Bell Blog

Pictures of Trip

2009-11-20T17:07:00.002-07:00

I've uploaded some pictures of our trip to San Francisco last week. Enjoy them.

Here's the link: http://picasaweb.google.com/larryboy307/Sanfran09#

Two New GF Baking Recipes

2009-08-02T15:27:00.003-06:00

I have just uploaded two new recipes. The first is for Chocolate Cake. The other is donuts.

Pictured is half a Chocolate Cake.

Follow the above links or click on the recipe link on the left side.

Enjoy eating.

Two Days in the Wood

2009-07-07T15:50:00.003-06:00

This past Sunday and Monday was spent traveling around the local woods with Melody's extended family. Sunday was a trip to Rocky Mountain National Park and Monday was spend in the Snowy Range and Saratoga.

Sunday we drove the Summit at RMNP, also known as Alpine Ridge. There is a short hike to the top. David made the majority of the climb up himself. He only needed help when the wind picked up and he could not stand. After lunch, we started to drive back and saw a bear and several Elk. Pictures of the day are here. Also you can see the hike up the to summit here.

Monday, we drove west through the Snowy Range Mountains. Our goal was to spend time in the hot springs at Saratoga. On the drive over we stopped to view the scenary sevearl times. David once again walked around contanstly. (Both days he didn't take a nap until we started home.) At the springs we all had fun playing in the water. On the way back we stopped for a picnic supper and saw a moose along side the road. Melody saw it and we drove back to see it. It was a very large moose for the area. Pictues of this day are here.

Both days were fun and we are looking foward to heading back soon.

David eating at the table

2009-02-15T09:17:00.002-07:00

Yesterday, David joined us at the table and ate some chicken in his new chair. The pictures are of him enjoying some whipped cream.

More pictures are here along with a short video clip.

Personal Update

2009-02-02T20:06:00.002-07:00

Life has continued to move forward. David is now thirteen months old and working on several new teeth and trying to figure out how to walk. Melody has recovered from her total hip replacement surgery from November. This coming Wednesday, she will an operation on her right hip.

This surgery is less invasive. They will do a femoral head decompression with BMA grafting. Basically they will remove the dead parts of her hip and fill the hole with her own stem cells. Then the stem cells will grow into hip cells and she'll be able to keep her hip. YEAH!!

Please pray that the procedure will go smoothly and that her body will quickly heal it's self.

For me I keep busy subbing, playing with David, and helping out around the house.

That's about it until after the surgery.

GF Pizza Crust

2009-01-25T16:02:00.001-07:00

Ingredients
3/4 cup warm milk (105-115°F)
1 Tablespoon sugar
2-1/4 teaspoons dry active yeast
1-1/2 Tablespoons olive oil
2 cups gf flour (what I use)
1 teaspoon Xantham Gum (if not in flour)
1-1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

Equipment:
Stand mixer with dough hook

Directions:
1. Combine milk, sugar, and yeast in Mixer bowl. Wait until yeast blooms. You'll know by the smell.

2. Add olive oil. Turn on mixer to low.

3. Add flour and salt.

4. Once flour is combined, increase speed to medium. As dough mixes it will stick to the hook. Stop mixing when it no longer sticks.

5. Spray a surface with oil and form dough into a pie shape.

6. Oil a cast iron pan with a Tablespoon of oil. (This the key to making it crispy)

7. Put dough into the pan and stretch to make a crust. Rest for about an hour.

8. Build your pizza and bake in a 450 F oven for 12 minutes.

The results are a crust that many non-celiacs love to eat and might remind your of pizza from most national chains.

If you do not have a favorite GF Flour blend, try this one.

GF Flafel

2009-01-15T17:43:00.004-07:00

It's been awhile since I put up a new recipe. Here is one that we've been enjoying lately.

GF Falafel

Ingredients

1 Cup dried chickpeas (soaked overnight)

1 large onion

2 cloves of garlic

3 Tbls fresh Parsley, chopped

1 teas Coriander

1 teas Cumin

6 Tbls rice flour

salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Combine all ingredients in a food processor and combine.

Adjust flour as needed to make a thick paste

Form mixture into small balls, about ping pong ball sized. Flatten slightly

Fry in 2 inches of oil at 350 degrees F until golden brown (5-7 minutes)

http://mideastfood.about.com/od/maindishes/r/falafelrecipe.htm

David playing with whipped cream

2008-12-09T21:10:00.000-07:00

It's Christmas Here

2008-12-07T21:19:00.002-07:00

Spent the afternoon decorating our tree. Pictures are of the results are here. There are also a few of David having fun.

The tree is a local one cut from the mountains of Centennial. We went out Saturday with several international students from LCCC. Read more about it at our blog.

November Pictures of David

2008-11-30T19:36:00.002-07:00

I've just uploaded some pictures of David from this past month. They are at our Picasa page. Here is the link.

Post Thanksgiving update

2008-11-29T14:22:00.002-07:00

This year I followed Alton Brown's recipe for Green Bean Casserole.
As always, I fry leeks instead of using onions.

Here is the modified recipe.

12oz fresh mushrooms, but into 1/2inch pieces (they will cook down)

2 Tablespoons butter

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

2 Tablespoons White Rice Flour

1 Cup Chicken Broth

1 Cup Half and Half

3 fried leeks

Melt the butter in an oven/stove top safe vessel.
Add mushrooms, salt and pepper for 4-5 minutes, until give up liquid.
Add nutmeg. Cook for another minute.
Sprinkle flour over mushrooms.
When mixture looks dry add broth and allow to simmer for a minute.
Reduce heat to medium low. Add half and half, cook until it thickens.

Remove from heat.
Add green beans and 1/4 of onions/leeks.
Mix well.
Bake in 475 degree oven for 15 minutes.

Casserole should be nice and bubbly.

Orginally from foodnetwork.com

Enjoy it at Christmas.

Gluten Free Pumpkin Bread

2008-11-21T21:41:00.003-07:00

I've posted a new recipe on my Gluten Free recipes. It's for Pumpkin Bread. Hope you enjoy it.

Here's it direct link: bellhousedesign.com/pumpkin.php

Nov 7 update

2008-11-07T20:59:00.001-07:00

Today has been very busy. A friend Melody visited for several hours. She took two short strolls with physical therapy and enjoyed both of them. The pain is subsiding, but we are still using morphine to keep it in check. Overall, today has gone well.

It is still looking like we'll be heading home on Sunday.

Melody's Surgery Successful

2008-11-06T09:38:00.001-07:00

After a delay of five hours, Melody's surgery went well. She had a total hip replacement. The originally planned Birmingham Hip Resurfacing was not done because of concern of metal ions building up in her kidneys. Also, the doctor said that her joint had deteriorated past being able to do the hip resurfacing.

Melody was wheeled to her room around 11 last night. Throughout the night there was the regular stream of nurses coming in and out, so not much rest was achieved.

Currently, Melody is in a lot of post-op pain. The doctor has adjusted the medications and the pain should start to subside.

Later today, she will try standing up.

Please pray that the pain goes away soon, so she can stand up.

Aaron

October Pictures of David

2008-11-02T08:48:00.002-07:00

I have posted some pictures of David from Halloween. He is having a fun time playing with the games and all that is going on.

To view the pictures visit here.

Surgery date set.

2008-10-20T08:57:00.001-06:00

Hope your day is going well. Life here in Cheyenne is busy and wet. David is now crawling and pulling himself up.

Melody's hip continues to cause her pain. A little over a month a go we visited our regional specialist in avascular necrosis (AVN). She recommended a procedure called hip resurfacing on her left hip. This procedure will reshape the ball on the femur and place a metal cap on top. This will provide a new surface for Melody to walk on. At that same appointment we also learned that AVN was starting on her right hip. After she has recovered from the first surgery, a second one will be done on her right hip. This one is less envasive. A date for this surgery has not been set, but will most likely happen early next year.

We have scheduled Melody's left hip surgery for November 5. If you would like to instant updates please follow on my Twitter account: http://twitter.com/larryboy307.

Please pray that the surgery goes smoothly and that Melody has a quick recovery. With David becoming more mobil each day, we both need to be at our best.

Also our personal website has been redesigned and will also have updates. Visit it at bellhousedesign.com.

Thank you for your support.

David: 9 month

2008-10-19T14:12:00.002-06:00

On September 28, David turned nine months old. At his checkup the doctor was shocked to see how well he is developing. He was able to crawl, stand, and grasp items. He loved playing with the stethoscope. His weight was 12 lbs 12 oz.

Since then, David has begun to pull himself up and has mastered crawling.

Pictures are uploaded at our Picasa site.

A Son is Born

2008-10-19T14:11:00.000-06:00

On December 28, 2007, Melody and Aaron were thrilled with the birth of their first son, David. He was born 10 weeks early weighing 2 lbs and 12 oz. For the past five month, they have enjoyed seeing him grow. Pictures are available at http://picasaweb.google.com/larryboy307.

A Beginning

2008-10-19T14:10:00.000-06:00

Chronicled here are the on going adventures of Aaron and Melody Bell. Many people ask to be kept in touch with what goes on in our lives, so this website was created to keep them in touch. Enjoy seeing what is happening and feel free to ask questions.