Sunday

Went to church in the morning and watched the kids play happily in the nursery/playroom. It was packed - bulilit was her usual social self while belly preferred playing by herself. i really need to get this girl into daycare or preschool.

Today was also the official start to the summer grill season! E broke out the grill my parents gave him for christmas and cooked up short ribs, steaks and portobello mushrooms. I put together a quick potato salad and baked my favorite chocolate chip cookies (recipes below).

After our late lunch, we put the girls in their swimsuits and slathered on the sunscreen. They have been graced with their father's genes, meaning they tan beautifully, while I burn, then tan. It also means that I will always be the whitest person in the family.

We had fun at the pool, with belly jumping in and learning to use a kickboard, and bulilit getting out of the 2' deep kiddie pool, olympic swimmer style, just to get back in. When we got home, E grilled hot dogs for dinner and we topped off the day with ice cream! Great start to summer!

Old-Fashioned Potato Salad (adapted from Betty Crocker)
3 medium potatoes, peeled
1/2 cup mayonnaise
3 tsp white vinegar
3 tsp spicy brown mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt
dash of pepper
1/2 small onion, chopped
1 small celery stalk, chopped
3 hard-cooked eggs, chopped

Place potatoes in enough water to cover and boil. Cook 20 to 25 minutes or until tender; drain. Cool.

Mix mayonnaise, vinegar, mustard, salt and pepper in large bowl. Add potatoes, celery and onion; toss. Stir in eggs. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours until chilled.


Darrell's "Forget-the-Cookies-just-give-me-the-Batter" Chocolate Chip Cookies (adapted from Kids Cooking: A Very Slightly Messy Manual)

1 stick of butter, softened
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/3 c. white sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 egg
1 1/8 c. flour
¼ tsp. salt
½ tsp. baking soda
1 bag (6 oz.) chocolate chips

Cream together the softened butter and both sugars. (Butter needs to be very soft. I recommend leaving it out for at least 12-18 hours.) Add the egg and mix well, then add the vanilla. Stir.

In a separate bowl, mix the flour, baking soda and salt. Add into wet mixture in portions, incorporating well between portions. Add chocolate chips.

Stir everything until it's all mixed up well and put the bowl in the refrigerator to cool for at least an hour. (I usually cool overnight.)

When ready to bake, line cookie sheet with parchment paper. Roll the dough into walnut-sized balls, put them on the cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes.

DON'T OVERCOOK! You want your cookies to be moist and chewy.

Take them off the cookie sheet carefully with your spatula and let them cool.