The Reaves Family

Friday, April 16, 2010

Going Local

I love going to new places in Austin. It seems like every holiday or special occasion( or really most of the time we go out)I start researching new places to go check out and try. I like checking out local places, whether its trying out a new restaurant, a dessert joint, a park, shop or activity. AND, I also love going back to the faves that I return to again and again. So, I've decided to periodically post about places in Austin that I have tried or been to that I have liked and share them with you. I hope that you will enjoy learning about new places in Austin and maybe share some of your experiences too.

My first "review" is about Freddie's Place. I never went to this place until last summer. But, we have been there since then a few times. It is a great place to take the kids. It did seem like there were lots of folks there without kids though too, and that seemed to be having a great time. But, for us, we take the kids. If you know me, you know I love to eat outside any chance I can when the weather is good. So, we have only ever eaten outside there. We sit at rustic tables underneath a lot of huge trees. There is a playscape, so the second we arrived, the kids headed over to play.

Derek and I ordered our drinks and chatted. I usually get a Margarita(or 2). And, they are really good. Derek sticks with beer, which is his thing. It is great because we don't see the kids till the food arrives- Derek and I hang out, the kids play- great for us all! There is usually live music and it starts early, like 6, so you don't have to wait along time or be out really late to hear it. We love listening to live music and so do our kids.

It is such a fun Austin thing to do to go and listen to music! B sat in the chair for a long time and just chilled and listened to the music.

Brooklyn sat for a bit, then wanted to get up and boogie!

My food was good. I ordered the chicken burger this time. I added swiss cheese and mushrooms. It was a nice portion and not so huge as it often is at places. It was pretty good. The fries were great!! I love a good fry! The kids got burgers and there wasn't anything left on the plate. Hubby got chicken fried chicken and liked it ok. He said it was a little small for him, but he really eats alot.

The food isn't the draw really, its the atmosphere and live musica nd that our kids get to run around and play and have a blast! And, so do I as Derek and I get to sit and visit with each other! You should check this place out if you are looking for a relaxing time with the fam.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Peanut Butter and Chocolate- a great combo

Brooklyn loves to bake! Almost every day she has some suggestion of a baked good to make,- banan bread, cupcakes, brownies, muffins, etc. We don't always make something, but the other day, I had some leftover Easter candy- Mini Reece's peanut butter cups-that I kept eating, so I decided we needed to make something using those to get them out of my hands. I found this recipe of Paula Deen's on the Food Networks website. It is for Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies. It uses a chocolate brownie mix and then you add peanut butter chips or mini reece's cover with more mix and voila, you are done.These are so easy to make and taste great. We enjoyed them right out of the oven, but the kids have been enjoying them this week as well. Here is some pictures of Little Miss doing her baking...

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Cousins

We are so glad that Kurt, Suzy, Shaelyn, Jackson and Hallie have moved to Round Rock!! We love having family close by. And, while we don't get to see them as often as we'd like, we always have a fun time when we do get to see them. Derek and I enjoy hanging out with Kurt and Suzy. And, all of the kids love being together. They have so much fun and get along well. And the other night when we were all out to dinner, the pack of cousins attacked a little girl who was being mean to Brooklyn. It was sweet to see them all stand up for one of their own. And, maybe a tad scary for the little girl...

Monday, April 12, 2010

Simple Perfect Enchiladas

I recently discovered these enchiladas from The Pioneer Woman's cookbook. They are so good and everyone in my family loves them, yes even the kids, which is always a plus! I often make chicken enchiladas, so it is nice to have a change with the beef. They are on the menu again this week for us. Yummy! And there are pictures on the PW website if you like that sort of thing, which I do. I serve with corn casserole with green chilies and chips and salsa. Also, I omit the olives as a personal preference.
Cook Time: 20 Minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Servings: 6

Ingredients
FOR THE SAUCE:
1 Tablespoon Canola Oil
1 Tablespoon All-purpose Flour
1 can (28 Ounce) Enchilada Or Red Sauce
2 cups Chicken Broth
½ teaspoons Salt
½ teaspoons Ground Black Pepper
2 Tablespoons Chopped Cilantro
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FOR THE MEAT:
1-½ pound Ground Beef
1 whole Medium Onion, Finely Diced
2 cans (4 Ounce) Diced Green Chilies
½ teaspoons Salt
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FOR THE TORTILLAS:
10 whole (to 14) Corn Tortillas
½ cups Canola Oil
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TO ASSEMBLE:
3 cups Grated Sharp Cheddar Cheese
½ cups Chopped Black Olives
1 cup Chopped Green Onions
½ cups Chopped Cilantro
Preparation Instructions
Step #1 – The Sauce In a large saucepan over medium heat, add oil and flour and whisk together to make a paste, cooking for one minute. Pour in the red sauce, chicken broth, cilantro, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 30-45 minutes.
Step #2 – The Meat Brown the meat with onions in a skillet. Drain off fat. Stir in 2 cans diced green chilies and seasoned salt. Set aside.
Step #3 – Tortillas Heat canola oil in a small skillet over medium heat. One by one, using tongs, fry tortillas in oil until soft, not crisp – about 30 seconds per side. Remove to a paper—towel lined plate. Repeat until all tortillas have been fried.
Step #4 – Assembly Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Pour ½ cup red sauce in bottom of baking pan. Spread to even out. Dip each tortilla into red sauce, then remove to work surface. Spoon meat, a little grated cheese, a little black olives, and green onions in the center of tortilla. Roll up and place, seam down, in baking pan. Repeat until pan is filled. Pour extra red sauce over enchiladas. Top with remaining cheddar cheese.
Bake for 20 minutes or until bubbly. Sprinkle cilantro over enchiladas before serving.

A few questions...

Ok first, its about feeding the sitter- I feel like I always have the same thing on hand for the babysitter to eat when she comes over to watch the kids. Usually its pizza of some kind, maybe some pasta dish. But, it has to be boring for her. So, what do you feed your sitter?

Next, I am wanting to print out my blog. I know that I have read on some of my friends blogs that you have done that. So, if anyone has printed there blog and liked how it turned out, can you share where you had it done?

Friday, April 9, 2010

Out at the farm...

Class pictures(the siblings think they are in Kinder too)

Barrett's Kindergarten class went to Crowe's Nest Farm today. So, Brooklyn and I (along with alot of the other parents and siblings) decided to tag along. It was a really fun day for the kids. And, it was the perfect day for visiting the farm too. We saw lots of farm animals, went on a hayride, watched a cow get milked, went to the fairy garden, the kids ran around in the fields and even went into the pet cemetery. We were all wiped out, but it was a fun thing to do with Barrett's class.

Buddies Eddie, Jack & B