Diary of a Mad Home-Ec Teacher

{this moment}

2011-07-01T09:03:00.001-04:00

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Wishing you a beautiful weekend!

Happy 4th of July!

Let's Start at the Very Beginning...A Very Good Place to Start

2011-04-19T13:00:00.000-04:00

Nick's grandfather, Pop-Pop, gave us his old organ when we moved into the new house a year ago and it has provided hours and hours of entertainment for us and anyone who visits. It also came with a music book featuring Rogers' and Hammerstein's best including our personal favorite, The Sound of Music.
Julie Andrews is an idol to little girls...and apparently to big boys too (Dad loves her, too).
Today, while working in the kitchen, I heard MaryJane singing, "Edelweiss." I dropped what I was doing and grabbed my camera.

My Peeps

2011-04-18T08:40:00.001-04:00

We had six little ladies join our family on March 18th. They were born on St. Patrick's day and were a mere 18 hours old when we got them. MaryJane named them all colorful names on the way home from the tractor store where we purchased them. Beautiful, Sticker, Flower, Goldfur...etc...when I told her that the names should be unanimous...ones that all 3 of us could agree on, she told me, "I named them already. Please be quiet so I can listen to them peeping." She is a master of distraction.

So furry and sweet---We finally got her consent to reconsider the names and came up with, what I think. are perfect.
3 red pullets named Ginny (after Ginny Weasley), Ginger, and Bernadette and 3 golden comets named Lottie, Goldfur (we let her keep that one), and Mrs. Norris.

I've noticed some interesting behavior among the chicks. Those old sayings, "pecking order" and "rules the roost," really do have truth in their origins. As you can see Mrs. Norris (above center) had exerted her power since we brought her home.

Now at 4 1/2 weeks old they have changed appearances. The gold comets are developing beautiful cream puff color feathers and the red hens are a rusty auburn. They still are a little frightened by quick movements or loud noises, but they like to be pet. They rub their backs under my hand like a cat, they allow Nick to rub their beaks, and MaryJane to pick them up and hold them...not for as long as she'd like, of course.

They know to peep at the top of their lungs when they need me. They stick their heads though the poultry wire and yell, "MOM--FEED ME!" --that's the translation I get. And they've also learned the neat trick of teamwork to push the wire netting off so they can perch on the barrel's edges...even if it's at 3 in the morning. Nick built the coop yesterday and I think the babies will be making the transport outdoors this week.

{this moment}

2011-04-01T06:54:00.000-04:00

My Dad blowing out his candles on his 70th birthday

In honor of a woman I truly admire, Amanda Blake Soule, I am carrying her tradition that I think is very sweet and makes for an inspirational weekend.

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words (usually)- capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Wishing you a beautiful weekend!

Canada is for Lovers

2011-02-25T10:09:00.000-05:00

We did things a bit chronologically different in this family. I guess this is to be expected considering I had the baby before we even met!--correction, met up again--
We bought our house in May, we got married in the back yard in June, had our wedding celebration in September at my best friend's barn in September, then took our honeymoon to Montreal in February. Our wedding has been stretched into a year long celebration completely unintentionally (the intention was to stretch the bill but it has worked out for the best).
We had the best Indian Summer day in September. It was sunny and in the 70's all day long. We feasted on roast pig, drank wine, listened to friends play music and sing, and watched the kids chase chickens, feed donkeys, and play in the rocks.
It was a beautiful day in the Hudson Valley and we couldn't have wanted for more.

Then we chose to leave our cold winter weather for even colder winter weather in the dead of February. We took a 6 hour road trip to Montreal.

In New York, we've had a ton of snow this winter. Everyone I know has cabin fever. No one does anything outdoors unless your talking winter sports---skiing, snowboarding, --I haven't even heard of anyone I know going ice skating this winter. But in Canada, they think differently. It was frigid, in the teens without the windchill factor during the sunny part of the day. But did that keep everyone indoors? No, they decided to have an outdoor mid-winter festival/highlights festival.

Layers...and lots of them are key. We were ill equipped upon arrival, but after my furry hat purchase (the best $20 I ever spent) and a couple of pairs of new mittens, we enjoyed the beauty of the city and even the cold!

It was very romantic. It seemed we'd traveled to mini - France just across the state border. The food was excellent. J'aime des crêpes ... plus s'il vous plaît.
And the natives couldn't have been more sincere in their warm hospitality.

I loved it so much, I may want to move! Don't get me wrong, the Hudson Valley is my home and in my humble opinion the best spot on earth, but we never know what our future holds.

Post Christmas Mini Detox

2010-12-29T11:19:00.000-05:00

My thoughtful husband bought me a juicer for Christmas this year. Something I've wanted for 10 years, but couldn't justify spending that much money.
For the entire week before I had pigging out on cookies, artichoke and spinach dip loaded with cheeses, bacon, cream, butter, and all the other rich foods that Christmas wouldn't be the same without. I also felt very tired, but just chalked it up to all the demanding activities that holiday entails.

The day after Christmas, I decided to put it to good use by embarking on a week long mini detox.
I bundled up and drove over to Nature's Pantry before the storm hit. I wanted to buy organic vegetables and fruit just for this week even if they were more expensive, the benefits would outweigh the cost.
I was surprised and delighted to find that the majority of the produce was the same price or cheaper than the pesticide laden stuff from the supermarket. Some local, some not, but definitely a thriftier alternative to Shoprite or Price Chopper organics whose prices are nearly doubled. They have a small variety, mostly root vegetables, mushrooms, kale, cabbage. Nick and I have already made a resolution for the new year to strive to eat more local produce even if that means sacrificing our favorites because they're out of season.
I was also amazed at how many people were shopping there, and during a snowstorm! I met two women from South Africa (with beautiful accents if I may add) that were organic vegans, shopping in the bulk section. We had a chat about how much cheaper the organic bulk grains were here than any packaged non-organic version in the supermarket. Who knew this little oasis existed right here in Newburgh?

So I stocked up on quinoa, millet, beans, farro, barley, and a little of everything from the produce section.
I try to make my juices part green, part purple, part fruit for this week. This one has wheat grass, kale, golden beet (ran out of the regular ones), pear and a bit of ginger. Then I stir in some probiotics for good measure. MaryJane and Nick prefer just the beet and apple/pear juice, a bit sweeter and more palatable, but they follow our home's golden rule, "That you must try everything, if you like it have more, if not, you try it again some other time."

Then I made us a millet bowl with black beans and vegetables . Very hearty and very satisfying.

Most meals have been meat free this week (we did have an amazing spaghetti squash and meatballs Sunday night for dinner, still counts right?) and loaded with whole grains and fresh/raw produce.

MILLET

3/4 cup millet

1 1/2 cups black beans soaked and already prepared

2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger

Kosher salt

3 cups water

VEGETABLES

4 shiitake mushrooms (2 ounces), sliced 1/4 inch thick

1/2 bunch red kale

1 cup shredded red cabbage

2 scallion, thinly sliced

Freshly ground black pepper

Pinch of salt

3 TBSP extra virgin olive oil

3 TBSP cider vinegar

Directions

Place millet, black beans, and ginger in a small saucepan. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt and water. Bring to a boil, stir once, then reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 25 minutes. Allow to rest for 10 minutes, then fluff with a fork.
Saute shiitakes in a wok for 3 minutes. Add kale and scallions and cook for 4 to 6 minutes more. Remove from heat.
Add 3 TBSP cider vinegar. Season with a dash of salt.
Transfer millet to bowls and garnish with sauteed and crunchy raw red cabbage. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (SERVES 5)

{this moment}

2010-10-29T20:10:00.000-04:00

In honor of a woman I truly admire, Amanda Blake Soule, I am carrying her tradition that I think is very sweet and makes for an inspirational weekend.

Wishing you a beautiful weekend!

Fingers and Toes

2010-10-26T18:01:00.000-04:00

MaryJanes was delighted to present her Grandpa with fingers and toes as an appetizer at dinner last week. And she made toe jam to dip it in!

Spooky Things

2010-10-25T19:23:00.000-04:00

We used our regular mashed potato and mashed sweet potato recipe then piped them through a pastry bag fitted with a cake decorating tip. We shaped them into ghosts and pumpkins, respectively of course, then used a paint brush with black food dye to decorate.
A small festive treat.

{this moment}

2010-10-22T10:19:00.000-04:00

In honor of a woman I truly admire, Amanda Blake Soule, I am carrying her tradition that I think is very sweet and makes for an inspirational weekend.

Wishing you a beautiful weekend!

{this moment}

2010-10-15T06:47:00.000-04:00

In honor of a woman I truly admire, Amanda Blake Soule, I am carrying her tradition that I think is very sweet and makes for an inspirational weekend.

Wishing you a beautiful weekend!

{this moment}

2010-08-06T09:25:00.001-04:00

In honor of a woman I truly admire, Amanda Blake Soule, I am carrying her tradition that I think is very sweet and makes for an inspirational weekend.

Wishing you a beautiful weekend!

First Round of Canning

2010-08-05T11:00:00.000-04:00

Our first harvest of Early girls (red) and Lemon boys (yellow).Sanitizing the jars and lids.Blanching then icing tomatoes to remove their skins.

A secret sauce preparation, then the resulting marinara sauces are ladled into the mason jars and boiled to create a seal.

Seven Jars of mouthwatering spaghetti sauce for my family to enjoy the tastes of summer into the fall and hopefully the winter, too.
For canning tips and recipes see the USDA guidlines -- canning is not difficult, but must be followed precisely to avoid foodbourne illness.

{this moment}

2010-07-30T09:48:00.000-04:00

In honor of a woman I truly admire, Amanda Blake Soule, I am carrying her tradition that I think is very sweet and makes for an inspirational weekend.

Wishing you a beautiful weekend!

A Day at the Beach

2010-07-27T07:56:00.000-04:00

By mid July, my body longs for the beach. We took our first trip on Sunday to Long Branch, New Jersey. It was our first time there. We chose it because it was a quick two hour drive from where we live. The forecast called for possible rain, but we got a good four hours out of the nice weather, then, had a surprisingly delicious late lunch at High Tide. The place didn't look like much from the outside or inside for that matter, but the food was very fresh, tastefully prepared, and extremely inexpensive for it's quality. I had a lobster roll with handcut fries while MJ had her favorite dish of the month, macaroni and cheese, that was so silky smooth. Then we made a dessert stop at Tasty D-lite, which I haven't had since my days as a Manhattanite. And thankfully, the rain didn't begin until we were on the road home.

Living off the Land

2010-07-13T15:24:00.000-04:00

Our plan for the summer was to sustain ourselves on just the land for our fresh produce. We planted blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries and were pleasantly surprised to find mulberries and wild blackberries already growing. Our blueberries didn't do as well as we expected. There is a large Japanese beetle population in our neighborhood and despite our efforts (beetle bags and homemade organic insecticide) they all but completely devoured the plants. The good news is that the blueberries are a perennial and will be back next year. I think I've also found an organic solution to these pests. There is a bacteria called milky spore, that when applied to the ground in August infects the beetle larvae as soon as they hatch disrupting the life cycle. It's completely harmless to all other plants, animals, and people and I believe it stays around for a couple of years.

Our raspberries did survive, perhaps because the produce a bit later and are thriving. We wake up each morning, walk Nana (our puppy), then head straight to the raspberry patch to pick our breakfast. If I had my drothers I'd have enough to make jam for jarring, but my little one can't get enough. They don't even make it in the house. No complaints though, she prefers them without any sugar added. We always have next year to plant more.

{this moment}

2010-07-09T15:32:00.003-04:00

In honor of a woman I truly admire, Amanda Blake Soule, I am carrying her tradition that I think is very sweet and makes for an inspirational weekend.

Wishing you a beautiful weekend!

Mary, How Does Your Garden Grow...

2010-07-09T08:05:00.001-04:00

Every morning, and several times a day, I check my garden to see what's ready for harvesting. This is our first official garden since we now have the space in our new home. I loved being in my grandfather's garden as a child. He grew tomatoes, green beans, wax beans, asparagus, and I think some squash...It's been a long time. He also had a few apple trees that I played hide-and-seek underneath and snacked while hiding. I attribute my love of fruit and vegetables to the time spent at my grandparents' house. I knew whenever I was there, there was always something fresh to picked and transformed into the family meals. I remember being hungry late one night (after the Merv Griffin show) and asking my grandmother for something to eat, expecting some cheese and crackers or some other convenient snack. Instead she went to the stove and prepared warm homemade applesauce from the apples in the backyard she had picked earlier that day. I had to be no more than 4, definitely before grade school, but I remember how special it was and that memory sticks with me today. I think it's important to teach our children the process from seed, to fruit, to table and the self reliance of being able to grow it yourself.

My scaredy cat, Mabel, carefully watches me garden and makes sure the plants don't get more attention than her.

Nana -Our Newest Edition

2010-07-07T19:49:00.011-04:00

After much discussion, debate, and planning... we picked up our new baby Saint Bernard, Nana in Pennsylvania on Saturday. Of course she was named after the famous nursemaid from Peter Pan.
MaryJane shrieked the whole way home in sheer delight.
At 10 weeks old, she's already bigger than her, but is a very gentle giant and almost housebroken.
She plays with her toys, putters around the lawn, and takes plenty of naps. She is a dream baby.
And I'm very confident she will be an amazing dog.

Mulberries

2010-06-19T07:36:00.016-04:00

I fall more and more in love with my new house each day. The folks that lived here before me took a lot of pride in this place and landscaped so that there is something new and interesting blooming from early spring all the way into fall. Nick and I have been adding perennial fruits to that landscape (we planted blueberry and raspberry bushes along the east side of the house) , so that we can harvest our own fruit each summer and "live off the land" so to speak.
We moved in right after the last big winter storm this past winter. When we got here this tree looked like it had seen better days and Nick wanted to take it down for safety purposes. I'm glad we decided to give it a chance because it is covered with mulberries.
We spent a good portion of the morning picking the berries. Its hard to collect a large amount while we're all stuffing them into our faces, but that's part of the fun.

If you've never tried a mulberry before, they resemble a blackberry in looks but are much juicier with a melon-like flavor. They contain all the antioxidants your average berry contains, just a little less common.

I've been throwing a handful in my morning smoothie.
I make one serving in the large magic bullet for my breakfast.
1/2 cup Stonyfield organic vanilla yogurt
1 banana
1 handfull mulberries
1 Tablespoon ground flaxseed
1 Tablespoon probiotic powder
1-3 ice cubes (quantity is your preference)
Fill the rest of large magic bullet container to the top with milk (approx. 2/3 cup) and pulse until blended.

A Lovely Morning

2010-06-11T14:00:00.015-04:00

On an easy Sunday morning in June,
I married my soul mate
At our wishing well on the side of our home. And our old garden did all the decorating work for us.

Keep on spreading the good word!

2010-06-01T12:43:00.005-04:00

SunChips has created a compostable bag. How wonderful?!?

Let's hope that this starts a trend, not only in the food industry.

Although my 3 person family is down to 1 bag of garbage a week, our recycling bin is still overflowing.

We need better packaging solutions and I think this is just perfect.

One side will make you grow taller...

2010-05-25T06:56:00.009-04:00

All the fancy toys money can buy don't add up to the simple pleasures that can be had in you own backyard. Our neighbors, Haley & Erica picked some wild mushrooms with their Grandma and just had to come over and share them.

They loved the texture of the different caps and their long stems.

They played for ages and then chased each other around the lawn barefoot.

Preparing the Land for Our New Garden

2010-05-03T05:55:00.014-04:00

A rewarding lunch menu for all our hard work...
Fresh Squeezed Strawberry Lemonade

Ravioli and sweet potatoes on top of mixed greens with organic chives from a friend's local farm drizzled with extra virgin olive oil
And homemade pizza made on the grill topped with tomato sauce, red peppers, leftover roasted chicken and fresh basil from our herb garden.

Hudson Valley Etsy Team - Spring Finds

2010-04-27T09:50:00.009-04:00

Etsy Treasury East

Pretty things from my amazingly talented team!

Last Big Blow-out on Lilly...

2010-04-23T14:36:00.022-04:00

I have been away from my blog because of my very bittersweet part from my old home on Lilly Street. However... we did leave with a bang. MaryJane's "Wizard of Oz" themed 3rd birthday party closed out our time spent there. It was loud and overcrowded, bare walls, and minimal furniture, but I think it was just perfect for saying goodbye.

Portrait of Mom

2010-02-25T20:15:00.005-05:00

So... technically she is still two (will be three next month), but I think this is a pretty impressive portrait of mom.

With hair...

And pretty shoes.

Valentine's Day

2010-02-15T08:37:00.007-05:00

We had a lovely Valentine's morning at Bank Square in Beacon followed by a trip to the Dia.

Bank Square has the most amazing white chocolate cappucchino and chocolate chip cookies made with sea salt to give that heavenly balance of salty and sweet.

We met the baker, Carly and her adorable daughter, Ella, and their dog Graham who gave MJ aValentine's smoocher.

The Dia seemed a wonderland to an almost 3 year old. The exhibits were like giants and the open space to run and skip was oh so much fun.

MaryJane really liked the Pirate ships she could run in and out of and the aquamarine in the Warhol exhibit.

How to make: Green Eggs & Ham

2010-02-07T14:39:00.019-05:00

First, you put your eggs in a small pot and fill with warm water.

Then, have Mom boil them on the stove.
While you're waiting for the eggs to cook, you can lay the ham out on the plate. Have a look around to see if anyone is watching...
If not, taste some or a lot of the ham. Every good chef samples her ingredients to make sure they're fresh.
Tastes goo-ood!
Next, prepare your greening ingredients. We put scallions, avocado, and a little bit of mayonnaise in the food processor.
Make sure you lick all the leftover avocado out of its shell, it's very good for you, you know...

Now, wait patiently while Mom cracks and splits the hard boiled eggs.
Add the yolks to the food processor with the green stuff and a little salt and pepper. Mix it up good!
Then stuff your eggs with the mixture and place them on the plate with the ham.
Would you eat them in a house?
Would you eat them with a mouse?
We will eat them here or there, we will eat them anywhere!
Even though they are a bit messy.
Voila! Green Eggs & Ham...well maybe not green...chartreuse is more like it, but you get the point. Very tasty to eat and entertaining to make. Hope you enjoy making it with your little one!

Christmas Cookies

2010-01-05T06:05:00.005-05:00

Nick bought MaryJane the easy slice and bake sugar log with Christmas trees on it so she could make her own. I thought her head would explode, she was so delighted. Mommy helped her slice them and put them in the oven. When they came out, she was told that she could look at them but to let them cool until Mommy said they were ok to eat.

As you can see by the guilty expression below, someone couldn't wait.
But all was fine, no burnt tongues. Cookies were enjoyed by all.

A New Pet

2009-11-30T09:05:00.003-05:00

Babycakes got her yearly vaccination and didn't even flinch so Mommy told her she could have a present, whatever she wanted. Of course, she wanted to go to the pet store.
Say hello to Sally Dorothy---or sometimes Judy. I guess all the names are so fabulous, she couldn't decide.

Thanksgiving Round Two

2009-11-30T08:48:00.007-05:00

We spent Thanksgiving at my parent's which nice and quiet, laid back. Then on Friday, we had Part II at the Politi house featuring 36 of the loudest people I've ever met.

I made home-made eggnog, I guess it was a hit.Then, Uncle Bobby busted out a harmonica and the children instantly transformed into Irish step dancers.

It was like a Dolly Parton Christmas special, but highly entertaining.After stuffing their faces full of gingerbread and dancing their pants off, the girls quietly farted their way to sleep.

Trick or Treat

2009-11-02T08:58:00.013-05:00

We were so lucky this year to have Halloween fall on a Saturday this year. We decided to visit all our family and trick or treat at their house rather than to go up and own the block (a bit monotonous for toddlers).
Stuffed chicken.
Our cousin Mary Loves chicken!

Those chicken feet are great tools for kicking up leaves...
Pop-Pop teaching our little butterball to play the organ.

Pumpkin Carving

2009-10-29T15:37:00.002-04:00

Okayyy so I guess Nick wins the carving contest this year. I will reluctantly hand over my belt.

Costumes in the making...

2009-10-29T15:26:00.006-04:00

MaryJane is stoked to be a chicken.
Not sure who's more stoked though?

I never met a squash I didn't like...

2009-09-12T17:29:00.008-04:00

Like all members of the gourd family (which includes pumpkin, melon, and cucumber), butternut squash is technically a fruit because it contains seeds. Squash's tangerine hue, however, indicates butternut's most noteworthy health perk. The color signals an abundance of powerhouse nutrients known as carotenoids, shown to protect against heart disease. In particular, the gourd boasts very high levels of beta-carotene (which your body automatically converts to vitamin A), identified as a deterrent against breast cancer and age-related macular degeneration, as well as a supporter of healthy lung development in fetuses and newborns. What's more, with only a 1-cup serving, you get nearly half the recommended daily dose of antioxidant-rich vitamin C. (courtesy of wholeliving.com)
My favorite ways to eat them:

Butternut Squash Soup

Mac aroni and Cheese with Butternut Squash

Lasagna with Butternut Squash and Sage

Cranberry Bean S alad with Butternut Squash and Bacon (mmm...bacon)

Our Trip to Jones' Farm

2009-08-05T10:38:00.005-04:00

As always, our trip was an adventure. MJ fed the chickens while Ranger, the horse, bit Nick (his own fault - right underneath him was a sign saying, "Grandma reminds us that all animals nibble, please do not feed the horses!") Then MJ had a meltdown because she didn't want to leave the bees, despite our efforts in luring her away with honey sticks. It's always a bittersweet visit.

Biker Girl

2009-07-31T09:44:00.002-04:00

Yes, the good old Little League Fair behind my parent's house...ahh the memories. This was the first year that MaryJane could actually ride the kiddie rides and she was thrilled. She rode these motorcycles about 15 times. My neighbor, JoAnn, said she was monopolizing them so the other kids couldn't ride. There were new sponsors this year so none of the fun stuff was offered (beer tent, big wheel gambling, etc.), but it was enjoyable for all intensive nostalgic purposes. And we got fried dough!

Minnewaska

2009-07-21T22:30:00.004-04:00

MJ, myself, and our Nick finally took our first hiking trip of the summer at Lake Minnewaska. We stopped at the mountain store first and got the best fresh pesto sandwiches while MJ napped. Then we had a little picnic on the lake where MaryJane persisted on convincing us why she needed to get in the lake. We didn't let her strong-arm us this time.

On the rest of the hike, after convinving Nick to let me push the carriage to exercise my upper body because I hate the gym and never go, we dodged hairy eyeballs and snickers from other male hikers, like..."Look at this schmohawk..."

Sorry Nick, you can push next time!

Great food when hiking in the Shawangunk mountains.

2009-07-08T12:13:00.002-04:00

3 of my favorite people: The Gza, The Rza, and Bill Murray in Coffee and Cigarettes.

4th of July '09

2009-07-06T08:02:00.001-04:00

MaryJane's first sparkler!

My first treasury dedicated to my first love...Michael Jackson.

2009-07-04T21:14:00.002-04:00

I likka the lobster...

2009-06-30T19:12:00.003-04:00

July is when everything starts to slow down. My priorities change from working, cleaning etc. to who's having a BBQ? And do they have a pool?

Well there's always a party at good old Bab's and Ed's so yesterday I decided to make them a summery treat for being so generous and hospitable every summer.

Lobster rolls courtesy of my friend Martha. I had always seen them at festivals, but they were so expensive and I was afraid they wouldn't be of great quality. I knew Martha wouldn't let me down. The hot buttery toasted rolls stuffed with lemony lobster salad...sorry I'm slobbering on the computer screen...

Last day of school

2009-06-26T13:23:00.003-04:00

Woo-hoo, I knew this day would come. I've been on hiatus from my blog for a while due to term garments, final exams/projects and all that stressful stuff, but I will be back and better than ever tomorrow and for the rest of the summer.

Now, I'm off to take a well deserved nap with the babe.

Eco-tip

2009-04-17T23:32:00.002-04:00

Use the back of old bill envelopes for your shopping list. Divide the envelope into sections of the grocery store, ie...produce, deli, grocery, meat, dairy, frozen, and miscellaneous. If you're a geek like me, put these categories in the order that yuo walk through the grocery store, as I did. Then list the items you need from inventorying your pantry and checking the sales flyers into the categories you need. Not only will this make your shopping trip easier, but you will be re-purposing those awful coats that your bills wear. My favorite part of this is that I can put my coupons inside the envelope!

Tis the Season for ...Asparagus!

2009-04-03T15:59:00.004-04:00

Yes kiddies, asparagus is officially back in season. How does one discern between good and bad asparagus you may be asking yourself? The most tender, fresh, and flavorful picks will be very thin and almost purple at the tips.
More likely, you're asking, "Why does asparagus make my pee smell bad?"
Good question... Asparagus contains a sulfur compound called mercaptan. It is also found in onions, garlic, rotten eggs, and in the secretions of skunks. The signature smell occurs when this substance is broken down in your digestive system. Not all people have the gene for the enzyme that breaks down mercaptan, so some of you can eat all the asparagus you want without stinking up the place.
Unfortunately, I am not one of the lucky few, but I do eat all the asparagus I want because they're loaded with B vitamins and potassium which, in my book, negates the stinky pee.
Here is a delicious recipe that I love to make in the spring (above pictured), courtesy of my friend, Martha.

Morel and Asparagus Sandwiches with Poached Egg
Ingredients
Serves 4
1 cup best-quality whole-milk ricotta cheese
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
10 ounces asparagus, trimmed
4 ounces small morel mushrooms (halved or quartered if large)
1/2 cup homemade or low-sodium store-bought chicken stock
3 tablespoons heavy cream
4 teaspoons finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
4 teaspoons finely chopped fresh chervil
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
4 very fresh large eggs
4 slices ( 1/2 inch thick) rustic bread, lightly toasted

Directions:
Stir together ricotta, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and pinch of pepper in a bowl; set aside.
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add butter and oil; heat until butter has melted. Add asparagus, and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Stir in mushrooms. Add stock, and bring to a simmer. Cover, and cook 2 minutes. Uncover, and cook until asparagus is tender and bright green, about 2 minutes more. Add cream; cook until reduced and slightly thickened, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in herbs and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper; remove from heat.
Bring a large shallow saucepan of water to a simmer. Working with 1 egg at time, break into a cup, and slide egg into water. Cook the eggs until whites are set, 2 to 3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer eggs to a plate lined with paper towels to drain.
Spread ricotta mixture over bread slices, dividing evenly. Divide asparagus among slices, and drizzle with sauce. Top each with a poached egg. Season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.

Words to live by...

2009-04-01T19:38:00.002-04:00

Never mind what-is.
Imagine it the way you want it to be so that your
vibration is a match to your desire.
When your vibration is a match to your desire,
all things in your experience will gravitate
to meet that
match every time.

2009-04-01T19:27:00.003-04:00

The two greatest home-ec teachers that ever lived (and looking fabulous if I may add)...Representin' FMS & HMS, my old stomping grounds!

Upcycling Contest

2009-04-01T06:30:00.002-04:00

My pack-rat, can’t throw anything, water down the shampoo and ketchup bottle has been fueled by my Dad’s child rearing. “Turn that off, Letitia Ann!” was a common phrase yelled through the house growing up. I hated it. It made me feel like we were poor. He repeatedly told me, “One day, you’ll say my Dad was right…” Well I guess I’m here and you were right, Dad. Funny enough, I think the whole world is starting to agree that my Dad was right. In fact, it is paradoxical to think we are poor because we don’t waste, when in actuality the only way we can avoid being poor is to not waste. Every little bit counts!

Upcycling Contest

New Book--Cradle to Cradle

Cool Article

I'm a pretty, pretty princess...it's a full time gig...

2009-03-29T20:05:00.003-04:00

So my beautiful daughter turned two on Saturday---the party was a success, even though my cake was kind of wack. She really likes that show, Mighty B, so I decided to make her a cake in the shape of a beehive. It seemed like a great idea...marzipan dyed yellow and rolled into ropes to wrap around a giant dome shaped cake. I used brownie mix and baked it a lower temperature for a longer period of time, so the middle wouldn't be too gooey. It ended up sinking anyway and MJ really liked ripping the marzipan off while I was putting it on. It was her birthday, so I let her.

Spring is here at last...I think

2009-03-24T21:05:00.007-04:00

MJ and I are trying to break our winter doldrums and get started on veggie and flower garden, so on Sunday we planted our little seeds landing more dirt on my patio than in the little trays. In the end we succeeded and I schlepped them in to the beautiful little greenhouse at NRHS. Grow little babies, grow!
Here are some fabulous links for the amateur gardener that teach the best organic and frugal ways to do things:
-5 tips for beginner vegetable gardeners

-Learn About Organic Garden Design on a Budget and Reap The Benefits of Cheap Healthy Food