Reading

Ada loves books and to read them herself. This was her on the way up to SLO with my mom on Monday. 

I love her crossed legs and expressions while she jabbers away, "reading" the words on the pages.

Entertainment

This child is endless entertainment. Before it's time to take a nap or go to bed, she gets SO HYPER! It's like a frantic plea to prove that she's not tired. Here she is one night before bedtime, she grabbed the dishtowel and went to town.

This was right before her afternoon nap. She was watching herself in the camera and making the most hilarious faces! I'd never seen some of them before.

There's never a dull moment with this one around!

Kara in the Kitchen!

I am so excited to announce the birth of my very own cooking and baking website! 

I will continue to post on this blog, but keep the recipes more organized and posted over at Kara in the Kitchen.

Head on over and check it out, bookmark it, & share it with your friends who love to cook too!

This is a result of the positive support and feedback I've received from the recipes I've posted on this blog thus far, so THANK YOU!

15 Weeks Pregnant with Baby #2!

This was taken on Sunday, a beautiful 75-degree-blue-sky, sunny day! 

You can't really tell in this picture, but I totally have a little ponch. Muscle memory is a crazy thing!

How far along? 15 weeks
Total weight gain: 3 lbs.
Stretch marks? Nope 
Sleep: I have added a pillow in between my knees...Matt said, "Oh boy, here we go pillow lady!"
Best moment this month: Hearing Drake or Lola's heartbeat for the first time :) 
Movement: I have already felt little somersaults and flutters! Another active baby...
Food cravings: Lemonade, orange juice, clementines. 
Gender: We have the big ultrasound next month to find out! 
Labor Signs: None
Belly Button in or out? In 
What I miss: Being healthy. We are fighting off the nastiest cough I've ever had! Being pregnant just lowers your immune system, so it's been herb tea, Emergen-C, the neti pot and Robitussin in our house. I bet Matt will get over it before me! 
What I am looking forward to: Finding out if Ada will have a little brother or sister!
Monthly Wisdom: Be grateful to be done with the nausea! This pregnancy, I had it all.day.long. So I am just relishing the time that I feel well and food is actually my friend again. My poor husband starves during the first trimester. Well, not starves, but eats very poorly. :)
Milestones: Baby can already smile and frown, and suck its thumb!

Super Bowl Sunday

We had some friends from the ward over to celebrate good food, (usually) good commercials, and football! 

Damaris is from Brazil and had never watched a Super Bowl before, so it was so fun watching it with her and hearing all of her questions! 

Damaris & Matt

Christian & Jaron 

Delicious spinach dip in a Boudin sourdough breadbowl...mmm!

1 package frozen chopped spinach (comes in a little box)

2 packages Knorr leek soup mix

2 cans water chestnuts, drained

2 cups sour cream

2 cups mayonnaise

1 bunch green onions, chopped

Round sourdough bread, with extra bread for dipping

Thaw & drain spinach. In a large bowl, mix spinach with soup mix, water chestnuts, sour cream, mayo, and onions. Chill in fridge for at least 30 min. Hollow out bread bowl, chopping pieces for dipping and eating any ugly ones. Fill bowl with dip and arrange bread around it. 

The chef & the spread

Ada with her friend Maria who is a few months older than her.

 Giving back Maria's necklace (Ada took it back and Maria's momma let us keep it since she liked it so much) :) 

 Ada loves buttons, Maria is so patient with all of her grabbing!

 The 7 layer dip was a hit as always.

16 oz. can refried beans (I used Rosarita's zesty salsa and they were so good!)

Half packet of taco seasoning 

2 avocados

Fresh lemon juice

Garlic powder

8 oz. sour cream

4 1/2 oz. can of olives

2 large tomatoes, diced

1 small onion, chopped

4 oz. can chopped green chiles

1 1/2 c. (6 oz.) shredded cheese

Combine beans and taco seasoning (I've also combined it with the sour cream, either way is yummy.) Spread in bottom of pan. 

Chop avocados, squeeze lemon juice in to prevent browning. Mash and mix with sour cream, layer on top of beans.

Drain olives and sprinkle on top. Follow with tomatoes, onions, chiles, and finish with cheese.

Serve with tortilla chips and enjoy!

Cashew Chicken & Fried Rice

Last night, we had the missionaries over for dinner. Click here to read about who they are & what they do! 

Elder Gainor (sitting next to Ada) was transferred to a different area today, we are sad to be losing him! 

Whoever gets him next is lucky. He's a sweet, humble guy.

 I made cashew chicken & fried rice, using recipes from Mrs. Davis at Lakeview Jr. High. I miss working at Lakeview, the staff is wonderful! I would be going to make copies for the resource kiddos, and Mary would be in there making copies of the recipes for her Home Ec. kiddos. I'd always ask what they were making and she'd give me a copy. At the end of the year, she had a cookbook put together with my name on the front! So sweet. It was a fun year swapping recipes with her. On to the recipes!

Apologies for another half-eaten meal...I had to get a quick picture before it was all gone! These say 8-10 servings, but with three hungry guys we had one serving left. Matt ate it for lunch today :)

Cashew Chicken

1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/2 lb. peapods
1/2 lb. mushrooms (I omit these, not a fan of the texture)
4 green onions
1/2 lb. bean sprouts
1 c. celery
1/2 lb. water chestnuts
1 c. chicken broth
1/4 c. soy sauce
2 T. corn starch
1/2 t. sugar
1/2 t. salt
1 c. cashews

1. Wash chicken thoroughly. Cut chicken into bite-size pieces.
2. Wash and slice veggies into bite-size pieces.
3. In a small mixing bowl, combine corn starch, soy sauce, sugar & salt.
4. In a large skillet, add a small amount of cooking oil and heat until hot.
5. Add chicken to skillet and cook over medium heat until completely cooked through.
6. Add peapods, celery, mushrooms, water chestnuts, and broth.
7. Cover mixture and cook for two minutes.
8. Add bean sprouts, onions, and cashews.
9. Simmer for one minute and add soy sauce mixture, stirring constantly until thickened.
10. Serve immediately over hot rice.

Fried Rice

1 1/2 c. long grain white rice
1 lb. bacon
2 eggs
1 bunch green onions
1 T. soy sauce

1. Cook white rice according to package directions and set aside. (I throw mine in the rice cooker and make the chicken, then start this recipe, and the rice is done just in time to add it at the end)
2. Cut bacon into quarters before cooking.
3. In a large skillet, fry bacon until crisp. Remove from skillet and pat off grease. Set aside.
4. Drain grease, but do not clean pan.
5. Scramble the eggs in the remaining bacon grease and season with salt and pepper.
6. Chop green onions and cook with eggs until tender.
7. Return rice and bacon to skillet with eggs and onions.
8. Add soy sauce a small amount at a time until the right taste is reached. (This is fun because you get to keep eating the fried rice!)

Serve & enjoy! Your neighbors will be jealous, this meal smells soooo good :) 

Milkshake

I already posted this via twitter and facebook, but it needs to be on the blog too.

My mom and I were crying we were laughing so hard. This commercial came on with Milkshake playing and Ada just had to move! She couldn't help herself! She is so much fun. 

I can't decide which is my favorite, the squat or the tiny "o" she makes her mouth into!