A recipe a week

I was talking with relatively "newbie" mom (her oldest is 7...I win my oldest is almost 16) today while we waited for our "Ninjas" to come out of karate class. She was saying that she can't wait to be able to make new things for dinner when her kids are bigger like mine.

HA! Had to burst her bubble and say it only gets worse and now, they not only don't want to eat it, they make fun of it. Ask the Diva about "Caesar Salad Pasta" when you see her. (it was yucky I admit it..) But how do you know unless you try it. And I am not going to experiment on guests so when can I try stuff then??? Exactly.

So that leads me to my file. That, (no lie) has recipes I want to try cut out of magazines that go back to 1999!!!!! I am sure if analyzed I must have some type of issue. But having said that I want to try these things. I have tried some. Some are tried and true like Greek Olive Dip (yum-o). And some went in the garbage after trying, i.e. "Easy Cheesy Corn Bake" (ew). I got the idea/recipe for the most spectacular 6 year old birthday cake I ever made from that folder.
So one of my New Year "ideas" (remember no resolutions!) is to try a new recipe a week. I was going to do one a day but I decided that was too much pressure and may cause a mutiny. And it won't always be main dish or even a dinner dish. Just something new.

So here are two sides I tried this week...yes two this week I was very ambitious. They actually got thumbs up and I will put them in my recipe book. They have to be good, cause I work for a tough crowd.

Crisp Smashed Potatoes

3-4lbs of the smallest red or white potatoes you can find; washed.
Olive oil
Salt and Pepper

Place potatoes in a large pot so they are in one layer. Cover with cold water and then bring water to a boil. Reduce heat and then simmer for about 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender.

Transfer from pot toa baking sheet that has been sprayed with cooking oil. Cover with a clean dish towel and let sit for about 5-10 minutes.

Then with the heal of your hand and using the dish towel so you don't burn your hand, gently "smash" each potato to flatten to about one inch thick. (flatten somewhat not like a pancake...just it's not round anymore) It's ok if they break a little. Brush with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Turn them over and brush with a little more oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Bake in a 450 oven for about 30-35 minutes or until browned and crispy. Some diners enjoyed their's with ketchup, as others used sour cream like a baked potato. Makes about 6 servings.
* * * * * * * * * * ** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Green Beans with Feta
1 1/2 lbs trimmed fresh or frozen green beans; thawed
1/2 cup Zesty Italian Salad Dressing
1/2 cup (I used about half of a medium sized) red onion sliced thin
4 oz crumbled feta cheese

Combine everything in a large skillet. Cover.

Cook on medium heat 10-12 minutes or until beans are crisp-tender, stirring frequently. Remove from heat.

Stir in feta cheese and serve.

Bon Apetit..oh and Hi Auntie Joann! xoxox

Blast from the past

Saw a bunch of old high school friends the other night. It was really a nice night. Even though it was ridiculously cold and when I was getting dressed I was thinking I really just should stay in my pj's tonight and stay in. I am glad I went. When I see people that I haven't seen in 20 years it's really so fun. You freak out when you realize who you are standing in front of after all these years. And for that little while it feels good to spend some time with people who knew you before. Before you were someone's wife, or someone's mom, or that woman from the PTA or that lady that lives down the block. They knew you for you. A friend, a crush, a girl that was in your 4th grade class or your best friend from down the street. When all you had to worry about was you. What you were wearing that day...how you look, how much homework you had, and what you and your friends were going to do on the weekend. And though the next morning it's back to dirty dishes in the sink that the kids left when I was out with my friends, and dinner to make and laundry to fold, and other people's homework to check. It's ok. It's my life now. A life I wouldn't trade for anything. The life I love. It's still nice when you get the chance to take a brief trip back in time and remind yourself of other happy times and of who you were...once.

Talk about change....

Yesterday I dropped the Diva off for her first real job interview. Surreal as I watched her walk into the office, with her best "work" clothes on and a little rattled about what she was going to say.

Where does the time go? Did I not just sew patches on her Brownie uniform?

Picture perfect?

Ok over and over again I said I hate winter. I may be giving poor Old Man Winter a bad rap. What I hate is frigid cold and darkness. I do love snow. Snowmen are cute. I love my Uggs (can't wear them to the beach), and I love scarves.

Although it is friggin' COLD today...it is picture perfect if I stop and really look.

Time well spent

Spent today with my "client" a.k.a. Cowgirl. Worked on more decorating of her home. Took a break from the massive purge at H.Lane to do the thing I love to do most. Decorate. This is my labor of love. Everyone is good at something. This is my something. When I can help someone figure out what they like, what their style is and watch it transform their home and transform them it makes my heart sing. They are always unsure at first. It's hard to go from a house with all white walls to color. I tell them "what goes with this" and no it doesn't "match" but it "coordinates"...I see the light bulb go on. When they realize they do have a style and they can figure out what looks good it's a revelation and my work is done.
So today definitely fits with the theme of the month. Order. It may not be order in my world but I helped bring some to my friend's.

Cleaning house

Literally. Well maybe figuratively too.

But that's what I have been doing since the kids went back to school. Room by room. Finished the Diva's room today. God knows it's been worse. And you would think an almost Sweet 16 would not want her mother in her room to "Mom clean" but she does. I think it gives her order and focus. No one needs to see what was in those black bags I threw out. Thing is, no one will ever miss what was in there. I would never throw out personal stuff and I did leave a pile for them to peruse at their leisure to see what is staying or going. Except maybe not Shorty...he would save every leg of every broken guy he ever had. Funny though...everyone retired to their rooms early. Nice when you can go hide in your own space and not have to step over things.

So order is the on the menu this month. I have been in almost every day with the exception of an errand or two. I have spent almost everyday in silence. No radio or TV while I go about my mission. That wasn't even intentional. Letting whatever is in my head have it's say...and deciding whether to dwell on it or not.

Thursday is our room. I wonder if I will miss what goes in the black bags. I am sure I can fill at least one. The closet already has all the hangers hung backwards. At the end of the season I can see what I haven't worn because those hangers will still be backward. I hope then I will still be in the purging mood so I can give them away to someone who needs them.

Begin....again.

Been almost a month since I have blogged. Guess I was consumed by the holidays. In a good way I guess. Winter sets in now...literally and figuratively. And as I have said before I don't do resolutions. I mean, not at the stroke of midnight on the 31st of December anyway. I do resolve to make some changes. I don't have a list or anything but there are things in my life that have lacked attention from me lately...and that needs to change.

I think I may have lost something somewhere over the last few years. Nothing that you could really name or grasp. I guess I just may have veered off my path (whatever that is) and need to be centered again. I somehow lost sight of what's really important I think somewhere along the way.

The past year has been one of significant loss. Death of a loved one, a dear friend moved away and personal issues that have just not been fun. I can really say that I am glad that 2008 is in the past. But throughout it all lessons have been learned. Mostly things that I knew but forgot.

Now we all have an blank book before us entitled "2009"...to fill however we choose. We make our story read however we want. Yes some things happen to us that are out of our control. But how we react to them, and what we take away from them is what we do have control over.

Each month I will try to make some changes that I think I need to make...for myself, my family, for my little part of the world. I will write my story. I don't know what the chapters will hold. But although January is cold and gray it's a fresh start.