Thank you ...
... for coming here and reading.
... for commenting.
... for writing cool blogs.
... for being awesome.
... for saving me from whole cloves.
... for loving my boys like crazy (this one's for you Uncle Steve, Aunt Judy, Kelly and Dewek). Don't be offended Grandparents - you are required to obsessively love the boys - but - you gotta admit these guys go above and beyond.
... for coming week after week to my Pilates class.
... for teaching me about strength and grace under adversity, Liz.
... for the best weekend of my life, A-rae.
... for all the help.
... for giving me a chance.
... for effin' brownies.
... for waxing my eyebrows without calling me "sasquatch"
... for being the love of my life (Yep, that one's for you, Hubs).
... for asking me to make you a pie (Diane).
... for still loving me despite the fact that I was extremely similar to the Wee One (Mom).
... for keeping me from being prematurely lame (A-rae, Kelly). Left to my own devices, I would be a sad case.
... for my children. Most of the time.
... to my brain surgeon - not only did he save my life, but he provided me with the sweetest comb-over ever. Can you believe it's been 10 years?
... for turkey and gravy.
... for antipasto squares and that product, you know what I'm talking about (Becky).
... for being my cleanse buddy, Miss Kelly- one more day!
... for red wine (for the antioxidants of course).
... for a great boss (not sucking up, Beth).
... for roots and wings, Mom and Dad.
***
What are you thankful for?
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Fa la la la la
Happy Tuesday guys.
Ah-Choo! Still a bit under the weather here, but hanging in.
You may have noticed the Pink Mixer standing proudly in the photo in yesterday's post.
Et, tu, Mixer?
It's time to start making cookie dough for Christmas and no little, sniffly cold is going to stop me.
So, on Sunday, Gingersnaps hit the freezer.
Of course it isn't always advisable to cook while slightly under the weather. A few mishaps occurred.
Lessons in Cookie-ing:
1) Read labels carefully while at the grocery store. Whole cloves are in a deceptively similar package, but are not the same as Ground cloves.
2) Whole cloves cannot be ground into ground cloves using your average food processor.
3) Thank God for beloved neighbors who actually read the labels in the grocery store and come to your rescue during a spice emergency
.
4) You must add the spices to the dough prior to wrapping the dough in plastic wrap and putting it in the freezer, otherwise when you discover your little bowl of carefully pre-measured spices you will have to obtain the dough from the freezer, unwrap, mix in the spices, re-wrap and then re-clean the bowl you may have already cleaned. Sigh.
Perhaps I should have waited until I was feeling 100% before tackling cookie dough, but Christmas is like a snowball rolling down hill, yes? You've just gotta roll with it or else it gets away from you!
Ah-Choo! Still a bit under the weather here, but hanging in.
You may have noticed the Pink Mixer standing proudly in the photo in yesterday's post.
Et, tu, Mixer?
It's time to start making cookie dough for Christmas and no little, sniffly cold is going to stop me.
So, on Sunday, Gingersnaps hit the freezer.
Of course it isn't always advisable to cook while slightly under the weather. A few mishaps occurred.
Lessons in Cookie-ing:
1) Read labels carefully while at the grocery store. Whole cloves are in a deceptively similar package, but are not the same as Ground cloves.
2) Whole cloves cannot be ground into ground cloves using your average food processor.
3) Thank God for beloved neighbors who actually read the labels in the grocery store and come to your rescue during a spice emergency
.
 |
| Thanks Sharon! |
4) You must add the spices to the dough prior to wrapping the dough in plastic wrap and putting it in the freezer, otherwise when you discover your little bowl of carefully pre-measured spices you will have to obtain the dough from the freezer, unwrap, mix in the spices, re-wrap and then re-clean the bowl you may have already cleaned. Sigh.
Perhaps I should have waited until I was feeling 100% before tackling cookie dough, but Christmas is like a snowball rolling down hill, yes? You've just gotta roll with it or else it gets away from you!
Monday, November 21, 2011
Ah-Choo!
I have a little cold.
Of course.
Nothing major, just a sore throat, stuffy nose and achy body.
So, yesterday as I went through my Defense Against the Common Cold Checklist - I wondered
1) If I am the only person who launches a full frontal assault against a cold virus.
2) If I am missing anything from my arsenal.
Yesterday when I awoke with my scratchy throat I started the day with echinacea and Zinc lozenges.
Dinner went into the crock pot, soup went onto the stove and tea followed me wherever I went. (Just ignore the pink mixer - we'll talk about that in tomorrow's post)
I dress extremely warmly.
I drink tea and water until I feel sloshy.
Then, right before bed, I attempt to induce a fake fever.
It is my understanding that cold germs like to operate within a fairly narrow window of environmental conditions,including temperature. This is why your body fires off a fever when you get sick.
So, in order to help things along - I take a super hot eucalyptus scented bath - sweating it out in the sauna-like conditions for as long as I can stand it. Then I layer myself in fleece and flannel and tuck my warmed up self into bed.
After gargling with hot salt water of course.
For a cough I put Vicks vaporub on the soles of my feet. This totally works. I use it on the kids too!.
For nasal congestion I swear by a Nettie pot and Breathe right nasal strips. Though, I don't own an actual pot, I just use a squeeze bottle of sterile saline from the pharmacy.
Clearly, I have made fighting the common cold into a rigorous battle.
Am I the only one?
Please share your cold fighting, or comfort inducing tips as we venture forth into cold and flu season...
Of course.
Nothing major, just a sore throat, stuffy nose and achy body.
So, yesterday as I went through my Defense Against the Common Cold Checklist - I wondered
1) If I am the only person who launches a full frontal assault against a cold virus.
2) If I am missing anything from my arsenal.
Yesterday when I awoke with my scratchy throat I started the day with echinacea and Zinc lozenges.
 |
| First line of defense: the kitchen. |
I dress extremely warmly.
I drink tea and water until I feel sloshy.
Then, right before bed, I attempt to induce a fake fever.
It is my understanding that cold germs like to operate within a fairly narrow window of environmental conditions,including temperature. This is why your body fires off a fever when you get sick.
So, in order to help things along - I take a super hot eucalyptus scented bath - sweating it out in the sauna-like conditions for as long as I can stand it. Then I layer myself in fleece and flannel and tuck my warmed up self into bed.
After gargling with hot salt water of course.
For a cough I put Vicks vaporub on the soles of my feet. This totally works. I use it on the kids too!.
For nasal congestion I swear by a Nettie pot and Breathe right nasal strips. Though, I don't own an actual pot, I just use a squeeze bottle of sterile saline from the pharmacy.
Clearly, I have made fighting the common cold into a rigorous battle.
Am I the only one?
Please share your cold fighting, or comfort inducing tips as we venture forth into cold and flu season...
Friday, November 18, 2011
Friday Moments
Friday Moments with Soule Mama, as usual.
If you have a moment or two to share, please leave a comment with a link!
Last week, I was oh-so-good following Soule Mama's rules. This week - not so much.
The boys have been fighting like cats and dogs this week. My patience has been pushed to its' breaking point. I have taken away toys, dealt time-outs, reprimanded, scolded, tried reasoning, and even tried separation via baby gates.
They're still fighting.
But, I digress.
Yesterday, for one brief, shining, glorious moment - as I cleaned snack shrapnel out of my car - I heard the rare sound of two children laughing, together.
Though this moment was brief, it was thoroughly appreciated.
Happy Weekend, Gang.
xo
If you have a moment or two to share, please leave a comment with a link!
Last week, I was oh-so-good following Soule Mama's rules. This week - not so much.
The boys have been fighting like cats and dogs this week. My patience has been pushed to its' breaking point. I have taken away toys, dealt time-outs, reprimanded, scolded, tried reasoning, and even tried separation via baby gates.
They're still fighting.
But, I digress.
Yesterday, for one brief, shining, glorious moment - as I cleaned snack shrapnel out of my car - I heard the rare sound of two children laughing, together.
Though this moment was brief, it was thoroughly appreciated.
Happy Weekend, Gang.
xo
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Holidays
Umm, in case you were as clueless as me, Thanksgiving is 1 week away.
Seriously!
I know!
Seriously!
Go look at the calendar.
The Holidays are coming.
This is awesome and scary at the same time.
Over the past few days, I've been busy with a first wave of gift buying and home-made gift planning.
This is the first year where the Big Boy will be old enough to "get it" and participate.
Though in true form, the Wee One is totally on board saying, "Santa will bring me a red bike!" and The Big Boy is refusing to discuss Santa's arrival at all.
And I, (true to my own over-analytical, neurotic form) am already worried about the commercialization of the holidays.
How do I raise my boys to understand the season is about giving? About love, compassion and generosity?
I know my boys learn best when they participate, when they see us in action. So this means I have to change the way I move through the holiday season.
This will require some serious effort on my part. But this is an effort I am happy to make. I've never really thought about it before - sure, I donate gifts or food through work or through the library - but this year (and for all the years I have influence over my boys), I think there needs to be more.
I know, I know (I can hear my Hubs rolling his eyes all the way from 3 towns away) With all your spare time, Melissa?
We are a busy little family right now, and the kiddos are still oh-so-little, but there has to be a way to make an impression. There has to be something we can do.
I'm not at all sure what that is - but I'd love to hear any suggestions and I'll keep you posted.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
The anguish of Two
Two.
The Wee One is 27 months old. Knee deep in his "terrible twos".
And he ain't foolin' around.
This boy is taking two for everything it's worth.
The Big Boy was the easiest two year old. I think he threw perhaps one tantrum.
The Wee One, on the other hand, is a two year old of epic proportions.
He screeches and screams. He hits, yells and pushes. He bites.
He is also deeply conflicted.
The Wee One is 27 months old. Knee deep in his "terrible twos".
And he ain't foolin' around.
This boy is taking two for everything it's worth.
The Big Boy was the easiest two year old. I think he threw perhaps one tantrum.
The Wee One, on the other hand, is a two year old of epic proportions.
 |
| Feel lucky, punk? |
He screeches and screams. He hits, yells and pushes. He bites.
He makes impossible requests:
Upon seeing a plane in the sky: Him: "Q pick me up so I can touch dat pwane?"
Me: "Sorry, Bud, but that plane is too high in the sky - I can't reach it."
Screaming hysterics and tantrum.
Sigh.
 |
| Pwease, Mama? |
Testing his burgeoning independence, but simultaneously clingy as all get out.
When I try to hold is hand, say, in a parking lot, screaming hysterics ensue.
Yet the minute I am busy cooking or otherwise occupied:
Him: "Q pick me up, Mama?"
I have given this poor child more time-outs than I ever dreamed imaginable.
What makes things even more difficult is that he's a funny little turd.
I go to get him from time out, putting on my best stern-mama-facade.
I enter his room and he greets me with:
"Hiiiiiii Maaama! I missed you!"
Focus, Mama, focus.
Me: "Why did you need to go to time-out?"
Him: "I hitted."
Me: "Is it okay to hit?"
Him: "YES!!" then he bursts into hysterical laughter.
Sigh.
Two.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Baked Ziti
Why not make this for dinner?
Here's how!
1 box ziti with lines
1 package hot Italian turkey sausage
1 package ground turkey
1 medium white onion diced
3 large cloves of garlic minced
1 package shredded cheese (Pizza blend works nicely)
1 package bocconcini (bite size fresh mozzarella)
1 small container of part-skim ricotta cheese
1 28oz can crushed tomatoes
1 14oz can diced tomatoes (drained)
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
Set up a pasta pot with water - while you're waiting for it to boil, prep the rest.
In a large skillet brown the ground turkey, turkey sausage, onion and garlic. (I split the sausage the long way and remove the meat because I can't get bulk sausage at my grocery store).
This is the most important step in my opinion (for both lasagna and baked ziti) you have to beat up the meat quite thoroughly while it's cooking, until you achieve a uniform, crumble consistency. A potato masher works nicely, also a wooden spoon. Definitely requires some elbow grease - but keep at it! It's vital to the end result.
Add the crushed and diced tomatoes, stir and reduce the heat to low.
Boil your pasta for no more than 5 minutes - it should be significantly underdone.
Drain the pasta and mix it in with the sauce. Add 1/2 of the bocconcini, and the entire package of ricotta and stir.
Pour the entire mixture into a 13x9 pan.
Top with the remaining bocconcini and the entire package of shredded cheese.
Bake 45-60 minutes.
Allow to rest for 10-15 minutes before serving.
Good, good stuff.
PS - why not get the large package of ricotta - use 1/2 for the pasta and the other 1/2 for ricotta muffins?
Oh you don't have a good recipe for ricotta muffins? Well, I'll provide one ASAP.
Till next time, gang :)
What's your favorite pasta comfort dish?
Here's how!
1 box ziti with lines
1 package hot Italian turkey sausage
1 package ground turkey
1 medium white onion diced
3 large cloves of garlic minced
1 package shredded cheese (Pizza blend works nicely)
1 package bocconcini (bite size fresh mozzarella)
1 small container of part-skim ricotta cheese
1 28oz can crushed tomatoes
1 14oz can diced tomatoes (drained)
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
Set up a pasta pot with water - while you're waiting for it to boil, prep the rest.
In a large skillet brown the ground turkey, turkey sausage, onion and garlic. (I split the sausage the long way and remove the meat because I can't get bulk sausage at my grocery store).
This is the most important step in my opinion (for both lasagna and baked ziti) you have to beat up the meat quite thoroughly while it's cooking, until you achieve a uniform, crumble consistency. A potato masher works nicely, also a wooden spoon. Definitely requires some elbow grease - but keep at it! It's vital to the end result.
Add the crushed and diced tomatoes, stir and reduce the heat to low.
Boil your pasta for no more than 5 minutes - it should be significantly underdone.
Drain the pasta and mix it in with the sauce. Add 1/2 of the bocconcini, and the entire package of ricotta and stir.
Pour the entire mixture into a 13x9 pan.
Top with the remaining bocconcini and the entire package of shredded cheese.
Bake 45-60 minutes.
Allow to rest for 10-15 minutes before serving.
Good, good stuff.
PS - why not get the large package of ricotta - use 1/2 for the pasta and the other 1/2 for ricotta muffins?
Oh you don't have a good recipe for ricotta muffins? Well, I'll provide one ASAP.
Till next time, gang :)
What's your favorite pasta comfort dish?
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