Happy Brothers

Yucky Octopus

Today we had such a fun-packed day! Daddy went to Uncle Robbie's house to dig holes and Mommy took you guys to Sarasota to the farmer's market.

At Whole Foods Market, we stopped by the seafood section, and they had a whole cooked octopus from Japan in the display case for $18.99 a pound. We stood there looking Mommy: gushing/lusting/admiring....You Boys: gawking/gasping at the thing. Nathan, even though you had a poopy diaper, you didn't want to leave and just stood there in front of the display case staring at the octopus.

We also went to your favorite toy store and got a big bus and a really super cool submarine that goes under water with a push of a button. Lunch was a happy meal at McDonalds and the afternoon was filled with massive thunder ("God's farting too loud!" "Why is he farting so much?" "Is God crying?" "I think God needs to drink some water")

Trey came over and we played with the submarine in the bathtub for about an hour. You boys also played with the huge Playmobil train set; ran around the house chasing each other; played with marbles and had a midnight snack of fried eggs. We watched Noddy and Fireman Sam on TV.

Tonight, during our usual bed time routine, I first laid with Andrew, rubbed his back and we recapped the day.

"What's your favorite part of the day Andrew?"

"When we got the sunk-a-rine and then played with it. And when Trey came over to our house. And when we played trains. And when I played a computer game."

"Well, which one was your favorite?"

"All of 'em"

Then, it was Nathan's turn, "Nathan, what's your favorite part of the day?"

"Ummmmm......ummmm.....the yucky octopus"

"yucky? Mommy loves octopus! Octopus yummy!"

"No. french fries are yummy. Octopus yucky."

So...out of the whole entire day of fun filled adventures, the yucky octopus was Nathan's favorite part of the day!

Making pancakes in the morning

Dear boys,

You guys are my little chefs! Last Sunday, I took photos of you guys making German Oven Pancakes and Andrew you said, "Mama, we're doing a cooking show! Just like Paula Been!"

Haha! that was so funny. You guys know already know the ingredients that go in the pancake - flour, eggs, sugar, salt, milk and butter.

Andrew loves sifting:

















Nathan loves leaning over and watching it "snow"

















Sometimes you switch duties and Nathan misses the bowl and get your hands...you don't like that very much



Sometimes Nathan drops the sifter in the batter and look at your frown



When it first puffs up, Andrew says, "Mama, clickly! clickly! come see the pancake!" Nathan, your favorite part is watching the pancake blossom! "WOW MAMA!!! Look at that!"

New Skoda Fabia Advert - Full of lovely stuff

watch - funny!

Taking Matters Into His Own Hands

After tripping over this piece of flooring every single day for the past 8 months, Andrew decided to take the matter in his own hands.

We won!!! We won!!!

We won the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Minority Business of the Year!!! woohoo!

The awards ceremony was yesterday, attended by over 600 business, political and community leaders. The press was there - I was interviewed by a local television station and a very nice article ran on the front page Business section of 2 newspapers.

I don't even remember what I said during my acceptance speech. All I remember is some laughter (I think I made a joke) and applause for saying something a little controversial.

The award that we won is titled "Minority Business of the Year" - while I am very honored to receive the award, it kinda hit a nerve with me. When we were growing up in Nebraska in the 70's, we were minorities. Moving to Los Angeles and San Francisco, we were just one of many cultures and races. I don't think I even used the word minority when we lived in CA.

Sarasota/Bradenton is not Nebraska, but it is not Los Angeles either. In the spirit of diversity and forward thinking, I believe that the Sarasota Chamber really needs to re-think this category.
My kids don't know the word "minority." They know "Chinese American" and "Asian" - but I never taught them the word "minority." Thats because they shouldn't have to know this distinction. We are a human race, all different shades of colors, and we should totally celebrate our culture. But to have a word that distinguishes Asians, Blacks, Hispanics, Middle Easterners...basically any other race that is not Caucasian....in this day and age is just not right. Its time to retire the word "minority" and celebrate cultural differences of all races.

I do not want my kids to have to be labeled anything other than just a kid.

So I guess that while flattered with this award, I hope that I can give a different perspective to the community.

Andrew's Hole In One

Last weekend, we took the kids to play miniature golf....Andrew got a hole in one all by himself!! I helped Nathan with a shot and we got a hole in one too!

Andrew is actually really good at putt-putt golf. He swings with conviction and he putts gently.

Nathan...well...he thinks the game is to hit once, chase the ball and pick it up and drop it in the hole. Cute even though he kept picking up everyone's balls and dropping them in the hole!

Here are the rest of the pictures. Scroll towards the end to see golfing pics.

Nathan the Cross Dresser

IMG_5599, originally uploaded by Steamy Kitchen.

His favorite thing to do in the morning is get a pair of someone else's shoes and walk around the house with them. The higher, the better because then he can walk on tile and make lots of noise.

This is becoming a trend....hmmm.....

Bagels

Andrew loves little mini bagels. He'll eat 3 whole bagels in one sitting, with cream cheese of course.

Last week, he held one up just like this, and said, "Look MOMMMY!!! I'm eating a BUTT-HOLE!"

Nathan got his swim trophy too! He was so proud of it, "same same like Andrew!" But he would not take off those silly swim goggles, even when they fogged up and he couldn't see out of them.

April

I have been spending so much time on my other website http://steamykitchen.wordpress.com/ that I haven't had a chance to really post much about the kids' adventures. :-( I know, I need to keep these memories alive!

Dear Andrew,
I am SO proud of you! This month you got a little trophy from Miss Amy, your swimming teacher when you finished your sessions. The trophy was priceless- you eyed it when we first arrived that day...and I told you that if you did your swim-float-swim that you could earn your trophy too. For the next 10 minutes, your swimming was flawless and you concentrated so hard to make it perfect.

When Miss Amy handed you the trophy, I almost cried. Your first trophy! Andrew, I will never forget this moment, because it was the first time that you glowed with that so much pride. It was something that you worked so very hard for, swimming every single day, practicing and learning. I think you understood the concept of "I earned this."


You held the trophy above your head with both hands and exclaimed, "Mommy! I have a Piston Cup!" (from the movie Cars) The excitement on your face was priceless.

We went to school and you brought that trophy for show and tell. Ms. Ashley said that you never let go of that trophy all day long. On the playground, it went down the slide with you, on the swing, through the playhouse. In the class, it never left your side, you even took a nap clutching the trophy.

At home, you didn't even let your brother or any of us touch it. Every person that came through our door at that night's dinner party, you proudly held it up, "Look, I got a trophy!!" The cutest moment was when you were riding your Razor scooter. Since you needed both hands, you put the trophy behind you on the scooter's platform and rode around with the trophy in the 'back seat.'

Andrew, you are also developing quite a bit of attitude. Uncle Jay was here visiting, and you weren't listening to me when I told you to pick up your toys (for the 3rd time). So I said, "Ok, Andrew, pick up your toys or you'll get a spanking."

"NO! I don't want to!" he continues playing with his toy.

I spanked him.

(andrew glared at me) "that didn't hurt mom."

I'm totally speechless. Uncle Jay had to hide his head because he was trying not to laugh. In the end, I totally busted out laughing.

----
Dear Nathan,
All of the sudden you are talking in full sentences! Mommy and Daddy have to remember this and try not to use babytalk with you anymore. Because it sounds so silly when we do now;

"Nathan, night-night time? go bye-bye?"

"Mommy, no. I don't want to. I'm not tired."

Every single day, oh, at random times of the day, you'll say to us, "We're going to Disneyworld?" Anytime we pack you up in the car, you'll say "Disneyworld?" If I'm putting on make up, "Disneyworld?" If I even glance at my car keys, "Disneyworld?" If we even use the word "going" in a sentence, you say "Disneyworld?"




----
Dear Boys,

The funniest moment this month had to be just a few nights ago. The four of us were sitting at the dinner table, eating our pasta. Every one was quietly eating. I look up and Nathan, you were staring off to the side, with the most serious, concerned look on your face. The brows were tight, your eyes were focused on something outside the window.

"Nathan, whats going on?"

(big mouthful of pasta) "Iadfkna pfffshttfpin" (brows even more tight)

"Whats did you say?"

Daddy looks at you, sees your strange look on your face "Nathan, are you ok?"

(still chewing) "Ihjksfjfsfgkllaaapin"

Now, mommy and daddy are both curious, "What did you say? Say again Nathan."

"Ikaglakghsfjskgpin"

Andrew, obviously was bored from the conversation and even more bored from the pasta and chicken dish. He had one elbow on the table, propping his head up, the other lazily forking some pasta. Without even looking up, he rolled his eyes and said in a bored, exasperated manner, "He said he's poopin."

"Nathan, are you pooping?"

"Yessftf."


----
Note: I'll post more tomorrow - its 2:30am and I'm getting tired!

Mangrove Grill

We had an amazing time Saturday night at Mangrove Grill - the weather was totally perfect and it just was a perfect evening.

I'm teaching Andrew how to use my big fancy Canon Rebel XT camera - he is amazing on focusing on things.(oh yeah and not dropping the camera) He knows what he want to take a picture of and zeroes in on the subject. So cute to see his tiny hands grip that massive camera so tightly, yet he knows that he has to be delicate with his trigger finger to snap the shot. Sometimes he squints both eyes instead of just one and says, "I can't see!" So what did he take a pic of? Guess which ones he took:

A very proud boy

Andrew is so proud of his swimming trophy! He took it to school for show and tell, and for 24 hours, did not let go of the trophy - the thing even came with him to the bathroom!

More pics here (most recent at the end)

Me and my brother

My brother, originally uploaded by jadenhair.

I love my brother Jay!

Our Pet, the Lion

I wonder who he was referring to when he responded with "LION" - though come to think of it, the timing of that assignment synchronized nicely with my monthly PMS schedule.

Happy Easter!

DON'T EVEN ASK

IMG_3493, originally uploaded by jadenhair.

He disappeared for 10 minutes, came back looking like this. He did this ALL BY HIMSELF!!!! It reminds me of a time, oh about 25 years ago when my brother did the same thing.

Thats so scary.

WWJD?!?

Nathan came home with this nifty piece of artwork. I just didn't get the sticker with "WWJD" on it.

Where in the World did John Doe go?

Willy Wonka Jumpin Dots?

When Will Jujubees Die?

No....its really "What Would Jesus Do?"

I didn't know Jesus was so hip that he had his own acronym! I need one too!

Day at the Beach

We went on a lame Easter Egg Hunt:



And we went to the beach to hunt for seashells!



Nathan kissed his girlfriend again:




Click here to see the rest of the photos!

Very cool tool

Look what I discovered today online! You upload any photo and within minutes, a mosiac is created filled with photos from flickr. Its so cool! Click on the photo above to get a full sized image

http://imagemosaicgenerator.click42.com

DAN! DAN!

"Andrew, what does a firetruck say?"

"Wooowooowooowooo DAN! DAN! Wooowooowooowoo!"

I kept asking Andrew who is the hell is Dan? Is he the fireman? Is he the dispatcher? What does he look like? I meditated on it. I woke up in the middle of the night wondering who is Dan. I asked God who he was. Buddha didn't know either.

Then, DUH! DUH! I got it.

You see, the DAN! DAN! is the horn thingy that the firetrucks sound off in between the sirens. Of course you knew that.

The only explanation that I can come up with on WHY IT TOOK ME 5 DAYS TO FIGURE OUT was we never had DAN! DAN! growing up. And the ONLY time I was ever asked "What does a firetruck say?" was when I was a kid. Its just not a topic of conversation during fine cocktail hour.

Thats my explanation and I'm stickin' to it.

Nathan's Girlfriend

My friend, Julie's daughter. Her name is Jocelyn. Nathan is so in love - they sat next to each other eating dinner and had conversation with each other all night.

Click here to see other pics from this weekend.

New Recipes Posted

We prepared an amazing feast for our friends this past Sunday.  

Marinated Grilled Skirt Steak
Persian Cherry Rice
Moroccan Grilled Shrimp & Vegetable Skewers
Tiramisu

Recipes at www.steamykitchen.com

Visit from the Haugstatters!

Last week our old neighbors came to visit - Brooke and Harley are so big now!  The kids just came right in and within minutes it was as if they had never left.  Of course we miss them so much. Funny thing is that their old house is up on the market....maybe they can buy back their old house $100K less than what they sold it for!

Andrew and Harley



The beautiful girls: Brooke & Harley

Nathan, International Playboy

The funniest thing happened yesterday - I was sitting outside on the lanai ready a magazine when Nathan comes over, drags his little patio chair next to me, runs back inside and comes back with 3 items:

Daddy's sunglasses
Daddy's cell phone
Sippy cup with Vodka maritni (ok, just kidding) Apple juice

He plops himself in the chair, puts the cup in its holder, puts on Daddy's sunglass...UPSIDE down...and proceeds to dial Po Po's number on the cell phone (I'm sure we'll get our cell phone bill and see that Nathan really called Istanbul for 2 hours)

After a 2 minute conversation with PoPo, which included words such as "chocolate" "ok" and "good boy"... he called MiMi and that conversation included "Disneyworld"  
"Magic Dingdong" and "good boy."  

I couldn't quite make out the whole conversation, but I think it had to do with telling both his 
grandmas that he was a good boy and deserved to be showered with many gifts and prizes 
of the chocolate flavor.  I bet he didn't even mention that 45 minutes ago, he had his chocolate 
confiscated because he whacked his brother in the head with a wooden train track.  

After the calls, he looks at me and he says, "Look at me! I'm Daddy!"  Here are the rest of the pics.

So busted!!! Got caught kissing one of his girlfriends, Carson, at school!!!!

New Digital Doctors Pinellas Office

We are just about to sign the lease to take our 2nd office location!  It in Clearwater, about 35 minutes north of Bradenton.  The location is great - right off the major interstate and on a very very busy street.  During traffic hours, its stop and go right in front of our shop...which is perfect for exposure.  Its not going to be a "store-front" like the Bradenton shop, but more of a place where our Pinellas techs can go and work on computers, store inventory and work with customers by appointment.  We're not quite ready to have a storefront - but this gives us the opportunity to have a second location and grow into that.

We're taking over the space currently leased by a cell phone repair company - its 800 s.f. and will have new carpets.  Move in date is in May.

My New Cooking Blog

I've decided to keep my recipes separate from my ramblings about life...visit my new cooking site to see recipes and photos of dishes that I make!

www.steamykitchen.com

Banana-nanna Bread

What do you with 6 over ripe bananas?  Why make Banana-nanna Bread of course!  This is by far the best Banana Bread I've ever had. 
Its perfectly moist and is packed with bananas so you get the full flavor of the fruit.

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp kosher salt (or 1/4 tsp table salt)
1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 eggs, beaten
2 1/2 cups mashed overripe bananas (about 4 bananas)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan.  

In a large bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt. In a separate bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar. Stir in eggs and mashed bananas until well blended. Stir banana mixture into flour mixture; stir until well combined.  Pour batter into prepared loaf pan.

Bake in preheated oven for 60 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean. Let bread cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to finish cooling.

I love using my Pampered Chef loaf pan for this.  The kids LOVE this bread warm with some butter.

Korean BBQ - Kalbi

Korean BBQ - Kalbi, originally uploaded by jadenhair.

Saturday night we prepared a Korean BBQ feast for our friends. This is Kalbi - which is grilled short ribs. I ran out of kimchee for the photo! Traditionally, you take a lettuce leaf, place rice, a piece of meat and kimchee, roll it up and eat. I enjoy using seasoned seaweed instead of the lettuce. I love the crunch and saltiness of the seaweed! Recipe will come soon.  

I'm using my new macro lens that my husband bought for me for Christmas. I still have to work on the lighting.  My next purchase will probably be some lights on a stand so that I can control the shadows and highlights better.  I would have liked to get the grains of rice in the shot better, but the sunlight-through-window created a glare on the white rice.  And darn! This pic would have been perfect with some kimchee but my friend Mac chowed down!  This pic was taken the next day after our dinner.

The biggest challenge I'm facing is once I'm done preparing a meal, its TIME TO EAT! Not time to take out the camera and fiddle with the zoom and fuss about the lighting.  So half the time I forgot to take the picture, and the other half of the time, there aren't any LEFTOVERS to take a pic of.  I had also made Chap Chae (Korean noodle dish), but didn't have any left to photograph.  I'm going to have to re-think my whole food photography strategy!

Tapioca Pearls with Sweet Coconut & Cantelope

This is a recipe from my Mom - she used to serve this in the summer time to cool off.  Usually its made with honeydew, but the cantelope was on sale, ripe and smelled so fresh!  This isn't a very well-known dessert in Asian American restaurants, but it can be found in dim-sum eateries in Hong Kong as a perfect ending to a meal.

We served this as dessert after our Korean BBQ feast.  It was just the right dessert to enjoy to cool us down after all the smoky heat of BBQ.  

Tapioca Pearls with Sweet Coconut & Cantelope
2/3 cup Tapioca (tapioca pearls - not the instant stuff!  I used the small size)
1 cup whole milk
2 cups coconut milk (full fat)
4 cups water
1 1/2 cups sugar
Fruit: honeydew or cantelope, diced small

Bring water and sugar to boil. Turn heat down to low, add the milk and stir.  Once the mixture is almost back to a boil, turn off the heat.  Add the coconut milk and stir.  Remove from heat and cool in refrigerator.

While coconut milk mixture is cooling, soak tapioca pearls in cold water for 20 minutes. The pearls will expand a little and turn bright white.  Bring 4 cups of water to a boil - and add the tapioca pearls.  Stir constantly for 2 minutes.  The pearls will turn translucent.   Turn off the heat and drain the pearls in a fine colander.  Use cold running water to rinse the pearls and stop the cooking process.  Set the pearls aside until ready to serve.  

When ready to serve, ladle the coconut milk into each bowl, add a spoonful of tapioca and top with diced fruit.  Enjoy!

Some Notes  
Don't boil the coconut milk - it makes it oily.  For curries, its fine, because its a hot spicy dish. But for a cool, simple dessert, you need to make sure that the heat is turned off before stirring.

Don't add the tapioca or fruit until right before serving. If you add it in and let it sit, the dish will become bitter.  Why? I don't know....my momma said so!

Use full fat coconut milk. I rarely use lite because its just not worth it.  Save your calories on something else, but not the coconut milk!  I also get my coconut milk at an Asian market. I've tried other brands at regular supermarkets, but they never are as full flavored, thick and rich as the Thai brands. The brand that I consistently reach for is "Chaokoh."

Tapioca pearls come in different sizes - I like using small size pearls, it goes really nicely with finely diced honeydew or cantelope.  

Other variations:  Use canned lychee or diced mangoes instead.  Top the dessert with shaved coconut.  Add ginger to the coconut milk mixture (grate the ginger on a rasp or a traditional Japanese ginger grater, squeeze the pulp and only use the juice.  
there is nothing more annoying than getting ginger fibers stuck in your teeth!)

Brothers

IMG_2823, originally uploaded by jadenhair.

Hi, I haven't posted in a while. Its been very very busy here at the business (which is great!) but leaves me very little time for fun things like keeping up with this blog.

Here are some pics of the boys! I'm also busy designing a new website just for my cooking and posting of recipes.

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