let the sun shine!

It was so beautiful today! We got to play outside all day long. We did some yard work; I reclaimed our mint patch, it was getting choked out by weeds, and was overgrown with last years old stalks that had not been removed. I raked some gravel, moved some branches, and we potted 2 trees that we got a couple weeks ago at the herb festival. Then the girls ran through the sprinkler until they were pruney--very nice. On a hot day it's important to keep hydrated, so I will pass along our new favorite water recipe. (complements of my friend Sarah) Fill a pitcher with ice cubes and cold water, then throw in a few slices of peeled cucmber and some fresh mint leaves. Yum, cool and refreshing. (we are not big fans of floaty things in our water, so we cut and bruised the mint leaves and put them in a largish tea ball, to keep sediment to a minimum) Sarah says this is especially tasty if you skip the cucumber and add fresh lemon juice, sugar and vodka for a nice fresh vodka lemonade-yay! We have plenty of mint, so I will be sure to try that too (it just so happens I have vodka as well-cheers!)

Look Out

we have a little piece of property, and when we moved here, we got a riding lawn mower. Alan has always been in charge of the lawn (because he wants to be) and I never thought to question it. Every weekend during the nice weather, he would change into "play clothes" and say (in a tone lacking any enthusiasm) I'd better go get the lawn mowed (or something to that affect). For about 3 years I believed that he was taking a big one for the team by doing this horrible chore to keep our place looking good. One day, when I couldn't stand being cooped up with the kids one second more--he happened to be on his way out to mow. I said, you know what? I'll do anything to get out of here for a while, you watch the girls, I'll go out and mow today. The smile fell off of his face, as he took me out to show me the ropes.

Did you know that a riding lawn mower is like a little go cart? Fast forward 3 years to today, and I mow every chance I get. (which is the field mostly, because Alan says I don't get the stripes right on the lawn--whatever, I prefer plaid) It was the first mow of the season-yikes. We usually hire it out, because the grass is taller than me. (not tall for a human, but really tall for grass) For some reason, we decided to mow this year (I don't ask questions, I just get on the mower) Alan is hesitant to let me mow for numerous reasons (really there are tons) but he's a good sport about it. He has to stay outside when I'm mowing because I kill the mower so much, or get it stuck in a hole or mud pit--today I made it billow smoke, not once, but twice before I burnt the belt off, and killed it for good. I think maybe it wasn't really even my fault, and now Alan gets to go to Sears, which is his favorite store in the mall. I was almost finished too, only a few laps left and I would have been done (except for a little finish work around the edges and whatnot). The next mow will be much better, I'll have that brand new belt, the grass will be shorter and I won't have to do the whole field in 2nd gear (second gear is for grannys or babies with training wheels--I HATE second gear) Alan said 2nd gear is best when the grass is taller than me. Hmmmm....maybe the belt would have lasted a little longer if I wasn't rally racing around the course (field) when he wasn't looking. Oops! I can't help it, that sucker is like a little go cart!

ouch

I have a terrible headache. Not just the kind I tell Alan I'm having, a real one, and it hurts. What have I done today to earn this? Hmmm......well, I did let the girls watch about 6 hours of Mr. Rodgers off of tivo, but I think God likes Mr. Rodgers, so that can't be it. I also played 4 games of various bingo with Layla, some I Spy and some having to do with math and farm animals. We thinned the garden, the radishes were growing on top of each other. I got in a little nap (during Mr. Rodgers of course) So, I have come to a conclusion; it is, A) maybe I am a bit sick and I just hurt, or more likely, B) I am allergic to all forms of math, even when it is farm animal math bingo. Have to go watch the American Idol finale now, I didn't cook anything super today, but Alan had left over gnocchi for lunch, that oughta get me at least an hour of tv.

ps, for those of you freaking on the tivo, it was 3 episodes of Mr. R and 1 of Little Bear-sue me--I am very possibly sick (at least a little)

mmmmm...gnocchi

this is the recipe for gnocchi (which I made for dinner tonight). If you make this, you are pretty much guaranteed to get anything you want for the next 24 hours (give or take). With Alan, the gnocchi high lasts for a couple of days, so I try to schedule accordingly. Take for instance tonight; I wanted to watch American Idol, which is not his favorite show (gross understatement), but now, thanks to the magic of gnocchi, I get to watch it guilt free (and don't even have to put out!!--sorry Grandma, but it's true)
Good luck to you, should you try to make it, it is well worth the effort.
ps, this is adapted form some issue of a Vegetarian Times magazine, don't know when, and from henceforth, just understand I don't make recipes up, they are stolen and modified, and I will never give appropriate credit to the contributer. (this is because I am lazy--please read as "creative", but not because I am a thief, which I am not)

magic gnocchi

3 lb. russet potatoes (about 4 medium)
2 cups flour (calls for all purpose, I used whole wheat)
1 large egg lightly beaten (I used egg sub, 1/4 cup)
1 tsp. salt (or a bit more to taste)
1 tsp. pepper

1. preheat oven to 400*. Prick potatoes all over with fork. Bake until soft (about an hour for large potatoes). Cool until easy to handle.
(get your large pot of water on to boil and salt it good-do it now)

2.Slice potatoes in half and scoop out potato goodness into a large bowl. Squish with a fork until no lumps remain, but still fluffy. Fold in flour, egg, salt and pepper. (here's the good part) you have to use your hands, this is so messy, but the only good way to get it all incorporated. (plus they are magical, it's worth the extra effort)

3. You will have a thick dough. Pull off bits and roll them into snakes about 3/4 inch thick. Cut the snakes into (about) 1 inch pieces. Do this with all the dough.

4.When the water boils, toss the gnocchis in a couple of handfuls at a time. When they float, they are done. (this only takes a minute or two) Scoop them out with a slotted spoon, and toss in the next batch. As they get done, I put them into a casserole dish. When they are all done, I cover them with garlic butter and top with Parmesan cheese and broil them for a few minutes until they are golden delicious.

Serve these bad boys with some fresh hot rolls or bread and a nice salad--then sit back and enjoy. know that this process takes a couple of hours from when you prick the potatoes until you eat the gnocchi, so start early.

psps, if you don't eat animal products, I make a sauce from garlic and non-hydroginated margarine, when it melts, I salt and pepper it, and add some nutritonal yeast. I toss the gnocchi with this and then stir in lots of "cross your heart" vegan cheese. Vegan cheese is wierd, it has a problem being part of other things, so you have to convince it. I brown the top, then stir and brown, then stir and brown...etc, etc, etc. until you are happy, then serve, this takes much longer, but is super tasty and a passable cheese sub.


(ok mom, how whas that?)

english help

...so my mom dropped by the blog and told me I need to use more paragraphs, that it is hard to read. Mom, didn't you see the part where I say how it's my blog, therefore I'll do whatever I gosh darn please? Anywho-I will try to be more user friendly in the future, but I make no promises, I write how I think and talk---sortof all jumbled and run together, but that's part of my charm, don'tcha think?

here I go

I've never written much for public consumption, and honestly, the thought of it is a bit daunting. But, the fact that this is only going to be seen by friends and family helps a bit. I'm not sure where to start, but this is as good of a place as any... So then, here I go. This is my new blog for my family and friends to keep track of what we are doing, playing, eating, reading, thinking, feeling.......well, everything I guess. There will be new recipes, good ideas, fun crafts, and as always--random rants, but it's my blog, I can do whatever I want. Let's get this started. Today I had a new idea for juice. Maybe for some families, juice isn't that big of a deal, but in ours it is. We can only have it when Our blood sugar is low (and sometimes on special occasions). As always in life, when you can't have something, the want for it becomes almost unbearable. This desire for juice has lead us to search out suitable replacements for it's thirst quenching sweetness. We have tried "juice" in pouches, juice in boxes, powdered juice mix in packets, straws and tiny tubs. The best one we have found is Minute Maid juice falls, it is flavored water in a pouch. It says it is real juice, but has no carbs or calories (I use the term loosely, it probably has a few--but if you know me, I don't get stuck on all details, just the ones I think are important) This was a great option for us, until the girls started drinking them by the case, and the cost was adding up. So today I remembered an article I had read (or something, my point is, is isn't my original thought) the idea was to make caffeine free herbal tea, the flavored kind, and then add a bit of juice concentrate and water, so it was wet and sweet, but actually good for you, and didn't leave the kids skipping among the tree tops from the sugar high. I picked a couple of teas at Safeway, Celestial Seasoning were on sale, and they had lots of neat choices. I picked a raspberry and a peach. When we got home I boiled a kettle of water with 3 of the raspberry tea bags, to make a pretty strong tea, I let it cool, then put it in a pitcher with 1/4 can of apple juice concentrate and 4 packets of stevia (a natural sweetener, that is carb and calorie free), then I filled the pitcher up with water. The new "juice" was a pretty berry color and tasted great, also it had minimal calories and less than 4 carbs per 1 cup serving. Yay me!!!! I can't wait to try the peach orange combo next, maybe I'll even make fuzzy navel Popsicles this summer. With so many herbal teas and juice choices, the combinations are endless, and I feel like this is a much more budget friendly and diet friendly option for my family. So, even though I was able to relax most of the day (I was hiding under a blanket on the couch) I still feel like I was doing good things, so all in all, a passable day. Tomorrow, when My back up is back at work, I won't be able to hide, so we'll see how that goes.