I am alive.
I enjoyed the time with my family camping.
My kitchen is in order.
The fourth load of laundry for the day is spinning.
I have tales to tell, but...
My camera is in my husbands car which gives me a perfect excuse to go take a nap and post later when I have photos!
Good night. (sortof)
Monday, November 8, 2010
Friday, November 5, 2010
Hot Cocoa
I type before you today...a woman on the verge.
Huh...I once was in a play called "On The Verge" back in my college days.
It was about 3 Victorian woman caught in time travel.
This is where I learned the word sans.
Oh, how I miss the theater!!!
The smell and feel of stage makeup.
The warmth of the lights blinding you to the audiences presence.
The sick feeling of not being able to remember a single line before walking on stage only to remember everything precisely right once your foot hit the boards!
The long days and nights of rehearsal binding you to the people creating the world within the play.
Costumes, stage construction, endless hours of painting and sewing.
Ha, ha ha ha...it was preparing me for being a MOM!!!
If you find me being a bit dramatic at times, it is my vain attempt to recapture my by gone glory days of college theater and my many roles therein.
Sigh!!!
Okay, Wow...that really took a little side line journey there now didn't it.
Let's bring it back around to the start...
I type before you today a woman on the verge of my family camping adventure this weekend.
I used to be able to get out of it by staying home with our daughter as my husband took the boys.
She is kind of opposed to that now that she is 7!!! She wants to go!!
So...go we will.
My plan is soup in the crockpot cooking, so if there is a problem with the electricity then I am in big trouble. Actually my husband said that we will not be so far away from civilization that we couldn't go buy a large pot should we need it.
I don't want a large pot, cause if the crockpot isn't working then that means my coffee pot won't be working either and that would be a travesty of unparalleled proportions.
Uhhhhhh, adding coffee press to my list immediately!
I will have coffee, I will.
I will, I will, I will.
Coffee and me, me and coffee.
There is just nothing else I need to say about that.
I do however need to say something about hot chocolate!
It is so very easy to make.
Now, come on...I don't mean ripping open one of those cool foiled lined envelopes of hot cocoa mix to dump into a cup of hot water. Those nasty corn syrupy hydrogenated oily artificial flavor sucralosey blech a blech blech mixes!!
I mean making your own mix.
Yes, your own mix I said.
I must again wonder....How in the world did I get to be 40 years old and not ever make a hot cocoa mix????
When starting out on a search for a mix I came across many. You know what they all contained?
Powdered coffee creamer. Blech a blech blech!!! The list of ingredients on coffee creamer is just as bad as the rip open envelopes, why would you do that to yourself???
Okay, I can tell that I really need to calm down about this.
Deep cleansing breath and on to the recipe.
I did a search for "natural cocoa mix" and finally came across a recipe by Alton Brown from TV Food Network. If you aren't a foodie you may recognize him from the Welch's grape juice commercials or Iron Chef America, or his series Good Eats! He is very humorous in a geeky scientific sort of way. I trust him with my food.
Here is a link to his recipe, which I tweaked for our tastes.
Hot Cocoa Mix
5 cups powdered sugar
2 cups cocoa
5 cups powdered milk
4 tsp. cornstarch
2 tsp. salt
Put all of these ingredients in a bowl and gently whisk them together. Gently! Everything in that list is light and airy so a heavy hand creates quite a mess quickly.
It all fits in a large ziplog bag too, so that is a good way to go as well.
To make a cup of cocoa, simply put a heaping 1/4 cup mix into a mug and fill it with hot water. Stir, stir stir until the mix is dissolved and enjoy.
I know a 1/4 cup of the mix seems like a lot, but it really isn't when you think about the fact that it is the "milk" part of the hot cocoa too. Adjust the amount of mix to your particular taste needs.
I ran this past my 13 year old boy and got a double thumbs up!!
Oh...I just remembered too...in all of my recipe review reading people were very adamant about using the very best quality ingredients you could find. Go for the name brand powdered milk over the store brand and choose the best cocoa your frugal conscience can manage!
I had the Hershey's brown container here because I purchased the extra large size at Sam's and still have half a container even after making a cake, a batch of cookies and this cocoa!! hee hee.
I have a feeling I would really, really like it with a dark chocolate cocoa and will try that someday too.
Off to pack some more stuff now!
I hope to have many tales to share after camping this weekend!
Actually maybe I don't!!
I want to be sans drama, of that I am sure!!
Huh...I once was in a play called "On The Verge" back in my college days.
It was about 3 Victorian woman caught in time travel.
This is where I learned the word sans.
Oh, how I miss the theater!!!
The smell and feel of stage makeup.
The warmth of the lights blinding you to the audiences presence.
The sick feeling of not being able to remember a single line before walking on stage only to remember everything precisely right once your foot hit the boards!
The long days and nights of rehearsal binding you to the people creating the world within the play.
Costumes, stage construction, endless hours of painting and sewing.
Ha, ha ha ha...it was preparing me for being a MOM!!!
If you find me being a bit dramatic at times, it is my vain attempt to recapture my by gone glory days of college theater and my many roles therein.
Sigh!!!
Okay, Wow...that really took a little side line journey there now didn't it.
Let's bring it back around to the start...
I type before you today a woman on the verge of my family camping adventure this weekend.
I used to be able to get out of it by staying home with our daughter as my husband took the boys.
She is kind of opposed to that now that she is 7!!! She wants to go!!
So...go we will.
My plan is soup in the crockpot cooking, so if there is a problem with the electricity then I am in big trouble. Actually my husband said that we will not be so far away from civilization that we couldn't go buy a large pot should we need it.
I don't want a large pot, cause if the crockpot isn't working then that means my coffee pot won't be working either and that would be a travesty of unparalleled proportions.
Uhhhhhh, adding coffee press to my list immediately!
I will have coffee, I will.
I will, I will, I will.
Coffee and me, me and coffee.
There is just nothing else I need to say about that.
I do however need to say something about hot chocolate!
It is so very easy to make.
Now, come on...I don't mean ripping open one of those cool foiled lined envelopes of hot cocoa mix to dump into a cup of hot water. Those nasty corn syrupy hydrogenated oily artificial flavor sucralosey blech a blech blech mixes!!
I mean making your own mix.
Yes, your own mix I said.
I must again wonder....How in the world did I get to be 40 years old and not ever make a hot cocoa mix????
When starting out on a search for a mix I came across many. You know what they all contained?
Powdered coffee creamer. Blech a blech blech!!! The list of ingredients on coffee creamer is just as bad as the rip open envelopes, why would you do that to yourself???
Okay, I can tell that I really need to calm down about this.
Deep cleansing breath and on to the recipe.
I did a search for "natural cocoa mix" and finally came across a recipe by Alton Brown from TV Food Network. If you aren't a foodie you may recognize him from the Welch's grape juice commercials or Iron Chef America, or his series Good Eats! He is very humorous in a geeky scientific sort of way. I trust him with my food.
Here is a link to his recipe, which I tweaked for our tastes.
Hot Cocoa Mix
5 cups powdered sugar
2 cups cocoa
5 cups powdered milk
4 tsp. cornstarch
2 tsp. salt
Put all of these ingredients in a bowl and gently whisk them together. Gently! Everything in that list is light and airy so a heavy hand creates quite a mess quickly.
It all fits in a large ziplog bag too, so that is a good way to go as well.
To make a cup of cocoa, simply put a heaping 1/4 cup mix into a mug and fill it with hot water. Stir, stir stir until the mix is dissolved and enjoy.
I know a 1/4 cup of the mix seems like a lot, but it really isn't when you think about the fact that it is the "milk" part of the hot cocoa too. Adjust the amount of mix to your particular taste needs.
I ran this past my 13 year old boy and got a double thumbs up!!
Oh...I just remembered too...in all of my recipe review reading people were very adamant about using the very best quality ingredients you could find. Go for the name brand powdered milk over the store brand and choose the best cocoa your frugal conscience can manage!
I had the Hershey's brown container here because I purchased the extra large size at Sam's and still have half a container even after making a cake, a batch of cookies and this cocoa!! hee hee.
I have a feeling I would really, really like it with a dark chocolate cocoa and will try that someday too.
Off to pack some more stuff now!
I hope to have many tales to share after camping this weekend!
Actually maybe I don't!!
I want to be sans drama, of that I am sure!!
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Spicy Pumpkin Bread
Today was a self imposed marathon cooking day!
You see, we are going camping soon and I wanted to get some things made ahead of time.
By some things I of course mean food. I made chocolate chocolate chip cookies, and chocolate chip cookies, and trail mix and chicken soup, and I still have a roast simmering away in the crockpot for a beef stew!
If I am gonna be dragged kicking and screaming to a campsite then you better believe I will at least be enjoying the food portion of it.
Did I mention that I don't enjoy camping.
Well, I really didn't come here to talk about that but I may prove to have tales to tell after our trip.
I came here to talk about food, glorious food!!
Specifically Pumpkin Bread!!
Yes, that is the thing I forgot in the list above!
Mmmmm, spicy and moist pumpkin bread!!
But not this pumpkin bread!
I made this 2 weeks ago and wasn't totally digging it, so I decided to work on it again before presenting my version to you here.
Of course, since I was running a marathon today I took a total of zero pictures for your enjoyment.
Here take a moment to enjoy them all at once.....
I have pushed and pulled on so many recipes that I really don't know who to give the credit to for my beginning place. The can of pumpkin puree, allrecipes.com, my foodie friend, and Starbucks copykat recipes are all places I gleaned information from.
I finally decided that I like it extra spicy and smooth as can be, so I left out oats and nuts and pumped up the spice works!
I hope you enjoy my version.
Click HERE for a printable of this recipe!
In an electric mixer or large bowl combine:
4 eggs, lightly beaten
1 15 oz. can pumpkin puree
1 cup oil
This is the course I took with the oil. I melted a half a stick of butter in a 1 cup pyrex cup, added 1/3 cup applesauce, and then filled in to the 1 cup line with my grapeseed oil.
I imagine you could use a full cup of canola oil just fine. So for you measurers....I suppose it would translate to something like this...
( 1/4 cup butter melted, 1/3 cup applesauce, 3oz. grapeseed oil)
2/3 cup orange juice
2 1/2 cups sugar
(2 cups cane sugar, 1/2 cup dark brown sugar)
You know me and my cane sugar! Again, I assume white sugar would be fine here, but don't quote me on that.
In a separate bowl combine:
3 3/4 cups flour
I decided to use a little bread flour to combat the heavy that the wheat adds...theory which seems to have worked, this is that break down...
(1 1/2 cups white wheat, 1 1/2 cups white, 3/4 cup bread flour)
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. salt
(used sea salt, use less if using table salt)
1 tsp. Allspice
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. cloves
Add the dry to the wet and stir just until combined.
Bake at 350* for 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
My best buddy Tara just came over and had a sample.
She said she would still like it to be even more spicy!
I told her to save a bit of the half a mini loaf I gave her, to taste it again tomorrow as it is also my theory that it spices up with time.
She looked at me like I was crazy and replied incredulously, "Save some for later???"
You see, Pumpkin Bread is her fave!!
I will make a decision about the spices as well after I have had another sample in a few days.
As for right now though, this is pushing my buttons just fine!!!
You see, we are going camping soon and I wanted to get some things made ahead of time.
By some things I of course mean food. I made chocolate chocolate chip cookies, and chocolate chip cookies, and trail mix and chicken soup, and I still have a roast simmering away in the crockpot for a beef stew!
If I am gonna be dragged kicking and screaming to a campsite then you better believe I will at least be enjoying the food portion of it.
Did I mention that I don't enjoy camping.
Well, I really didn't come here to talk about that but I may prove to have tales to tell after our trip.
I came here to talk about food, glorious food!!
Specifically Pumpkin Bread!!
Yes, that is the thing I forgot in the list above!
Mmmmm, spicy and moist pumpkin bread!!
But not this pumpkin bread!
I made this 2 weeks ago and wasn't totally digging it, so I decided to work on it again before presenting my version to you here.
Of course, since I was running a marathon today I took a total of zero pictures for your enjoyment.
Here take a moment to enjoy them all at once.....
I have pushed and pulled on so many recipes that I really don't know who to give the credit to for my beginning place. The can of pumpkin puree, allrecipes.com, my foodie friend, and Starbucks copykat recipes are all places I gleaned information from.
I finally decided that I like it extra spicy and smooth as can be, so I left out oats and nuts and pumped up the spice works!
I hope you enjoy my version.
Click HERE for a printable of this recipe!
In an electric mixer or large bowl combine:
4 eggs, lightly beaten
1 15 oz. can pumpkin puree
1 cup oil
This is the course I took with the oil. I melted a half a stick of butter in a 1 cup pyrex cup, added 1/3 cup applesauce, and then filled in to the 1 cup line with my grapeseed oil.
I imagine you could use a full cup of canola oil just fine. So for you measurers....I suppose it would translate to something like this...
( 1/4 cup butter melted, 1/3 cup applesauce, 3oz. grapeseed oil)
2/3 cup orange juice
2 1/2 cups sugar
(2 cups cane sugar, 1/2 cup dark brown sugar)
You know me and my cane sugar! Again, I assume white sugar would be fine here, but don't quote me on that.
In a separate bowl combine:
3 3/4 cups flour
I decided to use a little bread flour to combat the heavy that the wheat adds...theory which seems to have worked, this is that break down...
(1 1/2 cups white wheat, 1 1/2 cups white, 3/4 cup bread flour)
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. salt
(used sea salt, use less if using table salt)
1 tsp. Allspice
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. cloves
Add the dry to the wet and stir just until combined.
Bake at 350* for 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
My best buddy Tara just came over and had a sample.
She said she would still like it to be even more spicy!
I told her to save a bit of the half a mini loaf I gave her, to taste it again tomorrow as it is also my theory that it spices up with time.
She looked at me like I was crazy and replied incredulously, "Save some for later???"
You see, Pumpkin Bread is her fave!!
I will make a decision about the spices as well after I have had another sample in a few days.
As for right now though, this is pushing my buttons just fine!!!
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Candy Sorting 101
I have given myself 15 minutes to write this post....ahhhhh go!
Welcome to Candy Sorting 101.
This is an annual class held each November 1st following the deluge of candy from the obvious October 31st holiday.
Every student must begin with a hearty breakfast. A breakfast with NO sugar in it.
A breakfast designed to fill up the empty space good and tight so that you can't cram it with assorted candies.
For your instructor...an egg over medium, a slice of whole wheat toast and a side of green sauce for a little kick!!
Do not, for any reason skip this step!
Raise your right hand and repeat after me...
"I will not skip this step"
Okay, you may now progress with the lesson.
Step One:
Assemble all the candy from the whole house in one area.
A nice flat surface to work on!
Now come on people, I said all the candy, this can't be all of it.
Ahhhh, here we go.
Wait a minute...I have three kids, this can't possibly be all the candy!
Let me go on a bit of a search, I will be right back!
Ahh ha!! Now that is all of the candy!!
Yes I am an evil mother filled with malcontent towards my children.
I don't know that malcontent is actually the word I want there, but I have no time to research it.
I am determined to fight the inner greedy monster which makes them hide candy, cry out to the unfairness of amount of candy compared to other siblings, and over all candy addictiveness.
I ask for all candy to be surrendered for sorting.
However I am not so cold hearted that I don't understand candy loyalty so I do let each child pull a handful that is only theirs, which is not kept in their rooms by the way!!
So, that would be step two.
Step Three: Remove all flotsam and trash from the candy pile.
Wow, why is that bionicle there? Oh, yes I remember, my middle child took that with him and it got thrown in with his bag of goodies.
Step Four:
Separate into three categories.
Non chocolate, non edible, chocolate.
MMmmmmmm Chocolate!
Non Chocolate
Non Edible
To qualify for this category it must be icky, perceived as icky, icky flavored, or likely to end up at the bottom of the bucket in 5 months time icky.
At this point you may create scenes of fantasy with your candies...
or not. That is not an official step!
Step Five:
Place seperated candies into very public containers for ease of monitoring.
First the non chocolate...
In a nice heavy jar with a crazy latch!
These are things that did not come in bulk.
The bulk items are but into yet another container and also placed in a very public place.
See that pumpkin wagon there?
There you go...the rest of the non chocolate candies!
This gives us a few months worth of lunch treats...sometimes lasting on through to Easter.
Okay maybe not that long, but I can hope.
Final Step is to move on to the chocolate items.
I really should move this step up in the process as my egg is no longer filling up the empty spot so much!!
Oh, my what have we here???
An attempted take over!!!
Oh Mr. White Bionicle man, I will not be separated from my chocolates.
Oops that slipped, I meant to say, the chocolate belonging to my children. Right!!!
I strip you of your weapons and show you who is boss!!!
Drat!!! I am over by 7 minutes.
I will not go back and correct anything...this is what it is today!!
I hope you learned a lot!
Uhhhh I would like to say again that I have not lost my mind!!
Welcome to Candy Sorting 101.
This is an annual class held each November 1st following the deluge of candy from the obvious October 31st holiday.
Every student must begin with a hearty breakfast. A breakfast with NO sugar in it.
A breakfast designed to fill up the empty space good and tight so that you can't cram it with assorted candies.
For your instructor...an egg over medium, a slice of whole wheat toast and a side of green sauce for a little kick!!
Do not, for any reason skip this step!
Raise your right hand and repeat after me...
"I will not skip this step"
Okay, you may now progress with the lesson.
Step One:
Assemble all the candy from the whole house in one area.
A nice flat surface to work on!
Now come on people, I said all the candy, this can't be all of it.
Ahhhh, here we go.
Wait a minute...I have three kids, this can't possibly be all the candy!
Let me go on a bit of a search, I will be right back!
Ahh ha!! Now that is all of the candy!!
Yes I am an evil mother filled with malcontent towards my children.
I don't know that malcontent is actually the word I want there, but I have no time to research it.
I am determined to fight the inner greedy monster which makes them hide candy, cry out to the unfairness of amount of candy compared to other siblings, and over all candy addictiveness.
I ask for all candy to be surrendered for sorting.
However I am not so cold hearted that I don't understand candy loyalty so I do let each child pull a handful that is only theirs, which is not kept in their rooms by the way!!
So, that would be step two.
Step Three: Remove all flotsam and trash from the candy pile.
Wow, why is that bionicle there? Oh, yes I remember, my middle child took that with him and it got thrown in with his bag of goodies.
Step Four:
Separate into three categories.
Non chocolate, non edible, chocolate.
MMmmmmmm Chocolate!
Non Chocolate
Non Edible
To qualify for this category it must be icky, perceived as icky, icky flavored, or likely to end up at the bottom of the bucket in 5 months time icky.
At this point you may create scenes of fantasy with your candies...
or not. That is not an official step!
Step Five:
Place seperated candies into very public containers for ease of monitoring.
First the non chocolate...
In a nice heavy jar with a crazy latch!
These are things that did not come in bulk.
The bulk items are but into yet another container and also placed in a very public place.
See that pumpkin wagon there?
There you go...the rest of the non chocolate candies!
This gives us a few months worth of lunch treats...sometimes lasting on through to Easter.
Okay maybe not that long, but I can hope.
Final Step is to move on to the chocolate items.
I really should move this step up in the process as my egg is no longer filling up the empty spot so much!!
Oh, my what have we here???
An attempted take over!!!
Oh Mr. White Bionicle man, I will not be separated from my chocolates.
Oops that slipped, I meant to say, the chocolate belonging to my children. Right!!!
I strip you of your weapons and show you who is boss!!!
Drat!!! I am over by 7 minutes.
I will not go back and correct anything...this is what it is today!!
I hope you learned a lot!
Uhhhh I would like to say again that I have not lost my mind!!
Monday, November 1, 2010
A tale of 3 Pumpkins
My husband is very insistent on having pumpkins for fall.
I must admit I love a pumpkin or two or three about as well.
This year I didn't just get any pumpkins...
I got pumpkins from Sam's!!
You know what that means right??
They were large!!
Like the bowl of hummus for 50
or the bag of rice for 700
or the bagel bites for half a block of adolescent boys
or the single bag of dog food for your pack 'o hounds.
That Sam's is a fun place to go!
It is my custom to get an equal number of pumpkins for the number of children currently residing in our home.
This guarantees when carving time comes, each can design his or her own pumpkin in the way he or she sees fit.
This year only 1 of the three wanted to carve when the time came.
Yes, it was my daughter, who despite the slimy slippery seeds and assorted stinky pumpkin innards, did finish her work.
Which, in turn meant that the other two pumpkins were open for interpretation.
I must admit I love me some pumpkin carving.
That isn't entirely true.
I love the design work, but the whole rest of it stinks!!!
Ughhh! I hate the back breaking work.
The stench!
The slime and the way it coats your hands and arms.
The endless seeds which never all surrender to your demands to exit.
The thickness of the skin, making it impossible to do precision work.
The lack of tools perfect for this particular job, which in turn leads to sore fingers caught up in a project they were not designed to do.
And clean up...ughhhhh!
So, after about 2 hours of grueling work, giving up, restarting, acid burned hands, broken fingernails, and pumpkin stained clothes my jack 'o lantern was finished.
My husband and his muscles managed to get his cut, cleaned and carved...as well as our daughters cut and carved in...oh...I would say about 30 minutes.
But I am not hating..
..no I am not!!
I know that being an artist takes time and effort which not everyone is willing to put into a project.
So, we set our Jacks on the front porch and gave them light and life.
Little did I know they would begin talking amongst themselves almost immediately.
I calmly listened in on their conversation.
The Jack in the middle began speaking in a voice very much like Goofy!
"Well a Happy Hidey Ho there Jack to my right!
You look like a friendly sort of fellow!"
The Jack to the right was taken aback by his overtly friendly neighbor, but found it within himself to reply... in a slightly less Goofy-ish voice.
"Guh huh! Well Shucks neighbor Jack, it is right kindly of you to notice!"
They talked goofily about how nice it was to be on the front porch all lit up, about how the flame tickled a bit, about the nice weather, dogs, costumes and other fall type topics.
Then center Jack suddenly got a strange feeling.
The feeling was coming from his left.
He really wanted to turn and look, but couldn't.
He just couldn't.
He really, really couldn't.
But he could sense it.
Something was amiss.
Something was off.
Something didn't seem quite right with that Jack to his left.
At that point there was no more talk.
It just got very still and very quiet.
You see the Jack to his left, was no Jack at all but a Jill.
A Jill 'o lantern with puckered lips and an overly large necklace.
A sunken cheeked Jill with crazy eyes and manicured brows.
She was obviously out of her element, and on the wrong porch.
From that point on, there was silence.
Alas, it was only a few moments more that they had to feel the discomfort!
My husband logically pointed out that we could either put them right into the trash can for pick up the next morning or we could deal with rotten, moldy, bug infested pumpkins stinking up our existence for a full week instead.
I was anxious to be rid of her so I chose the now option.
I suppose I could have enjoyed the Jacks a few more days, but I didn't really want to show that much partiality.
So who carved each pumpkin you are wondering??
From left to right...
Husband, Daughter, not a pumpkin artist, in other words...me.
I was so distraught at my Jill outcome, but let her hang out with the guys anyway.
I should have known better.
I wonder what they talked about in the trashcan all night?
I wonder if they got past their differences?
We will never know.
My next post, will be about the correct technique for sorting Halloween candy!
And, despite what you may think, that does not include the Mom taking what she wants first!
Though I think in my younger days...to protect the innocent palates of my babies I did choose that option.
I know how to take one for the team!
I haven't lost my mind, by the way.
I must admit I love a pumpkin or two or three about as well.
This year I didn't just get any pumpkins...
I got pumpkins from Sam's!!
You know what that means right??
They were large!!
Like the bowl of hummus for 50
or the bag of rice for 700
or the bagel bites for half a block of adolescent boys
or the single bag of dog food for your pack 'o hounds.
That Sam's is a fun place to go!
It is my custom to get an equal number of pumpkins for the number of children currently residing in our home.
This guarantees when carving time comes, each can design his or her own pumpkin in the way he or she sees fit.
This year only 1 of the three wanted to carve when the time came.
Yes, it was my daughter, who despite the slimy slippery seeds and assorted stinky pumpkin innards, did finish her work.
Which, in turn meant that the other two pumpkins were open for interpretation.
I must admit I love me some pumpkin carving.
That isn't entirely true.
I love the design work, but the whole rest of it stinks!!!
Ughhh! I hate the back breaking work.
The stench!
The slime and the way it coats your hands and arms.
The endless seeds which never all surrender to your demands to exit.
The thickness of the skin, making it impossible to do precision work.
The lack of tools perfect for this particular job, which in turn leads to sore fingers caught up in a project they were not designed to do.
And clean up...ughhhhh!
So, after about 2 hours of grueling work, giving up, restarting, acid burned hands, broken fingernails, and pumpkin stained clothes my jack 'o lantern was finished.
My husband and his muscles managed to get his cut, cleaned and carved...as well as our daughters cut and carved in...oh...I would say about 30 minutes.
But I am not hating..
..no I am not!!
I know that being an artist takes time and effort which not everyone is willing to put into a project.
So, we set our Jacks on the front porch and gave them light and life.
Little did I know they would begin talking amongst themselves almost immediately.
I calmly listened in on their conversation.
The Jack in the middle began speaking in a voice very much like Goofy!
"Well a Happy Hidey Ho there Jack to my right!
You look like a friendly sort of fellow!"
The Jack to the right was taken aback by his overtly friendly neighbor, but found it within himself to reply... in a slightly less Goofy-ish voice.
"Guh huh! Well Shucks neighbor Jack, it is right kindly of you to notice!"
They talked goofily about how nice it was to be on the front porch all lit up, about how the flame tickled a bit, about the nice weather, dogs, costumes and other fall type topics.
Then center Jack suddenly got a strange feeling.
The feeling was coming from his left.
He really wanted to turn and look, but couldn't.
He just couldn't.
He really, really couldn't.
But he could sense it.
Something was amiss.
Something was off.
Something didn't seem quite right with that Jack to his left.
At that point there was no more talk.
It just got very still and very quiet.
You see the Jack to his left, was no Jack at all but a Jill.
A Jill 'o lantern with puckered lips and an overly large necklace.
A sunken cheeked Jill with crazy eyes and manicured brows.
She was obviously out of her element, and on the wrong porch.
From that point on, there was silence.
Alas, it was only a few moments more that they had to feel the discomfort!
My husband logically pointed out that we could either put them right into the trash can for pick up the next morning or we could deal with rotten, moldy, bug infested pumpkins stinking up our existence for a full week instead.
I was anxious to be rid of her so I chose the now option.
I suppose I could have enjoyed the Jacks a few more days, but I didn't really want to show that much partiality.
So who carved each pumpkin you are wondering??
From left to right...
Husband, Daughter, not a pumpkin artist, in other words...me.
I was so distraught at my Jill outcome, but let her hang out with the guys anyway.
I should have known better.
I wonder what they talked about in the trashcan all night?
I wonder if they got past their differences?
We will never know.
My next post, will be about the correct technique for sorting Halloween candy!
And, despite what you may think, that does not include the Mom taking what she wants first!
Though I think in my younger days...to protect the innocent palates of my babies I did choose that option.
I know how to take one for the team!
I haven't lost my mind, by the way.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Sugar combatant
Happy Halloween Day!
My kids are so sugared up from the last two days of festivities, how about yours?
I am determined to get some vegetables in their little bodies in order to try to counteract the sugar intake from all of the unsupervised eating here lately.
Whoa, that really makes me sound like the food Nazi that I am! Hee hee hee.
Truly the rule is :
When you are at home, 90% of the time we are gonna be trying to make really excellent healthy choices. When you are out and about it is up to you what you eat and drink. Eat what is served and be gracious.
And please don't lecture people on the evils of McDonald's or trans-fat!!
If it comes up in conversation, or you are writing a blog post about it...when then let 'em have it!!!
On a side note...
The other day I took lunch to my 7 year old daughter at school. The other family we were eating with just happened to mention the infrequent trips to McDonald's they might make in a pinch. All of a sudden my daughter started kinda vibrating next to me. I looked down and saw her screwing up her cute little bespectacled face and clenching her little hands...
...in and effort not to give a food lecture!!!!
It was a really mature (and cute) decision on her part!
After chatting a bit more with this family, we learned that they are a homemade healthy food kind of family as well, and that Micky D's is a last ditch chance to eat on a crunched time budget.
It was a great opportunity to talk to her (and myself) about not making snap judgments on peoples food choices.
I personally still won't be making the drive through the big golden arches...it has been so long and I might not live through such an adventure! In fact, it is hard for me to even walk in to one to visit the Redbox movie rental place. I feel some sort of betrayal to my conscience or something. Ha ha ha ha...actually, I am pretty serious about that in a ridiculous sort of way!
Food Nazi!!
So, I am headed down to the kitchen now to chop up some carrots and celery...
(and normal people would also claim that onion would be appropriate here, not me...blech)
...into tiny little pieces to hide in my chili which we will be having for lunch!
May the force be with you as well as you try to combat the sugar rush which hangs around until that particular candy bucket is empty!!!
When someone uses the "may the force be with you" comment in their writing about sugar, you must know that they are tending on the dramatic side...right??? You can sense that, right???
Are you using the force to sense it??
"Proud of you I am" says Yoda!!
Okay, this has gone downhill fast...gotta go chop!!
My kids are so sugared up from the last two days of festivities, how about yours?
I am determined to get some vegetables in their little bodies in order to try to counteract the sugar intake from all of the unsupervised eating here lately.
Whoa, that really makes me sound like the food Nazi that I am! Hee hee hee.
Truly the rule is :
When you are at home, 90% of the time we are gonna be trying to make really excellent healthy choices. When you are out and about it is up to you what you eat and drink. Eat what is served and be gracious.
And please don't lecture people on the evils of McDonald's or trans-fat!!
If it comes up in conversation, or you are writing a blog post about it...when then let 'em have it!!!
On a side note...
The other day I took lunch to my 7 year old daughter at school. The other family we were eating with just happened to mention the infrequent trips to McDonald's they might make in a pinch. All of a sudden my daughter started kinda vibrating next to me. I looked down and saw her screwing up her cute little bespectacled face and clenching her little hands...
...in and effort not to give a food lecture!!!!
It was a really mature (and cute) decision on her part!
After chatting a bit more with this family, we learned that they are a homemade healthy food kind of family as well, and that Micky D's is a last ditch chance to eat on a crunched time budget.
It was a great opportunity to talk to her (and myself) about not making snap judgments on peoples food choices.
I personally still won't be making the drive through the big golden arches...it has been so long and I might not live through such an adventure! In fact, it is hard for me to even walk in to one to visit the Redbox movie rental place. I feel some sort of betrayal to my conscience or something. Ha ha ha ha...actually, I am pretty serious about that in a ridiculous sort of way!
Food Nazi!!
So, I am headed down to the kitchen now to chop up some carrots and celery...
(and normal people would also claim that onion would be appropriate here, not me...blech)
...into tiny little pieces to hide in my chili which we will be having for lunch!
May the force be with you as well as you try to combat the sugar rush which hangs around until that particular candy bucket is empty!!!
When someone uses the "may the force be with you" comment in their writing about sugar, you must know that they are tending on the dramatic side...right??? You can sense that, right???
Are you using the force to sense it??
"Proud of you I am" says Yoda!!
Okay, this has gone downhill fast...gotta go chop!!
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Just...nothing!
I don't have time to write about what I want to write about today, so it is going to be a random thoughts day!
Proceed at your own risk of time wasted!
I got an extra workout today, yes I did.
My son finally brought home a library book that needs to be returned.
He remembered it at the bus stop so I had to carry it on my whole walk!!
Extra load=extra workout.
I am just feeling so fit!!
I relish the sound of fallen leaves crunching beneath my shoes!
On the other hand, I get the heebie jeebies when a bug is crunched beneath my shoes.
I like relish on my hotdog.
Relish and mustard and chili!
I am making chili this week. Well as soon as I get back to the grocery store and get some meat to put in it.
I made vegetable soup earlier this week and almost got boo'd out of the house for it not having meat in it.
"Where is the meat?" they said.
"There is no meat, it is vegetable soup!"
"Vegetable soup??? How could you do this to us??"
Well, truly I thought that bowl of stuff in the freezer had meat in it and was relying on that for the meat.
I explained this to my family and also let them know that I did use beef stock as the base.
They were not impressed.
I enjoyed it!
When I was a little girl I just loved horses.
I dreamed of them, I drew them, I read books about them, I watched movies about them.
My daughter has this same propensity toward horses.
I think it is genetic!
I made the Tres Leches cake from the Pioneer Woman blog the other day.
Easy, especially with a mixer.
I truly did not think I would enjoy it, because of the interesting soggy nature of it, but decided to make it anyway, just to try something different.
I gotta tell you, I really like it!!
And, more crazy than anything...all three of my kids liked it!
But they did not like it enough to eat a full serving of vegetable soup in order to have it for dessert!
My husband is super awesome and I love him!!
Wow, I realize that came out of nowhere, but it is true and it hit my brain so I typed it.
I don't type everything that hits my brain.
Often I type stuff that hits my brain, then delete it.
This is best for all of us!
My favorite number is 8.
I don't know why.
It is a mystery to me, like numbers in general.
We are going camping soon.
I am working on my positive attitude about this adventure.
Actually I am working on working on my positive attitude about this adventure.
I have three rulers, 2 markers, 3 pencils and one sharpie sitting here on the second shelf of my desk.
Huh! I wondered where those rulers were!
I have 2 more minutes to write.
I set a time limit some days.
Well actually my schedule sets a time limit for me some days.
My goal for today is to make another round of pumpkin bread to see if I can tweak it to suit my liking.
We shall just see if that happens!!
45 seconds.
Oh the pressure.
What can I say?
28 seconds.
I have frozen up here....
oh my I am down to 15 seconds.
now 5...
done!
Proceed at your own risk of time wasted!
I got an extra workout today, yes I did.
My son finally brought home a library book that needs to be returned.
He remembered it at the bus stop so I had to carry it on my whole walk!!
Extra load=extra workout.
I am just feeling so fit!!
I relish the sound of fallen leaves crunching beneath my shoes!
On the other hand, I get the heebie jeebies when a bug is crunched beneath my shoes.
I like relish on my hotdog.
Relish and mustard and chili!
I am making chili this week. Well as soon as I get back to the grocery store and get some meat to put in it.
I made vegetable soup earlier this week and almost got boo'd out of the house for it not having meat in it.
"Where is the meat?" they said.
"There is no meat, it is vegetable soup!"
"Vegetable soup??? How could you do this to us??"
Well, truly I thought that bowl of stuff in the freezer had meat in it and was relying on that for the meat.
I explained this to my family and also let them know that I did use beef stock as the base.
They were not impressed.
I enjoyed it!
When I was a little girl I just loved horses.
I dreamed of them, I drew them, I read books about them, I watched movies about them.
My daughter has this same propensity toward horses.
I think it is genetic!
I made the Tres Leches cake from the Pioneer Woman blog the other day.
Easy, especially with a mixer.
I truly did not think I would enjoy it, because of the interesting soggy nature of it, but decided to make it anyway, just to try something different.
I gotta tell you, I really like it!!
And, more crazy than anything...all three of my kids liked it!
But they did not like it enough to eat a full serving of vegetable soup in order to have it for dessert!
My husband is super awesome and I love him!!
Wow, I realize that came out of nowhere, but it is true and it hit my brain so I typed it.
I don't type everything that hits my brain.
Often I type stuff that hits my brain, then delete it.
This is best for all of us!
My favorite number is 8.
I don't know why.
It is a mystery to me, like numbers in general.
We are going camping soon.
I am working on my positive attitude about this adventure.
Actually I am working on working on my positive attitude about this adventure.
I have three rulers, 2 markers, 3 pencils and one sharpie sitting here on the second shelf of my desk.
Huh! I wondered where those rulers were!
I have 2 more minutes to write.
I set a time limit some days.
Well actually my schedule sets a time limit for me some days.
My goal for today is to make another round of pumpkin bread to see if I can tweak it to suit my liking.
We shall just see if that happens!!
45 seconds.
Oh the pressure.
What can I say?
28 seconds.
I have frozen up here....
oh my I am down to 15 seconds.
now 5...
done!
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