more rhubarb tales and other kitchen happenings

kale


jam

making rhubarb jam with candied ginger and lemon peel
Originally uploaded by *nichole*

So you see I have had some more rhubarb in the fridge since before our trip to Chicago last weekend, and being that rhubarb isn't all that popular around here (I've already told that story)- I was having a dilemma about what to do with the remaining stalks. I could bake something-but then I would be the only one to eat it, plus that would not be hip friendly. I could cut them up and put them in the freezer-but the possibility of freezer burn, very likely (as with the frozen onions that have been in the freezer for months now, but I know I will use them for something, right?). As my options were dwindling the thought of jam came to mind-yes jam! Yesterday morning I got to work and washed off the stalks-about 8 or 9, cooked them down with a little water, added sugar-about 2 cups and for extra bite I added some candied ginger and a small bit of lemon peel, I was looking for that sweet tangy combo in a bad way. I boiled this concoction down, put it in a jar (just enough for one jar) and voila' jam made.
Other kitchen happenings include making more salads, we are using the lettuce from our community garden. So for dinner I usually make a big salad and then the only thing else I have to prepare is the protein (for us that may include chicken, turkey, or goat) and a little rice.
I got a bunch of kale today from the garden and prepared it for dinner tonight. I sauteed about 2-3 cloves in olive oil along with a small touch of butter, added the washed greens to the pan-cooked the greens for about 7 minutes (shorter if the greens are young and tender, a little longer if the greens are older and tougher). Season with a bit of salt and pepper and your in business.
Summer eating, nothin' beats it!

a visit to the windy city

children's art
Originally uploaded by *nichole*

This past weekend we went to Chicago. We stayed downtown which was nice because it allowed us to be in walking distance to the parks, museums, and coffee shops (which is my requirement). On our first full day there I took the girls to The Art Institute of Chicago. This is such a wonderful place-very family friendly. The childrens area of the Modern Art wing offered art classes and there is an area for reading books and playing the computer (the computer games are all art related). We spent about 3 hours in the art museum-we loved it. Mostly the rest of the weekend was spent walking around the parks downtown and people watching. The kids seemed to be fascinated with all the street perfomers-guys playing drums, a roller skating angel, jazz musicians, and much more. There is always an excitement and energy that seems to surround city life. I also appreciate the cultural diversity that is inherent in large cities such as Chicago. One day at the park while sitting on a bench I just people watched-different shades, different sizes, different heights-people from everywhere.
For dinner every night we ate Senegalese food-talk about good! We just kept going back-grilled lamb, couscous, onion relish made with palm oil, plantains, cabbage-amazing food from a small vibrant restaurant.
So we had a nice visit to the city, but to tell the truth I don't think I'm a city life kinda of gal. I like open spaces and the slower pace of life-so nice to be home now.

thinking...

watercolors
Originally uploaded by *nichole*

You know I've been thinking a bit about the last post and how I'm attempting to have a more "yes" approach and less of a "no" one. Really I've been thinking about my own parenting style and how even now nine years into this I'm kinda of making it up as I go along. I know for sure that I want to raise daughters that love the Lord and desire His will in their lives. I also know that I want the girls to understand that the things that the world values (accumlating stuff, fancy houses, cars, titles. etc.) is not important but that forming good loving relationships is-this I know for sure I want to impart to them. Yet I still struggle in other terms in finding the balance between freedom and control. I know I'm very overprotective, but I also know that this isn't always helpful. I know that in order to gain confidence and maturity, they have to make decisions on their own-I know this is my head you see, but putting into practice is hard.
But I'm making a small amount of progress-letting them make decisions without always trying to "correct" them. For instance my daughter wanted to spend some of her money-that she had earned for working in the yard-on something I thought wasn't necessary (chicken nuggets-we have lots of food in the fridge) but she insisted.
I thought to myself that I should give her the opportunity to see that if she does use the money she would have less of it to spend on something else. I know just a small instance-but a start. The balance of freedom and control is something that I deal with daily. I want the girls to be independent creative thinkers, but I also think that offering some structure/guidance is a good thing for them too. See really I have no answers here-just a mom typing out her thoughts. But one thing I'm sure about is that I am daily humbled by the job of mothering and its greatness-and thats when I count on grace.

lunchin' outside

Despite the terribly hot weather and humidity yesterday (and see I've been wanting this hot weather for my garden) the girls wanted to eat outside. My natural instinct was to tell them that it was way too hot, but then I decided to go along with their wish. After all saying "no" at times gets a bit old.

They told me they want to do it again today-but popsicles are needed.

food talk

current issue of MSL


cake mix

pound cake and blueberries
Originally uploaded by *nichole*

OK, so this past Father's day weekend we didn't make it out to IHOP for breakfast (we stayed out late the previous night-we went to the movies and saw Star Trek and to my surprise I loved it-go Spock!)
I did some cooking yesterday and of course that included making something sweet. After Easter Target had this particular cake mix on clearance. I had never seen this brand before and decided to give it a try-I bought two boxes of the vanilla bean bundt cake mix. I love that the ingredient list is totally readable, always a plus in my opinion. So I made this cake yesterday along with some whipped cream and berries and it was very good. The cake is nice and dense and the berries add a nice contrast to that denseness. In fact some of us even had a piece for breakfast today- I know, but the berries are full of vitamin C and antioxidants right?
Also I borrowed the current issue of Martha Stewarts Living magazine from my friend this weekend. I'm in love with all the summery recipes in this issue, in fact I have already decided that I'm going to purchase my own issue. Lovely ideas for meals out of doors and picnics and a pinch of gardening-all good stuff.
Our plans for today are just low-key, maybe some gardening and/or a visit to the gym, I think there is an elliptical machine waiting for me-after the pound cake and all :)

small random bits

Remember those allergies? Well they were really getting the best of me so I decided to go to the clinic on Wednesday. The doc gave me a script for nasal spray and the suggested using a neti pot. Immediately after my appointment I went to the co-op and purchased one. It is like a little teapot for the nose. You simply make a saline solution put it in the pot and then irrigate your nose with the solution. There are so many you-tube videos about the process which explain it much better than I'm trying to do here-but let me tell you it has improved my sinuses tremendously. I think it's great when docs offer other alternative treatments-really instead of always relying on standard meds (but believe me I take meds when I absolutely need to like when I had strep-no fun). So the neti pot has been a big plus for this week.



Yesterday the girls made matching dresses for their stuffed animals from material I got from the thirft store. They got to cut out the material themselves and then went on to sew the dresses (they pressed the foot pedal on the machine as I guided the material). I think Minnie and Diamond look quite cute in their red florals.



So this weekend I want to do some instant gratification crafting using some fabric scraps I have on hand . I want to make some simple napkins (pattern in Bend the Rules Sewing by Amy Karol). Surely these napkins will brighten even the simplest of meals (and even those including rhubarb).
Also this weekend will include going to church and planning something for Father's Day (maybe whipping up a big breakfast for the hubby or suggesting IHOP-I think I like the IHOP idea).

today I'm~

** having a little tea to help with my stuffy nose (my spring allergies are acting up)

** doing a little knitting

** tackling the never ending laundry pile
** planning to eat leftovers for dinner
** going to try to fit a little nap in somewhere

I need slow days like this to help balance out the not so slow ones.
happy Wednesday~