Garden inspired Cooking!!

love, love the garden and it has been fun to cook with all of the fresh veggies. Almost everyday this past week I have been out looking for ripe tomatoes- and then I venture over to my neighbors yard to see what is ripe there . . . I really enjoy cooking, but when it comes to dinner, I get stuck deciding what to make and then being excited about it when the day rolls around.

Last week I really enjoyed being inspired by my garden.

Pork Enchiladas with fresh homemade salsa. (& Zucchini bread- Gretel I am still waiting for your choc. zuch bread recipe . . .)

Spaghetti Squash with Bolegnese. (hmmm! I thought: I love spaghetti squash and I like spaghetti sauce- this will probably be pretty good! Well it was really good- much better than I even imagined!!)

Fresh Pesto with chicken & bowtie pasta

Bruschetta Chicken Bake- I made bruschetta (kalamata olives, artichoke hearts, tomatoes, garlic, S&P) mixed it with breadcrumbs, spooned it over chicken and baked it! After it baked, I added a little bit of feta. This was supposed to be the meal of the week- and it was good but honestly I felt like it was missing something. I still think the idea sounds wonderful- so all you great cooks out there if you have any suggestions or recipes please send them to me!!

and tonight with the leftovers- PIZZA with pesto, chicken, artichoke hearts, pinenuts, bacon AWESOME!!

and Zucchini Cookies of course!
3 eggs
1 c. oil
3/4 c. sugar
2/3 c. brown sugar
2 g grated zucchuni
2 t vanilla
4-4 1/2 c. flour (the dough is super sticky)
3 t cinnamon
1 1/2 t baking powder
1 t baking soda
1 t salt

mix together, scoop into balls & roll in cinnamon sugar mixture and bake at 325 for about 12 min
or add a cup of choc. chips and scoop onto pan & bake at 325 for 12 min

enjoy! love A

"Boston You're My Home"

A while ago John shared the idea of creating a music club where they would have a topic and everyone would create a playlist for that topic. When the Celtics slaughtered and utterly embarrassed the Lakers to win their 17th title and give Boston its 6th pro sports championship in 7 years, I thought it would be fitting to pay tribute to my home town by making a playlist about Boston, but it never happened. Just a few months later Brady and the Patriots are in a sad predicament, so Bostonians keep their attention, as usual, on the Red Sox. So now that they have their work cut out for themselves in the playoffs, I’ll make a pathetic attempt at boosting the karma with a few of our favorite songs about the Hub. With a little help from iTunes and the always reliable internet, here’s what I came up with.

1. “Dirty Water” The Standells
This song is a must on any Boston playlist. Any true Bostonian knows about it and it is even played after Red Sox games. I’ll admit there really isn’t that much to it, but if you have a good guitar riff, a catchy line like “Boston you’re my home,” and throw in a nice dose of harmonica, you’ve got yourself a pretty good song. Sidenote: the line about “frustrated women” refers to the dorm girls from the many colleges around Boston who suffered from an early curfew back in the day.

2. “Rock and Roll Band” Boston
Obviously we can’t leave out the band named after the city. These MIT students who made it big trying to fund their way through college not only put together a repertoire of now famous classic rock hits, but they represent all those bands who got their breaks in Boston. A surprisingly long list in fact. Here’s just a few: Aerosmith, the Cars, U2 (first American concert), They Might Be Giants, and New Kids on the Block (I’m not sure we’ll claim this one) and Marky Mark (AKA Mark Wahlberg).

3. “Sweet Baby James” James Taylor
James Taylor is another artist from Boston and this is probably the first song I ever associated with Boston. I heard a live version of the song when I was young and when he sang the line “Now the first of December was covered with snow, so was the turnpike from Stockbridge to Boston” and everyone cheered, I felt some pride in my city. The only problem was I never remember seeing a cowboy herding cattle anywhere near Boston. But it is still a good song.

4. “Boston” Augustana
I first heard this song a few months ago on the radio and actually liked it right off. I really like the piano and all the build ups. Ironically, one of the reasons for going to Boston was because “no one knows my name,” evidently they didn’t watch the TV show “Cheers.”

5. “Tessie” Dropkick Murphys
I heard these guys while I was going to BU, they were a pretty popular local band but I had no idea they were known nationally. They are the quintessential hard core irish drinking band who’ve had a few too many. Plus, I can’t get enough of the Boston accents. (I kinda wish I still had mine.) The band is a bit like flogging Molly, just angrier and with more yelling. They have a bunch of songs about Boston, but this is a remake of an ancient Red Sox fight song and incorporates everything that is great about the Boston attitude. They originally recorded this song in 2004 when the Red Sox had hopes of playoff success, but quickly found themselves in a 0-3 hole to the hated Yankees. But karma was on their side that year and they not only pulled out the most amazing playoff series comeback, but ended up winning the World Series. Go Sox!!

6. “I Want My City Back” The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
After a concert tour, these guys came back to Boston and headed to one of their favorite bars in Kenmore Square only to find out it had been closed down. This song laments that sad discovery. They too have a bunch of songs more or less about Boston, but I like the intensity of this one.

7. “Boston” Five Way Friday
I randomly found this song in my iTunes after I had offered to “back up some music files” for a friend. Turns out it is pretty good. It appears that a lot of songs about Boston have to do with traveling, I’ll have to theorize about that one.

8. “Get It Like You Like It” Ben Harper
In 1918 the great Bambino kicked a piano into Willis Pond
But Johnny Damon swung a bat and grand slam that was that
86 years of curse was gone, just like you like it
Get it like you like it.

Not only does this bring back fond memories of the 2004 win, but the story of Babe Ruth dumping the piano into Willis pond actually happened, in the town I grew up in no less. Go Sudbury!! The story goes like this The bambino frequented a cottage in the town of Sudbury during the off-season while he played for the Red Sox. He was apparently an avid piano player and enjoyed playing during the parties. There are three basic versions for the story; (1) He pushed the piano out onto the frozen pond behind the house during a party for skating and music. The piano was left and later fell through the ice. (2) In a moment of drunkenness Babe gets upset and takes his anger and/or moment of stupor out on the piano and dumped it into the pond. (3) To impress party-goers with a feat of strength he picks the piano up over his heads and throws it into the pond.

9. “Back to Boston” The Rosebuds
Let me insert my disclaimer here: I really know very little about music and after 8 songs I had to go to the internet to find a few more tracks. In fact, I’m not even sure about the accuracy of any information I have written, except for the part about Babe Ruth’s piano. So let’s just say a few of these songs I just happened to stumble upon and thought were kinda cool.

10. “Boston to St. John’s” Great Big Sea
Well, Boston has a lot of boats. Um…hmm…well, I liked it.

11.”Vineyard” Jackopierce
Martha’s Vineyard is an island off the south shore of Massachusetts. It’s a popular tourist area and actually a really fun place to check out if you’re ever in the area. This song is an example of “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” In all its got a couple really good lines and nice bits of music and put together works out to entertain.

12. “Brown-Eyed Girl” Jimmy Buffett
No, Jimmy Buffett is not from Boston, though he does spend a good amount of time on the islands. And no, Jimmy Buffett did not write this song. Nor does the song have anything to do with Boston, unless Jimmy Buffett sings it live at Fenway Park and tailors it perfectly for the audience. In other words, this is a great cover. It represents all those songs that get adapted to the city and turn out to be even better than the original. Plus it gives great Red Sox Karma and my wife happens to be a fine brown-eyed girl who lived for a while in Boston.

So there you have it. Let me know what you think, and better yet, if I forgot anything. I hope you enjoy and Go Red Sox!!! P.S. John & Scott consider yourselves tagged (and any one else who likes music and actually reads our blog).

Thanks to some sweet moves by my wicked awesome wife, we got most of the music up on the sites. Not all the tracks are there, nor are they the best ones, but still I'm psyched we've got something. If you want the real thing I'll make you a copy. Thanks, A you rock!

Bonus Track: "Sweet Caroline" Neil Diamond

Thanks to Ashlee and Brittany for bringing this song to my attention. It really doesn't have anything to do with Boston, but it is a huge hit at Fenway. So it is now on the album. Here's the story behind why they play it...beware, it's not for the superstitious.

aaaaaaath!

Meg (or Moo as we more often call her) loves the bath! She can say aaaaaaath! shower and water- it is really cute

Don't even mention the word unless you are planning to take her straight there. It doesn't matter if we have already had 2 baths today she insists on getting wet, which also means she joins me most days in the shower.

I'm smitten with Fall

It's true . . . I'm smitten. From the beautiful clear CRISP AIR in the mornings, WARM afternoons for riding bikes, LEAVES beginning to change into vibrant hues, DECORATING for fall with red, orange, yellow, green & brown- my house was inspired by the fall, wearing my favorite JEANS and t-shirt, the bright green GRASS that is no longer stressed by the summer heat, yummy SQUASH from my garden, the routine and SCHEDULE the new school year brings, the FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS of football season, FARM STANDS packed with pumpkins and gourds, and my own beautiful Cinderella PUMPKINS on the porch, sleeping with the window OPEN and listening to the CRICKETS, warm cozy SWEATERS, delicious and easy SOUP for dinner, and making a (huge) mess BAKING!!

Inspired by the fall we made these leaf shaped sugar cookies and shared them. Because as Kate & Annie remind me that is the best part of making treats.

A's Sugar Cookies:

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar

2 large eggs

1 t. vanilla

3 cups flour

1/2 t salt

1 t baking soda

cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, then vanilla, then gradually add flour salt and baking soda. Put the dough into a Ziploc bag and refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight.

Then roll out & cut into holiday shape of choice. I put my cookies on the pan in the fridge for 10-20 minutes before baking and it helps them to hold their shapes better. Then bake for 10 minutes at 350. cool completely before frosting.

Yummy butter cream frosting

1/2 cup butter softened

1t vanilla

1/4 t salt

1/3-1/2 cup EVAPORATED milk

4 cups powdered sugar

beat the butter until fluffy, add additional ingredients, alternate adding powdered sugar and milk until desired consistency, should be thin enough to spread so the frosting appears smooth on the top of the cookie. The frosting will harden slightly and you can used a pastry bag to pipe on additional decorations.

i've been inspired

A couple of weeks ago a friend told me about an young Arizona couple (the Nielsens) who had been in a small plane crash (maybe you have heard about them on the Today Show or in the New York Times) and gave me a blog to look at. c Jane run I have been faithfully reading once or twice a day ever since. Even if I don't have time for any other blogs I feel a pull to check on this family. The Nielsens were both severely burned (Stephanie about 80% and Christian 30%)and are currently medically sedated, undergoing skin grafts, fighting infection and fighting for their lives.

A few key things have drawn me in - first the faith of the family. They are Mormon and believe in the power of prayer and knowing that a loving Father in Heaven is aware of us. They are not angry or bitter- but are inspired and hopeful and share that message of hope and peace with readers. The blog is written by Stephanie's sister who is caring for three of her four children in addition to her own new baby.

Really if you think that you are having a bad day- try stepping into someones shoes who is in the midst of tragedy- a mom that might not make it through the birth of her baby, a beautiful couple and parents of 4- wrapped like mummies in a burn unit, a young family whose 5 yr old daughter was just diagnosed with cancer, the breadwinner of a family currently without work- and ask yourself if what you are complaining about- and arguing about- is really that important.

The other inspiring thing is Stephanie herself. She writes a blog about motherhood called the NieNie dialogues. Instead of complaining about being a wife and mother she celebrates it. She is a darling mom- who plays with her kids and is still in love with her husband. She doesn't claim to do it all right but she works hard on her marriage and family. She is patient and kind and has inspired me to be a better mom.

what would I do different today if i knew I wouldn't have tomorrow with my kids or husband?

Right now- i think I'll go cuddle with Kate.

Here's to saying Yes!

Yes to playing in the rain

YES to Barbie and The Diamond Castle (no to buying it- but YES to a redbox) &

YES to Annie who insisted I watch the Barbie movie as a whole family instead of work on the computer

Yes to Oreo's at the grocery store- and Yes to eating them before dinner

Yes to reading a book to Kate

Yes to letting Meg take a bath while I am cleaning the bathroom

Yes to licking the beaters and the bowl

Yes to watching the kids ride their bikes outside in the beautiful fall weather

and "tomorrow" to the wash, "later" the kitchen that can never stay clean, "in a minute" to the 4 part time jobs, and "not right now" to the blogging world & "maybe" to the nap I was hoping for.

Happy Birthday Annie!

Dear Annie-

Happy Birthday love! I hope that you had a wonderful day! I hope that you know how much I love you. I have been telling anyone who will listen how I'm in Heaven with 7!! (actually I have been saying this since you were 6 1/2) You have become such a grown up over the past year.

I loved it the other day when you felt like we were just chatting as friends. I love your hugs and that you remember to tell me you love me very day.

Annie, you are so big, helpful, kind, thoughtful, and responsible. You are 7 going on 12 and although part of me wants to yell STOP GROWING! I love the beautiful little person you are becoming. It is so fun to watch you grow and learn. You are becoming a great reader- I am really proud of you.

Annie, one of the things I love most about you is your ability to make friends. When you were little, like Meg is now, we lived in Boston where the people aren't known for being very friendly. Your first word was "Hi" and you would say Hi! and wave to people everywhere we went. Sure, it startled a few, but more often then not, people would have a big smile on their face after meeting you.

Annie, I love your spirit. I have always thought it was too big for your little body. I look up to your example about doing what's right and saying your prayers. You are very sensitive to the spirit and I hope you never lose that.

Annie, I remember holding you as a new baby and loving you so much I thought my heart was going to burst- I still feel that same way!

Happy Birthday! I love you!

Love, Mom

First Day of First Grade

Last Tuesday Annie started first grade.

The day before school started they had a meet the teacher open house. We met her new teacher and then walked over to say high to her old kindergarten teacher. Miss Judy picked her up and gave her a huge hug and told her how much she had missed her. I started to cry. Would this year be okay? Would her new teacher love her even though she will always be in trouble (at school) for talking? (just like her mother!) Will she make new friends? We already did this last year and yet I am nervous for what her school experience will be.

Annie loves it.

She loves walking up to school with the neighbor kids.

She loves playing at recess and she has already made new friends.

She loves looking forward to something special each day:

Library, Art Space, computer lab & PE

A lot of growing up memories fade over time, and although I can't remember the situations I remember the feelings (both happy and sad). I remember the feeling of being left out, or being made fun of, running and playing with friends and feeling on top of the world. I remember how I felt when I didn't get invited to a party or when my boyfriend cheated . . . and all of the sudden I hurt inside again (not for me- those wounds have long since healed) but it aches to know that my kids are going to have to experience those same growing up moments.

No, I am not nervous for Annie. It is me that has never done first grade this way before- I am nervous for me . . .