WW: Daycare Rug: 1, Rylee: 0
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Author Archives: katherine
Lemon Cello: In Photos
While you’r reading this post, I will be flying across the United States on my way to Indianapolis, Indiana for the 2011 Archery Trade Show. Indianapolis in January. Fun Stuff.
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So, I had this grand idea to make lemon cello to bottle and use them as gifts for Christmas this year. I succeeded…partially. I made lemon cello. And it’s good. Oh, so good. However, it didn’t quite make it into any gift baskets. Weird how that happens, huh?
Anyway, the whole point of this post is to lay out just how easy it is to make your own infused vodka! I was really intimidated by this whole project, not able to really find any clear directions on the web. I finally found this recipe on the Pioneer Woman’s food site: Tasty Kitchen.
Ingredients:
- 15 to 20 whole, organic lemons {I used 20}. Washed very well.
- 2 whole bottles of 750 ml Everclear Vodka
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For the Simple Syrup:
- 3 Cups Water
- 4 Cups Sugar
Wash and dry your lemons.
Peel your lemons. Make sure you don’t get any of the white pithy part in your peels because it will make everything bitter. {You are only using the lemon peels for the lemon cello, so make a nice batch of lemonade or something with the rest of lemons.}
Put the peels in your jar and cover with the vodka. Cover the jar. {Since I couldn’t find a glass “iced tea” jar anywhere, I bought this glass cookie jar and just covered it with plastic wrap. It worked fine for steeping, but wasn’t the easiest when it came to pouring. Next time, I will find a different jar to use.}
Let your jar sit in a cool, dark place to steep for 4 to 6 weeks.
After the lemon peels and vodka have steeped for a good amount of time, make a simple syrup. Let the syrup cool, then pour into the jar with your lemon peels and vodka. Cover again and let it steep for another 4 to 6 weeks. {Your lemon peels will start to lose their color…this is supposed to happen.}
After your second round of steeping, you’re ready for bottling. I was able to repurpose glass bottles that I saved my sister had saved. All I had to do was wash off the labels and sterilize the bottles. Because I didn’t have the pour spout in my jar, I transferred the lemon cello into a pitcher for easy pouring. Before I did that, I used a slotted spoon to fish out the lemon peels onto a paper towel then squeezed the life out of the paper towel over the pouring pitcher to get all the lemon oils and leftover vodka.
Store your bottled lemon cello in the freezer. My favorite way to enjoy it is over ice using Squirt as a mixer. Yumm, yumm.
And, you know what’s steeping right now about ready for bottling?
Mint infused vodka.
MMMMmmm…
On Being Stabby
Yesterday? Yesterday was a frustrating day. It was the culmination of: Christmas decorations are half down/kitchen is half clean/I leave for a major tradeshow in 2 days/product launch/website launch. Stress-ful.
And all the stress got to me. Bad.
I started writing a blog post in my head and it was going to be a list of all the things that make me stabby. Like…
WalMart.
WalMart during the first weekend of the month.
Multiple days of 20 degree weather.
A dirty kitchen.
Cold coffee.
Slow Internet connections.
The inability for people to focus when shit needs to get done.
People who don’t use their blinkers.
People who don’t turn of their brights when they are coming straight toward you.
Late dinners.
Overflowing trash.
Little microscopic holes in your trash bags (aka plastic grocery bags) that make a huge, sloppy coffee ground mess in the bottom of your trash can.
You get the idea…random, trivial crap.
After the fire was roaring and dinner was done, we settled into our typical evening routine and all of the stress of the day just seemed to melt away. Then, instead of the “stabby” list I was writing on my way home, I started thinking of a different list. Things that make me not stabby. Like…
A warm fire in our wood stove.
Toddler hugs.
Taking out the trash, looking up and seeing billions of beautiful stars in the sky.
Walking back into a nice, warm house.
Hearing all sorts of giggles and laughter coming from the bathroom during bathtime.
Big, toothy two-year old grins.
Also? Monster Beards and Daddy Beards.
I mean really…how could I be grumpy after this?
It’s imposible.
Dance Lessons
Ok, I can’t help it. Every time I watch this video I laugh out loud. Every.Single.Time.
I’m not quite sure who’s giving who dance lessons here, but I love what’s going on. I took this video while we were on a quick baking break. Rylee seriously enjoyed the time she spent with her Aunties over the holidays. Obviously.
You’re welcome in advance.
P.S. Sisters? I apologize for the potential embarrassment. I just couldn’t help it. I even warned you while taping. I have proof.
2010: Year of the…Tiger?
According to China, it’s the year of the tiger. For us, it’s more like “2010: Year of the Rice Family Roller Coaster”.
Happy New Year’s Eve ya’all. It’s 10:00 PM Pacific time and I’m ringing in the new year sitting on my couch, with my teeth brushed, face washed, sporting my flannel pj pants and oversized sweatshirt next to the warm, crackling fire, typing this by the twinkling lights of my Christmas tree.
And I couldn’t be happier.
This year was a crazy one filled with challenges and sadness. But also one filled with love and an abundance of blessings. And so, I give you our 2010, a year in review.
January: Rang in the new year with money troubles, the worry of losing our home, a puking kid, followed by a puking husband, followed by a business trip to Columbus, OH. Mid-to-late January was spent in and out of the pediatrician’s office with Rylee battling bronchiolitis. We celebrated Grandma Rice’s 88th birthday!
February: Spent the better part of February in and out of the pediatrician’s office, again, while Rylee battled RSV and croup. At the same time. I did manage to work in a quick, weekend trip with Kristen to fly out to Chicago to help Kelli celebrate her 30th birthday.
March: More time spent in the pediatrician’s office {the receptionists knew Rylee all too well}. This time with another bout of pneumonia, followed by the flu. We took Ry on her first trip to the zoo and transitioned her from her crib to a “big-girl” bed.
April: Ry got the flu…again. I went to my first Cirque De Sole show with Julia and Kristen. April is when the floodgates called Rylee’s Vocabulary opened up.
May: We celebrated Rylee’s 2nd birthday. Unfortunately, we ended the month on a low with the loss of Andy’s Grandma Rice.
June: Started off June with Julia’s bridal shower. Andy wrapped up another school year. Rylee repeated her first bad word {that I said!}.We took Rylee to the Oregon Coast Aquarium and her first real trip to the beach. Julia and Spencer said “I do”. Best. Wedding. Ever.
July: 4th of July. Always amazing. We took Rylee on her first camping trip. I headed to Minnesota for a work trip, visited family I hadn’t seen for nearly 20 years and received a phone call that would leave me with major decisions to make…
August: Andy and I celebrated 5 wonderful years of marriage. I stepped way out of my comfort zone and left my very comfortable, very familiar job to work for a company that was less than 1 year old and in a new, unfamiliar industry. Andy started another school year.
September: Canned dozens of jars of fruit and potty trained Rylee in a weekend…all while Andy was gone {thanks Auntie Kristen!}. Andy spent that weekend with a much needed/deserved visit with his best friend. Ry started back up in daycare. We got to help celebrate our “nephew’s” first birthday.
October: We started out October with the phone call that Andy’s grandfather (his mom’s dad) passed away. I harvested a forked horn blacktail. We booked plane tickets for Andy and his dad to visit his best friend in Alaska this coming Summer for 12 days! {I am accepting wine donations starting now.}
November: Andy received a much deserved promotion at work to Head Teacher. Celebrated Thanksgiving with family.
December: Spent the first half of December waiting for Andy to get home from work and eating dinner at 8:00 at night…some promotion {I have been assured that it will not continue this way}. Spent the second half of December celebrating the birth of Jesus, and the rest of Christmas break, with some much needed family time.
That about wraps it up. It’s been a wild year and it flew by.
I am looking forward to all 2011 has in store for our little family.
The ups and the downs.
Also? This happens to mark my 200th post. So, in honor of my 200th post, picture me throwing confetti in the air, raising the roof and even busting out the head-down-knee-popped-fist-clenched-elbow-back-DJ Tanner-style “YESSSsss”.
Or not. Your choice.