Jack-O-Lanterns

You know what's funny about carving pumpkins with your kids is that mom and dad end up carving all the pumpkins.  Can you guess which ones Tony did and which one I did?  

A Birthday Party

For Carson's Birthday this year we had some friends of his come over for a party last Saturday.  It turned out ok for this being my first party ever planned.  Carson seemed to have a good time anyway. 

 A Jack-O-Lantern Pizza from Papa Murphy's

 The Cupcakes...sorry nothing fancy for 7 year old boys in this house.  

 Carson and his friends

Carson's loot.  He also got a new bike...but I haven't gotten a picture of that yet.  

Playing Around

The last time we were in Boise we brought back the Exer-Saucer.  Charlie's a little too small for it yet, but we just stuff blankets around him while he's in it.  He really likes it.  Especially the toy that rolls and rattles.  He's still trying to get his hands to work, but manages alright. He also really enjoys being upright where he can see everything that's going on around him.  He's getting so big!  

Family

These pictures were taken at our ward activity a few weeks ago.  Not the best pictures, but they are the most recent family pictures we have so I'll take them...for now.  

Award Winning White Chicken Chili

Last Friday our ward had a chili cook off and our White Chicken Chili tied for 1st place.  This is the third time we've had it in a cook off contest and the third first place prize!  

The Trophy

The Chili

The Recipe 

White Chicken Chili (America's Test Kitchen)

Adjust the heat in this dish by adding the minced ribs and seeds from the jalapeno as directed in step 6.  If Anaheim chilies cannot be found, add an additional pablano and jalapeno to the chili.  This dish can also be successfully made by substituting chicken thighs for the chicken breasts.  If using thighs, increase the cooking time in step 4 to about 40 minutes.  Serve chili with sour cream, tortilla chips, and lime wedges.  

Serves 6 to 8

      3 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken breast halves, trimmed of excess fat and skin

         table salt and ground black pepper

     1 tablespoon vegetable oil

     3 medium jalapeno chilies

     3 pablano chilies (medium), stemmed, seeded, and cut into large pieces

     3 anaheim chili peppers (medium), stemmed, seeded, and cut into large pieces

     2 medium onions, cut into large pieces (2 cups)

     6 medium cloves garlic, minced or pressed through garlic press (about 2 tablespoons)

     1 tablespoon ground cumin

1 1/2 teaspoons ground coriander

     2 (14.5-ounce) cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

     3 cups low-sodium chicken broth

     3 tablespoons fresh lime juice (from 2 to 3 limes)

 1/4 cup minced fresh cilantro leaves

    4 scallions, white and light green parts sliced thin

1.  Season chicken liberally with salt and pepper.  Heat oil in large Dutch oven over medium-high heat until just smoking.  Add chicken, skin side down, and cook without moving until skin is golden brown, about 4 minutes.  Using tongs, turn chicken and lightly brown on other side, about 2 minutes.  Transfer chicken to plate; remove and discard skin.

2.  While chicken is browning, remove and discard ribs and seeds from 2 jalapenos; mince flesh.  In food processor, process half of pablano chilies, Anaheim chilies, and onions until consistency of chunky salsa, ten to twelve 1-second pulses, scraping down sides of workbowl halfway through.  Transfer mixture to medium bowl.  Repeat with remaining pablano chilies, Anaheim chilies, and onions; combine with first batch (do not was food processor blade or workbowl).

3.  Pour off all but 1 tablespoon fat from Dutch oven (adding additional vegetable oil if necessary) and reduce heat to medium.  Add minced jalapenos, chili-onion mixture, garlic, cumin, coriander, and 1/4 teaspoon salt.  Cover and cook. stirring occasionally, until vegetables soften, about 10 minutes.  Remove pot from heat.

4.  Transfer 1 cup cooked vegetable mixture to now-empty food processor workbowl.  Add 1 cup beans and 1 cup broth and process until smooth, about 20 seconds.  Add vegetable-bean mixture, remaining 2 cups broth, and chicken breasts to Dutch oven and bring to boil over medium-high heat.  Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until chicken registers 160 degrees (175 degrees if using thighs) on instant-read  thermometer, 15-20 minutes (40 minutes if using thighs)

5. Using tongs, transfer chicken to large plate.  Stir in remaining beans and continue to simmer, uncovered, until beans are heated through and chili has thickened slightly, about 10 minutes.

6. Mince remaining jalapeno, reserving and mincing ribs and seeds (see note above), and set aside.  When cool enough to handle, shred chicken into bite-sized pieces, discarding bones,  Stir shredded chicken, lime juice, cilantro, scallions, and remaining minced jalapeno (with seeds if desired) into chili and return to simmer.  Adjust seasonings with salt and pepper and serve.

* We add an additional can of beans and use chicken thighs.  We also just use a large stock pot to cook the chili in.  Word of advice have the vegetables cut and minced before you start cooking it'll make things much easier.  We don't have a food processor so we use our blender in step 4.  We simmer the chili in step 6 until it is a thick consistency.  We also serve this chili with shredded cheese, sour cream, lime juice, and tortilla chips.  It's super yummy!  Enjoy!

Jalapeno Chili Pepper 

     

Pablano Chili Pepper

Anaheim Chili Pepper

Cute Curtains

I made these curtains for Alaina's room.  Now I just have to make her a bedspread and her room will be done.  Then on to the boys room...I'm thinking camo.

Cousins

This is Charlie and his cousin Mackay. Yes, Maegen I stole the picture from your blog.  Mackay was born about 2 months before Charlie, but with Mackay being so small and Charlie being so big they're about the same size.  But they're both cuties!  

Feeding the Baby

 I don't know about you, but I don't usually feed the baby this way.  

Snow in October

Last week we had a little storm come through Rexburg.  The temperature dropped about 20 degrees in a day thus resulting in snow.  Thankfully it has since warmed up and now it's just cool, wet, and windy.  

 Outside our Front Door

 The kids in all their snow stuff playing out in the snow.

Our apple tree in the back.  

A smile...well kind of.

Charlie has started to smile.  He's a pretty somber kid, so getting him to smile, let alone get it on camera is challenging.  So this is what I've managed to get thus far.   

Feeding her baby

I was sure it was only a matter of time before Alaina started mimicking me when feeding her babies.  This day she lifted up her shirt but her "Purple" to her chest, covered up with a blanket, and proceeded to feed her baby.  Well, at least she's modest. ;) 

This Girl sleeps anywhere

The other day I was working on the computer and turned around to find this.  Apparently Alaina was tired and made a bed for herself in the Living Room. 

Goodies for Charlie

Charlie's aunt Karen made him these adorable gifts.  The onesie that says, "Charlie bit me" is a bit of an inside joke with the Fosters.  I'm not sure if any of you have seen the You Tube Video of the English boy complaining about his baby brother Charlie biting him, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HE4FJL2IDEs.  But this is where that comes from.