spinach + artichoke dip

Recipe from Houston's Restaurant -- the best!!! 

(2) 10 ounce boxes frozen spinach (thawed)

1/4 cup butter

1 tbsp minced fresh garlic

2 tbsp minced onion 

1/4 cup flour

1 pint heavy cream

1/4 cup chicken stock

2 tsp fresh lemon juice

1/2 tsp hot sauce

1/2 tsp salt

2/3 cup grated fresh pecorino romano cheese

1/4 cup sour cream

1/2 cup shredded white cheddar

12 ounce jar artichoke hearts- drained, coarsely chopped

Strain spinach and squeeze thru kitchen towel to remove liquid. Chop, set aside. 

In a medium saucepan, saute garlic and onion in butter until golden, 3-5 minutes. 

Stir in flour, cook for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in cream and stock and cook until boiling. 

Then stir in lemon juice, hot sauce, salt, and romano cheese; stir til cheese is melted. 

Remove from heat and allow to cool 5 minutes, stir in sour cream, then fold in dry spinach and 

artichoke hearts. Sprinkle cheddar on top. Pour into baking dish and pop in oven to melt cheese.

ENJOY! 

(i usually don't have sour cream or hot sauce, so i just don't add any. still comes out great. also, i usually end up adding more chicken stock.. just play around with it til the consistency looks right to you.)

6 months

stats:

height: 28 1/4 inches 94%

weight: 19 lbs 80%

sleeping: 7ish to 6:30 5:30ish 

(usually with a feeding somewhere in there) 

size 12-18 months clothes, 4 in diapers

for the record, he's perfect. 

:)

lately...

this past week or so was a little more crazier than usual.

one of my friends had to be away for 2 weeks 

helping her parents with the aftermath of an oregon landslide. 

so, long story short -

we had the privilege of keeping her children during the weekdays

while their daddy was in class. 

it was super fun and insightful getting to play mom of 4 for a little bit. 

(shout out to mom - you're amazing!!)

the girls are incredibly sweet and well mannered. 

we had a nice little routine down

and they even took naps at the same time in the afternoons. 

i think it helped that the 3 oldest were girls. 

we made smoothies, 

colored, painted, did puzzles, 

hot glued a wreath, 

watched babe, danced on the bed, 

made fruit loop necklaces....

not sure what i would've done if i had all boys!!!

\

thanks to:

mom, for the cute kitchen towel and fridge magnets.

aunt kathryn, for the paints. big hit.  

aunt gen, for the bathrobe ivy adores. 

eli, for balancing us out a bit! 

hope you all had a nice weekend! 

happy february

ivy & adelynn's valentine's wreath

this makes my little heart happy!