Linguine with Clam Sauce

Woah.  Posting another recipe in under a week!  A record for me.  This is one of those "retro recipes" I like to call them, that my parents picked up early in their marriage.  It is so quick, so easy to make, and both satisfying and good.  Of course that is if you are a seafood person. :)  This really is super yummy...I would recommend giving it a try!

Here is what you will need.  Not pictured is the flat leaf parsley, which is an optional garnish.  I also ended up halving the recipe (which is very easy to do), since it was just my Mother and I, and my two munchins.  Recipe below is the full recipe.

Make your sauce...

Add your cooked linguine...

Enjoy!

Linguine with Clam Sauce

1/2 Cup Butter (1 stick)
2 Cups Chicken Broth
2-3 Tbs. of Flour
1/2 Cup Dry Vermouth
3 or 4 (Large) Cloves of Garlic, minced
2 (6.5 or 7.5 ounce) Cans of Minced Clams with Juice, undrained
1 Lb. of Linguine, cooked according to package directions
Freshly Chopped Flat Leaf Parsley, optional garnish

In a large saucepan or deep skillet, melt butter and stir in flour with a whisk.  (I did this over medium to medium high heat.)  Add chicken broth and cook, stirring until mixture thickens.  Add clams (with their juices), and garlic.  Simmer the sauce for 15 to 20 minutes.  Meanwhile cook the linguine.  Drain the linguine and add to the sauce.  Stir to combine.  Serve with freshly chopped flat leaf parsley if desired.

Bon Appetit!

The Best Popcorn

"She's actually blogging about popcorn??" you say.  YES.  It is that good.  Please, take a step away from the horrible (and extremely bad for you) micorwave popcorn.  This is super easy to make, and way delicious.  It is popped with coconut oil, which makes it so yummy, and actually very good for you at the same time.  There are many health benefits to cooking with coconut oil, and this is a good way to get a little into your diet.  Now, my Aunt has sent me some incredible "black jewel" popcorn from Southern Indiana, but when I run out of it, I look for a non-GMO, and organic if possible popcorn.  I found this mixture in the picture below at a local grocery store.

Here is all that you need:  Popcorn (preferably non-GMO and organic if you can find it), coconut oil, butter, and sea salt.

Glob a heaping tablespoon of coconut oil into your pan.

With the heat on high, add a generous 1/3 cup of the corn kernels...

Give the pan a shake to make sure the oil and kernels are evenly distributed, then cover and shake the pan frequently til all the kernels are done popping...

Dump the popcorn into a clean paper bag.  (I always ask for an extra bag at the grocery store.)

Drizzle 1 tablespoon of melted butter over the popcorn...

Sprinkle in 2 to 3 good shakes of ground sea salt...

Fold over your bag, give it a good shaking, and enjoy!  Mmmm....

Popcorn

1 (heaping) Tbs. of coconut oil
1/3 (generous) Cup of popcorn kernels
1 Tbs. melted butter
2-3 Shakes of ground sea salt

Place coconut oil in a pan large enough to pop kernels.  Turn heat onto high and add the corn kernels.  Give the pan a good shake to distribute oil and kernels.  Place lid on pan and shake frequently til the kernels are done popping. (Normally when there is more than 5 seconds between pops it is done...you should be able to tell, just don't burn it!).  Dump popcorn into a clean paper bag.  Drizzle the butter over the corn, and give it a couple shakes of sea salt.  Fold the bag over, and give it a good shaking as well. 

Enjoy with your favorite movie or as a snack!

Mini "Back to School" Photo Shoot

My friend Melody of Melody Ann Photography, held mini sessions a couple Saturday's ago to take "Back to School" pics for kids.  She did an AWESOME job.  Love how they turned out.  In fact, my next Pinterest project will be to blow up the black and white one of the boys in the wagon together, and modge podge it on a black board to hang in their room.  Will post pics of that project when complete!

My two cuties...  (Matthew 4 1/2, Jacob 21 Months)

Here is the B&W I plan to blow up for the project...

Opening Day at the Orchard!

Last Friday was the opening day for Edwards Apple Orchard!  The BEST orchard around with the world's greatest apple cider donuts.  I'm not joking!  I decided to brave the crowds and take the boys out for a playdate there in the morning since Matthew is not in school on Fridays.  The donuts and apples didn't disappoint, and the boys had fun playing on the tractors and everything they have there.  Matthew even squeezed in a pony ride!

Donuts....mmmmm...

Jacob driving a tractor...

How tall J is...

Attempt 1 with Matthew...

M's height...

"Hi ho Silver, away!"

Downtown Fun!

Last Thursday we had a cheap and fun family evening downtown Rockford!  First, we stopped by the "Dinner on the Dock" at the Prairie Street Brewhouse.  This is a fun catered in meal they do down on their docks behind their building, with live entertainment.  (We actually had dinner at home before going...)  Leaving every 25 minutes from the docks is the "Forest City Queen", which was only $2 a person to ride.  It was fun to take a quick trip up the river.  The boys loved it, and Matthew even got to be the "captain" for a bit!  After the boat ride we walked to some nearby sprinklers that are made for the fun of running through.  The boys had a blast there as well.  It was a great evening out...

"Dinner on the Dock...

 Ready to ride the "Forest City Queen"...

View from the boat of the Prairie Street Brewhouse...

Captain M!

Jacob having fun on the boat...

Sprinkler fun...

Video of boat ride...


Video of some sprinkler fun...

1st Day of Junior Kindergarten!

Matthew started Junior Kindergarten (otherwise know as PreK-4), this past Tuesday.  He loves his new teacher Mrs. White already, and was excited to go everyday to school!  Here are a few quick pics I took the morning of his first day...