WI Trip

A couple of weeks ago we spent a wonderful weekend in WI with my cousins, an old highschool friend and some family friends that have been a part of my life since I was 5.

Emma made a play house for Frankie.

Emma and Frankie playing.

Greg, Frankie and Tim playing.

Olivia, Frankie, Sarah and Emma jumping on the trampoline.

Tim and Frankie hanging out.

Uncle Mac and Frankie

Lisa and Frankie

Climbing stairs

The kids caught a toad!

Janet and Frankie

Emma and Will

All the kids before their walk.

Jack pushing Frankie.

Lynn and Frankie

Lisa and Lynn play with Frankie.

The kids and Frankie

Sue and Frankie

We spent a gorgeous Sunday with Jamie, Brielle, and Joel. We BBQ's and finally had time to sit down and chat.

Frankie and Brielle our friend Jamie and Joel's daughter.

Jamie, Frankie, Sarah and Brielle

Frankie and Brielle hanging out.

Push me Dad!

Frankie loves to swing.

Love these two!

Sunday night we went to The Cordell's house for dinner and to spend the night.

Cherry pie baked specifically for me by Carol.

Martha and Frankie. I've known Martha since I was 5!

Carol and Frankie

Frankie on the ride home!

Dinner with the Neighbors

The other night we had dinner with our wonderful neighbors and I tried two new recipes. They both turned out fantastic. Enjoy!

Grilled Asisan Eggplant-Food Magazine

Ginger

Garlic

Sesame oil

Vinegar

Soy Sauce

Brown Sugar

Scallions

Combine first 6 ingredients to tast in a pot and reduce by half. In the meantime grill eggplant. Top eggplant with reduction and scallions. Recipe also called for peanuts, but I didn't have them on hand.

Plum Cake--Food Magazine Recipe

3/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pan

1 1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup packed light-brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

3 large eggs

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

2 teaspoons finely grated lemon zest

1/4 cup sour cream

3 plums, halved, pitted, and cut into eights

confectioner’s sugar, for dusting

Preheat oven to 375. Butter an 8-inch cake pan and line bottom with a round of parchment. In a large bowl, whisk together 1 1/2 cups flour, baking soda, and salt.
Using an electric mixer, beat butter ans sugars until light and fluffy. With mixer on low, beat in eggs, one at a time, until incorporated; beat in vanilla and lemon zest. Beat in 1/2 the flour mixtures, then sour cream. Add remaining flour mixture; mix until just combined.
Spread batter into pan and smooth top with a knife. In a bowl, toss plums with 2 tablespoons flour and arrange over batter.

Bake until cake is golden, about 30 minutes; loosely tent with foil and bake until cake pulls away from side of pan and a cake tester comes out clean, about 35 minutes more. Let cake cool completely in pan. Run knife around cake edge and remove cake from pan. Dust with confectioner’s sugar before serving

CA Day 4 Off to Pasadena!

On Monday we went to Pasadena to meet up with our college buddy Steve and his wonderful lady Ann. Ann got accepted in to Clairmont near Pasadena for grad school, so she's moved down there from San Fran. It was great to be able to meet up with them and introduce them to Frankie.

Auntie Allie enjoying her morning with Frankie.

Steve and Ann meet Frankie.

Mixed veggies or french fries?

Steve and Frankie

Ann and Frankie

Tim and Steve

Ann and Sarah

Frankie

The Crew


After Pasadena we went back to Major and Karen's new gorgeous house.

Allie, Leah and I getting ready to jump in the pool.

Frankie and Uncle Maymay

Frankie and Grandma playing on the couch.

Frankie and Tia Leah

The MN Fair

A couple of weeks ago The Dallums made it to the MN State Fair. We had a great day in the sun eating, watching people and hunting for free stuff. Check out the link below for pictures from our visit last year http://dackyardigins.blogspot.com/2008/08/franklin-goes-to-fair.html. My how time flies...I can't believe it's been so long.

Frankie loved riding the bus on the way to the fair.

Getting ready to enter the MN Fair.

Frankie chomping at the bit!

First stop french fries.

Yum! Frankie loves fries.

Look at the cow Frankie!

The Pig touches a piglet.

Frankie and Tim searching for more animals.

Frankie watching the baby ducks.

Future Franks of America

The Piglet riding a pig.

Looking at the flowers and eating a apple cider Popsicle.

What a cool scarecrow.

Frankie loves bees!

Tim eats a taco on a stick!

Family Picture

Frankie got cool new sun glasses!

Frankie decides it's more fun to eat his sun glasses then to wear them.

Frankie tries his first Pronto Pup.

Frankie and mom watching a cooking demo.

Frankie trying to eat Tim's Pronto Pup hat.

Senator Amy Klobuchar--who later told me that Frankie was a very cute baby while I in passing said thank you to her for all the work she's done for MN children.

Family Portrait #2

Stewie Dallum?

Mom and Frankie getting excited while Daddy plays a MN scratch off game. And that's how we ended our day at the MN Fair--no money left, but super full and ready for bed!