Apple Harvest Cake Heaven!

Went overboard with my apple purchase this week- I'm talking 5 types! I always mix up the apples in recipes, never using just one variety. I gave ~him~ the choice of apple cake or crisp to cook first- cake won. Decided to kick it old school & find a recipe in a cookbook- one of those community types. Oddly the ingredients don't specify apples, but it says to add them. I went with 3 medium sized apples of different varieties (Braeburn, Golden Delicious & Granny Smith), chopped tiny. Needless to say the result was Apple Harvest Cake heaven & I see the need for a crisp in the near future!

What a day!

Do you love our scoring "liters"?  What?!?  You didn't look at the heads and recognize that they are a decimeter cube, carefully cut and recut and wood glued and wood re-glued, nailed, sanded, painted, an ultimate labor of love that lasted longer than my second childbirth?  This was the Chemistry project for my stepdaughter this weekend, and let me say, WE better get an A!  The project in it's simplest form was make a decimeter cube with a grid and a label.  Decorate for extra credit.  Really be creative for extra-extra credit.  I am not a believer in extra credit for many reasons, #1 being that all children don't have resources like she does to get here...some to take her to Lowes and Michael's and spend $30, then to Home Depot when what we bought at Lowes was wrong, and thus another $12...no less than 8 hours of time of two parents tag teaming...parents who have a lot of tools and skills and a good saw and drill...and so on.  The world of extra credit just isn't a level playing field.  She decided to make herself in her soccer uniform, the other is her friend, who was also here for the duration.  Extra points for a creative name (that was me, the "Scoring Liters").  I truly don't know if she grasped the project idea from a chemistry perspective.  I truly hadn't planned to spend my Sunday on this project.  What did we get?  You might think two cute box headed soccer girls.  What do I think?  She saw I will come through for her in planning and getting materials, and sticking through it til the end, even when dad got frustrated.  I taught her to make yarn hair the easy way.  I showed her how to make a pattern, helped her saw and drill (dad helped there too)- but they did the sawing- so they know we believe they can do it.  I sewed little shoes out of felt in the simplest way, but you would have thought I bought her new Uggs.   I helped her take her idea and make it a reality, even though she could have made a box of paper and gotten an A.  We commended her for dreaming big, sticking it out even mid-day when she wanted to throw it away, and I know the dreams she has of Georgetown or JHU will probably become her reality in a few years.  Til then, she just came up and asked for help with government homework... :).  <3 my blended family.

My Summer Pinterest Project!

C'mon, you know we all had at least one! I Modge Podged me some letters and managed to hang the photos within half an inch of accurately...I need to swap out one photo ( the one with Santa) but that was some user error on cropping the beach photos too much to enlarge, so I went with a "stock" photo.  Each child was supposed to have their own, but one of them didn't have a presentable solo picture because he was hamming it up non-stop, and I love the one of ~him~ with his oldest son so there you go!  This was the first time we had all six for a week and the first time the oldest son had spent this much time with dad in years, not by dad's choice.  Turning 18 has been liberating and I will stop this story there.  To other blended families, have faith it will get easier because regardless of how challenging another parent can make it the kids know who cares and supports them, and when it comes to the point they get a real say and the courts don't have to be involved we have two that have spoken loud and clear about who they consider their family.  Our kids have truly embraced the idea and we know the nuclear family was the ideal we all started with and hoped for, but when life didn't work out that way we really think we have a good thing here all around!  Counting the days until our New Year's trip to the Outer Banks, and hoping the oldest two don't get better offers before then!

Leftovers= Steak and Brie Cheese Ciabatta Sandwiches!

 

OMG!!!  So it is date night, and I wanted something yummy but fast, admittedly enjoying a lazy Saturday afternoon of tv, yoga pants, and him!  I decided to pull out some steak from my "meat basket"- that would be the basket of random frozen cooked meat I keep in my freezer.  It is full of those pieces that are always leftover- a chicken breast here and there, half of a steak, etc.  I knew I had a steak surplus and wanted to use some it...I also freeze the extra grilled onions with the steak.  Let me tell you- key here is the steak was phenomenal the first time, and it was cooked around medium well so that re-used it didn't dry out.  Tostadas and quesadillas are a breeze with my basket.  This time I went with open faced ciabatta steak and cheeses...I get the Costco pack of ciabatta rolls, they freeze so well! I toasted them for a few minutes (literally threw them on the bottom rack of the oven while cupcakes were cooking).  I generously spread each with dijon mustard, which we both agreed made the difference.  Next, brie!  YUM!  Several slices semi spread on each piece, then some of the grilled onions, followed by steak slices and chopped tomatoes.  I cooked them at 350 for 15-20 minutes, then topped with chopped lettuce (literally the last of the lettuce I needed to use up).  I have to say I am not one to brag but these were the bomb!!!!  On the side some simple sliced apples and grapes; definitely a fresh, simple and awesome meal (with the Bota box wine on the side!)!  Leftovers do not have to be boring!

 

 

Date Night and Ravioli Rapture!

Ok, first, I have to admit, this is not an actual photo of what I made...but there wasn't a bite left of what I made and this was the closest thing I could find, and I just wasn't thinking before we ate- I live in perpetual rapture over what ravioli I am going to eat next (photo credit and another recipe that looks good here: http://easyvegetariancuisine.blogspot.com/2011/05/asparagus-gruyere-ravioli.html)!  Now, on to the story...I had about 16 of these asparagus gruyere raviolis left, didn't look like quite enough for a meal (~He~ can eat!) so there they had been sitting in the freezer.  We were having the Philips Crabcakes from Costco for dinner (yes, even I take the easy route on date night once in a while, but these are actually pretty good) and I wanted to make a side dish, and thus the idea for a ravioli pasta salad.  I searched and found a few recipes, read through them, then went off to invent mine.  IT WAS INCREDIBLE.  I pretty much went with whatever I had on hand that you would find in an antipasto or pasta salad.  To recreate this moment of rapture you need: Some cooked and cooled ravioli, about 1-1,5 cups; about 1/4 c. chopped Vidalia onion; I chopped two purple bell peppers I had gotten at the farmer's market- size wise about the equivalent to 2/3 of a large green one; about 1/4 c. chopped olives; about a cup or a little more of grape tomatoes; chopped mozzerella cubes (the "good" kind you get at Costco :)); I added some black pepper and garlic salt from the grinders, then mixed about 2-3 T of EVOO and 1 T of Balsamic Vinegar, poured it over then blended it.  It wasn't an exact science. I let it sit in the refrigerator for a few hours and thus a heavenly dish was born...suffice to say it blew away the crabcakes, but I am ok with that since I made it!

8 people, 7 days...Feed Them and They Will Come!

We recently returned from a week away with all 6 kids- too much fun!  Our kids are ages 10-21, so basically teenagers, and they can eat!  As a blended family they don't get to all spend that much time together for an extended period of time, so they were more than happy to eat in pretty much each night.  It saved us a fortune, and they could come to the table dressed however and didn't have to do hair and makeup, so it worked.  Total grocery cost for the week was around $700; required one huge trip by 2 adults (in terrential downpours no less)- I will post my list, and I organized it such that I gave ~him~ a few of the sections and I took the rest.  We returned for more deli meat, rolls, milk, cereal, and wine :).  I pre-mapped out the list based on meals and we used up 95% of what we bought, and brought home what we could (kids just love traveling with whatever food I can shove into their suitcases).  I made two desserts too, both a hit (brownies and the attached recipe), and they ate plenty of ice cream.  Their favorite time of day is lunch, because I go up first and lay it all out- they can eat some deli meat, cheeses and rolls!  The laughs were many, the food was good, they felt spoiled, I didn't feel like I was the maid because I planned ahead with meals and lists so that it wasn't that complicated...I would do it all again next year!

Here is my planning list:

Meals:

Spaghetti Meat Sauce Bread Salad	Ham Roasted Veggies Sweet Potato Fries Rolls Mac & Cheese	Burgers Hot Dogs Deviled Eggs Baked Beans Fruit Salad Fries
Breaded Chicken Green Beans Fruit Salad Yellow Rice	Frogmore Stew Bread Oranges	1 night= eat out
Desserts: Peanut Butter Chocolate Dessert Recipe Brownies Ice Cream		Pancakes Bacon Toast Scrambled Eggs Fruit

Groceries:

2 lbs. spaghetti 1 jar Ragu Noodle Os x 1 Mac & Cheese x 5 Family Size or 2 Yellow Rice	2.5 lbs ground beef 1.5 lb boneless chicken breasts 2 Ham Steaks 1 lb kielbasa 2 lbs shrimp 2 lbs bacon FF Hot Dogs x 2	2 Italian loaves 1 pack dinner rolls Bagels x 2 each- plain and cinn/raisin Wheat Bread White Bread Sub Rolls Kaiser Rolls Cake Hot Dog Potato Rolls Hamburger  Potato Rolls
Smart Balance 4 gallons milk FF Creamer Cream Cheese Spread 1 brick Cream Cheese Yogurt American Cheese Eggs- 24 Spray Whipped Cream	Lite Caesar Dressing & 1 other dressing Parm Cheese Croutons Bread and Butter Pickles Italian Bread Crumbs Lg. Can Baked Beans Jelly Peanut Butter Lg. Can Chunk Pineapple Mayo (lg) Mustard Relish Ketchup Conf. Sugar 1 box	Brownie Mix x 2 or 1 lg Small Veg. Oil Small Reeses Cups Inst. Choc. Fudge Pudding
Romaine Cherry/Grape Tomatoes Lg Tomato Green Beans Watermelon Cantaloupe Pineapple Berries Grapes Baby Carrots- small bag 3 Sweet Potatoes Zucchini x 2 10 Lg. Red Potatoes 12 ears corn Bananas- a lot! Oranges Apples Salsa	Coffee Cereal x 5 Granola Pancake Mix (that doesn’t need eggs) 2 cases bottled water	Pretzels x 2 Tortilla Chips Potato Chips or Doritos 2 packs cookies Oreos Microwave Popcorn Lite
Toilet Paper Napkins Paper Towels Paper Plates- large Trash Bags Dish Detergent Laundry Detergent Cleaning Spray or Wipes Dish Soap Bathroom Soap (Liquid) Bar Soap for Showers Shampoo/Conditioner for each bathroom Toothpaste x 2 (1 Aaron can use)	1.5 lbs. deli ham 1 lb. deli turkey or chicken 1 lb. deli roast beast 1 lb. coleslaw 1 lb. tuna salad 1/2 lb. cheese x 2 different kinds	Ice Cream x 3 (1 vanilla) Lg Bag Fries Chocolate Syrup FF Cool Whip

Bring:

Salt

Pepper

Various Sized Ziplocs, a few of each

1 c. Old Bay

3 T. Ital. Seasoning

Crystal Light Packs

Wooden Skewers

Peanut Butter Chocolate Dessert Recipe

Ingredients

• 20 chocolate cream-filled chocolate sandwich cookies, divided
• 2 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar, divided
• 1 carton (16 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed, divided
• 15 miniature peanut butter cups, chopped
• 1 cup cold milk
• 1 package (3.9 ounces) instant chocolate fudge pudding mix

Directions

• Crush 16 cookies; toss with the butter. Press into an ungreased 9-in. square dish; set aside.
• In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, peanut butter and 1 cup confectioners' sugar until smooth. Fold in half of the whipped topping. Spread over crust. Sprinkle with peanut butter cups.
• In another large bowl, beat the milk, pudding mix and remaining confectioners' sugar on low speed for 2 minutes Let stand for 2 minutes or until soft-set. Fold in remaining whipped topping.
• Spread over peanut butter cups. Crush remaining cookies; sprinkle over the top. Cover and chill for at least 3 hours. Yield: 12-16 servings.

My Most Favorite Poem

I am drawn back to this poem time and time again, and it speaks to me differently every time.  I share it all of the time with other women friends when they are going through things, because I know that it will speak to them too...and it is all things you learn through life...I've seen different titles but I think this one is correct.

Comes The Dawn

After a while you learn the subtle difference

between holding a hand and chaining a soul

And you learn that love doesn't mean leaning

and company doesn't always mean security

And you begin to learn that kisses aren't contracts

and presents aren't promises

And you begin to accept your defeats

with your head up and your eyes ahead

with the grace of a woman, not the grief of a child

And you learn to build all your roads on today

because tomorrow's ground is too uncertain for plans

and futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight.

After a while you learn that even sunshine burns

if you get too much.

So you plant your own garden and decorate your own soul

instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.

And you learn that you really can endure

that you really are strong

and you really do have worth

And you learn and you learn

with every goodbye you learn...

1971 by Veronica A. Shoffstall

Just Peachy!

*He* likes all pies involving fruit. *I* like making all desserts that don't require me working with pie crust.  I had to give it up for him today though...he put in our new sink and faucet yesterday and it was no simple task (we are finding that replacing anything builder installed never is- who glues a sink down?!?)...so, I just embarked on my first peach pie.  This isn't going to work out so well with me with the Lose It app today, because of course I have to try it!  Add in that veggie boy brought home some smashed up but not yet stale cupcakes I had sent with him to my sister's...what to do?  Trash them?  Nope.  Make a vanilla Greek yogurt based frozen concoction?  I think yes.  I will do what I did with the raspberry over the weekend, just using vanilla yogurt and extract, and at the end I will throw in the smashy cupcakes...and it will either suck, or I will be a genious!  Also not helping is that Wegman's sells a 2 pack of these big ol rectangular pizza crusts- YUM!  Of course we have to try those too (my one "not on my list" purchase but a good one!), so my calories for the day are pretty much shot to hell...luckily I had some saved, but these are all food delights guaranteed to keep my curves curvy and my thighs doughy! This is my pie- hope it tastes as good as it looks!

Public Service Announcement

Consider this a public service announcement:  If you buy the pretzel rolls at Costco you WILL eat too many at 200 calories apiece, and you WILL become addicted, and you WILL decide they are worth the contribution to your curvy, doughy body!  My favorite way to eat them is with grilled roast beast or brisket, a horseradish spread (probably along the lines of this), & some onions.  Did I mention that you probably WILL have an orgasm at the dinner table?  Try to keep it to yourself :).  Today's public service announcement is brought to  you by BBQ Beef Brisket in the Crock Pot...this time of year I would normally grill it but too much going on today...this also acts as a natural air freshener because my house smells divine!  And, since it is just the two of us tonight, I could feasibly be having a pajama Sunday dinner before the day is done!  Oh, and I have saved enough calories this week to enjoy the perfect accompaniment, Goose Island Summertime beer!

Blended Bliss!

This is one of our kitchen walls- the chalkboard paint is about 5-6 feet long, and along the bottom I hung an organizing rail with buckets from Ikea, along the lines of this but a version they had ten years ago.  In the hanging "buckets" are chalk, markers, colored pencils, pens, etc.  We love this spot for countdowns to fun family things, birthday messages, whatever!  I think I used two coats of chalkboard paint, maybe three, but you can tell when you are good.  While we have an eraser it definitely cleans better with a wet sponge.  The clips at the top are also retro Ikea, not sure if they have anymore, but they are great for sports schedules, etc.  They moved into my house over 2 1/2 years ago and we are slowly redoing things to make them "ours" and to fit our changed and changing needs as a blended family.  The kids were really excited when I painted this, and it is just another way to connect- sharing common goals, plans, and wishes...things that are "ours".

Greek Delight!

Look what you get when you take a few recipes and combine them to make it your own!  YUM and I NEVER thought I would say that, and my Lose It app is also happy!  Frozen Greek Yogurt made in the countertop ice cream maker (can't believe that up until a year ago I had stored it away and forgot about it for many years, won't do that again!).  Here is all I did: 3/4 c. 1% milk, 3/4 c. heavy cream, about 1/2 c. sugar; warm just until sugar dissolves; add 2. c. Greek yogurt and mix in, I used plain for that tartness and less calories; I added 1 t. each of vanilla and almond extracts then put in the frig for an hour or two to get colder.  I also defrosted about a cup of frozen raspberries and put them and about 3 T. sugar in the blender, blended til all mashed up, then pushed through a strainer to remove the seeds.  Fast forward to mixing it in the ice cream maker until it was the thickness I wanted, then I poured in the raspberries and for what I calculated at about 185-200 calories per serving (didn't measure the serving exactly but I am close, and this made what I would estimate is 8 servings) I got a great treat with some nutritional value!  Next up- perfect a vanilla version that will get veggie boy eating Greek yogurt!  Might also try this with some Splenda in place of some sugar for myself.  Lovvvvvveeeesssss it!

Give Me an A (& an H & an M & an L & 2 J's)!

So here I go on a special "blended family" project!  Did I mention that in our blended world all 3 sisters are from different misters, and all three brothers are from different mothers? In the end, however, we share them all.  The letters are traced onto paper, and I am working on 2 coats of black paint on the edges of the large letters (Joann Fabrics).  Later I will Modge Podge the paper to the letters, a first for me.  My end goal is each child's initial, which will hang over each child's close up black and white picture I will hang (either will get this summer or will go retro and do pictures from age 18 mos or younger).  I got the frames, 11x 14, I have the blank wall, so now it just time to get the letters and photos done.  In the end I will have unique and personal artwork in our home, representative of our blended family.  I think I will also do a birthday sign in the middle, with all first names and dates of birth.  This will all hang in our favorite room (besides the kitchen if I am cooking!), the gathering room...a great place to spend the day in your pajamas :).  I love only working part time in the summer so I can do fun stuff like this!  Will post when I get the letters completed and eventually a picture of the whole wall completed.

Pin This!

So, with my being back to logging calories I was very interested in the "just mix Angel Food Cake Mix & any pie filling" rage on Pinterest...mix, poof, and you have a low cal low fat dessert!  Well, me being me, half read it, and didn't bother to read the box since I wasn't using their directions...I failed to use a large enough pan (and DUH I have made Angel Food Cake before, I know this!)- yes, that is a 9" round cake pan, I don't recommend you try that at home; thankfully I did put a pan under it in the oven, that helped with the explosion (who doesn't love that burning sugary smell wafting through the kitchen?); I also failed to put the rack on the bottom of the oven, but did have it about 1/2 down.   Suffice to say the top got crispy while the inside was gooey; put some foil over it and then pulled it to check again after a while; top layer stuck to foil (and was actually yummy)...fast forward, turned oven up to the temperature it should have been at the whole time, put it back in on the bottom rack, and gave it time...it is the biggest explosion of Blueberry Bombe ever...but my 16 year old asked me to keep it until tomorrow so she can pick at it all night, and says there probably won't be anything left to trash in the morning because it is oddly good :)!  Well, I guess if she slowly picks away at it and it is gone I save a lot of calories!  Luckily I have enough calories left in today's budget that I think I will go old school with some Nilla Wafers (hmmm, maybe dipped in Blueberry Bombe!)!  Here is a link to what I was trying to do...Fluff Berry Cake Recipe .  Keep a sense of humor and working stove fan and enjoy!

Finally Finding My Brain!

We have been out of school for about three weeks, the first of which I spent painting the living room and negating my various degrees by watching trash t.v., the second of which I worked (comes with my job!) two days and played mom the others, and the third I spent in Charleston and Savannah.  If you heard a loud groan it was me having an orgasm over the pizza we had at Monza in Charleston!  After being assured the homemade sausage fit my definition of sausage (sorry, but it seems that these days anything can be made into sausage and it has really turned into a process vs. a product and that CREEPS me out) we ordered the tomato basil pizza and the sausage/onion pizza.  It was so good we got a third to go!  I am just in a love affair with brick oven style pizza and the world will just have to accept it.

Spent a lot of time learning some history- Charleston was an boat ride to Morris Island that included history and dolphins and the beach- best $ spent after the pizza!  Also spent time on the USS Yorktown (in 100+ degree heat, but  how could I complain when I am touring it for fun and those who lived on it were definitely not there for fun?) and checked out Magnolia Cemetery (interesting stories, esp. about the Hunley).  In Savannah we visited a Civil Rights Museum, which gave history from a different perspective than many of us were taught, and visited Ft. Pulaski.  Again, hot days, but how could I complain?

I also am no longer a Skype virgin!  I have never used it but this trip did it twice with my kids and I loved it, and I think they did too (they were giggly, it was sort of funny!).  I also completed the "50 Shades" trilogy, not for the sex but for the simple fact libraries were banning it...that is enough to make me buy most any book! 

Also continuing my new love affair with Pinterest...tonight making steak kabobs and we have four of the six plus a bf, and trying some Rosemary Bread but I adapted to the bread machine dough cycle.  Adapt is a loose definition, I dumped everything in, hit start, and am hoping...hold please for the outcome!  Dessert will be an angel food cake/blueberry pie filling concoction, we will see if that is all you need and poof you have a lowfat dessert that tastes good!  I am also counting calories with my Lose It ap again...spent a little too much time with my friends microbrew and wine over the past month!  Instead I will OD on Splenda sweetened iced tea and stay up later...wasting time...on Pinterest, Words With Friends, Scramble With Friends...but it is summer so :)!

Hard When You Are Your Own Worst Enemy!

I tried something totally different tonight- Pasta With a Greek Yogurt Based Sauce, found on Pinterest and linked to the blog above.  I wasn't sure how the kids would like it, and had mac and cheese on hand too...but surprisingly it was a hit with all but veggie boy!  I am up around 7-8 lbs. from the 20 I had lost a year ago, and now that work is slower for a few weeks I am refocusing and thought this would be good to try.  I always read about the joys of nonfat Greek yogurt but this was my first time using it (notice I didn't say buying it, as I usually buy it and there it sits until it goes bad...).  Definitely has piqued my interest, next up is a ranch dressing I saw that uses it for the base.  I hope it too is a hit, as we don't buy ranch anymore because of the high calories, much to the chagrin of the teenagers in the house (who agree with me but miss it nonetheless).  Now if only it negated the calories in the oatmeal raisin cookies I made...lucky for me the chocolate chip pretzel cookies I made earlier in the week are finally gone (but I am dying to try several different cupcakes I pinned this week!)!  My own worst enemy because I love to cook and can cook!

Sunday Suppers

Usually Sunday suppers are associated with family, fellowship, and good food,  Our Sunday supper tonight is no different, but it isn't the spend all day in the kitchen kind of meal.  It is the "2 kids are at the pool, one is at a lacrosse party, one has been at work, and mom and dad have been driving all over" kind of Sunday supper!  I lucked out and despite all of the activity got to waste away part of the afternoon rearranging, checking Pinterest and food blogs and hitting the farmer's market.  Ended up making these cute muffin taco thingys, and I don't really do cute, but they are good with beer :); bread from the farmer's market with dipping sauce (thanks Pinterest), tapenade (thanks TJ's), and brie; mac and cheese for veggie boy, and some fresh pineapple.  When I told the kids dinner would be this and that there was actually a "yay" from one!  It isn't the fabulous menu...I think it is knowing they will all arrive home and dinner will be ready and they can grab and go and hang out and talk, which is our blended family kind of food and fellowship on nights like this (we do those big dinners where mom cooks all day too!)!  Oh- to make these? Simple (hint, next time you make tacos, double the meat and freeze it for when you want to make these, takes out a step)- cut some flour tortillas into 4"circles- pizza cutter works- put in muffin tin, put in some cheese, meat, more cheese- bake 20 mins and add some toppings.  Meals like this make me think of football Sundays where we kick it buffet snack style while we watch the games!

A little post script...our gathering room...over the past year we have turned it into a bit of an unusual space; three ottomans fill the room.  The chair is straight on to the t.v., and there are two sofas.  Everyone has a seat, with an ottoman, and blankets (storage ottomans from overstock.com); we moved the coffee table to hold the t.v. and I can still serve from it when needed...that plus the ottomans with trays (have lots of those, and the pile by the t.v. on the floor is an Ikea find so people can eat on a sofa without making a mess and they are easy clean- remember, 6 kids at our peak!) makes for that food, fun and fellowship in our own little gathering room (after a trip to Williamsburg last winter we realized that was the perfect name for what the space is)!  Stay tuned for the upgrades, will be painting by the end of the week and hanging self created photographic artwork.

The Music Never Stopped

What would you do for  your child?  Just watched this movie and it was a good one...makes you think about what role we as the adult have in making those connections with our teenagers before it is too late...meeting them where they are at.  It is something I believe in, and something I have witnessed the past year or so as *he* struggled with the high school senior son who was perpetually busy with work, girls, friends, school...namely teenage life. *He* was also dealing with some things personally and as a couple with me.   All a challenge as the non-custodial parent.  It took some coaching to help him see that he needed to meet his son halfway, instead of getting upset that he couldn'teasily  have him all day on a Sunday anymore.  What resulted has been the growth of a man to man friendship this year...a father and son but also two men getting to know each other on a new level.  Now they both plan for a dinner date 2-3 times per month,sometimes alone, sometimes with me, sometimes with friends, and while we still have family time this new thing that is theirs has solidified their relationship as he prepares to leave for college in two months, and has helped dad realize he is still dad, and perhaps his son has had the chance to see just what he will continue to do in order to be there for him through every stage of his life. 

All of us parents need to stop and ask ourselves every now and then if we are reaching our kids and just being there for them, where they are...not necessarily where we wish they were.  One day they won't be egocentric teens anymore and they will look back and remember all that wewere for them.

Farmers Market Season!

We are fortunate to have a very small (ten stands or less) farmers market up the street on Sunday afternoons in the summer.  But really, how many stands do you need?  I LOVE the markets in Montreal, Philadelphia, and other such cities, but end up circling it looking at pretty much the same thing at multiple stands.  Each of our stands is unique, with very few duplicates.  Today I scored some homemade cinnamon raisin bread (one of veggie boy's favorites!), a "rustic baguette" (dinner tonight!) and a loaf of Portugese Cornbread; this is one I got last summer and the entire family loved it with some honey butter (literally some Smart Balance and honey whipped together with the mixer)...can't wait to serve it tomorrow when they are all here!

 I also braved some rhubarb- I had some strawberries (unfortunately not locally grown but that is ok...), came home and perused the Food Network site, and settled on the simple but highly rated Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp.  It is in the oven now, and I am hopeful it will be well received here!  My house smells like it took more effort than it did!

Now onto figure out what to do with the garlic scapes I purchased- often described as looking like a cross between an octopus and a green plant, these are basically the chutes from the top of the garlic bulb.  The seller said they last a long time, can be used like garlic, are great in pesto, as well as in marinades...I think I am going to go with a spin of a recipe I saw online and take the fresh baguette, spread some brie on it, then top with some garlic scapes, salt, and pepper...bake for a few minutes...sounds divine!

Update...several hours later...incredible dinner and dessert...and yes it is Sunday and you guessed it, we were chillin in our pajamas early!  And as always, doing my part to keep my curves curvy thanks to some good cooking!

Did someone say orgasm?

Want a little slice of heaven in the form of a meat rub?  If so, keep reading!  Last month I wanted to try grilling a roast beast, a meat I had usually saved for the slow cooker on a busy day when we had all of the kids.  I did a little research, found this rub recipe, and read up on how to "slow grill," a concept my impatient self found fascinating.  What resulted from endeavor #1 was a not too bad roast beast; it was slightly well done- I had read cook to 145 degrees; around 140 I had to run out to pick up a child, and 30 mins later it was closer to 150.  I underestimated how fast those last degrees would go and how much difference five degrees made.  We tend to medium well people and err on the side of too done vs. undercooked. Fast forward to attempt number two when I was cooking for about 24 people and decided to try again.  Capitalizing on lessons learned, I made the rub, got it onto the meat a few hours early, and put *him* in charge of the grill.  He is of course a meat master- what man isn't on a grill?  His type A quirks came in handy when it came down to regulating grill temperature, monitoring meat temperature, and making adjustments accordingly along the way.  Our collaboration led to one of the best roasts I have ever had- served either as is, or with an assortment of rolls that included Costco's pretzel rolls; some chipotle cheddar cheese (also Costco), arugula, and a spread that is simply some sour cream, low fat ranch dressing.and an adobo pepper or two (note- these come in a can, and can be refrigerated for a long time, and a little goes a long way) tossed into the blender(Guy Fieri turned me onto this),  .  Put it all together and you have just had your first mouth orgasm compliments of a roast beast!  My only regret is I didn't make a third roast to hoard for ourselves today!

The rub is super easy:

2 T. Montreal Steak Seasoning (of course I have the Costco container, it is a staple in our home)
2 minced garlic cloves
1 T. black pepper
2 t. minced onion
2 t. dried thyme
1 t. garlic and herb seasoning (I just used an Italian seasoning blend)
1 t. salt
2 T. olive oil

Combine and rub into the beast.  This is enough for one, so just adjust according to how many you are cooking.  I cannot credit whoever created this perfect blend, because I just copied it not realizing I would become an addict, but thank you for sharing!  How did people cook before on demand recipes via the internet?  What if your cookbook didn't have what you were looking for?  Although once in a while I do still love to pull them down and peruse them, and my Southern Living Cookook is without a doubt the most utilized book in the house!

Birthday Month!

Birthday month!  Four of us (including myself, my daughter and stepdaughter) are celebrating with a family party today...grilled roast beast, pulled BBQ chicken (a crock pot fave that is super simple!), roasted veggies, fresh fruit, and hot dogs (and of course mac and cheese for veggie boy)...and for dessert, (teenager approved)  Chocolate Cupcakes with Mocha Buttercream Frosting (1T. instant coffee dissolved in 1/4 c. hot water, 1/2 c. softened butter, 3/4 t. vanilla, 2 T. cocoa and about 4 c. powdered sugar...add more or less to taste/consisteny...and just Devil's Food Cupcakes)... and a Pig Pickin Cake! 

Pig pickin cake is a delightful dump of mandarin oranges, yellow cake mix, Cool Whip, crushed pineapple and vanilla pudding mix.  Gonna be a question of what to eat first!  (last time I served this cake at a family party it was the first time not one crumb was left of a cake. so maybe I should start there?)

Puff Pastry Ecstasy...

After five days at a world class resort (that was honestly a bit too much for us, but his company paid for it) it is great to be home...and oddly the one really good food I cannot forget came in the bread basket at Piaf; it was this puff pastry roll with a mushroom filling, and I am now going to be on a mission to find something similar to create. If your mouth could orgasm it would have! The pictures on the site don't do this restaurant justice, think if Morticia Addams went high class...because it was dark and the red beads and candlelight were just perfect.  Best service ever, and one of the best meals ever (will also be learning to make an orange Creme Brulee!).  Hmmm...til then I might need to do the Mushroom Risotto recipe from Giada on the Food Network site, well worth the effort!