Thanksgiving this year...the day before...

This year, we stayed home for Thanksgiving.  It was a wonderful choice for us, and we had a relaxing time.  My blog seemed like the right place to jot down what I did to prepare for the meal this year. That way I can come back here to do it all again next year and maybe improve. And just maybe, it would help someone else plan a more stress-free day.

The day before, I did my baking.  The oven would be way too busy the next day. I made pumpkin cake from a friend's recipe. It was crazy easy and the kids loved it! We even tried it with whipped cream on the top.
Pumpkin Cake Recipe from Stephanie
2c flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cloves
2 c sugar
1 c oil (I use safflower, your choice) I used smart balance omega-3 oil.
1 16 oz can pumpkin (or sweet potato) I used fresh pumpkin puree, which made it a bit wet. So I reduced the oil to 3/4 cup in my next effort and it was great! (Also placed in 2 muffin pans-delicious!)
Optional:  1/2 c raisins; 1/3 c chopped nuts

Preheat oven to  350 degrees F. Lightly grease 9x12x2 pan.  Mix sugar, oil, and pumpkin.  In separate bowl (or not), whisk together remaining dry ingredients and add to wet, mix well. Add raisins and nuts if desired. Bake 40-50 min, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

If I had wanted I could have baked some cookies in the same oven! (Next year, I may also bake some cookies.)

I also made macaroni & cheese, placed it into a casserole and refrigerated to be reheated the next day. (The stove would also be busy and mac & cheese reheats well, possibly better the next day!)
***The picture is of muffins made from the same recipe and roasted pumpkin seeds.

Macaroni & Cheese is pretty easy to make from scratch.  I make the pasta (elbow macaroni) first, drain, and set aside. I use the same pan to make a roux and add milk and cheese, until I get the consistency and color that I want. Toss the pasta back in, stir well then place into the casserole. Refrigerate, then clean up for cooking the next day.  (Actually, it was then that I made my little note cards to organize the next day.  I placed what needed to be done on the cards and put in order.) Then relax, get some good sleep. Thanksgiving morning can come pretty quickly...
~Tracy

New Skills-Linking

Now that I am finally taking the time to learn how to add things to my blog, it is time to ask all my creative friends if I can link to their blogs.  I read some truly amazing blogs.  (*I even actually know some of the authors--in real life!)
I have already linked up to the most amazing man in the world--You can check out his blog.  Disclaimer: I read it, but don't understand some (okay-most) of the programming stuff. (He is a Java Guy.)

So just a heads up to all you amazing people, as I have time....I will be writing :o)
Have a lovely weekend!
~Tracy

What about pickles?

While enjoying a celebration dinner at our favorite sandwich place:
DD4: Look they put a handle on my pickle, so I can hold it!
Me: (laughing, a little) That's the stem.
DD4: Huh?
Me: The stem, you know the part you don't eat on the grapes.  That was a cucumber.  Now it's a pickle.
DD4: Oh.
*I am not sure if that was an "okay, I get it" kind of oh or an "okay be quiet now, Mommy" kind of oh.
Sure we go get our CSA basket each week, but we have a long way to go....

~Tracy

Changing of Seasons Already?

I cannot believe that this week marks the end of our summer CSA season!  I have been so busy researching and preparing all of the bountiful harvest, that I have missed publishing all the great recipes I have discovered.  

Maybe there will be some down time in the fall to catch-up.

We are also at the end of our busy summer season and starting the fall season and a more normal schedule-you could almost say a routine. I am looking forward to a more predictable schedule with sprinklings of play dates and celebrations thrown in to keep things interesting.

In a few weeks, our winter CSA begins.  Time to think about squash, red potatoes, squash, turnips, beets, did I mention squash?  

Enjoy the summer pics of the girls, it's hard to catch them being still :-)

~Tracy

Happy Birthday to my Brother

Just had to post a Happy 39th Birthday to my brother!
9-09-09 (It's just fun to say, try it.)
Last Birthday in his 30's
Last time we have single digits in the date (Until Jan. 1, 2101....)
*He's a pretty cool baby brother
**I probably don't tell him that enough
***and I am very behind in posting :-)
~Tracy

First CSA meal of the season!

We are involved in Community Supported Agriculture in our area. We pay a fee in January and our friends raise wonderful produce and share it with our family. We tried it out in the winter-and decided it was a very good fit for our family.
This week, we picked up the first share of the year: wild garlic, red leaf kale, watercress, cilantro, rosemary and fresh eggs!
Tonight, we enjoyed local chicken roasted with some of the rosemary and garlic. The girls enjoy carrots, so carrots were also roasted with rosemary and garlic. Mashed potatoes were my "safe" vegetable, just in case something did not go over well--they really weren't necessary!
My first effort with kale was a success!
For the kale:
*Cut kale into strips and set aside
*Brown slices of bacon-cut into 1/2 inch strips (I used 6 slices-we like bacon.)
*Remove the bacon to drain (leaving some of the grease in the pan)
*Add the wild garlic to saute quickly
*Add the kale. Using tongs to turn the kale, saute until a beautiful green
*Add water to simmer the kale until tender 6-10 minutes.
*Removes kale & garlic-toss with the bacon and serve--mmmmm! tasty!
It was very savory. I was surprised we used and ate all of the kale already! I can't wait to enjoy the eggs tomorrow morning and perhaps create some yummy salsa with all that cilantro!
(I think some fresh chicken salad may be in order for lunch, hmmm, now I just need to figure out watercress. What fun to be challenged!)
I'll post what happens with the watercress--hoping for another success!
~Tracy

Update--Unfortunately, the watercress did not make it...Looking forward to another opportunity to give it a go!

Naming our president....

Tonight, DH was quizzing the girls on some names of our elected political leaders. He asked for the president's name. The girls knew it was Obama of course. Then he asked for his first name...
DD7: I know it starts with a "B"
DH: That's right *He is so proud of his girls*
DD7: I know, it's B-I-D-E-N!
Methinks she has seen a lot of bumper stickers around town.
~Tracy

You don't look a day over...

Today we traveled to the city just south of us to visit a friend. It was his 100th birthday and he was actually out to lunch when we arrived.
Luckily, we went to eat at the same restaurant and the girls were thrilled to see him there. We all agreed that he looked much better than the last time we saw him.
DD7 said, "He doesn't look 100 years old."
When asked how old he looked, she replied, "98."

~Tracy

The Theatre, the theatre....

So once a week DD3 spends a little time with her grandparents. This week I call Momo (grandma) to see how it's going. Here's how the conversation goes:

Momo: We're playing a game called O'Malley. Do you know it?
Tracy: I think so. What are you doing?
Momo: Well, Poppa (grandpa) is saying, "Crazy man, crazy." I am saying, "What are you cats doing on our side of town?" DD3 is singing and saying a lot of other things.
Tracy: Oh, that's not really a game, it's a musical she's been learning from DD6. (*Aristocats*)



I love that my girls are passionate about learning and sharing the experience with so many people. I am thankful that my parents will "play along" with a game they don't really understand and enjoy it!

**Later when DH picked her up, Poppa asked him if he knew "Crazy man!" Too funny.
~Tracy

Our parents on a date...

DH and I have had our first official date of the year!!! Talking over a quiet dinner and hanging out at the bookstore were pretty exciting for us.
Our children have other ideas about a date for Mommy and Daddy. At lunch today, DH asked DD3 what she thought we would do tonight. She replied, "Watch scary movies and eat chocolate-chip cookies!"
Over dinner, DH joked that we should tell her that we ate in the living room and jumped on the furniture....

~Tracy
(Thanks Momo and Poppa for taking the girls tonight.)