Photo a Day in July #25

25.  Heart

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BABY!!
(He was sleepy this morning.  ;)

I have been planning to make Zach cake batter pancakes for his birthday for months.  However, I decided last minute not to make cake batter ones because we had an orientation session today, and Zach has to speak in front of all of the students, and it makes him nervous so he gets kind of sick, and I knew some people at work were bringing him a cake, so he would have that on his stomach.  Long story short, I didn't think he needed more cake, especially not cake first thing in the morning.

But I still made him pancakes...and I added some chocolate chips and sprinkles to make them festive.  *cue party times*  Since I've learned it's much easier to make pancakes using a squeeze bottle, I decided to try my hand at making shapes.  The stars didn't turn out very well, but the hearts were PERFECT.  :)  I am terrible at making pancakes, but I decided this morning that the skillet I usually use does not need any extra butter when making pancakes...otherwise, they end up burning in the pan.  These were lovely.  I even made some whipped cream and sprinkled some sprinkles on top along with sliced strawberries and turkey bacon.  The best part is that there were some leftovers, so tomorrow will bring a yummy breakfast as well.  :)

Despite it being a crazy day at work, I think Zach had a great birthday.  He got a delicious chocolate cake and a card from co-workers with a few other treats, and then tonight, I cooked, per his birthday request, my Shake 'N Bake chicken, homemade mashed potatoes, buttered corn, and Red Lobster biscuits.  His best friend from childhood joined us for dinner and brought him a LEGO set and some booze, so he was happy.  While they were building, we enjoyed ice cream cake, and then Zach opened his present from me.  (It was a LEGO set he picked out.  He even ordered it but had it sent to me.  *lol*  He said next year we are surprising each other since this year I wanted money to go shopping.  But honestly, I can't keep up with what LEGO sets he has, so this was a weight off my shoulders.  *tehe*)  It's hard to believe we have been together for four birthdays now!

Menu Monday: MINTED CARROTS

Now the carrot is a much beloved vegetable in this household. I used to hate cooked carrots, but have learned that they were often overcook--you have to master that fine balance between tenderness and mush. I don't like mushy carrots. I like them to have a bite. That's probably why I have always loved raw carrots. I never needed any ranch or dip with them either when I was a kid (as so many do). They are a nicely sweet vegetable.

So I decided to go with a vegetable I know and love and mix it. Zach said these MINTED CARROTS might be the best he has ever tasted (!). :)

MINTED CARROTS

-Using either fresh or frozen peeled and sliced carrots--I used frozen crinkle carrots, which are fun--boil them in salted water until tender.

-In the meantime, melt 1/4 cup butter and a 1/4 cup honey with a 1/2 teaspoon salt.

-Once it get boiling, remove from heat until the carrots are done. (Isn't that spoon holder awesome? Zach got it for me for Christmas--it was in my stocking--and this was actually the first time I really needed to use it. I think it is from the Michael Graves line at Target...)

-Drain the carrots and add them to the glaze. Heat until the glaze is cooked down to almost nothing.

-Sprinkle with some dried or fresh mint, and there you go: MINTED CARROTS! (I used some of the mint I grew last summer and dried in my oven. By the time I got around to drying some, most of it had died off from the heat, but I rescued a TON of basil dried. It made the house smell heavenly!)

I served these carrots with scalloped potatoes, peas, and Red Lobster biscuits (a.k.a. cheddar bay biscuits--very easy to make as well). I think those biscuits are Zach's favorite though I recently made 7-Up biscuits, which are supposed to taste a lot like the ones from Popeye's, and I think they may be challenging the Red Lobster ones. I will share the recipes for those some day.

It was a scrumptious meal on veggie night!