Here is the second part of Life of The Bullocks. To read earlier posts, check out shaybullockfamily.blogspot.com.

Friday, November 8, 2013

Roasted Spaghetti Squash Seeds & Lemon Garlic Spaghetti Squash

We failed to carve pumpkins this Halloween, which means we didn't roast pumpkin seeds. No worries. Yesterday as I sliced open the spaghetti squash I was prepping for dinner, I thought why can't I just roast these seeds? They look just like pumpkin seeds. So I did.

I cooked both the seeds and the squash together in a 375 degree preheated oven. I'll provide the recipes for both. I pulled the seeds out at the 30-minute mark (You can smell when they are done.) and let the squash bake for another 30-minutes.



Roasted Spaghetti Squash Seeds
Ingredients:
1 Spaghetti squash
Non-stick cooking spray
1-2 Tbsp. Soy sauce
1/8 C. Brewers yeast
Dash of Sea Salt

Procedure:
Slice the squash length-wise and pull the seeds out. Separate the seeds from as much of the stringy stuff as possible, but don't fret if it's not all the way string-free. Spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray then spread the seeds on the sheet. Spray the top of the seeds with cooking spray as well. Pour the soy sauce and brewers yeast over the seeds. Add a dash of salt. Move the seeds around to evenly coat all the seeds. Bake at 375 degrees for 30-minutes.

Lemon Garlic Spaghetti Squash
Ingredients: 
1 Spaghetti squash, seeded
Non-stick cooking spray
Salt & pepper, to taste
1/4 C. Butter
2-3 Garlic cloves, minced
1-2 tsp. Lemon juice
Rosemary, optional

Procedure:
Slice the squash length-wise and deseed. Spray the flesh of the squash with cooking spray and add a dash of salt and pepper. Place flesh side down on a greased cookie sheet and bake at 375 degrees for 60-minutes.

When squash is finished baking, melt butter in a large frying pan over medium heat. Sauté garlic in butter for about 1 minute. Meanwhile, scoop the flesh of the squash from the peel.

Add squash to the garlic butter. Pour lemon juice over the top. Add salt, pepper and rosemary to taste. Continue to cook until heated through, stirring occasionally.        

The seeds were super tasty and proved to be a delicious pre-dinner snack. They were even kid approved!

Thursday, November 7, 2013

1st Belt Advancement

Cayben has been in karate since the beginning of September. He has progressed quickly and most importantly is loving it. Today he had his first belt test.
Cayben is in the middle.
He is doing so well. He skipped a belt and progressed to an orange stripe. Way to go kid! You saved me $10. ;)


My Mechanics

Last night our car's check engine light came on, and guess who fixed it this morning! My very own Shay and Cayben! This was a nice change from the typical $1000 check I write to the mechanic every time something needs fixed with our vehicles. Plus, it was super cute watching my 6-year-old using a ratchet under the hood of the car. Enjoy!

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

2 Visits in 4 Months

One of the BIG reasons we chose to move to Reno from beautiful California was to be closer to home. We're already reaping the benefits!

Grandma and Grandpa Bullock met us here in July when we were house hunting; Shay's brother and family met us here later that week; my parents, Heather, Jim and Jorie came the week after we moved here in August; we went to Idaho in September; AND SHAY'S PARENTS CAME AGAIN TO VISIT US LAST WEEK! I'm loving this!

Shay's parents came last Wednesday and went back home on Monday. We spent our time enjoying each other, eating, shopping, watching Embrie's first dance performance, trick-or-treating and going to the movie theater.

Here we are ready to go trick-or-treating.




Getting ready to watch Despicable Me 2. Cayben and Embrie were snuggled up together the whole time.

And I got to share a couch with just my man… and Solee a bit. She wandered around mostly.

Saturday, November 2, 2013

"You Can Dance If You Want To"

Embrie's dance studio was invited to perform at a school carnival. Embrie is quite the little performer. She positioned herself front and center for both dances. She danced so wonderfully. I was nearly in tears watching from backstage.



"You can leave your friends behind, but if your friends don't dance…then they're no friends of mine."

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Halloween Grub

If you know me at all, you know I don't like cooking…UNLESS I have something fun to make. I have made it a tradition to make Halloween-inspired food the week of this fabulous holiday. It is always fun! Yes. I am admitting that cooking can be fun. Here goes with the fun food and drinks we enjoyed.

On Monday night I made Stuffed Jack-O-Lantern Peppers using this delicious recipe and Mummy Veggie Dogs for my kiddos, vegetarian son included.



On Tuesday we intended to eat the left-overs. It didn't happen.

On Wednesday Grandma and Grandpa were to arrive pretty late, so I didn't plan for dinner, but just had a few snacks instead. (Yes, my in-laws came to visit for Halloween! I'll blog about that awesomeness later.) We had Bloody Eyeballs, Vampire Donuts and a 5-layer bean dip. WARNING: The Bloody Eyeballs can be a trick along with a treat if you don't allow for enough dry time for the food coloring. My son ended up getting red food coloring all over his hands and our ottoman. Eeek! They were less messy in the evening though.




On Halloween we had a late lunch at a Japanese teppanyaki restaurant, which was a treat in itself, so we skipped out on dinner. Plus you're just suppose to eat candy for dinner on Halloween, right? Anyway, after trick-or-treating we had ourselves Shirley Temples, in fun fashion of course! These are simply made from lemon-lime soda over ice with a shot of grenadine in the syringes. My RN husband and former CNA mother-in-law were pretty grossed out by these fancy drinks. Haha!



On Saturday evening we had Pumpkin Rolls, chicken noodle soup and Candy Corn Fruit Cups. These are the rolls before they were baked. They sort of resemble pumpkins. 


After baking they looked more like gourds, if we're being euphemistic.



 On Sunday we ate a mini Thanksgiving feast. I'm already onto the next holiday!

Saturday, October 26, 2013

Bike Love


Shay and I went on our first Nevada mt. bike ride together! Desert riding was a bit different than I'm used to, but the moments of thick sand and the lack of trees did not ruin my ride in any way. I loved it! I loved being with my man! 


King of the Rock!