Saturday, August 23, 2008

Franklin Goes to the Fair!

Okay so we all know that I'm a little weird...that's pretty obvious. We went to the fair last night and I thought it would be really funny to take some pictures of my belly all over the fair grouds. Yes, I realize some people may find this a little creepy, but I'm also the person who dressed up as a pirate for my bachelorette party. Hopefully you will all enjoy the pictures whether you laugh or file it under "Sarah will calm down after the baby's born.

Franklin's fair ticket.

Franklin watches a baby cow.
Franklin visits the baby ducks.

Future Franklins of America
Bucket O' Fries

Mom and Dad on the sky gklider over the fair grounds.

Dad gettin' ready to farm.

Franklin's first pickle on a sitck.

Pronto Pup

Franklin, Mark Wheat (The Current) and Mom.

Mom and Dad enjoying The Current live.

Franklin crowd watching.

Franklin's first sugar high.

"I promise to bring my own bag because...of Franklin.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

It's all in a name...

What do these two men pictured have in common you ask...

Richard Lowry

Franklin Delano Roosevelt














That's the official name for the Bud now. Franklin Richard Dallum named after Tim's grandfather Richard Lowry. Although we also like FDR, Franklin really came from a trip home from Duluth when Tim and I were going through the alphabet for names. We came to "F" and Tim said Franklin and we both loved it immediately. I've been calling him Frank the Tank because he's so active all the time.

Sunday, August 17, 2008

The Pregnancy Triad

Holly-29 weeks, Miranda-27 weeks and Me-25 weeks

Saturday, August 16, 2008

What's Growing At The Dallums?

Well, I'm growing of course, but my garden is too!

The whole picture.
Broccoli

Green Pepper

Jalapeno

Swiss Chard

Collard Greens

Cherry Tomatoes

Pea Trellis and Vines

Green Bean, Hot Cherry Peppers, Jalapenos, Basil and Yellow Bell Pepper

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Powderhorn Empty Bowls--Not too Early

It's never too early to put a date on your calendar!!! I participated in this event last year and loved it. This last weekend Tim and I spent a couple of hours handing out fliers for the event at the Powderhorn Art Fair. I'll post this again as the time nears, but I just wanted to get the word out early. I love my neighborhood.
Powederhorn Empty Bowls Dinner


Friday, November 7, 200811:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Powderhorn Park Building
3400 15th Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55407
Pick out a handmade bowl, make a free-will donation, enjoy homemade soup and leave with your bowl — now empty — a reminder that there are bowls that need filling in our neighborhood… and that you’ve done something to help fill them!
The proceeds will benefit the food shelf at the Division of Indian Work, our neighbor at 10th Ave. and Lake St. and the Kidz Cafe at the Park Building, sponsored by the Powderhorn Park Neighborhood Association.

Thank you Sparklegirl!

Our lovely neighbor dropped off some cookies the other day while my sister and niece were in town. How did she know this preggers lady has been craving chocolate like mad...? We'll never know, but it was one of the best presents I've received this summer. My favorite part...they're chewy and the salt on top satisfies my salty cravings.

Last night was National Night Out and I went on a cooking spree Monday night and made the dough along with some lentil soup and my famous homemade granola (Tim makes it, but I found the recipe). Anyways, I brought some out for the neighborhood and Mason (with a chuckle) said I was the perfect symbol of motherhood pregnant with cookies in my hand. Too bad it was so hot in the kitchen when I was baking that I smelled like I hadn't showered for weeks. No, not the perfect symbol of motherhood the symbol of a realistic mother, I would say. Anyways, the cookies were a hit!

Best Chocolate Chip Cookies Ever
NY Times
Adapted from Jacques Torres

Ingredients
-2 cups minus 2 tablespoons (8 1/2 ounces) cake flour. I used all purpose flour.
-1 2/3 cups (8 1/2 ounces) bread flour
-1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
-1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
-1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt
-2 1/2 sticks (1 1/4 cups) unsalted butter. I didn't have enough unsalted so I substituted one stick of salted butter.
-1 1/4 cups (10 ounces) light brown sugar
-1 cup plus 2 tablespoons (8 ounces) granulated sugar
-2 large eggs
-2 teaspoons natural vanilla extract
-1 1/4 pounds bittersweet chocolate disks or fèves, at least 60 percent cacao . I used semi-sweet chocolate chips from our local Coop.
-Sea salt

1. Sift flours, baking soda, baking powder and salt into a bowl. Set aside.

2. Using a mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream butter and sugars together until very light, about 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla. Reduce speed to low, add dry ingredients and mix until just combined, 5 to 10 seconds. Drop chocolate pieces in and incorporate them without breaking them. Press plastic wrap against dough and refrigerate for 24 to 36 hours. Dough may be used in batches, and can be refrigerated for up to 72 hours.

3. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a nonstick baking mat. Set aside.

4. Scoop 6 3 1/2-ounce mounds of dough (the size of generous golf balls) onto baking sheet, making sure to turn horizontally any chocolate pieces that are poking up; it will make for a more attractive cookie. Sprinkle lightly with sea salt and bake until golden brown but still soft, 18 to 20 minutes. Transfer sheet to a wire rack for 10 minutes, then slip cookies onto another rack to cool a bit more. Repeat with remaining dough, or reserve dough, refrigerated, for baking remaining batches the next day. Eat warm, with a big napkin.

Yield: 1 1/2 dozen 5-inch cookies. My batch made about 2.5 dozen although my cookies may have been smaller