zucchini bieberini

cookies part deux

2012-01-30T20:56:00.000-05:00

follow up to my earlier rant about Girl Scout cookies: you can now support that transgender girl's troop directly if you wish (proving also that boycotting all Girl Scout cookies is ridiculous, because the cookie money stays local.) Here's the scoop:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/30/donation-page-for-transgender-girl-scout-troop_n_1241524.html?ref=gay-voices

because darth says so

2012-01-19T19:12:00.003-05:00

Yeah, what else is new, I'm a day late on this. Hey, I went to Wikipedia and Google and signed the petitions and wrote to my congresspeople. I hope you did too. But because I slacked in the blog department, I'm not going to post anything of my own, I'm going to instead point you to a much better blog that you should definitely be reading, and her post with a link to an awesome Darth Vader version of this issue. Because I can, people. Later, SOPA and PIPA!

http://thebloggess.com/2012/01/me-and-vader-fighting-together-weird

buy some girl scout cookies, hippy

2012-01-12T19:26:00.008-05:00

Ok. This has gone on long enough. Have you noticed this lately? These people who are attacking the Girl Scouts because they supposedly have a big liberal agenda? And you're supposed to stop buying cookies from them because of it? Yeah that's right. Here's one:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/11/girl-scout-cookie-boycott-transgender_n_1199260.html

And another:

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/12/right-wing_fox_friends_warn_girl_scouts_promote_li.php

Well friends, I'm calling BULLSHIT on this one. You don't like the Girl Scouts because a troop (not your own troop, not your council's or even your own state's) let a transgender boy in? Too bad. What are we, the Boy Scouts? THEY are the ones with exclusionary policies, not us. Maybe you should try identifying yourself as a boy and see if they let you in, then maybe you'll get an idea of how that transgender boy felt. And maybe you should consider the entirety of the Girl Scout law you are so quick to misquote. It goes like this:

I will do my best to be
Honest and Fair,
Friendly and Helpful,
Considerate and Caring,
Courageous and Strong, and
Responsible for what I say and do,
And to
respect myself and others,
respect authority,
use resources wisely,
make the world a better place, and
be a sister to every Girl Scout.

Ok so I'm sorry, exactly which part of that says "oppress others and keep them out of our exclusive little club" to you? Lets see, is it the "considerate and caring" part? Or the 'make the world a better place" part?

Now lets talk about the other one. So, apparently it is "liberal" to point out the lies told on Fox News. I get that. Truth is hard for Rush Limbaugh, and the Girl Scouts are doing a disservice to the Republican National Committee by recommending that they check the facts of anything they read. Yeah, so in eight years of scouting, it's just now occurring to you that Girl Scouts hope you have a mind of your own?

Seriously people, buy the cookies. Here's what I can tell you from first hand experience, both as a former Girl Scout, daughter of a troop leader (who is a staunch republican btw), and now mother of a Girl Scout on her 4th year of cookie selling:

First of all, boycotting the cookies sold by your local girl is going to do nothing to this troop in Colorado that let a boy in, unless your local girl (or boy, in this case) is in that particular troop. You know why? Because the profits from the cookie sale go RIGHT BACK TO EACH TROOP. That's what kicks ass about the cookie sale. You know what my daughter's troop is doing with the profits from their 2011 sale soon? Sleeping over at a science museum, where they're going to have tons of fun and learn all about science in an unforgettable way. That's where the money goes, not lining the pocket of some liberal fatcat (ha ha that's funny) who just wants to ruin the world with their bleeding heart bullshit. So when you turn down the girl who comes to your door because of this stupid political stunt, you are turning down HER, nobody else. Don't complain to me when she cries on you.

Second, those cookies are made LOCALLY. Ever wonder why in some areas they're called Samoas and in others, Caramel Delights? Or why some don't offer them at all? Each area has different cookie bakers. This means they don't travel far, they employ local people, they are that much more awesome. Unless of course you live in a place where you can't get Samoas, in which case I feel very sorry for you.

Also? You know how Girl Scouts say that the cookie selling teaches girls self-esteem and organization skills, and courage and leadership? No? Here, read up: http://www.girlscouts.org/program/gs_cookies.

Now let me share some anecdotal evidence. So last year was the first time my kid's troop was allowed to sell door-to-door (different councils do things differently - hello, local.) So we went out one cold Saturday afternoon and knocked on our neighbors' doors. We didn't have a lot of luck - some other girl had already hit up our neighborhood (who are you, girl? watch your back this year, that's all I'm sayin.' We're getting up early.) But then we came to The Scary House. Does every neighborhood have one of these? Ours has an unpainted exterior and Halloween "decorations" that have become permanent (don't spray paint on your own garage doors, kids, just don't.) We almost walked on by. Then my brave girl took a deep breath and walked up their steps and knocked. That's the courage they're talking about. Turns out, the mom of the house was a former troop leader herself and ordered 11 boxes. You can bet we're hitting her up again this year.

Not enough for you? Oh lets see..... every year they offer the option for you to order cookies to be donated to charity rather than delivered to yourself. That's right, so if you're trying to stick to those New Year resolutions, or maybe it's Samoas or nothing for you, you can still help the girls. My girl's troop has given the cookies to a local food pantry, and last year to the US military troops overseas. You think that soldier in Iraq cares about some transgender kid when he (or she - thanks liberals) opens up that box of Thin Mints so far from home? Tell me again about that liberal agenda now, really.

Did I mention that my daughter's troop is also participating in an International Festival this year? Yeah, Girl Scouts do this every year. We're representing New Zealand this time. The girls have to research the country - their language, culture, what kids there do for fun - and then make a display and be prepared to speak to hundreds of people about what they've learned as they come by the booth. Please explain to me how learning about other cultures and creating eye catching displays and gaining the confidence of public speaking is also a liberal conspiracy?

It's different in every area, but here in our Samoa-loving town our cookie sale starts this Saturday. If you know me or my kid personally, we'll be happy to take your order beginning then. If not, please visit http://www.girlscoutcookies.org to find a local council near you. Did I mention that the cookies freeze well? Stock up folks, there's an election coming. You're going to need snacks.

meals week of 1/8/12

2012-01-07T11:54:00.002-05:00

Meal plan for this coming week: http://www.delicious.com/stacks/view/K75EjU

And grocery list, in case you'd like to make these too:

--- Produce ---

apples - 2 baking, 2 lady apples if you can find them (4 total apples)

basil, dill, parsley

celery

garlic

ginger - fresh

grapefruit - 1 med

green beans -1 pound

lemons - 2

mushrooms - baby bella 10 oz

onion - 2 med

peas 1 cup

spinach

sweet potatoes - 2 med

tomatoes - 1.5 pounds fresh and 15 oz canned diced

yukon gold potatoes - 10

--- Bread & Baked Goods ---

puff pastry

--- Condiments, Dressings & Oils ---

dijon mustard

honey

olive oil

--- Meats ---

salmon

--- Canned Foods, Soups & Mixes ---

tomato paste

vegetable stock - 2 cups

--- Grains & Pasta ---

campanelle pasta (or similar)

short grain rice - 2 cups

--- Dairy ---

butter

cream cheese - 4 oz

eggs

goat cheese 3 oz

greek yogurt - plain

milk

parmesan cheese

--- Baking & Cooking ---

baking soda

bread crumbs

brown sugar

cinnamon

cloves - ground

flour

paprika or Spanish pimentón

pecans 1/2 cup

pistachios - chopped

powdered sugar

saffron

vanilla extract

--- Beer, Wine & Liquor ---

white wine

more deliciousness

2012-01-01T14:31:00.002-05:00

Oh look! I've been featured again on Delicious.com! This time it's for a list I started for meals I'm planning to make in the coming week, entitled, funnily enough, Meals this Week. Lets see if it gets as many hits as the scary meat list.

By the way, I'm also still trying to remember to put these on my Google calendar.. links to both at right if you're reading this on the website and not through a reader.

So once again I've resolved to get healthy in the new year, along with more organized, and writing more often. Hence, salads and low fat, vegetable intensive recipes on the plan for the week, along with lots of Wii Fit and walks outside, some home organization and more blogging! Happy 2012!

by the way

2011-12-29T19:50:00.005-05:00

Hey, remember this guy? Yeah, so one of my stacks is featured on the home page of Delicious.com today - my "really, they had to go there" one! Ironically, it's got the least links and the most meat of all of my stacks, but hey, I've already had 209 views! Take that, Interactive English Grammar! (just kidding, yay grammar!) So feel free to send me any weird, bacon-oriented links to add because I think this one needs beefed up (ha) a bit if I'm going to keep 'em coming back. I can only stand so many meat Google searches.

how this conversation should have gone

2011-12-29T18:18:00.005-05:00

Knock, knock.

Uninvited Salesperson at my door right when I need to drain the pasta: "Hi! you staying nice and warm in there?"

Me: "uh, yeah"

What I should have said: "Well, duh, it's December, what the hell are you doing walking around my neighborhood at night with a clipboard? If you weren't an annoying salesperson I'd invite you in to warm up, you idiot."

Her: "Well I'll make this short."

Me: "...."

Should have: "Yeah right."

Her: "I wanted to make sure you knew about our new [blabbity blabbity blabbity] service, has anyone been by yet to do a customer service call and tell you about [blabbity blabbity blabbity]?"

Me: "uh, I don't know?"

Should have: "Yes, in fact I've had five different people dressed just like you by just this evening, not to mention a constant barrage of ads on every website I visit and in my mailbox. Please, I beg you, make it STOP!"

Her: "Well [actual name of my neighbor down the street] just signed up for [blabbity blabbity blabbity] and I wanted to make sure you didn't miss this exciting opportunity."

Me: "...."

Should have: "I hate that bitch, how dare you mention her name in my presence?!" (not true, I have great neighbors, don't worry guys, we love you.)

Her: "How much do you currently pay for [blabbity blabbity blabbity]?"

Me: "Oh I don't know, my husband usually handles that." (yeah I know, not very feminist, but it usually makes them go away.)

Should have: "We pay five cents. Per year. Beat that."

Her: "Is he home right now?"

Me: "No."

Should have: "He just died." (burst into tears.)

Her: "Would there be a better time I could come back?"

Me: "No, he works late." (again, usually makes them go away.)

Should have: "I wish I could bring him back too. Bwaaaaaah!" (more tears.)

Her: "Well [blabbity blabbity blabbity blabbity blabbity blabbity blabbity]..."

Me: "We don't have cable, we don't really watch television. We're not interested."

Should have: "Go the fuck away now." (close door)

Seriously mushy pasta. Thanks a lot Blabbity.

delicious

2011-12-28T01:39:00.003-05:00

Hey, I'm moving all my recipes over to delicious.com. Still keeping the blog here, but the recipes are over there (it's easier and has a prettier format.. sorry blogger.) Please "follow" me both here and there so I'll feel special. Thanks.

http://www.delicious.com/stacks/zucchinibieberini

sweet endings

2011-12-18T11:57:00.006-05:00

Well, I had big plans to go all local with my gift giving this Christmas, and that totally went out the window... Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Target got my money. I know, I'm part of the problem. I did however buy several things on Etsy.com (Marauder's onesie and Gryffindor tutu and leg warmers for my baby niece, hello!) and by the way organized a fairly successful, sure to be annual holiday event at my church to raise awareness about child slavery in chocolate manufacturing with a bunch of my favorite activist kids. So yeah, I've been too busy to seek out those struggling mom and pop shops, but I still did some good in the world. I hope OWS will forgive me.

And I insisted on a day at home for Christmas day, and spent the afternoon in my pajamas, sipping an adult beverage, and watching Little Women - yeah, the Winona Ryder one. Still cried when Beth died, even though I knew it was coming. And then all over again when my child walked back in after a prolonged DSi break and wanted me to replay it for her. I'd like to blame the crying on the adult beverage, but I know I would have cried regardless. Old Hannah, holding the hand of the doll after sprinkling flower petals on her bed? Bawling.

And yes, the kid got her DSi. She has been playing it almost nonstop every since. In fact, it's 11 pm as I'm typing this and she's still on it. Eh, it's winter break, I'm letting her have her fun. She also got craft supplies, a bright pink sled, a microscope, and several board games (jackpot at Once Upon a Child - take that 1%!) that I'm sure she'll get around to eventually.

What else? Oh, well, of course Christmas would not be complete without the annual cake drama. In case you're just now joining us, see, I have this issue with my mom's birthday cake. Her birthday is on Christmas day, so you know, no baking pressure or anything, and I have recently come to terms with my lack of baking ability anyway, but then there's this tradition of the Cherry Nut Cake. The one that I always, always, always screw up. The one that was doomed to fail anyway because I never got the recipe in the first place, the existence of which I only learned about two years ago and was still never given. And as mentioned, I am Not A Baker in the first place.

Friends, I have news this year: I GOT THE RECIPE. Here's how it went down. Note that this followed a small email drama that centered around the seemingly simple task of arranging a time for us all to get together for Christmas (first clue of crazy: we all live in the same town) that included hurt not-apologized-for feelings and the (ahem, childless, single, least busy) person who self-righteously claimed "everyone needs to just calm down" interestingly being the no-show for the actual event when it was finally scheduled. I'm just saying.

So anyway, once scheduled, Mom proposed a potluck brunch, though from what I can tell she really ended up cooking everything but the cake. Still, assuming we'd all get an assignment, I called dessert. Then:

me: "Mom, do you want to make your special cake again? [like you did last year, which was beautiful and glorious] I was thinking other desserts but I can do the cake if you want me to."

her: "We could skip my special cake."

me: "really, your special birthday cake?!?"

her: "it's a lot of trouble and always seems superfluous. BTW - did I finally give you Granna's recipe for the cake?"

That's right, she actually said that. Typed it in fact, I have the email to prove it. A lot of trouble and seems superfluous. Always. And btw, did I finally give you the recipe? No really, she said that.

me: "Ha. No, you didn't."

her: "Oh gosh. I should dig that out and give you a copy so at least you'll finally have it."

Yeah, gosh. Key word there is should. Only later that day, she did. And when pressed, admitted that of course she wanted her cake. So I made it. And now I'm sharing it with you, because I am Not The Withholding Type Unlike Some People. I think the real recipe turns out a cake that is actually pretty dry (probably my fault) and kind of boring compared to previous versions that I've been forced to seek out, but it smells delicious and I have to admit, says Christmas to me. And especially this year when Granna, the originator of this tradition and consequent drama, passed away. Note that her recipe calls for "white boiled icing" and yet doesn't include the recipe for that. Thanks Granna.

Maraschino Nut Cake

Preheat oven to 350. Grease and flour two 8" round cake pans.

Sift together:
2 cups and 2 tablespoons cake flour
1 and 1/3 cups sugar
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

Add:
1/2 cup "high grade vegetable shortening" (we assume this means Crisco)
1/4 cup cherry juice
16 maraschino cherries, cut in eighths. (seriously? I did halves.)
1/2 cup milk

"Beat vigorously by hand for 2 minutes by clock" it says next, followed by my grandmother's note: "I use a mixer." Then, "Scrape sides and bottom of bowl frequently." Here's my note: I use a good mixer.

Add:
1/2 to 2/3 cups beaten egg whites (4 or 5.)

Continue beating two more minutes. Fold in 1/2 cup chopped nuts. Pour batter into prepared pans and bake 30-35 minutes. Frost with white boiled frosting. Granna: "I use 7 minute." Me: I use Duncan Hines with a little cherry juice stirred in.

Decorate with cherries and nuts. According to my mom, this means making a little circle of cherries and nuts around the perimeter of the top layer. I've figured out over the years that you need to dry the cherries on a paper towel first, unless you want your cake to be a bloody looking mess. Trust me, I wouldn't judge you if you did.

Hope your holiday was sweet too.

heh

2011-12-17T11:11:00.001-05:00

how to make your bacon minotaur head

2011-12-14T20:49:00.002-05:00

Does this even need a comment?

http://worldofwonder.net/posts/2011/12/14/how-to-make-your-bacon-minotaur-head/

making a list... checking it twice...

2011-11-26T19:28:00.004-05:00

So we survived Thanksgiving. I learned one thing: I pretty much suck at baking. Why do I bother? It makes me miserable every time. The seemingly simple cranberry bread from a box? I just HAD to doctor it up with extra cranberries and candied walnuts, which caused it to ooze out the pan and burn on the floor of my oven, filling the house with smoke. Then it took two hours to bake, and was still the consistency of what I believe the British would consider pudding. Then there were the cornbread sticks that stuck to the well greased antique cast iron corn shaped pan that I've now decided to paint a cheery shade of yellow ("proceed with caution") or perhaps bright red ("good god, STOP!") and hang above my stove as a reminder to stick with pastas and sauces. Or hey, how about the frozen rolls in a bag that you just heat and serve? Yeah, burned those too. My one year old niece was nevertheless kind enough to toddle around the living room with one in her hand, delightedly exclaiming "baaa!" to anyone who asked what she had there. She's getting on the Nice List early.

So yeah, to paraphrase Charlie Brown, I know I can't bake, why do we have to have a holiday to emphasize it?

Enter the Christmas season, when even non-bakers can be redeemed by ready-to-assemble gingerbread house kits and a much more versatile kind of dough thrown at an Amazon wishlist. No, I didn't brave the pepper-spraying crowds at Walmart yesterday, I was actually at home all day spending time with my family. What a concept, right? But I did start thinking about my list this afternoon. It occurs to me that one of the things that stresses me out the most about the holidays is buying for my kid. Don't get me wrong - I love buying toys. Lots and lots of toys! That's my problem. How do you narrow it down? So because I am obsessive by nature (who has ten different blogs for no good reason?) I thought I'd come up with a list of types of gifts to bring a little sanity to the process. Here's my theory about what 15 things the kid should get. Of course, many kids get lots more than 15 things, and frankly my kid probably will too when it's all said and done, but most of the world's kids get NOTHING. She is lucky to have a roof over her head and food in her belly every day, we all acknowledge that she hardly *needs* a Nintendo DSi. Don't get me started. Anyway so use this list for all your righteous scoffing needs, or maybe it will help you too with your own children.

1. The big thing she really, really wants. (the stupid DSi.)

2. through 5: four other things on her Amazon wishlist, within reason.

6. A classic toy that could maybe have actually come from Santa's workshop. On the high end, a Rosebud-style wooden sled. On the low end, a handful of stocking stuffers from World Market. (guess which end I'm on.)

7. A book. Remember those?

8. A board game. Preferably one that the parental figures in her life can stand playing with her.

9. Clothes. I know, *yawn* - but she needs new jeans.

10. Jammies. Started a new tradition last year with opening jammies with her cousin on Christmas eve. This year it's going to be Harry Potter snuggies. Shhhh!

11. An arts and crafts kit. Friendship bracelets maybe? Paint your own kite? We'll see.

12. A dvd/blu-ray. I'm thinking Fantastic Mr. Fox. What the cuss?

13. Something for her room. Her room is currently undergoing a transformation from toddler princess to tween rock star, so this is timely. Flannel sheets with beribboned skulls? An Azkaban wanted poster? We'll see.

14. An outdoor thing. Got a $6 hot pink disc sled at Target today. Sorry Small Business Saturday.. see below.

15. Last but not least, something unexpected. Something she didn't even know existed but will totally adore. Because you know, I can't live without putting a little pressure on myself at the holidays.

So there you have it. Now about this Small Business Saturday thing. I really, really want to help, I do. I'm all about Buy Nothing Day and the Occupy movement and all of that - more power to you courageous unwashed kids! I am sincerely full of admiration and heartily support you. But you small businesses are hard to find, especially for those of us who live within rock-throwing distances from the nearest Walmart and Target. And that Target today? Total madhouse, even with a giant football game going on in this sports-lovin' town. So I'm already spooked back into the comfort of my internet-equipped little home and tempted to order the rest on Amazon. But I'm going to try, really. And for what it's worth, I'm going to try to feature local small businesses here for the few of you who actually read this blog and happen to be shopping in my fair city.

So for starters, here's where I'm going to look for that book for Lucia: Cover to Cover Books for Young Readers. I admit I haven't stepped foot in Cover to Cover since shopping for my now 20-year old niece and nephew when I was a carefree childless 20-something myself. But I remember it being a lovely little oasis of innocence in north Clintonville with which I'm very much looking forward to reconnecting. I hope it's less nuts than your average Barnes and Noble these days.

Frazzle free!

holiday logic

2011-11-24T00:21:00.004-05:00

My husband: "Are you done yelling at the food?"

Me: "I don't know, is the food ready to behave?"

Yeah, it's that kind of Thanksgiving eve. Hang in there everyone, and may all your ingredients play nicely!

t-day

2011-11-19T21:13:00.001-05:00

Hey friends, it's almost Thanksgiving! And because I am crazy, I've made a spreadsheet. I mean, OBVIOUSLY.

I'm in charge of the vegetarian main dish (nut loaf, naturally) and a handful of side dishes, the rest is up to my mom and sister. But I still need a spreadsheet! Wheee!

Here it is, in case you'd like to be like me. Enjoy!

countdown to T-day

duh

2011-09-10T20:12:00.001-04:00

Hey people of the world. So I've had a bit of a "duh" moment this evening. Turns out, I love to cook. Did you know? Also, I don't cook when I'm feeling sad. Turns out, I sort of unconsciously wallow in sadness and deny myself the things I love and make myself even sadder. Kind of a chicken and egg thing, and I just let that egg rot in the fridge.

So I haven't been posting much lately, because I haven't really been cooking much lately. I mean, we eat.. if you count meals like frozen cheese pizza at 8pm an acceptable meal for a family of three. And the giant glass of cab sav I've got in front of me. And the three small zucchinis (yes! of all vegetables. the irony.) from the CSA sitting on my counter that I can't muster up enough willpower to turn into something. Is that a meal? Is it time for bed yet?

So, it seems this food thing is actually a pretty good gage for how I'm feeling, especially when I'm clueless about how I'm actually feeling. Sure, I know I've had a lot of drama in my life lately. And I've been privy to a lot of drama in some dear friends' lives too. Of course that wears on a person. But I'm the type who when I fell down at a dance club when I was 19 and broke a pretty significant bone in my foot, got up and kept dancing. Then walked a mile or so to my car. Then drove home. Then was dumbfounded the next day when my foot was swollen to twice its normal size and my mom insisted on an x-ray. I just twisted my ankle, surely? No, apparently I needed a cast for 12 weeks and the doctor was amazed I wasn't screaming in pain. Apparently that break was so cartoonishly large a child could have spotted it. Huh.

So yeah, I tend to ignore these things and soldier on. But I need to cook. I need to find the beauty and simple happiness of a lovingly prepared meal again. I'm working on it, friends. Tentative plans are underway to overcome the work drama. My oven's still warm from that crappy pizza. Who knows what will happen? Thanks for sticking around to find out what.

for the pig eaters

2011-09-05T12:21:00.004-04:00

Me: "eew, bacon popcorn."
My husband: "Well, at least you wouldn't have to put butter on it."
Me: "omg, can you imagine putting butter on top of that?!?"
Him: "YOU can, can't you?"

Um, yes, yes I can.

Bacon Popcorn

in which I reveal my Potter nerdom in all its glory

2011-07-14T17:14:00.002-04:00

Ok, so what's tonight? Harry Potter movie 8, that's what! I'm dragging my Potter-weary (though ironically Radcliffe-lookalike) husband along for a replaying of movie 7, followed by the midnight premiere of movie 8... meaning we're two old people out on the town tonight till 2 in the morning. On a SCHOOL NIGHT. It's parents gone wild! And yes, I am working tomorrow morning but I DON'T CARE. Could I be more excited? I don't think so!!!

So because I only have a few minutes before I need to try to power nap in anticipation (AS IF).. here's some Potter related snippets floating around the Internets right now for your reading enjoyment. Hey, movie 8! Tonight!!!!! WOOTY WOOOT WOOOOT!

Have you joined Dumbledore's Army yet? You should. Fight the real world horcruxes, check out Portkey, and so much more:
http://www.thehpalliance.org/

And if you're in Columbus, you can join my chapter! Yes, I'm that into this. We're the Enlightened Hippogriffs, dig it:
http://hoacolumbus.blogger.com/

When you're done fighting the Dark Arts, kick back, crack open a Butter Beer and read the hilarious "Lets just all talk about the things that bug us about Harry Potter" from The Hairpin:

http://thehairpin.com/2011/07/lets-just-all-talk-about-the-things-that-bug-us-about-harry-potter

And make some Potter themed treats from The Pastry Affair (by way of Faith Durand from The Kitchn - thanks Faith! Totally using these for Lucia's bday party this year!):
http://www.thepastryaffair.com/blog/2011/7/10/harry-potter-treats.html

Then wave your awesome Harry inspired wand:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Harry-Potter-Inspired-Wand/

And enjoy the movie and all things Harry!
http://www.mugglenet.com/

4th of July Recipe Roundup

2011-07-01T15:27:00.001-04:00

Ok friends, I know it's been a while. I'm not even going to try to explain the drama in my life lately or all the reasons why blogging was pretty much the last thing on my mind. You're going to have to trust me on this. But I have missed it, trust me on that too. As a peace offering, I give a 4th of July themed food roundup pulled from the much more prolific blogs that grace my Google reader:

Frozen Lemonade from The Kitchn

Tom Collinses for the grownups (maybe frozen? hmm) from Serious Eats

Or Sangria, also from Serious Eats

Watermelon Strawberry Gazpacho from Delicious Days

1950s Sweet Corn Relish from Handjobs for the Home

Suggestions for improving the taste of Boca Burgers
(though personally I agree with those who say to buy Morningstar Farms next time)

Buttermilk Blueberry Pie from Adventures in Cooking

And um... if this idea doesn't terrify you like it does me, perhaps some DIY fireworks from Instructables?

Have a fun-filled, peaceful 4th!

on a veggie burger, that is

2011-04-11T08:45:00.001-04:00

Vodka. On a burger. Just in time for my rediscovery of the backyard. Thank you Kate.

http://framed-mylifeonepictureatatime.blogspot.com/2011/04/spiked-cheeseburgers.html

thin mint pancakes... oh yeah.

2011-03-07T08:50:00.005-05:00

Just in time for Fat Tuesday and the arrival of 300 boxes of Girl Scout cookies to my living room....http://foodlibrarian.blogspot.com/2011/03/thin-mint-pancakes-national-pancake-day.html

(p.s. only 15 of those boxes are for my household.. the rest are being driven all over town by Lucia's very kind and exhausted mother...good times.)

shopping list for the week ahead

2011-03-05T12:33:00.000-05:00

produce
salad greens
fruit..whatever looks good
carrots
parsnips
lime
bananas
basil
cilantro
parsley
2 heads garlic
sweet potatoes

condiments, dressings & oils
olive oil

canned foods, soups & mixes
Trader Joe's lemon curd
vegetable broth
tomato paste
10 oz artichoke hearts
storebought fresh split pea soup (or ingredients for homemade)

grains & pasta
cornmeal
1 lb Linguini

bread

dairy
milk
eggs
ricotta
heavy cream
butter

frozen
vegetarian bacon

baking & cooking
baking powder
Flour
sugar
maple syrup
vanilla

beer, wine & liquor
White Wine

other
flowers

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chicken luv

2011-03-04T08:28:00.003-05:00

I have a friend who is planning to hatch chicken eggs at Lucia's school as part of their Nature Club. We are beside ourselves with excitement about this. Because I know people in "the business" on account of my job, I hooked her up with an incubator, and she's getting eggs from another friend. And various parents have already laid claim on a few of the chicks once they hatch for backyard coops. I am soooo tempted to do the same, especially after coming upon this lovely blog:
Scratch and Peck

So, soooooo tempted.....

artichoke love

2011-03-02T08:19:00.003-05:00

Hey this reminds me of Paul's bachelor spaghetti with artichokes and garbanzos. Only a little more complicated and herby, yum! I'm thinking this is going to have to make an appearance soon.
Linguine in Herbed Artichoke Sauce at Framed Cooks

And yes I realize I'm on a bit of a Framed Cooks kick lately.

in like a lion... out like a wimp.

2011-03-01T11:27:00.004-05:00

*noonish*
First day of this Simple till 6 business. I had a banana for breakfast, and for lunch: rice with steamed spinach, zucchini, broccoli and olive oil, with some baked tofu and a fresh avocado and tangerine on the side. I even resisted a white chocolate peppermint Godiva truffle offered by my coworker (and by resisted I mean stashed in my desk drawer to eat immediately after 6, of course.)

I can totally do this.

*4 pm*
Ha ha. Right. In walks a work VIP with cookies and brownies in honor of my one-year anniversary with the organization. Iced sugar cookies and fudgy, caramelly nut brownies that she had made special at some out of the way little bakery. We go into a meeting with a small table (technical difficulties in the larger conference room) so they are situated literally right under my nose, with VIP looking expectantly at me to try one. No time to explain Simple till 6, Health Month, blah blah blah... start meeting and eat brownie. Eat! Now!

(so....worth....it.... nom nom nom...)

health month

2011-02-28T19:24:00.007-05:00

Well here we are at the end of February. How did I do on my Health Month rules?

1. Drink at least 35 glasses of water a week: A+
"You're a pro at this. Consider increasing the difficulty of this rule next month, if you want, or keeping it at this level."

Hey all right! I'm awesome at drinking water! To be fair, I counted things like herbal (not black) tea and Emergen-C drinks as part of my water intake. I don't think that's cheating though.

2. Write at least 4 days a week: C
"Maybe this rule was too difficult? Try making it a little easier next month and then working your way back to this level."

Uh, yeah...not so prolific. I think though that just having this obligation in the back of my mind, especially consciously declaring myself as an "official" Health Month blogger, actually did push me to write a little more than I would have otherwise, especially after my Granna died at the beginning of the month and all I wanted to do was mope and look at old pictures of her. Still working on a post about her, by the way.

3. Exercise for 30 minutes every day: D
"Maybe this rule was too difficult? Try making it a little easier next month and then working your way back to this level."

Oh dear. You know, honestly I'm just glad to have made it to the end of the month without getting an F in this. Health Month also tells me that on average I exercise about 4.2 days per week. I really did make a real effort, again more than I know I would have otherwise. But doing it every day is clearly just too difficult for me. I'm still hopeful that I really can work my way up to that level, but I'm ready to admit it's not so realistic....yet.
(uh huh, perfectionism, I know.)

I should also say that I gave myself some of that virtual fruit at a few low points during the month when I needed it to stay in the game - around the funeral and again when I lost life points for spending time with my husband (hello, Valentine's day) and ignoring the rules. I also received some fruit from some very nice fellow Health Monthers - thanks mju and Stephanie! - which is a feature of Health Month that I really love, the "social healing" as they call it. You make a "plea for fruit" whether you plan to give it to yourself or hope someone else will give it to you - either way, you have to explain why you lost life points, so you're accountable. And then others can give you fruit if they so choose, and send you messages of encouragement. Total strangers, keeping you going. Love that.

So what am I doing for next month? (as in tomorrow?) Here's my plan:

1. Exercise for 45 minutes at least 4 days a week.
Yes, I admit it, every day is too much. Four days, I seem to be able to handle that. But I'm increasing the amount of time on those days. Several times during this past month when I did exercise, I went far past the 30 minute goal I had set for myself, so I think I can do this. For most workouts, I'm going to aim for roughly 15 minutes of yoga/balance work (I'm so getting through that bubble river thing on Wii Fit), 15 minutes of strength training, and 15 minutes of aerobic activity. If I end up going for a long walk or bike ride though, I'm not going to stress about the timing, I'm just going to do it.

2. Eat simple till 6 every day.
Ok, if you can get past the scantily clad pictures of Jillian Michaels that plaster this website (I'm sorry but that woman scares me), you can read about this concept here.

Apparently this has been around for a little while but I never pay attention to these things so I actually just read about this today from a link on a food blog here (I'm sorry, there's another scantily clad person but she's less scary. plus a good hummus recipe. however tahini is not optional, I'm just saying.) Anyway It may be total bullshit, but I think it sounds like a good idea so I'm going to give it a try.

Basically it's the opposite of what everyone tells you, that you should eat big meals early in the day and then get smaller and smaller so you don't end your day loaded down with food. So your metabolism can deal with the calories throughout the day. Or other such logical science stuff. I don't know, but I like my sleep too much to bother making pancakes on a weekday morning before work. But by the end of the day, with a whole evening in front of me and an awake family to feed, I want to cook a full meal. I want to experiment with recipes, I want to obsessively plan them over the weekend and blog menus about it. And I want to drink wine and eat cheese at nighttime. I just do.

So the idea of simply flipping this rule on its head and eating light throughout the day (when I tend to graze at my work desk anyway) seems a lot easier to manage. The trick will be to avoid all the sugar and snack food that comes my way through my well-meaning dear colleagues, the afternoon chocolate craving, the leftover mac n cheese from meetings. I may no longer enjoy Pat-tastic Tuesdays on account of changing jobs (hey, one year anniversary tomorrow!) but trust me, I am surrounded by unhealthy, un-vegan food options every single day. So that will be the challenge. But theoretically it will be balanced by remember that I can eat whatever I want for dinner, so I think I can do it. And yes, I'm trying every day on this one. Shut up.

3. Ride my bike at least 10 miles a week
I'm still crazily considering doing Pelotonia this year. No wait, hear me out. It's on my birthday this year. My 40th birthday. That's right, 40. The big 4-0. I posted something about this on Health Month and a nice (?) person named Chancer said "40? Jeez. You either need to do the bike ride or run Niagara Falls in a barrel. I vote for the bike ride." Uh, yeah, not going anywhere in a barrel. So not flattering. And besides, we went to Niagara when Paul was 40. Been there, done that. We won't mention my crazy fear of drowning.

And furthermore, I have two very significant cancer survivors in my family. Survivors. As in, chemo surviving, hair growing back, lived to tell the tale types. People who have kind of been through hell and back together. It's the least I can do actually, considering they put me on this planet in the first place, to make an effort to help keep them on it 40 years later.

But riding bike? Here to a whole other city? Without air conditioning or iPod? Dude. That requires a little prep I suppose. First stop, see if there's any air in those tires I got second hand like two decades ago and have barely touched since...

Lucia is excited about this rule because she's going to be my training buddy. She seems to think this will involve more trips to the park. I'm hoping this means spring is actually coming because ain't no way I'm riding in the snow. Hence, the strength training in rule #1. And by the way, a trip to the park and back, or any 45 minutes on the bike? Counts as #1 as well.

So there you have it. Three new rules. We'll see how it goes.

hello, sunshine

2011-02-27T15:01:00.002-05:00

I think it's about time for Spring, don't you? So I'm making all sunny yellow dishes this week. C'mon sun!

spaghetti with lemon and olive oil, spinach salad and garlic bread
yukon gold baked potato bar with various toppings - broccoli, yogurt, cheese
Vermont cheddar soup with bread and apples
crepes with asparagus, cheese and morning buns

inspiration

2011-02-22T20:13:00.007-05:00

"Abby and I have a plan to catch a leprecaun and also I'm going to write a chapter book. And want me to tell you a story? It happened here on this same planet only everything was made of candy. Tables were upside down Hershey kisses and chairs were made of candy canes and you ate Smarties to make you smart in school and the chalkboard was a Crunch bar..."

My child has more creativity in her pinky fingernail than I could ever dream of. This is pretty much a direct quote from our ride home from choir rehearsal this evening. She also told me all about how she was going to catch that leprecaun (it involves glitter, mints, a glass jar and several cardboard boxes, though only kids are supposed to know that so don't tell anyone) and how she's working on a dinosaur version of the Cinderella story in school and then she sang three or four songs. You know, just for fun.

Yesterday I posted on Health Month that although I didn't write, which is one of my goals for this month, I did feel creatively inspired by a work project, a lunch with my friend Mary, and this fabulous book she gave me:
Apartment Therapy's Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces by Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan.

Mary is the kind of person you'll be hanging out with in a bookstore and flipping through a book like this together and then she'll go back later and buy you that book and be just as delighted to give it to you as you are to receive it. Which is exactly what happened in this case. Mary rocks. She's also the kind of person who you have lunch with and walk away feeling nourished and alive in a way that has nothing to do with your meal (although we ate at Lavash, which is delicious, and her baby had her first baba ghanouj. Delightful!)

So I decided that since the point of my writing goal was to be disciplined about feeding my creative soul, I could count other types of inspiration, when a day filled with it makes me feel like writing does. So I gave myself credit yesterday. But today made me wonder why this is so hard that it needs to be a conscious effort, a stated goal that requires daily tending - just to feel vibrant and alive? Isn't that the way we should all feel all the time?

I think my child feels this way most of the time. I think I once did too. Someday I hope to relearn this skill for good. Maybe the leprecaun she catches will teach me.

"Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good."

2011-02-18T00:16:00.007-05:00

This is a phrase my boss says now and then when I'm getting so bogged down in details in an effort to make things perfect that I risk missing a deadline or not accomplishing the thing at all. Perfect gets in the way sometimes, and then you don't even have good enough, when good enough really would have been fine.

I think this is a concept I wrestle with in a lot of areas in my life. A few times I've been called a perfectionist, which seems ridiculous to me because I feel like there is no perfection in my life, nothing remotely close really. If anything my life is one big shambles after another. My house is a mess, I'm overweight, I can't even keep up with this blog regularly. The only perfect thing in my life maybe is the miracle that is my child, for which I really can only claim partial credit anyway. Besides, she farts a lot and leaves her stuff all over the living room. Nobody's perfect.

I've also been told (by a non-expert, based on the purely anecdotal data gathered while being married to me for 12 years..as if that proves anything) that I am ADD and that this manifests itself in things like spending an entire day organizing one kitchen junk drawer while ignoring the dishes piled in the sink and the laundry waiting to be done and so on. Apparently this is ADD because I'm distracted by this one task and not able to see the larger, greater good, to stay on the one path that is household chores in general.

Not seeing the forest for the trees you might say, or maybe one specific tree, or one leaf on one tree. And cleaning all the bugs and grit off that one leaf. But damn, that is one nice leaf when I'm done!

So yeah, call it perfectionism or ADD, I suppose I tend to let it bicker a bit with the good. But sometimes I wonder if that's always such a bad thing? Aren't I also a dreamer of big dreams? Don't they kind of go hand in hand? In my head, I spend a day organizing that junk drawer because my dream is a completely organized house, and a completely organized life, which will lead to an ability to write more, do more, make the world a better place. Isn't that a worthy goal? And I have to start somewhere, so why not the junk drawer? Because, of course, you could spend your whole life on junk drawers, and never get to the dream part. I know.

I've been feeling a little this way about my Health Month goals. Every day! I said. Exercise every day! And not only that, blog about it 4 times a week! And while I'm starting to see that maybe that is a little extreme for me, I'm also still having ambitious thoughts about joining Peletonia this summer and stepping up my goals next month to train for it. I'm thinking this *while I'm failing at my current goals*. This is how my brain works. Still... Peletonia! Ending cancer! Big dreams!

I haven't completely failed yet though. I'm on an exercise streak this week actually after all the Valentine craziness. I'm adding weights to my regular Wii Fit routine to make it a little more challenging. I'm feeling my muscles tighten and growing strong, I actually am. Sure, I had to give myself some virtual fruit to pull out of my post-funeral rut but I'm still in the game. And I'm writing, right now. That is something.

Not perfect, but good. And for now I guess that will have to be good enough.

oof

2011-02-14T11:35:00.004-05:00

Ok, so I made (i.e. heated up what Trader Joe's made) chocolate crossiants for my little family this morning. I was proud of myself for actually having the foresight to let them defrost and rise overnight and remembering in my early-morning fog brain to turn the oven on. I also enjoyed saying "crossiant" several times in my worst, most ridiculously exaggerated French accent as my people woke up. Happy v-day, mes amours!

Then I went merrily on my way to work, whereupon I was offered the following:
1. darling chocolate covered cherry and Hershey kiss "mice" with slivered almond ears
2. beautiful Martha-esque heart-shaped raspberry linzer cookies
3. sprinkle covered chocolate truffles made with some handed-down ancient recipe
4. cherry Life Savors wrapped in individual packages hand-stamped with "happy valentine's day"
5. a heart-shaped spice bundt cake with homemade cream cheese frosting
6. fresh coffee from some special hometown shop, selected just for us.

Yeah, I'm a little pathetic by comparison. I also enjoyed all six of these things, in addition to the crossiant which got chocolate sauce all over my skirt because I eat like a 2 year old. This on top of several days of no exercise. And pasta for lunch. Um, so if I make my Health Month goal 60 minutes of Wii Fit for today... does that even begin to address this Valentine calorie gorging? If I also have brownies (again, Trader Joe's, from a box... slacker) waiting for dessert tonight?

Um, maybe 90 minutes...

comfort

2011-02-11T09:48:00.002-05:00

So I know my posts abruptly stopped right after declaring I'd be
officially blogging and all that... but then my Granna died last
Friday. I'm working on a post all about her and her fantastic cooking
and lots and lots more, but it's taking time. So here's two comfort
food recipes in the meantime, because I'm all about that right now
(because it takes so little to make me all about that in the first
place, and this is so much.)

Minus the ham: http://framed-mylifeonepictureatatime.blogspot.com/2011/02/ham-and-egg-crepe-squares.html

Minus the lard:
http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/dessert/rosemary-apple-turnovers-with-honey-138971

And here's how I'm doing on Health Month:
1) First few days, gung-ho! I am a Health Month machine! I'm
exercising! I'm writing! I'm drinking water!
2) Granna died. I'm sad. I'm eating potato chips and fried cheese and
I defy anyone who dares judge me for it.
3) I'm suddenly craving lots of nurturing vegetables and I'm drinking
wine with my family and looking at pictures and laughing and
remembering the good times.
4) I'm exercising and writing and drinking water again. Less cheerily,
but doing it.

Life goes on. More soon kiddos.

nerds like us

2011-02-03T09:44:00.002-05:00

"Nerds like us are allowed to be unironically enthusiastic about stuff.... Nerds are allowed to love stuff, like, jump-up-and-down-in-the-chair-can't-control-yourself love it. When people call people nerds, mostly what they're saying is, 'You like stuff.' Which is just not a good insult at all, like, 'You are just too enthusiastic about the miracle of human consciousness.'"
~ John Green
(via http://www.finslippy.com/blog/elsewhere.html ... thank you Alice and Kate)

frozen

2011-02-01T14:23:00.003-05:00

When I somehow get home I'll be uploading the picture I took from inside my car this morning as I waited for a good 20 minutes for the ice to thaw enough for it to be possible to crack it with the ice scraper and then pick, pick, pick, scrape, scrape, scrape for another 20 minutes, sliding around all the while and risking life and limb on my personal skating rink, I mean driveway. The view is looking out my ice covered windshield at the blurry garage that I should have cleaned out last summer so I wouldn't have this problem. Instead, all the garden tools and bags of recycling and bird seed and outgrown Lucia clothes to donate are all toasty warm and ice-free inside and I'm dealing with this @!$#&*! in the tundra.

Don't you want to move to the midwest and experience this kind of joy? I know you do. We also have brutally conservative politics, bad hair, and corn. And many other lovely things that I can't think of right now because my brain is FROZEN.

So not surprisingly I forgot my lovely Sigg water bottle on my way out the ice-covered door, three hours late for work in the hopes that some of it might have melted by mid-morning (it didn't.) It is probably just as well because any potentially drinkable water in it would have probably frozen solid the second I stepped outside. So I guess I have some drinking to do tonight.. and not the fun kind. Oh well. I am writing right now and fully intend to work out this evening after my 5 glasses of water. No, really. So hey, great start to my February Health Month! Yay me!

It's a good thing I didn't choose to do a gratitude journal this month...

booyah to you

2011-01-31T14:43:00.002-05:00

I'm an official Health Month blogger for February. Let me just say at
the outset that I am not getting paid nor am I in any other way
associated with the makers of Health Month other than as a user of
their cool product. They invited bloggers to apply, and I did, and by
some magic I got accepted. That's all. I want to say that first
because I think it's really fabulous and I'm going to sound like a
commercial next.

Ok, so what is Health Month? A really smart, fun website where you can
track your progress on whatever goals you have set for yourself in a
sort of community game format. It's really any goals at all – you can
choose from a lot of standard things like "exercise" or "avoid
alcohol" or "write in a journal" or you can write in your own if these
don't satisfy you. Then you say how often you want to do these things
(every day? 5 days a week? etc) and what I think is most important,
how difficult you think this will be for you, and how important it is
to you. In other words, it's not enough to just say "I think I should
exercise more" – you have to really think about why you are doing this
and what kind of impact it's going to have on your life, because
really, we all know that's the only way it's going to happen. See?
Smart. Oh, you can also make a contract with yourself, with optional
rewards and/or punishments for achieving or failing in your goals. I
skipped the rewards/punishments part myself.

Then the fun part begins. Each day you play a turn: first, you're
asked whether you want to spin the Wild Wheel. And not only that, you
can choose to spin "softly" or "with gusto" or "with reckless
abandon." I'm not sure that it really makes a difference what you
choose, but I generally choose reckless abandon. It makes me giggle.
Then the wheel spins and you get some kind of bonus thing, like extra
points if you're doing an exercise-related rule, or a pop quiz giving
you extra points if you ate any soy that day for example. It's just
for fun and you're allowed to pass, but these things keep me coming
back.

Then you're asked whether you did whatever is on your list of rules
that day. It's totally on the honor system, of course, but why lie
here? The whole thing would be stupid and meaningless if you lied. If
you're telling the truth and you did what you said you'd do, you get
an extra pat on the back. And virtual fruit. And points. And if anyone
is following you (similar to facebook/twitter) they may give you an
extra booyah. Sure, some people like to achieve goals for their own
sake, and that's great if you're one of those people. More power to
you. I'm not, I need all the reinforcement I can get.

After that, you can get extra points for writing a short review of
your day, which you can choose to share publicly on the game wall for
all to see (and get the booyahs) or not. It's another nice way that
the game encourages you to keep thinking about your goals and how you
feel about them.

You are also placed in a bracket depending on the difficulty level and
number of your goals. I'm in yellow, for the easiest, minimal goals.
Yes, I'm a little bit of a wimp. We all know this. I should say here
also though that the higher up you go in difficulty and number of
goals, the game no longer becomes free to play. I guess they have to
keep it going somehow, and there's no advertising in sight. You can
also ask people to sponsor you, which apparently some very nice people
do. Me, I'm in yellow because I'm both an aforementioned wimp and
also very much a cheapskate and nobody really knows me and I'm too shy
to appeal for a sponsor. For now anyway.

So what are my goals for February?

1. Exercise at least 30 minutes, 7 days a week.
One of the many cool things about Health Month is it helps you learn
from a previous month's game, getting a little analysis on what types
of rules you did better or worse on, and suggestions about how to do
better in the future. I actually started in January mid-month with a
plan to exercise every day, and I had a few good streaks there but
fell off the wagon enough that my Health Month profile says I exercise
on average 3.8 days a week. Oops. So clearly this is going to be a bit
of a challenge for me. I considered scaling back to 5 days a week, but
I really feel like it's important for me to keep trying for every
single day. I need it to be a habit for me, something I just do, like
breathing and sleeping and eating potato chips. Especially like eating
potato chips. So I'm going to try again. Maybe I'm not that much of a
wimp.

2. Drink 35 glasses of water a week.
That translates to 5 glasses a day. This really shouldn't be too hard,
it's not even really the amount you're supposed to have every day. I'm
just trying this in order to be more conscious about what I drink in a
day. I tend to unconsciously drink coffee or black tea all day and
then follow it with a glass of wine in the evening… not really the
best beverage choices. I'm not saying I'm giving up coffee, tea, or
wine though, not this time. I'm just more consciously adding water.

3. Write at least 4 days a week.
This should really be an everyday thing, but I'm starting small this
month. Remember my new year's resolutions? The novel I was thinking
about in December? Yeah, still thinking about it, still haven't really
written anything. I decided I'm just going to write anything,
including this blog, at least 4 days a week, in an effort to get back
into the habit. And that's one of the reasons why I applied to be an
official blogger – both having writing as a goal and being an official
blogger makes me twice as accountable. We'll see where that goes.

If you want to join the February game and try this out for yourself,
just sign up by midnight tonight at healthmonth.com. Or if you don't
get around to it in time, you can probably join mid-month like I did
in January. Follow me (my name is so creative: lynne) and give me a
booyah. I'll send one your way too.

week of january 30, 2011

2011-01-30T14:43:00.004-05:00

Here's my menu this week, mostly inspired by Molly Wizenberg of Orangette, A Homemade Life, and the Spilled Milk podcast (about which I have mixed feelings.) I'm trying to make my way through her book, though I have to say it's hard to get past the many stories about her trips to Paris throughout her childhood and how wonderful each and every person in her family were without feeling a little rebellious. But I'm trying to hang with it. And trying some of her recipes this week.

Also my father is turning 70 this week. My mom is cooking dinner and I'm in charge of the cake (again, mixed feelings.) I've decided to attempt the Dark Chocolate Sponge cake from Wacky Cakes and Kooky Cookies by Gerhard Jenne, decorated with 70 white and dark chocolate stars like on the Celebration Cake, page 64 and on the cover of my copy (and on the front flap of the Amazon "Look Inside" link) though it looks like the latest edition has the adorable Coiffed Carrot Cakes on the cover now. Anyway we all know how parental birthday cakes seem to be fraught with peril for me so we'll see how it goes.

By the way I've decided to post a complete grocery list in case you'd like to make these recipes too, even though I may have many of these items on hand. It occurred to me that that may be more useful (duh) and that I could just cross stuff I already have off the list (double duh.) So have fun with that.

Finally, I'm doing some official-type blogging beginning in February, which is this week! Stay tuned!

Orangette Inspired Menu:

Sunday - soba noodles with citrus peanut sauce, with spinach, radishes and carrots
Monday - rice and curried vegs and naan (Trader Joe's freezer section)
Tuesday - dinner at choir rehearsal
Wednesday - apple and butternut squash soup, salad and bread
Thursday - oatmeal popovers, veggie bacon and fruit
Friday - leftovers, takeout, or beaters covered in cake batter. or all of the above.
Saturday - dinner at my parents' house, and birthday cake

Grocery list (from Ziplist):

--- drinks ---
apple cider
juice boxes

--- condiments, dressings & oils ---
chili garlic sauce or sambal oelek
olive oil
orange marmalade
peanut butter
soy sauce
sriracha or a similar hot sauce

--- produce ---
apples
basil
berries
butternut squash
carrots
garlic
lime (1)
onion
radishes (3)
salad greens
spinach

--- grains & pasta ---
oats
rice
soba noodles

--- frozen ---
trader joe's curried vegetables
trader joe's naan
vegetarian bacon

--- baking & cooking ---
baking powder
brown sugar
cardamom
cocoa powder
curry powder
flour
mace
milk chocolate chips
unsweetened chocolate
vegetable oil
white chocolate chips

--- canned foods, soups & mixes ---
vegetable broth

--- bread & baked goods ---
bread

--- dairy ---
butter
eggs
light cream
milk

and speaking of rosemary...

2011-01-24T13:32:00.002-05:00

...oh, weren't we? See, I'm thinking of the rosemary roasted potatoes I'm going to make later for dinner tonight. But I've been meaning to post something about the Stewed White Beans with Tomatoes and Rosemary I tried a few weeks ago. Original recipe found here: http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/stewed-white-beans-with-tomatoes-and-rosemary.

Yes, it’s Martha. We all know about my love-hate relationship with Mrs. Stewart. Still, I have to say this was so good, so easy, and so family friendly, it’s going into the regular weekday rotation. That’s right, family friendly: meaning even Lucia liked this. Lucia! Eater of nothing touching any other thing! Eater of pasta with no sauce! Eater of bread with no butter! Lucia! Child who mysteriously grew inside me without inheriting a speck of the cheese loving gene!

Ok, to be fair, this is neither pasta nor bread nor cheese. But it’s things mixed with other things in a big deliciously sloppy mess. It's basically beans and vegetables hidden in red sauce. It’s begging for shredded parmesan on top and buttered bread on the side. And my child, completely unsolicited, declared while slurping down whole spoonfuls, “this is good.”

Still, I am her mom, which means I was quizzing her on spelling words while dodging ballet kicks (our oven handle makes a great barre) and trying to squeeze in a facebook sanity check now and then while cooking this. So here’s my version with a few shortcuts. Try it. You won’t be sorry.

Ingredients:
1 can white beans, rinsed
½ a container of Trader Joe’s mirepoix (pre-chopped onion, carrot, and celery mixture) – if you don’t have Trader Joe’s or a source of an equivalent near you, I am sorry for you on many levels, not least of which being that you’ll have to chop about ½ cup of each yourself.
1 dried bay leaf
1 can (28 oz) whole tomatoes, or chopped if you want
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
Several tablespoons (handfuls?) dried rosemary, to taste
salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Saute onion, carrot, celery in olive oil until tender. Add garlic, rosemary, and bay leaf and sauté a few minutes more until garlic and rosemary are tenderish but not brown. They’ll cook more as they simmer in step 2. Take out the bay leaf if you want, or leave it in for good luck for whoever ends up with it in their bowl.

2. Add tomatoes - whole, straight out of the can, with juice and about a can’s worth of water or leftover red pasta sauce if you have it. And add beans, salt and pepper. Cover and reduce heat to simmer about 20 minutes or however long it takes you to make the rest of your meal. If the tomatoes don’t break up enough for your taste on their own while cooking, smoosh them with the back of a wooden spoon against the side of your pot.

3. That’s it. Seriously. Serve, enjoying a rare food-related compliment from your child. You’re welcome.

menu and shopping list for this week

2011-01-23T13:32:00.000-05:00

This week I'm making recipes from The Zuni Cafe Cookbook by Judy Rodgers. I'm trying to actually use my collection of cookbooks for a change instead of just decorating my kitchen shelf with them. This week's menu is below and also to the right in the recently updated menu gadget (sorry it's been a little wacked out lately) and my shopping list is below, thanks to Ziplist. Of course this is only what I need, because some of the ingredients (lentils, potatoes, olive oil) I already have on hand. You'd have to consult the recipes to make your own list.

I keep accidentally typing "lust" instead of "list" in this post, which is actually very fitting when it comes to talking about this cookbook. Most recipes are two or three pages long and are accompanied by cringe-worthy recommendations to use things like duck fat instead of olive oil (ick) but it's easy to get past that when you imagine things like sage pesto or ricotta gnocchi or bosc pears with fennel, walnuts, parmigiano-reggiano and balsalmic vinegar... actually I may have to make this a two-week study....

Sunday- fettuccine with tomato alfredo sauce, beans n greens and garlic toast

Monday- rosemary roasted potatoes, salmon with lemon caper butter, fresh oranges

Tuesday- dinner at choir rehearsal

Wednesday- lentil sweet red pepper soup with cumin, bread and salad

Thursday- fried eggs in bread crumbs, veggie sausage, asparagus and mushrooms. Yes, Lucia will hate this.

Shopping "lust":

produce
spinach
Red Pepper
carrots, celery, onion, diced
flowers for the table
asparagus
mushrooms
salad greens
Parsley

bread & baked goods
bread (sandwich and Italian/French loaf)

meats
Veggie Sausage Links
salmon

canned foods, soups & mixes
white beans
capers

grains & pasta
Fettucine

dairy
milk
eggs
Yogurt

baking & cooking
pancake mix

beer, wine & liquor
White Wine

Powered By ZipList©

Shopping List:1-16-11

2011-01-16T11:57:00.001-05:00

I'm trying an app called Ziplist. It allows you to take online recipes (from participating websites.. it's a little Martha heavy) and add the ingredients to your shopping list. But you can also add your own items and edit them and even organize by the aisles of your favorite store. Unfortunately Trader Joe's is not one of the listed stores though. Still, I think I dig it. For what it's worth, here's my shopping list for this week's recipes (see the meal planner calendar at right) plus a few other things we need. This list was produced by Ziplist and sent to my email, which I'm now forwarding to my blog, which is kind of cool too.

produce
8 fresh sage leaves
2 bunches Collard Greens
mirapoux (chopped onion, celery, carrots.. which Trader Joe's has but Ziplist doesn't)
Grape Tomatoes
1 lemon

bread & baked goods
baguette
Cinnamon raisin Bagels

grains & pasta
3/4 cup cooked lentils (from a 15-ounce can), rinsed and drained
1.5 cups macaroni
14.5 oz. low-sodium vegetable or chicken broth

dairy
Yogurt
eggs
2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
milk
1 cup lemon yogurt

deli
8 pieces set polenta (about 1/3 batch) Basic Polenta (Soft or Set)

frozen
Orange Juice

baking & cooking
lemon extract
1cup Corn Grits
salt

household goods
Batteries, AA

beer, wine & liquor
Red Wine

Powered By ZipList©

mashed potato bowl...EXTREME!

2011-01-08T14:58:00.001-05:00

think of it.. mashed potato bowl.. made out of mashed potatoes! brilliant.
http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=10000000257266

magic bean

2011-01-01T12:07:00.009-05:00

So I found this little bean on the living room floor, probably left over from a craft project or homemade maraca. I was cleaning up for the holidays and not really thinking, and I just threw it in a vase on my kitchen windowsill that was full of dirt leftover from a plant that had died. Then I completely forgot about it.. until this morning, new year's day, when I noticed this.

I can only believe this means good things for 2011. Happy new year beans to you too.

bubba goes vegan

2010-12-29T09:21:00.003-05:00

Dude, President Clinton went vegan this year. How was this not giant news?? Was it giant news, and I just wasn't paying attention? The man lost 24 pounds, he's down to his weight in high school. He is healing his own heart problems so he can know his own grandchildren someday. Vegan!!!
http://www.vegsource.com/news/2010/09/president-clinton-credits-caldwell-esselstyn-md-for-decision-to-go-plant-based.html

peace

2010-12-20T10:38:00.001-05:00

The solstice is upon us friends. Time for slowing down, getting quiet, appreciating the simple beauty of a snowfall, a rosy cheek, a warm kitchen. Time to reflect, assess, and begin anew, welcoming the sun's return and the promise of new life, new hope. For me this is what the holidays really are all about, and what gets lost for me year after year as I busy myself with shopping, cookie baking, events, haircuts, and decorating. And then I create extra work for myself by thinking up more and more crafts, recipes to try, blog entries to write, and I never feel like I've quite done enough until I've given myself my annual holiday nervous breakdown and I'm crying over a cake that didn't come out just right. It's a vicious, love-hate thing I have with Christmas, and it came to a head last year when I finally vowed it would never be like that again.

So for 2010 I made one New Year resolution: Let Go. So, I let go of a few things this year. I walked away from my job of almost seven years, and put up an emotional patronus against a similarly dementor-like relationship that was sucking out my soul. I relinquished a little bit of my mysterious belief that the world will fall apart if I don’t vigilantly control everything. I stopped stressing over every event, what Lucia's hair looks like, what people I don't care about think of me. I let my subscription to Martha Stewart Living - the one I've had since the mid-90's - lapse. Yep. No more Martha.

I also sadly let go of my sweet Swoozie, the most beautiful cat in the world who died at the end of January after a long, fierce, spritely life that happened to parallel some of the most important phases of my own. I have been composing a blog entry about her ever since, still struggling with words to express my feelings about this. Maybe I’ll finally post something on the one year anniversary. Meanwhile I'm decorating and remembering how she used to chase the Christmas lights as I looped them around the tree, putting my snow globe collection on a lower shelf than usual because there’s no little spirited creature in the house anymore to accidentally knock them down in her pursuit of invisible prey. Hanging her little stocking by the lovely wooden box that contains her ashes. Heavy sighs.

And I've let go of my need to be so busy this holiday season. I got my shopping out of the way before Thanksgiving (yes, I know, I'm one of those.) I even wrapped them already. Did the cards early December too. I had grand plans to make 12 different kinds of chocolate cookies, as in "12 days of Christmas," and then settled on three, and let one batch of batter go bad in the fridge before I got to baking it. So really two. Somehow, I don't really care that much, honestly. Maybe I'll still make some more, who knows. I even forgot to make something for Lucia's teacher - oops. Completely forgot. I guess we're giving her a New Year gift when she goes back to school in January. In a Lucia-painted champagne glass perhaps?

Meanwhile, I'm spending lots of time snuggling with my husband and child. Drinking hot chocolate and flavored coffee. Tying up loose ends at work and getting ready for a week off. And thinking about 2011.

I have a novel in my head itching to get out. It's all about love and art and sisterhood and being true to yourself. Will declaring that make it actually happen? Will I commit to actually writing it this year? I think I can at least commit to trying to arrange my life so that it will be possible. That’s a little different than the actual writing, and in many ways a whole lot more difficult. I need space, mentally and physically, and time, and efficient tools. I can’t write this thing like I blog - on the fly, in little breaks during my work day or notes on my iPod while I’m cooking dinner. I'm fairly ADD so I’ve learned to manage the art of the multi-task (duh), and maybe even thrive at it (maybe not), but this is something that needs focus. I think. Maybe not? Who knows. I will endeavor to figure it out. And if it’s worth doing, and the space is set up, maybe it will happen then. Maybe not this year, but eventually. If you build it, they will come. I can however with utmost conviction commit to including no more Kevin Costner movie references in my blog, novel, or even a grocery list. That is a promise.

Beyond that? Well I suppose since I’m having a certain milestone birthday this coming year I should probably get my act together on exercising and flossing and balancing my checkbook and all that grownup stuff. But hello – a novel. All else - beyond family - is secondary. See? Mental space. It’s happening already.

Welcome back sun. And happy, peaceful holidays to you and yours.

mmm

2010-11-04T09:27:00.001-04:00

breakfast for dinner tonight:
http://www.seriouseats.com/2010/11/breakfast-grilled-cheese-from-mike-and-pattys-boston-mass-ma.html

family meal for $10?

2010-11-01T12:27:00.001-04:00

http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/feed-four-people-for-10-tell-em-theyre-dreaming-20101030-1786a.html

I bet I could do it. I'm guessing I already do, actually. Of course, I already have olive oil, herbs/salt, and wine in my kitchen. And my family is three, although if you count the leftovers (which there always are) then I suppose that's our fourth. Also, I get most of my vegetables from the CSA or my own garden. And then we don't eat meat. So why do I still spend about $100/week or more at the grocery? Probably to keep up my wine and recycled TP habits.

Although actually, this week I spent about $75, which translates to a little under $11/day, including breakfasts and lunches. But again, I already had a lot of stuff in my kitchen, so it was a light week.

At any rate, this sounds like a fun challenge for food month, November!

oh. my.

2010-10-20T11:39:00.001-04:00

Pumpkin Pie French Toast Casserole. No wait, say it again: Pumpkin Pie French Toast Casserole. That just sounds so right, on so many levels, not least of which being it may be a casserole Lucia will actually eat.

So ok, Christmas morning, methinks:
Spinach and gruyere strata for Mr. and Mrs. Claus: http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/columns/eat-for-eight-bucks/
Pumpkin Pie French Toast Casserole for the elf (and also Mr. and Mrs. Claus): http://www.cookingwithmykid.com/recipes/pumpkin-pie-french-toast

It's a plan.

and some non-pumpkin pumpkins...

2010-10-19T13:50:00.001-04:00

So using this idea. Maybe every day in Lucia's lunchbox the week before Halloween. Brilliant!
http://www.instructables.com/id/The-Instant-Mini-Jack-o-lantern-Army-made-of-citr/

another one for the rotation

2010-10-19T13:35:00.001-04:00

..and possibly Christmas morning? Of course, with a plain old baguette with nothing on it for Lucia, because that's how she rolls. (ha ha.. get it? rolls?)

http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/columns/eat-for-eight-bucks/

oh dear

2010-10-14T13:27:00.001-04:00

I think I'm going to try it again. This time for real! Um, maybe. No really. Yeah.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Sara Kate from The Kitchn

    
   kitchen tours   recipes   mission   
  10/14/2010  
Time for Another Kitchen Cure

Your kitchen might be sick, or maybe all it needs is a little tune up and buffing. The majority of kitchens I see, including my own sometimes, display, at the very least, symptoms of chaos, disarray or atrophy. What you see above is a shot of a kitchen before the last Kitchen Cure. I chose this photo not to scare you, but to help you feel like you are not alone.
 
Our kitchens need love and attention just like our bodies. When your kitchen is an organized and happy place, you will cook more often. Simple.

This is our fifth semi-annual Kitchen Cure: four fast weeks of focus on organization, cleaning and stocking up so that ultimately your kitchen is in great shape for cooking. Each Cure gets better and better, so I'm hoping you join us this time, whether you've done a previous Cure or not.
Expect to roll up your sleeves and ask yourself some hard questions about whether or not you need three whisks or that George Foreman grill you got from your cousin way back when. We'll talk about natural cleaning solutions, how to make an out-box and — after you tear it all apart, we'll help you put it back together again. We'll go over stocking the kitchen, from spices to sauté pans and then, with a great collective sigh of relief and jubilation, we'll help you plan a dinner party to celebrate your renewed space.
Sign up today and get your first assignment tomorrow, Friday, October 15th. Committing to the Cure doesn't mean signing your life away for a month. Some complete assignments in an hour each week, while others really go for it and spend all their nights and weekends diligently tending their kitchens. You can give as little or as much as you want.
 
Our last Kitchen Cure had a few thousand participating (check out the before and after shot above!), but don't think you'll be just a tiny fish in a big sea. We encourage everyone to take part in the community aspect of the Cure by submitting progress photos, updates and questions. Often I answer emails personally and help people along the way. I've been known to make house-calls, too.
 
If your kitchen is suffering in any way, look to the Kitchen Cure as your healer. Maybe you need rehab, or just a weekly massage. The Kitchen Cure gives you as much help as you need.
Sign up for the Kitchen Cure!
  
(Images: Flickr member petitshoo and Jeremiah, Spring 2010 Kitchen Cure participants)

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note to self: add Sopa de Ajo to the rotation

2010-10-13T10:19:00.001-04:00

http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/health/preparing-for-flu-season-sopa-de-ajo-129409

oatmeal in a pumpkin!

2010-10-10T22:20:00.001-04:00

Thank you Mary for the link! This looks awesome!

http://www.cookingwithmykid.com/recipes/baked-pumpkin-oatmeal

2010-10-08T18:51:00.000-04:00

Turns out, leftover onion soup + leftover buttered noodles = WIN. I
call it Onion Stroganoff. Has this already been invented?

or perhaps

2010-08-10T11:47:00.001-04:00

http://www.pithyandcleaver.com/?p=2398#more-2398

vanilla peach pie

2010-08-10T11:46:00.001-04:00

Oh, this would probably be better than the version of peach pie I made Sunday, which was basically throw a bunch of peaches together with some applesauce in a crust and hope for the best. I see a do-over in my future.
http://blog.lilacandivy.com/2010/08/table-talk-vanilla-peach-pie.html

new calendar gadgets

2010-08-07T11:18:00.004-04:00

Hey look at that, I have some new gadgets on my blog. Over on the right, there's a food diary and a meal planner. I've been attempting the food diary for a few weeks now, perhaps you've noticed that one. I am really bad at this, which is probably why any diet I've ever attempted has been supremely half-assed (if only my actual ass was.) But I thought it might be interesting just to kind of see, if not for diet purposes so much but maybe just for the entertaining voyeuristic value to you my dear readers. So have fun with that.

The other is an attempt to get my weekly meal planning more intentional and organized, and to actually try some of those recipes I post here and feverishly collect on my bookshelves. So I'm inspired by this method of using Google calendar on feelslikehomeblog.com to organize recipes and sort of put them on auto-pilot by using the repeat function. I've done next week's recipes so far, scheduled to repeat 3 or 6 weeks from now. Click each to see details which include the website (if any) from which the recipe comes and the recipe itself. Eventually I'm going to try to post a shopping list for the week's recipes as well.

If you want to try these too I think you can also click "add this to my calendar" somewhere and it can go on your own Google calendar if you have one. Or just enjoy some laughs by comparing my planner to the food diary to see whether I actually made any of these things!

fair food extravaganza

2010-08-04T13:21:00.004-04:00

Oh by the way, the Ohio State Fair is going on right now. Because of my job, I have now been there four times and I have this to report on the carnie food offerings:

1) The big deal this year is the “Muddy Pig” – fried bacon dipped in chocolate. I can’t tell you how much this makes my vegetarian soul recoil at the very idea. Though I’m considering trying a veggie version at home, stay tuned. I can’t get a definitive answer on whether “fried bacon” means that the bacon is simply cooked as usual or actually deep fried before being dipped in chocolate. Perhaps deep fried would be overkill? Or is the word “overkill” even relevant when discussing something as ridiculous as chocolate covered bacon?

2) However, I did try some fried Buckeyes. They are $5 for 5, I shared some with my coworker. Trust me, you can’t eat all five. For those of you who aren’t from Ohio, a candy buckeye is a classic dessert made around here in honor of the OSU Buckeyes, who you are required to love no matter how little you care about sports. It consists of pretty much equal parts butter, peanut butter, and powdered sugar rolled into balls and dipped partially in chocolate to resemble a buckeye nut (the actual one that grows on trees, not in the stadium.) I made this once for a Thanksgiving to which my brother in law brought a friend who was from Japan and not used to sugary American sweets. I’m pretty sure the poor guy’s eyeballs actually popped out of his head for a second when he tasted one. Anyway now you can get these batter dipped and deep fried at the fair! Served on toothpicks and if you like, with either powdered sugar or Hershey’s syrup, or both. We went for the powdered sugar. The peanut butter inside stays intact despite the heat of the brief frying. My heart may have stopped beating a few times, and not in a good way. It’s intense. Check it out!

3) Which is not to discount the many other edible delights found on sticks: fried Snickers bars, chocolate dipped cheesecake, fried cheese of multiple varieties. I had a fried mozzarella with marinara sauce (an extra 25 cents) – not as yummy as I remembered from years past. It is basically a very corny corndog with cheese instead of the dog, and I’m jaded on too many Morningstar Farms veggie corndogs. But of course, meat corndogs are available at the fair as well as steak on a stick and giant turkey legs and other monstrosities that you can nibble while visiting their live counterparts in the barns. Avoid the barbecue tent if you’re vegetarian lest you stumble upon the whole roasted pig directly after visiting sweet sleeping live piglets like I did. Ugh, sadness.

4) But back to the corn (because this is Ohio after all): there’s a kettle corn stand where they give yummy free samples, and fill the air with delicious smelling stuff while they cook it. There are also several places that sell roasted corn on the cob that you can hold by the husks. I didn’t actually get around to trying these beyond the free kettle corn sample but if you’re looking for actual food that may be the way to go. Yum.

5) Another real food option is the vegetarian gyro. It’s a basic nicely warm pita wrapped around lettuce, tomato, cucumber, peppers and sour cream. There are meat gyros as well but why bother when so many other meat options abound, if you go that way? Anyway just don’t say anything to the ladies working the gyro booth about how they’re lucky to be located across from the South American music guys like I did – apparently they are singing those same tunes in their sleep every night.

6) Also check out the waffle and elephant ear place near the Crafts building, which mills the flour for their goodies right there in front of you. Lucia had her first elephant ear from this place, coated in cinnamon sugar and utterly delicious. I think this is a also family farm which is always good to support.

7) And of course, no trip to the Ohio State Fair would be complete without a visit to the Butter Cow. For those of you not from around here, it’s a giant cow sculpted out of butter. That’s right, butter. This year’s version took 2,000 pounds of butter in fact, and depicts a mama cow and calf and two Ohio football players (one from the Browns, one from the Bengals, I guess because the Buckeyes are already covered in deep fried form?) The same dairy folks who bring you the Butter Cow and Co. also provide some delicious ice cream in that building. I have now tried all four flavors – vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, mint chocolate chip – and I can recommend them all but the disappointing strawberry, which tasted surprisingly artificial and bland.

8) Finally, be sure to stop by the Ohio Proud farmer’s market on your way out, so you can enjoy some local goodies in the comforting air conditioning of your own home. Perhaps a salad to counteract the effects of all that fried stuff?

I can also highly recommend the Lego area, the kid’s mural, giant yellow slide, and all the exciting activities going on in the Rhodes Center and Youth Discovery buildings. The fair goes through Sunday, August 8. Don’t miss it!

it's about time for a recipe - summer vegetables and fettucine

2010-08-04T12:14:00.001-04:00

Last night’s dinner was a nice mix of summer flavors from the farm, if I do say so myself. As I’m eating the leftovers for lunch and enjoying it all over again, I thought I’d post a recipe of sorts:

From the farm:
Eggplant
Patty pan squash
Cherry tomatoes
Green bell pepper
Garlic

Sliced all but the garlic (left whole clove) and mixed with some chopped carrots, and some fresh basil and parsley from my garden. Sauteed slowly with a little water and some leftover jarred Trader Joe’s marinara sauce which I added a little at a time as it cooked down so I could avoid any oil, because I was serving this with some very buttery full fat fettuccine alfredo. Though of course I wanted my kid to eat this, so the pasta was on the side and I put the vegetables on a platter of fresh baby spinach and more basil from the garden, which became slightly wilted under the hot veggies, just how I like ‘em. And some freshly grated parmesan over the whole mess and a tall glass of red wine. Ahhh.

Speaking of that buttery fettuccine though, I need to say that the frozen aisle at Trader Joe’s is my new best friend. Frozen pasta you say? A silly indulgence you say? Yes, maybe, but at the same price of dried pasta and microwavable, thereby avoiding the boiling of water in 90+ Ohio temperatures? Priceless. I know, it’s not great for the environment, but I am composting all those vegetable trimmings and recycling the plastic bag it comes in so I hope the earth will forgive me the occasional microwavable meal. Note to self: warm up the house in the winter with some pasta boiling and make my own for next summer.

homemade magic shell

2010-07-26T20:17:00.001-04:00

contender for food gifts this christmas:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Homemade-Magic-Shell-Recipe/

mmmm

2010-07-23T16:32:00.001-04:00

Someday I'm going to give up sea creatures, really. And this looks delicious probably without the shrimp. But bathed in lime and herbs? Good gawd.
http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2010/07/shrimp-quesadilla-with-kale-recipe.html

note to self

2010-07-22T15:31:00.001-04:00

read these articles after finishing Omnivore's Dilemna:
http://www.re-nest.com/re-nest/food-cooking/steak-or-veggie-burger-which-is-greener-mother-jones-122665

more for the zucchini files

2010-07-08T11:51:00.001-04:00

http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/inspiration/pretty-clever-weave-zucchini-ribbons-into-kebabs-121338?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+apartmenttherapy%2Fthekitchn+%28The+Kitchn%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher

mmm

2010-07-05T15:06:00.002-04:00

champagne margarita

waffles on a stick

2010-06-29T23:23:00.001-04:00

http://thedailywh.at/post/750830801/life-altering-waffle-maker-of-the-day-its-a

and while i'm at thekitchn.com..

2010-06-28T16:07:00.001-04:00

Rhubarb drinks.... yum.

vibrant + vintage = voluptuous vivaciousness

2010-06-28T16:02:00.002-04:00

This is about the same size as my kitchen. Wonder if I could justify going to a smaller fridge? Hmm.

Julie's Cozy & Vibrant Vintage Kitchen at thekitchn.com

chalkboard jars

2010-06-25T08:39:00.003-04:00

Ok, I am certain I could make these. I think I'm gonna.
upcycled chalkboard jars on etsy.com

pop me one

2010-06-16T16:22:00.003-04:00

I am obsessed with popsicles right now. Could it have anything to do with the weather? Perhaps. It's only, what? 999999999 degrees out? times 99?

See, the thing is, I'm not really a frozen dessert eater. I love the Jeni's Salty Caramel (as we know)
and Graeter's black raspberry chip.. but beyond that? Freezers are for storing leftovers, veggie burgers and compost you're too lazy to take out before it stinks up your kitchen, in my opinion.

My household does not agree with me on this. My husband has been known to down an entire box of popsicles in one sitting, in fact. (Much like I could do with a bag of potato chips, lest you think I'm judging.) And they can be Popsicle brand, or even store brand, it doesn't matter. And I suspect our child is equally frost-smitten. (get it? like frost bitten? har har!)

So really I should have known better than to start bringing her frozen treats last summer every day when I picked her up from camp. But she seemed so hot and exhausted! "Cooked" as my friend Rebecca says, mentally and physically. And I had mama guilt to ease because really I wanted to be playing in the sun with her instead of stuck to a computer all day, all summer. So what better than a fast food milkshake on the way to camp! 99 cents!

Well, a milkshake every single day of camp? All summer long? Because that's pretty much what it became and first week of camp this year the expectation was already there. It adds up! And my kid does not need to watch her calories at this point in her life, having probably a negative percentage of body fat if that were possible (nobody wiggles like Lu) but isn't this an unhealthy setup for later in life anyway? Not to mention how I was tempted to get a frappucino or two along the way, which I'm still carrying around with me.

Still, what's summer without a frozen treat sometimes? I don't know. So I'm determined to at least try to make them at home and healthier. I've got an ice cream maker, and popsicle molds. But my homemade all-juice pops always end up all ice by the time you get halfway through them, why is that? Is it the lack of sugar?

This week I also tried some expensive but locally made Frutique popsicles - claiming to be "the world's best popsicle." I had the Island Coconut and I brought Lu a Wild Raspberry. I have to say that thing was pretty damn good. No, it was amazing actually. Lucia was overwhelmed with raspberriness and gave me half of hers too. Yum. Note: sugar in both though nothing heinous otherwise.) Hmm.

Another one to try: Pomegranate Yogurt Pops from thekitchen.com

Or perhaps Fudgesicles... with butter. Mmmm.

Or maybe a Firecracker Martini?

The mind reels! Stay tuned for more experiments and reviews...

menu for the week of june 6, 2010 - hattie head

2010-06-06T13:17:00.009-04:00

I'm lazily lounging on the couch today with a cup of hot coffee and a cloudy sky outside, dreaming of San Francisco and my very dear friends Mary and Joe out there with their beautiful new baby Hattie. I think we've all had a serious case of Hattie Head lately, mesmerized by pictures of her sweetly serene little face that seems already to know she got lucky in the cosmic birth lottery, with sensitive, loving, and hilarious parents, fabulous friends, and goregous sights and food all around her. I haven't even met Hattie in person yet but she is already adored out here in Ohio.

This week's menu is inspired by Hattie, and some almost as eagerly anticipated produce finally coming from my favorite lovely farmers.

Grilled asparagus with parmesan and orange flavored olive oil
over fettucine or other wide pasta

Warm white bean salad, baby greens and a variety of bruchettas with cherry tomatoes, Chez Panisse baked goat cheese, and Ammo’s balsamic roasted cherries (technically not SF but LA, for Hattie's aunt Mo)

Gordon's red potato salad with whole grain mustard dressing, Dana Velden's chickpea of the sea sandwiches, watermelon with mint

Zuni Cafe boiled kale and fried egg, which Lucia of course will not touch, therefore: Tassajara cream scones with fresh berries

and for some desserts..
Plum and blackberry sorbet
Tartine hazelnut biscotti
hmmm...maybe I'll even make another attempt at Morning Buns this week...

and of course..
coffee, California wine

summer to-do

2010-05-28T20:07:00.007-04:00

Yes, it's been a while. Hey, I have a new job, I'm busy. But I'm dreaming of summer. Hence, in honor of Memorial Day weekend (don't worry, I'll be actually thinking of my WWII vet grandad on Monday, because that's what the holiday is really about, remember?) I am making my summer to-do list. Not assignments for work or home, the things I really want to do this summer. The fun things. What's on your list?

(in no particular order):

Go to Red, White, and Boom with my kid

And the same weekend, the Doo Dah Parade.

Have a lemonade stand. Oh wait, we did that two weeks ago. Check.

Attend both the county and state fair (methinks my job will help with this one)

Have a picnic. Outside this time.

Write letters... actual letters on paper to far away friends.

Join the summer reading club at the library again.. and actually do it, instead of fudging it just for the prize at the end (yes we read, but we don't always keep track all summer)

Visit several metro parks to which we've never been.

Take my kid to the cartoon capers day at CAPA summer movies, and see a few outdoor movies too.

Eat a minimum of one ice cream cone per week. Preferably made by ourselves.

Go to the pool often enough to justify getting a pool pass.

Teach Lucia to make jewelry.

Make a backyard obstacle course.

Go to a music festival.

Stargaze.

entering the 21st century, a menu, and some news

2010-04-17T17:04:00.007-04:00

Um... the Bieberini household has purchased a wireless router. Which means our Wii is now Netflix ready, which means we're pretty much going to be glued to the tv for the forseeable future. See, we don't have cable. We have not had cable since before Paul and I were married, let alone in Lucia's lifetime. We don't even have internet on my cell phone (and Paul doesn't even have a cell phone. I KNOW.) Our previous forms of entertainment (aside from..you know, talking to each other and stuff.. horrors!) have all been in the form of regular network tv, actual Netflix discs we got in the actual mailbox, or sitting in front of the actual PC that I'm actually having access to now that Paul and Lucia are watching all the Spongebob they can before their eyeballs fall out. So you see what a revolutionary device this is for us. Which makes me think... yeah, not a lot of time in the kitchen this week. So my freezer is full of Trader Joe's heat n' serve goodies - here's a sampling.

Saturday - leftover pizza and other gaming and movie watching snacks - TJ's garlic fries, edamame, strawberries, carrots and hummus

Sunday - spaghetti with red sauce, spinach salad

Monday - risotto from a box with steamed asparagus and parmesan (plain rice for Lucia.. even distracted by tv I don't think I could get her to eat this)

Tuesday - choir (what? whole hours away from the screen?!)

Wednesday - TJ's vegetable stir fry (extra peas, please) with coconut shrimp, vegetable gyozas

Thursday - breakfast food.. eggs and Morningstar Farms bacon and toast with various toppings (TJ's cream cheese and $1.99 smoked salmon anyone?), plums (summer is coming!)

I see a lot of Two Buck Chuck in my near future as well.

In other news, my friend Mary and I are thinking of writing a Halloween cookbook. The inspiration for this came last summer on the 4th of July, when she was in town for our 20th high school reunion. I was nursing a giant bruise on my leg from a gin and tonic induced trip down some stairs the night before (way to make an impression on people you haven't seen for 20 years! woo!) (hey I saved the chocolate covered strawberries I was carrying though - priorities.) And we were stretched out on my backyard swing with Lucia, coming up with silly names for dishes that witches would eat. It was that afternoon that inspired what would be my final Halloween potluck dish at my former workplace this past year: Penne Le Pew. Did I post pictures here? I can't remember. Well who knows, they may soon turn up at a bookstore near you! The best part of this idea is now I'm going to start trying some of the competition's recipes, and it's not even Halloween! I've got 5 ghoulish cookbooks on reserve at the library right now, include Martha Stewart's. Stay tuned for reviews!

no peeps were harmed in the making of this blog post.

2010-04-06T20:27:00.003-04:00

i'm not sure how i feel about this. deeply horrified? oddly fascinated? embarrasingly amused? grudgingly admiring? all of the above. typical martha reaction.
http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/video/martha-shows-us-how-to-put-a-chicken-to-sleep-113393

note i went a whole easter without mentioning peeps. i think.

mischief managed

2010-04-01T18:29:00.007-04:00

Last night I actually remembered that today was April Fools' Day. To commemorate the occasion (me actually remembering something) I decided to put food coloring in the milk. It was going to be blue in honor of Martha Stewart, but then I noticed the pink food coloring, and well, how could I resist. Ask yourself, could you?

The Pepto Bismol effect achieved, I got a little drunk with my power. Turning to Lucia's lunch bag, I wondered what the cheese cracker bunnies would think of hanging out in the fruit chewies' bag, and vice versa?

Pausing only to consider the ill effects of re-sealing the bags with school glue (eh, kids have been eating that stuff for decades, right?) I left a little graffiti on the juice box...

...wrote a backwards note (the hilarity!)....

...and turned the cereal shelf upside down. Or everything in it anyway. It probably would have been kind of me to turn the bags inside the boxes right side up so the contents didn't spill all over the unsuspecting victim, but...... nah, too much trouble.

Then I opened a 2-liter of cherry cola, left it on the counter, and went to bed, satisfied. The 2-liter that my kid won by the way at a school event where they had to toss rings on pop bottles, which my kid was apparently really good at because it forced me to walk around the rest of the afternoon with two extremely heavy pop bottles that I didn't even want. But anyway. Why did I leave it open on the counter all night?

Oh I don't know..... hey is that coffee in the pot for my dear husband's morning enjoyment? Or really flat cherry cola....

junk food

2010-03-24T20:43:00.011-04:00

I've been thinking about junk food a lot lately, especially after listening to this Spilled Milk podcast all about it. By the way, I'm new to Spilled Milk and I'm not sure how I feel about it. I think the hosts are just a tad too amused with themselves, like maybe they are actually drinking a lot while they cook, but I keep coming back anyway, I guess I'm sort of enjoying these short little podcast morsels of food reviews and thoughts on my way to and from my new job.. a time of day when I can't do any actual cooking myself. Anyway the episode in question was all about junk food. They talked about Cool Ranch Doritos (shudder) and a variety of Hostess products, among other things. And I've been hitting my local Tim Horton's a lot on my way in to work in the morning (listening to Spilled Milk in the drive "thru.") Does it matter that I'm having a so-called whole wheat bagel with my super sugary vanilla cappuccino? It's still not really a healthy breakfast, huh. Or that I now deliberately drive down a tree-lined street instead of the highway, just because I can? Because I have to be there a half hour later than my old job, and so I have the time? I suppose an organically grown apple would be a better accompaniment.

Also, I admit at least once a week my kid has been having a fast food dinner lately. There's only so much time between my getting off work (half hour later in the morning means half hour later at night) and picking her up and turning back around and getting to that day's designated extra curricular activity. I remember vowing I would never, ever do that - you know, when she was a toddler who happily chomped on organic broccoli and hummus. Those were the days. I also vowed I wouldn't overschedule her but how can you pass up so many awesome extra curricular options? I can't. It's a constant guilt trip and struggle, and one to discuss on a different blog. But now can we talk vegetarian fast food options?

McDonald's:
"can I have a happy meal with no meat please?"
"a what?!"
"a happy meal with no meat."
"what???"
[note by this point we're officially late for designated extra curricular]
"just skip the burger? maybe extra fries?"
"uh.....boy or girl?"
"well, girl but could I have the Star Wars toy instead?"
[because suddenly we're obsessed with Star Wars even though the kid hasn't seen any Star Wars movie yet]
"what?"
"Star Wars toy? please?"
In the bag: one order of fries, one totally useless but Star Wars plastic toy, and two white buns with a single pickle slice and a squirt of ketchup. Thanks McDonald's! Here's a bunch of my money so you can continue your wonderful business.

Burger King in my neighborhood:
"oh, we don't have the BK veggie burger."

Burker King in my work neighborhood:
kids meals with a handful of almost decent options like veggie burgers and fresh apple slices. Another reason to love my new job. Personally I could probably eat their veggie burger (full toppings except for onions, have it my way) just about every night of the week, if I weren't a Grown Up. But my own kid's meal of choice? French fries, mac and cheese, chocolate shake. And forget actually eating the mac and cheese, even though it is just Kraft which she TOTALLY LOVES! OMG! OMG! OMG! at Bob Evans, but no where else. Whatever, we have enriching activities to attend...

So far however, I have not offered a Hostess product to my child. Like, in her entire life. I'm holding out. Her only experience with the Twinkie is watching the animated version that the cockroach climbs into in Wall-E. We've tried to explain to her why this is hilarious - you know, in the future the Twinkies will still be just as alive as the cockroaches because they're totally indestructible and that's truly horrifying right? You don't want that in your body right? Yet she is hoarding sporks from the school cafeteria in her backpack, I think because of the same Wall-E related fascination that will probably lead to her eventually trying the Twinkie. Would it be better if she had one in the safety of her own home or was indoctrinated by a peer - you know, on some scary street corner? Maybe with a side of cigarettes and crack?

Ok there's a Whole Foods near my new workplace too. I guess there are other options...

p.s. about those Twinkies...

mmm

2010-03-14T12:31:00.002-04:00

trader joe's frozen chocolate croissants and a coffee with lucia and tulia and daylight savings means it's really spring = HAPPINESS.

i'm still around

2010-03-13T21:10:00.007-05:00

Sorry I've been slacking lately on the posts. I'm sure you're all waiting breathlessly for an update from me. The news is I have a new job! And it's keeping me plenty busy and my brain kind of fried by the end of the day which is usually prime blogging time for me. But it's a good kind of fried brain. (mmmmm, fried brain, yummy!) I've decided to give in to my stalker paranoia and not post where I work but I will say it is another office job similar to what I've been doing for years but now it involves some lovely farmers. We all know how I love the lovely farmers. Love them. Love my new job and my new boss and all my new co-workers. And there is no shortage of food goodies in the breakroom, I'm quickly discovering. It's no Pat-tastic Tuesday or anything, but I'm not losing weight anytime soon, that much is clear. Anyway, more soon, I promise.

ahhhhh color

2010-03-03T20:45:00.001-05:00

http://tinatarnoff.typepad.com/thought_patterns/2009/08/kaleidoscope-of-colors.html

kitchen cure: my scary kitchen photos

2010-02-27T12:05:00.001-05:00

First step of the Kitchen Cure: post pictures of your kitchen in its current state to the public Flikr page. My kitchen is especially messy at the moment, so this is great. Enjoy.

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

spring is coming

2010-02-21T12:20:00.006-05:00

Really, it is. How do I know? Well first, I've seen three robins already. But also, the maple sap is flowing!

Yesterday we went to Slate Run Historical Farm and watched some maples being tapped the old fashioned way. We learned some interesting things about maple syrup, for instance did you know? It takes about 40 gallons of sap to make one gallon of syrup. That's why it's so bloody expensive, people. Those trees work hard. Also, you get the best yield from a Sugar Maple, not other kinds of maples. And how do you tell what kind of maple it is? First, where the points of the leaves meet, they are rounded, not pointy corners. Also, the twigs grow on opposite sides of each other. And the best one: the buds look like sugar cones! Really!

And we got to taste some sap right out of the tree. It was ever so slightly sweet, mostly water (hence why it takes so much - you have to boil down the water.)

Oh also! Horses like to roll in the snow! Early spring frivolity!

Here's some pictures if you don't believe me. Don't listen to Punxsatawney Phil, Buckeye Chuck knows what's what.

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

applanche

2010-02-21T11:18:00.001-05:00

hee hee.

from seriouseats.com

kitchen cure 2010

2010-02-19T23:05:00.003-05:00

I just signed up. I'm totally doing it this time. Care to join me?
cure.apartmenttherapy.com

I work for a non-profit, I'm a sucker for an acronym.

2010-02-18T22:05:00.003-05:00

Food related hilarity and a slew of sweet potato recipes in one! Bonus for the acronym: "St. Louis Fluid Pudding Sweet Potato Shirtless Throwdown! (SLFPSPST)"

fluidpudding.com - It's Shirt vs. Skin, Mr. Bobby Flay

Go Pudding!

more cookie monster tweets

2010-02-18T09:33:00.001-05:00

"Cookie Monster: Time to put end to rumors. YES, me eat vegetables. NO, not going to be called Vegetable Monster! Dis whole thing silly."

amen

2010-02-08T10:16:00.001-05:00

God of life and beauty:
We pray for the quietness of snowflakes, knowing that love is quiet.
We pray for the kindness of small acts, knowing gentleness is fragile.
We are grateful to know that thoughtfulness makes no sound, that compassion leaves wonderfully beautiful traces when we open ourselves to wonder.
May ours be a religion which, like the snowflake, goes everywhere in quietness, in love, and with gentle regard for that which is true and beautiful, in us and about us. Amen.
~ Lucinda S. Duncan

http://www.uua.org/spirituallife/worshipweb/meditationsand/submissions/19877.shtml

a little chocolate with your chocolate?

2010-02-06T16:35:00.024-05:00

I actually dreamt about chocolate last night. I dreamt that I worked at a chocolate bar, where instead of drinks (actually in addition to drinks) we served little delicious morsels of chocolate of various types that customers could sample. It was inside of a food court, like in a mall. But with alcohol. And I kept going around saying "I love my job!!!" And I meant it.

So it's probably no surprise that I have chocolate on the brain. Remember that little chocolate somethin' somethin' I mentioned the other day for my dad's birthday? Mmm-hmm.. here's what I had in mind:
Smitten Kitchen's incredible Brownie Mosaic Cheesecake.

It helped that we got half of a snow day yesterday. Oh did I mention we're in the middle of a blizzard? Baseball sized snowflakes? I love living in Ohio. Yep, here's what's going on outside:

That's our Christmas tree by the way, next to the dilapidated thing we call a shed. We left it in its stand and just put it outside for the birds and squirrels to make use of it before we compost its remains in the summer. You can see they're really enjoying it right now.

And what's better in a snowstorm than a hot oven full of cheesecake? A hot oven full of cheesecake which is full of brownies, that's what.

Delicious, fudgy, ooey gooey brownies. I made a double batch, half in a square pan, half in a mini muffin pan. I just sort of had a feeling I'd need more. For one thing, the kid thinks she doesn't like cheesecake.. on account of the word "cheese" in it. But the brownies? Lucia says that when she is "star of the week" at her school, this is the snack she wants to bring in.

Mr. Snowman likes the looks of this so far.

Step two is the cookie crust. I could not find the recommended chocolate Teddy Grahams at either my local Kroger nor the equivalent at Trader Joe's (which Lucia and I wisely hit the night before the snowstorm. Aren't we smart?) So we went with chocolate on chocolate Joe's Joe's. Basically the TJ version of chocolate Oreos. Smooshed.

I love an excuse to wave my grandmother's rolling pan around. It makes me feel powerful.

Then I had to wait for the dishwasher to take care of the mixing bowl and measuring spoons for me. Oh, did I mention that while I had a snow day, the kid did not? Bwa ha ha ha.... couch, here I come.

A few hours later, I was awoken by the local teenager who wanted to shovel the driveway for a mere $100. Ok I don't know what he wanted to charge, but Paul refuses to pay someone for something he could do himself, even if that someone possesses a 30+ year younger back. So no thank you, dude, good luck with your future endeavors. And then Lucia came home, with snow inside her boots, and took over the couch.

So on to the cheesecake, step 3. Now, I've had bad luck with cheesecakes. In fact, I think I've only really made one, which I baked in a shallow tart pan because I didn't have a springform (or really understand them at the time.. how can you bake a cake with a pan that has a bottom that falls out?) and it was about half an inch high. And I covered it with cherry something or other, which my gracious sister in law said "isn't that the best part anyway?" Which was kind of her, but my cheesecake career ended there. So I approached this with some trepidation, but now I am the proud owner of a springform pan and a Kitchenaid mixer, and about ten more years' experience in the kitchen, so how bad could it be?

Cream cheese..eggs..sugar...vanilla...and of course, brownies. Mine got a little broken up when I "gently" folded them into the batter, probably because I wasn't patient enough to leave them in the fridge long enough to make them cut smoothly as recommended. Oh well.

Into the springform pan, and into the oven. Stop looking at how filthy my oven is.

And it came out like this. Paul says it shouldn't be that brown. I say that's what chocolate ganache is for.

Oh, I also made a little ravioli lasagna while the oven was still hot.

Lucia had this. (shh! don't tell her there's cheese in cheese ravioli.)

Then we went to bed, got up, and it was still snowing.

I started on the ganache. Butter, cream, chocolate, sugar, vanilla.... deliciousness. I made a double batch and let it ooze all over the sides, and drizzled it some on the extra brownies.

Lucia kind of liked this part.

Um, and then I put it in the fridge to chill for a little while. Uh...

I've mentioned my issues with frosting and parental cakes before. I thought this was one of those times. Somehow, it looked like the butter separated from the rest while chilling. Did I not mix it enough? Chill it too fast? Too long? Not long enough? Too much ganache in the first place? Who knows. I am just cursed, pretty much. Screw it, I covered it with brownie muffins.

And then sat and mulled over it for an hour or so. Still it snowed outside. Still we contemplated not even going over to my parents' house on account of the snow. Hrmph.

And then.. I whipped out my handy dandy mixer again and made some buttercream frosting. People! Hello, I made frosting! Successful frosting! And piped it on with a plastic bag with a hole cut out of the corner! Me! And suddenly the clouds part, and the frosting curse is lifted! Hurrah!

There was much rejoicing.

Lucia and Tulia helped Dad make a wish.

Even my sugar-phobic sister had some. My new brother in law said "I've never had anything like this!" and helped her finish her serving.

Afterwards, we played flute on their iPhones. That's just the kind of thing we Biebers do for fun.

O brave new world, that has such cheesecake in it!

food flicks at wexner

2010-02-04T16:07:00.002-05:00

Ok I know I'm copying the Restaurant Widow here, but it bears repeating: the Wexner Center is doing food movies. I want to go. Who's with me?

i'm glad he was born

2010-02-03T13:33:00.006-05:00

I've mentioned this before, but on people's birthdays, my dad likes to say "we're glad you were born!" Today's his birthday, and I'm glad he's around.

In celebration, this weekend my brother is cooking a grownup dinner, my sister is cooking a kid dinner, and I'm in charge of dessert for all. "A chocolate cake would be nice, something of that nature" dear brother suggests. Dear mom says: "How about this, a nice plate of simple sugar or butter cookies on a pretty plate with a candle stick in the middle of the plate..."

Actually...I've got a decadent little chocolate somethin' somethin' in mind... stay tuned!

and to go with your eggs

2010-02-02T09:21:00.001-05:00

http://puttingweirdthingsincoffee.com/

and more delicious looking eggs

2010-02-01T17:15:00.002-05:00

I think I'm craving eggs. Is it Easter yet?

thekitchn.com - brown rice egg bowl

(hi Dana!)

making me salivate today

2010-02-01T08:32:00.002-05:00

I would eat this. A LOT of this.

suburban bliss - potato rosti

perhaps mama should lay off the sauce

2010-01-31T20:15:00.002-05:00

Lucia, in the bath: "I'm making a bubble cocktail"

menu for the week of january 30, 2010

2010-01-30T14:25:00.004-05:00

This week I'm going to attempt to use only what's already in my cupboards, fridge, and freezer, without venturing out into the sub-zero weather to go to the store. I got Market Day stuff last week so this is possible. Will I get around to actually making homemade yogurt for Lucia's lunches before the milk goes bad? We'll see.

Sunday - vegetable soup, salad, herbed muffins of some sort

Monday - veggie burgers with toppings, baked potatoes, steamed broccoli

Tuesday - choir (meaning we might actually show up for the choir dinner this time so we're not ten minutes late for rehearsal as usual)

Wednesday - cheese ravioli with red sauce, green beans, garlic bread

Thursday - french toast sticks or pancakes, eggs and fruit

Friday - chili mac and beans, chips and cheese, fruit

my sesame street tweet today

2010-01-29T10:05:00.003-05:00

"Cookie Monster: Cookie sitting next to me. How long can me resist? 1 mississippi, 2 mississ? dat enough torture! Om nom nom nom!"

hee hee hee hee! cookie rules!

you know you want sesame tweets too. get 'em here: http://twitter.com/sesamestreet

doughnut upside down cake

2010-01-28T20:44:00.001-05:00

That's right. So insane, it's got to be good. I believe my dad has a birthday coming up.....

www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2010/01/cakespy-doughnut-upside-down-cake-recipe.html?ref=se-do2

sports i can get excited about

2010-01-28T15:46:00.002-05:00

slashfood.com - olympics inspired cocktails

menu for the week of January 24, 2010

2010-01-25T10:47:00.002-05:00

Sunday - the breakfast food I kept promising Lucia but never delivered on because I hadn't gotten around to buying eggs. Pancakes inspired by the Gingerbread Pancakes recipe from the Penny Cluse restaurant in my "Official" Vermont Maple Syrup cookbook.. with maple syrup in the batter. I left out the spices to make it more generic and replaced it with still more sugar. Yum. And veggie bacon and orange slices

Monday - stirfry with broccoli, cauliflower and carrots over rice, Trader Joe's vegetable egg rolls, sliced mangoes

Tuesday - choir
Wednesday - Italian dinner at Lucia's school

Thursday - Trader Joe's vegetable briyani, channa masala, and garlic naan

Friday - Trader Joe's cheese pizza, salad

Meanwhile... getting my group deposit together for another year of our lovely CSA and wistfully dreaming some more about summer........ *sigh*

2010-01-22T08:47:00.000-05:00

cheesy potato hack

2010-01-20T17:46:00.005-05:00

Got a cheese-phobic kid like mine who asks you to only use one packet of mac and cheese powder (Annie's brand only, thank you) on your double-batch? Only to maddeningly say it's not cheesy enough when you put it in her lunch thermos? Well here's something you can do with that extra packet of cheese powder: sprinkle it all over some potatoes, stir in some olive oil and bake at 400. It starts out gross looking but comes out like this. It's a good thing I like this because Lucia will probably hate it, and I'll end up eating it all. Darn...

summer dreamin'

2010-01-20T17:09:00.008-05:00

Ok, I'd be happy to credit Martha Stewart Living with this image if I could only find it on their website. It is from 2006 in an article about outdoor benches that I just stumbled upon while (yes, still) going through old magazines. I have searched and searched for it online and I'm giving up and getting out the scanner. Please don't sue me, Martha.

Anyhoo I have this picture currently on my fridge as inspiration for future garden plans. Doesn't it just make you sigh wistfully? Paul and I have been thinking for a while about putting boxed planters like this around the patio (Paul has grand plans to build them himself.. hey he made the patio himself so I'm not going to scoff) and I love the idea of putting a bench in-between them. Turns out, there are all sorts of similar plans available online:
http://www.freeww.com//planterbenches.html

Which brings me to my point.. I think I'm going to start yet another little subsection of this here blog. Yep, that's right. Welcome to my Garden Dreams, where all things about planning for summer and planting and getting my fingernails gloriously dirty shall hereby take place. Let the sighing commence!

p.s. see my amaryllis picture at left? I'm going to try to capture its progress here. It is looking quite phallic at the moment I have to say. *blush*

and look!

2010-01-19T16:51:00.002-05:00

Victoria Smith of sfgirlbybay is donating $5 of the price of her very awesome "Keep Calm and Carry On" posters to help Red Cross in Haiti. Chartreuse please!

i'm thinking white cabinets and wood countertops are the way to go

2010-01-19T09:11:00.002-05:00

bright white kitchens at thekitchn.com

menu for the week of january 17

2010-01-17T11:31:00.011-05:00

This week's menu is a bit more kid friendly so Lucia doesn't rebel and start eating the drapes.

Tonight - Indian food with Mary and Joe! Hello Mary and Joe! And BABY on the way! Woo!

Monday - ravioli lasagna (similar to this.. even though Real Simple annoyes me to no end.. and even though all I have are small raviolis..) and garlic bread and salad

Tuesday - choir night

Wednesday - the veggie corndogs, potatoes, and broccoli slaw I had planned for last week but didn't make on acccount of having no sink temporarily

Thursday - breakfast night: ricotta pancakes with Trader Joe's lemon curd, veg bacon/sausage, fruit

Friday/Saturday - veggie sloppy joe's and carrot flowers (hello Dana!) with ranch dressing

mama's ginger vanizzle

2010-01-16T18:14:00.003-05:00

one part liquid leftover after making these (which are delicious, btw)
two parts chardonnay

Serve with ice and a smile.. as you dig into your takeout Chinese food because the disposal decided to quit. No worries, Paul has it back up and running. So I'm having another while I clean up and get back to worrying about more important problems in the world.