Six In Seoul
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Chew and Sing

6/30/2009

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I convinced my children that to chew this bubble gum you would have to sing while chewing it. 

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Silver Dollar Pancakes

6/29/2009

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My friend Lara turned me onto this website, and I must say I frequent it more than I should.  When I found this recipe, I knew I had to make it.  I am always on the look out for something new for breakfast, not that pancakes are new, these are just different.   I like to wake up before my kids in the morning and make a good breakfast for them - everyone knows breakfast is the most important meal of the day right?   Anyway, when I saw this recipe for "The best silver dollar pancakes", I had to try them.  The first time I made the recipe exact, and I must tell you, when the writer of the original entry wrote “they are so light they practically levitate over the plate they're put on", he was not lying!!  They practically melted in your mouth.  They were good, but not what I thought a pancake should be, I need a little more substance in my pancake, so I adjusted the recipe just a little, and now these are my kids’ favorite.  Just yesterday Girl  told me yesterday that she is going to ask for these pancakes for her birthday breakfast (instead of her usual cinnamon roll request. Wow!) 

4 eggs
½  tsp salt
½ tsp baking soda
¾ cup flour
2 cups sour cream
3 TBL sugar

Put eggs in a mixing bowl and stir until well blended.

Add all ingredients & mix well.

Heat griddle until it is nice and hot…I set mine at 400.  If you want *true* silver dollar size pancakes, drop spoonfuls of batter onto the griddle.  I like them a little bigger – about baseball size, so I drop about 1/8th of a cup onto the griddle at a time.....

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When a few bubbles appear on top of the pancakes, turn them over and cook briefly...about 45-60 more seconds.

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Serve with warm maple syrup.

My kids like to make a smiley face out of them...


PS...they also had banana strawberry smoothies to go with this breakfast.

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Brazilian Lemonade

6/28/2009

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Here is another great refreshing summer drink.  I made this for one of our 'blue park' parties.  I was a little skeptical when my friend Allison sent this recipe to me, one of the ingredients was.....well, a bit different, one might even say odd.  However if anyone knows what they are talking about when it comes to cocktails, it would be Allison. 

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Brazilian Lemonade

4 small limes
1 cup sugar
1 cup cold water
¼ cup sweetened condensed milk  (yes, you read that correctly)

Mix cold water and sugar together very well. 

Make sure to wash you limes well!  Cut the ends of the limes off, and then cut the limes into 8ths.  Put limes and sugar water in blender.  Pulse you blender 5 times.  Place a fine strainer over a pitcher and pour the blended mixtures through the strainer into the pitcher.  Discard the limes.  Add sweetened condensed milk & mix well.  Taste it at this point…if it is a little too bitter, add a little more sweetened condensed milk. 

That is the kid version….which is fabulous, but to make the even more fabulous adult version add 1 cup of good vodka or rum!  Oh baby…I had people coming back on Saturday for more of these bad boys.

 Now, before you ask....I have no idea why they call this 'lemonade' when it is made with limes.



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Gary Sinise & the LT Dan Band!

6/26/2009

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Last night we headed out to see Gary Sinise (LT Dan from Forest Gump  & Mac Taylor from  CSI NY) & the LT Dan Band!  What a fantastic night this turned out to be. I have always heard good things about Gary Sinise, and have enjoyed watching him on CSI NY, but to see him in person and hear the way he talked about our military and how he supports our military, I must say I am a HUGE fan now!  

Sinise performs for charities and non-profits like the USO (which is how we saw him last night) and Operation Iraqi Children, they frequently visit military post in the US and abroad. "Sinise is a passionate supporter of troops who believes that support requires more than a flag or a bumper sticker and is now helping to build a memorial to America's three million living disabled military veterans."

HOOAH, LT Dan!

The boys before the concert...

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Boy 3 and I enjoying the concert.
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I squeezed my way up to the front of the stage, I could have reached out and touched Gary Sinise, I mean look how close I was... 
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But instead of touching him, I passed this note to him...

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And after a couple more songs, he did just that!  He wished my boy a happy birthday from the stage! At first Boy 1 was mortified, but when his friends were totally impressed and gave me the 'cool mom award' he was pretty happy!

Here are a few more shots from last night... 


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My girlfriend L finagled her way onto stage...this picture was taken right before that guy in the white shirt escorted her off the stage. 
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These next few pictures are pictures my friend L took...

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See the guy over my right shoulder? He just knocked my cup of 'grape juice' down my shirt.  Nice, now I look like white trash...great!  I thought about going home to change my shirt, but instead I did decide to just turn my shirt around (in true white trash form).  Now it looks like some drunk ran into me from behind.
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Here I am with the kids having a good time....

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With the birthday boy....

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Many thanks to Gary Sinise, the LT Dan Band & the USO for a great night of free fun for all of us here in Yongsan, South Korea!

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A Teenager - Really?!?!?

6/26/2009

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As I think back to June 26th, 1996 it is clear as a bell.  LABOR SUCKED, all 26 hours of it.  The outcome - so incredibly worth it! Today, 13 years later,  I have an amazing teenager.  Did I really say that? I have a teenager, I have a teenager.  I'm going to have to say it a few more times before it sinks in.  I have a teenager. It just sounds wrong. Boy 1 is turning out to be young man anyone would love to call their son.  He is very funny, warm, kind, caring, strong and adaptable.  He is truly a great asset to this family.  If I ever need him to help with anything, he does it *happily* after a little huffing and eye rolling.  ;-)  I mean come on he wouldn't be a teenager without a little eye rolling and huffing - right?  

In the past 13 years Boy 1 has gone through more than most kids his age.  He has lived in 5 states, 2 countries and 9 different homes; he has switched school districts 6 times.  He has lived through his dad being deployed two times (once for 12 months & once for 15 months), this is something many children can't even fathom.  He has seen his small family of three grown into a family of 6....this was something he wasn't too excited about, "come on more kids"?!  Although he loves them all more than he is willing to admit! He is a fantastic big brother - when he isn't beating on them!  I believe with all this constant change in his life, it has only made him a stronger person, more adaptable, more adventurous....although it does take some coaxing to get him to do many things that might be considered dangerous (ex - scuba diving), but that isn't a bad thing!  However, one thing that always remains the same is the love his dad and I have for him - Boy 1, that will never change.  I hope you had a fantastic birthday.  I love you all the way to the stars and back.


13 years ago....26 June 1996

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Today,  26 June, 2009
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Grilled Bananas & Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream

6/25/2009

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I've been a bit crazy making ice cream since Christmas when I got a new ice cream maker.  This is the basic sweet cream base I use - you can add all sorts of stuff to this....blended fruit to make it fruit flavor, chocolate candies in all varieties, chocolate & cherries, use mint extract instead of vanilla & add small chunks of chocolate, the options are endless.

French Vanilla Ice Cream 
Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream & Dessert Cookbook

2 large eggs
¾ cup sugar
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1 cup 2% milk
2 TSP vanilla bean paste (you can use vanilla extract if you must)

Whisk eggs in a mixing bowl until light and fluffy, 1-2 minutes.  Whisk in the sugar, a little at a time, and then continue whisking until completely blended, about 1 minute.  Pour in the cream, milk and vanilla bean paste and whisk to bend.

Transfer the mixture to an ice cream maker and turn on….(follow the instructions for your ice cream maker)

Makes about 1 quart. 


Grilled Bananas
3 bananas
4 TBL (approximately) cinnamon/sugar mix
2 TBL (approximately) honey
Cut bananas lengthwise in their skins

Drizzle with honey, sprinkle with cinnamon sugar mixture.

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Place bananas cut side down on grill.  Grill for about 2 minutes, flip over and cook until the skins start pulling away from the banana (about 5 minutes or so).  
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Remove bananas from the grill, remove skins & erve immediately on your homemade (or store bought) vanilla ice cream!
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Every person in our house LOVED this dessert!

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Waffle Factory

6/24/2009

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The Waffle Factory is a cute little hole in the wall with enough seats for only about 20 customers, including the seating outside.  I have read many reviews on the Waffle Factory in the past few months and knew I had to take Hubby there since he has a healthy love for the waffle, well actually for the Waffle House back in the states (so obviously he is not too picky when it comes to the waffle :-).  Anyway waffles are few and far between here in Korea, the only other places I have found waffles are at the Flying Pan Blue and from vendors on the street, which both rock by the way.  To get to the Waffle Factory,  go out the walk-out gate at Iteawon, walk up past Noksapyeong subway stop, continue walking....you will see the Waffle Factory on the right hand side of the street, just before the big intersection.  (Yes, you will need to cross the street to get to the Waffle House).  You could also come out gate 3, the 'kimchi pot' gate and turn right....the Waffle Factory is between the kimchi pot gate and the walk out gate.

So, one of my pet peeves about Korea is that breakfast restaurants do not open until 10:30AM!! Are you kidding me?  Most mornings I have already had a 2 lattes and breakfast by 6:30AM. We left our house at 9:30AM (after 4 lattes) and  arrived at the Waffle House a little before 10AM...we walked around a bit, then at 10 a lady came in to open, but told us she would not be ready to take our order till 10:20, however she did agree to let us sit in the air conditioned building and wait which I am extremely grateful for because it was so HUMID that day!

Hubby and I ordered the waffle breakfast....

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I ask for no sausage, I wanted extra bacon instead.  Thank goodness I did because when Hubby's breakfast came out, the sausages were hot dogs....really!  Hot dogs!  I ordered my eggs over medium, I got over hard.  The potatoes, don't they look scrumptious.  All in all, this was a very bland and not so great breakfast.  I mean I ate it, but still, not one of my favorites.  Now the kids ordered more interesting breakfast waffles....
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I don't know why ice cream is served on breakfast food here in Korea, but my kids love going out to breakfast here! 

Would I go back....well, if my kids wanted to go for their birthday I would take them, but not before I tried to talk them into the Flying Pan Blue!

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Father's Day Fun...

6/23/2009

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Unless you are new here, you are most likely starting to see a trend.  Holidays around our house are SPECIAL!  Valentines day, everything is done up in hearts, St. Patty's day, the leprecon comes over and turns everything green ....

THANK GOODNESS I am writing this right now!  It just reminded me how the "tooth fairy" had not come to our house yet, or at least I didn't think so because I didn't see the fairy dust anywhere!  Whee...that was a close one!  Speaking of close ones with the tooth fairy, did you guys realize that the tooth fairy does not work on Christmas Eve, and occasionally when you live in a foreign country, but you are American, the tooth fairy can't accommodate the 'special' time zone  and sneaks in during the day, because it is night time in the US.  I'm full of them, just ask if you need an excuse.

Back to the topic at hand.  You get the idea right?  Holidays are special around here, no matter what holiday it is, they all get attention in some way or another.  Since this past weekend was Father's day, and we have the best Dad on earth in this house, we had to do something great for him!  On Dad's day (or birthdays) the person that has 'the day' gets to pick what they want to do for their special day.  So, here is a run down of our day...

Dad wakes to see 5 people wearing BRIGHT YELLOW shirts bearing homemade cards and gifts and a fresh cup of java.  There is also a wrapped store bought gift....you guessed it, another bright yellow shirt.  We had to wear the shirts all day long. You saw then in the previous post right? 

Next up we played Wii....Dad's choice of course!  (OK, I didn't play, but Hubby and the kids did...)

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After Wii, we headed out to the Waffle Factory, Hubby LOVES the Waffle House in the states (I know, I know), so I thought would try to find a place similar.  Well, this place turned out to be nothing like 'Waffle House', there wasn't nearly enough grease.

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Next up, a little Lego building....

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After playing with Legos it was time for a little family baseball!  We are almost ready to play other family teams....just give us a couple of more weeks!

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Next on the schedule was computer games with Boy 1.
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After computer games, we just sat on the back porch & watched the kids play at the park while numerous neighbors came by to sit and hang out!  The last thing Hubby had requested for "his" day was grilled bananas & homemade ice cream.....so after dinner, that is exactly what we had.

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Honey, I hope your day was fantastic!  You are the BEST Dad in the world, our kids are so lucky to have you as their Dad!

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Pomegranate Cosmopolitans

6/23/2009

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I made this for one of our Friday night's at the park.  This summer, Friday nights seemed to have turned into food, cocktails and fun at the park located right behind our house – aka – blue park.  I've been coming up with new cocktails to make each week.  This one was a huge hit!  I got the idea from Ina Garten, The Barefoot Contessa, but since I live in Korea I had to adapt the recipe to be totally different, so here is my version....

2 cups (good vodka – I use Grey Goose, but if I lived stateside, I would use Tito’s)
1 cup Grand Marnier
1 ½  cups Ocean Spray 100% Cranberry / Pomegranate juice
½ cup freshly squeezed lime juice (about 4 limes)
Thinly sliced limes for garnish

Combine vodka, Grand Marnier, and both juices in a large pitcher.  Fill a cocktail shaker half full of ice, pour cocktail mixture in and shake until chilled (about 30 seconds).  Pour into martini glasses, garnish with a slice of line and serve immediately.  You can make ahead of time and put in the refrigerator, I’m haven’t tried freezing them yet....

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Happy Father's Day!

6/20/2009

6 Comments

 
Happy Father's day to all my dad friends and readers out there! And a very special shout out to Hubby, the best dad ever!

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    Proud Army wife and mother to 4 wonderful children.  I love to cook, travel, work out and scrapbook life’s adventures when I find the time.  We just got orders & are heading back to the states in March 2010.  I'm bummed that our time has been cut short, but proud of Hubby for the reason why.

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