Of An Evening

Winter break, and our New Orleans study is nearing it's end. We had a wonderful snow day today. A perfect day for wrapping up the loose ends of homeschooling (just some Latin left for tomorrow), and cleaning 3/4 of the 100 lbs of shrimp we bought yesterday.

This evening I had grace enough to take a few steps back clearly see how much fun, and how skilled Mary Catherine is. She put together a gourmet dinner for 13 people. Shrimp scampi, salad, and beignet's. Competent, intelligent, resourceful. It was one of those times when all the annoyances, big and small, melt away in the beauty of the young woman she is becoming.

Bar-Be-Que!

Anyone who enjoyes Sweet Georgia BBQ at our house last summer, Kurt is smoking meat this week for some special orders. If you would like 5 lbs or more of the best smoked BBQ north of the Mason Dixon Line give him a call. He is charging $10/lb (down from his usual $12) for the 5 lbs or more orders.

They are in the book under either Rauscher, or Rauscher and Sons Boatworks.
Yum Yum!!

Snippit of Life

I got the Moosewood cookbook in college. But I left it in the lowers common room kitchen. Then I got it when my oldest baby was about 2--that's be 12 years ago. I still love it so much, and many of the recipes are family favorites. More than favorites, they are sustainers and healers of life!

Take tonight.

Who knew that pregnancy at 37, with 5 home schooled kids would be such an exercise in sacrifice, and continually having to perform beyond what I thought was my limit?

Maybe a thoughtful person could have predicted that--but I'm not that thoughtful--I just love babies!!

Tonight I was laying on my bed--not hungry--not knowing what was for dinner--and not thinking I could move another muscle today. Some grace, some prayer ,some child noise, all worked together to get me up off the bed.

More grace and prayer and looking through the cupboards brought me to the Brazilian Blackbean Soup recipe from the Moosewood. OH JOY! The smell of onions, much garlic, cumin and carrots sauteing in my pot!! Soon I will add the beans and O.J. Thalia's biscuits will be warm and fluffy. Simple pleasures. Simple sacrifices.

I'm so thankful to God that I can smell! I don't know how I'd get through otherwise!!

Why I love my Roasting Pan

ON the crazy busy cold days of basketball season, nothing beats a roasting pan. Part of the reason I'm not a crock pot user is that the oven on all afternoon and evening will help the house stay warm even when the fire runs down.

My shiny roasting pan is pretty too--thanks Molly in Oregon. I inherited this after the GREAT ROAST PORK MASSACRE of 08. . .it involved a three year old, and an oven at 500 degrees for several hours. . .

But I got back on that horse, and am roasting away. Last week it was soup--what you do when you don't have a large chunk of meat, but only 2 chicken leg quarters.

Frozen Chicken
Fennel, carrots, rosemary, onion,tomato
White beans
4 Cups frozen chicken broth.
Put it in the roaster at 2:30, 300 degrees, and when you get home at 6:30, Voila!

Distracted

This is the ugly result when one does not pay attention. I was trying to dry the skillet and cool the bread. . .