of cloves

Preheat oven to 350
Mix all ingredients until smooth
Plop onto parchment lined baking sheet
Bake for 14 minutes (or so.. Our oven isn't overly accurate)



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We enjoyed some last night with whipped coconut, a drizzle of maple syrup, and a sprinkle of shredded coconut on top. :)

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Saturday, April 14, 2012

stuffed zucchini and riced cauliflower.

I don't usually blog when I cook. I cook something new 4-5 times a week. Blogging all of that would be way too time consuming! But this got a lot of attention, comments, and questions.

Riced cauliflower:

A head of cauliflower processed in a food processor, about the size of rice.

Cook the cauliflower. I put it in a pan and sautéed it in coconut oil and then put it in the oven with the zucchini for five minutes.

You can steam it, sauté it, microwave it.. Whatever.

It's a really great alternative to rice. A much better texture and flavor in my opinion.

Stuffed Zucchini:

3 medium zucchini
1/2 red bell pepper, chopped
Small onion, chopped
Thyme
1/2 teaspoon Curry powder
Salt
Pepper
2 Tablespoons sour cream
Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Brown the onion in a pan. Add curry powder and leave on heat for 30 more seconds.
Meanwhile cut the zucchini lengthwise and scoop out the pulp.
Chop the pulp and put it in a bowl.
Add the chopped red pepper, thyme, salt, pepper, sour cream, and the onions when they are done.
Put the prepared zucchini boats into a oiled/buttered baking dish.
Fill the zucchini with the mixture and sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top.
Bake for 20 minutes.

Yum!



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freaster 2012.

This year marked our second Freaster holiday. In case you're not familiar Freaster stands for Friend Easter - much like Friendsgiving standing for Friend Thanksgiving. Clever, eh? Yep.

Last year Tyler and I took Olive to church with Brooke and Scott for her first Easter. We then headed to IKEA for a wonderful meal and made sushi back at Brooke and Scott's house.

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Photo by Scott

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Photo by Scott

My hopes were high that we would eat at IKEA again this year. The food really was quite yummy and it seems like a neat tradition to start. But unfortunately IKEA did not offer an Easter meal ON Easter this year. Though the store was open on Easter. So I'm not sure what the reasoning was. I was bummed.

Tyler went out of town on Saturday morning and didn't return until Sunday afternoon. This left Olive and I to work on Easter meal preparations together on Saturday and we went to church together on Sunday. Brooke and Scott wanted to go to church also but the timing of the service they wanted to attended didn't seem like it would work with Olive's "schedule". So Olive and I went to Bethlehem for the 9:45 service. Olive didn't sit still.

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And then we went out for lunch together.

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After Tyler arrived home I finished up a few meal related tasks, Olive used my old Easter basket to find some eggs and sticks in our backyard, and then Brooke and Scott came over.

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I made a giant egg shaped raw carrot cake. ha.

We enjoyed a yummy meal together and now our second anual Freaster is behind us.