Kirsten's Cooking

Where should we go?

2012-02-28T13:45:00.000-05:00

Rob is on his annual ski trip this week, and while we are missing him lots, I hear the snow is deep, and the conditions are perfect!

On Saturday I'll be flying into Denver to meet him and to start our weeklong vacation! First we'll be in Denver where we are excited to spend some time with family. We'll be stopping in Colorado Springs for some meetings (for Rob), and for me to meet up with a close college friend. We'll then be driving to Tempe, AZ for a conference that Rob will be attending. We'll have a couple of days to sight-see. So my question is: should we stop in Santa Fe, NM or Sedona, AZ? I've already been to Sedona and loved it. But, I've heard Santa Fe is great, too!

If anyone out there has an opinion or any great ideas, I'd love to hear them. The cities are both on our way to our destination and virtually equidistant. We'll probably have one overnight and two days to sight-see. Oh, and it's just the two of us (!!).

Any and all advice would be great!

Wannabe Gyros

2012-02-28T13:37:00.000-05:00

It's so funny - every year around this time I feel like I need to detox. I feel inspired to deep-clean my house, throw "stuff" away, eat healthier, and just generally "get it together". I am discovering more and more that my moods are determined by sunshine. I've also discovered that while I love meat, sometimes my body just needs a break. My skin and hair pay the price when I'm eating an especially fattening diet. It's been about a week since I've had meat and I can say that I feel great. I have tons of energy, and it's a nice change. I'll probably go back to meat next week, but for now I'm reveling in the novelty (and not needing deodorant - isn't that weird?).

I've been trying some new recipes and the sandwiches we had last night were a winner! Even Emma, who hates tomatoes and cucumbers (but wishes she liked them), said, "this is pretty good".

Basically, it's a pocketless pita that we stuffed with tabbouleh, chopped lettuce, and the world's best salad dressing.

If you do nothing else, you must try this salad dressing recipe. It's a riff on the Olive Garden salad dressing recipe. I have been to the Olive Garden maybe once in twelve years, but I do remember the salad and breadsticks - remember when the breadsticks were coated with butter, garlic and cheese? yum. Anyway, trust me when I tell you that you will love this dressing recipe. It keeps really well - I usually make a batch and we use it for a few weeks until it's gone.

But, back to the sandwich. A couple things: it's very messy. It's also delicious, and you could totally include ground lamb, grilled chicken, or even shrimp if you wanted to. The crunch of the lettuce and cucumbers mix well with the pillowy softness of the pita and the creamy dressing drips down your hand in the best way possible.

Enjoy!

Banana Cupcakes

2012-02-25T15:23:00.001-05:00

I just made these - and after looking at the pictures, I realized that they sort of look like an over-easy egg. I used my trusty banana bread recipe and then topped the ~~muffins~~ cupcakes with cream cheese frosting (adding lemon zest and a little lemon juice). I put a dollop of apricot jam on top and sprinkled with toasted coconut.

Even if they look a little like brunch, I've been told they're pretty yummy. I found some pretty willing guinea pigs! I also have chocolate peanut butter cookies in the oven - Josh is taking the treats for a get-together with friends, hopefully they'll enjoy them!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Things I've Learned

2012-02-24T13:59:00.001-05:00

since joining the gym one month ago.

1. My clothing has never been tighter. I keep hearing, "oh, but you're building muscle". I don't want muscle. I want loose clothing.

2. There is a reason that speedo bathing suits do not have "miracle" in their title. If you look good in a speedo, you are my hero.

3. I think my kids have seen more than they've bargained for. People are not real modest in the locker rooms. Kate said last week, "I've seen things no ten-year old should ever see". I kind of don't find it a big deal. I guess I'm not real modest either, then.

4. Every drop of sweat on your body is highly visible in a brightly lit exercise room with mirrors on all sides.

5. My kids are part fish. We've been swimming a few times a week and Kate swam 44 laps last night.

6. I am part fish. I really love to swim. I don't like the speedo, the dry skin, or having to use conditioner, but swimming is good for my mental health. I just wish it made my clothing fit better.

7. I feel a little guilty exercising every day. I totally realize it's a luxury. It takes time. But, I kind of love it.

8. There are lots of rules and signs announcing the rules. My personal favorite hangs in the sauna/steam/hot tub area. "This area should not be used for shaving". Really, someone needed to specify that?

9. It's a great excuse to eat more.

Favourite Thing Friday

2012-02-17T15:47:00.000-05:00

My favorite thing this Friday is trying new recipes! To find out what Mrs. P's favorite thing is this week, head over to Quilting in my Pyjamas.

I am trying a new recipe for dinner tonight - this.

I found the recipe on Pinterest, and I only needed to use about 1/2 can of coconut milk. Because I wanted to use the remaining coconut milk, I did a google search. I found Emeril's recipe for coconut cream pie.

I remembered that Rob really enjoyed coconut cream pie at a cool restaurant when we were in Florida - so I decided to make one! The recipe called for whole milk, but I substituted in the remaining coconut milk for part of the milk in the recipe.

The jury is still out on whether or not either of these recipes will be a hit - but it was really fun mixing new ingredients and anticipating how they will taste! I'll keep you posted.

For now, here are some pictures of the fun I've had this afternoon!

custard filling with toasted coconut

my blind-baked pie crust

the two components of my pie: custard and meringue topping

just waiting for the meringue

there it is!

before baking

and....after!

I hope it tastes as good as it looks!

How is it possible?

2012-02-14T14:42:00.000-05:00

How can time be hurtling by at such a speed that these two.....

Josh, aged four - Kate, aged 6 months (they're now 13 and almost 10)

will be in high school [next year] and turning ten [next month]?

Cherry Cinnamon Bread

2012-02-14T14:35:00.000-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!

I realize this recipe is a little late to the party, but if you live in the US, President's Day weekend is quickly approaching - make this bread for your family sometime this weekend.

I used the Pioneer Woman's cinnamon roll dough and then simply added some drained sour cherries. I freeze some every summer, but I know you can purchase canned sour cherries in the baking aisle. When I reached the step where I sprinkle the raised dough with cinnamon, sugar, and butter, I placed the cherries on top and rolled up the dough. Instead of slicing into individual cinnamon rolls, I kept mine in a log and placed into a greased loaf pan.

I baked my bread at 375 degrees for about 25 minutes. I added icing after the bread cooled. We seriously loved this bread. I will be making this again - maybe even this weekend!

note: (I halved the cinnamon roll recipe, it was just perfect for two loaves - which we ate in one day!)

The best thing about dessert

2012-02-08T11:00:00.000-05:00

is enjoying it for breakfast the next day! I love warm apple pie with milk. I enjoyed mine with a nice cup of coffee. Perfection.

Here is the link to my apple pie tutorial.

Tastes Like a Memory

2012-02-06T12:48:00.000-05:00

grape nuts, raspberries, and milk

Tastes just like my grandparents house. Don't you love when food takes you back to a special place with special memories? What "takes you back"?

As a special aside, my grandparents raspberry bushes live on. Even though my grandfather has been gone since 1995 and my grandmother since 2005, I recently cooked for a family that has the offspring of their bushes. They inherited the shoots of bushes my grandparents gave to friends. How cool is that?

Quiche with potatoes

2012-02-02T12:43:00.000-05:00

I don't really know what to call this. I don't think it's a quiche, I guess it could be called a frittata. I'm not really sure of the definition, but since my husband and some of my readers are purists, I should quantify it pretty soon. Whatever it is, you'll love it! We often have quiche and soup as a dinner during the week. We all like it, and then the leftovers are great for lunches.

I do have a recipe for a quiche with a potato crust, but that one seems a little labor intensive. This was way easier, and the potato flavor was stronger, which was a win with this crowd! It's kind of like home fries and an omelette, all in one cheesy bite. Yeah, it's that good.

What do you think we should call it?

Ingredients:
3 medium potatoes, cooked in the microwave until tender, then chop and set aside
1/2 medium onion, chopped
1 T canola oil
salt, pepper
1/2 cup chopped deli ham
1 cup cooked broccoli florets
3 eggs
1/2 cup shredded cheddar, with more for topping
1/8 cup parmesan cheese
3/4 cup half and half

1. In a skillet, saute cooked potatoes and onion until slightly browned, season to your liking with salt and pepper. Put browned potatoes and onions into your pie plate.
2. In a medium-sized bowl, combine the remaining ingredients. Pour over the potato and onion mixture.
3. Bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes or until mixture is set. Just before the mixture sets, sprinkle extra cheese over, if desired, and bake until golden brown.

This was honestly so easy! We all loved it. This would be perfect for brunch, breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Cornbread

2012-02-02T12:22:00.000-05:00

Growing up, I used to love when my mom made cornbread. I have tried to make it for our family over the years, and I could never get it to taste like hers. Until. Until I used my skillet. I don't know why I didn't try this before - my mom always used her skillet for cornbread. I also tried a new recipe, via a google search. I had always used the back of the cornmeal container, but I only had bulk cornmeal and so I had to do a little research.

The cornbread was, in Rob's words, "heaven". Crunchy from the cornmeal, but moist and soft, almost pillowy. We, of course, topped ours with plenty of butter and honey, and I served it alongside pulled pork and a salad.

Buttery Cornbread Recipe, courtesy of Allrecipes (click here for the link)

2/3 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 2/3 cups milk
2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup cornmeal
4 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt

Directions

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Combine the eggs and milk. Combine flour, cornmeal, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with egg mixture.
Pour into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking pan. Bake at 400 degrees F for 22-27 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cut into squares; serve warm.

Little Miss Over-Achiever

2012-01-26T19:40:00.000-05:00

I am always amazed at how different our three children are [from each other]. They each have their own gifts and talents, and I have to say that they really are great kids, but they're so different! I also find it fascinating to see little glimpses and idiosyncrasies of Rob and I in their personalities. In many ways, though, they are uniquely their own.

Kate is a prime example. First of all, she's a paradox for a middle child - she doesn't just kind of disappear on the mix. She's strong-willed, intense, and a leader. She's also brilliant, driven, and an over-achiever. Rob and I had the luxury of kind of "skating" through school. We did the bare minimum. We were able to do well while putting forth the least effort. This kind of attitude doesn't perform well in today's schools (and that's probably a good thing).

So, when Kate came home a few weeks ago and showed me her extra credit project, I was secretly thinking two things in my head -
1. Where did she come from?
2. I wonder if you're allowed to do an extra credit project when you already have an A+?
And, the girl doesn't procrastinate - again, nothing like Rob or myself.

The project was to build something with a small motor. Enter my dad. The man is a mechanical genius. All I had to do was give him the list of materials. The project worked, it was handed in a week early, and all is well in our little girl's world.

I wish she gave lessons. I want to be her when I grow up.

Baked Coconut Oatmeal

2012-01-26T10:23:00.001-05:00

I am not a bandwagon type of girl. I'm more of a "I'm not going to do specifically because everyone else is". But, sometimes I get sucked in, too. I was on Pinterest and found this recipe for a single-serving baked oatmeal that "tastes just like an almond joy". Vegan. Healthy. Oooeey, goooey.

So, I made it.

looks yummy, doesn't it?

So, as my oatmeal was baking, I was busy cleaning my house. As the aroma filled my increasingly cleaner house, I was convincing myself that my attitudes about vegan baking were already changing. Now, I should preface this by saying that I fudged a little on the ingredients (using milk). Also, I'm pretty sure I have a sinus infection, so my smell and taste are a little off. After snapping a few quick picks, I covered my "almond joy oatmeal" with some milk and dug in. Not good my friends, not good at all.

It was okay - not the worst thing I've ever made, but I think I'll just stick with good "old-fashioned ingredients" (butter, sugar, dairy, unbleached all-purpose flour). We are very blessed to not suffer from any food allergies or digestive issues - so this makes my decision easier. I have tried [one too many times] to make our baked goods healthier. I'm sorry everyone - you will will not find beets, agave, semolina flour, or anything unusual hiding in my baking recipes. I feel like when I bake for my family, I want it to be a treat - a splurge, a reward for eating a healthy dinner.

I'm back off the bandwagon - that I was on for the 25 minutes my oatmeal was baking.

Hog Maw

2012-01-20T08:48:00.001-05:00

Brace yourselves.....

Since the thermometer reads 18 degrees Fahrenheit here on this side of the world, we've been eating lots of hearty fare. This week we've enjoyed roasted chicken, beef stew, and soup.

Then there was this little gem. We invited my parents over for dinner and ate a pig's stomach. What? I told you to brace yourself.

If I thought anyone would actually make this, I'd share the recipe. Anyone?

But, look how delicious it looks after it's cooked all afternoon.

Okay, you're right - it still looks disgusting. Would you trust me if I said it really was delicious?

Here's the story: hog maw is what this little delight is called in our corner of the world. Basically, you use the maw (or the actual pig's stomach) as a way to house all of the comfort foods unique to our area. I stuff mine with chopped potatoes, onions, carrots, fresh sausage, and stuffing (like the kind you put in a turkey). We kind of love it. Some people make gravy to pour over the hog maw, my mom prefers horseradish, we like ketchup. My dad is the only person I know that actually eats the maw. Coincidentally, a classmate of Kate's was also having hog maw last Saturday night, and a local church was serving it for a fundraiser. So, see - we're not that weird. Right?

Creamy Feta Dip

2012-01-19T12:19:00.000-05:00

this dip is so good, so garlicky, so creamy, and so addicting!

The recipe is basic, with easy to find ingredients. All you'll need to do is put the ingredients into your food processor or blender and process until smooth! This recipe is courtesy of a spicy perspective. Check out the original post here.

Creamy Feta Dip with roasted red peppers

1 lb. feta cheese, crumbled
½ lb. whole milk ricotta
2 cloves garlic, smashed
1/3 cup olive oil
Juice of one lemon
1 Tb. fresh chopped thyme
1 Tb. dried oregano
1+ tsp. crushed red pepper
1 large roasted red pepper (jarred in fine)
Black Pepper to taste
Pita bread, cut into wedges or pita chips
Kalamata olives as garnish

Instructions

Using a food processor, pulse the feta, ricotta, garlic, oil, lemon juice, herbs and crushed red pepper together until smooth.
Drain and dice the roasted red pepper.
Scoop the mixture into a bowl. Fold in the red pepper and ground black pepper. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
To serve, drizzle another tablespoon of olive oil on top and serve with pita wedges and olives.

Preparation time: 10 minute(s)

Number of servings (yield): 12

MOTE Aquarium

2012-01-19T12:06:00.000-05:00

MOTE Marine Laboratory was on our list of "educational activities" during our recent trip to Florida. We had driven by the research facility/aquarium many times on our way to Sarasota and finally decided that we should spend the day there (plus, we had to justify an educational absence to our school!). Usually when we visit Florida, it's very hot, so the temperate weather was a bonus. We decided to combine our tour of the facilities with a boat tour of the bay, an "eco-tour" is how the brochure described it.

From what we were able to observe (and read about MOTE), the laboratory is world-class. They are the only research facility in the US with a congressionally-appointed shark research program.

first we toured the "aquarium portion of MOTE"

we loved the touch tanks!

Emma's favorite was the stingray pool

we stopped on a small uninhabited island in Sarasota Bay (see how much taller Josh is than me?)

on the boat, our on-board biologist showed us several native species of marine life

many different crabs live in the bay

and urchins

on on-board biologist

this hideous thing was a batfish (he had legs and fins)

We really enjoyed our time at MOTE. If you have the chance, it's totally worth your time to take a peek at what's lying beneath the surface of the Florida waterways!

At Mote, you can explore the secrets of the sea through touch pools, viewable-working labs and high-tech interactive exhibits that showcase the world-renowned research of Mote Marine Laboratory. See sharks, dolphins, manatees and sea turtles, along with more than 100 other species of marine life.(from their website)

1600 Ken Thompson Pkwy
Sarasota, FL 34236

(941) 388-4441

Plesscher's Orange Grove

2012-01-11T15:52:00.000-05:00

Even though I've been vacationing in the same town in Florida since 1988 (and, no, there will not be any photographical evidence), we try to discover new things with each visit. This past visit, we left for Bradenton, Florida on December 27, leaving at 4:00 am with my mother and father-in-law. After a 16-hour drive, we arrived!

Two of the places we discovered during this last trip were the MOTE Aquarium in Sarasota, and Plesscher's Orange Grove. We also visited the Lake Manatee State Park, and I'll share some really cool pictures later in the week!

One of the many special things about visiting Florida in the winter is the abundance of produce. We also visited a farmer's market and I can't wait to show you some of the pictures! I tried to read Barbara Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, and while I want to agree with her - I just found myself hungry for fruit throughout the whole first half. All I know is that produce tastes even better when you're visiting a more temperate climate. The citrus and tomatoes alone make a 16-hour drive totally necessary.

But, back to the orange grove. Plesscher's is located about 40 minutes outside of Bradenton and run by Eugene Plesscher (we deduced that he's 84 years old). He and his wife bought the property in 1960 and planted citrus trees, finally harvesting three years later.

We picked 4 bushels of citrus. Ruby red grapefruits, navel oranges, and tangelos. A five-gallon bucket cost $8. And the taste - holy moly, that fruit is to die for.

The Plesscher's even have an honor system - if they're not home when you get there, just put your money in the slot.

As the season progresses, they'll be growing honeybells, white grapefruits, and valencias, to name a few. We had such a great time, and the bonus was that we'll be enjoying our citrus for several weeks! I just love exploring areas we're already familiar with - especially when it involves food!

Eugene was giving me a lesson in how to pick navels

we stocked up on honey, too!

If you happen to be in the Bradenton area, go check out Plesscher's -

Phone: 941-322-2030
3350 Highway 675
(County Road 675 East, 1/2 mi south of State Road 64)
Bradenton 34211

Highlights From Christmas

2012-01-09T16:49:00.000-05:00

We had a really nice time celebrating Christmas with our families. The one unfortunate thing about Christmas weekend is that I had a cold, which rarely happens with me. I lost my voice (Rob called it a Christmas miracle), and lost my appetite. I've just discovered that when I don't have an appetite (mostly due to being hopped up on cold meds) I can't cook worth a darn. Like seriously. Everything I tried to cook turned into a colossal failure. So, nothing to report on that front. Sorry.

We did start a really fun family tradition, though. This idea is something I borrowed from another blogger. Every year we buy each of our kids several small presents and then one "big" present. In the past, Rob made up something silly about "just finding one more present", "Santa must have forgotten to put these under the tree", etc. So, this year, each of our kids received clues, leading to the next clue, until they finally found their "big present".

Emma was our first participant

then Kate

this picture totally describes their excitement for each other

Josh looking for his last clue, wrapped in a dollar bill

and, success - skis and boots!

Kate with her bitty twins, Wesley and Macy

Emma with her Barbie dollhouse

We celebrated Christmas Eve with Rob's side of the family and Christmas Day with my family. I'll share some pictures - it was a really special time, and splitting the time up made our holidays even more relaxed and meaningful!

First up - Christmas Eve Day at the in-laws. Presents, family time, and brunch!

our little fashionista

reading the Christmas story, from the book of Luke

Papa Peter with Wesley and Malachi

Natalie, our fashionista in training

still no voice, but wearing an Emma-approved outfit

cousins!

Nana Putz, Jeremy, and baby Malachi (and Jess hiding in the background)

Travis and Wesley

Jacob!

Sorry for the less than stellar lighting - unfortunately our camera does not do well in artificial lighting. Even though all of the previous pictures suggest we all have jaundice... we, in fact, do not! :)

Christmas Day at my parents house

my sis and the vintage brooch we found for her!

Josh and his new dirtbiking boots

my mom, the hostess with the mostest

our dinner, beef tenderloin

Emma and "buddy", her baby that loves stuffing balls

our little Kate!

the hit of the day - "just dance 3"

Josh on his "new" hand-me-down laptop

me - smiling at my hubby :)

I hope you were able to celebrate with your family during this holiday season! I can't wait to share another year with all of you - hopefully there will be lots more good food, family fun, traveling, and getting to know all of you a bit better! Happy New Year.

Toes in the sand.....

2012-01-07T11:21:00.000-05:00

We recently returned from a little Christmas vacation....

I promise I'll blog about our vacation and do a Christmas re-cap next week!

Not a Silent Night....

2011-12-23T11:49:00.000-05:00

This is a re-post from last year

As we so often forget, Christmas, the Real Christmas, didn't happen conveniently for anyone. It wasn't convenient for Mary or Joseph. It wasn't convenient for Herod. It wasn't picturesque. It was, however, God sending Love to us in a very relatable way - who as a mother has not put herself in Mary's place?

Can you imagine being a teenage mother, traveling for days and finding yourself in labor? There is nowhere for you to go. You have only your young husband for comfort and support - and he's not even the father of your baby. But, you have the promise of your Creator that in your womb rests the Hope of the World.

I think the song, "Silent Night" could not be more misleading. Silent Night, Holy Night, All is Calm, All is Bright - if you read the same Bible that I do - you realize that God specializes in showing Himself in scary and otherwise unlikely situations. That's why they're called miracles.

You will also realize that the characters of the Bible were very real - in their failures and successes. I personally find comfort in the fact that God makes a habit of choosing those with flaws to bring about His plans - in His time.

This song was our special music this past Sunday in church. I'm not "up to date" on my Christian songs, so maybe everyone has already heard this song. As I listened to it for the first time, I found it very powerful. A good friend remarked yesterday, "it's difficult to have a mother's heart in this world".

Here are the lyrics - click here to listen see the video - depicting scenes from the movie, "Nativity Scene". Even if you think Christmas is only a sweet fairy-tale, you may find it very moving. I think it describes the birth of Jesus in a very real, very gritty, and not necessarily pretty way.

Labor of Love - by Andrew Peterson

It was not a silent night
There was blood on the ground
You could hear a woman cry
In the alleyways that night
On the streets of David's town

And the stable was not clean
And the cobblestones were cold
And little Mary full of grace
With the tears upon her face
Had no mother's hand to hold

It was a labor of pain
It was a cold sky above
But for the girl on the ground in the dark
With every beat of her beautiful heart
It was a labor of love

Noble Joseph at her side
Callused hands and weary eyes
There were no midwives to be found
In the streets of David's town
In the middle of the night

So he held her and he prayed
Shafts of moonlight on his face
But the baby in her womb
He was the maker of the moon
He was the Author of the faith
That could make the mountains move

It was a labor of pain
It was a cold sky above
But for the girl on the ground in the dark
With every beat of her beautiful heart
It was a labor of love
For little Mary full of grace
With the tears upon her face
It was a labor of love

Merry Christmas to one and all - may you experience the miracle of Christmas.

Do you "thank-you note"?

2011-12-22T10:50:00.000-05:00

As we're knee-deep in the "season of giving" and receiving, I am declaring my resolution to be a better "thank-you noter".

I once read that you should send a thank-you note to anyone who has done something for you that took more than 15 minutes. Wow. I guess I'll need to stock up a bit on stamps and stationary.

I think a short, well-written note goes very far in creating respect for yourself. I totally applaud people who excel at being thankful!

My mom has a friend who is the best "tyn" (thank-you noter) that I've ever met. Literally, if you do something for her, the next day in your mailbox is a note waiting for you. She must mail out the notes the second she returns home from being in your presence! There are several people I already know who ascribe to the "Janice Raub School of Thank-You Noting" - my sister, my mom, my husband, and my father-in-law. My sister-in-laws also do a great job.

I guess what I'm trying to say is.....let's bring back the thank-you note! Let's work hard to teach our children this long-lost tradition and to thank all of the people who enrich our lives.

Well - I'm off to write a thank-you note to my aunt and the director of our church children's musical!

Wednesday's News by the Numbers.....

2011-12-21T16:15:00.000-05:00

one hour and thirty five minutes - time taken to drive each way to the family cabin

8:25am - the time we left

13 minutes - how long it took my Dad and I took to open the cabin, load up our cargo, take a bathroom break, and head back down the road

12 minutes - time involved to get gas, order and receive four sandwiches

$33.36 - total cost of a half of a tank of gas and four sandwiches

12:01pm - the time we pulled into my driveway

2 - the amount of people crazy enough to drive 3+ hours, time everything we did, and laugh almost the whole way!

We drove up to our family cabin to retrieve Josh's dirtbike so he can join the other riders in our family for a little off-road fun on Friday.

Excuse me, ma'am.....

2011-12-19T12:34:00.000-05:00

Is that a door on your wall?

I am not a crafty person by design. Usually I don't even try. But, since we hosted a family birthday party for Emma [so close to Christmas], I decided to try my hand with a few decorations.

Even though our house lends itself more to a mid-century modern look (it was built in 1955), I really like the rustic farmhouse style of decorating. I enjoy natural, weathered surroundings.

I found this cute little mason jar idea on Pinterest. It was super simple - and it just so happened that I had purchased a pack of floating candles about 10 years ago and had never used them!

I used some foliage from our yard, added some fresh cranberries and water - and floated the candle on top! So easy. They looked great in the evening while the candles were lit!

I had snagged the beam they're sitting on from the pile of lumber at the cabin - I'm obsessed with tongue and groove beams.

I also rescued an antique door - and convinced my husband to hang it on the wall. I kind of love it. My eventual plan is to mount black framed prints on the door in a symmetrical pattern, mixing landscapes and portraits. But, for now, I simply hung two lanterns on the antique coat rack we've always had in the foyer. At the very least, I figure it will be a great conversation piece. I picture hearing at least once, "is that a door on your wall"?

it looks kind of weird in this picture - but I still like it!

a view of our foyer through the mirror hanging above the table

the side view with our door wreath in the foreground

Do you decorate your house seasonally? Do you go all out for Christmas?

I'll update you on the door/picture frame when I decide which prints to mount!

Upcoming New Recipes

2011-12-19T10:00:00.000-05:00

So, will you be cooking this week? We are blessed to live near to both of our families and we'll get to celebrate Christmas with everyone this coming weekend.

We're doing things a little differently this year - celebrating on Christmas Eve day with Rob's family and then spending Christmas Day with my family. Of course we will eat very well at both locations!

I'll be trying several new recipes - click on the link, if included, to see the recipe ahead of time!

Our Christmas Eve festivities will include a brunch. I'm planning to contribute a chipped beef and dill dip with rye bread cubes, a salad (probably mandarin oranges, pomegranates, and toasted almonds with lettuce), and a vegetable tian.

On Christmas Day, I'll be making Ina's tomato tarts, fennel gratin, and my apple galette.

How about you? Will you be hosting or traveling to family? Are you going to try a new recipe?

I'll keep you updated on all of my new recipes!

Favourite Thing Friday

2011-12-16T09:23:00.000-05:00

But the last one: the baby who trails her scent like a flag of surrender through your life when there will be no more coming after - oh, that's love by a different name. She is the babe you hold in your arms for an hour after she's gone to sleep. If you put her down in the crib, she might wake up changed and fly away. So instead you rock by the window, drinking the light from her skin, breathing her exhaled dreams. Your heart bays to the double crescent moons of closed lashes on her cheeks. She's the one you can't put down. (The Poisonwood Bible, Barbara Kingsolver)

Today, my favourite thing is our baby girl, Emma. It's so, so hard to believe that she turned eight years old this morning at 12:12. I remember like it was yesterday the second that we first met her, already her dimples were the first things we noticed.

She has us wrapped around her little finger. Truly.

Emma with her Mommy

Emma with her Daddy

Here is my post from last year (on her birthday).

And the year before - with lots of cute baby pictures.

Happy Birthday, Emma! You're the best "surprise" we've ever had!

Appetizer Idea #3

2011-12-16T08:46:00.000-05:00

Hot dips with veggies and crackers. It is so hard for me to use restraint when presented with a hot crab dip or a hot artichoke and spinach dip. I literally want to eat a whole bowl by myself. There is something so satisfying about a warm, creamy, and salty concoction tempered with the crunch of a good cracker. Yum.

Here are two recipes for you - make one today and take it to a party - or, make a batch for yourself and just call it a party!

Hot Crab Dip:

Hot Crab Dip Recipe (courtesy of SimplyRecipes.com)

1 8-ounce package of cream cheese
1/3 cup mayonnaise
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 Tbsp water
2 green onions, sliced, greens included
3 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley, or 1 Tbsp dried parsley
1 Tbsp horseradish
1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon of Tabasco or more to taste
1/2 cup slivered almonds
1 cup of canned crabmeat (the kind in the tuna aisle)

1 Preheat oven to 350°F. Beat together the cream cheese, mayonnaise, lemon juice, water, onions, and parsley until smooth. Mix in the Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco, and horseradish. Fold in the slivered almonds and lump crab meat. Place in an oven-proof casserole serving dish.

2 Bake until bubbly and heated through, about 20 minutes. Serve with crackers or thinly sliced baguette.

I know you can't see how good this is, but just trust me, please.....

Baked Spinach and Artichoke Dip (my mom's recipe)

1 package of cream cheese, softened (8oz)
1 cup of sour cream
1 cup parmesan cheese
1 cup shredded monterey jack cheese
1 10oz package of frozen spinach, drained
1 small jar of marinated artichokes

mix all ingredients and bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes

Appetizer Idea #2

2011-12-14T16:43:00.000-05:00

Miniature Sandwiches.

Chicken Salad Sandwiches on mini croissants(click here for the link). Totally cute. Delicious and filling in a light way. I like to serve them with slices of tomato and some spinach.

Ham sandwiches with pineapple cream cheese and shredded carrots. It's as simple as it sounds. Cut the crusts off of whatever bread you'd like (we did half whole-wheat and half white) and assemble. Salty, sweet, and creamy - a perfect combination!

These miniature sandwich ideas would be perfect for a Christmas Eve brunch, an open house holiday party, or any other gathering you're hosting or attending during the next few weeks!

Appetizer Idea #1

2011-12-12T13:11:00.000-05:00

I'm sure many of you will be busy celebrating in the next couple of weeks! Our social life is fairly non-existent, but we'll be enjoying some fun times with our families.

If you've been invited to (or are hosting) a party, these antipasto skewers are a real crowd pleaser! I first saw the idea on Pinterest and it seems as though I've been living under a rock - apparently, they've been popular for a while. The possibilities are endless, but I'll give you my "recipe". It's so easy, it's almost embarrassing.

Basically, you'll need to cook cheese-filled tortellini and marinate them overnight in balsamic vinegar salad dressing (I personally like Newman's Own, but use your favorite). Then, you'll simply skewer the marinated tortellini, a cherry tomato, a wedge of cheese, an olive, and a slice of pepperoni. That's it. I like the smaller skewers (I believe they're 8 inch).

Like I mentioned before, the possibilities are endless: various olives, cheeses, meats, vegetables, etc. I used fontina cheese, kalamata olives, and regular pepperoni.

I'll be sharing appetizer recipes this whole week - stay tuned!

Entertaining Ideas

2011-12-07T09:27:00.000-05:00

I was able to help prepare food for an event at my parent's church on Sunday night. My mom and I worked together to feed about 200 people. Because we were working with a limited budget, our menu choices were simple, but delicious. I thought I'd share some pictures and later in the week, I'll share some of the recipes!

We were able to pull this off with a little less than $500. That's less than $3 a person. My whole family helped - my Dad helped all morning on Sunday, the kids pitched in, and Josh and Rob were my assistants in setting up the food and replenishing. It was actually kind of fun - but exhausting!

assembling the antipasto skewers

slicing the tomatoes for the skewers

antipasto skewers - tomatoes, tortellini, pepperoni, fontina

pumpkin bread, poppyseed bread

chicken salad sandwiches on croissants

ham and pineapple cream cheese sandwiches

lemon squares and chocolate chip cookies

pineapple, kiwis, grapes, and oranges

my mom supplied the floral arrangements, my dad the pottery

chocolate fudge, peanut butter fudge

sun-dried tomato spread with baguette slices

black bean tortilla roll-ups

refilling everything!

this lady had never tasted an artichoke before!

Our menu:

Ham and cheese sandwiches with pineapple cream cheese
Chicken Salad sandwiches
Black bean tortilla roll-ups
Spinach and Artichoke dip with veggies
Crackers and Assorted cheeses
Fruit Tray
Antipasto skewers with cheese tortellini and fontina cheese
Pumpkin bread
Poppyseed bread
Lemon Squares
Chocolate Chip cookies
Chocolate fudge
Peanut butter fudge
Peppermint brownies
Raspberry Punch

Favourite Thing Friday

2011-12-02T11:04:00.000-05:00

Never Fail Fudge. Oh, yeah. Seven ingredients, and you can be a fudge legend. In our family, it was my Aunt Marie, she was the fudge legend....but our little club has added a new member. I'm the new member, and you can start your own club.

The fudge recipe is courtesy of the Marshmallow Fluff container. By the way, I'm kind of in love with the vintage look of the container. And, maybe you can't see it, but apparently fluff contains no fat or cholesterol. It's practically a health food.

Without further ado, here's the recipe:

5 cups sugar
10 oz evaporated milk
1/4 lb butter
1 jar (16oz) fluff
1 tsp salt

24 oz semisweet chocolate chips
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1. Combine first five ingredients in large pot. Stir over low heat until blended.
2. Bring to a boil over moderate heat. Boil slowly, stirring constantly, for five minutes (I usually do between 7-9 minutes, just to be safe).
3. Remove from heat, stir in chocolate chips and vanilla until chocolate is melted. Pour into buttered 9x13" pan and cool. Makes approximately 5 lbs.

I would be remiss to not remind you that not all of the fudge will "fit" in your pan. You'll have at least two pieces left in the pan....just remember (pretty please) to let the mixture cool before you sample it.

This is my new favourite dessert, head on over to see what Shay featured as her favourite this week!

Apple Galette

2011-11-23T15:16:00.000-05:00

Partly to prove to you that I am still cooking and trying new recipes, I thought I'd post this apple galette recipe that I tried last night. The sad fact is that our sunshine has been almost non-existent lately. I'm also finding it difficult to photograph before the sun completely disappears for the night. Our camera works very well in natural light without a flash - at night and with a flash, not so much.

So, sadly, this is all that's left of my apple galette.

A galette is basically a free-form pie. I found this recipe on epicurious. This was the first time I've made an all-butter crust and the first time I've utilized my food processor in the making of the crust.

This was super easy and my audience gave it a 9 out of 10.

The crust is flaky, crunchy, and pure perfection. Apricot preserves are spread over the crust before the apples are placed on top. The apples are simply prepared - sliced and tossed with sugar and lemon peel.

The result was something even better than a McDonald's apple - it was so good it almost tasted fried.

I was so glad that I'd managed to snap a few pictures during the four minutes of sunshine we enjoyed today.

Those are real rays of sunshine, believe it or not. And, check out that quilt - love it!

Dessert Ideas

2011-11-22T10:37:00.000-05:00

As in years past, I will be bringing dessert to our annual Thanksgiving dinner. If you've also been nominated to contribute dessert and you're a procrastinator like me, here are some ideas for you!

These are all family favorites, and while same may not be your "traditional" dessert fare for Thanksgiving, I thought I'd give you some options.

Simply click on the title of the dessert and you'll automatically be directed to the recipe.


Chocolate Cake with Buttercream Frosting


Buttermilk Cake with Salted Caramel Frosting

Tuesday Craziness

2011-11-22T10:17:00.000-05:00

I wish I remembered to compile the list of hilarious news headlines [I read on a weekly basis].

There are some really ridiculous stories out there - reminds me of the country song we love, "God is great, beer is good, and people are crazy".

Here is my favorite [news article] from this past week.

Police: Fake doc injected cement in woman's rear.(click to go to the link)

How can you not want to read this article?

Also, my favorite add on craigslist this week.

I Love To Iron/Need My Floors Vaccuumed (West Manchester/York)

I have a nice, clean, orderly house just looking for someone to do my floors once a week. In return I will do your ironing - bring to my house. I'm sure we can work something out. You use my vacs and I will use my own iron and board. You don't have to even wash my floors, can do that myself - I just HATE HATE to vacuum. Have pets. I live right behind Target/Sheetz off Brougher at Carlisle. Thank you.

People are crazy.

I Wonder.....

2011-11-14T15:15:00.000-05:00

1. Why the kitchen floor remains sticky in the location where juice was spilled [until you have re-scrubbed the entire floor]?

2. If anyone has ever been unable to remove skinny jeans in a dressing room?

3. When this annoying skinny-pant phase will be over?

4. How many times someone has to throw their shoes in the air to make them stay on a power-line wire?

5. When my kids will become less messy and less expensive? (Please tell me next week and not "until they move out")

6. How couples that engage in PDA never notice how uncomfortable the "spectators" are? Especially at a kids sporting event. I'm pretty sure that if you can't stand on your own without leaning on each other (and furthermore, that those don't need to be held up at all), maybe you should bring a chair - no, make that two so you're not tempted to sit on each others lap. I am fully convinced that PDA can go from awwww to ewwww in about 3 seconds. I'm sure these couples are perfectly nice people, they just need someone to tell them.

7. If I can convince my kids that Mother's Best Oat and Mallow Cereal will taste just like Lucky Charms?

8. Why people insist on taking their toddler to Target in the afternoon [when they clearly need to be at home napping]?

9. What people eat [who tell me they don't cook]?

10. Why is it that at the end of the weekend, our cupboards are bare and the house is a wreck?

11. How can my son be such a horrendous writer? (how do you teach someone to be a better writer? is it learned?)

12. How our middle daughter became organized? (she certainly didn't learn it from us)

13. How our youngest daughter became a fashionista (who likes short skirts, UGG's, and skinny jeans)? (she certainly didn't learn it from us)

Fall Colors.

2011-11-10T16:26:00.000-05:00

I took these pictures yesterday, taking advantage of the gorgeous fall colors and sunlight.

If you're feeling badly because your surroundings aren't this colorful or sunny - rest assured - as I type this, it's 42 degrees and rainy.

Lunch(es)

2011-11-09T11:41:00.000-05:00

Yesterday's lunch

simple caesar salad with Newman's Own dressing, parmesan, and homemade croutons

tomato bisque with homemade croutons (click on link for recipe)

Today's lunch

baked parmesan tomatoes (recipe attached to link)

pickled beets and hardboiled eggs

I just wish this worked to keep me away from the Halloween candy. Ugh.

My Attempt at a Mudroom.

2011-11-08T12:01:00.000-05:00

After I was unable to convince my husband that our whole house needed re-organized, I went with plan B. I really wanted to buy closet organizing kits for all of our closets, but I decided that I would organize our things with what we already owned. We don't have the space for a main-floor mudroom, so I tried to re-create the concept in our coat closet.

Our house was built in 1955. It's roughly 1700 square feet on our main floor, so it's rather small. One of the many positives, though, is our great amount of storage space. Our hallway has a cleaning closet and two full-sized closets, one we use for a coat closet (the other cedar-lined closet is mine).

My lovely husband has many hobbies. Therefore, we need to store gear for kayaking, skiing, hunting, etc. Once we factor in all of the seasonal things we need to outfit a family of five for everyday living, it creates a lot of stuff.

Our coat closet used to look like this.

It wasn't bad - and we did have enough space for what we had, but it was impossible to find anything in that huge bin. Good luck to anyone trying to find a matching pair of gloves. Plus, it looked pretty ugly.

So, I utilized some upper cabinets that we had in our garage, and stole some baskets from the bathroom. Now we can easily find our boots, gloves (Rob has at least fifteen different pairs for various activities), hats, and scarves. I'm hoping to make this our seasonal area - switching warm weather gear (sunscreen, towels, goggles, etc.) for our cold-weather gear. It does look mildly better and it was the best I could do with what I already owned!

Ridiculously Delicious Beef Stew.

2011-11-07T10:05:00.000-05:00

I love going out to eat. The only problem I normally have is that I'm usually disappointed by the end of the meal. It's hard for me to enjoy something that I could have made at home for a fraction of the cost. But, when I discover something really delicious, I consider the investment will result in a full return. Plus, having someone else do the dishes is something really special.

I first tasted Guinness Beef Stew at an "Irish Pub" in downtown York. The hearty stew was served over mashed potatoes. It was awesome. I knew I could recreate it at home. And I did. And now you can, too.

The components are flavorful, but ordinary.

You'll need cubed sweet potatoes, chopped carrots, chopped garlic cloves, and sliced onions.

Beef - I used a package of discounted sirloin steak from Giant. I simply cubed the beef. I think the total cost on the package was $2.74.

The last ingredients include a dark beer (I used Anchor porter-style), beef broth, and tomato paste.

You'll also need mashed potatoes. I used red potatoes and really upped the flavor by using butter, light cream, salt and pepper.

Beef Stew over Mashed Potatoes

Ingredients:
1 large sweet potato, peeled and chopped
1 medium onion, sliced
3 garlic cloves, chopped
3 carrots, peeled and chopped
1 pound chopped beef
3 T butter
1 bottle dark porter-style beer
1 can beef broth
1 small can tomato paste (about 1/2 cup)
2-3 Tbsp all-purpose flour
mashed potatoes (the link is for baked mashed potatoes, but the basic concept is discussed here)

1. In a large stockpot, saute carrots, sweet potato, onion, and garlic in butter [on medium-high heat] for five minutes.
2. Remove vegetables from pot and place into a bowl. To the same stockpot, add the cubed beef. Saute for five minutes, allowing the beef to form a crust and the bottom of the pan to build up brown bits.
3. Sprinkle beef with flour and stir to coat. Pour beef broth over mixture and stir to combine. Add reserved veggies, beer, and tomato paste. Stir to combine.
4. Cover stew and simmer for at least an hour on low heat. Before serving, taste for seasoning. Top prepared mashed potatoes with stew and serve.

This, my friends is to.die.for. The richness of the stew is perfectly balanced by the starchy and creamy mashed potatoes. Comfort food at it's very best. So sorry to my Australian friends for suggesting a winter-type meal. Promise me you'll try this is 9 months!

Favourite Thing Friday

2011-11-04T09:10:00.002-04:00

Today I'm linking with Shay over at Quilting in my Pyjamas. She so nicely encourages all of her fellow bloggers to share their favourite things. It's a great way to realize all of our blessings!

Which brings me to my favourite today. Our son, Joshua. We think he's pretty special.

Sure, he's a little forgetful - like when he told me last week at 6:46am that he needed a quiche for school that day (he leaves for the bus at 7:05am). And, he might tease his sisters a good bit. But he is charming. Truly.

I like to tell the story about his spanish class from last year to describe him in succinct fashion. Last year he selected the Spanish 1A class for his foreign language requirement. The students must achieve an 85% average to qualify for Spanish 1B in eighth grade. He received an 83%. But, his teacher told him, "I should just pass you because you're such a nice kid". And he did. I'd been calling him our little redundant Spaniard all summer only to find out he'd been "promoted". My point is this: he might not ever have the best grades, but I have no doubt that he'll be successful, just because he has many other gifts.

Rob was really impressed with him a few years ago when they attended an NRA banquet together. Josh was tasked with selling raffle tickets to attendees. The kid is a born salesman. The tickets were 10 chances for $10 or 20 chances for $20, with an additional chance for a special gun. He upsold to every single person except one.

Fast forward to this past summer. He signed up to play football. He's been playing soccer since he was five and he's honestly a pretty good player. He's been wanting to play football and we allowed him to try both sports plus maintaining his grades. I don't think he realized it, but football is hard. And, since his stats read 5'6" and 95 pounds, he's not really built for football. He suffered through it. We literally were counting down the days until the season was over. He rode the bench constantly.

And then. And then two nights ago, at the last practice, the kicker was injured. The coach asked a few kids to kick and Josh very bravely asked if he could try. The coach muttered something like, "sure I'll let you try a few then". So he kicked. Turns out the kid can kick. Like pretty well. The coach asked him, "why didn't you tell me before the last practice that you could kick"?

So, last night, after riding the bench for months, for the last game, he started.

that's him with the red shoes, #87

And, every chance he got, he scored a field goal (four in all). Each kick straighter than the next. The coach again asked him where he'd been all season! The coolest thing was that his friends and their parents were so proud of him. He said that on the bus back to the school, one of the kids yelled out, "let's give a hand for our kicker, Josh"! As parents, it was so exciting to see him feel so validated.

We love our son. He's not perfect. But, he's a great kid. And, we're proud of him.

I can't help but think of a family in Virginia that tragically lost their beloved son just a short time ago. I can't imagine the heartache - because as much as our hearts swell with love for our son, theirs are breaking every day.

One last little note: yesterday I had the chance to help serve the boys on the football team with a hot meal. It was about the coolest thing to watch them all hold hands and pray before their meal, thanking the Lord for the food, the moms, and safety on the field - in a public school. Pretty awesome.

Weird Things That I Love....

2011-11-02T18:11:00.001-04:00

1. fruit roll-ups. I could eat a whole box.

2. "Wild Russia" on planet green.

3. Large text print on library books.

4. Sleeping.

5. Pinterest.

6. twisting my hair.

7. Grocery shopping.

8. Nerds. (the candy)

9. Christmas shopping.

10. "Good luck Charlie" on the Disney channel.

How about you? What weird things do you love?

18 Years and Counting.

2011-10-28T10:04:00.000-04:00

Like the annoying teenager "in love" that I was in 1993, I kept a scrapbook. Therefore, I remember the exact day of my first date with my husband. It was exactly 18 years ago today. I was 16, he was 17. We watched Aladdin in my best friend, Stacey's, basement. The rest, as they say, is history.

I wrote a post about him a year ago - check it out. You can see how different we looked in high school!

Granola

2011-10-25T09:28:00.000-04:00

I'm still in love with my fage yogurt. I typically eat it every morning for breakfast. Last week I whipped up some granola to give my breakfast some crunch. It was super, super easy and tastes great!

Granola is extremely versatile - I used pecans, pumpkin seeds, raisins, almonds, cinnamon, unsweetened coconut, butter, and honey. I put all of the ingredients except the softened butter and honey into my food processor. After a few pulses, I added the butter and honey. Baking at 275 degrees for about 25 minutes finishes the granola and toasts the nuts. I store mine in a plastic container and it should last quite a long time.

You could certainly add oats and any kinds of dried fruits or nuts.

For the Iowa Crew....

2011-10-24T09:53:00.000-04:00

Rob has lots of extended family out-of-state, mostly in Iowa. We only get to see them once a year or less - so I thought maybe they'd enjoy some family pictures. Maybe Grandma Teague would enjoy seeing these, Sally - if she's feeling up to it!

Yesterday Rob's family came to visit! Josh had a soccer game and then we all stayed at the park, played, and had pizza together. Even though we only live about 30 minutes away, we only get to see each other every couple of months or so. I thought I'd share some pictures - the cousins sure are growing up!

Kate and Natalie

our soccer star :)

Angie and Wesley

pretty girl

Malachi

Rob and Malachi

"Robbie" and his Dad

she is crazy photogenic

Angie and Travis

Josh and Wesley

Emma

watching the soccer game

Malachi and his big brother, Jacob

Jacob, Jeremy, Nicole, and Malachi

us :)

What do you think?

2011-10-19T08:38:00.000-04:00

I just read an article today about the Center for Science and the Public Interest - who recently published the "terrible ten" and "terrific ten" list describing food in America. Included in the terrible ten: McDonalds value meals, coca-cola, and Kellogg's Froot Loops. The terrific ten includes: water, Michelle Obama, and farmers markets.

I've watched Food, Inc., I like a healthy diet, and we rarely eat out - but I think this is annoying. We live in a market-driven society.

Companies.make.what.we.will.buy. Period.

Where is the personal responsibility? It's like saying that the tobacco companies are to blame for people smoking. Um, you bought the cigarettes. No one is forcing people to eat unhealthily. I understand that marketing is a powerful tool - but so is educating your own children. If you don't realize that froot loops don't contain fruit - look at the spelling, people.

I do have a point here.

School lunches - what do you think about them? Our school, I believe, is doing their best to offer healthier choices. I just don't really want my kids eating them. I allow the girls to buy one day a week and Josh has a budget for the middle school.

It would be really easy for me to just write a check and let the kids buy every day. Granted, it would be quite a large check every month, but it would make our daily schedule a lot less hectic. But, I feel better knowing what my kids are eating. And, that's the point, isn't it? If you simply take a little time to prepare foods for your family, you are not a statistic. That is way more effective [in telling McDonald's how you feel] than publishing some list.

I totally bribe my kids. We literally have a "bribe refrigerator". I have special treats, snacks, and foods in our downstairs refrigerator specifically for lunches. And it's not all healthy. I also make things easy for myself. Every morning I go downstairs to grab what I'll need for the lunches that day.

Here is a typical lunch for the girls: peanut butter and peach butter sandwich, chips, no-sugar applesauce, clementines, string cheese, water, and a small candy bar.

What do you think? How do you feel about school lunches? What is the answer to America's obesity epidemic?

Deep Dish Pizza Pie

2011-10-18T08:58:00.001-04:00

I think I may have cracked the code to organization. For me, it has been a two-fold process: the fact that my kids are older and my day planner. I can remember my mom asking me if I thought I had ADD [when the kids were much younger]. I think my exact answer was, "no, I have three children". Young children always need something. When you increase the odds and try to raise three, you can count on the fact that your life will be in constant motion.

I can still remember sending Kate to school and thinking it was pajama day - it wasn't. I vividly remember our preschool teachers shaking their heads at my lack of "togetherness" - forgetting snacks, lunches, picture day, etc. It was bad.

Our current stage in life continues to be hectic, but in a different way. We are still "enjoying" the fact (read: sarcasm) that we have three different school schedules to manage, but I have the luxury of staying home full-time. I can complete my work while the house is empty and then prepare for the barrage of chaos when we begin our evening.

My day planner contains all of our sports practices, Rob's schedule, game times and locations, my cooking jobs, school reminders, and our meals. The kids even look at it - but mostly to see what we're having for dinner! I never thought I'd plan my meals, but it is nice to be able to plan out my grocery trips and not be running to the store every other day.

And now to the point of this whole story - the kids were excited to discover we were having deep-dish pizzas last night. This is a repeat recipe - but one that bears repeating. They are awesome. Here is my original post, complete with recipe.

I did tweak things a little from the original - I made the pizzas in two 9-inch cake pans instead of the mini dishes. And, I made a pepperoni version and then one with sauteed mushrooms, onions, and peppers.

front pizza layers: crust, pepperoni, provolone, mozzarella, Williams-Sonoma pizza seasonings

front pizza layers: sauteed veggies, provolone, mozzarella, sliced ham, seasonings, oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes

next step is to add sauce

fold the extra dough over and add parmesan

bake at 375 degrees F for 40 minutes

utter deliciousness

I'm not saying that I'm totally organized. But, I'm getting there. It's just nice not to forget everything.

A Heckuva Year

2011-10-17T09:44:00.001-04:00

Rob and I have been laughing a lot lately. We literally said to one another this morning that we can't wait for next year because we have nothing left that can break.

In the past year we have had to replace:

our water heater
furnace
central air conditioning
washer
dryer
dishwasher
refrigerator
all the wiring in our house

Last week the clutch on Rob's car broke and we noticed the starter was lagging on our truck. Yesterday while we were getting ready for church we tried to start our truck and realized that the battery had died. We do not have one working car at this point today.

I say this with a good spirit because I realize how much we've been blessed. We have our health - except when Rob scraped all of the skin off of his leg on a dirtbike incident, or when he had a tree branch stuck in his head (and we have the $1000 bill from the emergency room visit to prove it). Did I mention we pay out of pocket for all of our medical and dental expenses?

But seriously, we are all healthy, and we have everything we need. It has been a hectic year, but we have each other. Rob has a great job (or three), our kids are doing well in school, and we're happy - we really are.

I am looking forward to next year, though - here's hoping it's a cheaper one!

Favourite Thing Friday

2011-10-14T08:03:00.000-04:00

I'm linking up with Shay over at Quilting in my Pyjamas today for Favourite Thing Friday. Today's favourite is not mine - it's my husband's favorite meal, meatloaf.

When I make a meatloaf meal, I made the traditional version for him, and a different one for the kids and I. Ours is filled with sauteed veggies, marinara sauce, and two different kinds of cheese.

before baking

after baking

Traditional-style meatloaf

Meatloaf
1 lb ground beef
1 large carrot, peeled and coarsely chopped
1 small onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, chopped finely
4 slices bacon
1 T dijon mustard
1/3 cup breadcrumbs
1 egg
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup ketchup
2t parsley, fresh or dried

1. Layer bacon slices on plate, top with carrots, onion, and garlic and microwave (covered) until bacon is crisp and veggies are cooked and browned slightly. Crumble bacon.
2. Mix vegetables and crisped bacon with the remaining ingredients. Top with more ketchup.
3. Place into a loaf pan or create a loaf in baking pan.
4. Bake, covered, at 375 for 40 minutes. Drain. Bake, uncovered, for an additional 15-20 minutes. Let meat loaf rest 5 minutes before serving.

Our meatloaf tastes a little like a noodle-less lasagna.

before baking

after baking

Italian-style meatloaf

Italian-Style Meatloaf
1 pound ground beef
1 small zucchini
10 small button mushrooms
1/2 red pepper
1 small onion, chopped coarsely
2 garlic cloves, chopped finely
1 bag of spinach, frozen, completely thawed and drained
2 T olive oil
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
1/3 cup bread crumbs
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella
3/4 jar of marinara sauce (I use Barilla)

1. In a large saute pan, brown veggies in olive oil (zucchini, mushrooms, onion, garlic, pepper). The vegetables should be cut into similarly sized pieces to ensure even cooking time. Remove from heat and set aside when browned.
2. Mix meats, spinach, parmesan, bread crumbs, and eggs until well blended. Add veggies.
3. Put half of meat and veggie mixture on bottom of large loaf pan. Sprinkle half of the mozzarella and half of the marinara sauce and repeat the procedure.
4. Cover the loaf with aluminum foil and bake at 375 for 40 minutes. Uncover and continue baking until cooked through and browned on top (at least 25 more minutes).

Happy Favourite Thing Friday!

Can't Help Myself

2011-10-13T07:32:00.000-04:00

We spent some time as a family at our cabin this past weekend. We traveled about 30 minutes to the Sherman Valley Heritage Days.

I'll share more pictures later, but I just had to show you this one. I had asked Rob to take a few pictures of the quilt display for my quilting friends. After he showed me the pictures, I realized that most of them had Amish families in them. I'm pretty sure that they really don't like having their pictures taken.

I really wanted to show you the cutest one - it's such a great picture. If these children never actually see this picture, does that make it ok?

I'm Discontent (apparently)

2011-10-12T10:59:00.000-04:00

I have been absent in my blog posting.

Rob keeps asking me why I haven't posted anything recently. I think part of the reason is that I tend to live a groundhog day. Every Day. I'm certainly not complaining. I fully consider it a luxury and privilege that I can stay home full-time.

My days always include: laundry, running the dishwasher at least three times, helping with homework, carpooling to sports, packing lunches, making dinners, the usual. I'm not sure I have much to share that's worth sharing.

Plus, I've been introduced to Pinterest. I'm fully blaming my sister-in-law. She introduced me to this complete time-absorbing activity. And, it's made me discontent. All of a sudden I've decided that Rob needs a hobby room, I need a first-floor laundry, our closets need organized, and I need to decorate seasonally.

So, for the past few weeks, I've been dreaming. Dreaming of a new kitchen. Dreaming of organized closets.

For now, I'll continue to plan. To steal pinecones from my neighbor's yard. To spend the minimum amount of money to organize and beautify our house. And, I'm continuing to cook. Tonight is this luscious pork roast [and some yukon golds that are begging to become mashed potatoes].

the very simple marinade of: honey, beer, onions, and mustard

my front window "tablescape"

the pilfered pinecones, shhhhh.....

the closet where I'd like my washer and dryer to live

the coat closet that desperately needs organization

So, there you have it. I'll keep you posted if/when I actually accomplish any beautifying or organizing.

I'll also take pictures of the finished pork and mashed potatoes - it's gonna be good.

A Perfect Sandwich

2011-09-28T08:53:00.000-04:00

If I can be honest, can I just say that the whole time I'm trying to run around my neighborhood - all I can think about is what I'll eat when I get home. I probably shouldn't run around lunchtime. I think my stomach was growling the entire time I was huffing and puffing (a whopping 30 minutes).

Although, if the rest of my creations are indicative of yesterday - I can't lose.

This is what I concocted in my mind.

And the reality was even better than my imagination.

Here is what I did

I crisped bacon and chopped onions in an iron skillet. I slathered coarse-grain dijon mustard on half of the sandwich.

On the other half of the sandwich I layered Boars Head turkey, swiss cheese, and thinly sliced honeycrisp apples. After I wiped the bacon grease from the skillet, I browned the sandwich on both sides.

The combination, my friends, was ridiculous. The sweet crunch of the apples, the salty bite of the bacon, and the homey taste of good turkey and melted cheese was divine. If I had to describe it in one phrase: "fall flavors perfected between two pieces of bread".

You need to eat this sandwich.

Things I Found in my Attic

2011-09-27T11:47:00.000-04:00

1. A ridiculous amount of boxes. Empty. Shoe boxes. A sleeping bag box. A nativity scene box. At least 30 different boxes.

2. nail clippers

3. quilting supplies - did I tell you, Shay, that I went through a brief quilting phase?

4. 12 Hess trucks. In the box.

5. a Jack LaLanne juicer

6. Thank goodness, I found nothing living up there. Also, thankfully, there was a complete absence of animal carcasses. I would have died. And made Rob finish the job.

7. about thirteen broken Christmas ornaments. Littering the steps.

8. 95 plastic cups. (I counted by estimation)

9. lots and lots of plastic plates, utensils, and bowls

10. my bread knife

11. A thermos. Two lunch coolers. A radio lunch box.

12. An old pair of Josh's jeans. There were 15 sizes too small. This is no exaggeration - they were a 3T.

13. My personal favorite - a mummified goose-neck pumpkin. At first I thought it was a huge stick of bologna, until further inspection confirmed that it was a pumpkin. Or used to be.

14. My mom thought I'd feel better that this job was finished. I just feel sweaty.

Oktoberfest Menu

2011-09-27T09:50:00.000-04:00

We're hosting an Oktoberfest party this weekend. You know, to celebrate Oktober. And other stuff.

I'd like to have German-style foods, but I'm kind of coming up with limited ideas. I did take a peek at some other menus online, but the ingredients all consist of: potatoes, pork, sausage, and sauerkraut. And maybe a pretzel or two thrown in. I like tan food as much as the next guy, but I need some color.

I'll tell you what I think I'd like to make, but I'd love some additional ideas. Maybe you've been to an Oktoberfest celebration. If so, would you tell me what you enjoyed?

cheesy pierogies
brats with sauerkraut
cole slaw with apples and blue cheese
roasted root vegetables
porchetta sandwiches
apple pie
German chocolate cupcakes -or- sachertorte

I'm expecting an electrician to update our electrical service tomorrow - and he has to be in our attic. I have this bad habit of throwing things onto the attic steps and then slamming the door shut. I don't even really know what I'll find today. Any and all suggestions for our party would be appreciated!

Our Friday Night Adventure.

2011-09-21T15:11:00.000-04:00

My mom. She likes clean things.

When my sister and I floated the idea of using "air bnb" she was concerned. The basic concept behind air bnb is that homeowners in cities and around the world sublet their homes for a night, a weekend, a week, or a month.

My sister lives in downtown Philadelphia. Because her husband was having a houseguest, we decided to find somewhere else to stay. It was a little difficult to find a hotel, so we decided to try air bnb. There was one available apartment. It was a cute studio. We emailed the owner and she and my sister exchanged keys on Friday afternoon.

Fast forward to Friday night at 10:30pm. My brother-in-law took us to the neighborhood where we'd be staying. My sister directed us and when we'd found #732 we removed our suitcases from the car and went to the front door. Of 732. The house was gorgeous. A completely renovated three story townhouse. We were secretly patting ourselves on the back.

Then the key didn't work. It would go into the lock and then not turn. So we called the owner. She said, "sometimes you have to pull it out, turn it to the left and then try again". Okay.

Five minutes later - no luck.

The worst part was that in the middle of our ordeal, a very inebriated neighbor woman came over to see exactly what we were doing. Three decently dressed women, suitcases in tow, trying to jam our way into a house.

my extremely patient brother-in-law

my mom, the criminal in training

So we called the owner back. Again. She told us she'd call her neighbor to see if she could buzz us in. Perfect. My sister buzzes the call button. Lights immediately come on in the third floor. A very sleepy fifty-something woman comes on the line. My sister explains that we were friends of her first-floor neighbor and can she buzz us in. The woman very firmly states that no one lives on the first floor. oh, crap.

My sister looks at her receipt. It was #744. So, we take the walk of shame (waving goodbye to the inebriated neighborhood watchdog) a half of a block further. All I'll say is that we immediately wanted to return to #732.

I took a few pictures, but nothing that really captured how we were feeling.

just take a look at my mom's face - priceless

We lasted about five minutes. One of us said, "why are we staying here"? We called a cab and took our ride of shame. We showed up, back in my sister's apartment. The houseguest wasn't arriving till the next day. Thank the Lord.

I think we'll stick with hotels from now on. And try to get the room number right.

Girls Weekend in NYC (part one)

2011-09-20T15:15:00.000-04:00

Get ready for a lot of pictures! We had such a fun time together, my mom, sister and I. We thoroughly enjoyed the Greenwich Village walking food tour. If you ever have the chance to tour the city and take the food tour - do it! The price is $47/per person and includes eight tastings and a three-hour tour of the neighborhood.

Later in the week I'll show you the other places we visited. If you're lucky, I might even tell you about how we tried to break into the wrong apartment on Friday night.

for now.....

Settle in and enjoy the sights of New York City. Join us on the Greenwich Village Walking food tour.

pizza at Joey's pizza - my favorite food all day

orange blossom honey on Amy's bread at "o&co"

olive oil display at "o&co"

olive oil on Amy's baugette at "o&co"

Palma - their private kitchen and dining space

cauliflower, currants, and pine nuts

risotto ball

kitchen at Centro vinoteca

stuffed mushroom, fresh artichoke, bacon-wrapped date

peach bellini

oatmeal chocolate chip cookie at Milk and Cookies

olive, cheeses, salami

Murrays cheese shop

ricotta cheesecake at Scali caffe

Stay tuned for korean bbq, a french bistro, a walking path, and a little "b & e". (that's breaking and entering for those of you who may not be familiar with such terms!).

What We're Doing this Weekend......

2011-09-15T15:33:00.000-04:00

My mom, sister, and I are traveling to New York City! We're leaving for the city on Saturday morning and we'll be coming home on Sunday morning.

My sister bought tickets for us to enjoy the Greenwich Village Food Tasting [Walking] Tour.

We'll be walking to various establishments (a cheese store, pizza shop, Mediterranean restaurant, and bakery) and sampling some of their fares. Some of these local companies have been in business for more than 100 years.

My plan is to take lots of pictures and tell you all about it!

My newshound/nervous nellie husband has been reading articles about crime in New York City to me for about a month now. Last week he recounted an article he'd read about a woman being bitten on the subway by a "raccoon-sized rat". Um, okay. It is nice to know he's concerned. I guess. :)

We'll be staying here.

Our plans include lots of walking, even more eating, and enjoying a girls weekend getaway! See you Monday.

Sweet Corn

2011-09-14T09:28:00.000-04:00

My mom and I just completed our annual corn project. Each year we buy dozens of sweet corn. We husk it, boil it for two minutes and then plunge the ears into ice water. Once the corn has cooled, we cut it off the cob, measure it into freezer bags and store it in our freezers. We enjoy sweet corn all year round. This year we froze 12 dozen ears of corn. I'm hoping it gets us through the winter!

Peach Butter

2011-09-13T09:06:00.000-04:00

I saw this recipe for peach butter on the smitten kitchen website last week. I also vowed to make slow-cooked black beans, and Ina's tomato and goat cheese tarts. The black beans I will not mention because they were disappointing at best. The tarts - well, we just talked about that, remember?

This is my life - I read a recipe and then obsess over it. I plan it in my head, dream about how it will taste, and count down the minutes until I can create. Everyone has their thing - this is mine.

Anyway - back to the peach butter. I've never even tasted peach butter. But when I saw an english muffin slathered with it, I could think of nothing else.

Even though the recipe promised a quick cooking time, I found that I needed to cook mine way longer. I doubled the recipe and probably tripled the cooking time. I'll give you the smitten kitchen recipe and you can see what you think. I utilized her measurements and tools to determine when the peach butter has reached the consistency it should have.

We really love it. We've enjoyed it on english muffins, peanut butter sandwiches (makes the perfect packed school lunch), and on plain yogurt.

This is the time of year when you can buy seconds of peaches for a great price. I think I pay $3.95 for a 1/2 peck. This is neither a time-consuming task nor complicated. Make some today and surprise your family with an english muffin slathered with peach butter for breakfast tomorrow!

Peach Butter (courtesy of smitten kitchen)

Yield: 4 cups
4 pounds (1.8 kilograms) peaches
1 cup (237 ml) water
2 cups (400 grams) granulated sugar
Juice of one lemon
Without a food mill: Cut a small “x” in the bottom of each peach. Dip each into a pot of boiling water for 30 seconds, and then into a bowl of cold water for a minute. The peels should slide right off. [If you have a food mill, skip the peeling step and I'll tell you where to use it in a moment.]
Halve your peaches and remove the pits, then cut each half into quarters (i.e. 8 chunks from each peach). Place peach chunks and water in a large pot and bring to a boil. Simmer until peaches are tender, about 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally to ensure they cook evenly. If you have a food mill, run them through it to puree them and remove the skins. If you don’t have a food mill — i.e. you already peeled your peaches — you can puree in a food processor, blender or with an immersion blender. I like my peach butter very smooth, but feel free to leave any amount of texture you prefer.
Return the peaches to the large pot, add the sugar and lemon juice and bring the mixture to a good strong simmer/gentle boil, cooking them at this level for 30 to 40 minutes, stirring occasionally in the beginning and more often near the end, as it thickens up and the fruit masses risk scorching on the bottom of the pot.
There are several methods to test for doneness: You can drizzle a ribbon of sauce across the surface; when that ribbon holds its shape before dissolve into the pot, it is done. Some people use cold or frozen plates; dollop a spoonful in the middle of one and if no water forms a ring around it in a couple minutes, it is done. Others use a spoon; if the butter remains rounded on a spoon for two minutes, it is done. You can also check the pot itself; the butter is usually done when a wooden spoon leaves a clear train when scraped across the bottom.
Let peach butter cool, keep it in an airtight container in the fridge. It should be good for at least two weeks.

Can I be president.....

2011-09-09T09:25:00.000-04:00

of the Ina Garten fan club?

Every recipe I've ever made from her tv show or from her cookbooks have been spot on. They have all been delicious. I love the simplicity - great flavors, few ingredients, and quality product.

Last night we had her tomato tarts. I didn't feel like going to the grocery store for chevre, so I used fresh mozzarella.

Tomato and Goat Cheese Tarts (recipe courtesy of Ina Garten)
1 package puff pastry, defrosted
4 cups thinly sliced sweet onions (2 large onions)
3 large garlic cloves, cut into thin slices
olive oil
kosher salt and ground black pepper
3 T dry white wine
2 tsp minced fresh thyme leaves
4 T grated parmesan
4 ounces chevre
1 large tomato, cut into 4 lateral slices
3 T julienned basil leaves
2 ounces shaved parmesan (I used the shredded from before)

1. Using a small bowl for an outline - cut circles in puff pastry with a sharp knife. Place circles on a parchment lined cookie sheet. Score a 1/4 inch wide border around each pastry circle. Prick the pastry inside the score lines with the tines of a fork. Sprinkle a tablespoon of grated parmesan on each round, staying inside the border. Put the cookie sheet in the refrigerator until ready to use.
2. Heat three tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic. Saute for 15-20 minutes, until the onions are limp and there is almost no moisture. Add salt, pepper, thyme and white wine. Cook for another ten minutes until the onions are lightly browned.
3. Place one-quarter of the onion mixture on each circle, staying within the scored edge. Crumble one ounce of the goat cheese on top of the onions. Place a slice of tomato in the center of each tart. Brush the tomato lightly with olive oil, and sprinkle with basil, salt and pepper. Scatter more parmesan on top.
4. Bake at 425 degrees for 20-25 minutes until the pastry is golden brown.

This may sound like a long recipe. It's not. Once you've worked with the puff pastry, you'll be addicted. It is totally fool-proof. If you have all of your ingredients assembled (including the browned onions), you can have these tarts in the oven in less than 10 minutes. These would make a perfect first course for a dinner party. You could make them mini-sized and serve them at a cocktail party(using cherry tomatoes).

We loved them. The only problem we encountered was the need for more. I'll probably double or triple the recipe next time. I will probably make them again in the next week, this time using the chevre. I feel the need to eat as many local tomatoes as I possibly can.

We enjoyed ours for dinner with roasted kabocha squash and lentil soup.

Dear School Secretary,

2011-09-07T10:20:00.000-04:00

You are kind of not nice.

I wish you knew my son, you'd think he was a great kid. Yes, I know he's forgetful. I am, too.

You give me a hard time every time I drop something off for him. I realize you're busy with your job.

I understand that by eighth grade, he should not forget something he needs for school. I don't need you to tell me.

Just so you know, I will continue to serve and love my son. I wish you felt the same about the students in your school.

If he forgets something again, I will be bringing that item to him. He is a great kid. Honest, hardworking, kind, and respectful. If he forgets his lunch money, I will not be teaching him a lesson by letting him go hungry. If he finishes a project early, but gets the due date wrong, I will bring him that project.

Till we meet again,

an enabling parent.

Favourite Thing Friday

2011-09-02T10:11:00.000-04:00

I'm linking up with Mrs. P today at Quilting in my Pyjamas.

Today my favourite thing is Apple. Not the fruit.

About four months ago, our nine year old decided she was going to work to earn an Apple iPod touch. She saved all of her money from her birthday, report cards, and earned enough money to buy one two weeks ago.

Two nights ago her little sister decided to carry the ipod into her so it could be charged overnight. Five hysterical minutes later we deduced that Emma dropped the iPod upside down and the screen shattered. Both of our little girls were heartbroken. The older one for the loss of something she had worked so hard for. The younger one because she hurt her sister. I didn't know who to console first.

Kate very magnanimously told Emma (through many, many tears) that she didn't blame her and that she knew she didn't try it.

I immediately tried to call Apple - their business hours were over. I tried to plug in the serial number and see what the warranty covered. No dice. Then, I did a google search, "how to fix your ipod touch screen". The results yielded a thread on the apple discussion forum. Some of the commenters suggested going to the Apple store where they will fix the screen for $99.

We had a plan. And Apple totally exceeded our expectations. Expecting to pay the $99, Rob took the shattered iPod into the store....... and they gave him a brand new iPod touch.

Hats off to you, Apple - you made two little girls very happy. You've also made some new customers for life!

Gyro Bowls

2011-09-01T20:04:00.000-04:00

without the bowl.

You might remember these taco bowls.

Tonight we had gyro bowls - but, all of our bowls were dirty, so......

I layered lettuce, cooked rice, ground lamb (sauteed with cumin, pepper, garlic powder, and kosher salt), crumbled feta, diced tomatoes, and tzatziki (fage yogurt with chopped oregano, seeded cucumber, and kosher salt). On the side we had roasted kabocha squash.

The verdict - totally delicious! I loved it. The kids and Rob liked it. I'll be making this again.

On a much cuter note - if you squint real hard you can picture 9 years from now - Emma will be driving Jacob somewhere. Probably a sports practice! How cute are they?

He Chose

2011-08-31T06:52:00.000-04:00

the $45 shorts.....until we realized that he had never tried them on and that.they.were.huge.

So, he's sticking with the TJ Maxx purchases.

Does God Have a Plan.....

2011-08-31T06:45:00.002-04:00

for those who don't acknowledge Him?

This is the question that has been on my heart overnight. Last night I followed a link to a blog in which the author has recently lost her husband. He died suddenly of a heart attack, leaving behind his wife and two young daughters.

In her latest post, she details some of the condolences that she's received. One of the hardest ones for her to hear is that "God has a plan". As an atheist who left God behind when she was fourteen, she is understandably bitter about the whole God thing. It is safe to say that she is fighting mad.

I was curious to read the comments of her followers. Her post was not easy to read. I found it offensive, yet I find myself sympathetic. As I read through the comments, some said, "beautiful". Some read, "you are the best mother - so strong, you'll be happy again". Then there were the proselytizing ones. There were even a few that laid out the plan of salvation to her.

I truly believe that God loves Jennie and her children. I think he loves her late husband. He created them, after all. I have always been of the thought that we are here for Him, though - not the other way around. Do you think that God has a "plan" for those who don't believe in Him? I absolutely don't have the answers, this is more of a question than a conclusion.

The wisest commenter simply said that her dad was an oncologist - a cultural Jew, but a practicing agnostic. Her remark was that believers find comfort in the love and protection of their God and that they simply wish that for her. And therein lies the reason that I believe. I can vividly remember reaching this conclusion in high school philosophy class (at a public school). That I will believe and I will live my life in the certainty that there is a God who created me and who loves me. And, if at the end of this life, I have been mistaken - I will have lost nothing. I'll have lived a life of hope and purpose. But, if at the end of this life I am joined with Him, then I will have gained everything.

I guess I'm wondering about the platitudes we give to grieving people. Are they simply missing the mark on comforting - what if they're not even true? I think if we don't know how to respond to hurting people we not only do them a disservice, but also to the God we serve.

What do you think?

The Shorts Conundrum.

2011-08-30T14:48:00.000-04:00

I've always been a practical girl. I do remember wanting to wear brand-name clothing, though. Do you? In my day it was JCrew, Gap, Esprit, and Swatch. My mom always bought us back to school clothing and she enjoyed treating us to brand names. My mom was generous with us. When she was younger her parents were very tight-fisted with money. She still remembers wanting Capezios and never getting them.

Fast forward 34 years later and now I have a teenager. Josh went shopping with my mom yesterday, armed with a $50 credit to American Eagle. He came home with $45 shorts. I seriously almost had a heart attack. My first response was, "First thing tomorrow morning those shorts will be returned".

I buy most of my clothing at Target and a discount clothing store (Gabriel Brothers, to be specific). I recently purchased a pair of Lucky Jeans at Gabe's for $12.99. I do still try to buy brand names, but I can't justify paying full retail price. I do like quality things - price isn't always the determining factor.

But I can promise you that I've never purchased nor worn a pair of $45 shorts. Ever.

Then this morning my mom called to advocate for Josh. She and her neighbor talked it over (this just cracks me up, I have to admit) and think I'm being too hard on him. They said I need to remember what it's like being a 13 yr-old, heading in to 8th grade. I think my mom was immediately thinking back to the Capezios.

Here's the thing. I want Josh to respect how hard his dad works for our money. But, I don't want to be stingy. There is such a hard balance between being responsible and being cheap. I don't want to be cheap. It's only money. But, it's money that is hard-earned.

Part of me realizes that it was money that Josh could choose how to spend. So, I went to TJMaxx and found two pairs of shorts and three shirts for close to the $45 total. I'm going to give him the choice. I don't want him to get sucked into the trap of only wearing what everyone else is wearing, but I'll understand if he just simply likes those $45 shorts.

I'll let you know what he decides.

First Day of School, part two

2011-08-30T07:35:00.000-04:00

Can you tell it was 7:04am when this picture was taken? At least it's sunny - in the doldrums of winter, Josh has to trudge to the bus stop in the pitch dark.

Josh is entering 8th grade. This fall he is going to play soccer and football and hopefully pass his classes!

Breakfast for Lumberjacks

2011-08-29T15:38:00.000-04:00

Sunday morning we awoke to the last few raindrops of Hurricane Irene.

And this.

I don't know if you can tell here, but our silver maple had fallen and landed on our power line. And, we never lost power. I called the electric company and they sent a tree service - who cut the tree off of the power line (while it was live) and then basically said, "here you go".

So, Rob and the kids got to work.

I decided our little lumberjacks needed a hearty lunch. I used some challah bread I'd purchased at Trader Joe's a few weeks ago (and had frozen for a future use). I mixed eggs, milk, cinnamon, and vanilla and poured it over the slices of challah for about five minutes.

I fried the slices of bread with butter in my electric skillet.

French toast, crispy bacon, nectarines and plums - a perfect lumberjack breakfast.

I should note that after this lunch, the girls totally played the rest of the day. Rob's friend came over with two chain saws and the guys worked for the rest of the afternoon.

Our yard is looking better - but empty. We're hoping to do some planting next spring.

First Day of School, part one

2011-08-29T13:36:00.000-04:00

Today is the girls first day of school. Kate is in 4th grade this year, and Emma is in 2nd.

They were beyond excited. Last night they planned out their outfits for the week, packed their lunch for today, and stocked a basket with all of the toiletries they'd need. I heard them thundering up and down the hallway at 6am this morning.

They really wanted "curly" hair - so last night after their showers I braided their hair. Emma's looked a little like she stuck her finger in a socket.

Without further ado.....the official back to school pictures. Josh's first day is tomorrow - and it'll be an early picture. His bus arrives at 7:13 am.

Favourite Thing Friday

2011-08-26T08:38:00.000-04:00

I am linking in with Shay over at Quilting in my Pyjamas today for Favourite Thing Friday. I will say at the outset that there are very few meals that please everyone in our family. I think I may have found one more - hence the title of "Favourite Thing".

This meal is not fancy. I don't even have very good pictures of it. But, I think it is a very versatile and tasty option for when you might have some leftover grilled meat or vegetables. I'm sure somewhere in my subconscious I have seen this concept before. I'm never sure if my creations are original or if I've lodged the idea somewhere in my brain. Such is the case with these "mexican rice bowls".

The idea, my friends, is so simple. I'll show you what we added to our bowls and then I'll try to give you some other ideas for variations.

In this concoction: brown rice, leftover beef brisket, black beans, shredded cheddar, lettuce, tomato, salsa, and sour cream.

Next week I'm planning to make "gyro bowls". Spiced ground lamb, rice, feta, tzaziki sauce, lettuce and tomato.

I think you could easily make this a meatless meal - just substitute roasted or grilled vegetables for the meat.

One more piece of advice - this tastes way better if you can handle a little bit of spice. I especially like to mix chipotles in adobo sauce with the sour cream. The smoky and spicy flavor really plays well with the starch of the rice and the crunch of the lettuce.

Happy FTF!

Bison Burgers

2011-08-25T09:50:00.000-04:00

Much like previous years, with the promise of school starting next week, I find myself making resolutions. And, like every other year, my list reads the same: be more organized, exercise every day, keep the house cleaner, etc.

This year I bought myself a day planner. I realize that this is pretty basic - I'm probably the last person on earth to buy a day planner. I actually love it, though.

I've even started planning my meals. I know I said I never would, but it does help with making a store list (something else I've recently started doing). I know I'm not turning into my mom, though, because I haven't started weighing myself every day. I'll just keep wearing skirts until I can convince myself to exercise daily.

So, anyway - back to my day planner and deciding which meals to plan. I asked the kids to select which meals they'd like me to make. Kate requested chicken with creamed spinach and noodles. Josh requested burgers, and Emma requested grilled cheese sandwiches. I'm really pinning my hopes on the grilled cheese sandwiches, because the other dinners so far have been hideous.

The chicken with creamed spinach is one of our favorite meals, but I almost think I can't eat chicken again. I bought a pack of Perdue "all natural" boneless skinless breasts at the grocery store. I can't pinpoint what tasted so weird about them, but they almost tasted raw even though they were cooked through. Has anyone else had this experience? I still almost shiver thinking about it. Blech.

Now onto Joshua's burger dinner. Two weeks ago Rob and I bought some bison meat at Gunpowder Bison & Trading Co. I only purchased a pound of the ground bison and when we had a night to ourselves, I made the meat into burgers and grilled them. They were the best burgers we've ever had - beef or otherwise. Because the retail store is about 30 minutes away, I bought some ground bison at the grocery store (along with the chicken of ill repute).

I was excited to have a source less than a mile away!

Long story short - we will be making the drive to Gunpowder Bison and Trading Co. The ground bison from last night wasn't bad, it just wasn't good. And, it was nothing like the product we had a few weeks ago. If you have access to bison, I would recommend it. But, I would suggest finding a local and small farm. The product we tried last night is a huge company - the flavor really lacked a pure and sweet taste. I could tell just by looking at the package that we were in for an inferior product. The color wasn't nearly as bright red. It looked fattier.

If you have the chance - check out the website for Gunpowder. They dry age their bison - and the meat comes in any cut you'd like: filet, brisket, tri-tip, short ribs, ground, etc. They also raise Berkshire pork. They will ship if you live in the US.

Here was our disappointing dinner. Number two in as many nights. Bring on the grilled cheese sandwiches.

Landscape Photos

2011-08-23T12:38:00.001-04:00

This past Christmas we enlarged some cabin landscape photos as a present for my father-in-law. The idea is to create a photo collage depicting the four seasons at the family cabin and surrounding areas. Since the mountain surroundings are still saturated with green, we decided to try to find some winners [for this Christmas]. I actually like this idea so much, that I have an idea for a display in our home (I'll keep you posted).

I'll share our pictures - some of them are mine and some are Rob's. If you don't mind, help me pick which numbers you like best. I typically upload any photos that I want copied to the Walgreens website. The pictures are usually ready in less than an hour (and cost less than $3 each).

I have my favorites - and in typical fashion, Rob took all of them. I'll tell you my favorites after you tell me yours!

#10

#11

#12

#13

#14

#15

#16

#17

#18

#19

#20

#21

Cabin Pictures...

2011-08-23T09:32:00.000-04:00

We just returned last night from a beautiful weekend in the mountains of western Pennsylvania. It was a perfect long weekend. Here are some pictures of our time.

our very fancy dinner of chili dogs - restaurants are not plentiful

mmmm, soft serve

you don't even want to know where we found this snakeskin

creepy.....

a hike through the woods

this one's for you, Shay!

hot dog griller

taco bowls

the perfect marshmallow

pure relaxation

riding up to see the sunset

Rob scrubbed these stove pans for an hour! they were grody

donuts

which one to pick?

melty, toasty smores

morning coffee on the porch

manicures

We also took lots of landscape pictures - I'll try to post them with numbers so you can help me choose which ones to enlarge and frame. If anyone is interested, I can give you the link to the web album (just email me). Prints are an easy and inexpensive way to decorate (about $3 for an 8x10 print at Walgreens). If you'd like some beautiful mountain landscapes, you can help yourself! Summer is so beautiful in the mountains of western Pennsylvania.

I hope you had a fun weekend! What did you do?

What's Growing Today

2011-08-20T09:19:00.000-04:00

We're still waiting for tomatoes. I've harvested two, I think. It looks like there are lots of green ones, though!

Our red raspberries are coming back into full swing again, and the biggest news of all is that we have twelve figs! I can't wait until they're ripe. I promise to take lots of pictures. Figs are most beautiful when you can see the inside.

Even though we're kind of in a lull with our produce, our garden is still in full swing - our flower garden. We've been getting plenty of rain and I think this is the most beautiful our flowers have ever been. I've started cutting some to brighten up the inside of our house.

I'm loving this tropical canna lilly. It does produce beautiful orange flowers, but I think they may be past their season.

Summer on a Plate

2011-08-17T08:19:00.000-04:00

I wish I could freeze summer. This time of year - the middle of August. Produce is in full swing. The grass is brilliantly green. The nights are a little cooler. The days are still long. I am not one of those people that would "miss the seasons". I would be very happy to have a perpetual temperature of 80ish.

I'd like to suggest that this dish is the theme of my summer 2011 cooking style. Not fancy. Just honest good food.

I guess I'll describe this as a caprese panzanella salad.

fresh mozzarella, basil, oregano, parsley, cherry tomatoes - croutons

The croutons are the first step. Tear some chunks from a loaf of french bread. Saute in an iron skillet with
butter, olive oil, garlic powder, kosher salt, and freshly ground pepper. Once the croutons are nicely browned, remove them to your mixing bowl.

Place whole cherry tomatoes into the same iron skillet and on medium-high heat, allow the tomatoes to sear. You won't want them to cook for too long - just enough to give them some color (maybe 3 minutes).

Chop some pepperoncini, the fresh herbs, and the mozzarella and place into mixing bowl with croutons. Drizzle mixture with balsamic vinegar and additional olive oil. Mix and serve.

Date Night....

2011-08-15T17:40:00.000-04:00

I am not a romantic junkie. I'll be honest - when I hear someone is having a "date night", I almost always roll my eyes (at least inwardly). I don't like flowers, I don't keep greeting cards. Still, I love alone time with Rob. We really ratcheted up the romance last night.

We cleaned up the garage. If you're a true romantic, you're probably rolling your eyes at me right now. But, for a practical person like myself - a clean garage lasts way longer (hopefully) than some flowers. And, to me - it's way more meaningful.

Thank goodness we have a huge two-car garage. It is shockingly deep. But, we do have a lot of stuff. When I say we, I mean Rob. Tools, kayaks, and just stuff.

We threw lots of stuff away. My motto is: if you throw it away you don't have to put it away.

We ate a late dinner out on our half-pavered back porch.

It was pretty great. Country music. A nice breeze. Blackened mahi with mango chutney. I recreated one of our favorite dishes from our Florida vacation.

What do you do on your date nights?

What We're Loving Lately....

2011-08-11T11:32:00.000-04:00

Yellow seedless watermelon

Fage yogurt with local honey and flax seeds

Local nectarines

A french press for our morning coffee

Local tomatoes

picnic lunches

ahhhhh, summer - love it.

what are you loving right now?

The Darker Side of Our Family....

2011-08-10T10:12:00.000-04:00

duh, duh, duh.....the foreshadowing music plays in the background.

Does this look like the face of an exploiter?

Well, maybe we'll call her an opportunist - or a loan shark. While we were on vacation, we ate at a local pizza place. After we arrived, we realized that the restaurant only accepts cash. We hardly ever have cash, so Rob left to go to a store that gives cash back [after a debit card purchase]. The cash back limit was $40, and we found we still needed a little more. Enter Emma and her huge handbag. Maybe it was the look of desperation on my face - or maybe she's just shrewd. After I asked her if we could borrow $10 she said, "If I give you $10, you have to give me $15 when you pay me back".

When we were telling this ~~disturbing~~ cute story to my parents, my dad remarked, "that's how I started my 'slush fund' in the Navy". Turns out my dad was a loan shark, too - but on a much larger scale.

When my dad was in the Navy (1967-1970), the men were paid with cash. But, it seems some of the men were as poor with planning as we were and occasionally needed a little more.

His going rate was:
a $5 loan with an $8 loan repayment
$10 for a $14 repayment
$20 for a $28 repayment

He had a bouncer, a little black book, and he'd stand at the end of the "payroll line" to collect his repaid loan with interest.

Who knew we had such "entrepreneurs" in our family!

Just so you know, Emma accepted payment in the form of a $15 stuffed manatee about ten minutes after we left the restaurant [in a little beach store].

Just Wondering......

2011-08-08T15:14:00.000-04:00

Do you routinely check the pockets of your family members before washing their clothing?

Rob's new wallet is nice and clean. His cards are bent. Let's sugarcoat the situation and say he's a little irritated.

Little Miss Intensity

2011-08-08T15:09:00.000-04:00

Not to be confused with Miss Responsibility. Kate has been waiting to shop for school supplies since about June 20 - that's right, exactly nine days after school ended.

Today was finally the day. We headed off to Target and bought just about everything we needed. The grand total was $65 and we still need eight binders (which cost roughly $8 each). Life is expensive.

We came home and the kids got to work organizing their school supplies. We're really in a time crunch here, only 22 more days. Can I just say I don't know where these kids came from? I hated school. They each run to the mailbox every day to see if the letter from their teacher's have arrived. They haven't.

Kate has literally been sharpening all of her new pencils for the last thirty minutes. Pencil pouches are loaded. Backpacks are packed. All of the merchandise has been taken out of the packaging. Now we just have 22 days to wait!

Condensing two weeks into seven points

2011-08-06T14:49:00.000-04:00

Last night we returned from a two-week vacation. With the advent of technology, Rob is able to be flexible with his career. There were a few times that at the close of a phone conversation he said, "I have some meetings this afternoon, but I'll be available this morning". The meetings? I guess he was referring to a trip to the beach or the pool. I have no doubt that he'll have some major catch-up for the next few weeks, but it was really nice to see him relax with the kids.

To be honest, we really didn't do much. We also didn't take that many pictures. We didn't take our good camera with us during the day [to the beach], and our evenings were not photograph-worthy. Did you really want to see us watching "shark week" on the Discovery channel? I didn't think so.

So, onto our two week vacation described in seven short points.

1. We ate. A lot. And not always healthy food. I cooked about half of the time. We also enjoyed some great restaurants.

eating on the water at the Dry Dock on Longboat Key

IBC root beer - a very special treat

lobster tacos

2. We arrived home with three less pairs of sunglasses. I lost one pair of mine in the ocean. I broke a pair of Joshua's. Kate left her sunglasses in a bathroom stall in Tampa at Busch Gardens.

3. Driving to Florida [from Pennsylvania] takes a long time. Sixteen hours on the way down. By the way, there is never a good time to drive through Washington DC.

4. Time is flying. Josh turned thirteen while we were away.

Josh's new kayak - waiting for him when we got home

5. We took our kids to Busch Gardens in Tampa, Fl. Again, no pictures. Sorry.

I consider myself a roller coaster girl. With that being said, I honestly feel like my brain was scrambled by said roller coasters. Josh loved the crazy rides. Emma was one inch too short for all of the big rides. Kate was tall enough but preferred the train. The one that went two miles an hour. In 95 degrees with 100% humidity.

6. On our way home, we stopped to spend some time with Rob's cousin, his wife, and their family. They were gracious hosts and we went for dinner without kids, visited the Atlantic Ocean, and watched the Jaguars training camp in Jacksonville. Our kids and their kids had a blast.

7. I loved doing nothing. I feel like we grew closer as a family. And not because we went on some exotic vacation. We didn't spend a lot of money. We played games, watched the Discovery Channel, swam, laughed, and enjoyed each other.

the vacation rat race

2011-07-25T11:09:00.000-04:00

includes lots of floating

formal dress

nightly entertainment

wildlife wrangling

fancy dinners

cut-throat competition

the stresses of posing for the perfect beach picture

What can I say? It's a rough life.

Reese's Cookies

2011-07-20T10:14:00.000-04:00

It has been well documented that I'm not really a dessert person, and that I hate to make cookies - but these cookies....I.have.no.willpower. I don't remember the context, but whenever I have these cookies, I'm reminded of my childhood next-door neighbors.

We didn't really live in a neighborhood. I grew up in a pretty rural setting, where each house requires a 2 acre tract per township regulations. The smell of manure is fairly regularly part of the surroundings. Our nearest neighbors all had daughters, so we did enjoy summers together. When I was in 2nd grade, our next door neighbors installed a beautiful pool. I remember fondly eating jello pudding pops, underwater tea parties, and water routines set to 80's dance music. I also remember eating these cookies while we were taking a break from swimming [and playing Tetris].

It was a pretty charmed childhood.

Maybe that's why I have no willpower with these cookies - good times, good memories. Or, these cookies are just really tasty. Peanut butter chips, a chocolate cookie batter - is there anything better?

Reese's Chewy Chocolate Cookies (courtesy of the Reese's peanut butter chips package)
2 cups flour
3/4 cup cocoa
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/4 cups softened butter (I use half shortening, half butter)
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
10 oz package peanut butter chips

1. Cream softened butter and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla extract.
2. Add dry ingredients. Stir in peanut butter chips. Refrigerate batter for at least two hours.
3. Bake at 350 degrees for 8-9 minutes.

Oatmeal Baked Peaches

2011-07-20T09:46:00.000-04:00

Peach season is in full swing here in the Northeast. I usually buy the "seconds" peaches at the fruit stand, mostly because I don't like waiting for the "firsts" to ripen. We cut them up for our cereal, we slice them for our ice cream, and at least once a week I bake some peach halves with a crumb topping.

Super simple, and the perfect complement to a summer meal!

Halve peaches, leaving the skin on if desired (wash the "fuzz" off of the skin, if using, first).

Combine 2 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 cup flour, 1/4 cup brown sugar, and 1/4 cup oats. Cut in 7 Tbsp butter until crumbs form. Top each peach half with 2 T crumb mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes.

Our dinner last night: cheeseburgers with grilled onions, baked parmesan tomatoes, and steamed green beans.

Pecan Pie

2011-07-18T08:33:00.000-04:00

I am continually surprised by how many people love pecan pie. Aside from the fact that there are less than ten ingredients - I thought people didn't really like nuts? I guess they do! I like pecan pie, but I prefer mine in the Kentucky vein - with bourbon and chocolate chips. I made a traditional pie yesterday and it disappeared almost as fast as the cooler-full of jello [at our block party].

Pecan Pie (courtesy of the New Betty Crocker Cookbook)
1 unbaked pie shell
2/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup butter, melted
1 cup corn syrup
1/2 tsp salt
3 eggs
1 cup pecan halves

1. beat sugar, butter, corn syrup, salt, and eggs in medium bowl with wire whisk until well-blended.
2. stir in pecans.
3. pour into pastry-lined pie plate.
4. bake at 375 degrees for 40-50 minutes, or until center is set.

(a note of warning - just noticed that one slice of this pie is 530 calories - yikes)

Margarita Cheesecake

2011-07-17T13:54:00.000-04:00

Today is our neighborhood block party. We swim, play horseshoes, eat, and enjoy hanging out in the 'hood.

I decided to make two desserts to share: margarita cheesecake and a pecan pie.

I received this recipe from my mom - I just can't remember where she found the recipe. I want to say it was a Southern Living recipe....maybe my mom will read this and set the record straight!

Anyway - I'll show you what I did.

I placed one and half packages of graham crackers, 1/4 cup sugar, and two teaspoons of lime zest into my food processor.

After pulsing for about 2 minutes, this is what the mixture should look like.

Mix with melted butter (7 Tbsp) and press into a springform pan. Wrap aluminum foil around the bottom of the pan to prevent leakage.

Bake crust at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes.

In a mixing bowl, beat four packages of softened cream cheese until smooth.

Reduce speed to low. Add [four] eggs, one at a time. Add 1 1/4 cups sugar, and 1/4 tsp salt.

Finally, add 8 oz sour cream, 1/4 cup orange juice, 1/2 cup lime juice, and 1 T lime zest.

Pour cream cheese mixture into springform pan, on top of the cooled graham cracker crust.

Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Turn the oven temperature to "off" and keep the cheesecake in the oven for one hour before opening the door (this should hopefully prevent cracks on the top).
Refrigerate for at least six hours or up to two days before serving.

Purple Green Beans

2011-07-16T10:19:00.000-04:00

My sister-in-law gave me these gorgeous beans.

I decided to make my three ingredient beef brisket, and some yukon gold mashed potatoes. I pictured a beautiful plate with my tri-colored steamed beans.

But, when I pulled the lid off of my saucepan - I realized that the purple beans had disappeared. Did you know that purple beans change to the color green after they're cooked? I'm glad I took a few pics of the gorgeous purple color before it disappeared.

Delicious summer dinner!

Savory Crepes

2011-07-14T08:15:00.000-04:00

Has anyone seen the "new" Taste of Home cooking magazine? It's probably not that new, but I've just noticed their latest layout style. I'm impressed. I borrowed a couple of issues from my sister-in-law, and there are some great recipes I'm dying to try.

I was inspired by a savory crepe recipe and decided to make my own version. I've made crepes before, but with strawberries, bananas, and chocolate.

Our savory crepes were stuffed with roasted chicken, and a swiss cheese cream sauce. The sauce is studded with sauteed swiss chard, mini portabellos, onions, and garlic.

Savory deliciousness. Creamy. Cheesy. Divine. While the sweet-lovers in my gang prefer the dessert crepes, I vote for these!

Chicken Crepes
crepe recipe: (makes 8 crepes) courtesy of Taste of Home
4 eggs
1 1/2 cup milk
1/8 tsp kosher salt
1 cup flour
1 1/2 tsp sugar

1. Mix all ingredients together and refrigerate for one hour.
2. In a buttered saute pan - pour a small amount of crepe batter, turn to coat and flip after crepe releases from your pan.
**Just a warning: there is a learning curve - you will probably need to make at least two crepes before you "get the hang of it". It's worth it.

Swiss-Cream Sauce
1/2 onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, chopped
6 mini portabello mushrooms
4 large leaves swiss chard, chopped (with the middle vein removed)
2 T butter
1 tsp olive oil
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup chicken broth
1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup shredded swiss
2 T chevre or sour cream
2 bone-in chicken breasts, roasted and chopped

1. Saute onion, garlic, and mushrooms in butter and olive oil. Add swiss chard and stir until wilted.
2. Sprinkle flour over sauteed vegetables. Stir and add chicken broth.
3. Add milk, shredded swiss, and chevre or sour cream.
4. Add chopped chicken.
5. Assemble crepes: in the middle of a crepe, place about 1/2 cup chicken mixture. Roll up and place into baking pan. Keep warm in oven until your husband returns from kayaking. :)

Baked Parmesan Tomatoes

2011-07-13T18:21:00.000-04:00

I'm almost giddy every time I catch a glimpse of our fruit and veggie bowl. I literally count down the hours until I can enjoy a peach in my yogurt or on my cereal. Our kids grab a couple of apricots for a quick snack, and fresh tomatoes tempt me at every turn. It's the most wonderful time of the year! (better than Christmas, in my opinion)

One of my favorite ways to enjoy tomatoes is with this simple preparation.

Baked Parmesan Tomatoes (adapted from the New Betty Crocker Cookbook)
two tomatoes, sliced into about 4 equal slices
2 Tbsp parmesan cheese
2 Tbsp mayonnaise
2 tsp freshly chopped basil
1/2 tsp dijon mustard
cracked black pepper
panko breadcrumbs, if desired

lay slices of tomato into a baking pan. mix remaining ingredients, except panko. place a dollop on each tomato slice. top with panko for extra crunch. bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until browned.