I Ain't Got No Problem

I seem to be on a culinary indulgences kick. Odd, as I've been rather good about my eating habits lately. Perhaps it is an alignment of the adage "Eat simply, but eat well." A little bit of tastebud heaven can be far more satisfying than a smorgasbord of gut-buster (as we like to refer to it) eats.

Case in point: a spoonful of Homemade Coconut & Vanilla Cherry Ice Cream. I think I emitted an audible groan when I licked the spatula. Ever the rule-follower, I don't have a working knowledge of extreme vices ... but if crack cocaine got spun into frozen dairy goodness, this is what I imagine it might taste like. Hmm. I'm now wondering if keeping oneself to just a "little bit" of tastebud heaven is sheer impossibility.

If you too would like to slip into a drug-like ice cream coma, dust off the ol' ice cream machine that you keep meaning to use. My machine calls for a total of 3 cups of dairy in various forms. I used 1 can of (cold) coconut milk, about a half-cup of heavy cream (because it was all I had leftover from my pasta nirvana dish), a dash of vanilla, dash of cherry juice, and then milk to make up the difference and end up at the 3 cup mark. After mixing well with 3/4 c. sugar and adding a bit of nutmeg (mmmm ...), toss in the machine for specified time. Once at soft serve state (about 30 mins. on my machine), fold in chopped up canned or cooked cherries*.

Spoon into an airtight container and freeze 'til firm. Share with family, or don't tell them you made it and eat it all yourself. In the dark. In a closet. With a wedge of dark chocolate. Be careful and don't leave any evidence behind.

If you don't hear from me for awhile, it's entirely possible my family has formed some sort of intervention or checked me into a rehab program to combat my recent onslaught of excessive consumptive behaviors. MmmHmm, that's right. I'm turnin' into a rebel with nary a guilty pang to be found. Here's to livin' on the edge ...

* I used homemade canned cherries gifted to us by a friend (hurrah!), but I've read that you can roast fresh cherries and that sounds so intriguing!

To Eat With Utter Abandon

image via stephmodo

I think I just made the best pasta ever. And by ever, I mean chic-Italian-restaurant ever. Definitely not skinny on the fat content, but too darn fabulous to care. In fact, I was so consumed with gastronomical delight, I didn't even remember to take a photo and had to swipe this lovely image from the chef, herself. (Which in and of itself, is spectacular!)

So. If you are in the mood to indulge, I urge you to try this recipe. You may gain ten pounds. You may eat shocking quantities and still dream of the leftovers for lunch. You may have to wear stretch-pants for the next couple of hours. But it will be so, so worth it ...

Rigatoni with Sausage & Tomatoes

Adapted from Bon Appétit

2 tablespoons olive oil

3/4 lb. sweet Italian sausages, casings removed

1 cup chopped onion

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes

1/2 cup heavy cream

1 pound rigatoni

1/2 cup chopped fresh basil

1/3 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

Heat oil in heavy large skillet (preferably cast iron) over medium to medium-high heat (with cast iron you can cook on a slightly lower temp). Add sausage and sauté until no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Try to break up the sausage along the way with the back of a spoon. Add onion and garlic; sauté until onion is tender and sausage is browned, about 3 minutes longer. Add tomatoes and cream. Reduce heat to low and simmer until sausage mixture thickens, about 3 minutes. Season to taste with good sea salt and a little fresh ground pepper.

Meanwhile, cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until al dente (Barilla or De Cecco are my favorite brands–usually rigatoni cooks for 11 minutes). Drain, and return pasta to same pot. Add sausage mixture and toss over medium-low heat until sauce coats pasta. Sprinkle with basil and then Parmesan. Toss and serve!

Iris at Midday

Aren't new blooms just astounding in their beauty? The precision, the intricacy, the undeniable beauty. I really couldn't name a favorite flower, as I would be overjoyed with a bundle of just about any of them.

That said, I love irises for their complexity and lack of pretension. Plus, they are my Nanie V.'s favorites. Anything that is a favorite of Nana's simply must endear itself to me.

What are some of your favorite blooms?

Adventures in the Kitchen and Otherwise

This morning has been clipping along at a nice pace. Muffins made, house (pretty much) tidy, coffee and a 15 minute read on the patio. I like it. I was just settling in to toss on a blog post (and ignore the laundry that needs folding) when the phone rang.

"Did you loose a bunny?" my back-gate neighbor asks. She was most disappointed to find we did not, because ... what else might it be scuffling around in her garage? We hurried right over 'cause this sounds exciting! After much dancing about and peeping behind obligatory plastic bins ... the peeping face of a tiny gray bunny. I have never seen a wild bunny in our area before, but here in front of us was evidence they do exist.

Clad in my screaming white jeans (brilliant for catching wild animals) and my neighbor hoping to not miss their impending swimming lessons, we managed to corner the sweet fuzz and scoop him up with be-gloved hands all to the cheers of our dazzled children. While the temptation was there to keep the wee thing, I dutifully marched him back into the green space and sent him on his way. We are now busy imagining his little bunny life with his happy bunny family and the grand homecoming party they will certainly throw this evening.

Always nice to have a morning adventure.

Now. On to most important things like ... a charming way to use IKEA ramekins (I told you my trip there was marvelous!): Lemon Pudding Cakes via the always lovely Sunset magazine. Quite simple to make and oh, so extravagant to eat!

Lemon Pudding Cakes

• 2 eggs, separated
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 cup milk
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons fresh lemon zest
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Set 6 ramekins (6 oz. each) in a 9- by 13-in. baking pan. Set aside.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together egg yolks and sugar until thick and creamy. Stir in flour, milk, butter, lemon juice, and lemon zest.

3. In a large, clean bowl, whip egg whites and salt until firm (but not dry) peaks form. Stir one-quarter of beaten whites into egg yolk mixture until blended, then gently fold in remaining whites.

4. Pour batter into ramekins. Pour enough hot water into the baking pan to come 1 in. up sides of the ramekins.

5. Bake until cake layers are set and tops are lightly golden, about 30 minutes. Remove ramekins from water bath and let cool to room temperature before serving.

**After I took the photo, I thought to add a sprinkling of turbinado sugar to the tops for sparkle and crunch. Yum.

A Summer Offering

Sweet Deliciousness

Jane, 2 years old

Finding Adventure in a Haircut

Ten years ago I would have never asked the hairdresser to give me ... bangs. The potential horrors of slipping back into my 6th-grade self, adorned with giant, fluffy hamster-shaped bangs sprayed and shellac-ed by my handy can of Aqua-Net ... not worth it my friend, not worth it.

But then, that was me then. The older I get, the less afraid of change I seem to be. Maybe I want bangs. Maybe it will be fun! Maybe they'll be awful, but they'll grow out in a matter of months, so who cares.

Ten years ago I would never have described myself as adventurous. Well, I don't know if I really am now, but I'm much more intrigued with the possibility. New experiences, new foods, new perspectives, new places ...

It's not a new me. Nothing has really changed over time. Maybe I'm just realizing how fascinated I am with this world and God's plan for the people in it. What was He thinking when He brewed up this earthly concoction? I'd like to be part of it and not just observe from afar.

I am in awe of so many amazing people I know who embrace life with all it's challenges and opportunities. They do so with a willingness and passionate ferocity that humbles me. But once you start, it can be easy to feel puny and wimpy in comparison. Life is different for different people, isn't it. What may be a big leap for me, may be small change for someone else. We're not all in the same place to accept the same challenges. And that's okay too.

While I may dream of my own little adventures, it's not hard for me to get scared, or hop onto the worry train. I still like predictability and security. But then, does striving for that cocoon mean I'll ever actually achieve it? In my experience, no. So. Why not try that funky-looking squid, dive into homeschooling and release again, read books about Chinese vagabonds, invite people to dinner and not worry about how clean the house is, travel to Central America with a child and husband, and ... even ... volunteer for bangs again.

Adventure is what you make of it. Don't you think?

Little Bits of Joy

Now if this isn't the most divine dessert, I don't know what is. Chocolate yogurt from my favorite store topped with fresh blueberries. Mmm, mmm, mmm.

And don't you love this dishtowel? The embodiment of simplistic luxuries. I picked it (and nine others!) up on my recent IKEA run, as our dishtowel situation was in a rather sorry state. Oh, and the best part? The towels were 49 cents each. 49 cents! Wouldn't they make adorable gift wrapping for some summer jam or homemade bread as a hostess gift?

Pot-Bellied Smiles

This past weekend we were able to fill our time with a piano recital (well done, Lucette!), a visit from my folks, and a restful father's day with the beloved man of the house. Very nice.

We also tackled some home projects. Frustrated with the infernal charging cords that always seem to be mocking us, Pops turned a shallow desk drawer into a charging station and then even managed to squeeze the printer up into an overhead cabinet to open up more workspace on the desk itself.

Now that it's done, I'm thrilled. But I confess to a few nerves when I heard the project would require boring holes through the wall into the hall closet to thread the cords and cables and get them out of sight. We're almost done with updating the space, and I'm quite excited. I love small projects that yield big!

And speaking of which, I'm in love with the little bit of happiness that is now hanging outside the front door. After dropping my parents off at the airport, I spent a glorious couple hours perusing IKEA all on my very own. One of the items I walked away with is this adorable pot-bellied container now filled with an electric-red geranium and some chartreuse-y "creeping jenny." Every time I catch a glimpse of it out the front window, I find myself with a smile on my face.

What little projects inspire you and make you happy?

Pitchin' In

I really like hanging out with my kids over the summer. It is just such a nice break from the usual routine. That said, we still need a bit of routine or we all get a little wacky. Friday is our knock-out chore day. While mama is always puttering along during the week and the kids have minor jobs (setting, clearing the table, make-bed, etc.), Friday is the day where we really pitch in together.

I like to do some clutter control and vacuuming and tackle any little chores I just haven't gotten around to during the week. As I type, I have a new batch of starch spray cooling on the counter. Sweet-orange and rosemary scented, this time. I feel so productive I may not do anything else today. Just kidding. Sort of. Well, we'll see.

As for the kids? Here's the typical run-down:

• Peter - Take out all garbages, vacuum stairs, room purge (closets, under bed, knick-knacks), bed-sheets off.
• Lucette - Bathroom drawer tidy-up, barrette collection and relocation (how can they get sprinkled everywhere?), stair basket (put away anything in it), room purge.
• Jane - Household laundry collection (to be tossed over the banister and then shoved into the laundry room -- she loves this and it is a great help, but make sure you double check that a pair of underwear doesn't land on top of the foyer lamp without you noticing and then you have company come over ... I'm just sayin').

Now that summer is here, I figured it was the perfect time to train them up in some new chores. Heh, heh, heh ... (devious Mom smirk) ...

First off, Peter has now learned how to do his own laundry! Hurrah! I can't tell you how pleasing it is to hear the hum of the washer and know I had nothing to do with it. In addition, (influenced by the brilliance of my dear friend Heather!) the three tots now know how to clean their own bathroom (minus the tub and floors). Peter scrubs the toilet, Jane washes the mirror, and Lucette finishes it off with cleaning the sink and counter.

Yes, it has taken some effort on my part to train them how to do this, and yes, I could definitely do it quicker/better on my own. But, I'm so over that. It is completely worth it to spend a couple weeks instructing and inspecting their work and then be able to let it go ... knowing once they are done, it will be cleaner than when they started. Naturally, they don't necessarily glory in all the tasks set before them, but there is definitely and measure of pride they achieve from their efforts. I like that. And I like clean bathrooms!

So. What chores have you trained your kids up on? Any tried-and-true tips? I'm all ears, 'cause I loooove me a little slave labor!