Little Green Friend

I was startled to find a big, green praying mantis hanging out on our garage door as Munch and I returned home today. I love these little bugs- they are really cute and intelligent-looking- and I hear they make good pets. But we certainly don't need another creature to raise right now (I'm still nursing Sari back to health) and didn't have a place for it (other than a plastic jelly jar...) so Munch released her new pal, Prancy, just before dinner-

Pretty as a Princess

Munch got a special treat last weekend in the form of her cousin's 18th birthday party/debut. A big party was planned, with dancing, and Munch was looking forward to it for days. She made sure to wear her favorite party dress and was absolutely in love with all the older girls dressed up for the evening. After a delicious dinner, which included my favorites-lechon (roast pig) and kare kare (oxtail & tripe stew in a peanut sauce), they started the Roses dance, in which various male relatives and friends presented the birthday girl with a rose before a quick spin on the dance floor.And once the DJ started, there was no getting Munch off the dance floor-she wanted to be the last one there! By the end of the evening, she was lying on the steps (in the background), tired, but still wanting to be in the middle of the crowd.My favorite shot of the night-Munch was fascinated with the whole "boyfriend" idea...

Another Muffin Tin Meal

This MTM (muffin tin meal) is filled with green beans, mac & cheese, watermelon chunks, and rolled deli turkey slices- with a peanut butter blossom for dessert! Check out more MTMs at Her Cup Overfloweth, home of Muffin Tin Mondays!

First Fall Apple Pie

I've had a pie crust sitting in my refrigerator, waiting to be used. It's been a long while since I've made an apple pie, but it is AudioDad's favorite dessert- I almost made him one for his birthday instead of the chocolate buttermilk sheet cake. I found a recipe online for a streusel topped pie (also known as a French apple pie)- thought that would be a nice change (and I only had a single crust- too lazy to make another one!) It was definitely delicious!
apples in the crust
topped with streusel

Streusel Apple Pie
1 pie crust
3 lbs. (about 7-8) peeled Granny Smith apples, thinly sliced
3/4 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
2 tbs. Minute tapioca

Topping
2/3 c. flour
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
5 Tbs. cold butter

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Prepare pie crust and use it to line a 9" deep dish pie pan. Set aside. In a large bowl, mix together apples, sugar, 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, and tapioca. Pour apple mixture into the unbaked pie crust, mounding in the center and pouring any juices over apples. In a medium bowl, prepare the streusel by mixing together the flour, brown sugar, 1/2 tsp. cinnamon. Using a pastry blender or a knife, cut in the butter until it resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle/pat this mixture over the apples in the crust. Bake pie for 12 minutes at 425 degrees, then reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees and bake for an additional 35-40 minutes, or until apples are tender and pie is golden brown. Let cool a few hours before slicing and serving.

Not a FOLLOWER yet? What are you waiting for?

My Baby Started Preschool Today...

Munch around 10 months old
I know the time flies by, but the milestones still catch me off guard. How is it that Munch is now off to preschool on her own? It was difficult for me just because I felt torn between being there to drop her off and leaving my kindergartners with a substitute for the second time this week. In the end, I knew she'd be fine with AudioDad, so long as he took lots of pictures! I guess I made a big enough deal about it, because I he worried about how they turned out all day after leaving her! (Isn't he sweet?) Mainly, the issue was that it's a lot of the back of her- but I suppose it's a good thing that she was independent enough to just jump in without a look back to Dad!
Munch wearing her "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom" shirt- she's passed over it EVERY time she's gotten dressed since we made it- guess she thought it was special enough to save for her first day of school!
Confidently heading into the crowd-Munch is greeted by her teacher-
Exploring the schoolyard-
Enjoying her after dinner treat- on the "Special Day" red plate!