Mar 12, 2009 | Uncategorized
It is COOOOLLLD again today (and rainy!) And to think that two days ago I started putting up winter clothes because it was in the 80’s! It is 33 outside and BRRR! The weatherman says it might even snow or sleet today. 🙁
A Leafhopper the Kids Found
This past weekend it was gorgeous. We went to Wye Mountain to see the daffodils. They were beautiful. My baby girl turned 12 on Tuesday and she decided she’d like to skip dance and have Max skip Cub Scouts to go to my favorite place, Chuck E Cheese. They had a good time and luckily Tuesdays are not the busiest at CEC so it was actually not too stressful on mom and dad.
THEN: 4th Birthday
NOW: 12th Birthday
Today’s my Aunt Kathy & cousin Chris‘ birthdays. Wishing you both a wonderful year! You are such special people and I love you!
Mar 9, 2009 | Uncategorized
So I told you I would let you know how the menu thing went last week…
Well, I did pretty good. Except we had a change in the Chicken Enchiladas-
the fam wanted soup and grilled cheese and we accommodated, and on the
night for pizza it was a crazy busy day and I was sooo tired- so while at Target I did the unthinkable and got two frozen pizzas (which were truly gross.) What is up with frozen pizza?
I adore pizza. Even bad pizza is usually okay. (Except for those frozen pizzas.) I have a list of the best places to eat pizza that I will try and get on here one day.
It’s so quick and easy to make homemade pizza. My recipe actually came from a Target flier we got in the mail a long time ago, with a few tweaks here and there.
New York Pizza Crust (Makes 2 12” pies)
¼ teaspoon sugar 1 cup warm water 1 envelope (¼ oz.) active dry yeast (I use the quick rising) 1 teaspoon salt 3 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting 7 Tablespoons olive oil
If using a pizza stone, set it on lowest rack of oven. Preheat oven to 550 degrees. In a small bowl dissolve sugar in warm water. Add yeast and stir. Let sit 5 minutes or until a layer of frothy bubbles appears.
In food processor (or bowl) combine salt and flour. Add frothy yeast mixture and 2 Tablespoons of oil. Mix until dough is smooth and pliable. Remove dough and knead on a floured surface for about 10 minute.
Oil inside of a bowl with olive oil and place dough in bowl. Cover with a dish towel and let dough rise until double in size (30 minutes to 1 hour)
When dough has doubled punch it down and knead 10 times. Form into a ball and cut in half. Roll each half out into a 12” circle.
Transfer each pie to a pan or a peel if using a stone. I dust the bottoms with a bit of cornmeal so they slide better when removing.
Spread tomato sauce (or sauce of choice) on pie, put desired toppings on pizza and top with cheese. Drizzle with olive oil if desired.
Bake on lowest rack of oven for 6- minutes or until it looks yummy!
*We love this recipe. I think we make pizza about once a week! It is so fast if you use a stand up mixer or food processor and quick rising yeast. Probably faster than delivery.
Not sure what the menu for this week is yet. I am working on it now and might change if the farmer’s market is open and has something yummy tomorrow!
Mar 5, 2009 | Motherhood, Uncategorized
My boys are very sensitive and a bit morbid at times I think (maybe that’s just a boy thing.) J has started the “I don’t want you to die Mommy” thing and asking about death and dying and God etc. that happens when kids turn four (at least in my experience.) So today, Choo Choo train is truly dead and we had to have a hamster funeral. I expected real tears, but there were none. Max was really sad and made up a little “burying the hamster” song to sing at the service, Jac joined in and it was very touching (except for the almost 12 yr old sister laughing in the background.) Then- “Let’s go jump on the trampoline” could be heard.
Here is the grave they made for his furriness…
Spring is making it’s entrance, and it is a beautiful day (even for a hamster funeral.)
Mar 4, 2009 | Motherhood, Uncategorized
I am a horrible menu planner. Could explain the recent increase in our credit card bills due to eating out a bit too much this past month… I am trying to do better. If I make a plan I tend to stick with it. My friend Alison is a fantastic cook and plans her meals in a neat planner she made. She also posts her weekly menu on her blog- and I thought maybe I could at least do that to keep me in line. (See the bottom of the blog for my menu this week.) I have been better about grocery bills- clipping major coupons and saving from $25 to $50 each visit. Making a list and sticking to it has been helping. I’ll keep you posted on my progress!
On a sad note, our little Choo Choo Train (Max’s hamster) died last night of a mysterious illness I couldn’t cure (and didn’t want to spend $300 at the vet for.) He had tumors that came up all over his body. The first time it happened I managed to keep him living awhile by spraying him with a medicated spray daily and wiping them with tea tree oil. He got his fur back and was doing well, then last week he got the tumors and lesions again and went blind overnight. I tried my previous remedies to no avail. So long, Choo Choo. We will miss you little furry one.
****Okay, I told Max about the hamster when I picked him up from school. He was sad and we came home to bury him. I started to pick him up and he moved! Crazy! He was BARELY alive and I bathed him again with hot water and tea tree oil, made a hot pack for him to sit on (he was so cold) and now he’s even opening his eyes! Call him the miracle hamster. I’m so glad I didn’t bury him!
Mar 3, 2009 | Recipes, Sides & Salads, Uncategorized
Yesterday I made spaghetti and meatballs (turkey) and homemade French bread for dinner.
The recipe I use for the bread is a great one and makes 4 loaves. It’s from a great bread book mom gave me a long time ago “Farm Journal’s Homemade Breads” Usually I cut corners on time and it’s just OK. Last night I was patient and it was beautiful. I LOVE fresh bread. One of the biggest pains I have is missing the lovely fresh “michas” and “michitas” we would get in Colon (Panama) for $.25 to $.75. The smell alone makes you full and happy I think. They baked them with wood on a tile bed which makes all the difference. The kids actually ate.
Many things have been happenning around us lately that makes me realize how lucky we are and how grateful I am for the life I have been given.
Things I’m grateful for:
- Dishes left on the table and counter – means we have more than enough to eat. (And it means I don’t have to pay the kids their allowance!)
- Clothes not in the hamper– We have clothes to wear (too many)
- Legos on the floor I step on– means I have creative children (And again it means I don’t have to pay the kids their allowance!)
- Too many things to do in the day– Makes me happy that I’m healthy enough to do them
- My children arguing- We are all together and still speaking to each other
- Library fines– I have a place I can find free books
- Paw Prints on the clean floor
- Sticky little kisses
- Scratchy big kisses
I just know that we have to savour every minute of the beautiful lives we are given.
Mar 1, 2009 | Uncategorized
Yesterday was Max’s first Pinewood Derby. Scott’s the Cubmaster for our school, so we had to find a track, get trophies etc. It was a fun day and the kids and parents all had fun I think. Max’s little train came in 3rd in the Tiger Cubs (12th out of 13 cars overall…) and did win “Most Original Design” which he was thrilled with (but wondered why it didn’t include a trophy.) He also qualified to go to the council’s derby so I have to keep his little car safe until April. The girls have their “Powder Puff” derby next Saturday so lots of sawdust and glue around our house.
The strangest thing was that it started to spit sleet outside during the derby, and by about 5pm we actually had snow (big flakes) coming down! Our first snow of the year and probably the last. It was so pretty and there was still a little bit when we woke up, covering the deck by about a quarter of an inch (maybe less.) Of course it was gone by the time we got out this morning.
A Leafhopper the Kids Found
THEN: 4th Birthday
NOW: 12th Birthday
