Guacamole

When I envisioned having a blog, I imagined having posts related to food I like to make, craft projects, vacations, baby, everyday adventures....you know, life.  Well, here is my first (and hopefully not last) recipe.  Guacamole.  One of my favorite snacks.  Others have commented that they like the way I make it.  And it "others" is not just Ben.  He has to say that so I keep feeding him.  When I am not around he doesn't eat.  He doesn't go to bed at a decent time either.  So he needs me around the keep him nourished and rested.  I also taught him the ending joy of the snooze button, but that is another story.

So the guac was tonights dinner.  Period.  I did not say starter, appetizer, or poupou.  Dinner.  With some tortilla chips of course.

I have taken some photos to go along with the directions to make it.  I am trying to use my camera on the manual setting and avoid the flash.  A few of the pictures I am moderately successful at getting them in focus and the lighting right.  If I wasn't so hungry I may have taken more time to get better photos.  And maybe if I had more time on my hands I would spend some time cropping them.  

Maybe the one person that reads my blog can made it too if they like this sort of thing.  And if they did, the would of course the onions.  Right L.L. ?!?  ;-)

Here are all the ingredients I use:  avocado, cilantro, lime, roma tomato, shallot, garlic, jalapeño (although serrano chilies are pictured here), white pepper and kosher salt.  When making guacamole, it is never quite the same twice.  It's typically the same ingredients (although tonight serrano had to be substituted  for jalapeño, which was not available).  Quantities vary slightly because it's never exact measurements.

First remove the avocado from the skins and pits.  I used three here.

Slice it up roughly with a knife.

Dice the shallot.  I used one medium sized one.

Mince one garlic clove.

Chop a handful of cilantro.  Here it a picture of how much pre chopped.

And now post chopped.

Add the shallot, garlic, cilantro to the avocado.

Juice one whole lime into the mixture.

Add a palmful of salt.  (I like salt.  I am often adding more at the end too.)

Add a pinch of white pepper.

Mince some of the chili pepper.  Be sure to remove seeds membranes first.  Since I was using serrano instead of jalapeño, I used less.  In the photo you can see one part of it has been seeded.  And I only used the tip of the chili.  (Note: it is much better with the jalapeño, in my opinion.)

Here the white membrane has been cut out and the remaining flesh miniced.  (Ben requested more chili pepper during final taste test so I added the other portion as well.)

Mix all together.  At this point you have added all ingredients except the tomato.

Chop the tomato into a desired level of dice.

Final mix and taste.  I thought it needed more salt (like I said!) and Ben asked for more chili pepper.  

And the final product.....

And a final note...When cooking I use a "waste bowl", which I keep near me on the counter and use it to collect waste/trash as I work.  It does make for a more efficient and easier clean up at the end.  I didn't show a picture of all the dirty dishes.  Ben is washing them now.  What a nice guy! 

Oh the months go by...

Waaaaaaaay overdue for a post.  Multiple posts.  Need to get back into the swing of posting.  Wait...was I ever in the swing??? 

Anyway...here are some photos from months 1 through 5.  The five month shots were a few days late and somewhat lacking in quality/quantity, but we were in the midst of major home upgrades...new furnace, A/C, water heater, 99% of the plumbing...it was big time work. 

I spent some time in Ohio during the work because Heidi and I were not so keen on staying in the house with no running water.  Ben, however, suffered through it and was never so grateful for running water after not having it for a week.  Of the "upgrades", I am most excited/please about our fridge now having a water line hooked up to it.  Now I can get easy access, great tasting water!

Now onto what you are probably most interested in....Heidi's photos:

A Trip to the Salon

My first haircut post-baby...ahhh...so nice to get it looking pretty again.  My hairdresser and friend Michelle's baby boy, Tipton, has the same birthday as Heidi.  She brought him to the salon and I brought Heidi.  It was a hair date and a baby date! 

 

Here is how Heidi's "baby date" went down... 

 

Heidi:  "We are going to the salon...how exciting!!!"

 

 

Heidi: "What?!?  You mean this is a baby date?  With a boy?!?"

Tipton: "I am not very happy about this either!"

Tipton:  "Well...she does have a nice smile.  I guess I could hold her hand..."

Heidi:  "Well...he is kind of cute with those blue eyes..."

 

 

Heidi:  "Look Mommy, he must like me."

Tipton:  "She does have a nice cushy shoulder on which to rest my head"

 

  

Michelle:  "Well that went well and the babies cooperated for us."

Kelly: "Look at my pretty hair!  Thanks Michelle!"

Heidi:  "Where's my baby boyfriend Tipton?  I can't see him."

Tipton:  "I'm up here Heidi." 

Nathan (Michelle's older son behind the camera):  "You mean I get to entertain babies AND take pictures?!?"  (For the record, Nathan is an great kid and did great job, even got Heidi to fall asleep.)



First Month Progression of Heidi

I got a really neat baby shower gift from some dear friends.  It's been fun to document Heidi's progression. 

Now here are some good snapshots from the first month...



 

 

 

 

(Yes there are two pictures from 3 weeks.  Couldn't decide on my favorite.)

 

 

Now I am a whole month old.  Just hangin' with my homey... 

 

He was lonely over there and wanted to sit by me... 

 

Now the "outtakes", because sometimes it takes awhile to get the good shot...

 

 

 

 Now I am so done with these pictures...

Heidi Kay

My expected due date of June 4th came and went without much thought that baby Schutt would be here soon.  Many walks, comments from neighbors, and blizzards from DQ later...SHE (!) finally arrived on June 17th....8lb 8oz, 20.5in.  We named her Heidi Kay.  Heidi because I have always liked that name (and so did Ben) and Kay after my mother.  She shares a birthday with Ben's mother.

Short version of the birth story.  We went into the hospital Sunday evening (16th) to start a process that might result in going into labor...it was a "no-go"... no contractions, no further dilation, nada.  My doctor then broke my water at 7:15 Monday morning (17th) and I went into labor after that.  Bring on the contractions.  Heidi was born at 3:01pm that day.  I was able to do it naturally without drugs with a lot of help from Ben and the L&D nurse.  I don't know if I got past 10cm.  I'll pretend that I did as I had to wait to push until the doctor arrived.  I spent 30min at 10cm, very much wanting to push, but had to "blow candles out on a birthday cake" instead.  (Because you can't do that and push at the same time....good to know for future reference?!?)  It was painful intense to say the least.  But in the end....happy healthy baby.  Ben is a super sweet husband and it writing out all the details on the birth story.  I think is up to me pushing.  Once he is done, I'll post a more detailed (non-graphic) story. 

Here are some photos from Heidi's birth day and few days after.

Shortly after birth.  Don't judge the hair....I just got finished pushing out a baby.  Looking camera ready was the last thing on my mind.  In fact I only had one thing on my mind....PUSHING.  During the process I was asked if I wanted to touch her head.  I clearly remember what I said, "No, not right now..."  I was thinking, I just need to concentrate on pushing out this baby!

Heidi came out very alert....crying and wiggling about.  She was a very healthy baby.  I guess that extra time in the womb didn't do any harm.

The next pictures were taken in the post partum room.  We went up about 3hr after delivery.  Both of our parents came down for the birth and were able to see and hold Heidi right away. 

 

The above picture is one of my favorites.  She is 4 days old here and is wearing her scowl face.  Cute none the less.  I'll post one of her smiles later.

 

Once Ben had to go back to work, my mom and Ben's mom came and stayed a few days to help make meals, clean, and hold Heidi.  It was great to have them!  Such wonderful grandmothers!!! 

 

And finally, our first outing in the stroller.  Heidi's niece's were kind enough to share some sunglasses that they had outgrown.  Heidi left them on her face.  Although even if they did bother her, I'm pretty sure she wouldn't know how to take them off at this point.  ;)

Packing for the Hospital

I've decided it's time to get serious about packing a bag for the hospital.  Until now, here is what I have accomplished...

Photo #1 - The economical solution...reuse and recycle.

Note regarding Photo #1 - Ben came around the corner with this bag hung from his finger when we were packing out of previous house.  He asked "What's this?", with a slight you must be joking kind of expression on his face.  Maybe he had looked at the contents...  (Reference Photo #2)

Photo #2 - Contents of "hospital bag", if you can even call it that.

Note regarding Photo #2 - I had just run across a few items during packing that I thought, "hey these are 'extra' and I wouldn't miss them if they were pack away for a couple weeks in a bag."  As you can see, my concerns must be that I don't get cold feet when walking hospital floors to get through labor.  And of course, want to make sure my hair looks good...

Okay.  Now I will get serious and pack one that has stuff I may actually use.  :) 

Wrecking Ball makes bed...

...lamp beware !!!

One of Ben's nicknames for me is "Wrecking Ball".  Pretty romantic, huh?

Why have I earned that nickname?  Could be the speed at which I sometimes operate...watch out whatever is in the way.  Or sometimes I can be a little bit clumsy.  Or sometimes I'm trying to do too many things at one (darn that multitasking nature).

Bottom line, I just need to be more careful.

But whenever it comes time to make the bed, I invariably will knock one of the bedside lamps with covers, pillows, elbows, you name it...  I have knocked them over before, but mostly they just totter.

Ben just shakes his head in disbelief.  (You want someone to do a job well, taking their time to ensure it's done with the highest level of quality...without breaking things....he is your man!)

Maybe I am trying to do the job too fast and am being careless.

Really I am just trying to be efficient.

Now that I am getting up later than Ben (before which he was always the bed maker), I will need to work on my bed making technique.

Or just be more careful.