OK - I should have gotten this posted much more quickly but we just got things downloaded from our camera...
Jack added to his garbage truck collection and also scored a Beanie Baby skunk - which he is reluctant to put in his bed because he things it will spray it and make it stink.
Santa seems to have established a tradition of bringing the kids Beanie Babies as last year Elle got a Dora and Jack got her nemesis Swiper the Fox. This year Elle received Peace - the bear.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Thriller - Jack's Winter Show
There were ~15 numbers and sadly Jack's was next to last. Elle made it through with a few trips outside to practice her walking...
Monday, January 23, 2012
Friday, January 20, 2012
Blog Contest! Win an Authentic $2 Bill
BLOG CONTEST! WIN Today!
Identify the geographic landmark featured on a recent issue of Life magazine. The first person to comment the correct answer will receive a $2 bill.
Please note: Offer only available to residents of the United States. Further, residents or former residents of the State where this landmark resides are not eligible to participate.
Identify the geographic landmark featured on a recent issue of Life magazine. The first person to comment the correct answer will receive a $2 bill.
Please note: Offer only available to residents of the United States. Further, residents or former residents of the State where this landmark resides are not eligible to participate.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Chicago Style Pizza
I love Chicago Style Pizza. Today I became inspired to try and make one at home. I researched recipes on the web. One of the most helpful things I found for general technique was Mark Malnati ( of Lou Malnati's fame) describing the process of making a Chicago pie.
For the pan I decided to use our fancy springform pan which is a whopping 3 inches deep. Lou Malnati's pie is great, but it's not thick enough for my liking. I prefer Giordano's which is the thickest in Chicago. I went up nearly the entire depth of the pan with the crust.
Next comes the cheese. Shredded mozzarella might work fine, but the authentic Chicago pies use sliced mozzarella and plenty of it. The act of putting the cheese on the bottom makes your crisp crust taste more like cheesy bread on the edges.
Next comes the toppings. I used green pepper and onion. Then comes the sauce which is packed with diced tomatoes.
I topped the whole thing with a liberal sprinkling of parmesan cheese. I cooked it for 30 minutes at 415.
Finished!
The pizza turned out great! The crust really reminded me of what you get in Chicago. I score this as a major success for my first effort!
For the pan I decided to use our fancy springform pan which is a whopping 3 inches deep. Lou Malnati's pie is great, but it's not thick enough for my liking. I prefer Giordano's which is the thickest in Chicago. I went up nearly the entire depth of the pan with the crust.
Next comes the cheese. Shredded mozzarella might work fine, but the authentic Chicago pies use sliced mozzarella and plenty of it. The act of putting the cheese on the bottom makes your crisp crust taste more like cheesy bread on the edges.
Next comes the toppings. I used green pepper and onion. Then comes the sauce which is packed with diced tomatoes.
I topped the whole thing with a liberal sprinkling of parmesan cheese. I cooked it for 30 minutes at 415.
Finished!
The pizza turned out great! The crust really reminded me of what you get in Chicago. I score this as a major success for my first effort!
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Windows 8 Teaser
The first Windows 8 teaser has been released by Microsoft and it appears to have the tablet / smartphone features you would expect. The key challenge will be building in the simplicity and then coupling that with the capabilities required to manage all their legacy applications, interfaces, etc..
Monday, January 09, 2012
A Reason for Siblings!
If my brother and I weren't proof that 2 are better than 1 then this video should offer ample evidence. Jack and Elle love to ride together in the cart at Costco... Jack then provides entertainment which Elle then dances and applauds for...
Sunday, January 08, 2012
Too Many Bowl Games
Dad has frequently commented that there are too many college football bowl games. Last night's Saturday Night Live made the same observation and promoted some of the lower end games.
Saturday, January 07, 2012
Elle is Now a Toddler!
Elle stood up on her own (balanced) for the first time today and even took her first few steps. We've got a toddler on our hands!
Tuesday, January 03, 2012
Sunday, January 01, 2012
Flat Returns for 2011? That would have been nice...
The news is filled with how stocks ended the year flat.
If only that were the case for our 401k plans which ended the year down 4.6% :( Let's hope 2012 fares more favorably!
If only that were the case for our 401k plans which ended the year down 4.6% :( Let's hope 2012 fares more favorably!