Photo shoot with Mister Boo

I like taking pictures. I just don't want to be one of 'those' people who carry around their Nikon SLR 20 lb camera to take pictures during every waking second of the day to capture that *one* picture you can brag about. I also don't have a bag to readily carry my camera in. It is a serious issue that creates a need for a messenger bag, yes I need one. I'd take this one or that one really, and then I saw this lovely thing! Ha! Etsy sure has some creative peeps over there. ;) 

So when I thinking about how to fill up my 12 hour day with mister boo diddy, taking pictures naturally sneaks in and fills a void. It also makes my arms tired and sore with North in one arm and the camera in the other. I am suffering quite a bit for art; so much so that I didn't realize my camera was on manual as I was happily shooting away. The short: all the pictures turned out a bit fuzzy and the color was off, so I doctored them a bit and I think they turned out quite cute, for my liking anyways. 

Oooh, auntie loves you so much. *warm fuzzies*

-Marci

Dog Mountain Hike with Lila

My dear friend and blogging partner, Lila, traveled up to Portlandia for a visit and, 'surprise!' to also be co-nanny with me for a few days. :) North was a love bug for us and even agreed to go to daycare (we *might* have left him there all day and were a little late in picking him up, shh, don't tell!) to allow for a beautiful hike up Dog Mountain along the Columbia River. Isn't he a doll?

Mr. Boo even consented to a short photo shoot, although he wasn't smiley about it

 

Alas, back to Dog Mountain. It was a spectacular hike, dotted with shady walks through berry bushes and lush ferns, as well as hillsides painted with beautiful wildflowers. It was a tough, that hike. Thank goodness for awesome views and friendly banter to get us to the top. Dog Mountain hike is about 7 miles RT and 2800' elevation gain=sore everything the next day. Were the hillsides also abundant with dogs like I wished? I'll let the pictures tell you.

Seriously, it couldn't have been more of a beautiful, wildflowery hike. And of course, none the better where company is concerned. :) Did you catch all the dogs along the hike? Yeah, me neither. So, the hike didn't live up to its name, but it sure put on an impressive Washington wildflower show for the California girls.

-Marci

Chile Verde Tacos *Recipe*

I have been cooking up a storm this past month, as it is one of my nanny duties for my sister-family,  and it has made me, oh, so happy to get back into my normal routine pre-teaching credential program. Cooking really is an art form, I think. The ingredients are the media and the meal is the finished piece of art. Cooking helps me feel creative and innovative in my daily routine and without it, the day just isn't as bright as the rainbow swiss chard or ruby, red beets that decorate my plate.

I made chile verde tacos last week, and while it wasn't my prettiest meal I have made, it was pretty easy and very yummy.

Chile Verde Tacos

1lb pork tenderloin
2 cans of 28oz chile verde sauce (or homemade tomatillo sauce)
1 bunch of chard, chopped (any color of the rainbow)
1 large onion, thinly sliced
Block of cotija cheese, use generously
Soft corn tortillas

Preheat oven to 250 degrees.

Cut pork tenderloin in approx. 1 inch squares and put in a 13x9" glass dish. Pour chile verde sauce over pork tenderloin pieces until they are covered. Place in oven and cook for about 3 hours, checking every hour to stir.

That 'Baby's Only' formula is going to haunt all my kitchen pictures

 

With about 30 minutes left until the chile verde pork is done, begin to chop onion and add to oiled pan on low-medium heat. Cook for about 15-20 minutes, or until brown and caramelized. Next, add chard until it cooks down and is soft.

Sliced, but not caramelized yet

 Caramelized: gooey sweetness

 Chopped

Caramelized, rainbowy goodness

Heat tortilla shells and serve with moist, tender pork, chard and onion mixture, and sprinkled with cotija. 

Delicioso y facil!

Buen provecho!

-Marci