For Noell (and other Masaman fans)

I told my friend Noell that I'd get this recipe to her, and since I've had a few other people ask for it, I'm posting it here.  This is a favorite at our house and at my brothers as well.  The recipe I'm including will easily feed a family of 5-6!  Enjoy!

The ingredients for Masman (Masaman, Musaman, etc) are fairly simple.  Chicken (can be made without), coconut milk, masman paste, potatoes, cashews, and the secret ingredient (a TBSP or two of sugar).  You can add more vegetables (onions and carrots) depending on what you like. I've found that red potatoes work well because of the extra flavor.  

Cut up two chicken breasts and cook in a skillet.  Set aside.

Cut into bite size and boil roughly 10 red potatoes (or 3-4 regular potatoes)

Put two cans of coconut milk into a pot and heat on medium.  Add approx. 1/4 cup masman paste (this is where it gets tricky....if you like it spicy add more.  Each time I make the curry it ends up tasting a little different depending on how much of the paste you put in).  It takes a while for the paste to break up, but make sure that it's all smooth or you'll have one heck of a spicy bite if you get too much paste clumped together!)

Put in two TBSP of regular sugar.  This tip was given to my brother by the owner of Thai Village in Orem.  It seems to make all the difference.

Add potatoes, chicken and 1/2 cup of cashews (I like the salted ones from Costco).  

Let simmer for about 10-15 minutes to let all the flavors mix.  

Serve over rice.

You can find the coconut milk at most grocery stores in the Asian cooking section.  

The masman paste might be a little harder to find.  We buy ours at Chao's in Provo, but I know you can find it at other places as well.  Just look for an Asian market in your area and they should carry it.  
Happy Cooking!

Magic of the Glue Gun

I might have a problem.  I started making a few hairbows for Jane and got a little carried away.  The funny thing is that she really doesn't like them in her hair.  I think they are so stinking cute and I'm trying to get the most out of my one little girl before we have yet another testosteroned filled boy enter the Rubert house.

Perfect Christmas Light Day

From the moment Jane woke up this morning she was begging David to let her get on the roof to help put up Christmas lights.  She was a patient little girl waiting most of the day playing with her friends, asking every so often if it was time to get on the roof.  

While she didn't exactly "help," she had a great time playing with one of her stuffed animals while David put up the lights.  We got all the lights up today and I'm thrilled that we can check that off our little (or not so little) list of things to do.  Next it will be my job to decorate the inside of the house....but I'm waiting at least until next Saturday.

I suppose I could've moved the trash can and bags of leaves, but give me some credit....I took this photo in my robe at 8:30pm and had to get inside fast--it's COLD tonight!

Moving Day

We moved the kids into their own bedrooms!

It's not as cramped as it looks and it makes our house seem a lot larger :)  Okay, so actually we moved Max and Jane downstairs.  They are both thrilled about it.  They are right next to each other and both LOVE that they have big beds.  It will free up another room so Blake and the new little boy will have their own rooms. Hopefully that will facilitate sleeping through the night faster this time!

They are not decorated or done up yet, but at least you get the picture.  Max is thinking he wants a Pokemon themed room and has already enrolled some of his friends to help him draw Pokemon figures all over the walls (that will not be happening....however we are going to put up posters frames that he can change with his drawings whenever he feels the need).

Jane is going back and forth between Hello Kitty and Princesses.  We'll see what she finally ends up with, but for now she's just happy that she kicked mom out of her sewing room and has a desk in her room where she can draw.

All in a days work.

I love the look on his face.  "Don't bother me, I'm working here!"

Jane put some hairbands on her arm this morning and I told her she looked just like Rainbow Brite.  Of course that is just too old school for her, but once I found some coloring pages of the retro-Rainbow she fell in love instantly.
Max doing what he does best.  Reading (and playing gameboy) although the two don't really go well together, he is working on his multi-tasking abilities.

Tax write off.

Another fun New York story.  

I took a few of my bagettes to New York hoping to pass by some cute boutique shops and drop off a bag or two with my business card inside.  I carried a few with me wherever we went and as it turned out I was able to give 3 bags out to celebrities!

The first bag I gave went to Marcia Cross when we were waiting in the stand-by line to get into Regis and Kelly on Monday morning.  She drove into the little garage and I literally caught her eye and showed her the bag and although she didn't get out of the car, she saw the bag and I tossed it under the garage door as it was coming down.  When the door opened 5 minutes later (after she had gotten out of the car) the driver of the towncar had the bag in the front of the car.  Hopefully she liked it.

After we didn't get in for Regis and Kelly we took the subway to South Manhattan for lunch at Katz Deli.  While we were there Mare Winningham came and sat down at the table next to us.  I gave her a bag too.  She was so cute about it.  As I was walking away my mom heard her say "that was so cute of her" and she held it up for her lunch date to see.  She was very kind and sweet.
So the last bag that I gave was to Lauren Conrad.  And if you are thinking "Who is Lauren Conrad" then you're with me.  Apparently she is uber-famous and I guess all the paparazzi were waiting outside the Late Show with David Letterman was proof of that.  I actually took this photo as she came out and a few minutes later I gave her a bag.  She said "cute" and then handed it to another girl in her entourage.  

Who knows what will happen with any of the bagettes that I "donated," but I tell you what, if it helps me count my trip as a tax deduction then I'll take it!

Happy Halloween

This little froggy costume has made it through 3 children.  Hopefully it will make it to kid #4.

Jane decided she wanted to be a witch.  We braided her hair and put ring spiders through the braids, painted her face and she couldn't be happier.
Max wanted to be a skeleton but we didn't get to the store in time.  He had to settle for the grim reaper which he seemed to enjoy just fine. 
Our evening ended with Blake puking on the front porch after eating too much candy and Max and Jane falling asleep around 8:30.  It was a great Halloween with an early evening.  Mom actually got to bed at 9:30!  Happy Halloween!