Brett's Birthday

I had to share this most adorable surfboard birthday cake with everyone. Carla's family is the best when it comes to creative cakes. It was so fun to see everyone and watch Brett eat his cake. We love you Carla, Jon, Taryn & Brett!

Family fun comes in waves I think. What a busy month is was with a wedding, an early baby, another baby, a baptism, a birthday! We have lots to be grateful for!

What's in your Fridge?

(Not my fridge, but one Kara might enjoy!)


A good friend and I were contemplating life one day,....o.k. it happens all the time! She made the comment that how people keep order in their refrigerators say a lot about the way they keep order in their relationships. This could be either a comforting thought, or a scary one; depending on how long it has been since you have thrown out the left-overs is yours! I've thought a little bit about this lately, and discovered that there is a whole Refrigerator Rights movement going on out there. At what point does a friend become a close enough friend to help themselves to the contents of your fridge? See the book "Refrigerator Rights".

What I want you to do is have some fun, thinking for yourself if the two; how you keep your fridge and your relationships, have any correlation. To get started, figure out what is in your fridge.


http://blogthings.com/whatdothecontentsofyourrefrigeratorsayaboutyouquiz/

Then for fun: log onto YouTube and follow the feature video:
http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=what+your+refrigerator+says+about+you&ie=UTF-8&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&sa=X&oi=video_result_group&resnum=4&ct=title#

"Jumps in the mouth"

With a couple of days off of studying, I decided to finally make a recipe I have been dying to try for a long time. So, I picked up a package of thinly sliced Prosciutto, called some of my favorite people- and invited them over to have some. I was so pleased with how it turned out.

Chicken Saltimbocca (the best I've had is at Bucca di beppo)


The name means: 'Jumps in the mouth'. I guess that is supposed to imply that it leaps of the plate and onto the tongue. It is a classic italian recipe. You pound thin slices of prosciutto into chicken breasts, I used tenders; sprinkle with salt and sage, or rosemary and lightly dust in flour, cook them in some EVO, and it is ready for the sauce.... You can google the recipe that sounds best to you. I used a recipe from Epicurious that calls for a luscious lemony white sauce (I substituted some chicken broth for the white wine). and added some small capers. I thought it turned out great! My only regret was that I would have put some artichoke hearts in it, but I didn't have any. The best part of this meal is that is was a lot simpler than it tastes. I will definitely serve this one again!

We topped it off with Caprese Insalata, garlic bread sticks and Holly brought chocolate cake for desert. It was a fun detour from the traditional pot-roast Sunday!

Can't Get out of the Kitchen

Maybe this is why I don't know if I'm coming or going sometimes!

"There are three species of creatures who when they seem coming are going, when they seem going they come: diplomats, women, and crabs." John Hay, 19th century American diplomat

Or...maybe by walking sideways we actually have a little different perspective of the journey!

I just can't stay out of the kitchen; even on vacation.
Two years ago when we visited Newport Beach we came across a fishing operation. It has been in operation since 1891 and is the last co-op fishing operation of it's kind in the U.S. California actually bypassed the commercial fishing regulations to allow them to stay in operation. The fishermen go out in small fishing boats, stay out all night fishing and bring in their catch early in the morning. So this summer when we returned to Newport Beach we were at Doryman's early one morning at bought a couple of live crabs. It was fascinating! We discussed the best way to 'cook a crab' with one of the fisherman's wives and went back to our place to begin. We woke up the kids after we got back from our walk, I changed back into my Jammies and started this latest adventure in cooking!

Twirly Stairs and Traditions

Jennie's favorite spot when the whole family gathers is to sit backward on the 'twirly' stairs.
I am a romantic, and always wanted a spiral staircase in my home. . . well, I got it.. and it's in the kitchen. When I was a child we sat at the kids table, or when visiting Grandma Lund we ate at the bread board. Mom told me that her grandmother had a breadboard too, and that was where the children ate when there were too many at the dining table.
I am looking forward to the grandkids that will sit on our twirly stairs as the years go on. (or, hmmmm, why not reintroduce the typical breadboard back into the kitchen? Might as well as long as I am baking bread anyway!)

"...all on a sesame seed bun"

I was actually intimidated by the thought of making homemade buns! I was wrong! These were easy and sooo delicious. Here are some served up on a plate. Just slice and fill with favorite burger patty, or BBQ Chicken or Pork! These are a 6 oz. bun; I think for other occasions I will make 4 oz. buns and put them side by side on the baking pan. But for the 4th of July. . . these were incredible! The same recipe can also be formed into hot dog buns, or hoagie rolls.

Always in Style

Behind the counter; Jennie keeps in fashion while cooking!
What fun! Days like this are a great pat on the back for me as a mom. Good Job Jennie! I love you bigger than the whole Universe!

Chef Jennie

So when we ask our children to find something to do on a long summer day- Jennie found fun in the kitchen.
Finding fun recipes for kids in the kitchen is soo fun! Jen uses kid size kitchen tools to create small sandwich shapes out of whole wheat bread.
My kids have never been shy in the kitchen!
However, it also takes patience and flexibility to allow a Jr. Chef to experiment in the kitchen.
I really want my kids to appreciate how ingredients go together and the fabulous combinations they can come up with.
The little tools are by Emeril. Recipe; by Jennie.
An item on my list of things to do: teach kids cooking class.

"Pickled Tink"

"I am pickled tink" at my pickles!
My husband keeps us laughing with spoonerisms- he loves to switch the first letters of words on us. Really, I am tickled about these pickles!
Just for variety I put up dill slices for hamburgers, stacker's for sandwiches, and of course spears. I was tempted to try a hot pickle, so I added a couple of chilies from our salsa garden to the mix. I wasn't brave enough to try habaneros, or jalapenos so I just used one of the colorful red chilies from the yellow wax (medium heat) variety. I am so anxious to open them up and have a taste. You can't see clearly in the photo, but I used mixed peppercorns. They are red, white & black.

Don't Kiss Me I'm Busy!

One of my fondest memories as a child is of my mother in her apron that read "Don't Kiss me I'm busy" If I were lucky she'd let me wear it while helping her in the kitchen! It almost seemed an invitation to Dad as I remember him coming in wrapping both arms around her thin waist. I loved to squeeze myself between my parents as they would hug and kiss and command "Break it up! Break it up!, only to be caught up in their embrace creating a group hug. Now, I'm the Mom in the kitchen and I too, love kitchen kisses. I think my husband finds something attractive about domesticity. Hmmm...think I'll go start dinner.