Eggplant Parmesan

I recently made eggplant Parmesan. I've made it a few times, as Justin and I try to eat a meatless meal every now and then to feel healthy. I've found breading the eggplant is easier when you're well prepared: I set up an assembly line. Eggplant -> flour -> eggs -> bread crumbs -> wire rack to dry. After letting them dry for 30 minutes I'm ready to fry them in olive oil. Like almost anything frying in oil, they smell really good. Here's the yummy crispy eggplant in the pan waiting for the rest of the Parmigiana.


The tomato sauce is super easy now that I have an awesome Ninja blender/chopper/food processor/lightbulb changer. First I loaded up the stuff I need chopped super fine (garlic, parsley, basil, serrano pepper) Ninja it; then I load up the tomatoes and olives and blend it all together!
And it's so easy to clean when I'm all done! What an awesome Christmas present.

Ezekiel's favorite Christmas present is still the ribbon ball.

And he recently learned to stick his tongue out and make that sound by blowing between his tongue and his lips. How do you spell that sound?

2012 Year in Preview

Here is what we imagine our 2012 might look like:
Justin should finish his Master's degree and start his new job.


We plan to go visit Mari and Chris and Isaac in their new home in Pensacola.


This Summer we may go to a family reunion/90th birthday bash for my paternal grandfather in Colorado. We might drive.


Later in the Summer we hope to go visit Luke, Amber and the kiddos in Alaska. It will be a great time to leave Houston behind for a while!

In August we will celebrate Ezekiel's first birthday!

Though there are no specific plans yet, who knows- we may even have baby #2 on the way!