Test Kitchen and More

We've been so busy the last few weeks, but I wanted to play a little catch-up before our trip to Florida on Thursday. When we get back, we will want to share pix and have a few more busy weeks coming up...so here it goes:

Ryan has been experimenting and getting really good in the kitchen...no complaints here! I'm starting to enjoy dish detail in return for all his hard work (we used to take turns cooking and doing dishes). My Aunt Jan and Uncle Jeff bought us the America's Test Kitchen Cookbook for our wedding. To be honest, we got stuck in a rut of the same 5 dishes each week. We didn't really use that cookbook much until my dad explained how useful it really is...then we started to try it out.

This cookbook has seriously turned our day to day chore of cooking (and too often eating out) into an enjoyable experience almost daily. We look forward to the experience of making and eating our own food now. Ryan is much better than I am with the recipes, and has recently made some of the best food I've ever eaten - honestly. He made a traditional Italian meal, completely from scratch last Thursday. The ravioli were fantastic, but the biscotti were absolutely amazing. On Sunday, he made peanut butter cookies that were "oh my goodness" good. So for anyone out there who even somewhat enjoys cooking, and would like a little help making the experience and the food a little better, you should try this cookbook: http://www.amazon.com/Americas-Kitchen-Family-Cookbook-Revised/dp/193361501X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1211389191&sr=8-1

My dad came back to visit for a few days to finish the baby's furniture. He and Ryan slaved away for hours on end to finish it all and each piece is simply gorgeous! The dresser is over 300 pounds. The best part is, they all match! You have no idea how big I am on every piece of furniture matching or complementing another, so I'm in heaven. It was so great to have my dad down for a few more days. I hated to see him go. Thanks again Dad, I know how hard you worked and I appreciate the effort and the furniture more than you know...and so will our little girl. Ryan is going to finish painting the pieces, then I'll post the pictures of them. It may be a few more weeks before he gets them done because we have so much going on over the next couple of weeks. Only a few finishing touches on the baby's room too - and we'll put it all together and take some pictures for everyone to see.

As for me? I've been trying to keep the house in order and running errands. I also finished planting the garden this weekend. It doesn't sound like I've been doing much, I know. But I feel like I have...and I'm awfully tired at the end of each day. Everything is going well with the baby. I feel pretty good too. I have lots of aches and pains, but nothing major. My worst symptom so far has been the sharp pains in my hips, but I can't complain. I am starting to have a little more swelling, but the doctor said that's normal. I just have to monitor it, elevate my feet a lot, and keep away from the salt. That's the hard part, because Ryan keeps insisting on buying all the salty snacks he can find while I'm trying hard not to snack much and keep away from all things salty. But this too, shall be worth resisting the temptation.

We're looking forward to visiting family in Florida this Memorial Day weekend...and of course we're looking forward to more "Hockey Nights in Pittsburgh!" Let Go Pens!!!