n o d d y b o o m

hi again

We're back and nearly thawed.  Practically got snowed in, but luckily made it back safe and sound.  Ours was one of only two planes that actually took off yesterday.  Phew.

I'm feverishly working on some knitting for my soon-to-open shop.  These are doll scarves (still have to make the "wees" that will wear them) and little knitted houses, all made from wool spun by yours truly.  I'm obsessed with the colors. 

Slight delay, by the way, on the opening of the shop.  My cards and stickers, etc. have not yet arrived and I don't want to get started without having at least most of my ducks in a row, so sorry about that.  I am hoping that things will fall into place over the weekend.

It's good to be back.  I hope you have all been well.  I put together a pumpkin muffin recipe today (with one of those "Cinderella" pumpkins we had lying around).  I'll let you know how it turns out.  (If it turns out well, I'll post the recipe tomorrow).

Oh, and you must check out these fortune cookie valentines!  Isn't that a brilliant idea!  I am definitely making these.

fiddley friday

Oh, what do you do on a rainy, rainy, cold, wet, miserable, windy day?  That's right.  You play hooky from school, light the fire and make cupcakes.

Did you know that Sprinkles is now selling their goods in little make-it-yourself-at-home packages of goodness?  Oh my.  I don't often indulge in packaged bake kits anymore (fighting the environmentally responsible battle against unsustainable practices), but I snuck this one in because I'm such a Sprinkles red velvet fan.  Plus I have no idea how to make red velvet cake from scratch.  Yet.  But you know, (and I can't believe I'm actually saying this, me with the sweet tooth over here), they really were too sweet.  All three of them that I ate.  Entirely too sweet.   

So, it's Friday night and I'm exhausted from a long day of packing, preparing menus and schedules for the kids (for the week to come - that we won't be here), etc.  The day is nearly over.  It's dinner time.  What do we eat?  I vote for pizza.  Chris votes for saving money and using what we already have in the cupboard.  Grrr.  What does that mean?  It means he's right and we need to stick with our plan (the one about shaving some dollars off our food budget and really using all the food we buy, etc.).  It also means I'm cooking.  Again.  But I don't feel like cooking, I'm spent.  So, what do we eat? 

Here's where cooking sometimes gets creative.  There's pasta and a jar of sauce in the cupboard.  Borrring.  But easy and cheap, though relatively devoid of taste and nutrition.  Sigh.  I need to make it more.... palatable interesting.  What else is lying around?  Garlic, olive oil, French sorrel and oregano go into the pan.  Plus the sauce, plus a great deal of butter, some cream and a little sea salt, and a splash of red wine.  And a spoon or so of olive paste.  Voila!  We ate that with some raw carrots and, of course, the cupcakes for dessert.  Not brilliant, mind you, but not bad.  Not at all.  And the garlic, herbs, greens and cream added valuable nutrition and flavor to the normally compromised quality of the jarred sauce.  And done in 20 minutes or less, folks.  Not too shabby.

I'm really starting to look at food differently.  I'm beginning to start to (like that?  "beginning to start to"?) grasp the concept that probably all foods, for the most part, at least to some extent, have something to offer us, that is good for us, (I'm not talking about the overly processed crap that's offered to us left and right, I'm talking about real, grown-in-the-earth goodness) and that it most probably works out in our best interest to get as many colors, textures, flavors, etc. into our bodies as we can to get the most well rounded nutritional value out of our food.  Adding a slice of lemon to a glass of water, for example, gives us additional vitamin c,  plus God-knows-what-else.  Throwing extra greens or shredded veggies into pasta sauces and salads contributes an additional something.  And it really takes just minutes to do so.  Especially if you're extra clever and have everything pre-washed and stashed all nice in the fridge, ready for action.

Bento boxes have helped me along this path, or at least, they've helped me see some things differently.  Portions, for example.  And variety.  There are sooo many teensy little organized compartments, which means the kids get smaller servings of each thing, yet a lot more diversity (can you use that word to describe food?).   So, instead of filling an entire ziploc bag full of tortilla chips that they'll maybe eat half of (or all of, thereby leaving their vastly more nutritious sandwich untouched) they instead get a few chips in one compartment and some humus in another and then carrots and olives in the third, etc.  It's helped me steer away from giving them too much of one thing, plus they're probably getting a lot more vitamins, in the end.  Plus it's fun.

At least, that's where my brain is at, at the moment.  Next year I might be singing the praises of "Cool Whip".

Just kidding.  That would never happen.

Have a happy week all.  I'll be back sometime at the end of next week with stories to tell and hopefully a little news about my soon-to-be-opening shop!

Best wishes,
Tifanie

Oh!  One more little thing.  "What do you call a fairy that needs a bath?

Stinker bell."

I love that my kids are now into riddles.  Such fun!  Anyone know any good ones?

two recipes using romanesque broccoli

My favorite find, yesterday, at the Farmer's Market.  Romanesque Broccoli.  I've never eaten it before (well, actually, now I've eaten it, but at the time I bought it, I hadn't yet eaten it and simply had to have it, if only for a photo).  I am absolutely fascinated with this thing.  Look how beautiful it is!  It looks like some sort of prehistoric... creature or something you'd find in a math book.  Anyway, it's delicious.  Sort of like broccoli, but with a richer flavor... and kind of like cauliflower, but with a creamier texture.  Lovely and fun.  I created two recipes with it today.  We're all very excited around here.

Firstly, soup.  So nice for these chilly, rainy days we're having here.  Brrr.

There it is, simmering.  Mmmm, warmth.
It's really just a variation on the potato leek soup I usually make (what my dear friend Coral likes to call "Mashed Potato Soup") but with the added flavor of the Romanesque Broccoli. 

In honor of Coral, I suppose I'll call this recipe:

Mashed Potato Soup with Romanesque Broccoli *

4 large leeks (or 6-8 small ones)
3-4 small-ish potatoes
1 head of Romanesque broccoli
olive oil
broth or water to cover
sea salt
freshly ground pepper
butter (optional)
cream (optional)
handful of herbs (I used savory this time)

* use organic ingredients when possible

Chop and rinse the leeks really well.  I mean, really well, like, let them soak (in a colander) inside a bowl full of water and then clear that water out and then soak them again a couple of times. 

Now, put a few tablespoons (I never measure, so I'm approximating) of olive oil in a dutch oven or stainless steel pan and dump the freshly cleaned leeks into it.  Cover and cook for roughly 15 minutes, stirring occasionally (don't let them burn).  When they seem soft enough, add the potatoes (peeled and chopped into large-ish pieces) and the Romanesque broccoli (also chopped).  Add water to (almost) cover (I usually use chicken broth for added nutrition and flavor, but I didn't have any so I used water.  It worked out just fine).  Add the handful of herbs.  Bring to a boil and let simmer until the potatoes are soft enough to mush with a wooden spoon.  Blend everything with a hand blender.  Now, add the salt and pepper to taste, 1/3 to 1/2 stick of butter (or not), 1/4 - 1/2 cup cream (you daredevil, you) and more salt and pepper to taste.  There now.  Isn't that lovely?  My kids ate every drop.  I probably deserve an award. 

Oh... ahem.  I'm just now realizing that I neglected to mention the half piece of cooked bacon I threw in toward the end there.  Blended it right in with the veggies.  It added a rather nice something to the soup, but I'm sure it  would be just as lovely without it, if you don't happen to be as committed a bacon fan as I am.  If, on the other hand, you do like bacon, I say, throw it in.  Pigs raised in the sun add vitamin D to your diet.  Plus, it's yummy. 

Ok.  Recipe number two.  Ready?

Romanesque Broccoli, French Sorrel, Bacon and Cheddar Quiche *

First make the crust:

1/2 cup organic "white" whole wheat flour
1/2 cup organic spelt flour
6 tablespoons cold organic butter
2 tablespoons (or so) ice water
1/2 tspn. sea salt

Preheat the oven to 425º.

Throw the flour and the salt and the butter in the Cuisinart and blitz until crumbly.   While the machine is running, slowly add the water until the mixture clings to itself.  Form the mixture into a sort of a ball, place it in the middle of a piece of cellophane, wrap it up and press it into a disc shape.  Good!  Now stick it in the fridge for 15 minutes (if you're impatient or short on time, you can skip this step). 

Butter a pie plate.  Roll the dough out into a circle and place it gently in the pie plate, pressing it into the bottom.  Cut off anything dangling and decorate the edge as you so choose.  Prick holes in the bottom of the crust with a fork.  Now at this point (according to some quiche recipes - I consulted several) you're ideally supposed to stick the crust in the freezer for 15 minutes.  I completely skipped this step (because I was impatient short on time) and stuck mine directly into the oven for 15 minutes and it was fine.  If you do freeze it, you'll probably have to cook it a bit longer.  Keep an eye on it, though.  If it starts to bubble up in the middle, open the oven door and poke it with a fork so that it deflates again.  When it's nice and golden, take it out of the oven.  Turn the heat down to 400º and work on the filling.

4 eggs
1/2 cup creme fraiche
1 cup chopped French Sorrel
3/4 cup chopped Romanesque Broccoli
1 pack of organic bacon (fried in a skillet - did I mention that I love bacon?)
1 tspn (or more) sea salt
freshly ground pepper
pinch of nutmeg (optional)
1/2 cup organic cheddar cheese (shredded)
1/2 cup organic cream

* use organic ingredients when possible

Into the Cuisinart, put the eggs,  creme fraiche,  Sorrel,  Romanesque Broccoli, spices and cream.  Blitz.  Chop up half of the bacon and sprinkle it around the bottom of the pre-cooked pie crust.  Pour the egg mixture over the bacon.  Add the cheddar and the rest of the bacon and stir it around with a wooden spoon.

Place it in the oven and bake for about 35 minutes (keep an eye on it.  You may have to put a sheet of foil over the top half way through to prevent the crust from burning).  Yummy!  Really yummy.  I wish I had made two (the kids haven't tried this one yet.  It's going in their lunches tomorrow.  I'll keep you posted.)  We ate this with a simple side salad of red leaf lettuce, chopped green onions and Japanese cucumbers with a basalmic vinaigrette.  And, of course, the soup.

I hope you enjoy these recipes as much as we did. They are quick and easy and wholesome and flavorful.  We are truly enjoying our new adventure (have I spoken of this yet?) of using what we have in the cupboards (rather than letting it collect dust for a year and then throwing it away.  Yuk.) and creating meals out of the foods we find at the farmer's market that are fresh, locally grown (mostly) and in season.  It is helping me to slow down and really enjoy the process of making food and feeding my family, while also managing to somehow save us time (or, at least, enjoy time in a different way) and money.  Go figure.

Bon Appetit and have a lovely evening!

busy + ness

I meant to post these yesterday, but our internet was out (grrr), so no such luck.  Ah well.  More time for reading by the fire.  All is well.  I'm into the third story in Phillip Pullman's novel.  It's completely absorbing me.  I will be so sad when it's over.

A few clips from our busy, long, relaxing, socially stimulating weekend. 

A ride at the Santa Monica Pier Carousel.

Needle-felting.

Lost two needles on that one.

A favorite activity around here.  Anyone have any idea what to do with all these lovely drawings?  I keep thinking it would be nice to bind them into a book somehow, but I have yet to figure that one out, so in the meantime, I have a rather enormous pile.

This seems to keep them occupied the longest.  A few pieces of wood, a hammer and nails, and some doo-dads and they can play Santa's workshop for hours.  Fun.

It's taking me longer than I thought to get my shop up and running (sorry!).  I was hoping to post a few things by the end of the week, but Chris and I are going out of town Saturday for a bit (and this week has become all about prepping for that), so I think I'll open the shop up after that, say the 1st (just in time for Valentine's Day!).  There will be some hand-spun yarn and needle-felted acorns, a few games and possibly something else (if I can get it done!).

Ok.  Off to the farmer's market and then back home to work.  Have a beautiful day!

outside :: inside

Have a wonderful weekend.

more on terrariums and a food bit

Oh, here it is, thanks ang!  Bunches and bunches of info on terrariums.  And here's where I originally got the idea for making terrarium party favors.  Brilliant.  Though I'm most excited about the Martha Stewart version, I think.  I love the idea of using jars (I just love jars).  And the fact that you don't really need to water them (easy for kids to take care of?).

Quick food idea:  Stir Fried Rice (inspired by my Krissy).

I made a huge pot of rice pilaf yesterday (brown rice, black rice, barley and quinoa all mixed together and cooked for 45 minutes). 

That will last me a few days.

So, I just threw chopped green onions and garlic in a pan with some olive and sesame oil, added whatever greens (chopped) I could find in the fridge (there are mounds, at the moment.  I used pea shoots and mustard greens), threw in a spoonful of the rice pilaf and an egg, added a bit of rice vinegar and some braggs and voila. 

I'm going to try this for dinner tonight with the kids, but my guess is they'll root for grilled (in the waffle maker, of course) cheese sandwiches instead, which I'll have to sneak spinach or something into.  We shall see.

Ok, off to a class meeting with Griff's teacher, and then to Cello.  I've had ten lessons and can just now squeak out a very... strained version of "Twinkle, Twinkle".

i don't know why these took me so long...

...but they did.  Socks I knitted Marley for Christmas (I tried to get a better picture, but she's rather wiggly, at the moment, so this is it).  I'm just happy she's actually wearing them.  It think it's the color, she likes. 

Plus the way they slide across the wood floor.

I'm looking everywhere for affordable terrarium containers (small ones).  Marley wants a fairy party (again) this year (her birthday's in March) and I think it might be fun for the kids to make their own terrarium party favors (plus, I've always wanted to make one myself, why not conquer two things at once).  I'm completely inspired by all the terrariums I've seen online (I can't find the links I was originally thinking of, but there's a flickr site here).

 

written earlier today (forgot to hit publish... oops)

I am making cranberry sour cream orange zest cupcakes muffins (no time for frosting).

I don't know how my day filled up with paperwork and house-dealings, but it did.  It's probably a good idea to set aside one day each week specifically for this task, so that the rest of the days can be devoted to other deeds, because it certainly can take over (house related/paperwork stuff).  I guess today was this day, for me.

I have reorganized all the clothes in my closet by color (though you really can't tell from the photo).  We found wooden hangers on Craig's List for 40 cents each and bought them all up (we've been using plastic for years, simply because they are cheaper, but the wooden ones really do last longer, plus they're aesthetically much more pleasing, plus they're probably better for the environment, in the end).  Anyway, we were running low on the plastic ones and it was time to buy more and I simply didn't want to invest in more plastic, yet couldn't afford wooden ones (even at Ikea).  What to do.  So I checked Craig's List just for kicks and there they were. Cheaper than anything and mint.  I'm so excited. 

we went back to the beach

I find myself craving forest lately, but we don't really have that kind of forest here, the fairy-tale kind that's dark and cool and covered in mushrooms and moss.  Sigh.  So we headed for the beach, instead, and that magnificent ocean I never tire of looking at.

I love this idea of finding a word to define the year ahead, but I'm having a difficult time settling on one.  Knowing me, I'll ponder it the whole year through and won't really arrive at it until the year has already happened.  Then I'll look back and say, "Oh yes, my year was definitely about ________".  Still, I mull it over and try things like "embrace" and "focus".  "Clarity".  Maybe something will stick.  Let me know if you come up with any good ones.

I'm really enjoying Phillip Pullman's novel.  I've read the first book in the trilogy.  Now I'll allow myself to go see the movie, though I don't know how they could possibly capture all that's happened in two teeny little hours.  My life is currently about finishing this book, finding new recipes, playing with the kids, and trying to finish knitting Griffin's vest that I started at the beginning of fall.  I'm really meant to be setting up my Etsy shop, but I'm dawdling.  Probably because my studio space isn't quite how I'd like it to be... yet.  Still, my plan is to have the shop up and running in the next couple of weeks.  I will be selling hand-spun yarn and other handmade things.  Very exciting. 

i love...

...finding time after school for the beach before dinner.

They were tossing "boats" (leaves) into the water.

So much of our time is spent sitting in cars to go to school or to the market or even to a friend's house or to work or to run errands.  The truth is, we could all use a bit more unrestricted, unconfined outdoor play.  Even if just for 30 minutes.  We all need time out of the car and out of the house.  Time to regroup and refresh ourselves.  A place to stretch our legs and run, chasing the sunset and breathing the salty air.  Enjoying each moment as it comes.  Letting the kids get out that excess of physical energy that tends to build up and letting our selves reconnect with a feeling of inner peace.  Nature can turn unruly kids into angels and overtaxed parents into saints.

These next couple of days will be filled with friends, fun, delicious food (made from the veggies we collected at the farmer's market), lots of knitting and spinning, and another looong, healthy dose of beach play.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend too.