Big Sky Days

"appley"

I guess we have a new word, "appley."  

Fairly self-explanatory but wait for a minute and I will use it in a sentence.

We picked the apples from our backyard tree and brought them down to a local farm where they pressed them into apple cider.  Oh yes, it is delicious! Super duper delicious and definitely something I look forward to doing every year in the future.  We got 4 1/2- 1/2 gallon jugs for $12.50.  Seems like a screaming deal to me.  After a toast to the apple tree god and a first taste, my daughter said, "Don't you think the apple cider tastes appley?"  

"Yes."  I said I thought so.  It was pretty hard to not agree with that kind of simple sentiment.  We all applauded her most descriptive term and kept right on using it over and over again throughout the week.  Or mostly when someone had a drink of apple cider.

Next, we decided to make caramel apples. Unwrapping each individual caramel and popping a few (or several) into our mouth and then melting them in the microwave.  The caramel came out hot and gooey and we rolled the apples-on-a-stick in the caramel and let it all cool for a bit.  Once the evening came and they were perfect to eat my daughter took her first bite, which was strictly caramel from my line of vision, and declared that these caramel apples were, "Delicious and appley!!"  

Uh huh.  Appley, I see.  Well, tis the season for "appley" treats.  Here's what the whole story looked like through the lens of my camera....

in the cupboard

Naturally, when we moved last August I packed up all the non-perishables I could and moved them with us.  This was done without a discerning eye or care about expiration dates.  I was in packing mode.  

Yesterday, nearly 10 months later (I had a few other things to do), I took inventory of my canned goods.  I am not sure what prompted this moment of organization but I feel pretty happy about it. After discarding a few cans that were (way) past their prime, I found this gem.

Have you tried it?

I now knew what was for dinner.  

In this jar is a light, creamy, slightly spicy sauce which has the makings of an easy meal.  Apparently, Tikka Masala makes all the Brits go head-over-heels.  Maybe even Kate Middleton ate it for lunch just yesterday, could be?  A few years ago, I may have strayed away from serving this to my kids, fearful of the backlash of too much spice, but I was hopeful that they - at least my son - may be ready.  I have been moving towards the family meal.  A dinnertime meal we all share and eat, without restaurant-like substitutions and preferences.  Turns out, I am not running a restaurant.  (Cue the foot stomp here.)

Also, as a side note, I am a bit crazy for quinoa right now.  It is quicker than rice and more nutritious. I like the flavor and texture.  And I feel proud of myself and forgive myself of many mothering sins when I see one of my children eating it - which they do!  But if you are not feeling it, rice could easily be substituted.  

Tikka Masala Chicken and Vegetables over Quinoa 

1-2 tbsp olive oil

1 onion, chopped

3 small carrots, sliced

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into cubes

about 20 green beans, cut into 1 inch lengths

1 12 oz. jar of Tikka Masala Curry Simmer Sauce 

1/2 cup uncooked quinoa

Heat the oil in the pan.  Add the onion and carrot and saute for about 5 minutes, until just soft.  Add the chicken and brown on all sides and cook through about 15-20 minutes.  Add the chopped green beans and then the Tikka Masala Sauce.  Simmer 10 minutes.  

Prepare the quinoa in separate pot. Mix 1/2 cup quinoa with 1 cup water and boil for 10 minutes, add water if too dry.  Once boiled, turn off and cover.  Rest for 5 minutes.  Fluff with fork.

Serve together.  Add some crusty bread.

The verdict.   My son ate most of it and my daughter ate one carrot with a few spoonfuls of quinoa on the side.  Mercy.

And this speedy meal allowed for some extra outside time before bed.  There was some farming across the street and some in our own driveway.   

Both continued farming till just after dusk. 

 

 

To be seven

My son is a physical marvel.  All of the sudden, out of the blue - he is strong and capable.  Watching him tackle the ski hill this winter reminds me that he seems to grow muscle overnight.   He even looks slightly different each day - a new tooth, a new inch of height.  

Yet he is still so soft.   He relishes in magical moments like fresh baked cookies, cradling a baby chick, or pulling out an old puzzle made just for him.  

He is fully engaged in child endeavors but also seems to be somewhat sentimental. 

He is a great companion.  He will quietly read during a lay-over, take off his shoes without being asked for the security screening, and understand that the day is long and a bit difficult for everyone.  But he also needs the day to be wiped away -  by falling into my arms and needing assurance that the difficulty was worth it.  Tomorrow will be better.

He is seven and 1/2.

He does worry and can consider beyond himself for a moment.  He even stops to wonder the world's tragedies.  Seeking a book on tsunamis at the library and wanting to understand more.  He now begins to think outside of his little world and with this brings some fear.  Fear that needs to be calmed and settled and talked through.  He is learning to empathize.

And at seven, he is captivated by stories.  He will read to himself and loves to be read to.  He likes magic and detectives and history and fantasy.  We just started The Hobbit with him because it seemed to include all these elements and will likely transport him on an incredible journey. 

A journey that 7-year-olds need to take. 

On Valentine's Eve

We have been crafting and baking in preparation for the lovely Valentine's Day.  First, we went to my sister-in-law's paper store in town, Ro Sham Bo, and took some time to busy ourselves in the art of Valentine making.  She puts on an incredible spread at her store full of paper, stickers, envelopes, stamps and special pens to make the experience so much fun.  Everything is laid on big tables and everyone seems to work diligently and share amazingly well, even the 3 year olds.  For the writing on the valentine's, I did try to focus on the friendship aspect of Valentine's Day - especially with my son.  He was a bit timid about writing "Love, Henry" on each and every card he made for the kids in his class.  But once "From, Henry" was introduced he was off and running.  Both kids crafted many Valentine's Cards - making ones for everyone in their class and their teachers.  

I think my kid's respective Valentine's cards say a lot about their personalities...but perhaps I am reading too much into it.

We have also been baking.  My daughter and I baked a flourless chocolate cake to share with our family across town on Saturday night.  This ugly yet delicious cake was paired with store bought blood orange sorbet.  And today we all made Valentine's Day cookies.

And just for fun...here is a shot of the dirty dishes after!

We are ready and excited for the big day!  


 

holiday making continues...

Yum.

Yummo.

Yummiest.

Chocolate Peppermint Bark.  So delicious!  And easy, peasy....

I used the Barefoot Contessa recipe for chocolate bark and instead of the nuts/fruit, I chopped up 30 peppermint candies and sprinkled on top.  Cooled in the fridge for 30 minutes and then put in jars for gifts.  I didn't end up using the peppermint extract, as many recipes suggest, because - well- I forgot it.  But I don't think it is necessary.  This recipe is a really nice combination of dark chocolate and peppermint.  Mmmm.  Many recipes also call for a layer of white chocolate which I skipped just because I am lazy.  I think it sounds good with the white chocolate but this recipe works...so I don't think I will miss that layer one iota.  

Here's the chocolate after it was microwaved to smooth oozieness and spread out on parchment paper.

Next we sprinkled the chopped up peppermint candies.  I just threw those unwrapped candies in a bag and pounded them with my meat tenderizer.  Really, I did!  I tried chopping them with a knife and candy was flying all over my kitchen.   This bag-pounding-with-meat-tenderizer method is a method I frequently use when I need chopped nuts for granola.  Anyway, here's my daughter sprinkling the candy.

and voila!

As my gracious daughter unwrapped more candy,

I started on the white chocolate, pistachio, cranberry, and apricot bark.  Again, from barefoot contessa.

And that neat sticker on top was made using an embosser from Williams-Sonoma my mom gave me a few years back.  Looks perfect on top of these jars!  Thanks Mom! 

So, I am ready to gift these away!  And I still have some more chocolate so I am dreaming up my next bark recipe...almonds, perhaps?  More peppermint?  I will definitely need more jars.  Okay, I'm off to do that!

 

 

homemade holiday goodness

Thinking about some homemade gifts.  My son is concocting all kinds of gifts at school that he can't help but tell me about each afternoon when I pick him up.  His excitement is contagious!  He is also planning on making a homemade joke book for Santa to leave with Santa's usual cookies on Christmas Eve.  I guess something to "lighten up" his sugar cookies.  (ha ha ha)  

Thus far, I have mostly bought my gifts but I do try to make something each year to give.   And this year (drumroll, please) I decided on chocolate bark! Mmmm.... I have never made it and I have been searching for recipes and seeing what sounds good to the little people in my life.  They both seem semi-excited about the bark notion but I am going with it anyway!  Chocolate bark with pistachios, apricots, and cranberries!  Peppermint chocolate bark!  Here are some of the delicious ingredients:

"Chocolate is no ordinary food.  It is not something you can take or leave, something you like only moderately.  You don't like chocolate.  You don't even love chocolate.  Chocolate is something you have an affair with."  -Geneen Roth

This winter I do not have any coworkers (unless you count Ruby or Mr. Joe Orangey)...so I am thinking teachers, friends and family will receive this chocolate yumminess.  My plan is to involve the kiddos in the making process and then have them hand it out to their teachers on their last day of school.  (I did also get gift cards, if the bark is not so delish!)  So. Stay tuned for photos of that process.

The other night while we were baking these:

We saw this amazing sunset...

Right outside our front door!  Isn't it amazing?!  It made me want to run back inside and eat those cookies (which were pretty good) and I did!  Strange but true.  Then I had to pack 'em up and bring them over to a dinner party, which I was grateful for.  

So much homemade goodness goes on this time of year!  And not just food...but cards and photos and, even, joke books for Santa.

 

 

Christmas Music

 

I just love Martin Sexton.  My husband and I started listening to him sometime in the year 2000.  We first saw him live at the Somerville Theater, shortly after we were married... that same year.   It was a great night.  A cold, wintry night in Boston, just before Christmas.  The performance was incredible - a small venue, full of his fans, and everyone just sang, clapped, and danced along with him.  Magic.  We have seen him several times since (and he is always great) but that first time was the most memorable.  As part of that Boston performance, he sang a Christmas tune...I can't remember which one but I think his Blue Christmas rendition is awful nice.   He did come out with a Christmas album a few years back - which we play and play and play all through December.  

So this afternoon, I am listening to Martin croon Christmas carols and making lentil soup.

holiday spirit

We are in holiday season.  We have our tree.  We are wrapping presents.  Shipping boxes.  We are making cookies.

And we went to see Santa!  

Can you see him?  He's there!  This is the downtown holiday stroll but Santa was not "strolling."  I mean, he was in a sleigh and stopped to light the downtown lights at each block - but he pretty much zipped on by.  People were almost running along side the sleigh to keep up!   That was fine with us, it was chilly and we just assured our kids that Santa had to high tail it back to the north pole to prepare for Christmas.

We did stroll a bit longer but once the sun went down it was far too cold to be outside for very long.  We did meet a nice bear - who has a nice book.

Then I tried to photograph the cute Sacajawea Middle School trumpet players...but I had 2 hot cocoas, a cookie, and a donut in my hand.  Instead of putting it all down - I tried to also pull out my camera and I dropped it right on the sidewalk.  It broke.  Jeez.  Such bad luck with things lately.   But I still have the holiday spirit.