Monday, October 25, 2010

Apple Rolo Galette

Im back to food blogging! I dont know for how long, but for now... Im back!

I took a food-blogging-vacay because this pregnancy has turned me into a very lazy baker/cook. If you cant buy it through a window, or it requires turning on more then the microwave... it hasnt been for me. Even when I TRY to cook for my poor husband who is so tired of pizza... it usually doesnt come out very good. Mainly because my heart isnt into it.. and I would much rather be eating a Mcdouble and a large fry.

But, my overwhelming craving for all things Fall and Apple-y has me back!
And with a bang!!!!

I wasnt sure what this thing I made was called... so, with a little googling... it has a name.
Its called a Galette. Galette basically means a free formed pie. No pie pan, just the crust.

Apple Rolo Galette


Cast of Characters:
2 diced apples (I like honeycrisp), Pie crust, Butter, Rolos, cinnamon, and light brown sugar.



Unwrap and cut Rolos in half. Of dont unwrap them, if tiny peices of gold foil is your thing....

Melt 2 Tablespoons of butter in a sauce pan.

Add diced apples, 3 tablespoons of light brown sugar, and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon.
Cook for a few minutes until the sugar is bubbly, the apples are coated  nicely and your kitchen smells like heaven.


Spoon apples into the center of laid out pie crust.
Note: Next time I do this, Ill bake it on wax paper for an easier removal process.

Top with Rolos...
Oh. My. Goodness.

And start to fold over the dough, like this.....


Pinch dough... and bring it up towards the mixture...


Then press is down slightly so it sticks to the other folded dough....


Keep going until you have this.... A Galette.


... And Voila! Done! Baked for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.
And its devine. Scrumptious. Out of this world. YUM.

Should be paired with a tall glass of 2% milk or a chilled bottle of water.

Fall Fab!



Sunday, October 24, 2010

Bloody nose and chocolate anyone?

Well.... here I am, exactly 23 weeks and 0 days pregnant. And I have tissue stuffed up my nose. Why you ask?
Well... lets see. I was getting ready to go to work at my every-other-weekend gig at the Bucs stadium.... washed my face, turned on my hair iron.... looked down at the sink... to see BLOOD. Lots of it. Glance at my face to find more blood. Pouring from my nose. Nice.
This pregnancy has been a breeze. No nothing. Everything has been decently decent. Until THIS. An hour later, Im not at work.. I have blood all over my shirt... and I still have tissue stuffed up my nose, because everytime I go to remove it... the faucet turns back on... and blood goes everywhere. Just another way for God to get me ready for the unexpected when baby boy gets here. JOYS.

Aside from the nose bleeds, sleep is starting to not be so restful. My back aches, and I ache for the days that I can again sleep on my stomach and back. Once a sound sleeper, I now wake up every time I need to move even slightly... and lets not begin to talk about how many times I have to pee in the middle of the night... 12am, 3am, 545am, 645am, 9am...All of this together, and Im waking up about every 45 minutes to an hour. Sometimes more, and sometimes when Im REALLY tired... I wont wake up, because I just dont move.. but then I wake up with a numb butt and tingling thigh. More JOY.

Baby boy is positioned right on my inner stomach. So, eating more then few bites  here and there starts to become challenging. I am the queen at doggy bags, and am now just as happy with a bowl of Golden Grahams and skim milk.. as I was before over a rib eye steak and a potato. Ohhhh how I am craving snow crab legs though!

Cravings have been relative. Coke Classic. Duh. And just recently...an overwhelming desire for chocolate. I was fearing this one. I miss the days where my cravings consisted of Cobb salads, feta cheese, apple sauce, and PB&J's. I didnt have to worry much about weight gain then... But this new chocolate craze is not good for the butt. or hips. or upper arms. or face. or any other body part for that matter. Only baby boy and my taste buds are enjoying this one.

I was told on my 20 week appointment, that I have an anterior placenta. Not a huge deal.... just means that I wont feel baby boy nearly as much as others are feeling their little ones right now... He kicks me nice and hard, every so often.... Just enough to keep me from worrying, and to let me know that hes just fine. He loves food. After a (small) meal... he goes to town, kicking and kicking. A few times its been hard enough, that I can swear that Daddy will be able to feel it on the outside.. and as soon as I place my hand on my belly... he stops. Such a trickster.

Bending over and getting off the floor isnt HARD, per say. Just not very pretty. I kinda have this routine, that I go from my butt to my knees, and then rock myself in a way that I spring off the floor, dust myself off, and go about my business. Not something I would do in public or in front of anyone but my husband, but it makes me laugh a little. Bending over isnt comfy for me or Brayden. He kicks me to let me know, "HEY! MOM! Knock it off! Im sleeping here! And your making me hit my head with my knee!" Sorry little man, Im almost to the point that I will be making daddy do all the bending, reaching, stretching, and shoe tying.

I forgot to update my blog at my 20 week point. Baby boy is as perfect as perfect can be. Completely handsome and adorable, and I turn to mush every time I see his sweet little self on the sono screen. I have gained 3 lbs so far (This was before my chocolate crave), and dr has asked me to gain 3-5 lbs this month, or else. My boobs are the size of my head. I have stretch mark heaven on my belly (And nothing works... trust me. tried it all). My skin is still pretending Im 14. But my hair and nails are to die for. I have a cute little soccer ball in my belly, and life before maternity jeans no longer exists.

Can I just take a second to thank Motherhood Maternity and Heidi Klum? For designing and making available cute maternity jeans? Because my new bootcuts are adorb. And I get compliments on them all the time. Im not a huge fan of the prego shirts..... still buying a size larger in normal clothes.... but, these jeans are killer.

In other none baby related news, Its "fall" in Florida. 80 degrees and breezy all day. Guess its time to act the part and whip up some banana bread and apple pie. I would give up chocolate for the temp to go down 10 degrees. Ok, never mind. 80s and chocolate all day everyday. Im not letting go of my chocolate. At least, not yet...

Perhaps I will finally do a food blog this week? Maybe Ill blog my apple pie? Or maybe Ill just blog my face covered in chocolate? Stay tuned.

Monday, October 18, 2010

22 days

22 weeks down....

LESS than 18 more to go. I say LESS, because Im hoping for a 38 week baby, and NOT a huge 40 week baby... Either way, as long as he is healthy...

We have picked a name that we are totally wild about. Brayden Ryan. Im not sure where Brayden came from, because I had never heard it before, and one night as hubby and I were drifting into dream land, it popped into my head and it just felt so right.

Tomorrow will be one week since Hubby has been home from his horrible 22 day trip to Kentucky to work the World Equestrian Show. Now, call it pathetic if you would like, but 22 days was a very very long time for both of us. By the 2nd week, we were absolutely dying to see each other... I have never been so giddy in all my life, then when I sat in his truck waiting for him to pick up his luggage from baggage claim, and I got a sneak peak of him through the airport window. I'm proud to say that I did make it through those 22 days, but barely. The first night was awful. Coming home to a dark, quiet apartment all by myself. Water works started, and I had an all our crying infant fit in my kitchen. Complete with huffing noises and stomping my feet. Then I told my self I was insane, and proceeded to get into our queen size bed.... alone. For the first time ever.... And it started again, so I selfishly woke hubby up with a million texts explaining how heart broken I was, and that I wish I could roll over and hug him. That was night number 1... and the next 21 days got easier and easier. Not that I ever stopped missing my other half, but I just started to celebrate that time that had passed and how quickly his return home was approaching.  Ever since he stepped off that plane, I haven't been able to get enough of him. So in love.

My belly doubled in size while hubby was gone, and he was overjoyed and excited to see that his little boy had grown so much. I cant wait to watch Ryan and Brayden together. Brayden is such a lucky boy to have a daddy who will give him the world. Someone up there must really love me. My life has been overly blessed with blessing beyond my comprehension. I have a husband who I love and adore, and a baby boy who will be here so soon. God is an awesome God!