First Draft

The NFL Draft is one of Dave's favorite 'holidays'. This year we planned on going to the zoo to enjoy a picnic dinner and some music before the draft. Unfortunately, rained changed our plans and we had a picnic dinner in the living room and watched the pre-draft coverage.

The girls and I were asleep before the Eagles made their first pick. Shame the regular season for the Eagles is not that exciting this year. At least Dave has fantasy football.

A look back at {Sophia's first draft}. I still can't get over how tiny Sophia was.

The NFL Draft was held on April 30th this year.

Superbowl Food

I watch the Super Bowl for the commercials, but even more important is the FOOD!

We didn't do anything elaborate this year but we did have some delicious treats to eat. I did all of the cooking, but asked Dave to help out with some chopping since his knife skills are far superior to mine. I had to laugh when I saw how he chopped the fruit and celery. He got a little stress relief in by taking himself back to culinary school.

Crock Pot Three Bean Chili

adapted from Skinny Taste

I follow her recipe, but use beef and add an extra can of chickpeas and 1 tbl. cumin.

Sausage Balls

adapted from Betty Crocker

I double the meat and add extra cheese and herbs.

Buffalo Chicken Dip

from a friend

Ingredients: 

2-3 chicken breasts

2 blocks cream cheese

Hot Sauce (to taste - we use 2oz)

Blue Cheese Crumbles or Ranch Dressing (to taste)

Shredded Cheddar

Chopped Green Onions

Poach and shred chicken breasts.

Soften cream cheese and spread in the bottom of a baking dish.

Top with shredded chicken, hot sauce, blue cheese crumbles or ranch, and shredded cheddar.

Bake in a 350 degree oven until cheese melts and ingredients meld together.

Top with green onions and serve with tostitos scoops.

Marshmallow Fruit Dip

from a friend

7 oz Marshmallow Fluff

8 oz cream cheese

Add ingredients to a mixing bowl and mix until combined, scraping bowl frequently.

Peanut Butter Yogurt Fruit Dip

from a friend

Ingredients

1 cup vanilla yogurt

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

honey (to taste, I used about 2 tbl)

Add peanut butter and yogurt to a bowl and mix until combined. 

Taste and add honey until desired sweetness.

Peanut Butter Cookies

the ones I always make

Ingredients:

1 large egg

1 cup sugar (we use brown sugar)

1 cup peanut butter (we use chunky)

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.

Mix together eggs, sugar, baking soda, and vanilla.

Combine peanut butter until fully blended.

Drop by spoonfuls onto the parchment paper.

Optional add-ins: semi-sweet or white chocolate chips, raisins. (we use chocolate chips)

Optional toppers: sugar, m&ms, reeses pieces.

Double Chocolate Brownies

the original Toll House Recipe

If using gluten free flour - add 1/4 teaspoon xanthan gum

Five on Friday

Hooray for Friday! I'm linking up with April and the ladies for another Five on Friday.

Cheers to the weekend!

 

One

I LOVE avocados but I have never made guacamole before. That is about to change. Every Friday Whole Foods has a one day deal and today it is avocados! The perfect excuse to make homemade guacamole.



I think I will be using Alton Brown's recipe.

via

Two

We have lived in Ohio for a little over a month and I just found out that our rental house is not in Cincinnati. We are living in Norwood, which is one of three enclaves which is surrounded on all sides by Cincinnati. I thought it was just one of the neighborhoods within Cincinnati. My neighbor told me since we are new here it is okay to say I live in Cincinnati :)

Three

I am not a huge sports fan, but I am married to a huge football fan so I try to do my part. Being from the Philadelphia area that means we are EAGLES fans.

via

HBO does a 'Hard Knocks' show about the training camp of a team, which this year is the Cincinnati Bengals. I am not so much interested in just the football aspect of it, but I am watching this season for a few reasons: we live in Cincinnati (sort of), I'd like to know what the players look like, and it might let me have a little football knowledge for conversations with the husband.

I love the random conversations that the players have. One thing that I found interesting was that the quarterback, Andy Dalton, wears a rubber wedding ring at practice.

Four

Unpacking is still going slower than I would like. But progress continues to be made. I am just wondering how much longer I will be finding these lovely tags.

Five

We are in the midst of a teething nightmare in our house. She is uncomfortable so that has caused quite a few meltdowns.

Keeping busy has been a great distraction!

Our first visit to see Daddy at work.

My little toddler in a tiara.
Screaming happened when we took it off.

Draft Day!

Dave LOVES the NFL Draft and starts a countdown as soon as football season ends. You think with a countdown I would be prepared for this important day - nope!
The draft starts on Thursday evening and runs through the weekend.

Her cheerleader outfit is super cute, but a little big.

Wednesday I started scouting out girly Eagles gear for Sophia. I think I would have been successful in Pennsylvania, but in North Carolina I had no such luck. I would have been happy to find a regular football onesie. After scouting out Sports Authority, Buy Buy Baby, Old Navy, and Target I headed to Joann Fabrics to see if I could make something.

I am not crafty, but after wandering around the store FOREVER I found hope. First I had stickers that I planned on decorating a onesie with. But I decided to take it to the next level and bought iron-ons.They didn't have Eagles green so I went with pink glitter letters and a football. I think it turned out pretty well!

Couldn't get the picture to turn :/

L.O.V.E. this cutie.

I think Dave was quite surprised with the outfit...and my attempt at football food (only sausage balls and loaded nachos). During the draft one of my friends tweeted that her husband compared the draft to Christmas for pro football fans. Dave agrees and even went so far as to say that he enjoys the draft more than regular season games. If you saw the look on his face when the Eagles traded up to take a player he wanted you would have seen pure joy. Me, I'm just along for the ride.

Sophia and Dave were glued to the television.



Happy little lady.

Go Eagles!