A bit more to remember......

Christmas at Pioneer Square

 Ugly sweaters on Portland sculpture

Holly and her good friend, Mistletoe Madison..... Google it.

 Howard's annual Christmas party.

 The Last Word.... Old but new famous cocktail from Chicago I think

 Daddy time with the Swemma

 Ms. Goff's 4th grade class and Gary Hirshc Botjoys!  Joybot.  Kindness bot  For Red Ball 2014!

 Emma's Bot from Gary

We just looked over our blog and realized how great it is to look back at some highlights with great photos.  We are going to keep it going for us, as we know no one looks at it but us. All the better!
Let's start back with........ let me go to iPhoto and see what is the latest.
I finally did something with all of our corks.  My inspiration came from a blog and I thought, how cool to make it in the shape of Oregon.  Again, inspired by "Heart Oregon" I used red corks to make a heart.  Weld Bond glue is the best!

Emma during a holiday choir performance. Ms. Wright.  Love her!
 

Reindeer noses!  

 Making snowflakes on New Years Eve at the Painters

 Tom the money maker!  New Years Eve at the Painters playing CLR - Center Right Left

 Our traditional prime rib.  We grilled it on our new Weber BBQ this year.  It will become an annual tradition.  It was great!

Prime Rib, yorkshire pudding, blue cheese wedge salad

 Pookie snuck into the living room.  she can stay awhile... xoxo

 perfect santa pookie

 Holly's 12th birthday with Maddie Root.  We picked up Maddie and went to see Frozen.  Sushi in Beaverton somewhere.  Krispy Kreme Doughnuts and a sleepover.

Great Ted Talk 

Both my kids watched it.

Made paella over the open fire this week at the Howard's family cabin on Penland Lake in Oregon (near Heppner or Heavener as Jack would say).

A few months ago I would say I was not much of a paella fan, so I decided to create my own recipe.  It gets better every time, but I'm not sure I can top cooking it over an open fire!  Thank you Howard's!

Next time I'll try to keep my mouth shut......  safety first!

Kim's Paella

Kim’s Paella

Serves about 8

Asparagus – trimmed and par cooked 1 lb

¾ cup dry white wine

1 t. saffron threads

Olive oil – approximately 1/3 cup

8 chicken thighs – skin on, bone in

Chorizo – 4 sausages

1 onion – chopped

Kosher salt  - approximately 1 T

5 cloves garlic – minced

1 yellow pepper – chopped

1 can diced tomatoes

2 cups paella rice

Chicken broth – 4 – 5 cups

½ jar of piquillo peppers (7. 6 oz jar of Matiz Navarro brand)

2 bay leaves

Smoked paprika – approximatel 1 ½ teas

Sweet Spanish paprika – approximately 1 ½ teas

½ teas. Crushed red pepper

Shrimp 16 or 1 pound

1 cup frozen peas

flat leaf parsley & lemon wedges

In small saucepan bring wine and saffron to boil.  Simmer 3 minutes, turn off heat and let steep 20 minutes

In paella pan – heat olive oil, add chicken skin side down.  Cook for 5 minutes or until browned. Turn chicken over add onion and salt.  Sauté a few minutes and add garlic and yellow pepper.  Be sure not to burn. Add diced tomatoes and piquillo peppers stir. Add wine and saffron to deglaze. Stir scraping bottom of pan.  Add paella rice and broth slowly add bay leaves, paprika, red pepper, salt. Make sure all grains of rice are covered. 

Simmer stirring occasionally for about 10 minutes. Add more broth if needed. Add peas,shrimp and asparagus. Garnish with lemon and parsley.

Adapted from Bon Appetit March 2005, Cooking Channel Paella del Reyes, Jamie Oliver.com, Saveur Mixed Paella and Thomas Keller Chicken Mar y Muntanya.

Kindergarten Ainsworth Auction

This will be for auction at Ainsworth Elementary School's Red Ball at The Nines in Portland Oregon on Saturday February 27th, 2010.

Custom mat and black frame by Frame Central on Macadam.

White Pizza

Homemade whole wheat pizza dough
Lightly sauteed sliced garlic in olive oil
pearl mozzarella cheese
shredded mozzarella cheese
Parmesan cheese
oregano