Symmetry

I don't have much time on the internet and cannot really update my life. Things are crazy! Moving went well. Almost out of all of the boxes! Isaac is sick again... this time its the flu! That makes 3 times in 4 weeks!! We added a dog to our family. The boys named her Rachel and she is very sweet but BIG. She is 25 lbs and only 3 months old!!

I will update with pictures soon but I have favor to ask you... I like symmetry. I like things to be even and look balanced! It's driving me nuts that I only have 11 followers on my page! It's not an even number and the pictures don't line up on the side. I desperately need one more follwer to bring some balanced to my already crazy life!! Could I get a little help here or am I going off the deep end?

Last Post For A While

Moving day is finally here for the Hill family!! We are embarking on a new( and long awaited) chapter in our lives. We will officially be living in town from now on in a great neighborhood with lots of fun neighbors! YEAH!

Unfortunately we haven't worked out all of the details yet so we will be without Internet and TV for a little while. I still can update some b/c Steve will bring home his laptop and we can get the Internet there!! So, pray for a smooth move for us! Pray that everyone is safe and healthy and that the move is an easy transition for all of us!!

January Review

Don't have time to post much but thought I would add some pictures of our activities at the end of January. We have been sick and moving all at the same time!! Crazy but almost over!! I have added a field trip and our new neighbors. We have a street full of boys Isaac's age! He is going to have a blast living here!!

My Hubby Rocks

Okay, so most of you know how we have been living in between two houses lately. We are desperately trying to finish fixing up the new/old home before we move in!! But we have had several set backs with strep running through our family!! We have not been able to get over there in two days to finish polyurethaning the floors, so sadly, we have decided to move in next Saturday! We feel good about this decision since our deadline to get in is arbitrary and Steve is so busy trying to finish the dining hall at LETU before Spring Break.

So... why my hubby rocks....

Because I have been working during the day at the house, either painting, cleaning, etc and then Steve coming over after work and doing the floors, I have been making dinner in the morning and taking over to either simmer on the stove or heat up later. Well, on Monday, I made some yummy Chicken Fajita Soup to take over and simmer. I had placed my heavy cast iron lid on top in hopes of weighing it down for the drive over. Carelessly, however, I put my purse down beside it in the floor board. If you have been out here to my parent's place, you know there are no driveways and so its very bumpy. Needless to say the soup spilled out over the edge of the pot and landed right inside my purse. I was a little put out that it had spilled but when I realized that most of it landed INSIDE my purse, I was ticked!!

When I talked to Steve later that morning and told me what had happened, he said he was sorry and that was the end of it. I cleaned out my purse, wiped out the soup, through away some unnecessary junk and went on with life. I actually hadn't thought about it much since. Every once in a while I would get a whiff of soup!!!

So, when Steve came home last night with a big box and said "I have a surprise for you", I was shocked!! I opened it up and in it was this....

(I don't have my camera, so this is a stock photo)

We saw this purse at Bass Pro when we were in Dallas over Christmas and I fell in love with it! Steve said he liked it too but added "You do not need another purse!!". Which is true. I kinda do like purses! So the fact that he went out of his way to get it for me.... touched me!! He bought me something that I really wanted and I in know way was expecting it!! What a great guy!!

He totally rocks!!!

Tapas

I figured since everyone was posting yummy recipes, I would join in. I found a new love in cooking; "Tapas". Tapas are Spanish appetizers that are served before a meal. It usually consists of simple meats, all varieties of cheeses, olives, grapes, flat sourdough bread, olive oil and the most amazing herbs. Steve and I love to go to Los Pinos Ranch in Pittsburg. The chef there is amazing and she only serves tapas. We have had some of the most wonderful food and since they come in small portions, I thought it would be fun to make some for a meal at home. I found these 2 websites and printed off a few of the yummiest sounding!!

http://www.ericweisstein.com/fun/wine/tapas.html
http://www.spain-recipes.com/spanish_tapas.html

The only one I have had time to make is Three Cheese Focaccia(foe-CAH-cha) bread. I thought I would add the pronunciation b/c I had been saying it wrong:) I used it as a meal and served it with salad!! It was so yummy and the kids loved it!! I plan on making this for our next small group get together!

Enjoy

THREE CHEESE FOCACCIA

• 1 envelope (1/4-ounce) active dry yeast
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 cup warm water (about 110 degrees F.)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 3 tablespoons Kosher salt
• 2 tablespoons coarse black pepper
• 11 ounces fresh ricotta cheese, at room temperature
• 2 large eggs
• 4 ounces salami, julienned
• 6 ounces Mozzarella cheese, grated and at room temperature
• 1/3 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped parsley
• Salt and pepper

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Using an electric mixer with a dough hook, whisk the yeast, sugar, and warm water together, for 2 minutes to dissolve the yeast. Add the flour and salt. With the mixer on low, mix until the dough starts to come together. Increase the speed to medium-high and mix until the dough comes away from the sides of the bowl and crawls up to dough hook. Grease a mixing bowl with the vegetable oil. Place the dough in the greased bowl and turn once. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place in a warm, draft free place until the dough doubles in size about 1 1/2 hours. Turn the dough out onto a baking sheet. Punch the dough down and press the dough out to form the pan. Sprinkle the dough with kosher salt and coarse black pepper. Cover the dough and allow to double in size, about 45 minutes. In a mixing bowl, combine the ricotta, eggs, salami, Mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, garlic and parsley. Mix well and season with salt and pepper. Using your fingers make small dimples over the entire dough. Brush the dough with olive oil. Smear the filling evenly over the dough. **The filling must be at room temperature to smear evenly. Bake the dough for 30 to 35 minutes or until the dough is golden brown. Slice the bread into 8 to 12 pieces.

Yield: 8 to 10 servings