Yesterday was Thanksgiving...
And, along with the majority of Americans, we did indeed eat Turkey. (Supply and demand, though, the producers of turkeys have been raising and freezing turkeys since last thanksgiving, so there is a greater supply than demand, and turkeys, happily end up being an economical mainstay for Thanksgiving).
But in my mind, competing with turkey, pies are a universal thanksgiving dessert.
I could be like most people, and either buy my pies or make them the week preceeding Thanksgiving, but the making of the pies is as important (and fun) to me as the eating and sharing of pies.
This year, my 6 year old was in charge of crusts: he made three batches of crust = 3 crusts. (Somehow, although following the recipe for 2-crusts each time, each batch really made 1 crust).
PUMPKIN PIE This was completely made by my 6 year old. With molasses in the recipe, it turned out as a yummy darker shade pumpkin pie.
CHERRY PIE Since the 'extra' crust didn't materialize from the batch of crust, we ended up using brownsugar&oats to make a 'crisp' topping. This was the easiest pie to make: store-bought cherry filling mix, made this easy as 1-2-3.
APPLE PIE, Since I had actually bought heavy cream, I *finally* got a chance (with the help of my 5 year old) to make an old-fashioned apple pie recipe. Interestingly, this recipe didn't have any cinnamon - but healthy dose of allspice, nutmeg and clove. This recipe only called for a TOP crust (no bottom crust here) -- which worked perfectly, considering there was only 1 crust obtainable from the third batch.
HOME-MADE WHIPPED CREAM (the real stuff -- the kids have a blast making the whipped cream, and it's less sweet than the artificial whipped topping I typically buy.
With the help of our company and the kids, two/thirds of the pies got eaten for dessert on thanksgiving -- leaving just enough for leftovers today!
Friday, November 28, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Pumpkin Cookies -- a no egg recipe!
I think this is the first cookie recipe I've ever made without eggs,
A good friend brought some pumpkin cookies to my house last month, and I've been looking forward to making them ever since. I finally got the recipe from her, I've modified it for out house.. and now we've made them, and are eating them all up. (Be careful, these are addictive!)
PUMPKIN COOIKIES
These are cake-like, delightful, relatively healthy treats.
I'm excited to have found a no-egg recipe, so that tasting before cooking is (finally!) allowed. (A habit that my kids all have).
1/4 c butter
1/4 c shortening
1 c pumpkin
1 c sugar
CREAM those four ingredients in a bowl
Follow with dry ingredients:
2 c of flour
3/4 t vanilla
1 1/2 t cinnamon
1 T brown sugar
1 t baking soda
After well mixed, combine in the raisins and nuts:
1 c raisins
1/4 c chopped nuts
This makes a the perfect autumn afternoon snack!
A good friend brought some pumpkin cookies to my house last month, and I've been looking forward to making them ever since. I finally got the recipe from her, I've modified it for out house.. and now we've made them, and are eating them all up. (Be careful, these are addictive!)
PUMPKIN COOIKIES
These are cake-like, delightful, relatively healthy treats.
I'm excited to have found a no-egg recipe, so that tasting before cooking is (finally!) allowed. (A habit that my kids all have).
1/4 c butter
1/4 c shortening
1 c pumpkin
1 c sugar
CREAM those four ingredients in a bowl
Follow with dry ingredients:
2 c of flour
3/4 t vanilla
1 1/2 t cinnamon
1 T brown sugar
1 t baking soda
After well mixed, combine in the raisins and nuts:
1 c raisins
1/4 c chopped nuts
This makes a the perfect autumn afternoon snack!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Beautifully Clean FLUORESCENT GREEN bathroom...
This morning was a successful morning.
I had the three youngest awaken EARLY at 6 a.m.
Since they were up early, I made a hot breakfast: scrambled eggs and Cream of Wheat.
Everyone got dressed, the only hitch in getting the oldest off to school was that uniform shoes were nowhere to be found. (but, we had size-to-big-that-we'll-be-wearing-soon shoes, which saved the day!)
I did make 2 trips to drop kids off at school. (Kindergartener didn't want to risk being late while First grader still only had socks on).
My 3 year old adeptly used the potty un-invited.(My laundry burden really appreciates the fewer accidents. I like the final stage of potty-training!)
I had a leisurely grocery shopping excursion with my two youngest.
(I even remembered the reusable shopping bags, and it was so nice to have easy-to-carry bags to bring back into the house.)
Our 1 year old decided it's a good morning/day for a LONG nap.
I tackled my goal for the morning: thoroughly clean the main bathroom. This took a whole hour, but the tub, sink, floor, toilet, walls were all shining.
My husband came home to have an early lunch with me. (Thanks to the shopping trip, there was bread for sandwiches!)
Now, comes the fluorescent green part: While mommy and daddy were enjoying a rare lunch together in the dining room, 3 year old decided that reading books for quiet time was too boring, so the paints got opened, and turned into body paint. Of course, when this happens, one needs to go to the bathroom to wash off one's hands...
You guessed it, I was left with a Beautifully clean, fluorescent Green bathroom! It's amazing how many places a little body and hands touch in the process of reaching the sink!
Thankfully, it was kid, non-toxic, easily washable paint. And I've removed the fluorescent green decoration from the bathroom. Maybe it'll stay clean again for the next half hour?
Now, it's time for an afternoon...
I had the three youngest awaken EARLY at 6 a.m.
Since they were up early, I made a hot breakfast: scrambled eggs and Cream of Wheat.
Everyone got dressed, the only hitch in getting the oldest off to school was that uniform shoes were nowhere to be found. (but, we had size-to-big-that-we'll-be-wearing-soon shoes, which saved the day!)
I did make 2 trips to drop kids off at school. (Kindergartener didn't want to risk being late while First grader still only had socks on).
My 3 year old adeptly used the potty un-invited.(My laundry burden really appreciates the fewer accidents. I like the final stage of potty-training!)
I had a leisurely grocery shopping excursion with my two youngest.
(I even remembered the reusable shopping bags, and it was so nice to have easy-to-carry bags to bring back into the house.)
Our 1 year old decided it's a good morning/day for a LONG nap.
I tackled my goal for the morning: thoroughly clean the main bathroom. This took a whole hour, but the tub, sink, floor, toilet, walls were all shining.
My husband came home to have an early lunch with me. (Thanks to the shopping trip, there was bread for sandwiches!)
Now, comes the fluorescent green part: While mommy and daddy were enjoying a rare lunch together in the dining room, 3 year old decided that reading books for quiet time was too boring, so the paints got opened, and turned into body paint. Of course, when this happens, one needs to go to the bathroom to wash off one's hands...
You guessed it, I was left with a Beautifully clean, fluorescent Green bathroom! It's amazing how many places a little body and hands touch in the process of reaching the sink!
Thankfully, it was kid, non-toxic, easily washable paint. And I've removed the fluorescent green decoration from the bathroom. Maybe it'll stay clean again for the next half hour?
Now, it's time for an afternoon...
Monday, August 18, 2008
All I want for nighttime is four sleeping kids....
Some nights are easy.
Some nights are hard.
Right now, things are happening. I have a moment to sit at the computer (and I'm not working yet) and half the kids are asleep, one is wide awake, and one quarter is drifting off...
Tonight our three year old said (after being told to put pj's on. "It's o.k. mom, I'm ready for bed!" and was asleep within 5 min.
Our 6 year old read quietly in bed for a few minutes, and was asleep within a half hour.
Our 5 year old is wide awake reading books with the lamp on (But, she took a rare nap this afternoon, so this is explicable)
Our 1 year old is quite tired, but she doesnt' want to fall asleep. She finally took a nap today from 5 to 6, so, although she usually falls asleep around 7:30, it's an hour past bedtime and she wants up!
So, the BIG question is this: who will wake earliest tomorrow, and who will want to sleep in? We only have two weeks left before school dictates the morning wake up hour.
Some nights are hard.
Right now, things are happening. I have a moment to sit at the computer (and I'm not working yet) and half the kids are asleep, one is wide awake, and one quarter is drifting off...
Tonight our three year old said (after being told to put pj's on. "It's o.k. mom, I'm ready for bed!" and was asleep within 5 min.
Our 6 year old read quietly in bed for a few minutes, and was asleep within a half hour.
Our 5 year old is wide awake reading books with the lamp on (But, she took a rare nap this afternoon, so this is explicable)
Our 1 year old is quite tired, but she doesnt' want to fall asleep. She finally took a nap today from 5 to 6, so, although she usually falls asleep around 7:30, it's an hour past bedtime and she wants up!
So, the BIG question is this: who will wake earliest tomorrow, and who will want to sleep in? We only have two weeks left before school dictates the morning wake up hour.
While you were sleeping...
I thought up the title for this blog while my husband was sleeping-in/napping (very much earned, mind you) this morning. [His job required him to wake up 4a.m. yesterday, and he wasn't able to compensate by going to bed early last night (see previous post) like he usually does). Since he has since gotten up and begun his morning routine, a better title might be "things I did this morning before breakfast", but some of this was indeed while he was sleeping... (not necessarily in this order).
Nursed our baby (at 12 months, she's not quite an infant, but still not weaned yet. I'm willing to wait till 24 months to wean, but none of my kids so far have made it that long).
Turned on and watched portions of Adventurs of Winnie the Pooh with children.
Checked email, composed a blog entry while older children were still watching said video (and youngest was eating a bananna).
Unloaded dishwasher.
Supervised/ Participated in making of waffles for the family breakfast (but, I had momentum and was in the process of cleaning, that I myself didn't join them as I typically do... so no breakfast for me yet.)
Loaded dishwasher.
Scrubbed down counters.
Picked up food from the floor (yesterday's snack?)
Picked up clothes off the floor (why were they there?)
Carried overstuffed laundry hamper into the basement.
Tossed a load of laundry in the washer machine.
Picked up toys off the living room floor (the joy of having all the kids take out 1 year old's toys, and then wander off...)
Picked up papers off the floor (I'm amazed how many papers ended up in my purse, and then got dumped on the ground - evidence that bringing pads of paper, pencils, crayons, markers do keep little hands busy during church).
Swept (o.k. not sweep everything, but piles left over from yesterday's cleaning actually made it into the trash can).
Took out the trash (three trash bags).
Took out recyclable items. (Doing my part to save the planet? or, at least filling up the recycle bin outside as well as the trash cans).
Changed a diaper.
Put ear drops in child's ears.
Read a book.
Coaxed potty training three year old to use the toilet properly (yay!).
Put baby-getting-to-be-toddler down for morning nap.
Referreed sibling conflict.
Encouraged second oldest to get dressed (and complimented oldest for doing it without being prodded).
Encouraged older children to make their beds (but didn't get around to doing mine yet, hopefully I'll get around to washing sheets today).
Picked up some shoes.
Directed children to pick up some shoes.
Cleaned up orange juice spill.
Wiped down bathroom sink (still needs to be scrubbed further).
Rinsed out coffee pot.
Wished I had more time in the morning.
Cleaned hands of 3 year old and 5 year old who got into paint...
Got items out of the van that needed to be washed (such as 1 year old's cup).
Listened to various stories.
Oversaw time outs.
Picked up towel off the floor (why did the bathroom towel make its way into the hallway??)
Sorted through one 'misc papers' container (so that the "I want to keep" papers from church had a temporary home).
-----
I've lossed momentum to do household chores, but, I think things are looking better than when we fell asleep (or woke up?). I was able to have a delightful morning -- I got to eat breakfast with my husband (just the two of us! sipping coffee too, having conversation too? When does that ever happen?).
Ok, now I hear commotion going on.. Now I'm off to "things I did after breakfast this morning"....
Nursed our baby (at 12 months, she's not quite an infant, but still not weaned yet. I'm willing to wait till 24 months to wean, but none of my kids so far have made it that long).
Turned on and watched portions of Adventurs of Winnie the Pooh with children.
Checked email, composed a blog entry while older children were still watching said video (and youngest was eating a bananna).
Unloaded dishwasher.
Supervised/ Participated in making of waffles for the family breakfast (but, I had momentum and was in the process of cleaning, that I myself didn't join them as I typically do... so no breakfast for me yet.)
Loaded dishwasher.
Scrubbed down counters.
Picked up food from the floor (yesterday's snack?)
Picked up clothes off the floor (why were they there?)
Carried overstuffed laundry hamper into the basement.
Tossed a load of laundry in the washer machine.
Picked up toys off the living room floor (the joy of having all the kids take out 1 year old's toys, and then wander off...)
Picked up papers off the floor (I'm amazed how many papers ended up in my purse, and then got dumped on the ground - evidence that bringing pads of paper, pencils, crayons, markers do keep little hands busy during church).
Swept (o.k. not sweep everything, but piles left over from yesterday's cleaning actually made it into the trash can).
Took out the trash (three trash bags).
Took out recyclable items. (Doing my part to save the planet? or, at least filling up the recycle bin outside as well as the trash cans).
Changed a diaper.
Put ear drops in child's ears.
Read a book.
Coaxed potty training three year old to use the toilet properly (yay!).
Put baby-getting-to-be-toddler down for morning nap.
Referreed sibling conflict.
Encouraged second oldest to get dressed (and complimented oldest for doing it without being prodded).
Encouraged older children to make their beds (but didn't get around to doing mine yet, hopefully I'll get around to washing sheets today).
Picked up some shoes.
Directed children to pick up some shoes.
Cleaned up orange juice spill.
Wiped down bathroom sink (still needs to be scrubbed further).
Rinsed out coffee pot.
Wished I had more time in the morning.
Cleaned hands of 3 year old and 5 year old who got into paint...
Got items out of the van that needed to be washed (such as 1 year old's cup).
Listened to various stories.
Oversaw time outs.
Picked up towel off the floor (why did the bathroom towel make its way into the hallway??)
Sorted through one 'misc papers' container (so that the "I want to keep" papers from church had a temporary home).
-----
I've lossed momentum to do household chores, but, I think things are looking better than when we fell asleep (or woke up?). I was able to have a delightful morning -- I got to eat breakfast with my husband (just the two of us! sipping coffee too, having conversation too? When does that ever happen?).
Ok, now I hear commotion going on.. Now I'm off to "things I did after breakfast this morning"....
Something you don't hear everyday.
Yesterday, we went on a family excursion:
We took a short drive and drove down to Long Beach.
We figured that we could get the beach town experience, sans crowds since we were going late Sunday afternoon.
We did miss the traffic (lots of cars leaving, we were one of the few entering). Oh, except we did have a little congesion when we had to wait for the draw bridge, but that was worth it -- kids enjoyed seeing the "big boat".
So, we found a place to park (which probably wouldn't have happened if we had gone earlier in the day or a different day of the week).
And the six of us took a walk down to a cool restaurant my husband had happened upon during a business visit.
And, my husband says, "That looks like a girl I married".
I couldnt' help myself from laughing. He, of course repeated himself, "You know, the one I married last month".
I continued to laugh, because that isn't something a wife hears her husband (who's only been married to her) say!
Of course, I'm his only wife of the past 11 years, and we have a good marriage.
So, most of you reading the blog, will know the solution to this riddle: my husband was requested as a minister to do a Beach Wedding (In Long Beach), and officiated the ceremony. So, he did marry someone who frequents Long Beach, and who probably was that girl we saw walk in the opposite direction. Just, he wasn't the groom.
Oh, the business visit mentioned earlier did have to do with the rehearsal dinner for said wedding.
Oh, and we did have a delightful evening at a beach restaurant, and a fun run through the sand, chase seagulls, and poke our toes in the Atlantic Ocean.
I guess there are advantages to living on Long Island.
We took a short drive and drove down to Long Beach.
We figured that we could get the beach town experience, sans crowds since we were going late Sunday afternoon.
We did miss the traffic (lots of cars leaving, we were one of the few entering). Oh, except we did have a little congesion when we had to wait for the draw bridge, but that was worth it -- kids enjoyed seeing the "big boat".
So, we found a place to park (which probably wouldn't have happened if we had gone earlier in the day or a different day of the week).
And the six of us took a walk down to a cool restaurant my husband had happened upon during a business visit.
And, my husband says, "That looks like a girl I married".
I couldnt' help myself from laughing. He, of course repeated himself, "You know, the one I married last month".
I continued to laugh, because that isn't something a wife hears her husband (who's only been married to her) say!
Of course, I'm his only wife of the past 11 years, and we have a good marriage.
So, most of you reading the blog, will know the solution to this riddle: my husband was requested as a minister to do a Beach Wedding (In Long Beach), and officiated the ceremony. So, he did marry someone who frequents Long Beach, and who probably was that girl we saw walk in the opposite direction. Just, he wasn't the groom.
Oh, the business visit mentioned earlier did have to do with the rehearsal dinner for said wedding.
Oh, and we did have a delightful evening at a beach restaurant, and a fun run through the sand, chase seagulls, and poke our toes in the Atlantic Ocean.
I guess there are advantages to living on Long Island.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Fireworks, anyone?
This past weekend, we went to a fun family bar-b-que and fireworks. (A scant 40 miles away, but, being that it was on the OTHER side of NYC, it did take almost two hours to get there.)
The kids enjoyed running around in the LARGE yard (size of about 5 of our yards put together). Kids enjoyed the wading pools.
Kids enjoyed the food.
Kids (except 11 month old who slept through them) DID NOT enjoy the fireworks. It was too loud for those little ears. "Why did we have to go see them?" "Why?" "I just want to go home". "Are they over yet?" "How much longer?" "Please hold me mom".
Moral of the story: Next time, I'll bring ear plugs... prepare the kids... bring comfort things.... and try to have Daddy come with! Aunts and Uncles (and Cousins) tried to help me console the 3 older kids (while I had sleeping baby in my arms with blanket to shield the noise).
Or, maybe I'll do what I've done every other year: try to honor kiddie bedtime, leave before the fun walk to the park for the firework display, and deprive my kids of the American pastime of watching firework display.
The kids enjoyed running around in the LARGE yard (size of about 5 of our yards put together). Kids enjoyed the wading pools.
Kids enjoyed the food.
Kids (except 11 month old who slept through them) DID NOT enjoy the fireworks. It was too loud for those little ears. "Why did we have to go see them?" "Why?" "I just want to go home". "Are they over yet?" "How much longer?" "Please hold me mom".
Moral of the story: Next time, I'll bring ear plugs... prepare the kids... bring comfort things.... and try to have Daddy come with! Aunts and Uncles (and Cousins) tried to help me console the 3 older kids (while I had sleeping baby in my arms with blanket to shield the noise).
Or, maybe I'll do what I've done every other year: try to honor kiddie bedtime, leave before the fun walk to the park for the firework display, and deprive my kids of the American pastime of watching firework display.
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