Rachael Eliker's Blog, page 56

Frosted Zucchini Brownies

There are so many great uses for zucchini, one of the most prolific veggies in anyone's garden, but imagine my surprise when I stumbled across a brownie recipe that was packed with zucchini. Huh. It's like practically eating a salad for dessert.
Ingredients:
Brownies
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 Tablespoons cocoa powder
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup grated zucchini, excess moisture squeezed out
1 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon sal...

Halo

There is a touch of divinity even in brutes, and a special halo about a horse, that should forever exempt him from indignities.

Herman Melville

Mini Cheese Puff Muffins

Way back during our annual Father's Day celebration, the girls and I decided to throw a Fogo de Chao themed dinner in honor of Jack, because he's just an awesome guy like that. We had some delicious pork loin, caramelized bananas, crunchy apple salad and these mini cheese puff muffins that were to die for. Hot out of the oven, they might as well have been from the restaurant!

Ingredients:

2 cups tapioca flour
1 cup whole milk
1/2 cup butter
1 teaspoon salt
5 ounces finely shredded Parmesan cheese
2...

Kindergarten and 2nd

Kindergarten, 2nd, and Envious Little SisterToday was the first day of school for Evelyn and Claire, the very, very first time Claire has ever been away from me for more than a few hours. It was incredibly bittersweet, as it should be, but the girls handled it like champs without a single hint of a tear as I dropped them off.
(Glad to know they aren't too dependent on me, I guess!) Anxiously awaiting a ride on the school bus.It started last night when I took Claire and the rest of the kids...

Summer Was...

Evelyn and Claire go back to school tomorrow (I know...Indiana has a ridiculous school schedule...boo!) and summer was so short, so hectic, so fun, so amazing. Here's some of the stuff that kept us busy these past few months of bliss... Can you spot the three adorable fluffballs? Baby chicks! Our mother hen, Licorice, is really getting the hang of hatching out adorable babies.
Thanks for the passes, Charlotte! Monster Mini Golf! They didn't quite get the idea of being the I of Indy...&...

Gondola Ride

I had planned this evening to go running after tidying up the kitchen following dinner, then having Jack help me put up some ceiling planks in the computer room before sending the kids to bed and unwinding while watching a show or two.

Instead, we rode on a gondola in downtown Indy. Henry really, really wanted to get in the water.We parked about a quarter of a mile away and Jack hurried off with the kids to get a head start, while I stuffed my purse under the seat and grabbed a bottle of w...

Henry's First Haircut

This shaggy-headed boy is ready for a haircut! For as long as Jack and I have been married, I've been cutting his hair, mostly to save money because Jack's hair grows like a weed. So, when Henry's hair started coming in and he was almost unrecognizable under all the scruff, I decided I'd tackle his first haircut. I consulted a few YouTube videos and a friend whose boy has equally prolific hair, I got out my hair cutting supplies and figured it'd be a ten-minute job.
Half an hour later, He...

Water Park

Welcome to the Eliker Water Park!While I was working on my next book manuscript before heading it to the editor (it's soooo close! The Midnight Slaves will be launched 15 Aug 2016!!), Jack took the girls outside to cool off. They'd been helpful getting the house tidied up that morning and with the first week of temps breaking into the nineties, it was too hot to do much else. I thought they were going to roll out the pool and fill it up....

Oh, no, no. Jack's much more creative than...

Mustache

In one week, Henry had four teeth come in. At that rate, I figured he'd have a mustache in no time.
It's coming in nicely.
(They grow up so fast!) 

Clifty Falls: Take Two

Thank you, nice stranger, for offering to take a photo of all of us!It's been over two years since we've been to Clifty Falls, so on Friday, when we decided the weather and timing was perfect and that we wanted to camp, we left right at dinnertime for the two hour drive. You'd think after being parents for over seven years that we would have learned that travel over mealtime isn't the best idea, but no. We haven't. Making cashew chicken for dinner. Yum!Once we picked our spot at the bumpi...