Sunday was Farmer's market day and it was a scary, blustery, raining mess. Then for about an hour between ten and eleven the clouds parted and the Universe granted me my Earl Grey tea, Slice of Galette de Rois from my favorite nun, and this week a special guest to market day, my Husband, J. Because the weather was so fowl, We were able to get a lot of great deals. For example instead of the normal 2 for $8 cherry pints, I was begged to take 2 for $6. Twist my arm. A GIANT perfectly ripened candy-sweet cantaloupe the size of two chain store sized melons for $4. Then for $3, I was encouraged to fill a bag of random summer squashes and zucchinis and cucumbers.I was not going to pass that up, and I didn't.
So, Here are some front runners for what to do with my excess of squash.
Courtesy of Martha Stewart Two-Colored Squash Loaf Cake
From Kitchen Daily Zucchini Moussaka
From All Recipes Calabacitas con Elote
From Epicurious Baked Zucchini Fries with Tomato Coulis
Yummy!
28 June 2010
Second First Anniversary and a Menu Monday
So Sunday was our First Wedding Anniversary. Saturday night we had Ruby stay the night with her grandparents so that J and I could enjoy a night out to dinner and some time to ourselves. We decided that would be the night we'd stop trying NOT to have a child. So we'll see.
I should be registering for classes soon for the Fall semester. Looking over the courses, they are as necessary as boring as they sound. Maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised.
Things are moving along nicely for the month of June. With two and a half days to go, I still need to make the curtains for the kitchen. When talking to J about it he said that I should give myself a one-day extension due to the last needle on my sewing machine breaking when I was 3/4 of the way done with my bag project. If I need it I'll take it.
I did not clean the hood vents in the kitchen in bathroom last week, so first thing after the post, that's what I'll do.
Floors were vacuumed. Dishes were done. No leftovers wasted, week 3. Farmer's Market visited and came home with some lovely cantaloupe and a giant bag full of patty pan, zucchini, round zucchini, cucmbers, and yellow squash. I'll have to investigate some squash recipes.
So for this weeks menu:
Monday - Teriyaki Chicken Stir-fry with Pineapple and Noodles
Tuesday - Chorizo, Red Pepper, and Rice Stuffed Round Zucchini Squashes with Quesadilla for the Roo.
Wednesday - Pizza night, bacon, mushroom, and yellow squash a family favorite
Thursday - Sweet Corn Pasta Salad with fresh sweet corn from the farmers market
Friday - Date night with Grilled Burgers and pasta salad, probably some grilled zucchini.
Saturday - Fish and Chips with Peas
Sunday - Fourth of July Family BBQ at J's Parents Summer House.
I should be registering for classes soon for the Fall semester. Looking over the courses, they are as necessary as boring as they sound. Maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised.
Things are moving along nicely for the month of June. With two and a half days to go, I still need to make the curtains for the kitchen. When talking to J about it he said that I should give myself a one-day extension due to the last needle on my sewing machine breaking when I was 3/4 of the way done with my bag project. If I need it I'll take it.
I did not clean the hood vents in the kitchen in bathroom last week, so first thing after the post, that's what I'll do.
Floors were vacuumed. Dishes were done. No leftovers wasted, week 3. Farmer's Market visited and came home with some lovely cantaloupe and a giant bag full of patty pan, zucchini, round zucchini, cucmbers, and yellow squash. I'll have to investigate some squash recipes.
So for this weeks menu:
Monday - Teriyaki Chicken Stir-fry with Pineapple and Noodles
Tuesday - Chorizo, Red Pepper, and Rice Stuffed Round Zucchini Squashes with Quesadilla for the Roo.
Wednesday - Pizza night, bacon, mushroom, and yellow squash a family favorite
Thursday - Sweet Corn Pasta Salad with fresh sweet corn from the farmers market
Friday - Date night with Grilled Burgers and pasta salad, probably some grilled zucchini.
Saturday - Fish and Chips with Peas
Sunday - Fourth of July Family BBQ at J's Parents Summer House.
21 June 2010
Menu Monday: The Good kind of Boring Edition
One of the helpful tidbits I've learned over the years is that company = leftovers. So we are swimming in them.
This week's menu is going to reflect that.
Monday: Trader Joes Orange Chicken with leftover fried rice and yakisoba from Benihana, asparagus.
Tuesday: Tacos in the city with Roo's Daddy.
Wednesday: Spaghetti with Turkey bolognese, salad with carrots and radishes
Thursday: Veggie rice cakes and chicken skewers
Friday: Date Night at Seasons 52
Saturday: Family Pizza night
Sunday: Grill night/farmer's market iron chef
A nice boring menu for a nice boring week.
This week's menu is going to reflect that.
Monday: Trader Joes Orange Chicken with leftover fried rice and yakisoba from Benihana, asparagus.
Tuesday: Tacos in the city with Roo's Daddy.
Wednesday: Spaghetti with Turkey bolognese, salad with carrots and radishes
Thursday: Veggie rice cakes and chicken skewers
Friday: Date Night at Seasons 52
Saturday: Family Pizza night
Sunday: Grill night/farmer's market iron chef
A nice boring menu for a nice boring week.
Father's Day Recap
For Father's day this year, J wanted to take Ruby swimming at a fun indoor pool with zero depth entry and a water-play ground. We had a blast. Sunday was the day everyone left for home, so after 11am we were a small boring family again and free to relax and enjoy each others company. All in all a great week.
On to the accountability portion:
1. All cleaning was done according to the schedule.
2. Laundry was even done on Saturday morning and folded/put away by J.
Thanks sweetie.
3. The meal plan was altered slightly. We didn't have tacos last week because we had leftovers to eat. All other meals were prepared and devoured.
4. No work on June projects has been started. Thinking about starting later today, but not holding my breath.
No farmer's market as my refrigerator is still overflowing with food waiting to be prepared and eaten.
Today Ruby and I made Banana-walnut-chocolate chip muffins, for breakfast. While the oven was hot I threw together a strawberry-rhubarb crumble for later tonight.
I have been reading. Last week I managed to read Bones of the Moon by Jonathan Carroll. A great short read. I've moved on the The Land of Laughs also by Carroll.
Today is shaping up to be a nice lazy day at home with my baby girl.
Blog post to-do list for the next month:
- Father's Day craft project
- Product Review - Mission Fig Goat Milk Ice Cream
- Second, First Wedding Anniversary
- Making the curatins
- Momma's got a brand new bag.
- Preserving Apricots - Roman style
- Blueberries and birthdays
Menu to follow.
14 June 2010
Menu Monday
This weeks menu is brought to us by my local Farmer's market.
I LOVE farmer's markets. I especially love my little town's because all the growers are so small and cute. Especially in the early harvest season. Some of the booths have one item now but will have thirty by the end of summer. I love being able to see the change, from lean to bountiful. I also love grocery store rarities like English peas in the pod and local red currants.
Yes, Roo has gnawed off the bottom of the letter 'p'. For your information, that many pea pods yield that many peas(approximately a 1/2 cup and I bought what they had labeled a quart). They will be starring in Monday's dinner courtesy of Martha Stewart.
On with the meal plan:
Monday - Creamy Pasta with Peas, Arugula, and Pine Nuts
Tuesday - Chili-rubbed Steak Tacos with Snap Pea and Radish Salad
Wednesday - Grilled Chicken with Mango Salsa and Edamame Coconut Jasmine Rice
Thursday - Eating out
Friday - BBQ Chicken, Potato Salad, Grilled Asparagus
This is the same BBQ chicken from last week that never got cooked
Saturday - Eating Out
Sunday - Father's Day (Yet to be decided, but will consist of a brunch and dinner since Ruby has a Daddy and a Papa)
At some point this week I have currants to use. I'm wanting to make a very European style tart.
I also have some rhubarb and the sweetest, smallest, beautiful strawberries I have ever tasted and seen.
Did I mention how much I love the Farmer's market?
I LOVE farmer's markets. I especially love my little town's because all the growers are so small and cute. Especially in the early harvest season. Some of the booths have one item now but will have thirty by the end of summer. I love being able to see the change, from lean to bountiful. I also love grocery store rarities like English peas in the pod and local red currants.
Yes, Roo has gnawed off the bottom of the letter 'p'. For your information, that many pea pods yield that many peas(approximately a 1/2 cup and I bought what they had labeled a quart). They will be starring in Monday's dinner courtesy of Martha Stewart.
On with the meal plan:
Monday - Creamy Pasta with Peas, Arugula, and Pine Nuts
Tuesday - Chili-rubbed Steak Tacos with Snap Pea and Radish Salad
Wednesday - Grilled Chicken with Mango Salsa and Edamame Coconut Jasmine Rice
Thursday - Eating out
Friday - BBQ Chicken, Potato Salad, Grilled Asparagus
This is the same BBQ chicken from last week that never got cooked
Saturday - Eating Out
Sunday - Father's Day (Yet to be decided, but will consist of a brunch and dinner since Ruby has a Daddy and a Papa)
At some point this week I have currants to use. I'm wanting to make a very European style tart.
I also have some rhubarb and the sweetest, smallest, beautiful strawberries I have ever tasted and seen.
Did I mention how much I love the Farmer's market?
Monday Progress Report
It's Monday and I believe I have successfully accomplished my goals for the week.
I stuck to the meal plan until Sunday. We made an impromptu visit to the in-laws house to fix my aging and unruly back. I enjoy the perk of having a physical therapist in the family by marriage. After that I was in no mood to cook any of the delicious things I had picked up from the farmers market that same day. Fresh English peas, local red currants, fresh Madeleine cookies baked by a local French catholic abbey. Yum. We ended up picking up our dinner instead. Since technically Sunday is my 'fun' day on the meal plan I still consider it a win.
As far as the cleaning schedule, it was all completed just some of them weren't completed on the same day I had listed. Some early, some late, some like the magazine de-clutter project is still going on. In fairness, I had eight magazine holders full of old Cooking Light, Bon Appetit, Food and Wine, and Cooks Illustrated to go through and keep only the recipes I was likely to make. So far I have removed about a magazines worth of pages from six of those magazine holders. Only two to go and I'm planning on finishing that up tonight.
On the agenda for this week:
Monday - Finish magazines project, grocery shopping
Tuesday - Clean bathroom and wash floors, Fold and put away laundry, unload car and vacuum car out.
Ew to the car. Toddlers are messy and I don't remember the last time we did this.
Wednesday - Vacuum, straighten balconies, Father's Day project
Currently our balconies are being used by an expecting squirrel couple. We've been giving them their space but my parents will expect somewhere to suck on their cancer sticks away from the rest of us.
Thursday - Dinner with a friend, Finish up Father's Day Project.
Friday - Hanging with the parents
Saturday -Dinner with Friends
Sunday - Father's Day
It's a light week because we're entertaining most of the time I usually have to do things around the house.
Next week I'm going to have to start my house project and personal project if I'm going to finish by July.
Now for the obligatory picture of my daughter doing something supercute.
The Asian Chicken Noodle Salad was a big hit with everyone. Even when she had cold leftovers for lunch one day after. This weeks meal plan to follow.
I stuck to the meal plan until Sunday. We made an impromptu visit to the in-laws house to fix my aging and unruly back. I enjoy the perk of having a physical therapist in the family by marriage. After that I was in no mood to cook any of the delicious things I had picked up from the farmers market that same day. Fresh English peas, local red currants, fresh Madeleine cookies baked by a local French catholic abbey. Yum. We ended up picking up our dinner instead. Since technically Sunday is my 'fun' day on the meal plan I still consider it a win.
As far as the cleaning schedule, it was all completed just some of them weren't completed on the same day I had listed. Some early, some late, some like the magazine de-clutter project is still going on. In fairness, I had eight magazine holders full of old Cooking Light, Bon Appetit, Food and Wine, and Cooks Illustrated to go through and keep only the recipes I was likely to make. So far I have removed about a magazines worth of pages from six of those magazine holders. Only two to go and I'm planning on finishing that up tonight.
On the agenda for this week:
Monday - Finish magazines project, grocery shopping
Tuesday - Clean bathroom and wash floors, Fold and put away laundry, unload car and vacuum car out.
Ew to the car. Toddlers are messy and I don't remember the last time we did this.
Wednesday - Vacuum, straighten balconies, Father's Day project
Currently our balconies are being used by an expecting squirrel couple. We've been giving them their space but my parents will expect somewhere to suck on their cancer sticks away from the rest of us.
Thursday - Dinner with a friend, Finish up Father's Day Project.
Friday - Hanging with the parents
Saturday -Dinner with Friends
Sunday - Father's Day
It's a light week because we're entertaining most of the time I usually have to do things around the house.
Next week I'm going to have to start my house project and personal project if I'm going to finish by July.
Now for the obligatory picture of my daughter doing something supercute.
The Asian Chicken Noodle Salad was a big hit with everyone. Even when she had cold leftovers for lunch one day after. This weeks meal plan to follow.
08 June 2010
June Projects
I will start this post with a review of my May project.
I made this, kinda.
This dress makes me thirsty
Here's the back.
Hulk ANGRY!!!
This was my first attempt. I didn't have as much fabric as per the instructions so it came out a lot more casual than the example. For Ruby, it may end up being a good thing. She's a puddle-jumping, mud-wallowing, grassy hill-sliding machine. I do have plans for making more but I think I'm going to try for a ruffle skirt next time.
This month my personal project includes making a new bag for myself. A cute little summer bag for toting around water bottles, fruit snacks, hat racks...you know, the essentials.
My house project will be new curtains for the kitchen. I have a cute white fabric with embroidered cherries on it that is screaming out to become curtains and possible matching oven mitts and or towel trim. Since I've picked red as an accent color that will at least narrow down the main color. Maybe I'll just keep the room white. I do have grand plans for the kitchen redo. Originally that was my project for the month but since I'm starting the month a week late I figured I'd space it over two months.
Goal for the month: NO THROWING AWAY LEFTOVERS!!!
I'm so tired of doing that. It makes me feel bad for wasting for AND I may as well be throwing money away. Actually I guess I really am throwing money away when I throw away food that is no longer edible. The shame. I look forward to coming up with creative new ways of using them or even just scaling back what I prepare. Maybe I'll even look into doing more batch cooking now that my freezer has more real estate available.
Wish me luck!
This was my first attempt. I didn't have as much fabric as per the instructions so it came out a lot more casual than the example. For Ruby, it may end up being a good thing. She's a puddle-jumping, mud-wallowing, grassy hill-sliding machine. I do have plans for making more but I think I'm going to try for a ruffle skirt next time.
This month my personal project includes making a new bag for myself. A cute little summer bag for toting around water bottles, fruit snacks, hat racks...you know, the essentials.
My house project will be new curtains for the kitchen. I have a cute white fabric with embroidered cherries on it that is screaming out to become curtains and possible matching oven mitts and or towel trim. Since I've picked red as an accent color that will at least narrow down the main color. Maybe I'll just keep the room white. I do have grand plans for the kitchen redo. Originally that was my project for the month but since I'm starting the month a week late I figured I'd space it over two months.
Goal for the month: NO THROWING AWAY LEFTOVERS!!!
I'm so tired of doing that. It makes me feel bad for wasting for AND I may as well be throwing money away. Actually I guess I really am throwing money away when I throw away food that is no longer edible. The shame. I look forward to coming up with creative new ways of using them or even just scaling back what I prepare. Maybe I'll even look into doing more batch cooking now that my freezer has more real estate available.
Wish me luck!
07 June 2010
June Syllabus
Edit HTMLJune. Month of roses, marriage and the pearl.
It's named for Juno, Mother of the Gods.
Well, at least she got a month named after her. I have a hard enough time taking care of one human child. God-children? No thanks.
So the meal plan for the week.
Monday - Baked Pollock with homemade macaroni and cheese, and Ruby's favorite, peas.
Tuesday - Taco Joes, Southwestern rice, corn on the cob with lime butter.
Wednesday - Asian Chicken Noodle Salad with Green beans
Thursday - Vegetarian Fried Rice
Friday - Date Night(I do have a plan but I can't say yet because he might read it)
Saturday - Family Pizza Night
Sunday - Slow roasted BBQ rubbed chicken, Potato Salad, and farmers market veg.
I'm really digging For the Love of Cooking. I'm looking forward to trying the salad recipe. I'll post pics and the official Ruby review.
So we know the dinner-time schedule, let's talk about the "home"work.
Monday - Clean out the fridge
Someone should probably take away my sanitation license for not practicing at home as well as on the job. I mean it's not that bad, mostly a little embarrassing. More embarrassing that it's been worse.
Tuesday - Mop kitchen and bathroom floors
Again with the ew. Normal people just do this stuff right?
Wednesday - Bathroom deep clean
I'm usually pretty reliable with this one - no worries here.
Thursday - De-clutter Day.
Pick one small space, before and after pictures.
Friday - Vacuum a la husband.
He's pretty good about this one too.
Saturday - Toy purge/switch(every other week) and
Our family's Good 'ole-fashioned Laundry party. Yes - We know how to have a good time on a Saturday night. Honestly it's because we share a laundry room with eleven other neighbors and there is NO competition on Saturday night.
Sunday - Farmer's Market and Pancakes.
I'm excited about this. So far, seems pretty doable.
Projects will be revealed tomorrow as I am getting the sleep queues from the Roo and I have approximately 5 minutes until she official reaches monster status.
Where does the time go?!
A month? Seriously...wow. So I'm going to pretend that didn't happen.
Here are some of things that happened.
"Hi Mommy!"
"Yes I do know how cute I am."
Mystery tree flowers/leaves/things that I love.
"Mommy. Is this a worm on my shirt?"
And for my next trick I'll need a volunteer."
On to business. I have decided that every Monday will be the day I put up my syllabus for the coming week. This Monday will be no exception. The syllabus will include the following:
A menu
Goal for the week
Daily 'Home'work Assignments
A monthly Personal project or the update
A monthly House project or the update
A monthly Group assignment or the update
I have a list of tons of project ideas. We've come up with a meal plan. I'm excited and ready to go. Since this post was a little more a catch-up post, I will make the official syllabus for this week a separate post to follow...after dinner but before bath time. Promise.
On to business. I have decided that every Monday will be the day I put up my syllabus for the coming week. This Monday will be no exception. The syllabus will include the following:
A menu
Goal for the week
Daily 'Home'work Assignments
A monthly Personal project or the update
A monthly House project or the update
A monthly Group assignment or the update
I have a list of tons of project ideas. We've come up with a meal plan. I'm excited and ready to go. Since this post was a little more a catch-up post, I will make the official syllabus for this week a separate post to follow...after dinner but before bath time. Promise.
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