As Promised...

...My new recipe

HIMM aka: Happiness in my Mouth (Spinach Artichoke Clam Dip)

Ingredients:
1 cup Mozzarella cheese
1 cup Parmesan cheese
1 cup Colby Jack cheese
1/3 cup cream cheese
1/3 cup Hellmann's mayo. (used generic and I could tell the difference in the taste)
2 cups fresh spinach (or 8oz. frozen spinach)
1 can of clams (not sure of the size)
4oz artichokes (8 halves)
3 cloves garlic (use more or less depending on your taste)
1/4 cup hot sauce
1/2 cup milk (use more or less based on the consistence you like)

Supplies:
Hand Chopper (you could use a knife if you don't have a hand chopper)
Double Broiler (this just prevents if from burning to the bottom of the pan)

Step one:
Prep all ingredients
Chop garlic, spinach, and clams (note if you are using frozen spinach you will want to defrost and get any extra water out before adding it to this mixture)
Combine in bowl and set aside

Sorry for the fuzzy picture

Step two: 
Combine all cheeses and mayo into double broiler and stir until it is mostly melted.
(Note: if you are not using a double broiler be sure to stir often, to prevent burning to the bottom of the pan)

Step three: 

Add hot sauce
(Note:this could be excluded if you don't like hot sauce, or use more if you like it a bit hotter)

Step four:
Add the already chopped ingredients
(Note: I tried sauteing them first, but it gave it a different flavor that I didn't like as much)
Step five:
Add milk and test consistence

Step six:
Reduce heat to low and stir occasionally.
When you lift up the mixture and it is no longer stringy it is done.

Enjoy!

Grilled Portabella mushroom and grilled asparagus topped with HIMM

NOTE: Goes great with gluten free bread and corn chips too.

Tip: instead of buying and expensive (3.50 for 8oz.) can of artichokes get them at the grocery store salad bar for much cheaper (2.50 for 8oz.)  who knew artichokes were so expensive.

A day in the life of Bo Allison

I had Tuesday-Friday off this week, and for most of it I still sent Bo to daycare, so I could get things done around the house.  Like laundry, cleaning the mattress, and just getting some much needed sleep.  However, today I decided to keep her home so we could have some fun mommy daughter time. 

 

The day started at 7:00am with jabbers and signs.   She has gotten really good at signing lately.  Here are some of her favorites:  ALL DONE, PLEASE (her two favorite), school, friends, dog (for Pistol), cat (for Wrigley), drink, change (diaper), sit, (which she actually signs knife for, but I know it's sit because instead of sitting she just signs it at me) and, dad (really she just hits the side of her head for this one, which make both Josh and I laugh).  She responds to a lot more and surprises me with a new one everyday, ones I have been teaching her for months, she suddenly will start signing on a regular basis.  Today she signed eat for the first time. Well enough of that, time to talk about our great day together.

We had breakfast,

We watched My Little Pony and Strawberry Shortcake

We took a bath

Nap time

Library

Playing in the yard

Going to my new favorite store Trader Joe's check out all of their gluten-free products

More playing in the yard

Dinner time

PJ time

Time to read

Basement time

Bed time

Check out more pictures of our day in my google+ photos.  

What a great day, we have one busy active little girl.

 

I can't wait for summer!

Allergy Update

Update:  I got the test results back from my blood work

These are the notes from the Doctor

"Blood test suggests that you have suffered from autoimmune thyroid disease. Your thyroid function is normal. It is possible that you may have to use thyroid supplement in the future.

Blood test for gluten sensitive enteropathy (celiac disease) was also positive."

Which essentially means I will have to start to cut Gluten out of my diet, to see if this helps. 

Gluten-free diet: What's allowed, what's not 

I am SO NOT happy about this.

I will also have to keep an eye on my thyroid, as there is a history of this in my family.