Night Night

As I was putting Jack to bed last night I was surprised to hear him say for the first time "Night Night" I say that time him a lot but this time he said it to me!

Here are a couple of recent good snaps of him. This one features one of his new wrenches. He also will smile when you ask him to - but it isn't a very natural look and is quite posed. I'll try and get picture of his fake smile up sometime...

Here's one of him looking quite carefree - there's actually a soccer ball up in the air!

When dogs dream

This is courtesy of Rob & D'Nena Moore.

http://www.wimp.com/dognightmare/

March Photo Montage

Mission to Marzipan

Ben & Jerry's has released a new flavor called, "Mission to Marzipan". It's a sweet cream ice cream with almond cookies and a marzipan swirl. Erin picked this up when I was in Las Vegas and found it to be weird tasting and basically inedible. I agree that it isn't the best B&J's flavor out there, but didn't have much problem eating the stuff.

We actually had to research marzipan to figure out what it was. Strangely, after reading about it, we're still not sure what it is. Here's the best description we could find:
"Marzipan is a confection consisting primarily of sugar and almond meal. It derives its characteristic flavor from bitter almonds, which constitute 4% to 6% of the total almond content by weight. Some marzipan is also flavored with rosewater."

Mission to Marzipan hits your tongue with a strongly flavored almond extract bite that rings a little weird. Maybe this is how marzipan always tastes. Who knows? At any rate, I'd say this flavor is for marzipan fans only, assuming marzipan fans exist.

Thingamajig Reviewed

I discovered a new candy bar from Hershey's in Walgreens recently. The Thingamajig. Yes, that's right, it seems the Hershey's people have officially run out names for new products.

The first thing I looked at on the Thingamajig's packaging was the ingredients list to determine whether the chocolate bar contained any chocolate. Turns out it does. There is coco butter on the ingredients list and the description clearly says "made with chocolate" instead of chocolate-like, chocolate-flavored, or chocolatey coating.

The bottom layer of Thingamajig is chocolate (flavored) crisped rice. The upper 1/3 is a sweet peanut butter (flavored) filling, kind of like the interior of a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup. These two layers are then covered in chocolate. Erin and I both liked the bar pretty well. Thingamajig is way better than the Whatchamacallit, a similar "fake chocolate" offering from Hershey's.

Engagement Gift!

We received a mysterious gift in the mail last week. Turns out it was an engagement gift from Robert, Steph, and Jack.

We opened it up to discover the fancy Cuisinart waffle maker and the Fiestaware butter dish we had put on our registry.
Sunday morning waffles have never been better! Thanks guys!

Pizza

Paul Tangeman, Bill Tangeman, and Robert Tangeman have all been making scratch pizzas of late. This is Richard Tangeman's latest. It is not fully scratch but is made from Wal-Mart brand crust mix and bottled sauce, plus peperroni and lots of mozzarella cheese.

2009 NCAA Pick'em!

http://tournament.fantasysports.yahoo.com/t1/register/joinprivategroup_assign_team?GID=170209&P=gobuckygo

Linke above should get you there and includes the password (which is gobuckygo) embedded. Make your picks and check'em twice.

Here's the info in case it is needed.

Group ID #170209

Crazy T's Pick'em Emporium

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

from the CA Tangeman clan including...


Ranger and Kodak


Stephanie and Robert


and baby Jack! shown here enjoying the first Peep of his young life!

Goosey Goosey Gander

Milder Nebraska temperatures seem to have put the visiting geese and ducks in a good mood. This weekend the friendly fowl made it up into our yard in their search for seed and food.

I was reminded of the classic nursery rhyme "Goosey Goosey Gander", which you can now read.

Goosey Goosey Gander,
Whither shall I wander?
Upstairs and downstairs
And in my Lady's chamber.
There I met an old man
Who wouldn't say his prayers,
So I took him by his left leg
And threw him down the stairs.
The stairs went "crack"
He broke his back
And all the little ducks went "quack, quack, quack"

The Antique Waffler

I made Jack waffles this morning - a Sunday morning tradition of sorts but instead of using the standard Villaware Classic Waffler..



I elected to pull out the old Tangeman Family 4-grid waffle iron - circa the 60's or 70's. I hadn't used this one in a while and don't think my last experience went that well with it.



I sprayed some Crisco onto it and wiped it down to condition it a bit and poured the batter in. The first waffle wasn't good - it stuck and was undercooked - not even dog-worthy. The second, third and fourth waffles, however were great! The antique waffle iron is back in the game!



It makes a thinner, crisper waffle than you get out of many of today's irons which tend to be more of the belgian style.

Jake-the-snake and some friends

I have posted recently on the dog, so here he is with our friends Carol and Lyra.

Happy Pi Day!

Nobody knows who 5Lab is... but Pi day we can do!

Animal Kingdom!

Yesterday - as we were putting the finishing on getting Jack ready for school I looked out the front window and saw a coyote crossing the street right in front of our house. He took interest in the neighbors lower yard area where a small warren of rabbits reside. I opened the door to scare the coyote away.

Next - as Jack is apt to occasionally do - just as we were heading out to the garage he made a few grunting sounds and we needed to drop our bags and head upstairs for a fresh diaper. I looked out the window to spy 2 ducks settling in by the new lounge chairs around our pool. I snapped a poor picture (heavily zoomed without a tripod).



After Jack's "oil change" we went out to the car - I first went to grab the papers and spotted a rabbit sitting in our front yard chawing away at some grass.

Finally, our animal adventure concluded as we saw two turkeys in the lot across from our house - we hadn't seen turkeys since back in the fall. So there you have it... 4 different wild animals in ~5 minutes.

On a related note, Steph and I have taught Jack to howl like a wolf.

5Lab Says:

A Puzzling Baby Video

Setting the Stage
A few weeks ago we got Jack a new toy. A wooden puzzle box with 12 holes in it cut out in a variety of shapes. Coupled with the box are 12 colored blocks - each of which match one of the box holes. Here's what it looks like:



He quickly took to the puzzle and has gotten better and better at it. There are several pieces which are quite challenging including a parallelogram and a somewhat random quadrilateral. It is fun to watch him study the pieces a bit before trying to put them in. It has also been fun to see which pieces are hardest and easiest for him....the results weren't intuitive but, after thinking about it, are not surprising... watch and see.

Who Watches the Watchmen?

I saw Watchmen yesterday, and for me, it is one of the best super hero flicks ever made. The fact that I had previously read the graphic novel and was familiar with the story no doubt increased my enjoyment of the film, and I'd definitely recommend reading it first (or watching the motion comic on the iTunes store). That being said, the two people I saw Watchmen with had never read the story and they both enjoyed it as well.

Jack and Daddy

Some friends of ours snapped this good shot a few weeks back at a birthday party.



Jack has managed to piece together a few 2 word sentences. Here are some of his first in approximate order of him uttering them:

Don't pee! - This was definitely his first
Bye-bye Doggie
Bye-bye Daddy
Uh-oh Buddy
No more

The California Pizza Kitchen

I printed Bill's pizza recipe, went to the store and then came home and cooked up a pie. This was the first time we used our pizza stone to actually cook a pizza on.

The pie turned out good. We followed the recipe but I forgot to pre-cook the crust in advance (I would do it next time - perhaps even brushed with a little olive oil on top). It was a tomato and mushroom pie. The corn meal is an essential component to the crust too. I could have rolled the crust a bit thinner too.

Ultimate Wheat Crust Pizza Pie

By request, here's the fine wheat pizza crust recipe I've been working with. I found this recipe at Eatingwell.com, but have noted certain modifications I have made based on the experience I have gained from using the recipe five or six times.
I make my pie in an approximately 9 1/2 inch by 13 1/2 inch cookie sheet pan.


Makes Makes 1-12 ounce or 1 pound dough

ACTIVE TIME: 5 minutes

TOTAL TIME: 15 minutes

EASE OF PREPARATION: Moderate

INGREDIENTS:
To make 12 ounces dough:
3/4 cup whole-wheat flour
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 package quick-rising yeast (2 1/4 teaspoons), such as Fleischmann's RapidRise
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon sugar
1/2-2/3 cup hot water (120-130°F)
2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil

To make 1 pound dough:
1 cup whole-wheat flour
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 package quick-rising yeast (2 1/4 teaspoons), such as Fleischmann's RapidRise
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon sugar
3/4 cup hot water (120-130°F)
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

I USE THE 12 OUNCE DOUGH MEASUREMENTS AS IT SEEMS RIGHT FOR THE SIZE OF COOKIE SHEET I USE. VARY AMOUNTS BASED ON THE SIZE OF YOUR SHEET, PAN, OR STONE. WHEN IT DOUBT, MAKE THE LARGER AMOUNT SO YOU WILL HAVE ENOUGH DOUGH TO COVER YOUR PAN.


I HAVE TRIED USING LARGER PROPORTIONS OF THE WHOLE-WHEAT FLOUR TO INCREASE THE HEALTH PROFILE OF MY CRUST, AND IT WORKS FINE, BUT THE HALF AND HALF MIX OF WHOLE-WHEAT AND WHITE FLOWER SEEMS IDEAL. AS LONG AS YOU DON'T USE ANY ENRICHED OR BLEACHED FLOUR, YOU SHOULD BE GOOD.

1. Combine whole-wheat flour, all-purpose flour, yeast, salt and sugar in a food processor; pulse to mix. Combine hot water and oil in a measuring cup. With the motor running, gradually pour in enough of the hot liquid until the mixture forms a sticky ball. The dough should be quite soft. If it seems dry, add 1 to 2 tablespoons warm water; if too sticky, add 1 to 2 tablespoons flour. Process until the dough forms a ball, then process for 1 minute to knead.

I DON'T USE A FOOD PROCESSOR, I JUST MIX IT UP IN A BOWL WITH SPOON AND THEN COVER THE BOWL TO LET THE DOUGH RISE FOR 10 MINUTES.



2. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface. Coat a sheet of plastic wrap with cooking spray and place it, sprayed-side down, over the dough. Let the dough rest for 10 to 20 minutes before rolling.

LIKE I SAID, I TOTALLY SKIP THIS STEP JUST LETTING THE DOUGH RISE IN THE BOWL FOR 10 MINUTES. IT WORKS WELL AND SAVES SOME HASSLE.

AS THE DOUGH IS RISING IN THE MIXING BOWL, I COAT MY COOKIE SHEET LIBERALLY WITH EXTRA VIRGEN OLIVE OIL. THEN, I LIBERALLY SPRINKLE CORNMEAL OVER THE OILED COOKIE SHEET. I HAVE TRIED IT WITHOUT THE CORNMEAL AND IT STICKS MORE. WITH THE CORNMEAL, THE PIE TASTES BETTER AND IT SLIDES OFF THE PAN EASILY. ALSO GET YOUR OVEN PREHEAT GOING TO ABOUT 450.


AFTER THE 10 MINUTES OR SO, I TAKE THE DOUGH OUT OF THE BOWL AND STRETCH IT A BIT BY HAND. THEN I PLOP IT ON THE OILED CORNMEALED COOKIE SHEET. FROM HERE, I USE A ROLLER SOME, BUT MAINLY JUST USE MY HANDS TO SPREAD THE DOUGH OVER THE PAN. IF DOUGH IS STICKY, I SPRINKLE FLOUR OVER IT SO IT WON'T STICK TO MY HANDS.


FROM HERE, I LIKE TO BAKE THE PIZZA DOUGH FOR ABOUT 2 OR 3 MINUTES WITHOUT ANY TOPPINGS ON IT IN MY NOW PREHEATED TO 450 OVEN. THIS IS A TIP I LEARNED FROM DAD. THIS PARTIALLY BAKED CRUST RESULTS IN A CRISPER CRUST EXPERIENCE. THIS STEP IS OPTIONAL, AS I HAVE HAD SUCCESS WITHOUT THE PREBAKE.

NOW IT'S TIME TO TOP YOUR PIE. I USE RAGU PIZZA QUICK SAUCE OR SIMILAR. IF YOU USE THE THIS SAUCE, ABOUT HALF OF THE JAR IS THE RIGHT AMOUNT FOR THE 12 OUNCE CRUST PROPORTIONS. SPREAD THE SAUCE OVER THE CRUST WITH SPOON OR HANDS.


FOR THE SMALLER 12 OUNCE CRUST SIZE, I USE, USE ABOUT 1 CUP OF CHEESE. FRESH VEGGIES ARE THE BEST TOPPINGS, BUT I FIND THAT CANNED CHOPPED TOMATOES (NO SODIUM ADDED VARIETY) TASTES GREAT AND IS CHEAP AND EASY (BE SURE TO DRAIN WELL). I USE A HALF A CAN OF THESE FOR THIS SIZE OF CRUST.

BY USING HALF THE JAR OF PIZZA SAUCE, ONE CUP FROM A STANDARD TWO CUP BAG OF CHEESE, AND HALF OF THE CAN OF CHOPPED TOMATOES, I GET TWO PIZZA PIES OUT OF ONE ROUND OF INGREDIENTS



3. Place a pizza stone or inverted baking sheet on the lowest oven rack;
preheat oven to 500°F or highest setting. Roll and top the pizza as desired
(we suggest a 13-inch circle) and bake the pizza until the bottom is crisp
and golden, 10 to 14 minutes. Serve immediately.

I ONLY GO TO 450 INSTEAD OF 500. YOU HAVE TO FIGURE THIS OUT BASED ON YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF YOUR OWN OVEN. I COOK MINE ONLY FOR 10 MINUTES. I USED 500 DEGREES FOR 10 MINUTES BAKING THE PIE PICTURED BELOW AND AS YOU CAN SEE, IT WAS STARTING TO OVERCOOK. THAT'S WHY I WENT TO 450. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS TO START CHECKING YOUR PIE AFTER ABOUT 7 MINUTES TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T BURN.



ENJOY!!!!! YOU'VE JUST MADE A $3.00 PIZZA THAT TASTES BETTER AND IS HEALTHIER THAN THE ONES YOU GET FROM THE DELIVERY BOYS OR THE GROCERY STORE!!!!