Tulips...Through the Years

Every year I have taken some pics of Matthew in front of the tulips at our house.  We still are laughing over the "sprawled out in the basket" incident from the first year!  It is amazing to see how much they grow each year...

Jicama Callejera Salad

One of my favorite appetizers at Frontera Grill in downtown Chicago is the Jicama Callejera salad.  I seriously could O.D. on it.  There is just something about the combination of flavors.  Crunchy, sweet, tart, and a hint of heat.  Oh so yum!  I decided to order some guajillo chile powder from the Savory Spice Shop in downtown Denver (recommended by a friend), and recreated it at home.  I would say it wasn't a 100% like the restaurants, but pretty super close.  It is a fun salad to serve along any Mexican meal, or it would go great with most anything you grill out this summer.  The description on the menu at Frontera Grill is:  "crunchy jicama, cucumber and pineapple, with fresh lime and crushed guajillo chili..."

Here is the little bag of guajillo chili power along with a great spice rub I used for a "beer can" chicken on the grill...

The salad I made...

A picture of the salad at Frontera Grill on their appetizer platter...

Jicama Callejera

1 pineapple, peeled, corred, and cut into french fry shapes

1 jicama, peeled, and cut into frech fry shapes

1 1/2 cumumber, peeled, seeded, and cut into french fry shapes

Juice of several limes

Guajillo Chile powder to taste

Small sprinkling of Kosher Salt

Fresh Lime wedges to serve (optional)

Toss the jicama, pineapple, and cucumber with the lime juice.  Allow to chill for 30 minutes in the refrigerator.  To serve, sprinkle with the guajillo chili powder, kosher salt, and lime wedge if desired.  Enjoy!

"Egg" Cake

I am finally getting around to the final post from Easter, and it's all about this cute "egg" shaped cake I made for dessert.  It was so easy and fun to make.  The colors scream spring.  I found this recipe over on Picky Palate.  Such a great idea, and it was very yummy too!  Here is the link to the recipe.

Here are the four baked layers...blue, yellow, pink, and green!

Stack them on top of each other...

Cut away on the sides to get an "egg" shape...

Frost...

Decorate if desired...

Look at the pretty layers...

Enjoy...yum!

Egg Hunt

Even though Chris had to go to work, Matthew and I had a yummy Easter lunch over at my sister-in-law Cathy's house.  She even set up an Egg Hunt for Matthew!  He had a blast.

Grandma Doherty and cousin Anna help Matthew find the eggs...

The "hunt"...

Matthew also had a great time jumping on the trampoline with his cousins...Mr. Jumping Bean!

Easter Morning

We had a wonderful Easter morning.  Matthew loved his Easter basket, and it was nice that Chris was home in the morning to go to church.  Everyone loved Chris and Matthew's matching ties.

Matthew is ready to open his Easter basket...

Here he is saying "teeth" as he discovers the new toothbrush in his basket...

Handy Manny matchbox cars...

Father and son matching ties from Etsy.com...(Chris was such a good sport about this!)

Family pic at church...

The Beauty of Spring

I just love Spring flowers.  Such a beautiful thing after a long winter.  It was great that the daffodils bloomed in time for Easter this year.

Happy Easter!

Egg Decorating

We had great time yesterday evening decorating Easter Eggs.  It was Matthew's official first time decorating eggs.  He loved it.  We tried both a "tie-dyed" kit, and a "speckled" kit.  Also, some Paas coloring q-tip things.  Very messy but fun.   Here are a few pics I managed to take while making them...

Dying the eggs...

Matthew using one of the "q-tips"...

The finished eggs...not perfect, but pretty and colorful!

My Cool Dudes

Chris and Matthew wearing each other's sun glasses...

"Chicks Dig Me" t-shirt...