"Get the Zip-Locs," directed Tata.
"But the house brand is cheaper," I attempted to explain. "They are two for $4.00. You can get two of these for the price of one box of Zip-Locs."
"Just give me the Zip-Locs." She didn't want to hear it.
Going grocery shopping with my mother is an experience. Everything is a convenience item. Everything is a name brand. Is it a generational thing?
Today the DNC unveiled the final list of blogs that will receive credentials for the 2008 Democratic National Convention. See any blogs you recognize?
Scroll down.
To "M."
Not bad for a blog started by a group of fired up moms back in September.
If there were any of this left, I would show you a photo. But there isn't, so I can't.
It was so good.
Soooooo good.
I make this last night for our dinner guests, two of whom have serious dairy allergies. I had never attempted vegan ice cream before and it was an experiment gone terribly and terrifically right. If you have an ice cream maker, you must make this immediately if not sooner. I think I am going to start basing all my ice cream off of coconut milk. It's much creamier than cow's milk and I like the flavor better, especially with chocolate.
Oh, and you're welcome
CHOCOLATE-COCONUT VEGAN ICE CREAM
I use a Cuisinart ice cream maker for this.
Combine first three ingredients in a mixing bowl until well-combined. Dump into frozen bowl of ice cream maker and turn on. Process for 25 minutes or until set, add in coconut then process a few minutes more until blended. Transfer to another container and freeze for about 30 minutes to set before serving. Sheer heaven.
Overheard this morning as Bunny and Wallie were playing with their baby doll in our bed:
Wallie: Let's pretend we're married. We can be two mommies and this is our baby.
Bunny: Okay.
Yesterday, after a very lazy day of mall walking and debating whether to grill, last minute grill plans came together nicely, and just in time for me to grab some delicious-looking skirt steak from the butcher at the mall. Bunny took one look at the meat and admonished, "Why do you like eating animals so much!" and stomped off. Friends brought salad and white sangria and the backyard got spiffed up and kids played and got all tired out and that's all good. We also fired up with Wii Fit for some post-dinner crazy. Fun times.
Here's what I have planned for the week, a little late:'
soupy goodness
I don't know yet! I am still reading entries! They are all so cringe-worthy it's hard to choose! I truly feel sorry for all who entered. (Hee!)
Keep checking back. I will post winner's name soon!
And we have a winner!!!!!!
First, let me say that I have never laughed so hard while reading blog posts. For every one of you that farted during gym class or went to gym class with no shorts on (see Ellen's comment) or thought they had gotten the better of a Nordic-Track or treadmill or had toilet paper fall out of your previously enhanced cleavage in front of jocks or Sweated to the Oldies, or worse to Barbie or leaked breastmilk all over your step aerobics studio or been whacked in the face with elasticized excercise equipment or crushed a beloved pet while doing yoga, I truly felt your pain and embarrassment...and I laughed.
There were plenty of excellent stories to choose from, but I was really going for really embarrassing. Not just "thank-god-that-never-happened-to-me embarrassing," but reallyreallyreally cringe-worthy. The kind of embarrassing situation that you could imagine yourself being in. The kind of embarrassing situation that sticks with you AS IF you could imagine yourself doing it because you came close to being there yourself.
As I was reading posts, I asked myself: could I feel you turning beet red? Could the bottom drop out of my stomach in abject horror along with yours? Could I experience your shame as if I were there? As if it were me? That's the kind of burn I was looking for, and lo, I believe we have found it.
But first, the runners up. They all get some sorta prize because you don't cross lines like these without getting SOMETHING in return. Not sure what that is yet, but I will make it good.:
Continue reading "And the winner of the Wii + Wii Fit is..." »
My brother made this for lunch today after we returned from the farmer's market. It's a recipe he learned when he lived in Germany. It was simple and oh-so-so good. The smokey ham complements the asparagus and the lemony hollandaise brings the dish together.
For this he chose fat asparagus trimmed and ends peeled with a vegetable peeler. They were perfectly cooked and he put three or four spears together and wrapped them with a slice of ham and made tidy bundles. The new potatoes were boiled and served on the side, and the whole dish is topped with zingy-buttery hollandaise, in this case, from Knorr (which is actually terrific).
A beautiful meal in every way.
The Saturday night before you visit the farmer's market, pull all the chicken carcasses, turkey bones, celery and onion scraps and parmiggiano reggiano rinds you've been storing in the freezer and huck it all into a large pot of cold water. Bring to a boil then reduce to a low simmer and let hang out uncovered on the stove for 3-4 hours. Other than skimming foam as needed, you don't need to watch it at all.
I do this around dinner time and then turn off the pot (and cover it) right before I go to bed. If you are worried about food safety, refrigerate the stock. If you are like me, just let it sit tightly covered on the stove. (Return stock to boil then turn off stove and tightly cover.)
Wake up Sunday morning, have your coffee then head out to the farmer's market. Fill your bags or baskets with whatever looks good. When you come home, turn the soup back on use a spider or slotted spoon to strain out all the bones and stuff, and bring stock (about 3 quarts) to a simmer. If you are like to me you slide the following into the pot:
Then add a 28 oz. can of whole tomatoes, and 2 cans of kidney beans drained. Simmer on low for about an hour. Right before serving dump in a (half box to a box depending on size) of small pasta like farfalline (me), small macaroni, small shells, or pennette. Taste for salt and pepper—this is the first time you are adding any.
Serve in wide bowls adorned with spoonfuls of pistou (aka pesto, a blend of grated parmiggiano or pecorino, fresh basil, garlic, and olive oil) or just a drizzle of fragrant, fruity olive oil. Bread on the side? Okay.
Whatever you don't eat, freeze. Happy Sunday!
Listen in and participate in the live chat. I've never done this before so please be kind!
Details here.
Since it's Memorial Day weekend, here are two links for places you can contribute to the recent natural disasters in Asia if you are so inclined.
Half the Sky. Recommended by fellow MOMocrat PunditMom who has vetted the organization and says they work directly with Chinese orphanages. (Note: She is not asking you to contribute and didn't ask me to post this. I share it in case you were already thinking about donating but didn't know where to go.)
Now that Myanmar is accepting aid relief (Thank you, Ban Ki-Moon), one organization that has a long history of putting aid into the hands of relief workers working directly with victims is the Unitarian Universalist Service Organization. They were doing work in Myanmar even before the military dictatorship formally accepted help.
If you have a favorite charity that you know does good work that you'd like to share, let us know about it in the comments below.
Please consider giving, and with that—have a wonderful holiday weekend.
