Wednesday, March 22, 2006

Corned Beef, Turning Pages and ABC's

Kian Loves Corned Beef!

Kian hasn’t been eating well these days… I guess another stage in toddlerhood. I made corned beef and mashed potatoes and corn for St. Pat’s day. I got a corned Beef Brisket from Trader Joe’s and let me say that we will do it again next year! The spices they added to the brine were AMAZING! Not to mention Kian devoured it! He also loves mashed potatoes and corn. When he would sign to me he was finished, there would only be a few piece of meat left on his plate! I guess his wee bit o’ Irish is coming through with that corned beef and potatoes hehe

I also made a WONDERFUL Irish Soda bread. It’s SO easy and really really yummy! It honestly is better than a family recipe I made from my Grandma Kesler’s cookbook – sorry but it’s true! Here is the recipe in case you want it. I got it from www.foodtv.com

Marilyn O'Reilly's Irish Soda Bread

3 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons unsalted butter (1/4 cup)
2 tablespoons caraway seeds, optional
1 cup raisins
1 cup buttermilk
1 egg

Set a rack in the middle level of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees.

In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, soda and salt and stir well to mix.

Add the butter and rub in until the butter disappears into the dry ingredients.

Stir in the caraway seeds if used and the raisins.

In a small bowl, whisk the buttermilk and egg together and mix into the dough mixture with a rubber spatula.

Turn the dough out on a floured work surface and fold it over on itself several times, shaping it into a round loaf. Transfer the loaf to one cookie sheet or jelly roll pan covered with parchment or foil and cut a cross in the top. Bake for 15 minutes then reduce heat to 350 and cook for about 15 to 20 minutes more, until well colored and a toothpick plunged into the center emerges clean.

Cool the soda bread on a rack and serve with plenty of sweet butter and bitter orange marmalade.

Turning Pages

Since Kian was about 3 months old we have had the same bed time routine (well, pretty much the same minus breastfeeding and a sippy cup now). We get him in the bath, dress him, read him a story while he hugs his blanket and sucks his binky, a little bit of rocking and then lay him down. Jamie usually reads him his story. It’s the same story every night, “Guess How Much I Love You.” A few nights ago Kian was holding the book and as Jamie read Kian turned the page at the right time – EVERY time lol! Last night Jamie was out with some friends so I read him his story and he did it for me too! I have to say that I’m not surprised he has memorized that story since I know it by heart – but where the page turns are! Wow! hehe There is even a part that says Big Nutbrown Hare “leaned over and kissed him goodnight.” And we always kiss Kian’s head when we read that. Now Kian leans over to us when he knows the kiss is coming! He is such a smarty pants! :)

Alphabet!

Kian is now starting to recognize letters and putting sounds to them! He has letters that he plays with in his bath and we talk about different letters throughout the day. His first letter was “S” which he makes the sound for it by putting his tongue in between his teeth and blowing lol At least he’s making the sound! He also knows the letter “P” and says “pah” when she sees it.

Yesterday he just started saying sock which he says “sah” but he’s close enough hehe He can identify it without prompting too! I guess putting on his socks and shoes a million times have helped that lol

We just ordered a DVD through ebay for him where Blue from Blue’s clues teaches the alphabet. Jamie and I figured that it was a good way for him to learn it while he’s watching his favorite show from time to time! :)

Speaking of identifying things, when I shower I put on Baby Einstein DVD’s for Kian. The latest one we have is called Things that Go and it’s all about forms of transportation. Today we as we were getting out of the car he heard a helicopter and Kian stood there pointing at it! He was excited but he was kind of wondering where it went when he got out of sight lol It’s amazing what he has picked up just from watching certain shows!

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