Fire In The Hoooollllleeee

My Monkey :)

A in defensive "why are you taking my picture" mode.

Blurry of John but I still like it

Patrick our chef for the night (funny guy)

 Not pictured is the ginormous Scorpion that John and I shared. It was just us and the 2 oldest. I had the itis so bad that I could barely walk to the car... And today I will have to work out double time, but it was worth it. One thing I noticed and I'm extremely grateful for is that John and I still act like kids and we are still very affectionate. While all of the other couples at our table and surrounding tables are not talking to each other and staring off into space with a miserable look on their faces, we are laughing and kissing. Beautiful children, amazing food, incredible man. Count your blessings.

The Tiger/ Ethan Chronicles

Because it's not just in the lunch room anymore...

Since the last update, there have been many unspoken tests of true infatuation. Like Ethan farting, and Ethan having a "slimy green booger" hanging out his nose and Ethan eating bbq potato chips that smelled weird. I don't know about you but when I was a kid that kind of stuff was enough to make me run for the hills. Not the Tiger, though, she still likes him best of all. The big news is that their relationship seems to have progressed from the lunch room to the class room. According to Tiger, Ethan now hangs his back pack next to hers and they sit next to each other at reading time as well as lunch and Tiger chose Ethan to carry on her legacy of official chalk board washer of the week.

To make things interesting there is another little boy in her class that we'll call Idon'tknow (until Tiger can remember his name) that has a BIG crush on her and follows her around like a wistful puppy (my words). Unfortunately, Idon'tknow's love is unrequited. I've made it very clear to the Tiger that she needs to be nice to Idon'tknow. There is nothing worse than having your heart squashed.

I'll Take Them All, Please

 

At the mall today: I especially love the black with the gray flower, plaid with purple bow and  my absolute favorite, the mustard yellow hat. Unfortunately, I cannot pull off this look due to an abnormally round head but it doesn't stop me from admiring and noting that this is a great look for Fall.

Garage Sales And Cool People

Woke up, did 2 miles at the park and then headed over to a neighborhood I read about in Craigslist that was having a community garage sale. The first house I stopped at I purchased a cutting board with an art-deco cat design on it and an oriental paper umbrella. I stopped at 5 more houses with no luck and then I happened upon Jacklyn. At first glance, it didn't look as though she had much to offer. What little she did have, though, was quality. A hand painted honey bucket from Russia, an old coffee grinder from Spain, and what caught my eye, colorful drink coasters from Greece which she sold to me for $2.00.

The fact that the coasters were from Greece prompted me to tell her how I had been fortunate enough to travel extensively through Europe and Asia with my parents when I was young and that Greece was one of my favorite places. This opened a flood gate because she to had traveled and even lived overseas due to an occupation that she would not elaborate on (I'm guessing Government). She asked me about Germany. I told her that I didn't get a chance to visit there but that John was born in Heidelberg. Then he'll love this! she said and held up a super cool metro sign which she also sold to me for $2.00.

This now resides on our bookshelf as do the three Beer steins that she gave me for free just because.

When she found out that the Tigers dad is from Dublin, she went in her house and came back out with a little green bag full of Irish currency. She gave me 2 coins from Ireland, 1 for the Tiger and 1 for the Monkey. Wishes for luck and prosperity. :)

Lastly, I saw a water painting that was dated 1976. Jacklyn said it was done in Germany.... An actual hand painted picture (not a print) done overseas 34 years ago. The asking price was $50.00- I did not haggle. Now it stands up against my bookshelf as I search for it's new spot in the house.

More than anything, I enjoyed meeting and talking to Jacklyn. She is a very well traveled, interesting and generous woman. Not a combination you see to often. I can only imagine the stories she has to tell.

Part Deux of A.T.L.R.T.

Today on As The Lunch Room Turns Ethan and the Tiger bonded on how much they despise apple sauce and how they love tacos. "They're like the greatest food in the world, mom." To their dismay, Miriam, Tigers BF-does not- like tacos. Who knew?

Tiger: I told Ethan that he was nutty like a squirrel because he talks fast like me.

Me: Did he get mad?

Tiger: No, he smiled.

And then she smiled.

And then I smiled.

Gourmet Goodness and New Orleans Style Bread Pudding

We stopped by Petty's yesterday evening, my favorite little gourmet shop. The place has been around almost as long as I have (and that is a longggg time). Cafe Du Monde for me, hot pickle chips for John and a chocolate concoction called "1001 Chocolate Chips" for the Tiger. No, I did not buy her that insanely large chunk of cheddar cheese.

I've been going through a New Orleans inspired phase when it comes to cooking lately. Last nights guilty indulgence was Bread Pudding With Bourbon sauce.

Bread Pudding:

1 loaf French bread, at least a day old, cut into 1-inch squares (about 6-7 cups)

1 qt milk

3 eggs, lightly beaten

2 cups sugar

2 Tbsp vanilla

1 cup raisins (soaked overnight in 1/4 cup bourbon)

1/4 teaspoon allspice

1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

3 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted

Directions:

1 Preheat oven to 350°F.

2 Soak the bread in milk in a large mixing bowl. Press with hands until well mixed and all the milk is absorbed. In a separate bowl, beat eggs, sugar, vanilla, and spices together. Gently stir into the bread mixture. Gently stir the raisins into the mixture.

3 Pour butter into the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking pan. Coat the bottom and the sides of the pan well with the butter. Pour in the bread mix and bake at 350°F for 35-45 minutes, until set. The pudding is done when the edges start getting a bit brown and pull away from the edge of the pan. Can also make in individual ramekins.

Bourbon Sauce:

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 cup Kentucky bourbon whiskey

In a saucepan, melt butter; add sugar and egg, whisking to blend well. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens. (Do not allow to simmer, or it may curdle.) Whisk in bourbon to taste. Remove from heat. Whisk before serving. The sauce should be soft, creamy, and smooth.

Serve with bourbon whiskey sauce on the side; pour on to taste. Best fresh and eaten the day it is made. Makes 8-10 servings

* I altered this recipe a bit and used half and half instead of milk (gives it a richer taste). You might need to add extra bread, enough to make sure that all of the liquid is absorbed. I also doubled the allspice and cinnamon. I soaked the raisins for about 2 hours and they tasted fine however I'm sure if you left them for 24 hours they would be incredible (I didn't have the patience).

For the bourbon sauce, I added a little extra cinnamon and nutmeg and extra sugar to taste. I did let it simmer even though the recipe says not to. The sauce was too thin otherwise. I suggest a low simmer for 20 minutes stirring frequently and then take off heat and let settle for about 10-15 minutes. Give it a good stir before serving. It should be a nice syrup like consistency.

*I used brown sugar for everything.

The trick with both the pudding and sauce is to flavor to personal taste. Served with vanilla ice cream = outstanding! John ate about 1/4th of the pan. This dish would be perfect for Christmas time or cold weather in general.

Recipe courtesy of : http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/bread_pudding/

As The Lunch Room Turns

She’s got her life living in her heart
She’s got these eyes well where do I start?
Like looking at the deep night sky
So many worlds inside her eyes


She’s a spectacular girl ~ The EELS

When I pick the Tiger up from school the first thing we talk about is Ethan. He sits by her at lunch (which delights her) and they chit chat...

Tiger (saying this all in one breath): Mom, guess what?! Ethan likes Chinese food and cherries and Nacho Cheese Doritos and he's been bitten by a dog... Well -he- wasn't bitten by a dog but his bird was. He likes fortune cookies, too. Today he read my fortune for me. (I put a fortune cookie in her lunch as a surprise) He told me that one time he ate his fortune and I told him about the time I ate toilet paper because Sissy was taking to long to fix me my hot dogs so we've both eaten paper, too (This one was news to me, lol). We have a lot in common, don't we?! He's  a lot easier to talk to than Andrew (she's a Gemini, after all, so a good conversationalist is important :) )... And today our feet touched at lunch! (HUGE SMILE)

So innocent, I love it! I think I might start living vicariously through her. Looking forward to what Friday brings.

In A Beatles Mood

Old video was too cool not to post.

Fall Must Have #1

Argyle socks! (Love the red suede shoes in the last pic more than the socks...)

La-Di-Da

Tell me that is not the coolest poster ever. If you don't think so then you're not an Annie Hall fan. Found it over at A Cup Of Jo, went to try and purchase a copy of the print and it was sold out. Bah. Shall try again in a few days. Don't know where I would put it just know I want one.