Puff Pastry Adventures

My mom happened upon a puff pastry recipe just before New Year's Eve. As an avid fan of Top Chef, I've seen puff pastry used on several challenges -  mainly the ones where the chef goes home for using store-bought ingredients. The particular recipe was for spinach cheese spirals, and I must say it looked right up my alley.

Luckily, my dad bought us a box of puff pastry and a box of phyllo dough. For those of you who are not "in the know" when it comes to pastry/dough variety, puff pastry is like a thick pillsbury dough - easy to work with & roll out, whereas phyllo dough is composed of tiny, tissue paper thin sheets of dough that will make you question your sanity. Although delicious, particularly with baklava, phyllo dough can be a challenge for sure.

The spinach cheese spirals turned out well enough with the phyllo dough, & I saved the puff pastry for another recipe I stumbled upon - Raspberry & White Chocolate Hand Pies

After the challenges working with the phyllo dough, I was on pins and needles with the puff pastry, but it was a total breeze. I easily rolled it out, & cut 12 circles out of each sheet. Annabelle & I mixed cream cheese, sugar, & white chocolate chips. We plopped out about a tablespoon of this mixture onto the circles, then she diligently counted out three fresh raspberries to place on top.

Topless hand pies!

We brushed the sides with egg wash and closed them up. Like any pie, we stuck three holes in the top, and in the oven they went.

Hand model Baby D  

I would like to say I shared these with neighbors, co-workers & friends, but we didn't. We ate them all - every last one of them. They were buttery, crisp, juicy & since they contain fruit, I consider them a health food.

Literally bursting with flavor

Something that's great about this recipe is you could easily change out ingredients. I've thought about using dark chocolate & raspberries or white chocolate with blueberries or strawberries or even pineapple & honey. What ideas might you have to make some puff pastry pies? Whatever they are, totally try it!

Vinton

We made two trips to Louisiana in one month; no wonder I'm a little tired.

Our first trip was for a senior dance recital for my cousin Bailey. She did an awesome job & her twin Stephen even participated in the final dance as her partner. Annabelle had so much fun. She was mimicking the dance moves in the audience; especially the butterfly dance. Ed even watched most of it!

Ed, Bailey & Myself after recital

Earlier this year, Sir Edward met some of the Ebarb women, but he hadn't me one guy yet - my Paw Paw. So, they met and fell in love. Here's the proof.

Ed & Paw Paw getting to know each other

Ed also picked up a football for the first time. Who better to show him around a football than these two guys? How about Dak, who plays for Mississippi State University? Or Jace, who played football at Northwestern University in Louisiana?

Ed & cousin Dak sharing offensive strategies

Ed & Cousin Jace at Bailey & Stephen's graduation

We stayed at our old friend Ms. Mary's house. She's known me my whole life and was amazing enough to put up with all four of us on two different occasions. We love you!

Ms. Soileau & Annabelle watching cartoons

Someone else met Ed for the first time. Ms. Peggy- oh wait, don't call her that, Aunt Peggy will suffice. She is one of my favorite people ever and I am trying to remember one time I've ever been around her where I haven't had fun, and...I can't remember. That's because she is awesome and hilarious. Ed seemed to fall in love with her too.

Looking like twins at Red Lobster

Traveling all the way to Louisiana will make you tired. Mammy took advantage of one of the few sleep & cuddle opportunities Ed gives.

Mammy & Ed resting up

Something crazy happened at the dance recital. Baby Ed turned into a flesh eating zombie with a particular affinity for eyeballs. Lucky for us, he quickly recovered.

Annabelle trying to fend off an attack from Ed 

  Life is busy, and sometimes you don't get to see the people you love very often. Well, below are two ladies I love and miss very much & I try to cherish the time I spend with them- two of my aunts.

Peggy, Me & Valrie -  a little washed out, but still looking good!

To quote the most talented Ferris Bueller, "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." I need to be reminded of that sometimes.

T-Ball

I thought you had to be four to play T-ball.
Two months ago we kept seeing kids practicing at the ball field across from our house. We were walking around, making use of the double stroller, and I thought Annabelle had to be the same age as these kids. So, I butted my way into the dugout and asked some man how old the kids were and he answered, "Three to five."
Uh, hello. How did we not know about this? I interrogated him until I received all the important info and contact numbers for whoever was in charge. One day later we were on the team!
First practice went well. Second practice went okay; after she completed twenty to thirty minutes of crying. Her third & fourth practices were reminiscent of practice two. Maybe there is a reason why kids don't play T-ball until they are four.
Her first game rolled around rather quickly. I wouldn't say she was the superstar of the team, but she did keep her glove on and stood the entire game. Many other parents could not say the same.

Her game face

Second game was a total nightmare. She was getting warmed up and was pumped to play short stop (did I mention she's short stop?) and they did the unthinkable - made her bat first. Nope, she didn't bat, she didn't even hold the bat. Coach Justin bunted the ball for her, thinking she would run. She didn't. That's okay, if they lead her to the base she would follow. Wrong again, she stomped the entire way and made it known she was, "not playing baseball!" Second time up to bat, she did her thing and was fully ready to participate about the time the last runner crossed home plate.

She is probably deciding if she wants to play

Third game started out like the second. She didn't want to play, but with a little encouragement, (given through gritted teeth) she "hit the ball and run the bases."

Heading to second with Coach Matt

Fourth game she caught the first ball of the game. I mean she caught it with her glove and threw it to first base. It's a non-competitive league so I'm not at liberty to say if the person was out or not, but let's just say the applause was pretty heavy!

Getting a pep talk from very patient Coach Mark

Fifth game she didn't want to play, but after she got started in the field, she hit twice and ran to the bases holding tightly on to her helmet while running all the bases. She caught the ball again and threw it to first.

Look at that follow through!

These T-ball games are fraught with threats of cancelled Six Flag trips, the denial of ice cream privileges, an increase in spankings and/or timeout, and the most vile of all - no television in bed! I am happy to say we haven't crossed over to that side, but every ounce of my patience has been tested a couple times. But look at that picture up there; I think we got ourselves a ball player! And if not, that's okay too.


 Special thanks to Coach Mark, Greg, Matt & Justin for their kindness, generosity & unwavering patience!

Easter

Easter was only three weeks ago right? So I'm three weeks behind; not too bad.

We spent this Easter in Austin at my Grandma & Grandaddy's house, or as Annabelle says, "Grandma & Charlie's."

Last year Annabelle had an adorable dress, an Easter basket full of sweets & completed a solo Easter egg hunt - one egg at a time. It's now a custom to diligently & carefully grab one egg at a time & slowly walk back to the stationary basket. Looks like it will be a while before she partakes in a competitive Easter egg hunt; she'd be eaten alive. 

This year, Easter totally snuck up on us. No Easter bunny pictures; Annabelle is terrified of him & I don't blame her. No Easter dress pictures because there wasn't an Easter dress. No basket full of sweets because Annabelle doesn't like chocolate. 

What we did have was plenty of food, family & another solo Easter egg hunt. 

Grandpa tending to the ham

Annabelle giving thanks for her daily bread - just kidding, she was trying to get out of taking a picture

My delicious Easter plate

Annabelle's Easter plate...it's a bit non-traditional

Great Uncle Daryl & Ed

Annabelle & her Easter gift - an Airbender

Annabelle's solo Easter egg hunt - note the egg at the bottom left

Ed & my/our cousin Olivia

Grandma & Charlie - the best people I've ever met

Tonkawa Falls

You've heard of Crawford, Texas, right? It's about ten minutes from our house. Some folks call it the Western White House. Many remember it's where Cindy Sheehan camped in 2005 (I had to look that year up). 

Well, who knew it had a gorgeous waterfall & a well kept city park? 

On a day as gorgeous as today, there's no way you need to stay inside. We needed to get some bluebonnet pictures of Annabelle & Ed, and after the huge rainstorms earlier this week, the wildflowers are stunning. Growing up in the highly revered Texas Hill Country, I am well equipped to say the countryside in this part of Central Texas is close, if not better, when it comes to breathtaking views and rolling hills. 

We set out towards Crawford in search of bluebonnets and Tonkawa Falls. It was easy enough to find as it's a city park. Something else- it was free, with ample parking & less than ten people around. A little different than Austin, huh?

Tonkawa Falls    Crawford, Texas

Luckily, both Annabelle & Ed participated in a 3 minute photo session. Here's the proof. 

This is my favorite

Trying to coax some smiles

Ed, always a willing participant, in a bed of bluebonnets

We walked around and hiked up the rocks. Annabelle, fearless as ever, kept venturing out to the edge of the rocks to get a better look. To appease her adventurous spirit, Derek carried her closer to the falls.

Edge of the Falls

We weren't there more than twenty minutes, and we decided to call Grandpa. Tonkawa Falls seemed like his type of place. About fifteen minutes later, Grandpa arrived while we were sitting by the water. He wasn't holding a baby, yet, so he hiked down the steeper rocks and made his way across the falls. By this time, Ed was ready for some sun bathing.

Chunk of love

Baby D & Annabelle soaking their feet

 Oh, the bridge. There's a wooden bridge, semi-covered in asphalt, going over the Falls. The picture doesn't show it, but we were up pretty high on this ledge.

Annabelle is done taking pictures & ready to explore

Derek and Annabelle wandered all around and I sat on a rock with Ed. He was enjoying the shade and small breeze, but the paparazzi caught this shot of him fussing a little bit. 

Wilderness baby

 Can you believe this is less than 10 miles from our house? Wow, we need to get out more!

Annabelle Leigh

Townsend Edward

The Many Faces of Annabelle Leigh

Lately it seems like we've been living in the "Land of Ed." He is definitely ruling the roost, as of late, but there's someone who reigned long before he came along. 

Annabelle Leigh. 

So, what's she been doing lately?  

She's had some nightmares -  one about a scary tomato in Baby Ed's tummy & one where Baby Ed had three eyes & teeth.

She's a gardener - tending to her strawberries, tomatos, bell peppers, cilantro & green onions. 

She plays guitar - strumming while repeating, "I totally rock, oh yeah!"

She's an actress - playing with her dogs & barking at all who walk by

She's a baker - mixing

She's a baker - pouring

 She's a baker - tasting

She's a baker - sprinkling

She's a cook - gathering ingredients

She's a helper - cleaning up her own mess

She's a family girl - loves spending time with the Ebarb women 

She's a cowgirl - just look at those boots!

She's a big sister - and she's doing awesome at all these things, but especially this one.