Eat Pray Love

Eat Pray Love and I have a love/hate relationship. I never read the book when it came out. I would pass right by on it on a weekly basis in the NYT's Book Review. Wasn't for me. Then the author was everywhere in the press and TV. Then she was on Oprah and that clinched for me. (You know, everything she touches turns to GOLD!) So, in an attempt to get up to speed quickly, I listened to the audiobook. It is read by the author and there was something about her voice and they way she would pronounce the foreign terms in the perfect accent (a la Alex Trebek). The story however, I felt was contrived. Especially the Eat section. It was almost as though she forced herself to do things so that she could write about them. And, then I learned that she had pitched the concept to a publisher prior to her trip and received an upfront bonus for it. I felt cheated.

I finished the book and started a small obsession with meditation. I downloaded all kinds of apps and guides from iTunes. I tried it. I experienced all the things everyone says they experience. Instead of emptying my thoughts or concentrating, I would make a grocery list or to do list or fall asleep. I was a spiritual failure. Then the movie came out and everywhere I went I saw Julia's wide, toothy grin. I was annoyed. Then the movie became available for rent. Thanks to Netflix I was already paying a monthly fee for unlimited rentals, so I put it on the top of my queue. And, then it showed up in my mailbox one day. I filed it with the rest of the mail and kinda ignored it. Then one day I had a hole in my day. No husband, dog or baby. No laundry or grocery shopping. No nothing. So, I put it in. And watched it. I was completely swept up in it. I thought I could do anything. I thought I could meditate and eat and travel and live in hovels. I thought I was Julia Roberts. And, then I looked in the mirror. Oh, that damn mirror. I felt cheated all over again. And, that's why we have a love hate relationship.

Konflicted No More

And on the 7th night of Chanukah, I took the plunge. Or, rather CityCrab did it for me. I received the Nookcolor. I had done thorough research and while I am a diehard Amazon fan (and will continue to be), I felt the Nook offered everything I wanted at the right price. The color was what really won me over. Or rather, the color at that price point. Sure, the kindle is a little lighter. But I'm making due. I've spent the last few days playing with it and while I have lots to learn about, I am happy to report I am an ereader convert.

December Dilemma

It was inevitable. And it happened today. We were in Target in the return line and I was pleading with CityBaby to stand still and stop fidgeting. I know the Target return line is the last place he wanted to be but it had to be done. I was employing one of my great parenting skills: bribery. I can't recall the exact words but it was something along the lines of: if you stop and behave, I will buy you a toy. Yep, that was it. Exactly. So, the kind woman in the Christmas sweater in front of me turned around and smiled at us and looked down at CityBaby and said, "you must have been a good boy to get a toy." Then it happened in a blink of an eye. It was like the vase that is falling off the table. You see it in slow motion and run to catch it, but you can't get there fast enough to stop it from smashing all over the floor.

"What did you ask Santa for, you good little boy?"

And, there it was. All over the floor, a million pieces of glass.

CityBaby looked up at her, with this quizzical look on his face that quickly turned to a blank stare. Oy. I smiled weakly. One of those "I didn't hear what you said but I am going to act like I did" smiles. Luckily, the next cashier was open and she was called away. I exhaled.

I guess the good thing is that he didn't wish her "Happy Chanukah." Or say "Who's Santa?" or "What is Santa?" or tell her something way worse.

I came home and made a note on a post-it that reads "Discuss Christmas."

Cuppa Tea, Love?

A little known fact about me is that I know how to make a proper cup of tea. I was schooled in this by a British friend. When the weather turns cold and crisp, tea becomes a frequent treat for me.

The water must not be boiled but rather brought up to just before boiling. A good indication is when the kettle starts to emit lots of steam and the water is just starting to bubble. Pour just a little water, a spot, if you will, of water into the tea pot and roll it around so the pot warms. Toss this water. Place loose tea leaves into the pot and pour in the water directly from the kettle. Let it steep 3-5 minutes. Here is the pivotal part: place a small strainer over the cup and pour the tea through the strainer. It'll catch all the loose tea and leave you with a smooth cup of warm tea. You can add milk. I don't. Best enjoyed with biscuits. That's cookies to you neophytes.

A few notes:

I had trouble finding the perfect strainer and was lucky enough to receive one from abroad. The one I use is a Masterclass. It is the perfect size and mesh size. Amazon has a bunch of different types available.

I have been enjoying loose tea for a few years now. I used to visit Urbana in Charlotte. And now get my tea from Earthfare, where it is sold in bulk. I like green, rooibos and black tea.

I never eat biscuits or cookies or biscotti or finger sandwiches with my tea.

My tea set is very traditional. Bodum also makes great pots and cups, too.

And, lastly, if you are looking for an authentic and fun tea experience, should you find yourself in London, visit The Berkley for their Fashionista afternoon tea. It is adorable and the biscuits mimic the latest fashions by the hottest designer. Think edible Alexander McQueen, Zac Posen and Louboutin.

Cheerio!

Betty Crocker Morning

When life wakes you up at 6:30 am and you are staring at 3 rotting bananas and 1 black (yes, black) banana, what do you do? You channel your best Betty Crocker and get to work on some muffins. I am sure that if Betty were looking down from above, she would have been disappointed in my this morning. I was still in my pajamas, my hair was less than 60s coif perfect and I didn't even butter. But nonetheless, by the time everyone else woke up this morning, the kitchen was awash in the aroma of warm banana nut muffins. I decided to make jumbo muffins by filling each tin to the top. Rules, be damned! There were delish and CityCrab, CityBaby and even Reuben agree. Here's a reprint of my go to recipe for any kid of muffin. These make great apple nut muffins, too. Just substitute shredded apple for the bananas. And, just so I feel better about it, I use 1/2 whole wheat flour, Splenda brown sugar and substitute butter with applesauce.

2 cups flour - 1 cup white, 1 cup wheat
1.5 teaspoons baking soda
4 bananas (or apples or peaches or pears or whatever)
1 cup brown sugar, Splenda blend
3/4 cup applesauce
2 eggs
1/2 cup nuts (pecans or walnuts or almonds or whatever)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Mix eggs, applesauce and sugar in mixer.
Add flour and baking soda.
Mash bananas in a separate bowl with a fork. I like them chunky.
Then fold bananas into batter. Add nuts and hand stir until incorporated.
Place in muffin tin. This batch made 12 big muffins.
Bake for 18-24 minutes, depending on oven.

Very easy and delicious. My coffee finished brewing in time to enjoy both together.

Back to the Needles

If you are a frequent reader you know I am a sometime knitter who has a lot of yarn. And by a lot, I mean A LOT. It is tucked away in every corner of my house. It occupies under the bed boxes, bins in every closet including the laundry room and linen closet. I have found that I can masquerade it in CityBaby's arts & crafts stuff among stickers & glitter & glue. This leaves me stuck with finding lots of inspiration.

As I go down the rabbit hole know as the world wide web, I often browse knitting sites for inspiration. I have several categories of patterns I find: things I love but could never knit, things I love but don't want to knit and my comfort zone. My comfort zone is made up of scarves, hats, shawls, wraps and bags. Things that don't require too much thinking or expertise. There is also another category of patterns I find that like but think I can change to suit my taste, expertise or timeframe. I may be a sometime knitter but I am an excellent pattern maker.

So, I found a bag I really like. Something I think I will actually use. And I have some gorgeous deep gray wool I scored in Florence (and subsequently schlepped back to the US and through customs) that would make a beautiful winter bag. And, since winter is just about on us (and I only have a small window here in the South) I need to get cracking. Here is the bag:




Imagine it in a deep gray. Gorg, right?

And, here is my vision for what my bag will look like: no pleats - there is no way I can even pretend like I can pull that off. My version will be a slouchy bag with rounder handles than the ones pictured. I plan to start today (like I have a choice with the winter meter running).

I found this pattern on Lion Brand's site and since it is free, I am passing it on.

Chanukah Feast

My paternal grandmother was a good cook. She was not a chef, certainly not by any definition we know today. She was consistent. She used the basics: butter and oil and white flour. She was born in this country but to immigrant parents so she had lots of old world recipes. The old world being Hungary. Between my mother, my aunt and even my father, we have a lot of her recipes. The challenge is that since she was not a trained cook, she cooked by feeling. As such, her recipes go something like this: a handful of this, some of that until it looks right. My aunt has some of her recipes written down. For example, she has my the brisket recipe that my grandmother was able to squeeze out of Mendel, circa 1950 kosher butcher to the stars, written on the paper they used to wrap meat. But, I am not here to talk brisket - that would be way too controversial. With Chanukah right around the corner, my focus is turning out latkes for a 1st night feast.

The key to cooking these latkes does not lie in the ingredients alone. Preparation is vital. Over the years, we have all tried to cut corners. Who wants to break their back hunched over a grater turning 10lbs of potatoes into shreds? I know from experience (mine and others) that a Cuisinart, a mandolin or ricer will not yield the delicious latkes of my youth. So, I use a box grater and I grate and grate down to my bleeding knuckles. Here is the recipe, again, with no measurements. That just adds to the charm.

Figure about 1 potato per person. Grate potatoes on a box grater using the largest shred side. Grate directly into the bowl. Drain any liquid that has accumulated by just pouring it out of the bowl.

For every 4-5 potatoes you use, grate 1/2 an onion, using the same grater side, directly into the bowl.

If you are using at least 4 potatoes (and who bother doing this for less than that?) then mix in 2 eggs. Next come the tricky part. You can use either white all-purpose flour or matzah meal and throw in at a handful at a time. Mixing until it looks like it is coming together. You don;t want it too thick and the liquid should still be loose not pasty. See? I told you thi way of cooking is really hard.

Then ground in lots of black pepper. Salt is optional.

Next, cover a heavy bottomed pan with oil. You are frying after all. Use either vegetable or canola. Paging Dr. Agatston. It should be about 1/4" deep. Oil needs to be hot. Then lift out the latke batter using a large fork and place into hot oil. Theo first batch is considered a lost leader. Use this to taste the batter and make seasoning adjustments, if necessary.

Draining the latkes is very important. My grandmother used paper grocery bags. And that is what I use. I "forget" my recyclable bags for 2 weeks prior to Chanukah so I can stock up on paper bags. As the edges of the latkes begin to brown in the oil. flip them (carefully) and allow both sides to brown. Then remove them and place them on the paper bags to drain. Then they can be placed on a cookie sheet and in a warm oven until ready to serve.

Clean up is a nightmare. There is now way around it. You will have oil splattered everywhere. Your hair will smell, your kitchen will smell and your clothes will smell. It's worse than fajita night at Chili's. But when you sit down and eat them you will forget at that because these will be the best latkes you will ever taste.

Other Chanukah serving selections include fried chicken or chicken tenders. Since the miracle of Chanukah is that there was enough oil to last 8 days, this holiday is centered around fried food. So, donuts or sufganiyah are another popular item. I serve my latkes old school with sour cream and apple sauce. And, I'll whip up a batch of coleslaw just to get some vegetables in there but I always have it left over.

From there it's on to gelt and gifts. Then clean up just in time for the second night. Just kidding. I only serve latkes the first night. I can only channel my grandmother so often - she gets tired, too.

From Mashed to Fried.........

With Thanksgiving behind me, I now turn my thoughts to Chanukah. Especially, since it starts in 5 days. Yes, thanks to the lunar calendar, this year we go from stuffing to latkes in just a matter of days. The upside? I am completely done with the holiday shopping season by early December. The downside? I've got to plan 2 holidays back to back. So, now I shift my thinking to all things starch. I am having a small, casual Chanukah get together the first night. The prep will be easy, it's standing over hot oil frying latkes that becomes the challenge. Also, I've only got a few days to finish gift buying & wrapping and tracking down chocolate gelt. No rest for the weary.

Thanksgiving Recap

It has taken me 2 days to get this post together as my recovery is taking longer this year. The meaning of Thanksgiving (being grateful and being with family) was accomplished. I tried a few different things this year and it went well. However, there is always room for improvement. I only served a few h'or d'oeuvres since everyone complained about too many last year. And, of course, they complained about that, too (welcome to a Jewish Thanksgiving). But serving prosecco and cava was a hit. As was serving fried chicken for the kids. Ann, of course, saved the gravy again as well kept the kitchen moving smoothly. Pulling off Thanksgiving dinner for 27 people reminds me of all the things for which I am thankful. I am already planning 2011.

Let's Do The Time Warp Again

Yesterday in the NYTimes there was an article about time shifting holidays. This is something we have done for years. When I tell other people we do this, I never once heard a "me, too" so I was intrigued to read someone else's interpretation. Time shifting the holidays allows you to celebrate the holiday when it works for you. This is especially convenient for Jewish holidays since they are based on a lunar calendar and you never know when they will occur year to year, as opposed to Christmas, which, in case you haven't heard, is on the December 25th every year. Over the years, CityCrab's family has become a bit of a diaspora. As long as I've known him (10+ years), his family has always celebrated Chanukah over Christmas. This allows children and grandchildren who live states away the time to come to Charleston. And, it's not like we are doing anything else. So, every year on Christmas Day night we gather at my in-laws for latkes and donuts and dreidels and presents. Everyone goes home happy and full. And, by December 31st rolls around we can all say we took part in a Chanukah celebration.

Homework

Last week, CityBaby came home from preschool with homework. Homework! It was a blank turkey with instructions to decorate it as a family for placement in the class turkey farm. Let me back up and add that there are 6 kids in his class. So, there's a lot of pressure. Since we were late in getting it in, I was able to view the work of his classmates and their families, giving me somewhat of a competitive edge. But, also more pressure. Since it's Fall-ish here I thought a natural approach would work. I promised CityBaby all day that when he got home we would go on a nature walk, collect leaves and glue it to the turkey. Glue is his all time favorite activity lately so I knew this was a strategic move. Of course, since it had to be done as a family we asked Reuben to join us. And, off we went....

We collected a big bag of leaves. I really had to be creative since we don't have a ton of turning leaves and Palm trees don't turn. And, I had to explain why rocks would not work. As you can imagine, this quickly became a "mommy collects and everyone else plays" project.

As soon as we got home it was all about glue. It was all he could talk about. So, we quickly got down to task. I had envisioned taking the leaves and ripping them apart and re-gluing them in a mosaic pattern. So much for artistic vision. I had to do my best to keep the turkey from being glued to the table or the dog. And, everyone got in on the act.
Regardless, this was a fun project and CityBaby is very proud of the finished product. And, I am relieved it's over.

Thanksgiving? More Like Giving Up

Hard to believe it is already Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving marks the birthday of my blog and this year is my 4th anniversary. It also marks a source of extreme stress. And, I say this with the best of spirits. After the Fall I've had, the last thing I feel like doing is planning for Thanksgiving. But, I am a glutton for pusnihsment and I enjoy it. So, earlier this week, I dusted off my master spreadsheet and got to work. Updated my guest list, recounted how many people I can fit in my house, edited the menu (less h'or d'oeuvres this year), secured help (can't do it wihtout Ann), counted my silverware and my flower vases. The rest of the week was filled with calling and confirming (would your 12 year old be opposed to sharing CityBaby's high chair? Are you sure?), checking linens for stains and determining if a strategically placed water pitcher would cover last year's Passover Manischewitz stain. Hosting 30 people, family members, natch, is no easy task. But by the time I've had a few glasses of wine and the parade is playing in the background and everyone is eating and bickering over whose mashed potatoes are better, it all seems worth it. Did I mention there is wine?

Pimp My Muffin

I am a night cooker. That means after everything else is done for the day, CityBaby is down, I pull out the recipes and KitchenAid and go to it. I have been looking for a healthy muffin alternative. I had a bunch of browning bananas last week and lacking time and creativity, I went to my standby recipe. It includes 3/4 cup of butter. Real butter. Can you hear my arteries hardening? Last night, I was looking at a bunch of turning apples so I decided to experiment. I took a banana nut muffin recipe and altered it. I replaced the butter with applesauce, split the flour into 1cup each of white and wheat and used the Splenda brown sugar blend. They came out delicious. Admittedly, they are denser than your typical muffin but with practically no fat and lots of fiber, they are a great alternative. Plus, everyone here loves them. But please don't tell them the truth.

Low Fat, High Fiber Apple Nut Muffins

2 cups flour (1 cup white flour, 1 cup wheat)
1.5 teaspoons of baking powder
1 cup brown sugar (I use Splenda brown sugar blend)
3/4 cup applesauce
2 eggs
1/2 cups walnuts
2 apples - peeled and shredded

In a mixer, combine eggs and applesauce. Then add in sugar and mix well. Add flour and baking powder into mixer and combine everything. Then hand stir in shredded apples and walnuts just to combine. You don't want to beat this too much at this point.

I like a bigger muffin, so I fill the muffin tins to about the top. This recipe yielded 12 muffins. Bake in a 375 degree over for 18-20 minutes. Since these are dense, I recommend checking with a toothpick or skewer to test when done. Remove from oven when brown on top and done inside. Let stand for a few minutes then remove from pan.

NaNoWriMo Huh?

NaNoWriMo stands for National November Writing Month. This was a movement created to help fledgling writers motivate. And, anyone who is or knows a fledgling writer, knows that we need motivation. You commit to writing a 50,000 word (or roughly 175 page) novel during the month of November. I did this last year. Well, rather, I started last year and only got to about 4,000 words. So, this year I am going to dust off that document and see if I can finish it. Or at least make a dent. I challenge anyone who has a story inside them to do it. Just open up a word doc and start writing. Sign up here.

Knitting for a Cause

I certainly don't need an excuse to knit especially since I have been a roll this Fall. However, when I friend and fellow knitter told me about a fundraiser, I jumped aboard. There's a little boy in Charlotte with neuroblastoma, a cancer common in children. A local woman, who also runs a knitting store, created a pattern with proceeds going to help this little boy. Read more about it here. It's a throw knit with about 8 different yarns. Different textures but complementary colors. So, this friend was kind enough to schlep to this woman's house and pick out the colors for me, which I love - all pinks and purples. I picked up the big bag of yarn last week and and have yet to start since I am finishing up a smaller project. However, I am anxious to dig in. What a great excuse.

Through The Lens

About 7 years ago just prior to our honeymoon, CityCrab and I bought our first digital camera. CityCrab is a man of extreme research so he scoured the internet, polled people, bought Consumer Reports and spent several weekends trying out cameras. When we were ready to pull the trigger, I clearly remember the cold February morning we schlepped over the new Best Buy on 23rd St and plunked down almost 400 bucks for a Sony digital camera. 400 bucks? But it had everything. It took video and crystal clear pictures. That camera took us around the world including 3 different states we lived in, through a million holidays, 2 dogs and the birth of CityBaby. That last one is especially important to the story because it was that same prodigal son who thought it would be a fun science experiment to drop the camera down the stairs. Clunk, clunk, clunk all the way down. The funny part is that except for the lens that wouldn't recede and the fact that the back screen was black, the camera still worked. But clearly, it was time for a new one. And, I decided if I was going to get one in a timely manner, I better do the research myself. So, I asked around, purchase the $5/month Consumer Reports online subscription and got to work. I thought I was sold on the Canon Powershot. But for some reason I was drawn to the Nikon. Was it the name? Was it my rebellious side to buck the system and reject the ever-popular Canon? Not sure, but when the final decision was made, it was the Nikon Coolpix. This time we bought it online for a cool 254 bucks. The jury was still out since CityCrab had completely delegated the purchase to me. This was a little stressful. I felt as though I had to put together a comprehensive PowerPoint presentation outlining my overall strategy with a sensitivity and cost-benefit analysis. I was holding my breath for the first 2 weeks. Then we were on vacation at the beach and he turned to me and said, "Good job, D. This is a great camera." Huge sigh..........

A BAD Case of the Mondays

Monday was a doozy. We had just returned Sunday night from a whirlwind South Florida trip. CityBaby was due back at school and not happy about it. Reuben was emotionally scared from spending the week at camp and physically sick, too. CityCrab was complaining of a cold. And, me? I was holding it all together with a paper clip and a rubber band. It started early with CityBaby coughing himself awake. Then Reuben dashed downstairs ahead of everyone to wait at the front door with that "you better let me out" look. I let Reuben out, I dressed and fed CityBaby, I got dressed (I think) and I ran out the door to head off to school. I literally ran out the door because as I was sitting in the car, ready to pull out of the driveway, I noticed I actually left the back door open. Yes - wide open. I get in the car, already late, and decided that rather than wipe off the side view mirrors or wait for the heater to clear them, I'll just wing it. Heck, I've done this a million times. Well, I winged it alright. Right into our DirecTv dish. Which also happens to sit adjacent to our house. I was met with a loud crunch and then a "Whoa!" from CityBaby. Oof! I got out, checked the damage (broken light, scratch on the car) and actually bent back the dish, like if I did that then it would be alright. But, hey, I was late. I didn't have time to linger. I filed it under "Deal with Later." I jumped back in the car and made my way, safely, out of the driveway. Then my cell rings.
I answer as calmly as I can.
"Hello?"
"Did you just drive into the side of the house?"
Pause. How often do you expect to have to answer that to your husband?
"Um, yes." I had nothing. I had to go with the truth. I needed to garnish all the favor I could.
"Ok, well, we have no TV."
Pause on both ends.
"I'll call DirecTv and see if they can get someone out here today."

How's that for a Monday?



























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Off The Grid

The last 8 weeks have been chaotic. Since the beginning of September, I haven't had a week without travel or a holiday. It's exhausting. I just completed my last trip and feel like I missed Fall. I have been making an effort to disconnect from time to time. For exmaple, I have stopped checking emails or reading online at night just before bed - it gears me up. And, I have really tried to put down the blackberry while waiting at a stop light or when waiting in the line at the store. But, now that I am home and have no travel plans ahead, it feels good to be back on the grid. I can re-stock the refrigerator and not worry about buying fruit that will turn before we eat it. And, I can unpack my toothbrush. And, it's finally time to delve back into that book I started over the summer.

Return of Craigslist

Remember the tale of the Craigslist nanny? Well, consider this Craigslist Part Deux. Mama Ruth has a rental property that she manages on her own. We all think this is crazy. There isn't any reason a 92 year old woman needs to be doing this but she likes to be hands-on (read: control freak). So, she asked me to help her post her ad on Craigslist. Apparently, since the murder and all, she has educated herself about it. So, using my journalistic expertise, I help her construct an ad that would actually attract someone (but not a murderer). I post it. I call to tell her it's up and she tells me she just got off the phone with an interested party. How is that for real time? Feeling pretty confident in my abilities, I pat myself on the back. Then I get the call. I pick up the phone and she is already talking, as usual. "...need to put the ad at the top of the page. Go back in and re-post it." Seriously? So, 6 months ago you thought people got murdered online and now you know about search rankings? You don't own a computer, your answering machine has a dial on it that you use to rewind the tape and you go to the bank everyday to cash a check and get your balance. Well, wonders never cease.

And, if for some reason you are looking for a nice beach rental, check it out here.

A few weeks ago, I blogged about knitting. In the spirit of closure, I wanted to post my finished product. Here is the laptop bag:















I have also completed a few other projects but have not had a chance to photograph them. I finished the weekend bag made of that delicious brown yarn. I also dashed off a hat & scarf for CityBaby (children's projects go real fast since they are so small). I'm trying to get a picture of him modeling them, hence the delay there. I am working on a lavender angora scarf for myself and a few scarves as gifts. I also have a cool project on its way, which I'll blog about later. As you can see, I've been hitting the sticks, hard.

Life's a Beach and Then it's Fall

Apparently, when you live in the South on the coast, you vacation at the beach in the Fall, a term I use loosely. The instruction manual clearly mandates that you avoid the beach all summer thereby avoiding the heat, humidity and annoying beach crowds. (I need to work on embracing tourism.) I use the term fall loosely because Fall in the lowcountry makes it debut the end of November, if we're lucky and makes it exit around mid-December. Then we have "Winter", another loose term, which picks up where Fall left off and leaves end of February. That's Charleston weather 101. So, here we are, last week of September, at the beach. Guess what? It's delightful. I don't have to contend with crowds or my Jew-fro (humidity has significantly decreased) or fight with CityCrab over the internal temperature. CityBaby has quickly become accustomed to beach in the morning and pool in the afternoon and I have found my inner relaxation button and turned it on. Plus, I am now a skinnygirl sangria expert. It's so light & refreshing, you can drink it all day.

Clean Slate

In the Jewish religion, we just welcomed our new year, 5771. This was after a week of holidays where we reflect, apologize, confront our sins and repent. No easy task. This has always been my favorite holiday, oddly enough. I have very good childhood memories of my family celebrating and being together, and these continue today as I create them for my son. I also like the fact that Judaism encourages you to atone for every sin in a group setting so that no one is singled out for any one thing. It's our own version of "Don't ask, don't tell." I like the idea of doing it in one fell swoop. I believe it was Jon Stewart who commented that even in religion, we pay wholesale. OK, it was funnier in person. I also like the idea of having a mid-year new year, where we can make resolutions that get us through to the secular new year. Low bar, if you catch my drift. In any event, I feel refreshed and renewed and ready to face 5771.

Konflicted

As an avid reader, I am conflicted about the new wave of e-readers that have recently hit the market. First and foremost, I am conflicted as to whether I should even get one. I love books. I love looking at the author's picture, reading their biography, which I often flip to at several points throughout any book. I like being able to flip back in the story and refresh, if I have to. And I like the way they look on my shelves. I grew up surrounded by books. Literally. Piled in floor to ceiling bookshelves. Plus, as a recent library convert, I'm not so sure I want to go back to buying books. Citycrab has pointed out endless times that online content is cheaper than written content but it's not purely economical with me. I did some research thinking that might help me get over my issues. The information was overwhelming. I even paid for a monthly Consumer Report online membership. (Side note: you can join for $5.99 for a month. Totally worth it, IMO.) Kindle, Nook, E-reader, iPad and various other models. I remain konflicted. And, overwhelmed, too.

Formerly

I'm a little late to the game on this one. This article was featured in NYTimes Style section about 3 weeks ago and I completely missed it. Then I saw some cryptic tweets and had to go back and piece together what this was all about. Basically, Stephanie Dolgoff, a female author, decided to create a moniker for her station in life. Late 30s, early 40s, married with children and formerly hot. Ok, well I don't necessarily buy it. It has some underlying tones of a PR ploy. Make up something that creates controversy and get lots of publicity for yourself, your website and your upcoming book. So, I do think part of this was crafted in a 27th floor PR agency conference room. But you got to give a girl credit. As for the formerly hot bit, well, that's where I think it falls short. So, just because you are "older" and married with kids doesn't necessarily mean you lose your edge. I know lots of hot, got in going on in many areas of their life mamas (and you know who you are.) It's like saying that a 45-year old unever married man is gay. I don't subscribe to it. I checked out the website. More of the same. As for the book, it falls into the I-wouldn't-buy-it-but-I-might-get-it-from-the-library category. (a la Jill Zarin's Jewish Mother book.) I've decided that there a lot of things that I am formerly but I'm really interested in rehashing that.

Keeping Abreast

The women in my family take their breasts very seriously. Breast health is certainly important and fortunately, we have never had anything serious. However, the bras you wear, is a whole different story. We are a progressive group of women but you would never find one of us burning a bra. And guess where Mama Ruth wears her red Kabbalah ribbon? Coincidence? I don't think so. I remember being on the edge of puberty and having my mother schlep me to Saks so I could stand in a beige-toned dressing room and have my tiny breasts measured. by an 108 year old women, who paraded in with several styles. Talk about humiliation. A couple of years ago Oprah did a ground breaking expose about how 85% of women wear the wrong size. This story included lots of measuring and sharing, of course. When my mother found out that the store featured in the story was in Atlanta, she promptly scheduled a trip the following weekend. Now, every time she goes to Atlanta, she schedules time to meet with her brasmith. Anyone who has gone in search of proper foundation knows it is not cheap. Well, fear no longer. I received an email this weekend with subject line simply shouting: BRAS! Granted my mother does not know email etiquette but the irony of all caps was not lost on me. I opened the email to find a store located right here in my current state of South Carolina that sells all the "best names at discount prices." The interior of the email simply read as this: Order a lot, try them on - you can return them." Thanks, Ma. Now I will never be met with the hair raising comment that I look nice but if I was wearing a better bra I would look better.

For more hilarity in the breast department, I highly recommend the documentary short A Good Uplift. It's the best 13 minutes of your life.

2nd Avenue Deli

When I get asked what I miss about New York, I often answer Broadway shows (I didn't go all that often) or Central Park or Bloomingdales (which is a completely legitimate answer) or the energy of the city. But what I should say is 2nd Avenue Deli. I ate there a handful of times as a child although my parents were bigger Carnegie Deli fans. Citycrab took me on our first date there. I ordered something I am embarassed to admit and he still makes fun of me: salami and eggs. What was I thinking? I was thinking I am not going to go whole hog on a corned beef.

We spent many mornings waiting in line, our mouths watering over the rugelach in the case and we prayed for someone to pay their check and leave. Then, there was the pickled tomato incident. I grew up on pickled tomatoes. They were a mainstay at Sunday afternoon lunch at my grandparents. Well, one day while we were perusing our menus I ordered a diet Dr. Brown's black cherry and some pickled tomatoes. CityCrab shot me a nasty look as if to say, if you inconvenience the waiter, he'll serve us cold soup. Well, needless to say, he came right back with my tomatoes. And, to this day, CityCrab consistently eats them when I bring them home in jars. The other classic I love from there is the health salad. A sweet, tangy and slightly oily (but in a good way) coleslaw, if you will. As I have taken on canning as a recent hobby, I had dreams of 2nd Ave. pickles. Well, thanks to amazon.com and a purveyor of used books, I am now in possession of the offical cookbook.

In addition to the wonderful stories and memories listed inside, they have the 2 greats: pickles and health salad. Of course, CityCrab remarked, they do not have their corned beef or pastrami recipe in there but who can blame them? So, I got cracking on the health salad. It lives up to it's name with lot of cabbage and just 2 tablespoons of oil. I am fermenting a batch now and will can it tomorrow. That way I can enjoy 2nd Ave. all winter long. I'll conquer pickles next.

Diamonds ARE a Girl's Best Friend

A friend of mine reps a jewelry line called Stella & Dot. I am not a huge jewelry person. By that, I mean my lifestyle doesn't necessarily require that I accessorize meself on a regular basis. I do a lot of yoga pants and hair in a pony tail. However, when I saw these gems, I was smitten. So, I decided to host a trunk show, invite some friends, whip up some skinnygirl sangria and shop away. In the final analysis, although I could have bought a lot more, I ended up some really nifty things. My friends did, too. And, the skinnygirl sangria was a hit!

Here's the recipe:

Skinnygirl Sangria
Serves 6 to 8

8 peaches, sliced into wedges
4 white plums, sliced into wedges
1 pound of green grapes split in half
3 bottles of Prosecco
1 can of diet lemon lime soda
1 can of club soda
Combine all ingredients into a large pitcher and add ice. Chill for an hour to set or serve immediately.

And, if you want to check out the jewels, go here.

Knitting

As someone who knits, I don't do it often. I enjoy it but have to be inspired and motivated. Plus, I hardly ever get to my local yarn store. Not that I need any yarn. I've got yards and yards of all types.
A few weeks ago I was cleaning off papers from my desk and came across a pattern for a Leigh Radford-designed laptop bag. I had the perfect yarn to pull it off. So, I got started casting on and have been feverishly knitting the last 2 weeks or so. This pattern is super easy. You are bascially knitting a big rectangle which you then fold it half, sew up the sides and felt. The rectangle should be about 52" long. I knit and measure. Knit and measure. 18". 24". 32" Ugh. Another 20 to go? And, just when I could see the end, I looked at the bottom of my project bag (a repurposed Banana Republic shopping bag - nothing but the best!) to find the end of yarn.
What to do when you are halfway done with no yarn left? OK, so this is a serious knitting no-no. Especially since I am using a varigated, dyed wool. I'll never be able to match that dye lot. So, I immediately went back to yarn store where I got the original batch of yarn. None left. Wasn't even on the sale rack. So, I scoured the internet with the brand and a random UPC. No luck.

Off to ebay. I've always applauded myself for my excellent research skills and lo and behold, I came across 5 skeins of exactly what I needed at a significantly reduced price. I couldn't type in those 16 credit card numbers fast enough. And now, I am just waiting on my friends at the US Postal Service so I can resume my project.

So, when I was at the yarn store I saw the most delicious yarn that I had to have. It's 100% pure dyed baby merino and it is a cavalcade of warm browns that transition into pinks. It is the yarn equivalent of a warm brownie with caramel sauce on top. I bought 6 skeins and immediately got home and started another bag. Another really easy pattern so I think that while the US Postal Service works their delivery magoic, I can finish this bag in the interim. Pics and patterns to come.

As you know, I fancy myself a bit of a matchmaker. With one confirmed marriage (entering it's 3rd year!) and other matches under my belt, I'd like to think I know what I am doing. So, the other day the Today Show was on in the background as I was getting ready to start my day and Willard Scott came on. Oh, Willard! With your clever quips, crazy ties and Augusta National sport coats. The truth is I always tune in when Willard comes on. Why? Matchmaking, of course. Even though at 92 Mama Ruth is dead set on not dating, I really think she should try it. And, hey if she can get an older guy, all the better! The problem is that there are very few men, given male/female death statistics. I haven't found the right guy for her. Most are geographically undesirable with little chance of relocating. And, at 100+, probably set in their ways and clinging to their bachelorhood. But you never know and a good matchmaker never gives up.

Concierge Service

Anyone who knows me, knows I am a hotel snob. It's an occupational hazard from my time spent in the hotel world. Traveling the 5 star world for $59 a night will do that. I love a clean bathroom, 500 count sheets and a fluffy robe with slippers to match. And, I love a good concierge. Oh, a good concierge can change your life.

So, now that I am back to being a civilian (and paying $179 for a crappy Marriott), I need a concierge outlet. Well, I have found it. I was actually turned on to it by a friend. And, all of you have it at your disposal, too. It's your local library. I have become a library convert. My reading habit was getting too expensive and once I got over the anxiety of reading a book in 2 weeks, I decided I could handle it. I get to read all the bestsellers along with the books on my "to read" list and I never have to step farther than the front desk at the library. I use the online ordering system. I can hold books, even ones that are housed at my local library, via the online system, hit submit and then wait for the email to come pick them up. Brilliant! All without having to actually spend time in the library, think about Dewey Decimal and hunt down books. Indulgent, I know. But a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.

My Summer Growmance

I had a romance this summer with my garden. It started out full of hope. I got butterflies every time I went out there to see it. Then it bloomed into a beautiful garden where everyday it brought something new and I was constantly surprised and amazed at its surprises. Then it got hot, real hot. And everything yellowed (literally) and the romance began to fizzle right before my eyes. Now, I just have remnants of what was and a broken heart.

I spent a lot in the garden this week. It needed some tending to and I had been neglectful, mostly out of sadness. I finally bought some wellies so I can stop tracking dirt through the house on my sneakers so, I booted up and dug in. I ripped out a bunch of weeds (I thought that "special compost" that cost a ton of money was an instant weed deterrent...) and I also ripped out a bunch of dead plants. The yellow squash plants died after just one crop. The green peppers, eggplant and zucchini never even made it. The cucumber vines have grown into the tomatoes and the watermelon vines are all over the place.

I commiserated with a fellow gardener yesterday. While I was boasting about my tomato abundance, she said hers never made it, she said the heat has literally fried her plants. However, she did offer a bit of hope. She said she "thought" that South Carolina has a second growing season since our warm weather season is so long. Then she sounded defeated as she told me she joined a CSA for the Fall. Oh, my broken heart.

From this:
To this:
Not sure why this idea never occurred to me before but gazpacho is the perfect summer food. It's also perfect if you have a garden, with less than perfect vegetables. So, today I turned some mealy tomatoes and off shaped cucumbers into a delicious summer treat.
I hauled out the Cuisinart only to find that it doesn't work. Every time I hit "pulse" it just clicked. Mini-Cuis to the rescue. It's hard to believe but I whipped up this up in about 10 or so batches. I've always been a Mini-Cuis fan and now I know why.

I blanched the tomatoes, even though I had some frozen I wanted to go fresh plus I had an abundance, pureed about 4 cups and then chopped about 2 cups. This recipe is easy. I used yellow peppers (green are too bitter for me) and more cucumber than called for since I had so many. I also added Tabasco to taste. And, rough chop is fine since I stuck it all in the blender anyway. This came out particularly good.

I froze a Ziploc bag full since there is no way we can eat that much gazpacho. I've developed this new method of freezing liquids: I fill a Ziploc bag, lay it on a flat plate (square is best), then flatten to remove all the air without squeezing out the liquid. Stick the plate in the freezer and when frozen I store it upright like a book. It takes up hardly any room and if I only need a small portion of the liquid, I can just break it off and defrost it. Brilliant!

Here's the recipe and evidence of how I turned my veggies into deliciousness:

Gazpacho
4 c pureed tomatoes
2 c chopped tomatoes
1 peeled, seeded and diced cucumber
1/2 chopped celery
1/2 c chopped red onion
1/2 c chopped bell pepper
2 chopped scallions
2 cloves minced garlic
1/4 c chopped parsley
2 T wine vinegar
2 T lemon juice
2 T olive oil
salt, pepper

Puree all or some of ingredients until desired consistency.
Chill for several hours prior to serving.

(Editor's Note: The second photo above of the finished product tastes way better that it looks. Everyone in my house is enjoying it...promise!)

Tomato, Tomahto

This past weekend I ran into a friend and her mother on my way out of Target (looking for my canning supplies which were not there). We got talking about canning and her mother gave me a great idea for tomatoes. Rather than can, just freeze them. With an abundance of tomatoes, some mealy and overripe, freezing is the perfect use for them. So, using her tips and a little online research, here's what I did:

Blanched the tomatoes cutting an "x" at the bottom so the skins are easy to peel.
Hand squeezed them over a strainer to preserve liquid and remove seeds.
Placed them about an 1" apart on a cookie sheet and froze overnight.
Then placed them in Ziploc bags, labeled them and put them back in the freezer.

Talk about easy!

I also made one batch of tomato sauce. This recipe is originally from Lidia Bastianich and over the years I have altered it nad now call it my own.

First I made the tomatoes (this I totally made up):
Blanch tomatoes and peel skins.
Squeeze over a strainer to preserve liquid and remove seeds.
Then I took half of the tomatoes and pulverized them in the Cuisinart - this recipe calls for both smooth and chunky tomatoes.

The sauce:
Heat 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil in a pan over medium heat.
Add in 2 minced garlic cloves (more if you like garlic) and let garlic soften.
Add salt & pepper.
Add in smooth tomatoes.
Then add in chunky tomatoes (I usually hand squeeze them into the pan - they should be chunky, not whole)
Add in about 2 - 4 tablespoons of sugar depending on your tastes and some dried oregano. Stir.
Bring to a boil.
Reduce and let simmer for about 1 hour.
Taste to see if you need anything additional.
Just before using, add in torn or sliced fresh basil.

This sauce can be used for lasagna, parmesan, over pasta or can be pulverized further and used as a base for gazpacho or tomato soup.

Pickled Pink

I said I was going to do it and I did. I made 2 jars of pickles. This is not a process for the faint of heart. Along the lines of making your own dough and growing a garden, it has a lot of steps and takes a long time. It also had the added pressure of botulism, as my father helpfully pointed out. I used a recipe from Whole Living and tips from Martha. I didn't have all the professional tools and made what I had work. So, if you choose to attempt this, remember you don't need to buy all the professional canning tools, although shopping is fun. Right now, the jars are cooling and tomorrow I'll break one open and test it. If all goes well, I might attempt jam.

Canned

I'm taking up canning. I know. I know. But it spoke to me from the pages of a magazine. In fact, when I turned to CityCrab and announced my latest venture, he said he supported me but I could tell he was secretly suppressing his eye roll. The real inspiration came from the vivid images on the page of tomatoes and cucumbers. I've got an abundance of those, more than we can possibly eat. So, after a bit of research and with the help of Martha, I am off to Target to buy my supplies. I figure anything I can buy at Target can't be all that hard to do.

Three Wishes

A couple of weeks ago an article in The New York Times was to my attention regarding a topic that seems to be pervasive these days: aging women, fertility and sperm donors. The article told the story of 3 women. Here's the synopsis: 3 friends approaching 40 find themselves single and yearning for children. One woman decides to go it alone and purchases a few vials of sperm. Before she uses the sperm, she ends up in a relationship and pregnant and passes the sperm to the next friend. The next friend contemplates then finds herself in a relationship and pregnant. So, she passes it to the third friend...are you starting to see a pattern? They all find themselves in relationships & pregnant with no use for the sperm. Interesting, right? Well, lo and behold, they wrote a book about their journey called Three Wishes. I picked it up and am about halfway through. The book expounds on the emotions and details of the story but the NYT article is certainly sufficient to get the gist of it. The biggest takeaway for me is the bond these women share. It got me thinking about the bonds I share with important women in my life. Some related, some not. So, when I told CityCrab the story, he was initially grossed out by it. I had to explain to him that it play out like some bad B movie. The 3 women didn't kick it with each other or the same man. And, they never used the sperm so it's not like they crossed swords or anything. But I really tried to understand what his thoughts were rooted in. The scenes played out like a bad movie. Every time we got in the car, I would bring it up. Then we'd be eating dinner and I'd bring it up or we'd be getting ready for bed, brushing our teeth and I'd bring it up. He just didn't get it. Then it dawned on me. Men don't get female friendships. They don't understand our bond. They don't understand talking to a stranger about something intimate at the nail salon. Or why we go to the bathroom together at restaurants. And they definitely don't get the dressing room at Loehmann's. This made it so much easier to understand. It also made me happy to have my female friendships.

Livin' La Vida Locavore

Here's how it goes lately in my house: I check the garden throughout the day, monitor the growth and then decide what I can make for dinner with what I've got. Apparently, I've become a Locavore, someone who eats locally. I love the challenge of developing a meal around what I've grown. I love being able to just go out and pick dinner. And, most of all, I love being able to bypass the produce section at the grocery store knowing I've got my staples at home already. Here's a few things I've been cooking up:

Grilled yellow squash
Greek salad with cucumbers, peppers and tomatoes from my garden
Tuscan Tomato Salad
Pico de Gallo with cilantro and tomatoes from my garden

Now that it's mid-season and some of my crops haven't grown at all, to my great disappointment, I may yank those and start with something new. Like everything else in life, I am making it up as I go and figuring it out on the fly.

In other gardening news, I recommend a show on PlanetGreen called The Fabulous Beekman Boys. It's about 2 former NYC corporate execs who move to upstate NY and become farmers. Fascinating and hysterical. I also recommend their book The Bucolic Plague. Disclosure: I haven't read it yet but it's on my reading list.

Grilled Corn

This item has gained some popularity in recent years. I first tasted it at Cafe Habana in NYC circa 1999. It was delicious and I instantly became obsessed with it. Like many other things I have eaten, I tried to replicate but without real culinary knowledge, I was lost. Fortunately for me in 2002, The New York Times Magazine posted a recipe for it. Over the years, we have perfected our own version of it. We can't always find the right ingredients and regular sour cream can be substituted for Mexican sour crema, however, no other cheese can replace cotija. I wouldn't even attempt it with parmesan. But, I am grilled corn snob. And, if I can find cotija in South Carolina, then most of you should have no problem. Here is the recipe - it serves 4, but you can easily make this corn a meal, in my opinion.

Shuck 4 ears of corn.
Place on hot grill turning to be sure that all sides of corn get grilled. Remove when some kernels are black and others are bright yellow.
Let cool.

Once cool, lather with sour cream.
Then dust each cob with cotija.
Sprinkle cayenne pepper on one side and serve with limes. The key to the limes is to squeeze before biting into the corn to experience the taste explosion.

Kebabs 101

Last week, I heard two different radio segments about kebabs and I was instantly inspired to whip some leftovers into something fancy. So, I defrosted a piece of meat I had in my freezer and took out the grouper from the previous night. I diced both, seasoned them with salt and pepper and placed them on skewers. Both segments had dispelled the soaking skewers in water theory so I opted not to do it. They said that the water is supposed to soak up the heat before it gets to the wood but every time I had tried it didn't work. Now I feel justified.

Then I took a squash from the garden, an onion and a red pepper, diced them and alternated those on skewers. Always cook meats together and vegetables together - this is because everything cooks at different times. I drizzled olive oil on those. I heated up the grill and stuck the vegetables on. This is an important lesson I learned - vegetables take much longer than meats. Once the vegetables looked like they were getting crispy, I stuck on the meat. Then the grouper when everything else looked about done. The grouper literally took about 3 minutes. Very easy and tasty.

So, I was thinking that with this it might be nice to have an aromatic rice. What is an aromatic rice? It's a rice lightly flavored with an herb. I had some leftover cilantro that I thought would taste good, at least in my mind. I found a few recipes on online and after having read through them I decided I could concoct my own recipe. So, here it is:

Chop abt 1/2 cup cilantro.
Juice 1 lime then zest and set aside
Mince 1 clove garlic.
In a sauce pan, saute garlic and rice in olive oil about 5 minutes. Use any rice - I used white. Rice is roughly 1 cup of rice to 2 cups of water.
Once the garlic is soft, add water/broth and lime juice. Let water boil, then reduce to simmer about 20 minutes. Essentially, make rice as you normally would.
When rice is done, mix in cilantro and lime zest and serve. You may need to salt & pepper to taste.


Dinner was delicious and CityBaby enjoyed it, too.

Summer Dining

Dinner takes on a whole new meaning in the summer. I am inspired by my garden and the warm weather and the concept of whole, fresh food. I find myself steering clear of prepared foods. Each week I am trying to create dinners that appeal to everyone (a toddler included) and are fairly easy. This dinner scored high in all areas. Roasted grouper with peach salsa. Grouper is a hearty fish with great natural flavor so it doesn't need a lot of seasoning. Peach salsa is the perfect partner: fresh, sweet and tangy all at once. Here are recipes:

Grouper:
Heat a pan on medium heat and sparsely cover with olive oil - approx. 1-2 tablespoons. As pans heats, swirl oil around pan.
Salt & pepper both sides of fish.
When oil becomes very loose, pan is hot enough. Place fish in pan and let it sit for about 5 minutes. The fish should be opaque about halfway through.
Flip and let fish sit another 5 minutes. Fish should be completely opaque and should feel firm.
Remove from pan and serve immediately.

Peach Salsa:
Peel & dice 4 peaches.
Dice about 3/4 of a red pepper.
Thinly slice 2 scallions.
Cop about 1/2 cup of cilantro.
Mince 1 clove of garlic.
Juice 1 lemon (use about 1/4 cup of lemon juice)
Mix all ingredients and slat & pepper to taste.
I adapted this recipe from Cooking Light.



This dish can be served with rice - jasmine, brown, basmati or white - it all works. Bon Appetit!

Tied in Knots

Since I had that extra pack of yeast hanging around I decided to undertake the challenge of pretzels. I decided on hard pretzels even though I love soft pretzels. The last thing I need in my house is 10 soft, warm pretzels that need to be eaten within 30 minutes. Competiton eating is not my thing. I figured I could get longevity out of hard pretzels since we eat a lot of pretzels in our house. I once again turned to my trusty, old friend Alton Brown. I was even more optimistic when I read that the white flour could be substituted with whole wheat. I read through the entire recipe before I decided I could handle it. Pretzels are suprisingly much easier than both challah and pizza dough. I used course sea salt and sesame seeds to garnish. I visited both Whole Foods and Earthfare in search of pretzel salt and came up empty.

Here's the recipe and pictures.

Tuscan Salad

This is a delicious summer salad. It can be eaten on its own or as a side and uses plenty of fresh vegetables. I first enjoyed this salad while visiting our friends Steve & David in Cold Spring NY on a much needed summer break from the city. After the weekend, I couldn't get it out of my mind and begged them for the recipe. It is now an almost weekly staple in our house. Amounts are approximate - you can dial it up or down depending on your taste. This will last for a few days in the refrigerator but after about 3 days, it gets kinds funky.

1 lb. wide variety of tomatoes diced, cherry tomatoes can be quartered
1-2 English cucumber(s), diced (you can also use a regular cucumber and remove seeds)
1/4 - 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced and diced
feta cheese crumbled
balsamic vinegar
olive oil
salt & pepper

Combine all vegetables in a bowl
Add balsamic vinegar and olive oil in an approximately 2(oil):1(vinegar) ratio
Mix well and add salt and pepper to taste
Add in feta and mix well

Can be served immediately or refrigerated.
I recommend letting it marinate for a bit then re-tasting to test flavor - add any additional ingredient as necessary.

Next Stop, County Fair!

Here it is. The long awaited first crop of the season: a tomato and a squash. There is tremendous pressure to make them the star of the dish where it will make its debut. I have not ruled out bronzing to preserve their posterity. In any event, I am thrilled to have picked my first vegetables. From my assessment, more tomatoes, yellow squash, cucumbers and zuchinni won't be far behind.

I'm Sorry We Have No Bananas

If you haven't guessed by now, I am a chef by necessity. When I have food laying around I imagine what I can make with it before it goes bad. This necessitates my need to cook. I was getting tired of looking at the bananas on my counter turn black. CityBaby just came out of a banana phase. While banana daiquiris came to mind, I thought banana bread would appeal more to the masses. I found an easy and delicious recipe on food52.com, a fairly new cooking site. (Side note: cookstr is also another great resource although it is still in its beta stage.)

Here's the recipe:

3 overripe bananas (the blacker the better, unless they're moldy!)
1 cup light brown sugar (packed)
10 tablespoons butter (unsalted), at room temperature
2 eggs
2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
1 cup chocolate chips (optional)
1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees; move rack to lower-middle position. Generously grease a 9 x 5 inch loaf pan.
2.Beat bananas with an electric mixer until smooth. Add brown sugar, butter, and eggs, and mix until completely incorporated.
3.In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, and beat until smooth, scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed.
4.Stir in the walnuts and/or chocolate chips, if you're using them.
5.Pour batter into prepared pan, and bake for one hour, or until bread is a deep brown and an inserted skewer comes out clean.

And here's my rendering, taken with my phone. Tastes much better than it looks:

Doughn't Do It

After last week's Challah Extravanganza, I had lots of yeast and flour hanging around. So, the spirit of being thrifty, I thought I would try my hand at ppizza dough. I was looking for something fast and easy. Ater perusing several recipes, I landed on an Alton Brown. Anyone familiar with Alton knows he can be a bit verbose and his written recipes are just the same. I wasn't looking for a whole origins of yeast lesson so I got started on the ingredients. The most appealing quality about this recipe was the use of the mixer - no hand kneading or rolling. My hands didn't need to touch the dough once. I followed the instructions perfectly. I then decided to scroll down 2 pages to see that the dough needs to chill in the refrigerator for 18-24 hours. Ooops. I was looking at pizza tonight for dinner. Oh well. I stuck it in the fridge and pulled it out 30 minutes before baking. It was a little tough to roll out and not as light and airy as doughs I've bought. It was very elastic and kept retracting on the pan (I went square - a tip of the hat to my hometownNew Haven style pizza) but once I got the sauce and cheese on top of it, it stayed put. It didn't roll out evenly so some areas were doughy. I really prefer thin and crispy. In lieu of a pizza stone, which I don't own, I think I would put it on the rack next time. In any event, I decided next time, I'll just buy the dough. Although I do have one packet of yeast left....pretzels anyone?

Next Caller, Please

Lately I've noticed that talking to my parents is like a radio call-in show. Upon calling, I can instantly hear the other parent talking in the background. Then whichever parent I am on with has to instantly relay the information to the other. Then there is inevitably whispering which I know means no one is listening to me. I know they are whispering about "where is the newspaper?" or "did you get the mail?." It's just plain insulting. The thing that really pushes me over the edge is the "what?" and I don't know if they are talking to me or to the other parent. So, it becomes this game where I am essentially eavesdropping on their conversation. The ironic thing is that I clearly remember my parents complaining that my grandparents would do this exact thing, for example, each would get on the phone and you could never hear my grandfather because he was on the "extension", whatever that means. I suppose life does repeat itself. I guess I should warn CityBaby.

Garden Update

So, we are just about at 50 days which is the average blooming time for most of my crops. Here's what we have: a bunch of tomatoes but none ready to be picked. Some large and very green peppers growing off the yellow pepper plant. I am holding out that they still need to turn and were not mis-marked. Some very auspicious looking yellow squash. For example, if I was going to feed a mouse family they would be perfect for them. The beans and eggplant and green peppers look like they might never make it. And I have already uprooted the lettuce. We'll try again next year on those. I have one cucumber plant that is taking off, 4 that are still small and one I lost. I am optimistic about the one thriving since it has a lot of flowers on it which means vegetables are growing right behind it. So, no crops yet and it's technically almost summer and I have not tasted one vegetable yet but as you can see from my pictures, I should be cooking up tomatoes and peppers soon.

Challah? Holla!

I was desperate for a child-friendly activity today. We've been climbing the walls all week and have exhausted coloring and painting and building with blocks and all of our play-doh is a deep gray from having mixed every color together. So, what's a good Friday afternoon actvity? Challah. Challah is one of CityBbay's (and my own) favorite foods. The teacher at school claims it was his first word. It's sweet and doughy and when it's warm, oh, it's breathtaking. What's not to love about it? And with Shabbos looming, I decided to try it. I did my research. I went straight to the experts but quickly ruled out Rita Brownstein and decided to go with Joan Nathan, she's our Mario Batali and Martha Stewart all rolled into one. So, as I learned Challah is hard work and an all day affair. Nevermind the two types of dough and making sure the yeast is actually dissolved. The kneading. Oh, the kneading. 10 minutes felt like hours and my arms felt like noodles after. Here is the dough post kneading, rising for the last time and fresh out of the oven:






































I learned a couple of things that I'll incorporate next time. I didn't need as much all-purpose flour. I will definitely use my mixer to knead it next time. And, I cooked it with a small pan of water in the oven. This was a tip I received and apaprently makes the bread softer on the inside. I got the recipe from Joan Nathan's Jewish Holiday Cookbook. Good Shabbos.

Whoop! There it is!

Yesterday, just after lunchtime I retrieved my phone from the depths of purse and was shocked to see 3 missed calls from a friend. No messages, just missed calls. Something was up. So, I called one back and she asked me in a state of panic, "Did you get a call from DHEC?" Uh, no. She instructed me to listen to my voicemail but gave me the lowdown. A child in CityBaby's class was infected with whooping ocugh (Pertussis, to you experts) and every child needed to go on antibiotic. I fle into a panic. Called DHEC, called my pediatrician, called my husband, called my parents...oy, the drama of it all. I learned more than I ever needed to know about infectious diseases. And, now I've got a potential carrier monkey running around my house....for the next 3 says...with no help. We're quarantined. It's contagious. And, it sucks.