Introducing The Little Bookshelf

Over a year ago, I had a great idea for a blog. It would be a place where I would be able to share with my readers unique, interesting, well known, little known and unknown children's books. I am an avid reader and this love has spread to children's books. So, in December 2010, I started the blog with one entry about one of my all time favorite children's book, Dr. Suess' The Sneetches. And the blog sat there collecting virtual dust. A few weeks ago, I was talking to a friend who inspired me to start it again. It sat there for a few more weeks until today. I decided to dust it off and start it up. I found both a header and a description I was happy with and dedicated my first re-entry to ,a href=http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/09/books/maurice-sendak-childrens-author-dies-at-83.html?pagewanted=all>Maurice Sendak. I couldn't think of a more fitting tribute. So, join me on this new adventure and whether you are an adult, a child or an adult with a child, I promise you will enjoy reading what I have to share. Read The Little Bookshelf here and bookmark it!

CSA Week 4

I have been slack in reporting out on our weekly bounty. I know you are all riveted by these posts and have been sitting around just waiting for them. (Did any ever figure out the sarcasm font yet?) The past three weeks have been more of the same but it really started to pick up this week. We got a gallon (not sure how you figure that out) of yellow squash that looks better than anything Whole Foods could conjure up. Greem tomatoes (how inspiring!), nectarines (I am so sick of strawberries, never thought I would say that), leafy lettuce and a bunch of different shapes and sizes of cucumbers. I'll have no trouble using these veggies and am already inspired.

Susie's Supper Club

I was turned on to this cookbook by another blogger who knew Susie when she was just a cook for a family. Then Susie turned her food into a delivery/takeout service for meals. Then the book. I read the flap copy and a little bit about Susie. I liked her. I bought the book thinking that I would use it unlike the other 45 cookbooks lining my shelves that have clean, white pages. I was right. I made three things the first week. Her recipes are easy to follow with only a few steps and no fancy ingredients. It's right up my alley. I recommend the turkey meatballs. I substituted the panko with regular and used fresh herbs since I had them on hand. The macaroni and cheese was also easy and delish. It's made in a muffin tin so you have 12 individual servings. I even used reduced fat cheese and it was just as good. I froze the remaining servings and even reheated one for CityBaby for dinner last week. I also made the asian inspired sugar snap peas. These were incredibly easy and I even added in some extra broccoli I had laying around. It provides inspiration and enough room for me to edit and adapt as I need to. I also found out that she sells her frozen entrees at Whole Foods. Unlikely that I would buy them since I prefer fresh but a nice option if you are really crunched for time.

CSA Week 1

On Friday we picked up our first crop from the CSA. This bounty included mustard greens, collard greens, plantation onions (these look scallions on steroids) and dark green romaine lettuce. We also got a gallon of strawberries, a small bouquet of flowers and a little green frog named Putt-Putt. He didn't come with that name but was dubbed it by CityBaby. At first glance, I find the amount of greens intimidating. I am not really a "greens" person. We donated the collards to a someone who not only knows how to cook them but also knows to eat them for wealth. I am thinking about cooking up the mustard greens a la spinach with some garlic and lemon. I gave away a bunch of strawberries and still have a million left. I am drying some as I type. This is one of my favorite things to do since my oven has a drying feature. Extra vegetables, fruits and herbs all get the drying treatment in this house. I am scratching my head over the plantation onions. I might just sautee them and use them I would onions. It feels good to be out of my comfort zone in the vegetable arena. And, who knows? I might find I really quite like greens.

Spring Cleaning

It is that time of year again. For me, Passover always marks spring cleaning. It starts in the kitchen but extends far beyond there. This year I had additional inspiration from Oprah. I know, get in line. Her March issue was dedicated to clearing out the clutter and reorganizing. Both actual, spiritual and emotional. I could you use of the above. So, I've been cleaning out for a few weeks now. I always start with closets moving from clothes to shoes. That usually takes the good part of 2 weeks. My method is to chip away at it. A few hours here and there. Otherwise, the task becomes so daunting I would literally be clearing out my Madonna look from the 80s. This year, I took an extra step and audited my bags. Oy, do I have bags! I have big purses and small purses and gym bags and weekend bags and computer bags bearing all kinds of logos that I have been collecting since my first job. Some of the companies aren't even around anymore. I found some good homes for some. Mama Ruth had been looking for a red bag so that was a great placement. Others had to be sacrificed in the form of Goodwill donation. From closets, I moved on to our home office. I started with the obvious. Tax returns older than ten years were shredded. Then I got rid of files for cars and homes and appliances we no longer own. Then on to child artwork, toy warranties and dog immunization records from 2005. The kitchen pantry was next. First, it was everything with an expired due date. Sad to admit that that garbage bag was hefty. Then it was things that were technically still fresh but had taken a beating. Ever seen a fruit bar that had taken a pounding from canned tomatoes? Not pretty. Then I found an amazing amount of matzah products. I always forget I have it and buy it again. I have matzah meal and cake meal and farfel and gluten-free matzah and salt-free matzah and egg matzah. The good news? Fresh matzah tastes stale so this stuff never expires. Then I took my cookbooks to task. I have a lot of cookbooks for someone who always complains they need inspiration. I gave them a shelf and now with their titles all facing out, I just need to glance to find inspiration. I am ready to take on spring, Passover and warm weather. Until next week, when my new organization needs re-organizing.

Ktichen Itchin'

I love cooking gadgets. I love things I don't need or plan to use once and have to have. If you open the numerous drawers in my kitchen (for some reason I have a lot of drawer space), they are loaded to the top with gadgets. OK, fine, I give....they are loaded with crap. Items like mutliple mushroom brushes for the two sizes of mushrooms I never clean. And, a cheese grater, a cheese slicer and a microplane, because one can never have enough cheese and ways to prepare it. I have a handheld frother and a candy thermometer. I have never made candy but, you never know. Recently, there was an article about this. Gadgets and tools that people buy with the best of intentions but never end up using. There's a therapy niche somewhere for some smart, enterprising shrink. My issue goes beyond gadgets. I have a Ron Popeil rotisserie oven (it was wedding gift). I have drinking glasses that go on for days. I have red wine goblets and white wine chalices and beer steins (only four) and cocktail tumblers and juice glasses and an array of sippy cups, because CityBaby couldn't decide which sippy cup would work before he abandoned them all for two cent drinking straws. I have a rice cooker that also steams vegetables and a vegetable steamer that also cooks rice. I also am the proud owner of a Magic Bullet. Now you can't say I am a culinary snob. And, just to prove that I am not over my addiction, just this week I ordered a pineapple corer. We don't eat that much pineapple but on the rare occasion, I find it a mess to peel and forever to cut. Now, to decide what to do with the two minutes I saved.......

Backup Plan

This spring will mark my third annual attempt at gardening. I've been spending the winter plotting, researching and trying to become an expert. I've had some signifiacnt challenges in ther past, Last year was especially hard. It was extrememly hot here and I only successfully grew tomatoes. Everyday I would evnture out to tend to my plants and find the leaves had yeollowed and burned through from the sun. And, then there were the weeds. Ugh, the weeds! It seemed like everytime I pulled one, a new one grew in its place, immediately. All of this just made the experience lackluster. It's exciting when you can make dinner from your backyard. There is something very fulfilling about it. Needless to say, my previous garden left me unfulfilled. This year I have a backup plan. A few weeks ago CityCrab came home with a share in a local CSA. Of course, the list of bounty is contingent on their growing season but I am excited to see the weekly crop they have and compare it with mine. It all comes from the ground and it is all good. Here is a list of some of the tools using this year to optimize my garden: Weed Mat - this is a durable mat you can place down between plants to keep weeds at bay. Fabric Screen - this is typically used to keep out pests but I am primarily using it to shield plants form sun. It screens out 15% of sunlight. Trugs - I love these. I see them everywhere from Lowe's to Land of Nod and they hold everything from, platns, weeds, toys, books and rain water. And, on my dream list, is a rain barrel. I need to do some addiitonal reserach here to determine type, where I can collect optimally, This may be a 2013 initiative. I shop locally but also use Gardener's Supply for some harder to find items.

Peaked Pinterest

A few months ago I started to hear lots of chatter about Pinterest. It had on my radar for awhile but I was debating taking the plunge. My reasoning was that I didn't need another thing to manage. I can't even blog on a regular basis. And what was Pinterest anyway? A visual blog? Does anyone care that I like to knit, read and watch trashy TV? Well, after spending too much time debating it, I decided to try it. I signed up and was told I would receive an invitation to join. Um, rude. So, about two weeks went by and still no invitation. Had been snubbed by a club I didn't even want to join the first place? Now I was obsessed. So, I joined using another email address (see, I do manage a lot already). Lo and behold, an invite turned up almost immediately. So, now I have a Pinterest account. But true to form, I don't have any time to figure out how to use it. So, when I figure out how to use it and actually pin something, you can follow me here.

Radio Silence

Much like the flowers are starting to bloom here in Charleston and the bears, somewhere, are starting to leave their winter hibernating spots, I am back to the blog. I've been taking notes and storing up lots of observations so stay tuned.......

Happy Holidays

I just ordered my new year's cards. I have been thinking about it since Thanksgiving and culling photos for a week now but just ordered them. It is very stressful, especially, when you've got cards filling up your mailbox with all your friend's professional photos. Rubbing those beach scenes in your face reminding you that they have been thinking about it since July. Last week, I went on a photo snapping mission since I looked back at 2011 to find I didn't have any decent shots I could stick on the front of the card. CityBaby is fed up with me and just runs every time I pull out the camera. So, I found three OK shots, figuring my kid is cute enough to pull them off, loaded 'em up and hit submit. I am getting a proof tomorrow (so fancy) and then the cards should arrive some time next week. Just in time to extend the hoiliday season and usher in the new year together! Those fifty of you lucky enough to make the list, can let me know what you think. Or, in the spirit of the new year can just keep it to yourselves. Happy Holidays...........

Sleep

I used to think sleep was overrated. I used to stay awake until 4 or 5am, sleep until 11am (or pm) and awake refreshed, looking like a million bucks. That was in my 20s. Then, I had a baby. Then, I had a toddler in a big boy bed. With all the my "insert body here" hurts and I have to pee and I'm scared and I'm thirsty and did you know it may only be 1:30 am but it's time to wake up. Then there was daylight savings. Now, I am lucky if I get a mediocre four to five hours. And I pray that the bags under my eyes look like cosmectic bags and not the Tumi oversized traveler. Zzzzzzzz..............