Froggy

While I was mowing the backyard lawn tonight, I saw out of the corner of my eye what I thought was a grasshopper. I looked a little closer and noticed it was a little frog. I called to Benjamin because I knew he'd be interested. We put him in a plastic bottle with some water and air holes while we finished with the yard work. Benjamin thought he also needed some leaves. When we were finished, we took froggy down to the street to a little pond to set him free so he could "find his mommy and daddy." When we put Benjamin to sleep we sometimes ask him what is favorite part of the day was. Tonight he answered, "Finding froggy."

Bread on the Grill

We try to use the oven as little as possible in the summer because we don't have central air conditioning. I've been experimenting with baking bread on the grill. I don't think that I have the recipe perfected quite yet but here is what I have so far.

3 cups flour
1 1/3 cups water
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp rapid rise yeast

Combine all the dry ingredients and mix together. If you don't have rapid rise yeast, use regular yeast and dissolve it in the water instead of adding it to the flour. Mix in the water until there is no dry flour left. It will look like a mess with lots of lumps. Let it sit for 30 min. Mix in the mixer or by hand for a few minutes until the dough is more uniform. Letting the dough sit for a half an hour before you knead makes it so you don't have to knead as much (this is called an autolyse). Let the dough rise for 90 min to a few hours. You can also put it in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours, and it will rise in there. When you're ready to bake the bread, turn on your grill on high. Flour a clean surface you can put the dough on and shape it to about a 9 by 12 inch rectangle. This will make a focaccia like bread. I cook mine in a 9 by 12 inch pan, but you could do it on a large sheet pan also (it just won't reach to the edges). Once you have shaped the dough, spread a couple tablespoons of olive oil on the pan, place the dough on the pan, and put it in the grill with the lid down. You won't want the pan directly on the grill because it will scorch the bottom of the bread. I put a pizza stone in the grill while it is heating up, but I think an upside down sheet pan on the grill first with the pan and the dough on top of that would probably work also. It takes about 15 mins to bake. Make sure the top and bottom of the bread are golden brown. I also like to put mozzerella cheese on top before I put it in the grill to make cheesy bread. Enjoy!

Cafe Rio Tortilla Soup

I think the thing that I miss the most about not living in Utah is getting my Cafe Rio fix. I love their salads, but I love the tortilla soup even more. I have been trying to recreate the recipe forever. I could get a good soup, but it just wasn't completely right. Then two weeks ago, I made the best attempt that I ever had. I didn't follow a recipe but here is what I did. I sauteed garlic, and onions and then added a really good chicken stock, added rotisserie chicken that I had as leftovers, corn, carrots, cumin, taco seasoning, along with salt and pepper to taste. I saw a show on the food network where they made some sort of tortilla soup, although when I searched for it again to copy the recipe it was no where to be found. I did remember from the episode they cut up regular corn tortillas and added then to the soup. The claim was as they dissolve it thickens the broth. I did add 3 corn tortillas to mine all cut up, and it made the soup so thick and yummy. To serve I made fresh salsa and guacamole and added a dollop of each to the soup. We topped it with queso fresco (Mexican cheese), cilantro, and lime juice. Stephen thought the soup tasted better than Cafe Rio, but I think their broth was still a bit superior. I am finally happy to have a soup that is close enough to it that it ends my cravings for Cafe Rio tortilla soup! (Benjamin needed his picture taken with his soup too.)

ipod Touch anyone?

We got a new computer and it came with an ipod touch 8 gb. Since Stephen already has one and I have no use for one, we are looking at selling it. It retails from Apple for $299, but you can get it from Amazon for $284.99. Does anyone want it for $275 shipping included? It is still in the box unopened. I thought that I would put in on here first for friends and family to see if anyone is interested. If there aren't any takers by this weekend then I am going to put it on craigslist or ebay. Just let us know.

Imaginary Friend

I heard Benjamin talking and wandering around the house while I was folding laundry yesterday. He was describing everything in our house like he was showing it off. I asked him what he was doing, and he told me that his friend's mom had just dropped him off at our house. He was showing him the house. I asked his friends name, and he thought for a minute and then said "Kmart." He also told me the little boy had black hair with green eyes and black feet. His mom's name is also Kmart so I asked if that was his last name. Nope they were both just named Kmart. Benjamin and Kmart played together very nicely all afternoon. They played trains, cooked in the tiny kitchen, drove cars all through out the little garage all the while Benjamin jabbering away to Kmart. Kmart even came in the car with us when we had to go jumpstart Dad's car that died on his way home from work. He stayed with us until bedtime. Benjamin hasn't mentioned him at all today. I wonder if Kmart will continue to make an appearance or not?