to find beauty

emma's soup du jour

Kids can be funny little creatures. I've heard enough stories from friends about their kiddos refusing to eat anything but toast and mac 'n cheese to kids who are scared to poop to know its pretty normal. 

That doesn't make dealing with the stubborn nature of a three year old any easier. Fortunately for me, I am just the aunt... and my time with the (best-ever!) rugrats are limited to hours every other weekend or so... however, I am also the aunt who last Saturday night attempted to feed my neice dinner. Quite the feat!

My sister (the mom) had made fervent pleas that despite Emma's hunger strike (for anything not a cookie, it seemed) to only feed her little girl "healthy things."

The plan for dinner was rigatoni noodles, spaghetti sauce and meat balls. I thought if I engaged Emma with the cooking, maybe she would want to eat it. So, I had her lay out the meatballs on the cooking sheet.

But she got bored. 

So, I gave her a bowl with some tropical fruit cut up inside. She already had a cup of cran-apple juice and there was a small cup of diet coke nearby. I also gave her some cooked green beans. It was like a buffet of nibbles... or the ingredients for soup du jour.

I gave her the little egg beater. She went to work. Mixing all the ingredients with passion not unlike that seen on an episode of Chopped.

I thought to myself... why not, let's make it fun!

I gave her a spoonful of grated cheddar cheese. And a cup of diced peaches. I think she stole a couple meatballs too. (She saw Dave sneaking them off the pan after they cooked...)

She went to work. She was so, so excited about her "Emma soup" and kept saying she was making her own dinner.

Here's the final product:

Looks tasty, doesn't it? 

Dinner time. I gave Emma her noodles and meatballs (sans the red sauce, by request), and I told her to eat up! She took a big bite. I thought to myself: oh yeah, I am awesome. She's going to eat for me!

But then she stopped eating. Pushed her dish aside. Hunger strike?

Not quite.

She wanted her soup.

Yes, this is real. She sipped not one, not two, but three spoonfuls of the sweet 'n odd concoction.

And she said it was sooo yummy!

Oh boy.

The recipe:

Emma's Soup 

1 8oz cup papaya and pineapple in extra light syrup (tropical medley) 
1 4oz cup diced peaches in light syrup
1/4 cup cooked green beans, cut
1/2 cup cran-apple juice
1/4 cup Diet Coke
1/2 tablespoon grated mild cheddar cheese
2 small Italian-style meatballs 

 Mix together in bowl. Serves one wonderful little girl!

my phone

I told Dave I didn't want a new smart phone: No to the iPhone. No to the Droid. No to any phone that isn't worth much without a dataplan.

I've been feeling this conviction for awhile. When you're managing a tight household budget, and each month you're scrimping for gas and groceries and all the other household bills... it's really, really hard to see over $200 go to a cell phone bill. Is it worth it?

I asked myself what I used my phone for - perhaps a good rationalization would sway me to stay with my smart phone (really, just an older Storm Blackberry). But other than checking my gmail account (which honestly is mostly junk mail left over from wedding registries - they don't warn you about this when you register!) and playing some silly games... the bulk of what I use my phone for is... checking Facebook.

Really Cori?! You have a laptop for that... and is it really that important to check FB every hour on the hour?

No.

So, I've been wrestling this feeling to downgrade my phone for a couple months now... and last night I was forced to make a decision.

The screen on my phone went black. I've had the phone a year and half. Already the buttons were failing me, but without a screen, a TOUCH SCREEN phone is pretty much pointless.

I handed Dave the phone. I told him: "I don't want another smart phone. (I have insurance, so I could get another Blackberry for a fee...) Do whatever you need to do, but I want a regular phone. One that makes phone calls and one that I can text with... oh, and I'd like to take pictures still... Cancel the dataplan. I will be FREEE!"

My husband is awesome. He told me: "Cori, we will get a new phone for you and we won't pay anything. I got the skillz to pay the billz."

And sure enough, a couple hours later he called me (well, he called the church where I work, because I don't have a phone... doh!) and told me the great news: new phone, no dataplan, no extra fancy phone features, everything will be credited and removed, no extra charges. 

The new phone? Well, I get it tomorrow. It's an LG Accolade. Less bells and whistles, but the reviews are decent for a flip phone. We'll see if its love at first sight. If I have any regrets or experience envy over any of my friends' fancy phones... I will just tell myself: "You're saving $35 a month. You're saving $35 a month. You're saving $35 a month."

And to be totally honest: it feels really good. Like I am sticking it to the so-called "man"! Resisting temptation and wanting what everyone else has... I can't wait to see the savings on our bill!

Best of all, I feel like I am obeying God and what is best for my family.

french apple pie is delicious

I told my handsome husband tonight we needed to get a pie to celebrate the day.

He looked at me blankly. "Why? What's today?"

"You don't know?" (I can be a smartie-pants.)

"Your mom's birthday?"

"No. My mom's birthday is in October."

"Mardi Gras? St. Patty's Day? Monday?"

"No. And no. And no."

"Give me a clue?" he asks.

"Okay, it's something special about today, specifically about pie."

"I don't know Cori! Just tell me!"

"Okay, its sort of a smart person day." (I should have said it was a mathematical-themed day.)

He thinks out-loud: "It's March the 14th. The 14th of March. Pies. Smart. Huh?"

"You can do it; you're almost there!" I encourage.

His poor face looks distraught. I feel bad. I give up: "Okay, it's March 14th - 3/14... as in 3.14 ... as 3.14 equals pi thus we get pie!" I explain excitedly. Maybe a little too excitedly.

"Ah, well thats a MATH kind of smart thing!" He says - like I should have known better."What kind of pie do we get?"

--

Thus, the yummy french apple pie in front of me. Thank you nerdy math day!

--

(The Recipe: go to Marie Callendar's and order pie. Purchase. Enjoy.)

carrot-fennel bisque

One of the recipes I was looking forward the most to cook up was a carrot and fennel bisque from the Diabetes DTOUR Diet cookbook (pg 110). And I confess, WHY I wanted to make this soup was because I really, really wanted to buy a fennel bulb! Fennel is fast becoming one of my favorite new foods to play with! Its full of vitamin C and other good stuff, and it tastes delicious! I also love carrots... so a win-win for me!

Here's the recipe:

Carrot-Fennel Bisque

4 large carrots, halved lengh-wise [my carrots were more medium sized than big, so I used six]
1 large fennel bulb, trimmed, with fronds reserved and cut into slices
1 large onion, cut into wedges [again, my onions were small, so I just two] 
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tablespoons canola oil
3 cups fat-free, reduced sodium chicken broth
1 can (12 oz) fat-free evaporated milk

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray. Place the carrots, fennel, onion and garlic on the baking sheet and drizzle with oil, turning veggies so they are coated. Roast for 45 minutes or until browned and very tender.

2. Combine the vegetables in a blender or food processor with 2 cups chicken broth. Blend or process until smooth.

3. Place the vegetable mixture in a saucepan with the milk and the remaining 1 cup broth. Heat over medium heat for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until the flavors meld and the soup is hot. Ladle into bowls (should serve at least 4) and top each with the fennel fronds.

Now, I confess, I added garlic salt and parsley flakes when it was warming on the stove. My own touch!

The recipe is pretty simple - even for me... However, I must have been tired or something... because in making this dish I set off the smoke detector (twice) AND the blender broke on me and soup went everywhere!  Not my best domestic diva moment! Dave tried to assist, but I promptly shooed him out of the kitchen - poor guy! 

Despite the mess in the kitchen, I think it turned out pretty well... Dave actually gave me an eight out of ten (not sure how much of that was pity points, but I'll take it!)

the joy of art

I've had this little art project "saved for a rainy day" for months and months and finally carved out the time to work on it this weekend!

My mom found this canvas at a thrift shop, and gave it to me because 1. she knows how much I love this shade of green and 2. it screamed: be creative with me! finish me! I've actually had the canvas hanging in our apartment (in Dave's bathroom) and was rather sad to paint over!  I quite liked the simplicity and colors.

 

What to do with it?

I recently heard of a fun artsy project from one of my artsy friends that I wanted to try out... Apparently, you paint layers of colors, designs and pictures on top of each other, creating texture and different shapes to emerge. I am not sure the all the specific details, but after you paint several layers, there is supposed to be a dominant image or theme emerge. You then use a Sharpie to outline the shapes and doodles, and presto art!

It was a lot of fun to paint and create just for the joy of it! It's been too long since I've given myself time to enjoy the process of creating something that is what I like: bold and colorful and a little crazy!

My new art will hang in our office and I am sure will inspire me to take time out to be crafty and creative again soon!

lots of links... who did I miss?

My Nightly Nerd-Time:

1. Check Facebook.

2. Check bank accounts, etc.

3. Check email accounts. Delete all junk email.

4. Check Facebook. 

5. Go to this blog. The photographer - whom I went to high school with - Go Bruins! -  is beyond talented, but I have to confess as much as I love seeing her amazing photography, I love peeking into her life, seeing her adorable little boys and her beautiful home. I loved, loved, loved this one and it almost made me regret the colorful Fiesta dishes I love so much. But not quite. 

6. Next, it's all about the Strannigan girls. First, I sneak a peek at this food blog by the eldest sister. And sometimes I go in age order, so this "mom blog" would be next and then her social activism blog that she writes with her husband (I love this one because it truly makes me want to try harder to be kinder and love all people and also write like a smart person.) I then head over to the youngest daughter's blog which all about Africa and missions and other fun things like her having a baby! She also adds her own art, which is so much fun. And of course, I must check out the Strannigan Mama's blog too... which is lovely for the stories which make you laugh and sometimes cry but always learn something new... 

7. I've usually already read these two blogs by evening time (because I subscribe to them and they come to my email on my phone!): new dress a day and penelope trunk. But if I missed them somehow, I catch up.

8. I randomly found this blog... well, not so random. Found it off the Pioneer Woman blog, but I can're remember how. Anyways, I love it. And she is so faithful in her posting blogs, that it really inspires me to do so too. She does this cool thing called "Fashion Friday" where she posts pics/links/and fun commentaries on fashion favs over the week... sometimes I wonder if its a wish list or if she really does have all these cool and wonderful sweaters and such. 

9. By now, I am on Facebook again. Maybe posting comments or liking things. Dave is also telling me it's time for bed. 

"Almost Done, babe!" I say.

10. It's now that I may hop over to my own, little place on the internets and share something about life. When I login to the typepad.com account, I usually see if this guy has posted anything new... and I love that he posts because I miss him so much! 

And I must be done by now. Facebook closed, email accounts closed.

Anyone I am missing? Feel free to share some link love to add to my nightly blog reading list.

P.S. I also like this photography blog - it belongs to a good friend of mine who is in love with being an aunt too!

P.P.S. Okay, I also love this blog, but its only updated (I think) on Tuesdays and Thursdays... so I try to check then. 

nacho night

Thanks to EVERYONE who prayed for my sweet husband tonight. I don't want to embarass him too much, but let's just say my morning started with being woken up at 4am, to poor, delirious Dave in the bathroom, the shower on, and throw up everywhere. He looked so sad. 

I told him to rest, best as he could. Other than being super sleepy all day, I think he's doing much better. And we didn't miss youth group tonight. C'mon, Dave will do youth group despite threats of dangerous snow storms, a little sicky-ickiness won't get him down!

So, I have to share what Dave had me prepare for the kiddos:

tortilla chips = totally normal

+

 
super large canned nacho cheese = a whole new experience for me.

I babied this crockpot for over an hour, waiting for it to warm up in cheesy goodness. I knew it wasn't healthy.  I didn't even want to look at the nutrition chart. Eating the salty corn chip dipped in warm nacho cheese reminded me of the guilt of adding extra butter to popcorn at the movies. Why? Why? Why?

And, of course, the kids barely scrapped the vastness of cheese this crockpot carried. Well, some tried willingly... but really... there was enough cheese for an army. So, we now have the cheese in our apartment. Somehow I have to convince myself it's poison so I don't munch on it.

On a similiar note, here are some pictures of the sundae's the kid concocted last Wednesday. One girl literally filled a bowl entirely with whip cream and cherries (you can see it in the back). Kids are weird.

 

Creamy Parmesan Risotto with Asparagus

Don't mistake the absence of foodie posts as a sign that I've stopped whipping up delicious new things in the kitchen! I've just been a bit busy balancing the other parts of my life that keep things exciting and filled.

And, I gotta admit... we've been enjoying visits to our favorite restaurants. California Pizza Kitchen. Typhoon. McMenamins. And New Seasons.

Here is our very yummy dinner last Wednesday: 

 

Dave enjoyed the roast beef sandwhich, and I enjoyed the fennel and green beans, flank steak and mediterrean orzo. I also realized at this visit to New Seasons, for the VERY FIRST TIME, why I loved eating so much there. It's not that each meal feels "healthier" or the happy community feeling, sitting and eating in the dining area offers. No, I realized they use Fiesta dishes! Really and truly. Love it!

The recipe I am posting today, is for a meal I prepared several days ago. Creamy Parmesan Risotto with Asparagus. Yes, the hubs was forced to eat a meal with no meat. Unless you count the chicken broth in the recipe. (He survived quite well, but still rated this meal a seven out of ten. Boo!)

This recipe was found in the Cuisinart Instruction and Recipe Booklet (pg.12)  for the Rice Cooker/Steamer we happily recieved as a wedding gift! I've been feeling the itch to try my hand at risotto for a long time (since my friend Ang prepared asparagus risotto for us at least two years ago!), but I've been intimidated by the process and how much patience the meal requires. Alas, with the cooker, time seems to melt away and the result in creamy rice goodness.

 

Creamy Parmesan Risotto with Asparagus

cooking spray
4 ounces Asparagus, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 teaspoon unsalted butter
1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
1/3 cup finely chopped shallot or onion (I used shallots)
1/3 cup chopped carrot
1 cup (use the one that comes with the Rice Cooker) Arborio rice (thank you Winco bulk food section for this purchase!)
1/3 cup dry white wine
3 cups water, chicken broth or vegetable stock (based on your preference and what you have in your pantry)
4 tablesppons heavy cream
1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper  (I used regular black pepper and it was just fine.)

The recipe begins with preparing the asparagus to be steamed in the rice cooker's steamer rack. Which I did try, but it didn't seem to cook the asparagus to my satisfaction... so I ended up sauteeing the asparagus with a little olive oil. It worked fine.

Place the butter and olive oil in the cooking bowl of the rice cooker, turn on and wait one minute.

Stir in the chopped shallots (or onions) and carrot and cover; cook one minute.

Add the rice; stir to coat completely. Cover and cook for two minutes.

Stir in the wine; cover. Cook two to three minutes, until the wine is completely absorbed.

Add the water or stock; stir. Cover and cook for 25 minutes, stirring two to three times. 

(This 25 minute time span is the perfect time to tidy up! As my dad taught me at a young age: "A good cook is a clean cook.")

After the 25 minutes, the instructions say to add the steamer rack of asparagus to the cooker and cover. I obviously did not do that, but you can try it!?

Wait until the rice cooker moves to from cook to warm in the settings, or cook for about 5 more minutes.

When rice cooker switches to warm, stir in the heavy cream, Parmesan, and white pepper. Replace the steamer rack to the cooker, and let stand on Warm for five to ten minutes.

Stir in the asparagus into the risotto. Stir hot, hot, hot and enjoy!

Good to know: this recipe is intended to serve: six people as a side dish, four as a first course, or two as an entree.)

Risotto: check!