Tuesday, April 30, 2013

three little words

Mom was relaying
a day spent
with her friend...
we'll call her...
Donna.
She and Donna
went shopping
but
instead of going out to eat
as usual
they decided to 
"just go home"
since the weather was 
damp, gray, ugly
and make...
here it comes...
grilled cheese sandwiches
instead.

Grilled Cheese Sandwiches.

 Immediately my mind wandered...
I know mom saw that faraway look...
I even spoke
like a long forgotten memory
of a place
with easy, always reliable, quick meals.
My new world
of whole food, plant-based eating
(there's a mouth full)
has me working
in the kitchen
a lot!
I was actually longing...
at this part of mom's story,
for those days gone by.

Days when grilled cheese and 
Campbell's Tomato Soup,
a garbage omelet
mac and cheese from the box
with tuna tossed in
were considered meals.

Not only that
but
meals that my family really
loved.


I know I could
slap some Daiya cheese on whole
grain...Ezekiel bread...
make tomato soup with soy...
make a tofu scramble...
ditto with the mac and cheese...
but
my family has taste buds like
an elephant...
and their Sherlock skills
come out in full as they try to
explain the crime scene
known as dinner.

But I trudge forward
in the name of
health.

My new revised
always updated life
is on a path towards summer


with easy-breezy days
that require... 

no...
demand
that I go outdoors
and escape from my kitchen.
My criteria:
Fast.
Easy.
Tastes good.
(even to the kids!)

Yesterday,
Coscto
got the ball rolling
with a sample of this burger
that James declared
delicious.

With fingerling potatoes
that were
rinsed...dried...
sliced in strips
lightly coated with olive oil
sprinkled generously with
paprika and Cajun seasonings
a shake of sea salt


baked at 450
for 25.

Served with
 ketchup and malt vinegar
for that Cedar Point vibe.

Maybe not as fast as
the grilled cheese
but close...
getting there...
with one foot out the door.


Did I mention
Summer's Coming!?

P.S.
I'm a summer gal and
that's what I call
 Spring...

"Summer's coming."
yippee!


Saturday, April 27, 2013

this moment

A moment from the archives
known as "the seventies"

Dad and brothers
Father and sons
labeled
"cool guys"

Yeah...I totally get that!

Thursday, April 25, 2013

asked & answered


I spent time with my girls today.
We watched a little Arthur
an episode of Dora
while
grazing
on peanut butter and jelly
apple slices
raisins
and chocolate milk.
Then Kierstin looked down at
her tights
and pointed out a teeny tiny hole...
"Grandma...you can fix this...
can't you?"
Somehow I have become her
go-to-fix-it-gal.
Ever since I noticed a tear in her shirt 
and I remedied it... 
the day she discovered  that magical space
known as my
craft room.

A small room filled with
strange
wonderful and
mysterious
things to explore.
After getting her input on color choices
 I cut and crafted
while she camped-out beneath me...
 an old quilt serving as tent
a found pillow
blanket
flashlight
and little thing-a-ma-jigs that
were gathered like
 treasures.
She invited sissy in to join her
while I mended
and remembered little boys at my feet...
just so.

The patches in those days
were your basic sew-on
the occasional iron-on 
rather boring
variety.

Well...
Grandma Jenny can do much
better than that.

A pink daisy
for my
wildflower.

When she put them on and
inspected my work
she said,
"You did it! 
You fixed it!"

A proud moment
indeed.

When she started modeling
my handiwork...
well,
come-on...
I had to share it with
all of you.

File this one under:
Brag Book Blogging.
:)


Wednesday, April 24, 2013

transitions

This blog world is strange.
It changes.
I change.
It is a reflection...maybe sometimes
an imagining...
at best 
a glimpse
of one's life.

Like a photograph
that shows the smiles
without the tears.

Those rare occasions that 
we get up-close and personal
and really see inside...
rare in this world
of blogging.
Rare. (period).

Segue...

It's hard to imagine
how my babies
got so big
and yet
there I was right along with them
growing and changing.
When I visited FIMBY
this morning 
Renee
(so you can blame her for this post)
discussed the changes happening
in her homeschool routine.
She is riding the wave
and going with the flow.

I know that wave.
I surf that wave.

The waters can be rough...
with doubt
fear
uncertainty
and like a surrender
you find ways to navigate
until the calm returns.
Times like
illness
when most kids were in school
and mine were in and out of
hospitals
rehab centers
hospice facilities.
Making changes to our
"routine"
as our life demanded.
Funny...
every year seemed to bring
its challenges.
Every year
my boys learned and grew
in astounding ways.
Maybe not with the typical
A+ in Science 
BUT
with immeasurable life experiences.
Oh...
and those are the true
 benchmarks.

They aren't memorizing
facts and dates
to ace an exam...
they are observing
processing
evolving.

Constantly learning.

This isn't meant to be a
condemnation of the public school system.
My older two graduated from 
that system
and they are fine young men
who contribute to society.
(If that is the gauge to measure by)

Instead
 I hope to
show others who are taking this path
that it will be 
alright.

We need to support each other 
during the highs
and 
lows
of the ride.
Because life
 isn't a competition.

We are better
than that.

As my boys transitioned through
elementary...intermediate...to high school
courses changed
interests changed
styles changed...
 we changed.

By constantly adapting
being a chameleon
to our needs
we grew
together.

This process is
and has been
amazing.
Like the proverbial
light bulb
I now realize fully that
they were molding me
as much as I was molding them.

A give and take.
A take and give.

A little thing we call...
lifelong learning.

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

they still gotta eat

So I know you're wondering
what happens to all my vegan goodness
during project mode?
I really wish I could
tell you that the boys step-up.
Not.
Unfortunately
or fortunately...
I have them doing yard demo
and clean-up while I'm working
indoors during this glorious
mid-sixties
weather.

Leftovers made new
are my stand by.
I am so happy I froze so much
soup this winter.

Soba noodle
toss is a
fast option.

Because...
If I completely abandon the food
and left them to their own devices
we would be
steaking-it-up
over here...
I'm not fooling myself.

Old habits.

Well on this day...
the sun was shining
(key for me)
and the temps neared 80.
Pizza on the grill.
Except late rains brought the party
indoors and I created
a pizza pie.

Here is my pizza crust recipe.
The hour to rise allows ample time to
finish up a project for the night.
Super Easy Homemade Pizza Crust
and
Super- Delicious

COMBINE:
1 Cup warm water (warm like baby's bath)
1T sugar
1 packet dry yeast
IN A FOOD PROCESSOR 
and let sit until foamy
about 10 minutes.


SET OVEN
to its lowest setting
NOW.
(Mine is 170)

ADD:
3 T Olive Oil
3 Cups flour
1-1/2 t salt

PROCESS
until dough comes together
and forms a ball on top of
the blade
(about 1 minute)
Turn dough onto floured surface
that is sprinkled with
Italian Herb Seasoning.

KNEAD
(roll it and press down and roll some more)
until dough 
is smooth and elastic
adding flour to the surface as needed
to prevent sticking.
About 5 minutes.
Don't sweat this step.

Lightly oil a large bowl.
Add dough and roll it around to coat
with the oil.
Cover with plastic wrap and a towel.

TURN OVEN OFF.
Let the whole thing sit in the
warmed oven
for 1 hour.

This will be waiting for you.
THE FUN PART.

PUNCH it down.
knead in the bowl gently
for about 2 minutes.

ON THIS DAY
I divided the ball in 2.
Froze half for another day.

Pressed the other half in a well
oiled pie plate.
Topped with 1/3-1/2 cup of your favorite marinara
and toppings.
I used leftover sauteed peppers and mushrooms
onions
kalamata olives
and dollops of chimichurri sauce.
Feta if you must.
I must.

Fresh basil.
Really Good Food.

OH YEAH...
I brushed a little olive oil
on the edges and
Baked in a 425 degree oven for 20 minutes.

Pizza Pie, anyone?

p.s. when I am making the grilled version
I divide the dough in fourths and
everyone makes and tops
their own with vegan and non-vegan
choices.

Monday, April 22, 2013

forecast: sunny

Extended Forecast:
Finishing a Project
that apparently I can only
do if the sun is shining.

And somehow
that makes perfect sense
to me.
With a weekend of sunshine
I got geared up to 
paint.

It's one of those projects that
looks REALLY
bad
before (hopefully!)
it gets better.
I primed that red
right off of my walls.
I'm diggin the brightness
factor already.
I told Rudy to put
his shades on before coming 
downstairs in the morning.
Sunday
brought with it a
first coating.
The wainscoting is politely
waiting its
turn.

I may not be working at
break neck
but it's
more about
the journey...
watching the mental greet the physical.
Very cool.
Which is why 
I can pull this look off.
Ha!

It is very gratifying to watch it come together
using these two hands
of mine.
Only asking for help
when 
absolutely
necessary.
Knowing they are happier
on the sidelines...
I thinks me a tyrant
of sorts.
oops.
Personality flaw rears its ugly...

I guess I gotta have one.

Truthfully
they get to hear this 
old song of mine entitled,
"Just leave...
and let me finish what I've started."

It must be tough 
being them!

Love ya guys!
Really I do.

Saturday, April 20, 2013

*this moment*
Capturing it quick
before it is
 gone.

Happy Saturday.

Thursday, April 18, 2013

a frame's story

A tutorial of sorts
Pictures
Over
Words


Start with an old wooden frame.
This one came from Savers
and cost three dollars.
Then get to work with a vision.
Remove print
and staples.
Smudge paint it.
I did the wipe-on/ wipe-off method.
Glue a new piece of wood as backing
and then

Almost there.
Lastly
Give it an old sign look with maple stain.
Add handles.
These came from Lowe's
for like $1.50 each.
I backed mine with felt
so no snaggles
and then...

Enjoy your crafty design
as a tray
or
funky piece of art.

Boulangerie patisserie?
French pastry and bread chef.

I'm not French
 but
I certainly am
 a chef.

Enjoy your tray!
:)

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

3-D

"Life will find a way."

"Clever girl."

They're moving in herds. They do move in herds!"

"You never heard of chaos theory?
Non-linear equations?
Strange attractions?
Ms. Sattler, I refuse to believe you are not
familiar with the concept of 
attraction."

"God created dinosaurs. God destroyed dinosaurs.
God created man. Man destroyed God.
Man creates dinosaurs."
"Dinosaurs eat man...
woman inherits the earth!"

"Welcome to Jurassic Park!"
Who could forget
that spoonful of jiggly green jello?

Water rings due to impact tremors?

Seeing a real T-Rex for the first time?

For the first time in 3-D...
on the big screen...
I had that strange feeling
like I had done this before in another life...
with two other boys...
a deja vu...
only this time the dinosaurs were real!

A family fun night with goofy
black glasses...
a big bucket of popcorn...
watching an enhanced classic...
does it get any better?

*sound cue*

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

family dinner night

Like a party on a Wednesday
or in this case
Monday.
A suggestion
from my oldest son
Jacob
who is usually out-of-town
on the weekends
visiting his fiance who lives
two hours north.
After a year of this pace
he started wanting 
get-togethers
for days other than
holidays
and thought a weekly meal would be
 the ticket.

The idea being
 we all pitch in.
Nothing too fancy.
Regular.
Good.
Food.
But last night I took over the
reigns and made the whole
shebang.

In my attempt to remain
plant-based in this
world of
meAT EATERS
that I have raised
I made 
a pot of
Black Bean and Quinoa Chili
and I made it thick
to be served over
baked potatoes.
(old pics mom came across that we laughed over)

It got pretty hectic
once the girls arrived so I don't have
a picture of the spread I created 
for the
chili baked potato bar.

Toppings included:
daiya cheese
tofutti sour cream
(and their all dairy counter-parts)
fresh chopped cilantro
salsa
sriracha hot chili sauce
diced avocado

Good stuff
and a real hit with the gang.

Little by little
meal by meal
showing them the way.

About 1 hour before their arrival
I thought...
dessert.
I hadn't planned a thing
but wanted a sweet to offer.
Headed over to see what
Isa Chandra at
Post Punk Kitchen
was up to
and my search was over.
Butterscotch Cupcakes with Coconut Bacon.
I had everything
except
the butterscotch and
coconut bacon.
No worry
she includes a vanilla variety.

In my opinion
the star of the show.
Plopped a tray of cooled cupcakes
on the table
as a centerpiece
along with
little saucers
and then 
we passed around the frosting.
spoons 
OVER
knives!

I was surprised I had enough frosting
for the cupcakes
after all my earlier taste testing.
Creamy.
Sugary.
Vegan.
Heaven.

I would break-off a piece of cake
and top it with
frosting
so that each bite was 
like a perfect little
delicacy.
Have I made you hungry for 
cupcakes?
Well head on over to PPK
(see my sidebar for directions)
and whip up a batch.

This little fellow is the lone
survivor.
Mom wasn't able to be here
because of her
busy social life...
aka bunco.
I could save it for its rightful owner
but it beckons me to 
come...
eat.

Life is Good.