Best of 2015

lulz, it looks like the star is growing out of Mr Geek's head // *personal photo*

Merry Christmas!  (Because it still is Christmas, don't let social media fool you.)

As it's officially 2016 now, I figured it's a- time to break the accidental hiatus that always always always happens on this blog in December and b- time to look back at the past year!

So here, in no particular order, are my personal favorite Our Geeky Adventure posts from 2015:

That Time I Took My Sister's Engagement Photos

My sister is getting married in May and has apparently also lost her mind, because she asked me to shoot her engagement photos.  They actually turned out rather good!

Crafting Adventures: Treebeard

We went to the Maryland Renaissance Festival in costume this year!  I did a couple of posts explaining how I whipped up the outfits for two hobbits and Treebeard the Ent.

Fashion Adventures: I Made Her a Skirt!

I shared with you my first foray into making clothes for this little goober (shown here talking to Daddy on the phone and explaining that we were in the middle of a photo shoot).

Fashion Adventures: Sweater Skirt

I got better at making skirts, and she got more excited about photo shoots.

Bookish Adventures: The Ocean at the End of the Lane

I finally read Neil Gaiman, and now I want to read his grocery lists, no joke.

Bookish Adventures: The Martian

I also read The Martian and suggest you do, too, even (especially?) if you've already seen the movie.

Twenty Random Things About Mrs Geek

I shared 20 random things about myself, because, you know, I'm random like that.

Potter Talk: Tom's Worst Memory

Mr. Geek and I proved that even though it's been 8 years since the last book was released, it's still possible to come up with new Harry Potter theories.

Culinary Adventures: Pumpkin Pie Brownies

I made these brownies with a pumpkin pie layer in the middle and they were pretty gosh darn good, if I do say so myself.

Currently, Chief is... {2 years}

Our little goober turned two!  Our home is officially baby-less :(  But what an incredible two years it has been!

So those were my favorite posts this year!  Did you have a favorite post that I didn't mention?

Are you a blogger?  What were your favorite posts this year?  Share them over at Like Mother, Like Daughter, where I'm linking up!

Much love,
The Geeks

Culinary Adventures: Pumpkin Pie Brownies

As those of you who follow me on Instagram know, when I made cupcakes for Chief's class for her birthday, I totally used boxed cake mix and pre-made frosting because as much as I love baking from scratch, ain't nobody got time for that on a Monday night.  But you see, when I purchased said boxed cake mix from the grocery store, the grocery store was having a sale...4 boxes for some amount which was less than what 4 boxes would normally cost, and I figured, "Sure!  We need 4 boxes of cake mix!  Cake for everyone!"

Box number 1 became the Sesame Street cupcakes.  The rest sat there for almost a month in the pantry, staring down at me from the baking shelf every time I opened the door as if to say, "So, about dem cakes..."

Well, Saturday night, we were invited to a pre-Christmas party- "we" as in all three of us, so we were actually able to attend!  But because our dear friends didn't know what they were getting themselves into, inviting a 2-year-old to their pristine apartment for an event that would extend past her bedtime, I figured I should bring something tasty.

Enter: box number 2 of cake mix.

I just so happened to have a can of pumpkin on my shelf, as well, because this is the time of year when one buys canned pumpkin with no concrete plan for it because it's winter time, you'll figure something out, and I had seen pumpkin brownies on Pinterest, though I never actually read the recipe, so I figured hey, I should give it a shot.

I'm not sure if this is anything like that other recipe, but if you'd like some cake-like brownies that have what is essentially pumpkin pie filling sandwiched in the center, this is what you're looking for.

*personal photo*

Pumpkin Pie Brownies

For the brownie batter:
-1 box chocolate cake mix (I used a brand that "has pudding in the mix!")
-1/2 C vegetable oil
-2 Tbsp water
-2 eggs

For the pumpkin pie filling:
-1 C pumpkin puree (NOT canned pumpkin pie filling)
-2 Tbsp sugar
-1 egg
-1 tsp ground cinnamon
-1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

-Preheat oven to 325F (you might want it hotter if you're not using a dark/nonstick pan).  Line a square brownie baking dish with parchment paper, letting just a little bit peek out over the sides to make cleanup easier!

-Combine all of the brownie ingredients in one bowl and all of the pumpkin ingredients in another.  The brownie batter will be thick; you can add up to 1 C of water if you'd like the resulting brownies to be more fudge-like and less cake-like, but I really wanted something to stand up to the moistness of the pumpkin.

-Spread about 3/4 of the brownie mixture in the bottom of the pan.  Spread the pumpkin mixture evenly on top.  Spread the rest of the brownie mixture over the top in as even a layer as possible.  (I was going for a literal sandwich effect here, but as you can see, my layers were not very even.  It's cool- they're rustic.)

-Bake for 45-47 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Set the pan on a cooling rack for about 5 minutes, then lift the brownies out of the pan using the overhanging parchment paper and cool completely on the wire rack.  Then slice and enjoy!

What non-cake desserts do you like to make with boxed cake mix?

Much love,
The Geeks

Oh, Internet... {73}

I'm sitting here on the sofa on a Sunday afternoon when there are chores waiting for me that are not going to do themselves...

But first I wanted to share with you some of the best things I found on the internet this week:

A Beautiful Mess shared a simple and delicious buttermilk biscuit recipe.

A Pinch of Pixie Dust made me want to stay at the Yacht Club Resort in Walt Disney World next time we go...

Kaelah Bee looks adorable, as always.

And most importantly: Catholic All Year wrote everything you need to know about Cecil the lion and moral relativism.

Much love,
The Geeks

Oh, Internet... {69}

We're getting on an airplane tonight!

Like, really late tonight.

Like, 10pm tonight.

It was the only flight available that would allow us both to work a full work day today and still leave tonight as opposed to tomorrow (but only just).  Please, please say some prayers that we'll make it in one piece and with minimal tears and/or screaming...

More pleasant than a late night flight- the awesome things on the internet this week!

I don't want to be a girl boss.  Preach.  I'd like to make and do and create but I don't want to manage.  I will never make it to the boardroom, and I hate that modern feminism sees this as detrimental to womankind.

If you feed them, they will come.  I always thought it was a southern thing, but I, too, associate food with hospitality.

Finally: a defense of children at weddings!  Are kids loud and messy and unpredictable?  Yes!  Does that mean they will absolutely ruin your special day?  No!

And for some crafty inspiration:

10 Colorful Dip Dyed DIY Projects

5 Ways to Repurpose a Drawer

What awesome things happened on your internet this week?

Much love,
The Geeks

Twenty Random Things About Mrs Geek

1. In high school, I thought I was being called to the religious life.  I felt a yearning to do something that made the world a better place, a call to be a teacher, and a desire to travel the world.  This led me to the conclusion that I should become a nun and live in Africa and teach at a school for girls.  (It didn't hurt that the daughter of my parents' friends did that exact thing and then came and talked to our parish about it.)  I also assumed I would be a terrible mother and felt no real call towards motherhood, leading me to believe that I shouldn't get married.  Basically my logic worked like this- women who were good mom material became wives and mothers, and women who were not became nuns.  Ergo, I was destined for the habit.  I don't think my parents ever wanted that for me, though, because they continuously pointed out that I was a little boy-crazy and constantly in need of a boyfriend, which I couldn't have if I was cloistered away somewhere (or, you know, in Africa, but I think they were in denial about that bit).  But then a nun pointed out to my mom that being a nun doesn't mean you can't like boys, so that line of reasoning dried up after a while.  It doesn't mean I didn't really struggle with my discernment to a vocation, especially as my senior year boyfriend and I got ever more serious and I realized the benefits of a potential marriage and a lifelong partner.  Sometime in my freshman year of college, even as I was realizing that this boyfriend was not the right match for me, I all of a sudden felt an overwhelming call to motherhood- I needed to (one day) give birth to my own children, no question.  I still thought I'd be pretty bad at it and struggled with the idea that my potential future children would hate me, but I inexplicably knew that it was what I was supposed to do.

2. I've always wanted to be a redhead.  In middle school and high school, I pestered my mom to let me dye my hair or at least get highlights, but she never let me- she always said it wasn't a good idea to damage my hair when I was still so young, and I think secretly she was afraid the color would turn out awful and I didn't exactly need any help in the awkward department.  First I wanted a dark chestnut brown, then goth black, then strawberry blonde, then cobalt blue, then real ginger red...basically anything but my mousy, dirty blonde.  By the time I got to college, I still had an itch for red hair, and the ability to do something about it, but I never pulled the trigger.  After we got married, I did the whole post-wedding chop thing, and I promised myself that when it grew back out, the next extreme hair-makeover I did would be to finally dye it.  Buuuut then I got pregnant.  And then, you know, the baby was born.  And now I just don't have time to get my hair done (though if I did, I'd want more of a maroonish red with dark undertones).  But I feel like if I dye my hair red now people will just think I'm copying my (beautiful) daughter...

3. My drink of choice is a whiskey and Sprite.  Maker's Mark, to be specific.

4. Reese's Peanut Butter Cups are my favorite candy ever.

5. If I had to pick one city to live in for the rest of my life, I'd choose Blacksburg, VA.  It's a beautiful town and is consistently rated one of the best places to raise a family- it's not your typical college town.

6. I've performed with the Moscow Ballet.  It's really not as impressive as it sounds- when I was in middle school, they were touring their Nutcracker and auditioning for the children's parts in each town.  I auditioned and landed a role as a mouse for both the matinee and evening performance.  I know, I know, it's silly, but it was one of the only children's roles that had a part in both acts of the show, so I had considerable stage time compared to some of the other kids.  I brought my old pointe shoes and had some of the professional ballerinas sign them.

7. I secretly love Taylor Swift's music, even though I can't stand her as a person.

8. Hallowe'en is my favorite holiday because costumes!  Also candy!

9. If you're wondering what to get me for a gift-giving occasion, kitchen supplies are a safe bet.  Mr. Geek and I have a shared Google Document with a list of things I'd like for the kitchen in case he's ever stumped on what to get me.

10. Saint Augustine is my favorite saint.  Seven-year-old me had always seen saints as perfect, untouchable beings who I could never hope to live up to, but Saint Augustine was just a normal boy who became a very bad boy who completely turned his life around and made it to Heaven after all.  Of course, the more I studied the saints, the more I found stories of extreme conversion (which is kind of the point of saints), but Saint Augustine was the first to give me hope that holiness is truly achievable for all of us.

11. I hate snow.

12. Belle is my favorite Disney princess but Leia is a very close second.

13. Disney Imagineering has always been my dream job.  I'm still holding out hope that I'll get there one day.

14. Mr Geek and I recently discovered Archer and we LOVE it.

15. While I loved the Song of Ice and Fire book series, I'm not a huge fan of the TV show.  I only watched maaaaaybe half of season 1 of Game of Thrones and was just not impressed.  Part of what I like about the books is the pace- which, yes, is slow, because there is so much detail.  And not like Jules Verne details- it's not hundreds of pages describing the colors of the fish swimming by- but character-building details, so that when people do things that seem completely out of left field, it's at least not out of character.  The TV show, by nature of the medium, just feels so rushed by contrast.  Also I keep hearing about all the plot changes and I just have no desire to watch that, so.  Here's hoping he finishes the books...

16. I love the Disney show Gravity Falls.  Mr. Geek always asks me how old I am when he catches me watching it, and I tell him to shut up because it's super clever and funny.

17. I have a serious baby clothing habit.  I just can't help it.  Little Miss Chief has a completely full closet and I can't. stop. buying. it.

18. Iron Man is my favorite super hero because his super power is his BRAIN.  He's an engineer!  I mean seriously.

19. I'm not a beer drinker.  I'm not intentionally trying to be annoying or anything, I just prefer cider.

20. I'm very particular about the way I sort laundry.  I sort by color- like, individual colors- and then group like colors together so that in the end I do a load of whites, a load of darks, and a load of brights.  I could just sort them that way to begin with, but I have to have my process.

All right, there we go- 20 things!  What are some random things about you?

Much love,
The Geeks

Oh, Internet... {66}

*personal photo*

This week, someone showed us that she's capable of going down the slide by herself.  (And also that overalls are about the most adorable clothing item ever.)

This week, the internet showed us these things:

Jamie at Petite Panoply was way more fashionable for The Feast of Saint Patrick than I was in my green sweater and boring black trousers.

Carrots for Michaelmas shared a wonderful review of the new live-action Cinderella.  I think Mr. Geek and I are going to go see it next week when his mom is in town and can babysit for us and I am SO excited!

Catholic All Year explained what Solemnities are (yay dessert!).

A Beautiful Mess shared a really intriguing looking cheesy baked cauliflower dish that I'm itching to try!

Over on Weddingbee, Miss Clownfish discovered a bridal crop top to potentially wear over her wedding dress and it's totally not what it sounds like.

The Blue Angels flew over Main Street, USA in Walt Disney World!  I bet that was cool to watch!

A Pinch of Pixie Dust shared her Top 7 Desserts at the Magic Kingdom and my mouth is literally watering.

What happened on your internet this week?

Much love,
The Geeks

Oh, Internet... {64}

I'm posting this late, I know, but I still wanted to share with you some of my favorite things that happened on the internet this week!

I honestly don't think we should be giving people like Rob Bell the publicity that comes by talking about them, but Carrots for Michaelmas has written the best commentary I've read so far on the "controversy" of his comments.

Here is a great video about why porn is bad for you.  And yes, that's Russel Brand.  Yes, that Russel Brand.

The Killer B. Designs blog shared an awesome tutorial for a kids' activity table that has me itching to get my hands on some woodworking tools...

Better than Eden shared a delicious-looking recipe for homemade whole wheat sandwich bread that I'd like to try to make soon!

Miss Hammerhead is the newest blogger Bee over on Weddingbee and she sounds pretty awesome.  Go say hi!

I totally saw the dress as white with gold lace.  My life is a lie.

Jimmy Kimmel made a PSA about vaccinating your kids.

I cannot reasonably spend $90 on a new swimsuit, but if I could, I'd buy this one.

What are the coolest things you saw on the internet this week?

Much love,
The Geeks

Culinary Adventures: Pasta e Fagioli

Little Miss Chief is officially A Toddler now, which means that she's officially A Picky Eater.  Foods that she would eagerly devour just 6 months ago receive a violent head shake when they are offered to her now.

One food she doesn't reject?  "BEE!"   (Beans.)

She really, really enjoyed the black bean soup I made last month so I hoped she'd like this white bean soup recipe.  Thankfully, she loved it!

*personal photo*

Pasta e Fagioli
adapted from Jeff Mauro

-5 slices thick-cut bacon, sliced into lardons
-1 yellow onion, diced
-1/4 tsp dried oregano
-1/4 tsp dried basil
-1/2 tsp dried parsley
-1/2 tsp dried minced garlic
-1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
-1/4 C white wine
-1 1/2 C chicken stock
-1 1/2 C water
-2 15oz cans cannellini beans
-1 15oz can tomato puree
-1 C ditalini pasta
-1 C grated parmesan cheese

-Cook the bacon in a dutch oven until it's crisp and your kitchen smells divine.  You'll know it's ready when your husband and daughter start wandering towards the stove and wondering when dinner will be ready.  Remove the crisp bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.

-Add the onion, herbs, spices, and some salt to the bacon fat and stir until the onion is translucent but before it starts to brown (8-10 minutes).  Deglaze the pot with some wine and scrape up all the brown bits off the bottom; bring to a simmer.

-Pour in the chicken stock, water, beans, and tomato puree.  Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.  Let it bubble and thicken for about 30 minutes.

-For a thicker stew-like consistency, buzz the pot with an immersion blender for 30 seconds or so.  Or you could skip that step for a more liquid, soupy consistency.

-Add the pasta and cook until it's done, about 10 minutes.  Stir in the bacon and the cheese.

-Serve with another sprinkle of cheese on top and enjoy!

What kind of soups and stews are you making to keep warm in this endless winter?

Much love,
The Geeks

Oh, Internet... {63}

Yeah, I'm doing two of these this week :D  But there was just so much awesome on the internet that I want to share with you!!

Catholic All Year talks about why it's okay to read Harry Potter as a Christian (not that you needed to be convinced)

Oh, Joy! made funfetti cookies!

A DIY Guess Who board game?  Whaaaaat?  I need to make one of these...

A Pinch of Pixie Dust took us to A Bug's Land in Disneyland- yet another reason why I want to go check it out...

Penga at Sakacon, aka Mrs Sewing on Weddingbee, is PREGNANT!  Go wish her congratulations!!  (Side note: she's the reason I started reading and eventually applied for Weddingbee.  She's awesome.)

Jamie at Petite Panoply looks adorable in this red dress.  (Side note: I need to get me that red dress...)

What awesomeness happened on your internet this week?

Much love,
The Geeks

Oh, Internet... {62}

Soooo like I said earlier, that whole link-up thing was awkward.  So let's pretend like it didn't happen.

Lots of other awesome things did happen on the internet last week, though, so let's talk about them!

In Honor of Design shared these delicious looking sesame chicken potstickers!

Haley at Carrots for Michaelmas shared a very helpful guide to liturgical living this February.

...and her husband, Daniel Bearman, shared a beautiful reflection on how the Devil underestimates love.

Catholic All Year shared a great reflection on giving her children (lots of) responsibilities.  (For the record, no, we're not pregnant with kid #2 yet.  I just like to research.)

Lauren at Fizz and Frosting shared a big change that's coming for her family.  I completely understand her conflicted feelings; I would probably feel the same way if I were ever lucky enough to be able to make such a decision, and I would make the same choice she made.  (And I'm not gonna lie, I'm a little envious of her situation.)  Go read her post and give her some love!

Olivia at To the Heights shared 50 things to do on Valentine's Day instead of seeing "Fifty Shades of Grey".  Healthy, respectful relationships FTW!

So what were your favorite things on the internet last week?

Much love,
The Geeks

Let's Have a Chat #1: Answers

It's Friday- and not only is it Friday, it's link-up Friday!

Here are my answers for this month's link-up questions:

1. What are your goals for the year?  Do you have a plan to accomplish them?

Ah yes, the cliche resolutions post- but at the end of the month instead of the beginning!

This year, I want to do more from-scratch cooking again.  I love cooking and baking, but nowadays I have so little time, so frozen and pre-made meals are just so tempting- as are the takeout menus strewn across the counter.  My little toddler is slowly growing out of her clingy phase and learning to entertain herself while Mommy cooks, but still, after an entire day apart from each other, we both would rather cuddle than work and play separately when we get home at night.  She's too active for the Ergo- and besides, I feel like a front-carry position is a little dangerous when working near a hot stove or oven, and she is NOT a fan of the back-carry.  But, as I said, she's getting better at playing on her own and allowing me to spend more time working on dinner, so that, combined with more Sunday meal prep for the week, are how I plan to get more real meals on the table during the week.

Another goal is, like I said, to blog more, but that's a goal I have every year.  But I really do have great plans for this little blog this year...I hope you like it!

2. What's your favorite snow day activity?

Well, we have yet to have a snow day this year, which disappoints no one more than Mr. Geek.  In his opinion, the only benefit of living up north- as this is as far north as either of us has ever lived, here in Northern Virginia- is that from time to time, it snows enough to cancel work.  The entire month of January has now gone by with no days off!  When we do get the opportunity to be snowed in, my needs are simple- I good movie, a warm blanket, and some hot chocolate.  I've never particularly been a fan of sledding or snowmen, though I'd love the chance to really play in the snow with Miss Chief- though she seems to take after her Mommy when it comes to preferred snow day activities...

3. What is used more often in your kitchen this time of year- the oven or the slow cooker?

As much as I love to bake, I definitely find myself relying on my slow cooker more than my oven when it's cold outside.  I make this chili so much that I'm surprised Mr Geek continues to eat it, but I do sprinkle in this soup every now and then (although let's be honest, those recipes are super similar).  New goal- find some more soups to try!

Okay folks, it's your turn- answer any or all of these questions in a post on your blog and link up below!  The link-up is open all weekend.  I'm interested to read your posts!  Don't forget to include a link on your blog to this post!!!

Much love,
The Geeks

An InLinkz Link-up

Culinary Adventures: Black Bean Soup

I had every intention of making pasta fagioli for dinner on Wednesday night.  But on Tuesday night, after I went grocery shopping, I discovered I didn't have any cannellini beans in the pantry.  At all.  So it was time for a new game plan- I still wanted to make a soup, and I wanted to use only what I currently had on hand.

I didn't have any white beans, but I did have some black beans, so I found a recipe for black bean soup (which I didn't realize was a thing until I Google'd it).  I had to make some adjustments- for one thing, I cut the recipe in half, because I don't have 8-10 people to feed, and for another, I didn't have any onions or Worcestershire sauce.  The result is this delicious bowl of comfort that is sort of like a different take on taco soup- especially if you serve it with corn chips.  I found it to be just perfect with a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkle of cheddar cheese stirred in, and the toddler in our house, who has recently decided to be a picky eater, ate every single bite (and then some).  You could also go easy on the liquids and serve this with rice as more of a side dish than a soup, if you wanted.

*personal photo*

Black Bean Soup

adapted from Dave Lieberman

-5 slices of thick-cut bacon, sliced into thin lardons

-3 garlic cloves, finely minced

-1 C low-sodium chicken stock (more for a thinner soup, less for a thicker stew-y dish)

-1 (14.5oz) can diced tomatoes

-1 Tbsp ketchup

-splash of white wine (1 tsp?)

-dash of chili powder (couple tsp?)

-2 (15.5oz) cans black beans, drained

-1 (14.75oz) can corn, drained

-salt and pepper to taste

-1 tsp parsley

-juice of 1 lime

-sour cream and shredded cheddar cheese, for garnish

-Render the tiny bits of bacon in a dutch oven (or other heavy pot) over medium heat.  Once the bacon is crisp, toss in the garlic.

-Just when the garlic becomes fragrant- only about a minute- pour in the chicken stock, tomatoes, ketchup, wine, and chili powder.  Give it a stir, then add in the beans and corn and stir it some more.

-Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.  Let it bubble for about 10 minutes, then stir in the parsley.  

-Give it another 5 minutes and you'll notice it thickening up; squeeze in the lime juice, then season with salt and pepper.

-Top with a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkle of cheddar cheese, then enjoy!

**This makes about 5 or 6 servings, which was perfect for us- a serving each for dinner, then a serving each of leftovers.  Feel free to use the original amounts in the recipe- that is, double this recipe- if you're feeding a larger family or want to freeze half for later.**

What's your go-to pantry-raiding recipe?  Have you ever had to switch gears on your dinner plans when you noticed a key ingredient was missing?

Much love,

The Geeks

Oh, Internet... {61}

Hellooooooooo Friday!

This week, I discovered A Knotted Life and the nominees for her Sheenazing Awards- aka a nice long list of amazing Catholic blogs to read!  So now that I'm following some new blogs, my Oh, Internet posts will be peppered with some new sources of humor, education, and inspiration for you to check out.

Here are the most awesome things that happened on the internet this week:

I love these chess piece salt and pepper shakers at Anthropologie!

The Pioneer Woman shared a delicious recipe for butterscotch pudding which involves both butter and scotch.  Yes.  So much yes.

When I was pregnant, there were plenty of days when I felt lazy and useless.  Next time, I need to pull up this post from Better than Eden- The Pregnant Works of Mercy.

In light of yesterday's anniversary of the Roe v Wade decision, I think everyone should read this beautiful reflection that Haley wrote several years ago about her unplanned pregnancy, over on Carrots for Michaelmas.

What awesome things happened on your internet this week?

Much love,
The Geeks

Oh, Internet... {60}

Phew, what a week!  I went on a business trip, which meant five long days away from my little family, so I'm so excited to be home tonight!  I still managed to poke around some awesome things on the internet while I was out of town, and here they are:

Stir fry spaghetti squash (from A Beautiful Mess) sounds weird but looks pretty good!

Lauren from Fizz and Frosting is WAY more put together than I was when my little one was first born!

This tutorial from Infarrantly Creative looks really simple!  I'm going to need something like this soon as Chief gets older...

The adorable Oh Joy! has started a "Dressing the Babe" series that I'm excited to drool over from now on :)

"I didn’t marry The One, I married this one, and the two of us became one."  Matt Walsh speaks truth yet again, this time about our culture's warped perspective on true love and "soul mates".  In high school, I believed in the "soul mate" concept, but then I grew up and decided to get married.  Mr. Geek and I weren't brought together by the universe or fate- we made the conscious decision to be together, even though our lives had brought us to entirely different places (geographically).  We made the choice to get married, not because it was destined to be, but because we had the free will to make that decision.

Focused on the Magic gave us a look at all the upcoming Disney movies we have to look forward to!

We're not yet ready for Chief to be a big sister, but I'm still curious about how to prepare her for the transition once we are pregnant again.  Luckily for me, Kendra from Catholic All Year has offered her perspective!

What awesome things happened on your internet this week?

Much love,
The Geeks

Culinary Adventures: Minnie Mouse Cupcakes

Sorry for the silence last week- our house was full of family members!  Two of Chief's aunts, one of her great grandmothers, and all of her grandparents came to visit this week for various lengths of time.  Everyone was here for Thanksgiving (except one of my sisters, who had to go home and go to work that day, because people who shop on Thanksgiving really suck) so we had an epic first birthday party in lieu of the traditional Thanksgiving dinner.

with her favorite birthday present, her toy puppy

It was a Minnie Mouse-themed party, so I made some Minnie Mouse cupcakes.  They were a big hit with everyone, so I figured I'd share a quick tutorial for how I decorated them.

Minnie Mouse Cupcakes

-cupcakes
-chocolate frosting
-miniature creme-filled chocolate wafer cookie sandwiches (say that 10 times fast!)
-red decorating icing (in a tube or piping bag)
-white sugar pearls

-Frost the cupcakes with an even layer of the chocolate frosting.  You could pipe a swirled peak, but I find that to be too much frosting for my taste.

-Press two of the miniature sandwich cookies into the frosting side by side so that they're standing upright, like ears.

-Pipe a small line of red frosting in front of the ears from the midpoint of one to the midpoint of the other to serve as the bow.

-Carefully arrange the sugar pearls on the bow to serve as the polka dots.

-Devour!

For Mickey cupcakes, you could skip the bow.  You could also just use plain chocolate wafer cookies instead of the sandwich cookies, but I'll bet you can guess which is more delicious.  Use any flavor cupcake you want, but for maximum awesomeness, chocolate is best.

She loved it :)

What kind of cake did you make for your little one's first birthday party?

Much love,
The Geeks

Culinary Adventures: Creamy Stove Top Mac n Cheese

Last night, I wanted to make a super quick, super easy dinner.  Chief had already fallen asleep and it wasn't even 6:00 yet (she woke up a couple of hours later, but she just nursed for dinner and then went right back to sleep), so I knew that Mr. Geek and I had the luxury of eating something that was not-so-healthy- something that would be extra delicious with a glass of wine on the couch while we watched some Cutthroat Kitchen on the DVR.

Enter: macaroni and cheese.

I found Alton Brown's recipe for a stove top mac 'n' cheese and used it as a sort of guide- I didn't have evaporated milk or dry mustard, for example, and I'm anti-hot sauce, so I improvised with ingredients that are most definitely NOT the same thing, but the result was an ooey-gooey delicious pot of creamy macaroni and cheese which looks exactly like the stuff in the blue box, but tastes even better!

*personal photo*

Stove Top Mac n Cheese
Adapted from Alton Brown

-1/2 lb macaroni pasta (I used bowtie pasta)
-4 Tbsp butter
-2 eggs
-1/4 C heavy cream
-1 tsp dijon mustard
-salt and pepper
-8 oz sharp cheddar, shredded

-Bring a small pot of salted water to a boil; cook pasta according to package directions (mine was 8-10 minutes for al dente)

-Drain the pasta and lower the heat to low.  Melt the butter in the (now empty) pot; add the pasta back to the pot and coat with the butter.

-Mix the eggs, cream, mustard, and salt and pepper in a bowl.  Remove the pot from the heat momentarily and stir this mixture in.  Once it's thoroughly coated, return the pot to the heat and stir in the cheese.  Keep stirring until all the cheese is melted and the sauce looks nice and creamy.

If this were a side dish, you could probably get 4 servings out of it.  We managed to finish the pot as an entree :)  I think next time I might add a dash of paprika- because while hot sauce may not be my thing, this dish could probably use a little kick of something.

It's definitely not the healthiest thing I've ever made, but it was quick, easy, and exactly the sort of indulgence I needed midway through the work week.

What's your favorite weeknight comfort food?

Much love,
The Geeks

**my apologies for the crummy cellphone photo- I had no intention of sharing this recipe (which was really just a "I want some mac and cheese...this looks interesting...what if I add a little of this...") but when I shared the picture on social media, a couple of people actually asked for it!  So here you are!

Culinary Adventures: Roasted Acorn Squash Soup

Brr it's cold!  Did you get snow on Halloween where you are?  We didn't, thankfully, but it was still awfully chilly!  I really hate cold weather...but I really love all the trappings of fall- football season, cardigans and tights, pumpkin everything, and warm, delicious soup!

I picked up 4 acorn squash a few weeks ago for a recipe that I saw on Food Network's The Kitchen, but it turned out I only needed 2, so I decided to use the other 2 for a soup!  This is especially delicious when served with an ooey gooey grilled cheese sandwich on thick-sliced crusty bread.

*personal photo*

Roasted Acorn Squash Soup

-2 acorn squash
-olive oil
-salt
-pepper
-1 large carrot, peeled and roughly chopped
-1 garlic clove, peeled and roughly chopped
-1 C low-sodium chicken stock
-2 tsp cinnamon
-1/4 tsp ginger
-1/2 tsp dried sage

-Preheat the oven to 400F.  Cut each squash in half and scoop out the seeds- save them and toast them up later as a garnish for the soup!  Place the squash halves in a baking dish, flesh side up, and drizzle each with olive oil.  Generously season with salt and pepper.  Roast about 40 minutes, then allow to cool enough so you can handle them.

-Scoop the roasted flesh into the bowl of a food processor.  Add in the chunks of carrot and garlic.  Puree until smooth, drizzling in chicken stock as you go until you get the desired consistency.  (You may find that you want more stock to really thin it out, or less, if you squash were tiny to begin with.)  Depending on the size of your food processor's bowl, you might have to start pulsing before you add in all of your ingredients.

-Pour into a large soup pot and add the seasoning.  (For a little kick, add a pinch of red pepper flake or a dash of chili powder- or both!)  Bring to a simmer, stirring constantly.  Serve warm, topped with toasted seeds.

Once you add the puree to the pot, you can use an immersion blender to try and pulverize the mixture some more, but I left mine at a thicker texture.  When I asked Mr. Geek what he thought, he put on his best Chopped-judge voice and said, "Your flavors are great, but I have a problem with you calling this a soup, when it's clearly a puree."

Fair enough.

What do you like to eat when the temperatures drop?

Much love,
The Geeks

Oh, Internet... {55}

I didn't have a whole lot of time for the internet this week, so this roundup of the best bits of the internet is short:

The ModCloth blog talked about the historically inaccurate yet deliciously beautiful Sofia Coppola film Marie Antoinette, one of my all-time-favorite guilty pleasure movies.

A Beautiful Mess shared a recipe for homemade cookie butter made from any cookie flavor you want!  I'm gonna have to try this...

What happened on your internet this week?

Much love,
The Geeks

Oh, Internet... {54}

It's been approximately 1 million years since I last did an Oh, Internet... post, but I actually had time to look at the internet this week, so I figured I'd show you what I found!

I'm almost done sewing our family Hallowe'en costumes, but they are nowhere near as amazing as the ones that Make It and Love It makes for her kids!  (I'm trying not to feel inadequate...)

This one pot red wine pasta from A Beautiful Mess looks divine!

Carrots for Michaelmas shared a beautiful reflection on instilling positive body image in her children.

This tumblr is too perfect.

Kelly at View Along the Way is incredible- seriously, you should read every post at her blog!-  and she's begun chronicling her task to decorate a room in a safe house for women rescued from sex trafficking.  Isn't that amazing?

Shayla at Northern Exposure wrote about how awful it is when people say "just you wait" and tell you how terrible it is to have kids.  I hate this, too- why can't we share the positive parts of parenthood?  (Which, by the way, far outweigh the negative.)  I found that people offer the same negativity when I talk about how happily married we are- "Just you wait, the honeymoon phase won't last forever!"


What happened on your internet this week?

Much love,
The Geeks

Culinary Adventures: Pizza Pasta

I've got a recipe for you today that is so simple it's not even funny.  (Wait would it be funny if it were hard?)  I don't know about you, but pasta is sort of my go-to standby dinner for when I need something quick, easy, and tasty (which is every night).  I'm sure my darling husband is getting sick of the same old meat sauce- though, being the darling husband that he is, he'd never admit such feelings- so I'm constantly on the look-out for ways to switch up the old standby that still fall within the "quick, easy, and tasty) category.  Italian sausage was on sale during my grocery trip, so I snagged some with the intention of making pizza...but then I forgot to grab some dough.

And so we have Pizza Pasta- all the flavors of pizza in a pasta dish!

*personal photo*

 Pizza Pasta

-1 lb penne pasta (but this would honestly work with any pasta)
-olive oil
-1 lb sweet Italian sausage, casings removed (if you're feeling spicy, you could go with a hot sausage instead)
-1 clove garlic, minced
-1 16oz can diced tomatoes
-1 Tbsp dried basil
-1 Tbsp dried parsley

-Cook the pasta according to package directions.

-Meanwhile, add some olive oil to a pan and brown the sausage over medium heat.  Crumble it with a wooden spoon as you cook it (remember to remove it from the casing first!)

-Once the sausage is cooked through, add the garlic and saute until fragrant.

-Add the diced tomatoes and the herbs and lower the heat.  Cook, covered, until the pasta is done.  Drain the pasta and toss in the sauce.  Serve topped with shredded cheese (mozzarella to be authentic, but we only had cheddar and it was just as tasty).

What's your standby dinner?  How do you switch it up to keep things interesting?

Much love,
The Geeks