Steak Wraps... Yummy!

Here is the menu for tonight... a flank stake, tomato and basil feta cheese, portabella mushroom, bacon and spinach steak wrap with bread and spinach salad.  This menu is so versatile and fun to make!  You can substitute the bacon with prochutto, the spinach with basil or parsley, the feta with moscapone or parmesan, blue cheese... the mushrooms with roasted red bell peppers... the sky is the limit!   

This is the most important part... beating the steak so that it is super flat... tenderize it from both sides and salt and pepper it because this will help get the juices going!

I chose crumbled feta cheese, spread it out and crushed it with a butter knife, but there are so many options!

We used bacon and portabella mushrooms in nice layers.  You only need a thin layer of each so that the rolls aren't too thick.

And the final layer, spinach! 

Roll the steak up and tie cooking twine around it to create as large of rolls as you would  like.  put salt and pepper on each side.  Cut between the strings.  The ends get a little tricky, just make sure that you tie those strings much tighter because your roll will probably be smaller on the end, which is perfect for kids.  If you run out of string or don't have any, you can use skewers (see below on top right of cookie sheet).  

After they are rolled and cut, place the rolls on a tin-foil covered baking sheet and spread olive oil on each side with salt and pepper.  

Cook in the oven at 375 for 10 minutes on each side, then, broil for 5 minutes.  We served these with some warmed bread and spinach salad.  

A couple things to remember... 1) sanitation: because you are beating the steak, sometimes a little blood or some steak juice splatters a bit... just make sure you clean up really well  2)  the cook time may need to be adjusted depending on how thick your steak is  3) your grocery store may have a meat tenderizer that does the hard work for you, so ask!

Broom Ball

Lisa, Stephanie and I were trying to stay warm!  

Action shot.

Jesse is starting a game here.... note the knee pads and gloves (a must!)

The Hitler mustache... always a hit!

On Wednesday night we had an awesome time with our high school ministry at the Well.  We went down to Isoplex and got to hang out on the ice and play some broom ball.  For those of you who are unfamiliar with the activity, a bunch of (crazy) people run onto the ice (in tennis shoes) and try to score (much like hockey) only with a round ball and plastic broom shaped sticks.  The minor challenges of the night included acclimating to the temperature in the ice arena... one kid who was having a hard time breathing and most of all, (for me because I wasn't running around) STAYING AWAKE!!! We had a blast none the less!   This would be a great group activity!

Bookies... Brookies... Cownies

So, while we were in Carmel, we decided to make what I call Bookies.  This is a combination of cookies and brownies.  It's been done many times, however, this was my first.  It was really good!!!  What I did was take brownie mix (out of a box), mixed that up and put it into a greased pan and then made home made chocolate chip cookie mix (follow the back of a Nestles chocolate chip bag... and don't add extra flower).  It was so delicious, it felt more like a cake then cookies or brownies.  

Eventually we warmed them up in the microwave and put some vanilla ice cream over them!  Great for entertaining!

  

Garrapata Park

On thursday night (late) we drove to carmel after our last softball game.  We were so tired because we usually go to bed around 10:00... I had to sleep but Jesse stayed strong and we arrived at 12:15 ish.  Luckily we had a Wawona Peach to keep Jesse awake!  We went to lunch at a burger joint and then went on a little excursion to Garapata State Park.

Garapata State Park is just eight miles south of Carmel.  It was so beautiful!  As we drove there, the coastline was rocky with cliffs and there was one stretch of about one mile of sandy beach.  The sky was royal blue, the water was a dark blue and teal, and the waves were huge!  

There was a little trail that we had to walk down to get to the stairs to the beach.   The wild flowers were gorgeous... yellow, red, purple... and the sand was this burnt red.  

The waves were so cyclic.  At one point, they would be all the way down where you can see in the picture, the next set would come in and be all the way up by the group of people at the right of the picture.  We had to be really careful that Jazzie didn't get washed away!

You could hear the water hit this rock!

Jesse had so much fun climbing on the rocks!

And Jazzie had fun digging in the sand... and eating it!  (Her tummy is growling today!)

We recommend this beach to everyone who comes to carmel!

Softball PARTY!!!

We had our last softball game on Thursday night.  We went out to Me-n-Ed's to celebrate a great season of ups and downs... Thursday night I was told (I couldn't play because I had to work late) that Jesse looked Ken Griffey Jr. in the outfield making diving catches!  It was quite the experience.  Becca Hull also made a fantastic run for home ... starting from 1st base (despite the ball being in the infield)...  she scored!!!  

Katie, Margie and Logan 

Rob, Blake, Doug, Bradley and Julie

Aubrey Rose

Introducing Aubrey Rose... for those of you who know Cherie and Blake, no need for introduction... for the rest of you, this is our niece, Aubrey Rose Smittcamp.  She is an absolute JOY to be around and so much fun.  When Jesse and her play, it is as if he is 6 years old again!  We went to sushi the other night and she was having so much fun when Blake was feeding her with chopsticks... then she decided to use her spoon!  There will be plenty more pictures to come!

Emerald Lake

We were able to jump off of some awesome rocks!  The clouds were on the other side of the mountains where my dad was hiking... hopefully they didn't get too much rain!

Emerald Lake

On Saturday we met up with a few nursing friends of mine, John Black (and 2 daughters) and Sarah Krall and went for a day hike to Emerald Lake out of the Sequoia National Park.  It was a 10 mile round trip hike to a pristine (and cold) lake.  Bizarrely my dad happened to be hiking out of the exact same trail head for their annual trans-sierra trip (death march).  Unfortunately we didn't see them, and even more unfortunately, we got to reap the hazards of following behind the 5 donkeys carrying their packs during the first leg of their trip.  The trail markers were frequent and foul.  Our hike in was full of beautiful views including one from the Watchtower, where Jesse looks tiny.

DODGE THIS!

Every summer we play in a dodgeball league with the Well Community Church... it is super intense, kind of like the movie, but more real (no wrenches).  Last night both of our teams squeaked out victories in tough matches.  Way to go!

Crab Cakes!!!

On Sunday night the Smittcamps, Penners, Patricios, Donnellys and  my dad came over for some gourmet food!  The events began at 3:30 with some serious chopping and dicing by Rob Chef Extraordinar.  The boys (and Aubrey) enjoyed the pool playing their version of horse... "crab-cake (space) aioli (space) appetizer" just to make sure the game lasted until the crab cakes were done.  Other menu items included a spring greens risotto, steaks with a red wine reduction sauce and a  fresh fruit salad.  The night ended with some fantastic smore cooking!  We even used Reeces instead of regular chocolate!  We must do this again!!!