Feb 27, 2010
Feb 17, 2010
Snow Day Rules
I thought it'd be warming up by now, but that doesn't seem to be happening any time soon. Since it looks like my city might have a few snow storms left to look forward to, I thought it might be time to share my snow day rules.
1. No work is to be done on a snow day. This includes office work, school work, and house work. If you're stranded at home, this is not the time to send emails to your boss, get a jump on the term paper, or tackle that mountain of laundry. Those things can wait. Snow days are nature-mandated mental health days. Your "job" for the day is to relax.
2. Do not assume a snow day is coming until one has been announced by your school or office. Doing so inevitably results in disappointment.
3. Wear your pajamas inside out. I'm not sure why this is, but dozens of schoolchildren (and teachers) swear by this rule, and I am not one to argue with dozens of children.
4. Hot beverages must be consumed. Coffee, tea, and hot chocolate all qualify.
5. Snow creatures should be built. Snow men. Snow women. Snow families. Tiny 6 inch snow gnomes. Do what you can. If you are unwilling or unable to build any snow creatures, then at least take a walk to search for creatures made by others.
These rules are non-negotiable. Any violation of said rules will result in an a long and cold, but snow-less winter.
1. No work is to be done on a snow day. This includes office work, school work, and house work. If you're stranded at home, this is not the time to send emails to your boss, get a jump on the term paper, or tackle that mountain of laundry. Those things can wait. Snow days are nature-mandated mental health days. Your "job" for the day is to relax.2. Do not assume a snow day is coming until one has been announced by your school or office. Doing so inevitably results in disappointment.
3. Wear your pajamas inside out. I'm not sure why this is, but dozens of schoolchildren (and teachers) swear by this rule, and I am not one to argue with dozens of children.
4. Hot beverages must be consumed. Coffee, tea, and hot chocolate all qualify.
5. Snow creatures should be built. Snow men. Snow women. Snow families. Tiny 6 inch snow gnomes. Do what you can. If you are unwilling or unable to build any snow creatures, then at least take a walk to search for creatures made by others.
These rules are non-negotiable. Any violation of said rules will result in an a long and cold, but snow-less winter.
Jan 20, 2010
Jan 14, 2010
Cooking with Help
In my opinion, cooking was never meant to be a solitary activity. Yes, it's good for the occasional moment of quite time, but the best meals are always a collaboration.
This weekend I had the pleasure of trying a new popover recipe with 2 of the most enthusiastic soux chefs I've ever had the pleasure of working with. These little guys not only measured and stirred with the best of them. They also kept a very close eye on the "popping process."
(See? Kids really can survive without a TV)
Kids are excellent reminders of what cooking should be; messy, creative, and most of all, fun.
Local ingredients in the popovers:
This weekend I had the pleasure of trying a new popover recipe with 2 of the most enthusiastic soux chefs I've ever had the pleasure of working with. These little guys not only measured and stirred with the best of them. They also kept a very close eye on the "popping process."
(See? Kids really can survive without a TV)Kids are excellent reminders of what cooking should be; messy, creative, and most of all, fun.
Local ingredients in the popovers:
- flour
- eggs
- butter
- milk
Jan 5, 2010
My Resolution
Happy New Year!!
This year, my boyfriend and I made a joint resolution. We committed to learning 1 new recipe each week. Although I love to cook, we all need that occasional push outside of our culinary comfort zones. I'll be posting some of my success stories here, along with where I found the recipe and a list of the ingredients I was able to obtain from local sources.
We started off with polenta pie from Mollie Kazten's Moosewood Cookbook (a much loved Christmas present).
(It looked and tasted better than the picture suggests)
This was a great winter recipe because the filling can be adapted to include whatever vegetables and herbs we have available at the time. My boyfriend and I used onions, swiss chard, tomato sauce and garlic. We were very happy with this recipe, but I'll make a few changes next time. I'll use a thinner polenta crust and add a little more seasoning to it.
Local ingredients:
This year, my boyfriend and I made a joint resolution. We committed to learning 1 new recipe each week. Although I love to cook, we all need that occasional push outside of our culinary comfort zones. I'll be posting some of my success stories here, along with where I found the recipe and a list of the ingredients I was able to obtain from local sources.
We started off with polenta pie from Mollie Kazten's Moosewood Cookbook (a much loved Christmas present).
(It looked and tasted better than the picture suggests)
This was a great winter recipe because the filling can be adapted to include whatever vegetables and herbs we have available at the time. My boyfriend and I used onions, swiss chard, tomato sauce and garlic. We were very happy with this recipe, but I'll make a few changes next time. I'll use a thinner polenta crust and add a little more seasoning to it.
Local ingredients:
- cornmeal
- onion
- garlic
- swiss chard
- cheese
- tomato sauce
Dec 29, 2009
Mimi's Gift
My grandma Mimi passed away when I was 7. I have scattered memories of her from my childhood - making me sandwiches in her kitchen, playing "the counting game" with my little sister, decorating her screen door with seashells we found on trips to the beach. Though my family cherishes these little memories, it's been a long time since we've received anything tangible that connects us to her.
But on Christmas eve, we opened a large package from my aunt. Inside was a tangled mass of yarn scraps and half used skeins, along with a note explaining that this was Mimi's knitting stash. We were in awe.
We quickly decided that this yarn could not be used for just any project, but needed to be saved for something meaningful. After some deliberation, we decided to use all the scraps for a very colorful Christmas tree garland. I spent Christmas eve and day slowly knitting a very long I-cord that will adorn our tree in years to come.
Little by little, memories of Mimi are working their way back into the present. We're all very grateful for that.
But on Christmas eve, we opened a large package from my aunt. Inside was a tangled mass of yarn scraps and half used skeins, along with a note explaining that this was Mimi's knitting stash. We were in awe.
We quickly decided that this yarn could not be used for just any project, but needed to be saved for something meaningful. After some deliberation, we decided to use all the scraps for a very colorful Christmas tree garland. I spent Christmas eve and day slowly knitting a very long I-cord that will adorn our tree in years to come.
Little by little, memories of Mimi are working their way back into the present. We're all very grateful for that.
Dec 28, 2009
Traditions
I think my favorite part of Christmas is the traditions. I like the rhythm of performing all the same little rituals year after year. For my family, Christmas means new pajamas, eating our grandmother's stuffing, and a screening of old home videos.
The youngest member of my immediate family will turn 20 this year. We're all well past the age where Christmas revolves around Santa. But regardless, our Christmas eve still ends with a plate of cookies and a handwritten note reminding St. Nick that we've all been (relatively) good this year.
Some traditions deserve to last well past the point where they make sense. At our house, any break in tradition is usually met with a moderate amount of panic and protest, and with good reason. These little rituals make my parent's house feel like our home again, even though it's been years since any kids lived there. They make a group of people now scattered across the country feel like a family. These traditions and the memories they invoke serve as little reminders of all the history that ties us together. They're worth celebrating.
The youngest member of my immediate family will turn 20 this year. We're all well past the age where Christmas revolves around Santa. But regardless, our Christmas eve still ends with a plate of cookies and a handwritten note reminding St. Nick that we've all been (relatively) good this year.
Some traditions deserve to last well past the point where they make sense. At our house, any break in tradition is usually met with a moderate amount of panic and protest, and with good reason. These little rituals make my parent's house feel like our home again, even though it's been years since any kids lived there. They make a group of people now scattered across the country feel like a family. These traditions and the memories they invoke serve as little reminders of all the history that ties us together. They're worth celebrating.
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