Archive for October, 2009

Stay tuned for pictures…. Until then, “Dance pumpkin man, DANCE!”

These photos should sum up my week…

Today a math problem…

I know, you hate math…

So do I.

In fact i had never been so happy in my life when in grade 12 i got a C- in Intro Math 11. Not only did that mean i passed, but i passed enough to get into University AND i never had to take another math class again.

Ironically, my life has become a math class…

(Me + bills) -debt x pocket change = LATTE!

This weeks math problem:

Sick kids – cranky husband x “Let’s Start Running!” + rain = Comfort Food

MACARONI AND CHEESE

2 cups uncooked macaroni

1/4 cup butter

1/4 cup flour

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1/4 tsp ground mustard

1/4 tsp Worcestershire sauce

2 cups milk

2 cups shredded sharps cheddar cheese

1 28oz can stewed tomatoes drained and hand crushed

Panko

Heat oven to 350

Cook macaroni in boiling salted water until just done, drain and set aside

Melt butter on low in a saucepan, mix in flour, salt, pepper, mustard and Worcestershire sauce.

Cook until bubbly, gradually add milk and heat to boiling.

Add cheese, stir until melted

Add tomatoes.

Remove from heat. Gradually add macaroni.

Pour into an ungreased 2 quart casserole dish. Sprinkle with panko – and by sprinkle i mean completely cover, but don’t just dump a bag of panko on top.

Bake uncovered 20 mins, until toasty.

*Note to Self

When you start to use your shirt to wipe other peoples snot – call A&E… you need an intervention.

…Does the underside count?… Along the bottom there… no one can see that…right?

Okay, so far the ukulele concert… not going to happen anytime soon. However, if you would like to hear me play Ring of Fire.

I kill it.

Well…at least the chorus is awesome.

It’s like three notes.

But they are very hard notes – especially if your singing at the same time.

It’s almost as complicated as algebra.

The only difference… Who needs algebra?

I have a calculator.

Everyone needs a ukulele.

My other great winter project.

Why not start running again.

(I added again, like I used to run ALL the time before… I didn’t.

Well, i did for a bit. Like a month – i was very dedicated-  I had cute shoes and everything. Then i got pregnant and getting fat seemed somehow WAY more appealing. )

My girlfriend and i are going to run in The Santa Shuffle.

Aren’t you impressed? Don’t you want to run too?  Especially after 2 weeks straight of rain!

I am using this video clip as my mantra… until i get pregnant again … just kidding… or am I?…

*Note to Self

Need cute running outfit – It makes you run faster when you are coordinated.

The hubby is part Greek which means he has hair in lots of random places.

It will also explain why my girls will have mustaches at 12…

GREEK STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS

4 skinless chicken breasts

1.4 c mayonnaise (not miracle whip)

1/2 c crumbled feta cheese

1/4 c tzatziki

2 cloves of garlic chopped

Half a bunch of fresh spinach chopped – or 1 package of chopped frozen spinach (squeezed of excess water)

4 slices of Prosciutto –optional

Preheat oven to 375 F

Slice a pocket inside each chicken breast

Mix all ingredients (except chicken and prosciutto of course) and spoon it into a medium or large Ziploc bag. Cut off one corner of the bag and pipe the filling into each chicken pocket.

Wrap each chicken in prosciutto and place in a shallow dish. Cover

Bake about 35-40 mins, until chicken is done.

I love this recipe it is very similar to Spanakorizo – which is a dish that can completely stand on its own – good Greek comfort food. In fact, when its just me and girls for dinner I will make just this and curl up with Beauty and the Beast, or Pocahontas, or Sleeping Beauty – or whatever Disney princess we are into at that moment…

SPANAKORIZO – RICE AND SPINACH ALL GREEK LIKE

1/3 c olive oil

1 onion minced

1tsp minced garlic

3/4 c rice

1 cup tomato sauce

2 cups chicken stock

1 tsp fresh dill

2 lbs fresh spinach – rinsed and chopped (in the summer when I had swiss chard coming out my ears I used that as well and it was still great)

1 lemon

3/4 cup crumbled feta

Heat oil in a large pot

Add onion and garlic and cook for about 3 minutes

Add dry rice to oil and cook until they look tasty about 7 minutes – mix the entire time

Add tomato sauce, chicken stock, dill and spinach

Cover until slight boil, then mix and turn the heat down low. Keep covered and mix occasionally.

When rice is cooked add the juice of 1 lemon and feta, mix in – the feta will melt and it will start to look risotto like

Cover and let sit 5 mins.

Enjoy

*Note to Self

I would not be adverse to Greek coffee right now…with a Kourabiedes or two… or ten…

PS- Had a cute video, but it kept messin’ up my code … so here’s the link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Tu0PAbW75A

 

There is something odd going on in our house.

The past few months we have all been musical sleepers. We have all been shifting spots, changing beds, and getting very little sleep. The other night I found the hubby camped out on the living room chair wrapped in a pink princess blanket, the dog had parked himself on the bunk bed, and the girls were spread out all over the “big bed”.

It’s not that big.

I was in a ball at the foot of the bed not wanting to wake anyone up.

Lately, I have been spending most of my nights teetering on the edge of the mattress.

One cheek on… one cheek off.

Listening.

Waiting to hear that little voice that says “mom” at four in the morning, followed by a series of tiny steps, a brief rustling and my other cheek falling off the bed.

I’m starting to wonder if the dog bed is comfortable.

I like the smell of wood chips… it beats the pee smell.

Oh did I mention…

The one night I was having a completely blissful sleep, my sweet little almost 3 year old had an accident.

On the “big bed”.

There is nothing worse then suddenly waking up with that feeling “you wet the bed.”

Yes there is…

When you wake up with that feeling, and you’re covered in someone else’s pee.

*Note to Self

It has been a very long time  since i purchased an album that i have loved the entire way through.

Stupid emo kids.

Until now.

The Avett Brothers, I and Love and You.

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that you can pick it up at Starbucks.

While your there, I’ll have a venti non-fat hazelnut latte… please.

PS- By cheeks, I mean my ass.

Here are two good reasons why this is a great recipe day

1- It is recipe day – that should be good enough!

2-Two recipes in one! Even better.

I’m not going to say i am a huge fan of quiche.  In fact, it can be down right squishy. So usually when i don’t like something, i improve on it until its great.

Here is a great quiche recipe- and an even better pastry recipe – its so simple i even used for my pumpkin pie this year.

QUICHE

1/4 cup butter

3 cloves of garlic minced

1 onion chopped

1 cup chopped mushrooms

1 bunch of fresh spinach (or one pkg chopped frozen spinach, drained)

4 slices of deli ham cubed (or 1/2 cup cubbed ham)

1 cup of crumbled feta

1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese

4 eggs beaten

1 cup of milk

1 tsp oregano

1 tsp basil

1 tsp rosemary

salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 375

Fry onion, garlic in butter until soft, add mushrooms

In a large bowl beat eggs and milk, add spinach, cheeses, ham and herbs

Add the onion and mushrooms to the bowl

Pour into prepare pastry crust, cook 30- 40 minutes until golden brown on top.

PASTRY

1/2 cup Tenderflake

1 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp salt

water

Cut in tenderflake, flour and salt until pea sized balls appear

Add just enough water to form dough

Place in fridge for 20 minutes then roll out and place in pie pan

*Note to self

Turkey makes you fart…quiche does not.

So this one year, for halloween, i was a duck.

Yes… a duck.

I know, it sounds very scary – actually it was. It was a completely plastic costume.

It had plastic pants – PLASTIC PANTS!

…and a plastic shirt with a plastic mask that had two holes to see and three pin holes to breath through.

I’m sure this falls under the catagory of child abuse somewhere…

Who lets there kid be a duck? Its not even Donald or Daffy.

I’m a no-name duck… A no name duck that is suppose to be Donald Duck but can’t because of copyright infringement.

*Note to self
I would have at least made a good Howard…

At our house for Thanksgiving it is mandatory you wear those dorky cracker hats. Well, it was when we were little. That tradition has somehow fallen by the wayside. Probably because our heads now have a tendency to rip those little paper crowns to shreds… so for self-esteem reasons we no longer wear them.

We still fight over the toys.

You’re going to have to bear with me on this one. Turkey stuffing is an art form, not an exact science. You add a little dry if it looks to wet and you pour a little wet if it looks to dry – either way it always turns out the same – WONDERFUL.

…Because I said so.

BEST EVER DAMN TURKEY STUFFIN’

2 tbs butter
2-3 pkgs of Fresh Gourmet Parmesan Caesar Multi-grain croutons (142kg)
1 lt Organic chicken stock (you’ll use about 2 cups for the stuffing and the rest for the gravy)
1pkg of Italian sausage
1-2 ribs of celery (about 1 cup)
3 cloves of garlic
1 onion minced
2 tsp poultry seasoning

Melt butter in a large rimmed pan add onion, garlic and sausage – cook sausage until done.

Add poultry seasoning and celery. Cook 2 more mins.

Add the croutons one pkg at a time – you want just enough so there is good sausage to crouton
disbursement. You should use about two.

Add about 1 cup of chicken stock per pkg of croutons. Also about 2 – you want it moist – NOT WET

Stuff in bird to the sweet sounds of Billie Holiday…

*Note to self
Screw you salmonella – stuff that bird! Dressing is for sissies.

SECRET SPECIAL CRISPY TURKEY SKIN TRICK – Don’t tell ANYONE – It’s our little secret…
Once turkey is stuffed, pour boiling hot water onto of her breasts, the legs and wings – the skin will instantly shrink.

Rub that puppy with butter and a good amount of salt and pepper

GRAVY: Use the neck and giblets, put them in a little pot with some celery, an onion and a carrot, cover it with the remaining chicken stock and cook on low heat, covered, for a few hours while the turkey is in the oven. Add the cooked down liquid to your turkey drippings.

PS- Eats lots of pie

This photo was taken when I was 5 AND an angel.

I still am.

A month ago, September 1 to be exact, I was going to write a post entitled “Is it to early to be THIS excited about Halloween”… clearly it was.

…well not for me.

I love Halloween. I would spend months planning out costumes, making crafts and prepping for the 31st. In fact, I trick or treated up to 18, when my girlfriend and I thought we could no longer pass as twelve year olds.

I was a sad day.

And then this year I had an epiphany. I have a wagon.

Yes, a wagon. A Little Tikes Ride and Relax wagon I bought with 1 million Save-on More points, okay more like 4 million. With its 6 cup holders, 2 snack spots and seatbelts to keep my little turkeys stuck – I mean- safe, Halloween is happening.

I was in Walmart with my girlfriend (yes, the one that was with me trick or treating twelve years ago) and as I was picking out a costume for Olivia– yes I said it – PICKING out a costume-
People please, I’m a mom, I know I could make a crazy awesome costume – but what is the point when you can buy one for $25? You can’t buy material that cheap – and its not like I’m already spending my nights working, why not just add an extra couple hours for costume sewing …

I digress.

So I picked out a costume for Olivia (Audrey was going to re live Olivia’s pumpkin costume of ’07) and decided to just look through the adults costumes… long story short I came up with a plan…which involved the wagon.

Olivia’s first year of Halloween was useless. She was a pumpkin but couldn’t walk, which made trick or treating difficult.

The following year, as a monkey, proved equally frustrating. I was pregnant with Audrey who, by the way, was due on the 31st, I couldn’t walk and I could barely keep from peeing on myself out of shear laziness. Rolling down the street didn’t seem appealing.

I wound up popping on November 2nd – which is something else I realize I now need to plan for…

That year the hubby – costumeless- took her out. Three doors later they were home. I secretly wonder if my husband was responsible for their early return.

He still denies it.

I have decided this year will be different.

Not only do I have my original Halloween sidekick with me, but I’m not pregnant AND we have a wagon – which means nobody can wuss out. Of course ‘the pumpkin’ will rock the wagon the entire time, which automatically assigns one adult a trick or treat bag – for the baby of course.

It also means that Olivia can get tired and join team wagon, handing her bucket off to the next adult- BRILLIANT- trick or treating with child decoys.

THE BEST PART!!! I’m mom, so I get to hide the candy and dole it out only when I see fit…during episodes of True Blood for example.

*Note to Self
Kids that knock on my door with a poor excuse for a Halloween costume get a box of raisins.

OMG – this one year for Halloween I think I was 16 – not the point- sidekick and I got dried salted oysters – WAY worse then a box of raisins.

PS – I’ve been making shrunken heads all month – okay they took an hour to make but a month to dry – they are turning out quite nicely – check back for my Halloween craft post, after Wednesday’s with Morley one which will undoubtedly have a thanksgiving theme…