Favourite Places

The living room corner where you'll find me every night from 8-11 pm. The pictures aren't straight (they never are) and the kids jump on the couch (when I'm not looking) and I have more magazines than any one person needs.

These are the pictures I bought a couple of weeks ago. I purchased the frames from Target and Mr. A hung them up... It was a miracle. The mirror on the wall was one I was given by my uncle. A neighbour of his was going to throw it out! It was a very burnished gold but I had some handy dandy silver paint and a little kids paint brush. Now it's practically perfect for the space (meaning: it was free!).

The King Size bed! Yahoo. The bedroom is almost done. I'd like to rip up the rug and as you can tell I need a bedskirt. No one likes to look at a box spring... Remember I sleep here and I don't have a degree in photography (I have a little Kodak) so the pictures not perfect and neither is the room. I actually use the Jergens every night(and morning - keep moisturized!) and I always have to have a water glass (or two) beside my bed. I don't iron my sheets 'cause the kids jump on them too. I don't like things matchy-matchy either - just simple. I'm like that...

This is my husbands night stand (notice the water glass). The basket holds the phone, change from his pocket and a pen. The brown bin underneath holds all his other junk (magazines, magazines, and the other odd articles he might have). The photo above is a copy of our wedding invitation a friend had framed for us when we got married. It's yellowed and looks a bit 'off' but we can't pitch it - you know why...

Groceries.

I'm going to be busy making muffins, breakfast burritos, cookies, granola and a whole lot more. I didn't buy cereal again today. It really does make for a bit more work for me. In fact, I'm not entirely sure why I think not buying cereal makes a big difference. I've obviously got it on the brain and I'm not letting go.

I stuck to my list today - so far so good. Hopefully I've got enough there to keep everyone full and not whining about the lack of granola bars and snacks; by "everyone", I mean me... The total food expenditure for today was $104.34. Without a doubt fresh food is far more expensive than frozen and snack food - and the kids tend to eat more of it. I swear my boys will have the two bags of apples and all those bananas gone by Friday! Drives me nuts.

As a side note: I'm looking for a good Masala Curry Sauce recipe. Anyone out there have one?

Edit: I have since made these muffins from Smitten Kitchen. I haven't tasted them but they look exactly like the picture - so YUM! Also from Smitten Kitchen, these lovely looking peanut butter cookies of which I've already eaten 3. I'm not a big fan (3 and I don't really like them. what if I did?) they're a little dry and bland. I think I'm more partial to the sugar/butter laden ones that stick to the top of your mouth. Lastly, I also whipped up a batch of these chocolate breakfast muffins. TO DIE FOR! And not just for breakfast - especially if you add a little oat bran, flax seeds and walnuts - then they taste just like brownies! For an extra special treat, don't sprinkle with sugar at the end... instead... wait for it... use a sprinkling of coarse sea salt on the top of each. Oh, yes, yes, I did....

Before I forget.

I thought I would post what I plan on making for dinner this week - you know, before I forget... Dinner planning is one of my hardest jobs - really. Making a meal that four different people will like isn't as easy as it sounds. Some days I just stand and stare at my fridge hoping and praying that a meal will just jump out at me. Usually it doesn't and I end up getting all frazzled and falling to pieces. This is my life. It's not pretty.

If I'm lucky (like this week) I make a list of meals I can create from the stuff in my kitchen - sometimes I need help from the grocery store but hopefully, it's very little. Not only does this keep my on budget and/or keep me from becoming clinically insane (sort of) it also helps me use up some of the articles that have been taking up space - articles I buy because I become inspired by a certain recipe (that I later lose and still end up with 3 bottles of tumeric in my cupboard...). Here we go:

Sunday (tonight): Pulled pork on a bun with ranch potatoes and salad.

Monday: BBQ pork buns (meat done!) and garlic steamed broccoli.

Tuesday: Pork with rice and snowpeas and broccoli.

Wednesday: Chickpeas, peas and potatoes in curry sauce served over brown rice.

Thursday: Beef and rice balls in tomato sauce (I add grated veggies to the meatballs).

Friday: Baked fish with potato gratin and corn on the side. This will probably not pass with the kids - life isn't that simple but Mr. A will eat it happily.

Water parks

Water parks never seem like a good idea. EVER! The thought of a bunch of kids running around, falling, maybe even peeing in the pool (maybe?) makes me shutter. I like kids but I'm not a big fan of noise and well, 'bunches' of kids. Yet every time we go to a water park I think life is freakin' awesome. My kids always have a blast. They're worn out by the time we're done and I'm calm, cool and collected. It makes no sense what-so-ever!

So this was how we ended our Spring Break. There's many a water park within easy driving distance from our front door - we chose just one. We stayed the night and made a whole 'family getaway' out of it. We even brought the dog! We ate supper at the bar, swam for hours and finished the evening watching the Blue Jackets on t.v. It turned out to be the perfect ending - and that was an almost exact quote from the little people.

To do lists and other things I don't want to do.

• The stairs still look like this. There's more dust bunnies in the corners, piles of kids crap on the second stair and maybe a dint or two from Mr.E throwing a ball up and down "cause it goes faster now" but basically, I've done nothing.
• I still have to caulk in all the gaps on the fireplace room floor. Yep, it's been a year. I also have to prime and paint the molding. Whatever...
• I'd like to make pillow covers for the pillows that came with the green couches we bought. I HATE the pillows but for some reason I also think it's ludicrous to throw them out and just go buy new ones. Me and my stupid reasoning make absolutely no sense at all. None.
• I collected old maps from neighbours and friends in the fall in hopes that I would paint the downstairs bathroom and cover one wall with the maps. Haven't done it yet. Fall is long gone. Stupid fall.
• It's spring here. That's a good thing (though not if you're the bathroom). The sun is shining and the birds are singing and I'm reminded that I really need to get my butthogs out to the garden and clean up all the leaves and 'stuff' because plants are starting to grow. I have one tulip that has actually bloomed. I think it's a little premature but who am I?
• Our garage door decided it no longer wants to be attached to the garage. Add that to "The list of things that need to be fixed" (the basement leaking might be at the top but really, it's such a long list it really is hard to tell which is more important). This isn't necessarily on my 'to do' list but it's on someone's - I think it's safe to assume it's on mine I suppose.
• I have to do laundry. I hate doing laundry. I think I might just be feeling a bit whiny. Maybe just a little? Darn it. I'm going to get a glass of wine now. Did you read all the way to this? Wow. Go make your own list. Pffflllt.

Mornings.

I turn on the kettle. Put the tea bags into pot. It's missing a lid - for a few years now. I'll find a new one eventually but not a new pot. I love my little Brown Betty.

I'll have a scoop (or a cup) of date square - made with garbanzo flour and flax seed and a mixture of fruit, not just dates...

Then I'll probably have one of these muffins - tropical (almonds, coconut and dates). So yummy. I'm all about the carbs.

Spring is up and shining brightly (today) even if the temperatures haven't yet warmed up enough for me to put away my winter jacket. I love staring at the flowers while drinking my tea. It's calming especially when it sounds like the Indianapolis 500 is happening behind me...

These guys are usually hanging out in the fruit tree. Can you see the squirrel? He saw me! And he was taunting Putty. It's an ongoing game that they play.

Balloons and Streamers.

Happy Birthday Auntie Jane.

and while I'm at it; Happy Birthday to you too Mrs. Woods.

Soup.

Homemade Beef broth (you may substitute whatever you regularly use). Bring to a boil. Add a bunch of stuff. For instance all of or a combination of: celery, carrots, onions, garlic, edamame, bok choy or other cabbage, corn, bamboo shoots (eww), or water chestnuts. Simmer for 5 minutes or until the veggies are blanched.
Crunch up some Ramen noodles (yes, the ones you get for $0.75 at the grocery store) in a bowl or several bowls. Two packs easily feeds 4 of us. Leave the seasonings out. I pitch them but if you use them for another purpose or really want to have all that sodium in your soup then add them. Cover with a plate and let sit for 3 minutes.

As in the movie 'Ponyo', I usually take these to the table and tell everyone to close their eyes. Once their eyes are closed I add 'specials' like ham, cooked egg, chopped green onions, bacon or crunchy noodles. Everyone in my family LOVES this. I do too.

Helping out

A neat science experiment for the kids. It's as simple as putting whipping cream in an air tight container and shaking it. Shake, shake, shake (you want to say, "your booty" don't you?) Before you know it - BUTTER! We added a little sea salt at the end. And on a fresh bun it tastes fantastic.

Thank you Mrs. C for the idea!

Getting Ready.

It's Spring Vacation here. I should be somewhere warm with a swim up bar and sand stuck in unmentionable places. But I am not. I'm trying to make the most of 'spring' in Ohio. Rain, snow, clouds, more rain... you get it....

I am so truly blessed to receive the King Arthur Flour catalogue in the mail (there might be a hint of sarcasm there) and low and behold they had a recipe for a lovely Spring Sweet Bread. What better way to start of the warm bathing suit weather than with sweet bread? It's divine with a cup of tea, lemon curd and a good book. So make a loaf or two and curl up. We've got sunshine today!

Note: the King Arthur version calls for a few things that I had to make substitutions for...

1. Buttery Sweet Dough Flavour = 1 tsp. vanilla, grated orange rind, a splash of real orange juice (from an actual orange). I'm sure it's nothing like the real thing but it tasted great just the same.

2. Tropical Fruit Blend = a cup of chopped candied fruits I had leftover from Christmas. I actually thought I was going to make a fruitcake this year. Oh how I make myself chuckle...

3. The topping = It calls for an awful big amount of sugar and flour here - and more butter. I made less, probably half of what they call for, and still had plenty.