Some good recipes

I found a new cookie recipe that I just love! I am a chocolate lover, so these are perfect-soft and chewy and very chocolatey.

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 Cup butter softened
1 1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups flour
2/3 cups cocoa
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups chocolate chips

bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.

This other recipe I found in a Bon Appetit magazine. It was in an article titled "Fifteen 15 minute Recipes" It actually takes longer than 15 minutes with the prep work, but it cooks really quickly. It is a little bit spicy (you could omit the red crushed pepper), but it's very tasty. I don't usually like Thai food, but this is really good served over rice.

Spicy Thai Tofu with Red Bell Peppers and Peanuts

1/3 cup olive oil
2 large red bell peppers, seeded, thinly sliced
3 T. minced peeled fresh ginger
3 large cloves of garlic minced
1 14 ounce package extra-firm cubed tofu (I only used 8 oz. and it was plenty)
3 green onions, thinly sliced
3 T. soy sauce
2 T. lime juice
1/2 t. dried crushed red pepper
1 6 oz. bag baby spinach leaves
1/3 c. chopped fresh basil
1/3 c. peanuts
Heat oil in wok over high heat. Add bell peppers, ginger and garlic; suate until peppers begin to soften, about 2 min. Add tofu and green onions; toss 2 min. Add next 3 ingredients. Toss to blend, about 1 min. Add spinach gradually, tossing until beginning to wilt, about 1 min. at a time. Mix in basil. Season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle peanuts on top.

Hooray! Daddy Graduated!

Julio's Graduation Dinner

Friday night, Julio and I got to go on a little date for his graduation dinner. Thanks to Mom and Brandon for watching the kids! The dinner was at the Firehouse Restaurant in Old Sacramento. It was in the 90's and they had us sitting outside on metal chairs. Not good for a pregnant woman! At least the food was really good-we had filet mignon. I got an award for "Putting Husband through Law School". I wasn't anticipating having to walk up to accept it-I waddled up there in my heels with everyone giving me these pitying smiles. I could hardly walk from my tail bone being numb from the hard chairs. Anyway, it was nice and I got to meet some of the people Julio's been spending so much time with for the past 4 years. Out of 97 people who started out, only 38 graduated. Good for them!

Kids and Dining out?

Saturday, Julio's family arrived from Los Angeles. We had Albert on the living room floor, Julio's mom in Lucia's bed and Valerie on the floor in the kids room-with Marco! I know it wasn't comfortable for everyone, but as Julio says, "Latinos don't care where they sleep." At least it was only one night. They did come bearing gifts (and I mean "bearing"). Julio's mom brought a big bag of graduate teddy bears, tamales, pan dulce, and shoes and clothes for the kids. Yesenia brought some really cute outfits for the kids too. Gracias a las dos!

So, Saturday night, we decided to go out to dinner. My kids have never been out to a restaurant and it was a juggling act! Marco was playing with the ice in the cups and spilled water everywhere, wouldn't sit still. They both were crawling under the table. Next time, adults only!

Julio-the Juris Doctorate

The day we've long awaited finally arrived on Sunday-Julio graduated from law school! It was a nice, short ceremony. Julio got recognized for his highest grade in the class for Trusts and he won Best Oral Argument for Moot Court. We were so proud of him. We were happy his sister Yesenia and her boyfriend Elliot, his niece Valerie, Mother, friend Albert and aunt and uncle Raul and Tere were able to come. Nikki's family was also there to support him. We had a yummy carne asada dinner (Julio bbq'd the meat) at my parents' house afterwards. It was a good day. Lucia kept asking "Why did Daddy graduate?" and then "When am I going to graduate?" It set a good presedence for her-not if, but when will she graduate?

The Return of Sanity

After a week of Marco climbing out of his crib and refusing to go to bed until 10 pm, we decided to take serious measures. He was climbing out and jumping on Lucia's bed and not letting her sleep. So, we had to block off their room with the baby gate and he would scream until he finally got too exhausted and fell asleep on the floor. Julio and I were going crazy! Then he would get up in the middle of the night and come into our room. I could not sleep at all for fear of him falling and getting hurt. Another mom suggested the crib tent. At first, I didn't think much of it, but after reaching a point of desperation, we checked it out on the internet and got one on Monday. I had my first night of decent sleep for once! Marco can't get out! He did cry for about 10 minutes, but then he went down and didn't wake up until the morning. What a relief. I would recommend the crib tent to anyone who has a toddler who climbs out of bed. It keeps them in there safely and gives the parents peace of mind. WOOHOO!