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Dutch Baby or Hootenanny?

Posted on July 7, 2013 by uttersuburbia

So puffy and amazing

We cannot decide what we want to call it but this is definitely a “make again” which is the highest compliment a recipe can receive in my kitchen. I had never heard of this delicious monstrosity until this weekend when I found a picture and recipe in one of my long ignored cookbooks. It is really a sweet breakfast version of Yorkshire Pudding using butter instead of meat pan drippings. I love Yorkshire Pudding so I knew I would like this!

This is so easy to make:

4 Large Eggs
1 Cup Milk
1 Cup All-Purpose Flour
1/2 Teaspoon Almond or Vanilla Extract
2 Tablespoons Granulated Sugar
1/4 Teaspoon Salt
2 Tablespoons Butter
2-3 Cups of sliced fruit: Bananas, Strawberries, Blueberries, Peaches, or Raspberries
1 Tablespoon Brown Sugar or Honey
Lemon Juice
Powdered Sugar in shaker

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Place 10″ cast iron or heavy oven-proof skillet (oven-safe handle) in oven to heat.
Place eggs, milk, flour, granulated sugar, salt and vanilla in blender and mix on medium speed. Scrape sides and blend until smooth and frothy. Let sit for 15-20 minutes and blend one more time just before baking.
Carefully remove pan from oven and add butter. Return to oven until butter is melted.
Pour in batter all at once and return to oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until puffy and golden brown.
Meanwhile slice and stir 2-3 cups of any combination of fruit with brown sugar or honey and a squeeze or two of lemon juice. Set aside.
Call your people to the table while this is baking because it needs to be served and eaten immediately.
Remove from oven. Cut in quarters and serve topped with fruit and sprinkled with powdered sugar.

Top with fruit and powdered sugar

Posted in Comfort Food, family traditions | Tagged Breakfast, brunch, brunch recipes, Dutch Baby, giant pancake, hootenanny, Peaches, recipes | 1 Comment

How He Rolls

Posted on July 22, 2015 by uttersuburbia

This afternoon, I ran out the door on two errands. I left behind one of the items I needed and had to come back home to get it. When I am running late or something detains me, I often think about perfect timing and I wonder what bad things I may have avoided or good things I may encounter by being in a certain place at a certain time.

Because of an error on my part, I had ordered the wrong train tickets and had to return them via UPS to get credit toward the correct tickets. I am so grateful that I noticed the mistake and was able to correct it. As I pulled into the UPS parking lot, in a little strip of shops near the K-mart and Kroger, I saw this and laughed out loud at who I imagined would have the brilliant audacity to roll this way.

There was a line all the way to the door in the UPS store so, at first, I thought I would sit for a minute before going in, I looked at the car again and then the store front and noticed a hand printed sign stating “MAIL NOT HERE YET” hastily taped to the inside of the window. I suddenly decided to go on in and have an adventure. It became my mission to match the car with the person. There is a Greek Restaurant and a closed Gym, so my chances were fairly good that this character was in the UPS Store. As I walked to the door I saw the reflection in the glass of a woman carrying a toddler behind me. I let her in before me, happy to have extra time in line to enjoy my mission.

There were two UPS representatives helping customers, a distinguished 70 something black man, and an 80 something woman who appeared eclectic but not quite eccentric enough to be my guy. I watched her walk out anyway and she went to another car. There was the 50 something woman holding the sleepy, sweaty headed toddler who was now playing peek-a-boo with me behind her shoulder and then in the back corner I spotted him.

His blue jeans were worn and patched in several places by lighter shades of denim topped with a solid white Jimmy Buffet short sleeved button down shirt. His hair was stark white and unruly but he was clean shaven. Regardless of his attire, he cut the figure of an elegant gentleman holding forth in the plastic chair near the rented post office boxes. He was having a very loud conversation about baseball which made me think of the Abbott and Costello skit “Who’s on first.” I believe he was listing baseball teams from a southern farm league in rapid fire “Lake Charles was in the such-and-so league. Alexandria was in the other league. Do you know where DeRidder is? Do you know who played for that team?” The other man he was speaking with had his back to me and was leaning in and, although he was not, everything about him, to include a black mock turtleneck, gave off the essence of a man of God, perhaps a priest. His easy laugh and his obvious desire to engage with this man made me feel like the world is a good place. He answered “No, I don’t. But you’re going to have me get my phone out again aren’t you.” He pulled out his phone, typed something into it and then said “Here it is! So, the DeRidder ………” The baseball facts he read made the older man come alive, nodding his head and adding details to all that was reported. He quickly moved on to the next team, statistics, and a side story that “most people don’t know.” I was delighted.

The woman with the toddler was turning to leave and the UPS man helping her turned to the 70-ish gentleman and said in a normal speaking voice. “I’m sorry about him!” The gentleman looked up in the same exact way I did and said “I’m enjoying what he has to say.” I said “I am too. He’s fine just the way he is.” The lady behind me chimed in as well. The UPS man seemed surprised and a little ashamed. He said “Oh, he’s interesting but it’s the volume I can’t handle. It would help if he would get a hearing aid.” He shook his head and added “He’s 89 years old! I’ll be lucky if I live that long.” He nervously helped me with my return and I saw that this job is not what he wanted to be doing. Everything fell into place.

The 89 year old man rolls in sideways into the parking lot each day, well before the mail arrives, and he strikes up a conversation with someone (although I suspect the kind man, not of the cloth, comes in often to spend time with this gem.) He IS quite loud and animated. He is HAPPY! Those who are joyful are attracted to him; those who are not are annoyed. I know who put up the “MAIL NOT HERE YET” sign and I know why. My baseball fan does not come to the UPS store to check his mail, so he ignores the sign. He comes to interact with people, to share his passion and knowledge and experience. He is probably lonely and gains so much from this daily routine. Recounting all the facts is keeping his mind sharp and I suspect when he asks a question about a team, it is because he has forgotten and having someone read the statistics prompts him back on track. Slick!

In another age, he would have gone to the general store to sit on the porch and play checkers and tell stories with other men of his age. He would have been able to interact with young and old alike, watch the world go by and add wise commentary to the daily goings on. I’m glad he has found somewhere to go to make sure he still exists. Truly, don’t we all need that more than anything else?

Posted in I Spy Observations | Tagged baseball, elders, joyful people, kindness, memories | 2 Comments

French Farmhouse Door Lamp

Posted on July 28, 2013 by uttersuburbia

This was inspired by a picture I found on Pinterest of two small panels made into bedside lamps leaned against the wall.

Actual vintage doors were not in my budget. I searched the thrift shops for paneled bifold closet doors and found some hollow composite for $10.

I used a Dremel, hammer, putty knives and my imagination to scratch, gouge and beat up around the edges of the panels and door to create 100 years of wear and tear.

Because the raw edges were particle board rather than raw or weather stained wood, I mixed up some craft paint to a nice rich brown and painted all the dings and scars.

This is where it really gets fun. I never really know exactly what I’m going to do until I get to the next step. My vision included the idea of layers of paint over the years and I liked the idea that it used to be a bright blue door. I mixed light blue craft paint with Annie Sloan Napoleon Blue and dry brushed it lightly following the fake wood grain and trying to avoid the scars.

I blow dried this coat of paint hoping for a little crackle. No luck but it did dry brittle. Next, I mixed ASCP Paris Grey and French Linen and dry brushed that over the blue. I painted lightly in most areas being sure not to cover all the blue and letting it peak through a bit. I blow dried that and began waxing with Annie Sloan Dark and Clear wax. I put the Dark right onto the scars and panel edges, worked it in with the ASCP wax brush then worked clear wax over the flat parts of the panel and door. I did one panel or edge at a time wiping off any excess.

My original plan was to put a sconce on one side and a framed mirror on the other but it was too much. Once we got the sconce mounted (my husband put a lamp cord on it with a switch at the outlet) and we turned on the light I decided against the mirror.

My awesome hubby installed the vintage door knob with copper plate I found at an antique market and my 100 year old French farmhouse door was complete!

Bifold Doors $10, light fixture $3, Door knob $5, key plate $10 (splurge), lamp cord $6, outlet switch $5…Total $39!!!

Posted in Thrift Shop Makeovers | Tagged Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, Business, Chalk Paint, Door, Door handle, Dremel, French Decor, French Farmhouse, Lamp, Light fixture, Paint, Paris Grey, Power cord, repurposed door, Sconce, Shabby Chic, Shabby Chick Decor, Vintage Decor, vintage door, Vintage door knob | 2 Comments

Sourdough Pancakes

Posted on July 24, 2013 by uttersuburbia

Fluffy Sourdough Pancakes

Ingredients:

1-3/4 cups sourdough starter
1-1/4 cup flour
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons brown sugar or honey
1/2 teaspoon Sea Salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon water
4 tablespoons melted butter
Oil or butter for greasing the pan.

Instructions:

The night before you wish to make the pancakes, combine the sourdough starter and flour, cover and let sit out overnight.

The next morning heat a skillet or griddle to medium heat. Mix baking soda and water in small bowl and save until just before making pancakes. Stir the dough and add the rest of the ingredients. If it seems too thick you can thin it with a tablespoon of milk. Add baking soda mixture and stir quickly.

Grease griddle with oil wiping excess with paper towel. use 1/4 measuring cup to scoop batter onto griddle. Cook just until bubbles begin to form and carefully flip. Cook @ 2 more minutes until folder brown.

Serve with butter, syrup, powdered sugar or fruit.

Posted in Comfort Food | Tagged Breakfast, pancakes, Peaches, recipes, Sourdough | Leave a comment

Polite Conversation

Posted on January 24, 2011 by uttersuburbia

One of the most basic tenets of etiquette and good manners is to never discuss matters of politics, religion, money or sex in public. Most of us learned this as children along with saying please and thank you. The goal of this axiom is that avoiding possibly contentious topics would allow for enjoyable conversation for all parties regardless of personal differences of opinion. A gathering of any kind or size could be kept on a light and agreeable tone while enjoying the company of others. To discuss these topics in public was considered the height of rudeness and insensitivity.

Of course, etiquette books are seen as outdated relics. After all, this is a time of anything goes, openness and frank discussion. Everyone seems to love yelling “FREE SPEECH” with the tiniest of provocation. It is fine to voice ones unhindered opinion during a planned political discussion, a debate, a town hall meeting, on a news show or at a legislative committee meeting. Letters to the editor, Blogs, conversations with those you know share your views or with your immediate family at the dinner table are great. The rule does not say to never discuss these topics at all, it says “in public” and that means around people you may or may not know well. The goal of being polite is getting along with others.

There has been a lot of talk lately on the hateful tone, hubris and vitriol which has become common in American politics in the last few years. After the tragedy in Arizona, both Republicans and Democrats have called for an end to the name calling, demonizing and hateful discourse between those who have political disagreements. There is a renewed desire for peaceful, articulate, discourse and this is a really good thing. I, for one, am glad that there are disagreements about how to run this country. My hope is that as each representative articulates his ideas, beliefs and intentions; those who disagree might learn something, find common ground or at least understand how they can correct their opponent with the goal that they would come to some agreement. Our government and our country are great because of the process of discussing and arguing political matters and finding a consensus.

My family happens to live in an area where Republicans and Tea Party activists are the majority. I tend to be more liberal and often vote for Democratic candidates. My husband is more conservative and tends to vote for Republican candidates. Although we don’t always agree on political issues, we are able to voice our opinions without insulting each other. Our children have grown up hearing both sides to political issues and they have heard both of us concede various points and explain our opinions. Our private dinner table conversation can be quite interesting when the kids join in and make extremely valid points of their own. We allow very open conversation on all subjects at our table but with the admonition “this does not leave this table.” My children have been encouraged to engage in polite conversation. Another guideline we have discussed is the three rules of polite conversation. 1) Is it true? 2) Is it necessary? 3) Is it kind? I have found that these rules, when applied, keep me out of a whole lot of trouble.

For the past few years, really since before the 2008 presidential election, I noticed in my personal daily life that neighbors, friends, strangers, and even new acquaintances were absolutely polarized in their political beliefs and seemed to have no restraint in sharing these views as often and as emphatically as possible. I am sad to say that, often times, these comments have been seasoned with racist remarks, complete falsehoods and topped with clear insults toward anyone who might hazard a differing opinion. During the election, I told my children that they should be honest about their political views but that they shouldn’t go out of their way to display their Democratic leanings at school with their peers. When my son was the only child in his class to vote for Obama in the “mock election” the other students jeered and insulted him openly. My daughter faced a similar response from close friends who argued fiercely that our country would be ruined; we would all have to wear a burqa and other such concerns. I advised that in a hysterical political climate such as this, we should all suspend even entering into political conversations outside of our home. My children invoked “free speech” and complained of unfairness. I asked a simple question. “Do you want to get along with your friends and acquaintances at school?” They answered “Yes.” So I reminded them of the list of topics that were not approved for polite public conversation. They have grumbled about this over the years as they politely try to steer many political conversations to other more agreeable topics. They dislike holding their tongue when others launch into political monologues. However, what they have learned through only listening is that they never want to appear that way to others regardless of who is right or wrong.

They have found constructive formats to discuss politics; in social studies, history or civics class. They make sure that they have facts to back up the points they make and have often helped to correct misconceptions of their classmates and even their teachers. They are polite, they listen and they share what they know. I am very proud of them for being brave enough to stand up and provide a new way to look at the issues while being considerate of their peers.

Many times, my children came home from school with outrageous stories about what their peers, teachers or other parents said to them. For the most part, I have used each situation as a teachable moment and explained that there are people who serve as good role models and those who serve as bad role models; both are instructive. However, it really bothers me when an adult feels the need to start an argument with a child. I was shocked when my daughter told me about what happened to her once. She had been invited to go out to dinner with her friend and her parents. Suddenly, during dinner, the father turned to my 16 year old daughter and said “I heard you like Obama? Can you tell me why he deserved the Nobel Peace Prize?” My daughter said that the committee that chose him must have felt that he deserved it. She said she didn’t want to be rude so she left it at that. He became visibly angry and lectured her and then made snide remarks about President Obama in the car on the way home. When my daughter told me about this, I suggested that the next time anyone brings up Obama and the Nobel Peace Prize, she should challenge them to tell her the name of at least one previous winner and why they won the prize. She actually had occasion to do just that several times and the conversation ended quickly since no one knew the answer. This was when the fury over the election was still fresh; a long time ago. Everyone is much more civil now, right?

Yesterday, my twelve year old son was very excited to be invited to the home of a classmate. The home was in one of the nicer neighborhoods in our area and, as is our habit, during the drive over, my husband reminded my son to be polite. When he came home we asked him if he had fun, if he was good, and to tell us all about his visit. He said he had fun, that they mostly shot air soft BB guns in the back yard and then he said “when I left, his dad said “you can come back anytime.”” Of course, my husband and I looked at each other with pride in our eyes and I said “good for you!” Then my son added “Yeah, when I first got there, his dad said “So, I hear you are a Democrat, is that true?” My son replied “yes, sir.” Then the dad shook his head and said “I’m sorry to hear that” and walked away. In complete shock, I asked “how did he know you were a democrat?” He explained that a few weeks ago, in social studies, they had to answer the question “Have you ever felt like a second class citizen?” and read their answer aloud. My son answered “Yes, I feel like a second class citizen because I am a Democrat.”

Wow!!!

Perhaps this man has become caught up in the anger and fear of the Tea Party movement. However, if he believes that he is following in the footsteps of our great forefathers, he might like to know what one of his heroes, Thomas Jefferson, had to say on the subject; “I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend.”

In the end, the man did tell my son that he was welcome anytime. That may be because my son did not engage him or because he said only “yes, sir” or it may be because my son, who doesn’t whisper well, said to his friend “That was horrendously rude!” just after the father walked away. His friend apologized and said “that’s just how my dad is.”

A wise Frenchman, Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr, once said “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” We may think that we have evolved and can say anything and do anything because “this is a free country”. I do not argue that. However, we should always consider that just because you can doesn’t mean you should. A polite and civil society is based on being thoughtful about others. I believe that the rules about polite conversation are just as germane today as they ever were and I for one wish that Americans would mind their manners.

Further recommended reading:

Robert Fulghum’s “All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten”

George Washington’s “Rules on Civility and Decent Behaviour in Company and Conversation”

Benjamin Franklin’s “Poor Richard’s Almanac”

Anna Post’s (Great, great granddaughter of Emily Post) article “The Etiquette of Talking Politics”

www.huffingtonpost.com/anna-post/the-etiquette-of-talking-_b_87893.html

New York Times book review of “Public Enemies: Dueling Writers Take on Each Other and the World: www.nytimes.com/2011/01/16/books/review/Buruma-t.html

Posted in IMHO Rants | Tagged Barack Obama, Chats and Forums, Civility, etiquette, Manners, political conversation, political discourse, Politics, Poor Richard's Almanac, Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation | 3 Comments

Tiger Mothering

Posted on January 16, 2011 by uttersuburbia

The new book in the parenting section of the book store; Amy Chua’s “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother” has generated a whole lot of discussion. Here is a link to a Wall Street Journal article titled “Why Chinese Mothers are Superior.” http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704111504576059713528698754.html?KEYWORDS=battle+hymn+of+the+tiger+mother

Mrs. Chua is raising her children in the style of a Chinese Mother which she explains is very strict, demands excellence, allows little “free time” and gets results. I don’t deny that this method would reap the results she is seeing but I have chosen another way. My parenting style isn’t stereotypical of any particular culture but reflects my experience and my beliefs about children and people in general.

Yesterday morning, I read the Wall street Journal article aloud to my 17 year old daughter and my 12 year old son over breakfast and we discussed the pros and cons of this type of parenting. My daughter instructed us on Thomas Hobbes social contract theory and how she believes that the Chinese have historically been governed by and lived in a society that is based on the idea that people will not do what is right unless forced to do so by expectations of those in authority, strict rules and discipline. We had a nice bit of a side discussion on this and examples of other kinds of governments and societies.

My children agreed that I do not parent in the typical “western” style but that I am not near as controlling as the typical “Chinese mother” presented in this article. I think I am tough and firm but there is a lot of room for individuality. I expect them to do their best and be responsible citizens whether in our family, school, neighborhood or the larger community. I suggested that my beliefs about children; specifically my children, drive my parenting style. I believe that, although children do need guidance and direction, even a small child is able to make choices and is responsible for those choices. I have said over and over again to my children that every choice brings about a consequence; good, bad or otherwise. Even judging a consequence as good, bad or otherwise is a choice or preference. When they complain about things that happen to them, we try to trace it back to a choice that they made. How else can they learn to avoid negative consequences or predict consequences so that they can make better informed decisions?

Because a child starts out as a part of a mother’s body, it is normal that even after they are born, they feel like an extension of us, like another arm. They are completely helpless and we control so much in their infancy. As a baby begins to have more physical control, we lose control. I can remember when I dealt with some frustration and thought to myself, I need to accept that this is a separate human being who will do things I don’t agree with, whether it is rub applesauce in her hair as a baby or turn her hair purple as a teenager. I decided right then that I was looking forward to meeting this person as her personality and temperament continued to emerge. My goal was to help my children navigate their way in the world to a place they wanted to be. I planned to give them opportunities and support them. My goal never was to create GREAT achievers in a specific talent or career. My goal was to raise loving, caring, thoughtful, independent, responsible citizens of the world. In later years, I have simplified this goal to “you are not allowed to be a pain in the ass.”

When my children were very young and were about to do something that would bring about negative consequences or discipline, I would give them choices. I would say, for instance, “I said “No, you cannot have any candy because we are eating dinner soon.” Here are your choices; you can calm down and go find something to do until dinner or you can keep screaming at me and you will be sent to time out and you will not get dessert after dinner. Having candy now is not a choice.” If the child chose to back down, I would give positive reinforcement and say “I think you made a good choice because now you can enjoy playing and you get dessert.” If the child chose to continue the tantrum or escalated, I would say “I see you have chosen to go to time out and go without dessert” and I would follow through with the consequences the child chose reminding them that this was their choice.

I am all about choice and personal responsibility for ones actions or lack thereof. I believe that independence of thought and personal goals will serve one much better in the long run. I think of a parent as a guide and advisor not a task master. I am here to support their endeavors not lead the endeavor. Having said that, I don’t support everything they dream of doing. I want to see some commitment and a high level of interest and investment of time and energy before I join the team. I have high standards. In this way, I see that excellence can only be achieved with a very high standard. I am very honest with my children which is sometimes difficult. I don’t tell them they are bad at something, I only point out that their ability is directly related to their experience or how much time they have invested. Whether they want to do the work to get better or not is a choice that my child makes, not me. My children and I have an understanding that I will never be what I call “an American Idol mom.” We have seen a few contestants who are in absolute shock when they are told that they are not as talented as they think they are. Behind every contestant who is in complete denial about their level of talent is a mom who lied to them.

Life is an adventure and a journey. Children should be able to try out activities, hobbies, and gifts. It is a great thing when a child realizes that they are really good at something even if it is shuffling cards or jumping on a pogo stick. Even a young person can be a subject matter expert in the eyes of their peers. My daughter loved being the girl who knew everything about snakes and she truly enjoyed teaching the neighborhood kids that not all snakes were dangerous. This builds confidence and creates a desire to explore and exercise other gifts and talents. Eventually, this will lead to finding something to do as a career or lifestyle; something edifying for themselves and those around them.

As to frivolous free time such as play dates, slumber parties and other activities; these are wonderful ways for a child to compare and contrast their family life with others. They learn to be flexible and adapt to another family’s traditions and schedule for just a few hours or one night. My kids always come home with interesting stories and usually compliment me on something specific. It’s not that the other family is not as good but that my child truly appreciates something the way we do it and notices that it is special. Also, all mothers know that kids only truly exercise their manners when they are at someone else’s home. When a child overhears a compliment about their behavior away from home, you can just see them puff up with pride.

The story Mrs. Chua tells of the battle over the piano may seem shocking but I think that a child raised in her home would not be traumatized by this vignette. My children and I laughed when we read what the child said after the mother took her doll house away; “I thought you were going to the Salvation Army, why are you still here?” This is not a traumatized or mistreated child. Only a child with a strong will who trusts her mother would hazard such a bold move.

When my children want to quit something, we talk about commitment and expectations. For instance, I would not let my daughters quit T-ball, which they both wanted to do. My oldest said “I want to be on the team that gets to bat.” I reminded them that their team members were counting on them. I made them finish the season but I didn’t make them play the next year. When they become frustrated because they hit a wall and think they cannot do something they want to do, I do what I always do; I pray for creativity and a sense of humor. Being silly and laughing can go a long way with a frustrated child. I don’t know that my way works better than yelling, insulting and threatening, but it is a lot more fun for me. That is another thing about my parenting style; I don’t like stressful, negative, super intense atmospheres so I do try to keep things positive and upbeat.

My children may become great in the eyes of the world, the media, in a certain interest area or just to their family or small community. If they do, my goal is still that they will be great in a loving, caring, thoughtful, independent, and responsible way. Who they are and the impact they have on people and the world around them will always be more important to me than any title or award.

I suppose my goal for my kids is for them to be themselves and that doesn’t seem to fit into the Chinese Mother’s model for parenting. So, I don’t disagree or judge that parenting style, I simply do not choose it. I hope the consequences will be that my children will accept themselves and others and look for the greatness in everyone regardless if it is a child prodigy playing a grand piano on the stage at Carnegie Hall or a homeless man playing the harmonica on a street corner.

Posted in IMHO Rants | Tagged Amy Chua, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, Child, Chinese Mother, citizenship, Family, Home, Parenting, Parenting styles, personal responsibility, Thomas Hobbes, Wall Street Journal | 1 Comment

Spinning Tales and Skipping Stones

Posted on January 6, 2011 by uttersuburbia

In everything there is a story. Every person is a culmination of the stories of their own life. Many unseen people have passed by or touched each object we see. Most every place we can go, others have gone before us. We tend to wonder about the homeless man with the sign at the traffic light collecting money. We may ponder the origin and journey of items in an antique store or think of all the footsteps that have worn and polished the steps at the Lincoln Memorial. An historian will speak of the stories a battlefield could tell and will spend a lifetime researching logs, letters, reports and other documents in order to be able to tell those stories. Archeologists dig for any part of an object as evidence of the lives of a long forgotten culture. A one inch broken piece of pottery can tell them so much. Some psychics will touch an item and claim to receive impressions about where the object has been and who may have touched it before.

When I was a little girl, I put a penny in my mouth and my mother said “you don’t know where all that penny has been!” Boy, did that stir up my imagination. Of course, only God really knows all the stories of all things in all time. I am not an historian or an archeologist and I don’t think I am psychic. I do happen to be insatiably curious and I have a tendency to day dream. It would be very convenient for me if there were a guide book or, better yet, a kindly docent available to tell me the story behind everything I find interesting. I love historical places and museums for this reason; there are stories to satisfy my curiosity. What about all the places and all the objects with stories left untold? Well, I just figure out what I can and imagine the rest. Who knows, I might be right.

For instance, I walk along a trail and find an old stone bench overlooking a stream with a lush meadow beyond surrounded by hardwood trees and I immediately wonder who put it there and for what purpose. I take a seat on the weathered but sturdy seat to ponder. It may be a city park now but 150 years ago it belonged to a family whose young son served in the Civil War. This was his favorite fishing spot and his father built this bench so that his wife could sit and enjoy fond memories of her son and enjoy the changing of the seasons while she prayed and waited for his safe return. Of course, since then, at least a dozen young men, including the soldier, have proposed to their sweethearts on this bench and hundreds of little boys have skipped stones and fished on this bank. Now wait, before the bench was ever built or a boy ever brought his fishing pole to the stream, there were generations of Indians who made the meadow their tribal home. Before you know it, I can see in my mind’s eye the Indian girl who came here to be alone and day dream about all sorts of things. All the stories of her ancestors and animal spirits fill her mind and she imagines that this is the very spot where her great grandmother met the owl who spoke to her and gave her wisdom to impart to her tribe. She wishes the owl would come and talk to her now.

Of course, I don’t know that those things really happened but I do know that there are countless stories that did happen and, given my limited knowledge of the area, I am sure that the cast of characters who have interacted with this very spot do include Indians, civil war soldiers, sweethearts and boys skipping stones. Tomorrow, I may tell myself the story of the spinster sisters who ran a still deep in the woods and how no one ever suspected them. But that is a story for another day…

For now, I walk down to the edge of the stream and pick up one of the thousands of perfectly smooth sun warmed oval stones and I skip it five times! I wonder if that is an all time record and I hope that in another hundred years a day dreaming person like me will stand in the same spot and wonder who has been there before. Maybe they will imagine that a middle aged woman stopped here to enjoy the view. They might even guess that I had a big goofy dog that I walked every day along this trail and that, while he read stories in the scents of every inch of the trail, I told myself stories of Indian girls, civil war heroes, strong mothers, kind husbands, and owl spirits. I hope they will walk down to the stream and skip a stone six times and smile with the unknowable knowledge that they just broke the record.

Posted in I Spy Observations | Tagged History, imagination, skipping stones, story tellling, ted williams | 1 Comment

Thunderation!!!

Posted on January 5, 2011 by uttersuburbia

Although I don’t make New Year’s resolutions, per se, I do usually think of a few things to focus on as I reestablish the routine after the holidays. I almost always have a theme going that I try to live by or adopt as a plumb line. These themes are not necessarily started or stopped on a yearly basis on January 1^st. In the past, some of my themes for a season have been “just say no,” “edit,” “be grateful,” and “stop and smell the roses.” My current theme is “keep it simple” but I’m also concentrating on eliminating clutter because, whether it is a pile of old magazines, clothes I never wear or mind clutter, it most definitely gets in the way of simplifying everything.

During the holidays, between Thanksgiving and Christmas, I was suddenly overcome with the need to clean out the refrigerator one morning. Am I the only person who doesn’t have room in my refrigerator for actual food because of all the condiments? It felt so good to get rid of all those odd shaped jars and bottles with a spoonful of sauce, chutney, jam, or other yummy concoction that I haven’t used in I can’t remember how long. It was wonderful to put food in the refrigerator and take things out without the usual rubric’s cube rearranging of everything. I am endeavoring to keep the fridge clutter-free so that when we open the door to see what there is to eat, we will actually see food. It is amazing how happy this made me and how it simplified my daily life!

I have gone through many phases in my many years of being head chef of our family. For many years, I planned a monthly menu, I have cooked multiple meals in one day and at times kept a super organized freezer. Sometimes, when I’m thinking ahead, I make double batches to save for another time. I’ve also had times when I figure things out an hour before dinner on a regular basis and I am often fond of “do it yourself” dinners where everyone just figures something out for themselves.

In honor of my “keep it simple” theme, I have decided to simplify our meals and my grocery shopping. It could also be the weather, but I am in the mood for peasant food lately; soups, stews, and savory casseroles for dinner. Crockpot and one dish meals are very simple. I can prepare these meals in the morning or afternoon and the house smells wonderful all day long. Once a week I have been buying a large piece of meat like a turkey, roast beef, brisket, or whole chickens and then I make several meals out of the leftovers; some to have during the week and some to freeze for later.

Since we had a ham for New Year’s day, I have been making all things ham this week. We had the ham, black eyed peas, mustard greens and corn bread on Saturday. On Sunday, we had a scalloped potato and ham casserole. We had a chicken and pasta dish on Monday and, on Tuesday, we had leftover everything. One more ham meal tonight and the rest I have put up in the freezer for a few meals in the coming months.

Right now there is a ham bone simmering with peppercorns, cloves and a few bay leaves on my stove. It smells wonderful! I soaked navy beans last night and will be making my version of an historical meal tonight. We are having the United States Senate’s Navy bean soup. I have been making this for years and remember the first time I looked for a recipe in my Joy of Cooking. This was before the internet and Google. I like cookbooks and recipes with stories and I think of this everytime I make bean soup.

This is one of the versions (and my favorite one) of the story behind the history of the U.S. Senate’s bean soup.

“Senate Bean Soup, prepared with traditional early American ingredients of dried white pea beans, onions, and a ham bone, has been on the menu in the United States Senate restaurant since the early 20th century, possibly longer. It is the most popular item on the menu and is usually recommended by members of Congress when entertaining guests there for the first time.

Bean soup, a favorite of Speaker of the House, Joseph G. Cannon (1836–1926) of Illinois, was omitted from the menu on one hot, humid day in 1904. When speaker Cannon arrived for lunch and learned he could not order it, he was more than a little upset. “Thunderation!” roared the speaker. “I had my mind set for bean soup. From now on, hot or cold, rain, snow, or shine, I want it on the menu every day.”

A resolution was introduced in 1907 by Senator Knute Nellson of Minnesota, chairman of the Senate Rules Committee, that decreed that while the Senate is in session, no day shall pass without Senate Bean Soup. From that time on, Senate Bean soup has appeared on the menu in all eleven Congressional dining rooms every single day, regardless of the weather. This tradition has endured for over 100 years.”

Now, who can argue with that? Congress keeping it simple!

I won’t be serving bean soup every day but I will be serving simple meals made from a few whole foods.

I will also be using the word “THUNDERATION” just as soon as I need an exclamation.

Here is my official recipe and a link to the U.S. Senate recipe: www.senate.gov/reference/reference_item/bean_soup.htm

1 package dry navy beans, soaked overnight in large pot of water

2 bay leaves

8 whole peppercorns

6 whole cloves

Ham bone & meat scraps and 6-8 cups water

**or 2 boxes chicken or vegetable broth

1-2 cups cooked ham, diced (*omit for veggie version)

Olive oil and butter

1 onion, chopped

4 stalks celery, chopped with leaves

1-2 garlic cloves, minced

6 carrots, peeled and sliced

1 – 1 ½ cups whole milk

If using a ham for stock, remove all the tender meat for sandwiches or casseroles and place the ham bone and trimmings in large soup pot. Cover with 6 – 8 cups of water, add bay leaves, peppercorns and cloves and simmer for 2-3 hours. Strain liquid and chill overnight if you can or use a fat separator. I like do this step without the beans so that I can remove any fat. This is also really good made with chicken broth or vegetable broth; use bay leaves, fresh ground pepper and a pinch of cloves.

Soak beans overnight, strain and rinse just before adding to the soup.

Sauté onion, celery and garlic in a little olive oil and butter. Add carrots and toss for a minute or two. Add 6-8 cups of ham, chicken or vegetable stock and beans. Simmer for 2-3 hours. When the beans are tender, add the milk and chopped ham. I always add my meat at the end so it is tender and full of flavor. Simmer for 5-10 more minutes and serve with hot corn bread muffins.

Enjoy!

Posted in Comfort Food | Tagged Congress, History, Leftovers, New Years Traditions, recipes, Soup, traditions, U.S. Senate, U.S. Senate Navy Bean Soup | Leave a comment

Happy Birthdays!!!

Posted on November 4, 2010 by uttersuburbia

A Birthday is such an exciting day for kids! Everyone pays special attention to the birthday child; from teachers to friends, neighbors and family. They wake up hoping for a special gift, a cake with their name on it and maybe looking forward to a party. When I was a child, I could hardly wait to be one year older. I would even claim to be a half year older by saying that I was nine and a half for six or seven months. Back then, I would spend hours combing through the Sears catalog for gift ideas and would dream of the pile of presents I would get. It seemed like there was a law that everyone had to be extra nice to you on your birthday, and everyone was. It was wonderful to be the center of attention for the day.

My family had several birthday traditions. First of all, no chores! Also, you got your way on everything. You got to ride in the front seat of the car and pick the radio station, your favorite meals were served for breakfast, lunch and dinner and you chose what everyone would watch on TV. My favorite meal was my mom’s barbeque spare ribs and pumpkin pie for dessert. I never cared for cake. I took the birthday wish thing really seriously and would ponder what to wish for a month in advance. Blowing out the candles was something that couldn’t be rushed due to the fact that I needed to really concentrate on that wish and getting enough air in my lungs to blow out all the candles in one breath. After dinner, my mom and dad would turn off all the lights, fire up the candles and everyone would serenade me with the birthday song. After the wish was made and before the cake was served, it was time for the Birthday Spanking! My kids have never heard of this and didn’t believe me when I explained the custom the other day! My dad was gentle but it was still scary so I laughed and screamed at the same time.

Until I was a teenager, my mom would get out my baby book around bed time and sit me on her lap and tell me the story of the day I was born. She would show me all my baby pictures and tell me what a great baby I was. I am so glad she did this. Each year I would ask questions and she would tell me a bit more until I knew all my childhood stories and the people in all the pictures. By the time I was about eleven or twelve, I was feeling too old to sit on my mom’s lap and kind of wanted to protest the whole baby story idea but she would insist. I’m sure I thought I was too cool for nostalgia and other such mushiness. Forty odd years later, these are some of my favorite memories.

Today is my youngest child’s birthday; he is twelve years old. I have carried on some of the family traditions and added others. I made grits casserole the way he likes it for breakfast. I have wrapped his gifts so that he can see them and wonder about them until after dinner. I baked him a cake without frosting. Now, I am making the sauce for the make-your-own French bread pizzas he has requested for dinner. I really enjoy cooking but cooking a special meal for someone is even more fun for me. I think about the people I am cooking for. As I did my grocery shopping, browned the Italian sausage, gathered basil and oregano from the garden and ground up fennel seeds, I thought about how much my son enjoys helping in the kitchen and how much he will like making his own pizza. This made me think about my mom making her homemade barbeque sauce with crushed pineapple. I remember walking in the door after school and smelling my birthday dinner.

For a mom, a child’s birthday is like a special mother’s day; even better than the Sunday in May. It is the anniversary of the momentous occasion of giving birth. The labor is a vague memory but the first time you see your baby, the look on your husband’s face, little toes, that first cry; those are the things that we remember the most. That was the beginning of this special relationship we will always have; mother and child. I always want to wish the mother a “Happy you became a mom day.” Much of our celebration is enjoying all the memories and wondering what they will be like when they grow up even more.

Well, my almost teenager may be too cool to hug me and say “I love you” back at bedtime, but I understand. That’s okay, I remember being too cool when I was twelve. This afternoon he will come home to the aromas of chocolate cake and pizza sauce. Yes, he will have to wait until after dinner to open his gifts. Tonight, we will turn off all the lights, light the candles and sing Happy Birthday and yell “make a wish!” He will make silly guesses at his gifts while unwrapping them really slowly, like his Dad does. And, even though he will roll his eyes, tonight I will show him his baby pictures and tell him about his sister saying “I’m so happy my tummy tickles inside” the first time she saw him. We are all still that happy about him!

Posted in I Spy Observations, Uncategorized | Tagged Birthday, birthday traditions, Family, family traditions, kids, mothers, traditions | Leave a comment

“Trick or Treat” Obsolete?

Posted on November 1, 2010 by uttersuburbia

Last night was Halloween and I was the candy handerouter. I love that job and can hardly wait to see all the little ones. I had the large puppy behind a baby gate so he could watch but not lick or jump on small children. I had all the lights in the house on, as well as the porch light, to let the world know that we were open for business. My son had lit the candles in the pumpkins he carved before he went out on his first Trick or Treat without parents. I was ready!

After the first few visitors, I was very concerned. What is wrong with the children? I had several completely silent children, two who said “Happy Halloween” and one who shyly whispered “Hi.” What happened to yelling “TRICK OR TREAT!!!!” when the door opens? After all, this is the only time of year a kid gets to yell at their neighbors and get handfuls of candy for their trouble. Yes, they were all adorable and said “thank you” as I handed out the candy. The parents standing out on the street waved and said “thank you” too. I thought, well, maybe these are just the early bird super polite shy daylight kids.

As the doorbell began to ring again and again, the same weird thing was happening. Very few kids said the magic words. My husband asked one child “what do you say on Halloween?” he replied “Candy!” I considered hosting a tutorial out in the cul de sac. These children have obviously been neglected! Or is there something worse afoot?

My mind began to spin and I wondered if I had missed some ill thought out mommy memo about the phrase “trick or treat” being an illegal and punishable terroristic threat. After all, a few years ago, my son was banned from the bus stop yard down the street for playing in the yard with the other twenty some odd kids and stepping on a tulip. Stranger things have happened… I was told by my daughter last week that she couldn’t hug a friend who was crying because PDA (public displays of affection) are against school rules. So many rules; everything is wrong now. Who can have fun when there are so many rules regulating childhood?

I mentioned my concern on Facebook and a neighbor agreed that the kids were way too quiet and suggested “indoor voices are not necessary.” Have the parents forgotten to teach their children proper Halloween etiquette? Has this phrase been phased out for some reason? Are parents making their children so polite that they won’t let them infer that if there is no candy, they might play a trick on me? Are children not allowed to yell with reckless abandon anymore?

This experience is helping me build the case toward my idea for a business in the near future. I plan to open something very unique called “Play School.” As we all know, the pendulum always swings back and I think this culture of overachieving, overscheduled, overguided, helicopter parenting will soon give way. I will be there to teach children how to make mud pies, watch ants, lay in the grass, make clover chains, gather maple seeds (helicopters) and dump them by the bucket full off the deck. In the fall, along with raking giant piles of leaves to jump and hide in, we will have a lesson on yelling “TRICK OR TREAT!” The rules may have changed but children haven’t. That year, I will see kids with ruddy cheeks from running through my yard in impatience and ringing the doorbell several times who smile mischievously and laugh as they yell at me!

When my son came home after trick or treating and swapping candy with his friends, I asked “what did you do tonight when people opened their door?” He looked at me like I had lost my mind and said “I yelled “Trick or Treat!”” Good, I’ve done something right!

Posted in IMHO Rants | Tagged Halloween, trick or treat, Trick-or-treating | Leave a comment