Recipe Book

I've been looking for a project to do lately, and settled on working on updating my big family recipe book.  I think about a decade ago, all the ladies in my family got together and compiled recipes.  I typed up my grandma's submissions and we all assembled the binders (big 2 or 3" binders!), and personalized them with scrapbook paper, stickers, etc.  We've since added a few new recipes to the binder, but I haven't really done anything to my binder since I was living at home.  I had a bunch of recipes saved on my computer from my mom, as well as new ones Zak & I have come to love.  So I decided to add those to the binder.

I don't know how I got the idea to do it, but I decided to make an index for all of the recipes.  That proved to be a much bigger task that I originally thought.  But I got it done, along with a table of contents!  Then I decided that I needed a new binder - mine had gotten a bit beat up, from moving a lot in college.  One of the rings wouldn't completely close, the spine of the binder was messed up, and I just wanted something new and nice-looking for my newly updated recipes.  I also decided to make a new cover for my binder, since I was like, 11 or something when we made the covers originally.  So after I spent nearly an hour at Michael's picking out a few sheets of paper and stickers (the top reason why I'm not the best scrap-booker: I take forever to pick things out, it all has to match!), I came home last night and assembled it while Zak was at his lab.  I couldn't bring myself to throw away the old cover, so I scanned it into my computer, along with my new one to show you how cute it looks!  I'm so proud and I just love it!

before

after!

Zak's Birthday

Zak's birthday went really well.  It was on a Thursday this year, so kind of a bummer, since:
-he had an 8 AM class
-and a chemistry lab from 7 - 9 that night
-I had to work from 5 - 8

but I tried hard to make it a good day for him.  We got up a little earlier than usual so he could open presents.  He was very happy that he got the knife he wanted, as well as a monocular, shower radio and Carl Sagan's The Cosmos on DVD.  Between his classes, I took him to the Old European Breakfast place we love over in Pullman, where he enjoyed eggs benedict and I have stuffed sausage & harvati ebelskivers.  Everything was amazing!  Zak at least didn't have to work that night (got paid for his birthday, whoo!), so we had some time together before our evening got hectic.  But unfortunately, once he got back late from his lab, he had homework he  had to do for his forestry class the next day, so he stayed up late and got up early the next morning to work on it.  Thursday was ok.

being goofy with all his presents

happy birthday boy

he loves this knife!

So that's why I decided to make Sunday much better!  A few weeks back, we were watching America's Test Kitchen, and I was trying to get some answers from him about what he wanted for his birthday dinner, etc.  The recipe they were showing was Slow Roasted Pork with Peach Sauce and it looked really good, and so he asked me if he could have that for his birthday.  I agreed and went on my way to find the recipe on-line, as well as a friend who had a roasting rack.  I found both and talked myself through the recipe and it turned out magnificently!  We both had Sunday off and it was so hard to smell the roast in the oven all day and not be able to eat it until 5.  I was so pleased that it worked out (I wrote up the recipe, click to go to it)!  To round out dinner, we had zucchini monterey and mashed potatoes and everything was delicious.  Pretty much a prefect birthday dinner!

so yummy!

For dessert, we had our friends come over to hang out and eat the peach cake, I had made for the first time.  I was nervous it wouldn't taste good, but it was a big hit and was very yummy.  The evening was fun, everyone had a good time and it was nice to be able to celebrate Zak's birthday with everyone.

I caught him a bit off guard, but look how nice the cake looks!

Zak also got a little bit of birthday cash, so he went to the mall yesterday and bought something else he had asked for, but didn't end up getting: a set of nice weights.  He really likes them, and has been using them while we watch t.v.  He's inspired me to be a bit more active, so together I think we'll do weights instead of just sit around.

Zak bought these weights with some of his birthday money

He loves them, and loves to model for the camera with them

So, thank you to everyone for your gifts, cards and well wishes for Zak!  I love being able to pamper him a little bit more - and he loves being right one day a year (his words, not mine!).  Thanks again!

all his birthday cards