Aluminum Chef Aaron

Aaron has been in to all things culinary since he was little, like really little. We watched a lot of Iron Chef America when they were newborns and we dubbed him the aluminum chef because it was the one show that always caught his attention.

When we had a play kitchen in their playroom, he was the one that always played and made up different dishes. It was definitely his thing.

He is also a fan of food in general. He has never been afraid to try anything and definitely has a taste for the finer things. This past year Scott took him to Food and Wine with our friends and Aaron tried EVERYTHING. No, really, he tried everything and loved everything. Lamb? Loved it. Shrimp tacos? Devoured it. Kerrygold cheese plate? Never stood a chance.

Lately our new thing has been to watch Food Network, specifically Ina, Giada and Ree (the holy trinity of Aaron's life). He is always pointing out dishes and asking if we can make them. For the most part I agree, unless it's Ina's lobster potato salad, because no. He has even asked for the Pioneer Woman's cookbook. The kid is obsessed. OBSESSED.

The past couple of nights he and I have made dinner together. Sunday we made a polenta dish with a homemade sauce and chicken sausage. It was ridiculous. Tonight we made salisbury steak meatballs (with ground turkey) with homemade gravy, mashed potatoes and asparagus.

He was involved in every part of the process. He peeled potatoes, gathered ingredients, mixed the meatballs, formed the meatballs, cleaned the asparagus and stirred the gravy. I will give it to him, he tastes everything. When I went to add the breadcrumbs he wanted to taste them because he wasn't sure what panko breadcrumbs tasted like. He sampled the asparagus while we were cleaning it, sampled the gravy, sampled the fresh parsley and tasted the first meatball that came out of the skillet.

To see how proud he was when the meal was completed was the best feeling in the world. He was so thrilled with his dinner and told me that when he opens up his own restaurant that would be on the menu.

He also asked to call his Dzia Dzio to tell him what he made. He then promised to cook for him when they visit. Aaron also said he would make him pork butts and dumplings (which is my Dad's favorite meal of all time) for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I don't know if any of us would be able to move if we ate all of that in one day.

I love his excitement surrounding the culinary world and am trying to find new ways to get him involved in that community. I know there are a few seminars we want to try and take him to during Food and Wine this year. I think him meeting any of those celebrity chefs would just ignite that fire even more.

I am so proud of my aluminum chef and cannot wait to see him become an iron chef!

Our Big Fat Greek Dinner

We had dinner with the B6 again last night, this time the theme was Greek food. I think we may stay with the themed dinner every month, it's a great way to try new foods, and what better way to try something new than with friends?

For appetizers we had stuffed mushrooms, which were super yummy, and vested shrimp which were out of this world. Dawn made Moussaka for the main course, or as we called it all night Moose Caca (if you've seen My Big Fat Greek Wedding you get the joke) and I made Greek salad to go with it. I used Ina Garten's recipe from Food Network, so yummy!


Doesn't it look pretty??? Anyway, for dessert we had the vanilla bean fig cupcakes I made the other day, which were figgin' delicious and a huge hit.

I honestly cannot tell you how lucky we are to have great friends for not just ourselves, but for our kids as well. They all get along so well and always have a great time together.


Thanks again to the B6 for an amazing night with great food, delicious drinks and even better company!

Sweet!

Yesterday the kids had an awesome birthday party to go to. Our friends twins and son have birthdays only a few days apart so we all went to decorate cupcakes at Sweet! by Good Golly Miss Holly. Miss Holly will actually be featured on tonight's episode of Cupcake Wars on Food Network, how exciting!

Aaron had a great time eating the cupcakes, Jill could quite honestly care less. She was a bit of a diva yesterday and had to take a chill out (not really a time out) in the car with Scott for a few minutes to calm down. Welcome to the terrible twos, right?

This party was such an adorable idea, and minus the diva episode, was a really great time. Hope you had a great birthday Emma, Ellina and Pearce!

Thanksgiving Thursday

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Another week has come and gone, so this week I am thankful for:

• Scott letting me sleep in pretty much every day this week. Granted, I think it's because he feels guilty that his snoring has returned, but I'll take it!

• Scott going back to work in a couple of weeks, not that I am counting down the days or anything.

• My kiddos being the funny little kiddos that they are.

• Everyone that is around us, supporting us.

• The press department at Food Network sending us that press release and actually responding back to us so I can interview Melissa d'Arabian. :) :) :)

• My sister Cathy majoring in journalism because I totally slept through my required journalism class at ISU. Mom or Dad if you are reading this, of course I didn't sleep through that class! I would never do such a thing! Ahem...

• Naptime, it's such a wonderful time.
  

• Coffee being sold in bulk, it's the little things in life people!

• Girls night at Devenney's on the two seven by the one nine two.

Play along with Nicole at What a Trip (and enter her giveaway on Multiples and More!).