Holiday Greetings! Meilleurs Voeux!

Luka and Axel's Christmas Greetings to you in French and English are below!

Luka et Axel vous adressent leurs meilleurs voeux (en anglais et en français)!

français :


English:


Winter Presentation - Axel
Presentation d'Axel (école)



Here are some other videos from the past year:
Voici quelques autres vidéos de l'année passée :

Luka's loses his 1st tooth
Luka perd sa première dent de lait


Axel at his first triathlon (!)
Axel à son premier triathlon


Luka at his first triathlon (!)
Luka à son premier triathlon


Our YouTube channel / toutes nos vidéos sur YouTube: BODEUX YOUTUBE CHANNEL

Classic Cut-out Sugar Cookie Recipe & Cream Cheese Frosting

These cookies are classic and so good. They work very well for bake sales, cookie exchanges, parties and any time you want a tasty cookie in cut-out shapes. You can frost them or eat them plain. I also like the parchment paper method for rolling out and baking the cookies since it 

reduces extra flour on the final cookies and this improves their taste and texture.

ROLLED SUGAR COOKIES

1 cup sugar
1 cup butter, softened
3 TBS milk
1 egg
1 tsp real vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
grated zest from one orange (or to taste) - the secret ingredient
1 tsp baking powder (in Colorado) or 1-1/2 tsp baking powder (sea level)
¼ tsp salt

Use organic ingredients where possible. In stand mixer or with hand mixer, combine sugar and butter till well creamed. Add milk, vanilla and egg; blend well. In a separate bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, grated orange zest and salt. Add flour mixture to butter mixture and mix together well. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 1 hour for easier handling.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. To avoid giving cookies a “floury” taste when rolling them out, roll dough out directly onto large sheets of parchment paper (not wax paper) that will fit on cookie sheet, using minimal flour on rolling pin and cookie cutters. Roll dough to desired thickness (around 1/8-inch, but on the thick side). Cut out desired shapes with cookie cutters, leaving 1-inch space between cookies. Leave cut shapes on parchment paper, and continue re-rolling remaining dough and cutting out shapes on parchment paper until dough is used up. Put parchment paper containing cut-out cookies directly onto cookie sheet and bake. Re-use parchment paper for several batches, as needed, till dough is gone.

Bake cookies for 6 – 9 minutes or until edges are light brown. Remove from cookie sheets to cool on rack.

Serve as is or frost after cookies have cooled.

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

3 cups powdered sugar
1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese, softened to room temperature
2 TBS butter, melted
1 tsp vanilla extract
Wilton’s coloring paste or other paste-based colorant of desired color
candy sprinkles - optional

In a large bowl, combine all ingredients except coloring; beat until combined. Add coloring if using, and then continue beating till frosting is smooth and fluffy. A stand mixer works well for this – beat several minutes on medium to high speed.

Send pictures!

Christmas Photo Card

This is a card I made to try out Shutterfly's flat cards and see what they look like (I am a stationery maniac). Below they are from the online portfolio which you can view directly here:
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8IaN3DZy0auNg

Sage Snowflakes Christmas Card

Shop Shutterfly for elegant custom Christmas photo cards.

View the entire collection of cards.

Recipe: Pumpkin Chocoloate Chip Cookies

These cookies are "cakey" rather than flat.

Pumpkin Chocoloate Chip Cookies

Ingredients
1 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 scant tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp milk
1 TBS vanilla extract
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions

Combine pumpkin, sugar, vegetable oil, egg. Mix. Add vanilla and mix. In separate bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda, spices, salt. Add flour mixture to pumpkin mixture and mix well. Add chocolate chips and nuts.

Drop by spoonful on greased cookie sheet (or parchment paper) and bake at 350 degrees for approximately 10 minutes or until lightly brown and firm.

Recipe: Banana Popsicles from Sanya

Sanya suggests variations such as substituting vanilla or chocolate syrup for for banana, or mixing them together. I like this recipe because she does not use instant banana pudding (yuck).

2 really ripe bananas mashed
1/3 cup super fine sugar (you can buy it pre-made or run regular granulated sugar through the Cuisinart)
1/2 cup cream
2 cups milk

Mix all ingredients together well and freeze in your favorite popsicle mold.

Easy and fresh tasting.

Recipe: Chocolate Zucchini Bread

Chocolate Zucchini Bread

This one is a keeper. Made it for the boys' after-school snack and the consistency and chocolatey-ness are yummy. 

Ingredients:
2 cups shredded raw zucchini (unpeeled)

1/2 cup safflower or canola oil
scant 1/2 cup granulated white sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (not Dutch-processed)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.Grease loaf pan.

Grate the zucchini, using a medium sized grater. Set aside.

In a large bowl whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Set aside.

In the bowl of your electric mixer beat the oil, sugars, eggs, and vanilla extract until well blended (about 2 minutes). Fold in the grated zucchini.

Add the flour mixture, beating just until combined. Then fold in the walnuts and chocolate chips.

Scrape batter into prepared pan and bake until bread has risen and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 60 minutes. Cool on wire rack for about 10 minutes, then remove the bread from the pan and cool completely.

Yield: one 9 x 5 x 3-inch loaf.

Luka in School Talent Show

Luka was first to perform in the school talent show, for the very last day of school (last night, he was "promoted" to Third Grade in a ceremony for all grades). In the talent show, he played the Star Spangled Banner and a Sonatina (adapted). There were some other fun performances – lots of piano players, a violin, a harp, gymnastics, joke telling, and hula hooping!

Luka also won "Mr. Literary" in his class for always having his nose in a book! :)

Luka playing Star Spangled Banner at the school talent show (last day of school!):



Luka at field day:

April & May Family Videos

Here is Luka demonstrating a "machine" he made for a school project.

Here is Luka at his piano recital and the program below.

Here is Axel skiing in his monster costume the last day of ski season at Ski Cooper.






Reynald's Mini Birthday Party

Recipe: Mom's Sugar Cookies

Mom's Sugar Cookies

2/3 cup shortening
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp grated orange peel
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 egg
4 tsp milk
2 cup flour
1-1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

Thoroughly cream shortening, sugar, orange peel and vanilla. Add egg, beat till light and fluffy. Stir in milk. Sift together dry ingredients; blend in creamed mixture. Divide dough in half. Chill one hour.

On lightly floured surface, roll. to 1/8 inch. Cut in desired shapes w/cutters. Bake on greased cookie sheet at 375 degrees for 6 - 8 minutes. Cool slightly; remove from pan. Cool on rack. Decorate. Makes 2 dozen. Is usually doubled to make more.

Recipe: Lindemuth Fudge Brownies

Fudge Brownies 

(original from Better Homes and Gardens cookbook)

Melt this together on stove top: 
- 4 1-oz squares of baker's chocolate (or substitute 3 TBS cocoa powder + 1 TBS oil for each square)
- 2 sticks (1 cup) butter

Add to melted mixture, directly in the pot and mix well:
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
1-1/2 cup flour
1 cup nuts

350 degrees for 30 minutes.
Can be cut in half.

Spring Photos

Nathalie as Skiing Gorilla - Me, want banana now! Celebrating (or mourning) last day of ski season at our favorite resort! (Check out that move!)

Axel as green ski monster at Ski Cooper - last day of the season. He was a very popular (and cute) skiing furry, green man!

Nat and Axel making scary noises!

Axel swooshing on down the backside. Go, Ax, go!

Eve and boys (Luka and Axel) at Ski Cooper

Axel and Reynald after they won their divisions (gold medal) in the last ski race of the season (Axel in "5 and under" and Reynald in Masters group (I won't divulge his age).

Easter egg hunt at Ski Cooper (Eve in pink jacket, Reynald sitting on snow, Axel in red jacket next to us).

Luka with his science project board. Great job!

Recipe: Mac & Cheese

 A friend in France was looking for a Mac & Cheese recipe, so I thought I'd post our favorite one. (She'll have to convert it, though!)

10 oz. elbow macaroni or other pasta
1 TBS butter
1/2 cup chopped green onions
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup flour
2 tsp dry mustard
1 tsp dried basil
2-1/4 cups skim milk
1-1/4 cups Cheddar (or other semi-hard) cheese
2 TBS grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup chopped tomatoes

- Cook the pasta as directed. Drain.
- In a sauce pan, melt the butter. Add the green onions and garlic; cook, stirring frequently, for 2 minutes. Stir in the flour, mustard and basil; cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes. Whisk in the milk. Cook, stirring constantly, for 3 to 4 minutes, or until thick and bubbly.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the cheeses. Add the tomatoes and macaroni. Mix well.
- You can eat now, or coat an oven-proof pan with butter and add the macaroni mixture. Sprinkle with bread crumbs and broil about 5 inches from the heat for 1 to 2 minutes, or until the crumbs are browned.

Lullaby: I'll Sing You to Rest Love

Mom sang this to us when we were little, and I wanted to sing it to my kids. I couldn't remeber the words, though. Mom was just here and she sang it for us.

I'll Sing You to Rest Love

The lambs are sleeping in the fold,
The sun has turned the hills to gold,
The evening will be turning cold,
So come to mother my darling,
Lie safe in your nest love,
I'll sing you to rest love.

The stars are peeping one by one,
To watch the sinking of the sun,
They daren't came out till day is done,
And birdies and babies are sleeping,
Lie safe in your nest love,
I'll sing you to rest love.

Recipe: Buckwheat Crepes

These crepes are for dinner, and should be used as a main dish and eaten with savory fillings. For example, they are good with quail eggs (cooked sunny side up/over easy, etc.), tomatoes, cheese, spinach, ham, etc. The buckwheat gives is a good flavor, but is not overpowering.

3/4 cups plus 1 TBS buckwheat flour
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1-2/3 cup milk - and more to thin out batter if necessary
3 eggs
2 TBS butter, melted
1/4 tsp salt

Put all ingredients in blender and mix till smooth; allow to rest in refrigerator for 2 hours before using.

Also, try our favorite dessert crepe recipe!

Luka's Free Verse Poem

Luka wrote this poem today, about the extinct sea cow that he recently did a research project on:

Hi! I am a sea cow and I live in the ocean.
I play with my friends and men are my common predators.
I eat kelp from underwater rocks in the sea.
I weigh a lot.
I am very long.
I hear a noise over there.
I see a shadow with a spear that I have seen before.
I keep eating kelp.

The End.

Another Recipe for Galettte des Rois

My fiend Marie-Pierre shared this with me (and she and Axel made it). I scanned it, so the recipe (from a French magazine) is in jpg format. Click on the image below to see it larger.

Flickr Photo Update: 2001 - 2010

Zanzibar

Kilimanjaro

Axel - 1 day old

Luka - 1 month old

I had a bunch of photos that I uploaded to our Flickr site from 2001 to this month, January 2010. Kind of fun to see the old photos if you are interested. They are organized here:
Bodeux Photo Collections on Flickr

Axel - Ski Master

Axek with Corinne and Eve (Nat taking picture)

Axel has been doing so great on skis. After being taken off the teather and his edgie-wedgy this season, and taking two group lessons, he is ripping it up (for real) doing great turns, stopping on command and, in general, being in total control, but having a blast going down the slopes. This past weekend, he did the "grande piste" (main mountain, not bunny slope) three times one day and two another, and in there, doing 3 blue runs to boot! The pictures above are when he had fun showing off for Mommy, Corinne and Nathalie. Nat and Corinne got a good laugh when I told them he said, "Mommy, I want skis where I can move my feet like Nathalie and Corinne!" (Note: Tele vs AT joke.) He also told me, "Mommy, it is so fun when I can ski by myself!" (He meant off the teather.) He is right! It is really fun!

Axel Stats

Axel's yearly checkup revealed that he:

Weighs 37.5 pounds (50th percentile for his age)
Is 43.5 inches tall (90th percentile for his age)

And, he received a clean bill of health!

Bar le Duc City Blues

Un vieux pote de Pierrefitte a envoyé cette chanson à Reynald et nous l'avons trouvé sur YouTube aussi. Voilà Bar-le-Duc City Blues d'Eric Frasiak - pour ceux qui connaissent la ville, écoutez bien les paroles !

Reynald found out about this song from an old friend from the 'hood (just kidding - rural France). We found a version on YouTube. Enjoy Eric Frasiak singing Bar-le-Duc City Blues (in French).

Recipe: Merry Berry Party Punch

I had this at my friend Catalina's Christmas party and it was very, very tasty!

6 Cups Orange Juice
2 Cups Cranberry Juice
2 Packages 10 oz frozen strawberries in syrup
3 Cups Ginger ale
2 Cups Rum (she used a strawberry flavored rum - mmmmm yum!)

Servings 18

She said it also doubles well.