Life as a Dill

Zucchini Nutella Muffins

Substituted white whole wheat flour and decreased the butter in this yummy-looking recipe found on Pinterest.  Can you really lose if using Nutella?

Zucchini Nutella Muffins

Ingredients:
1 ½ c white whole wheat flour
½ t salt
½ t baking soda
1 t baking powder
½ t cinnamon
½ stick butter, softened
¼ c applesauce
¾ c sugar
1 extra large egg
1 c grated zucchini
zest of one lemon
~½ cup Nutella
 

Preheat the oven to 350.  Line a 12 cup muffin tin with paper liners.  In a large bowl, combine the flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder and cinnamon. Whisk to combine.

Using an electric mixer, cream the butter, sugar, and applesauce together until light and fluffy.  Beat in egg.  Add the dry mixture to the wet mixture in thirds until just combined, then stir in the zucchini and lemon zest.

Fill muffin cups 2/3 full, and dollop 1 teaspoon of Nutella on top of each scoop.  Swirl with a toothpick.  Bake for approximately 15-20 minutes.  Muffins are done with a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

Summer Vacay

Had a dreamy time on our short little summer vacation which included stops in Newport, RI; Cape Cod; and Boston. We didn’t have a plan, just drifted from one place to the next. Even left home on a whim, throwing a few things together before taking off the following morning.

We struck the small-town lottery on Cape Cod, spinning the roulette wheel to end up in the idyllic town of Chatham. Amazing beaches + fresh seafood + quaint little shops + abundant hydrangeas = perfect lazy beach town. We all want to move there.

After strolling around Newport and cruising along the seashore, we serendipitously stumbled upon a kite festival at Brenton Point. This place was amazingly beautiful, with the rocky coast and sailboats peppering the ocean.

Denver even took Finnian out for a little stroll:

That evening, we shared a fresh lobster roll and homemade clam chowder, purchased right next to the beautiful ocean in Chatham.

Finnian’s toes then met the ocean:

"Brrrrrrrr!"

Getting down to business with the bucket and shovel, on the “elbow” of Cape Cod in beautiful Chatham:

Strolling around the Cape Cod Inflatable Park, a crazy place we happened upon. We actually found it the night before, but about 15 minutes before they closed. Finnian cried when we drove away, shouting, “play!” over and over again. :(

Saying “hi” to and petting the ocean creatures at the New England Aquarium in Boston Harbor:

More photos of our excursion can be found in my Flickr stream here. Still relishing in our family outing, which we can easily repeat in a weekend since everything is relatively close by :)

Zoo

After our original plan was cancelled…and then reinstated…and then cancelled again (at the next-to-last minute!) we hopped off the roller coaster and made a trek to Paramus, NJ to the Bergen County Zoological Park. This zoo was a recommendation from a friend and a very good recommendation indeed! We all had free admission since Denver is active duty. The zoo was a great size for Finnian, who was very excited to see the “animals” and ride the “choo choo train”. Going to Paramus also gave us a chance to hop by the too-far-away-from-home Trader Joe’s on the way home.

It was a nice 33rd birthday :)

4th of July

Enjoyed the annual 4th of July West Point Band concert at Trophy Point yesterday, along with thousands of other folks in the Hudson Valley.  The weather was absolutely perfect.  Finnian was quite the trooper, staying up well past bedtime to observe the fireworks.  He ran out of energy soon before the explosives commenced, snuggling up on me as I lay on my back snapping photos.  It isn’t easy taking 2-second exposures with a toddler on your belly!  Of course I didn’t mind, welcoming the opportunity to cuddle my busy little man, who stared in quiet amazement at the sky.

Summer Quinoa Salad

Enjoyed this improvised, last-minute salad during a picnic yesterday using only items that I had available in my kitchen.  The result?  A delightful, protein-rich meal that I’m documenting here for future use!

Summer Quinoa Salad

Salad:
1 c dry quinoa, cooked according to package directions
1 can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1 carrot, thinly sliced
3 radishes, thinly sliced
1 ripe avocado
1 handful arugula
Handful of toasted chopped pecans
2 T chopped parsley

Lemon Vinaigrette:
Juice of one large lemon
¼ c olive oil
Salt and pepper

Cook quinoa; cool to room temperature.  Prepare vinaigrette by whisking ingredients together.  Throw avocado pieces into the vinaigrette to coat, then mix into the remaining ingredients. 

Canvas Knitting and Crochet Needle Holder

Got a sewing machine as an early birthday present for myself last Friday!  Quickly made introductions, got acquainted, and tackled my first project this weekend: a canvas knitting & crochet needle holder.  Now, this thing isn’t perfect by any means and I’ll probably be laughing at the stitchwork once I hit my groove with the machine, but it is very functional!

Gotta peruse Pinterest for some more easy things to make… :)

First haircut

Finnian's locks have gotten, ummm, a bit wild.  Mommy has been reluctant to cut his cherished little curls, while daddy has been longing to give him a buzz cut for months.  Mommy bent today, although she did compromise :)