Day 39 - Game Day - precious time together

So yesterday was a great day of fun games at my brother's house. Dan and I went with the kids and John and Glo and the girls were there as was Grandma and Jill's boyfriend. It was amazing to see that here were were two families with teenagers and college students enjoying each other's company all day and evening. We played lots of new (to us) board games, had a lovely dinner, and played some more. It was great!

My brother has loved board games as far back as I can remember and he's got quite the collection now. I'm not talking about Monopoly or Life, but games of intrigue, strategy, and thoughtful plotting against your opponents! It's really quite fun! My family has become hooked on several of these and it really nice to have something that brings us together that is not electronic! I've even found some of these games online so I can try to get better at them before the next beating; I mean gathering!

On another note, today is officially the last day of vacation and that makes me very sad. A friend of mine joked about my week of cooking, knitting and baking and said "the women's movement wants a word with me." (or something to that effect!) The truth of the matter is, of all the jobs I have had, I love this one the most! I get the most fulfillment out of doing and caring for my family. Does that make me weird? Does it make me some kind of sub-par female? I don't believe it does. There are plenty of us out there who prefer that role to those we've had to take to make ends meet or to try to secure our future financial status, or even our children's' futures.

I was lucky enough to find a career that allows me to explore and submerse myself in something I'm passionate about (music), but truthfully, I get more out of being a good mom and wife. (and no, Tim, I am not a Stepford or my house would be clean and tidy!)

So although tomorrow I will go back to work and try to teach and inspire my students, and my family life will become confused and chaotic with skating, soccer and a number of other things interfering with the day, today I will embrace this last day of precious time and cook a comforting meal, bake and awesome bread, make some rich and decadent dessert and find time to knit and snuggle my family!

Day 37 - Kitting, cooking, baking and loving every minute of it....who wants to clean?

So, today was a REALLY productive day! Here's the rundown. I joined a new group on Ravely for writers and was so inspired by the prospect that I took the weekly assignment and wrote a song. Now it's not perfect or even finished but it's on its way. This is really the first time I'll willingly share my music with others. We'll see where it goes - vulnerability is really hard, but necessary for growth.

So after much deliberating, I picked out recipes for dinner tonight. I began prepping as Meag got ready for skating lessons only to find out that I was missing ingredients again! This time for the entre, the back-up entre and the dessert! Not to be deterred or derailed, I pressed on and changed gears. I ran to the local Super-Walmart and found everything I needed for both meals. Look at me planning ahead! I truly am a work in progress! Sadly, the 25 minute wait in line to check out made it really hard to keep my cool! By the time I got home, I had just enough time to bring the groceries in, throw them on the counter and run out again to take Meag to the rink.

Okay, so I regrouped and drove right back home to make the cake. Sean was all geared up to help! Have I said that I've got awesome kids? Well, I do! I don't know of many others who can say "yup, my 16 year old son offered to help in the kitchen!" We got all of the ingredients out, or rather, moved them around so we could at least see them in the mess of groceries and began. I sprayed the new pretty bundt pan, creamed the softened butter, sugar and eggs...WAIT, What????? Softened butter????? Where'd that come from? So into the microwave it went for too long and into the mixer. Sean made the Earl-Grey tea and let that steep and while that was working, I gave him instructions as to how to melt the chocolate over the make-shift double boiler and he happily set about the task. I even explained to him that he'd never want to sneak a bite of that chocolate as it's completely unsweetened and totally gross!

I finished mixing the butter, sugar and eggs and realized that I needed that chocolate that wasn't ready yet. I got the dry ingredients ready and then added, everything else, threw it in the pan. I threw the pan in the oven and ran back out to the rink to pick Meag up. She'd made plans to have friends over in less than an hour and then they were going to the movies!

When we returned, I began the Julia Child's dinner I'd watched her cook on tv that looked so delicious. It really was just burgers and rice but done so differently. I thought it would be safe to begin my new cooking adventure with this meal. I began the soubise and although it was over cooked a bit, it was pretty good. I cooked the most yummy burgers I'd ever had although they sound better as "Biftek hache, saute nature!" The burgers were served over the rice and I even made a mustard and herb sauce to pour over the top!

I actually deglazed a pan for the first time in my life! Wahoo! I'm really cooking now! Tomorrow, Sean's having his new friends over for the first time and I'm cooking some home made bread, barbeque ribs and another Earl-Grey-Chocolate cake. I'll serve it with the spinach risotto and hopefully they'll eat well and be happy.

And tonight, I will sit here and knit and relax and be happy!

What are you cooking for dinner?

I've decided to take a survey. I love to cook but with skating M/W/F and basketball games T/F and practices in between, I've found it impossible to do so! I need to plan ahead more and think game-plan for the upcoming week. Like millions of others, I was inspired by Julie and Julia but I'm no where near as ambitious and know my own limitations...and that of my husband and children's pallet!

I did however recently watch a Julia Child's show on PBS where she made hamburgers, rice and crepes for desert. She made it look easy, and fun, and most important doable! I found the cookbook on line and know have it on my counter.

I am going to try to make that meal tonight!

What's everyone else cooking? I'd love to hear what inspires you and what works in your family kitchen.