Since I've been slacking...

And Jane was kind enough to point out that I've missed, oh, a month worth of Friday Fives, I figure I'll do one today. I meant to post more this week, but my hard drive on my computer died. Sound familiar? Why yes, I *did* just replace a hard drive back in December. And no, it wasn't the same computer. And yes, I *did* learn my lesson in December about backing up your work so I didn't have to repeat that lesson. So my computer was in the shop and I only just got it back this morning. So, anyways.
I'm thankful that...
1. I have a working computer, again.
2. People sell used books cheap on Amazon.
3. Villanova is in the Final Four.
4. Ed took Caroline out last night so I could go to bed early. At 6:30.
5. Henry can talk!

Wow... how time flies!

Where have I been? It's been 2 weeks since I last posted! Oops! Caroline turned 7 months old on the 12th. She's crawling, has 7 teeth, pulls herself up on stuff. I'm taking bets as to when she starts walking. I'd post a picture but Ed has the camera. Henry started talking in sentences yesterday. That one blew me away. Up until, oh, the day before yesterday I was pretty much the only one who could understand him, and I couldn't even understand him too well. Then yesterday he came in and said "Mom I want chocolate milk. Caroline bumped me in the head." Umm... WHAT? We went from "I choc mik" to a whole sentence in less than 24 hours? Go figure! I'll take it though. I attended a birth last week, and I'm on call for a couple more. So I might disappear again - births can take a lot out of you! So that's what is going on here... pretty uneventful.

Amy's Risotto

Last night we had risotto for dinner. I absolutely love risotto. I found a recipe in Rachael Ray's Orange cookbook that I was planning on making - butternut squash risotto - but about 10 minutes before our friend arrived I found out that we didn't actually have the butternut squash for said risotto. So I improvised. And this is what I came up with. Make it. It is good.

Chop up a medium sized onion and a couple of garlic cloves. Saute them in olive oil over medium high heat for 5 or so minutes. Add 1 1/3 cups of arborio rice (whatever it's called. You know, risotto rice.) and saute for a minute or two. Add half a cup of white wine and cook for about a minute. Oh, while you're doing this have some chicken broth simmering on another burner. Then, once the wine cooks off, ladle in some chicken broth - about 3 or 4 ladles. Cook it down, stirring frequently. Repeat. Repeat again. Keep repeating until the rice isn't hard. Takes about 1/2 hour or so. Once the rice is cooked, turn off the burner, add in 3 handfuls of parmesan cheese, a can of artichoke hearts (drained and chopped), and a can of black olives (drained and chopped). Oh, and a splash of lemon juice. Let it sit up for a minute or two, then eat. It's good. Really, really good.

Friday Five

1. Even though the kids are sick, I'm not. Knock on wood.
2. Mail. I love mail.
3. Henry started talking in complete sentences!
4. Sentences which I can understand!
5. Risotto. I love risotto, too.

It's a long wait for the bus!