As I am the More is More Mom, I am sure it will come as no surprise to you that I have been maintaining TWO BLOG PAGES! I haven't asked you to visit me at my other page, because I was hoping to invite you there once my fabulous new website is complete. Well, I'm getting there,but in the meantime I'm posting the same messages in two places, at the same time (of course I am, because you know my motto....More of Everything is Always Better). Well, today, I must admit defeat. I'm tired (mock horror...). It has taken me forever to post all of my great pictures for Cinco De Mayo. So instead, I am inviting you to please start visiting me at:
http://moreismoremom.com
Thank you so much for being so supportive. Please keep reading and pass the word along to all your friends (enemies are fine too) and family, so we can continue to...Create Meaningful Life Experiences, together.....
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Home Depot Makes Me Happy....Who Knew?
Oh, happiest of days! Yesterday, on the most perfect of days, Wrigley and I were coming home from a quick jaunt (which we never should have done….my knee is killing me!) when I heard Michael Jackson blaring from my fanny pack (I know, totally loser, but I need to carry; money, just in case, my I-Pod, my Blackberry, and plenty of plastic bags to pickup you-know-what, and I am telling you a 92lb Labrador does a lot of you-know-what.), Let’s Dance, Let’s Shout….Shake Your Body Down To The Ground (my ring tone, and answer tone, so everyone gets to hear the King of Pop. I so enjoy it, and am always really tempted to just let it ring and listen the music….). I could see right away that it was my very dear friend and neighbor (her doggie is Mr. Hobbs, Wrigley’s very best friend in the entire world! Wrigley would walk on hot coals to be with Mr. Hobbs. He loves Mrs. Hobbs too. One day Mrs. Hobbs called me to tell me to come outside and bring my camera…..apparently, while Mrs. Hobbs was loading up her SUV, Wrigley decided he would like to accompany Mrs. Hobbs on her journey, you know, so she wasn’t lonely, and was found sitting in the passenger seat ready to go Bye-Bye-In-The-Car. Thank God he hadn’t decided to curl up in the back seat and surprise her along the way. That would have been exciting!). Mrs. Hobbs is a More is More kind of gal as well, and she was calling to tell me that the Home Depot had amazing Boston Ferns for $7.98 each and they were going like hotcakes!
Never one to miss an awesome sale, I decided grocery shopping be damned! It was time to head to the Home Depot. After a quick shower, I was on my way. Thankfully I had asked Chuck to leave me our Yukon XL for the day because Amanda needed me to transport a gaggle of kids after school for a class project. Serendipity? Perhaps.
The flowers were beautiful! It took every once of control I could muster to take a thoughtful inventory, rather than load up my cart and purchase everything in sight. It’s just so inspiring….
Fun accent plants that are also air purifiers. I mean, those are totally promoting health so I did buy two of those, but otherwise, I swear I was really good.
Gorgeous orchids! Barclay Butera (amazing designer, FYI) always features these incredibly beautiful orchids in unbelievably generous pots on his coffee tables. My coffee table however features magazines, a collection of boxes and tortoise hurricanes, so I don’t have room for orchids. Besides, they would completely block the idiot box, and you know how much I adore the idiot box.
These tropical palms were down right luscious; makes me want to save a Rain Forest.
I am totally in love with orange, which is crazy because I am red and HOT pink girl. These Orange Stars are lovely….
This was cracking me up. Scott Turf Builder is the Official Lawn Care of the Chicago Cubs. Go Cubs Go (BTW…LOVE the idea of Big “Z”, Zambrano, in the Bullpen. He is the Man!!!!!)!
Alright, you got me. I did purchase one (only one!) patio planter. But come on, they were only $14.98 each! If I was really in to saving money, I would have bought more….
Marigolds…..
Gerber Daisies….
Impatiens……
But in the end, other than the two accent plants and the one patio planter, I only bought two beautiful Boston Ferns (well actually four, but two are for my mom and I promise I am going to give them to her).
Now I know exactly what I want to do for Mothers Day…..buy flowers!
Never one to miss an awesome sale, I decided grocery shopping be damned! It was time to head to the Home Depot. After a quick shower, I was on my way. Thankfully I had asked Chuck to leave me our Yukon XL for the day because Amanda needed me to transport a gaggle of kids after school for a class project. Serendipity? Perhaps.
The flowers were beautiful! It took every once of control I could muster to take a thoughtful inventory, rather than load up my cart and purchase everything in sight. It’s just so inspiring….
Fun accent plants that are also air purifiers. I mean, those are totally promoting health so I did buy two of those, but otherwise, I swear I was really good.
Gorgeous orchids! Barclay Butera (amazing designer, FYI) always features these incredibly beautiful orchids in unbelievably generous pots on his coffee tables. My coffee table however features magazines, a collection of boxes and tortoise hurricanes, so I don’t have room for orchids. Besides, they would completely block the idiot box, and you know how much I adore the idiot box.
These tropical palms were down right luscious; makes me want to save a Rain Forest.
I am totally in love with orange, which is crazy because I am red and HOT pink girl. These Orange Stars are lovely….
This was cracking me up. Scott Turf Builder is the Official Lawn Care of the Chicago Cubs. Go Cubs Go (BTW…LOVE the idea of Big “Z”, Zambrano, in the Bullpen. He is the Man!!!!!)!
Alright, you got me. I did purchase one (only one!) patio planter. But come on, they were only $14.98 each! If I was really in to saving money, I would have bought more….
Marigolds…..
Gerber Daisies….
Impatiens……
But in the end, other than the two accent plants and the one patio planter, I only bought two beautiful Boston Ferns (well actually four, but two are for my mom and I promise I am going to give them to her).
Now I know exactly what I want to do for Mothers Day…..buy flowers!
Monday, May 3, 2010
Old Mother Hubbard and I Have Nothing in Common....
Old Mother Hubbard and I have nothing in common. My cupboards are never bare! As the More is More Mom® I pride myself on being prepared. Little makes me happier than stocking up……on more of everything. One of my most favorite things to do is our grocery shopping. My penchant for food shopping must be a direct correlation to my fondness for cooking and eating. To me, the simple act of making a grocery list is highly satisfying, so I food shop several times a week. I imagine that those efficiency experts would frown upon the notion of making multiple trips to the grocery store each week, though I find it quite enjoyable………
Most Sundays I can be found pouring through my cookbooks and my collection of recipes that I clip from magazines and newspapers (I have a mostly super organized method for my collection. I am a bag lady at heart, forever inspired by everything I see. Stacks of pages and pages, torn out of magazines and newspapers, can be found stuffed inside of other magazines that are too inspirational to discard, and notebooks and folders, can be found tucked in to various nooks and crannies of my house. I clip recipes, gardening tips, pictures of beautiful rooms, vignettes and window treatments, groovy accessories, ideas for entertaining and trends in fashion; pretty much anything that catches my eye. I separate my clippings by theme and then store them by category in identical, portable hanging file boxes that I label for easy identification. Very simple.). My family certainly has their favorite meals, but I frequently tire of chicken, mashed potatoes and broccoli (Yawn). I yearn for a tasty challenge from time to time (as the More is More Mom® I am never afraid of new experiences. The number of ingredients in a recipe doesn’t scare me…...I have kids, and if that doesn’t scare you, nothing will!).
I take a quick gander at my color coded calendar for the weeks schedule of events (for example: Amanda’s gymnastics is in purple, Nick’s hockey is in red, Nick’s golf is in green, Our Lady of Perpetual Donations is in blue, and the Be All and End All Academy is in black. This way I know who has what at a glance.). This tells me who will be home for dinner and when. The next step in my evil plan to take over the world is to make a list of the upcoming days for which I will be making dinner. As a huge food snob, it kills me to eat out. For us it’s just a big fat waste of money. I have become a pretty darn good cook (I’ve come a long way in the past 20 years since my days of making crunchy lasagna), and eating out is hardly a thrill. We eat beautiful meals at home (nearly every day), and the wine is way cheaper (I can get a Santa Margherita Pino Grigio for as little as $15.10 a bottle. At a restaurant, we’re looking at a good $42.00 a bottle….Yikes! With the way we drink it, we’d never be able to afford to dine out anyway.).
Once I have my list of days for which I need meals for the week, I begin the selection process. The busyness of the week is the biggest determining factor. I know how much time I will have each day to prepare dinner and select my recipes accordingly, trying not to serve too many dishes with the same ingredients in one week. I also make an effort to try new recipes, even if they are just merely a new twist on an old classic. I also like to consider just how much I can prep in advance (last night for instance we were at Nick’s hockey game at super time. Chuck grilled the pork chops just before we left, and while my beautiful, creamy risotto cooked on the range I chopped up veggies for a salad to be served upon our safe return. Prep and organization is the key to success! The hot dishes are put in our warming drawer, one of the world’s greatest inventions, and I wrap the chopped veggies in paper towel to absorb the moisture so they don’t get all soggy and gross, which would be yucky.).
Having my meals scheduled for the week, it’s time to make my grocery list. Because I am so familiar with the markets that I frequent I am able to organize my list in accordance with the layout of the store. That’s not to say that I’m still not criss-crossing the aisles from time to time, but it is a far more efficient system. Here’s one of my little helpful tips: in the meat section of my grocery list I note the date on which I intend to serve that meal. Then, as I am making those selections, I can check the sell by dates and adjust my meal plan accordingly. No one wants to get Mad Cow Disease!
I frequent many fine purveyors; heading to Ultra Foods for all of my stock up items. Gotta love their Ultra Saver Prices! Dominick’s is my favorite market because they have a very nice Starbucks. I typically pick up small items that I need throughout the week, any prescriptions we may need refilled and peruse the wine department. As I am the More is More Mom®, you can only imagine how I salivate on an outing to Cost Co. They only sell in bulk!! We are a match made in Heaven. There I pick up your household basics, TP, Bounty paper towels (my favorite), Zip Loc Baggies (by the thousands!), snacks for Wrigley, eggs, butter, huge containers of Parmigianino Reggiano Cheese, Feta Cheese and garlic, and of course meat. Keeping my freezer well stocked makes it easy to make a meal in a flash!
Having an inventory of staples makes it possible for me to whip up a great meal in no time. My pantry is full from top to bottom and side to side with; baking supplies and mixes, pastas and sauces, rice’s, jars and jars of condiments, vinegars, oils, marinades, chicken broth, bread crumbs, cereals, crackers, party mixes, nuts and such.
Keeping my spices, rubs, salts, peppers and other cooking essentials organized is one of the key ingredients in my kitchen running like a well oiled machine.
If Old Mother Hubbard hung out with me, her cupboards would never be bare!
Most Sundays I can be found pouring through my cookbooks and my collection of recipes that I clip from magazines and newspapers (I have a mostly super organized method for my collection. I am a bag lady at heart, forever inspired by everything I see. Stacks of pages and pages, torn out of magazines and newspapers, can be found stuffed inside of other magazines that are too inspirational to discard, and notebooks and folders, can be found tucked in to various nooks and crannies of my house. I clip recipes, gardening tips, pictures of beautiful rooms, vignettes and window treatments, groovy accessories, ideas for entertaining and trends in fashion; pretty much anything that catches my eye. I separate my clippings by theme and then store them by category in identical, portable hanging file boxes that I label for easy identification. Very simple.). My family certainly has their favorite meals, but I frequently tire of chicken, mashed potatoes and broccoli (Yawn). I yearn for a tasty challenge from time to time (as the More is More Mom® I am never afraid of new experiences. The number of ingredients in a recipe doesn’t scare me…...I have kids, and if that doesn’t scare you, nothing will!).
I take a quick gander at my color coded calendar for the weeks schedule of events (for example: Amanda’s gymnastics is in purple, Nick’s hockey is in red, Nick’s golf is in green, Our Lady of Perpetual Donations is in blue, and the Be All and End All Academy is in black. This way I know who has what at a glance.). This tells me who will be home for dinner and when. The next step in my evil plan to take over the world is to make a list of the upcoming days for which I will be making dinner. As a huge food snob, it kills me to eat out. For us it’s just a big fat waste of money. I have become a pretty darn good cook (I’ve come a long way in the past 20 years since my days of making crunchy lasagna), and eating out is hardly a thrill. We eat beautiful meals at home (nearly every day), and the wine is way cheaper (I can get a Santa Margherita Pino Grigio for as little as $15.10 a bottle. At a restaurant, we’re looking at a good $42.00 a bottle….Yikes! With the way we drink it, we’d never be able to afford to dine out anyway.).
Once I have my list of days for which I need meals for the week, I begin the selection process. The busyness of the week is the biggest determining factor. I know how much time I will have each day to prepare dinner and select my recipes accordingly, trying not to serve too many dishes with the same ingredients in one week. I also make an effort to try new recipes, even if they are just merely a new twist on an old classic. I also like to consider just how much I can prep in advance (last night for instance we were at Nick’s hockey game at super time. Chuck grilled the pork chops just before we left, and while my beautiful, creamy risotto cooked on the range I chopped up veggies for a salad to be served upon our safe return. Prep and organization is the key to success! The hot dishes are put in our warming drawer, one of the world’s greatest inventions, and I wrap the chopped veggies in paper towel to absorb the moisture so they don’t get all soggy and gross, which would be yucky.).
Having my meals scheduled for the week, it’s time to make my grocery list. Because I am so familiar with the markets that I frequent I am able to organize my list in accordance with the layout of the store. That’s not to say that I’m still not criss-crossing the aisles from time to time, but it is a far more efficient system. Here’s one of my little helpful tips: in the meat section of my grocery list I note the date on which I intend to serve that meal. Then, as I am making those selections, I can check the sell by dates and adjust my meal plan accordingly. No one wants to get Mad Cow Disease!
I frequent many fine purveyors; heading to Ultra Foods for all of my stock up items. Gotta love their Ultra Saver Prices! Dominick’s is my favorite market because they have a very nice Starbucks. I typically pick up small items that I need throughout the week, any prescriptions we may need refilled and peruse the wine department. As I am the More is More Mom®, you can only imagine how I salivate on an outing to Cost Co. They only sell in bulk!! We are a match made in Heaven. There I pick up your household basics, TP, Bounty paper towels (my favorite), Zip Loc Baggies (by the thousands!), snacks for Wrigley, eggs, butter, huge containers of Parmigianino Reggiano Cheese, Feta Cheese and garlic, and of course meat. Keeping my freezer well stocked makes it easy to make a meal in a flash!
Having an inventory of staples makes it possible for me to whip up a great meal in no time. My pantry is full from top to bottom and side to side with; baking supplies and mixes, pastas and sauces, rice’s, jars and jars of condiments, vinegars, oils, marinades, chicken broth, bread crumbs, cereals, crackers, party mixes, nuts and such.
If Old Mother Hubbard hung out with me, her cupboards would never be bare!
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
The Thinker....Intellectual Curiosity is Highly Overrated
Suddenly, I had a flash of genius (otherwise know as a Lucy Ricardo moment)! I could keep up with him by reading the same fine works of literature that were assigned to him in his English class (these are of course assignments I myself would have missed in High School while I was hanging out at the Mc Donald’s across the street. Oddly enough, Ronald Mc Donald did not distribute a syllabus at the beginning of the semester, and likely the only thing to read, other than the menu, would have been the calorie count for each item lovingly fried in their kitchen. I know that must have been frightening, which would surely have been the reason that I didn’t read that either.). I was very proud of myself for being so noble, and inquired, “What are you reading now?” Unfortunately Nick responded with, “Macbeth.” Macbeth? Really? The Bard? The only thing I know of Shakespeare is Jack Benny asking, “To be? Or not to be? That is the question.” That’s not the question. The question is: what the Hell does that mean?
I guess I thought he’d be reading something cool like To Kill a Mockingbird or Catcher in the Rye. Saddened by my rotten luck, I asked Chuck to stop at Border’s on his way home from work and pick up a copy of Macbeth. I was determined to struggle through. My mom suggested, since I wouldn’t be tested on it, why didn’t I just get the Cliff Notes (I’m showing my age, because the youngsters today go directly to Spark Notes on line…..), you know, in order to get the flavor of the story (she never suggested that when I had to read a book!)? This was just the kind of idea that I could run with.
Well, then I looked at the Cliff Notes, and they looked super boring, so then I thought about renting the movie. But, who had time to watch or read boring Shakespeare? I zipity zipped over for a quick TJ Maxx and More fix instead. You know, intellectual curiosity is highly overrated. I have come to the conclusion that Nick and I have a lot in common. We love the Cubs, our baby Wrigley, silly movies and 30 Rock marathons. We’ll have plenty to talk about because love and laughter (and Vince Vaughn) are a universal language…..
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
If One is Good....Two Must be Better
I am a More is More kind of gal, so you can only imagine how much I love jewelry! I have an awesome collection, if I don’t say so myself. I am partial to all kinds of baubles, particularly in quantity……..
Of course I am enamored with fine jewelry (Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend), but I am also a total sucker for fabulous costume finds! My favorite go to purveyors are J Crew, Banana Republic and the Kate Spade Outlet Store, but I am an equal opportunity horder. In fact, about this time three years ago I was invited to an in home jewelry party (not the Silpada kind that is so popular. Actually my neighbor is a Silpada “Dealer”, gems being her drug of choice. Years ago I hosted an in home party for her and so many gals came, imbibed and shopped that I received almost $900.00 in complimentary product. If is sparkles…they will come.) featuring knock off Tiffany pieces. Being the thoughtful and considerate guest that I am, I made a little purchase. I had been eyeing a Butterfly Necklace in the real Tiffany catalog, and when I saw the knock off I thought, “Why not?” Well, I’ll tell you why not……because Chuck was mad as a hornet (!); certainly not because I bought something, but because he wanted to surprise me and had already purchased the real Tiffany Butterfly Necklace for me for Mother’s Day. I loved it, cherished it, and wore it all the time.
Last year for Mother’s Day I was lucky enough to have a beautiful Roberto Coin necklace bestowed upon me. How ever did they know? (Oh yeah…..it was the picture of the necklace that I ripped from the catalog, with a rewards coupon, that I left on Chuck’s desk that might have been the tip off). Well now I was in quite a quandary. Which necklace should I wear? I loved them both. As the More is More Mom® the answer was crystal clear…….Wear them both! If one is good, clearly “MORE” must be better!!
Monday, April 26, 2010
Not Quite 27 Dresses.....But Almost
(This is a re-enactment of Amanda repeatedly locking herself out of the fitting room. She is a gal on a mission, and has little time to waste waiting for the nearly non-existent sales girl to return with a key. She’s in 8th grade; we don’t have time to wait until prom.)
As I am the More is More Mom® it should come as no surprise that my daughter would “need”…….. more dresses! Amanda is graduating from the 8th grade at Our Lady of Perpetual Donations Grammar School. One might think that it is kind of a given that our children graduate from 8th grade (though they would certainly have surpassed famed scholar Jethro Bodine), and question the reason for such jubilation, but you have to understand the situation to appreciate all of the pomp and circumstance.
Our Lady of Perpetual Donations is a wonderful and magical place. It is a tiny bubble, with in the bubble of Winsome, IL…..where winning is a way of life. Amanda, following in her brother Nicholas’s footsteps, began her academic pursuits as a student in the Three Year Old Pre-School class at Our Lady of Perpetual Donations eleven years ago. She was so cute! The Pre-Schooler’s are not required to wear a uniform to school, but because Amanda had been chasing after Nick and the “big kids” for the previous 2 years, she was determined to be excluded no longer! She wore an authentic, hand-me-down, blue plaid jumper, with her favorite denim button down shirt, argyle tights and gold sparkle shoes. She was smashing!
There are 67 students graduating in Amanda’s class, most of whom have known each other since the age of three. The class is small, the experience intimate. They will go to one of 8 different High Schools, so the end of their 8th grade year really is the end of an era. The festivities that lead up to graduation are a celebration of their year’s together and becoming young adults.
And how does one celebrate such milestones? With excessive, fabulous attire and accessories of course! We were in “need” of dresses for; Confirmation, May Crowning, the Formal Eighth Grade Dance and Graduation Day (Heaven forbid a dress be worn twice!). We kicked off Dress Shopping Extravaganza 2010 with two of Amanda’s closest friends CC (see Fourteen and Fearless, January 2010) and Rosebud, for a Mother/Daughter Day of perusing and lunching (read: no cocktailing, as it was the middle of the afternoon, and we had to drive. Responsible Mother’s of the Year.); so many dresses, so many absolutely and completely inappropriate choices! Good people of the fashion industry please take note: most mothers don’t want their daughters dressing like Hoochie Mama’s (and their father’s like it even less). Watch the cleavage and watch the hemlines!
The prevailing number of outrageously inappropriate offerings necessitated numerous excursions to The Mall (my happy place). We shopped with friends, we shopped alone, and we had a wonderful day with my mom and Auntie Terri. Of course once we found the dresses we were on a mad search for shoes. Amanda is a gem of a girl who is true to herself (I LOVE THAT!). She flat out refused to consider a shoe with even the slightest heel (really, have you ever seen the little girls playing dress up, teetering around in shoes that would make a street walker cringe? Ridiculous.), and we found three fantastic pairs of shoes that suit her, and her charming dresses, to a “T”.
The Confirmation Dress, from Von Maur (Please note the poppy sweater, Old Navy, Spring Collection, 2009):
We loved these linen look ballet flats with the satin rose embellishment (also from Von Maur, by Blowfish, Malibu. They were only $40.00!). They are also perfect with Amanda’s selection for Graduation as well.
The Graduation Dress, from Nordstrom’s:
May Crowning, from J Crew (they have the best t-shirts, sweaters, costume jewelry and flip-flops EVER):
Look at these little hot pink creations by B.P. for Nordstrom’s. I can’t get enough of the pink and white gingham check!
For her 8th Grade Formal Dance (which just so happens to be on the same night as Amanda’s Gymnastics Team Banquet. You know we love more of everything, including complicated matters….), another offering from Von Maur:
Lastly, the piece de résistance, a beautiful pair of glistening, buttery yellow, snake skin sandals with amazing ruffle detail (if only they were a half size bigger!), by Kelsi Dagger, also from the fabulous shoe salon at Nordstrom’s:
While the dresses are lovely, and the shoes perfectly appropriate, the very best part was the time I got to spend with my gal. Creating meaningful experiences is what it’s all about…….
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Champs Like Us....Baby We Were Born To Run.......
You would never look at me and say, “Oh yes, she’s definitely a runner.” The words that would come to mind run more along the lines of moth-er, shop-er, merry mak-er, cocktail-er…..all the other “er’s.” But, the fact of the matter is, I love to run. More than loving to run, I love to run with my Wrigley. We are not fair weather runners either, we’re hardcore. Everyone likes to be outside when it’s nice, but we’re not like everyone else. If it’s raining, I wear a slicker. Heaven knows I’m not sweet enough to melt. And Wrigley, well, he’s a water dog, so he dries pretty easily. Winter’s no problem. I bundle up and wear one of those face masks that make me look like an armed robber, but really after about a mile I’m so hot the hat comes off, then I have to unzip my coat, and finally I take off my mittens. As for the Wiggler, he’s a Labrador. He’s a man’s man. He could go on forever in the cold.
I do my best thinking while on our runs. When else would I possibly have the time to conceive all of my hair brained schemes? There is just nothing like being outside, listening to your music and being with one of your favorite people of Earth. I’m not kidding, as we jog along Wrigley glances back at me, over his shoulder, and smiles.
This past year has been kind of a stinker for us. I am a big loser and tore my meniscus. I was out for five months, which meant that poor Wrigley was out for five months too. While I was able to bike and go to the health club, my little pup was bored out of his mind. Wrigley is a serious athlete. Going for a walk around the block was boring, and going to the park for us to throw a tennis ball for him was a rather pathetic substitution. I begged Nick to take him for a run, and he obliged me on a few occasions, though he always returned in a huff telling me that I trained him to run too slow. Hello…that’s how we run. I said we loved it, I didn’t say we were any good it.
As the More is More Mom® I have little time for rules and a reasonable course of action, so I released myself from inactive duty. The day we got back in the saddle was one of Wrigley’s happiest days. He panted, and slobbered and grinned from ear to ear. Fast forward to January 19th of this year; my baby and I were on a quick jaunt and I felt a twinge of pain in my right knee. RATS! Having previously been to the doctor for a knee injury, I felt fairly confident about making a diagnosis (never mind that I’ve not been to medical school. I watched General Hospital for years, especially in it’s hey day with Dr. Noah Drake.).
Another three month break from running seemed completely sufficient. Anyway, Wrigley was bored to tears and I just couldn’t take it anymore. Thursday I was on a mad search for the knee brace we paid $75.00 for when Nick was complaining of knee pain two years ago. For $75.00 it should be practically bionic. I slid it on, tightening the Velcro to the point of nearly cutting off my circulation, tied my shoes, put on my head phones, cranked the tunes and took my baby for a spin. What a day; the sun was shining, the breeze was warm, I wasn’t limping and Wrigley was smiling……….
I do my best thinking while on our runs. When else would I possibly have the time to conceive all of my hair brained schemes? There is just nothing like being outside, listening to your music and being with one of your favorite people of Earth. I’m not kidding, as we jog along Wrigley glances back at me, over his shoulder, and smiles.
This past year has been kind of a stinker for us. I am a big loser and tore my meniscus. I was out for five months, which meant that poor Wrigley was out for five months too. While I was able to bike and go to the health club, my little pup was bored out of his mind. Wrigley is a serious athlete. Going for a walk around the block was boring, and going to the park for us to throw a tennis ball for him was a rather pathetic substitution. I begged Nick to take him for a run, and he obliged me on a few occasions, though he always returned in a huff telling me that I trained him to run too slow. Hello…that’s how we run. I said we loved it, I didn’t say we were any good it.
As the More is More Mom® I have little time for rules and a reasonable course of action, so I released myself from inactive duty. The day we got back in the saddle was one of Wrigley’s happiest days. He panted, and slobbered and grinned from ear to ear. Fast forward to January 19th of this year; my baby and I were on a quick jaunt and I felt a twinge of pain in my right knee. RATS! Having previously been to the doctor for a knee injury, I felt fairly confident about making a diagnosis (never mind that I’ve not been to medical school. I watched General Hospital for years, especially in it’s hey day with Dr. Noah Drake.).
Another three month break from running seemed completely sufficient. Anyway, Wrigley was bored to tears and I just couldn’t take it anymore. Thursday I was on a mad search for the knee brace we paid $75.00 for when Nick was complaining of knee pain two years ago. For $75.00 it should be practically bionic. I slid it on, tightening the Velcro to the point of nearly cutting off my circulation, tied my shoes, put on my head phones, cranked the tunes and took my baby for a spin. What a day; the sun was shining, the breeze was warm, I wasn’t limping and Wrigley was smiling……….
Friday, April 23, 2010
Catch Up......With Cupcakes!
Why are the days so fraught with obligations and commitments? It’s absolutely exhausting. The frenetic pace of a busy family is akin to a tornado whipping through our homes, leaving destruction and ruin in our wake; the piles of paperwork and projects, discarded clothes and shoes, the yard work, the housework. Absolute madness I tell you. Today I was thrilled to have a “Catch Up” day, where I just got to be a mom.
I know it doesn’t sound relaxing, or exciting, but to me there is little as thrilling as trying, in some small way, to get my life in order. I relish that feeling of accomplishment when I check something off my list. It makes me feel like I’m making progress somewhere. Let’s see, after I went to the health club this morning, and worked my facial muscles (mostly around my mouth) more than anything else, I came home to sort through the miles of piles of papers that have begun to over take my kitchen counter. I folded laundry, brought those items to the appropriate bedrooms, started more laundry, washed the mudroom floor (it gets filthy. I don’t know what’s worse; that which Wrigley tracks in, or that of the children…..like Nick wearing his dirty golf shoes, with grass caught in the spikes, in to the house? Hmmmm, I think man’s best friend might not be the biggest factor. That’s why he’s man’s best friend.).
Having the luxury of time today, I looked in my pantry to find that I was in possession of Dunkin Hines chocolate cake mix. What screams “great mom” better than a freshly backed after school treat (which was made practically from scratch)? I whipped up the mix in a matter of seconds and made 28 cupcakes (I might have made more, but I was too busy licking the bowl…..breakfast of champions!). I do always like to be prepared for any potential event, or social situation, so I am usually pretty well stocked; cupcake liners, mixes, frosting and sprinkles for instance. I frosted my cupcakes (and was brave enough not to lick the spatula afterward) and embellished them with colorful pastel sprinkles.
Sadly, because I had made so many, I didn’t have enough room for all of the treats on my pedestal cake plate. As the More is More Mom® you can imagine that I am rather well equipped to manage most household matters with relative ease. So, I zipped down to the basement and pulled out two of my portable treat carriers. These are awesome. I got them about 100 years ago at Wal-Mart for $2.98 each (I have four…and you must be totally shocked that they do not hail from the land of Target), and they are perfect for transporting cupcakes. They have a handle and a lid and they stack very nicely. I filled up two and stored them in my extra refrigerator in the mudroom.
Well, as I was finishing washing the dishes (I do have a dishwasher, a lovely one as a matter of fact, but I love doing dishes….and ironing. Is that weird?) Amanda called and asked if she and her group of classmates could come to our house to work on their school project. Perfect! Now I knew what I was going to do with all of those cupcakes!
I know it doesn’t sound relaxing, or exciting, but to me there is little as thrilling as trying, in some small way, to get my life in order. I relish that feeling of accomplishment when I check something off my list. It makes me feel like I’m making progress somewhere. Let’s see, after I went to the health club this morning, and worked my facial muscles (mostly around my mouth) more than anything else, I came home to sort through the miles of piles of papers that have begun to over take my kitchen counter. I folded laundry, brought those items to the appropriate bedrooms, started more laundry, washed the mudroom floor (it gets filthy. I don’t know what’s worse; that which Wrigley tracks in, or that of the children…..like Nick wearing his dirty golf shoes, with grass caught in the spikes, in to the house? Hmmmm, I think man’s best friend might not be the biggest factor. That’s why he’s man’s best friend.).
Having the luxury of time today, I looked in my pantry to find that I was in possession of Dunkin Hines chocolate cake mix. What screams “great mom” better than a freshly backed after school treat (which was made practically from scratch)? I whipped up the mix in a matter of seconds and made 28 cupcakes (I might have made more, but I was too busy licking the bowl…..breakfast of champions!). I do always like to be prepared for any potential event, or social situation, so I am usually pretty well stocked; cupcake liners, mixes, frosting and sprinkles for instance. I frosted my cupcakes (and was brave enough not to lick the spatula afterward) and embellished them with colorful pastel sprinkles.
Sadly, because I had made so many, I didn’t have enough room for all of the treats on my pedestal cake plate. As the More is More Mom® you can imagine that I am rather well equipped to manage most household matters with relative ease. So, I zipped down to the basement and pulled out two of my portable treat carriers. These are awesome. I got them about 100 years ago at Wal-Mart for $2.98 each (I have four…and you must be totally shocked that they do not hail from the land of Target), and they are perfect for transporting cupcakes. They have a handle and a lid and they stack very nicely. I filled up two and stored them in my extra refrigerator in the mudroom.
Well, as I was finishing washing the dishes (I do have a dishwasher, a lovely one as a matter of fact, but I love doing dishes….and ironing. Is that weird?) Amanda called and asked if she and her group of classmates could come to our house to work on their school project. Perfect! Now I knew what I was going to do with all of those cupcakes!
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Why Go To The Pharmacy When There's An InstyMed Machine?
As the More is More Mom® my days are over run with more unmade bed making, breakfast preparing, lunch packing, laundry sorting, floor sweeping, dish doing, grocery shopping, kid schlepping, dog walking, dinner cooking, homework policing, clean-up nagging, wine drinking and go to bed begging……illness denying. I can’t afford to be sick. Mother’s of America…... I know you, you know, what I mean.
On a Saturday morning, six weeks ago, I finally broke down and went to Urgent Care for goopy head stuff that had become unbearable. The nice doctor did the nice thing and juiced me up with meds and told me to go home and get some rest. I said I would right after I went to my son’s hockey game, to which she replied, “A cold ice rink is the perfect treatment for an upper respiratory infection!” In agreement (wink, wink), I was off.
Over the next several weeks, I’ve gotten only marginally better. Because I am the mom, I self diagnosed and determined that the remedy was a course of Claritin D, Sudafed PE and a wine chaser. Today I could take it no longer. For weeks I have had ears popping, post nasal drip, dripping, and now my throat…..excruciating; I pulled in the driveway, dropped off Amanda, picked up my book (Jodi Picoult’s Handle With Care, so far so good), you know I’m a multi- tasker, and zipped over to Urgent Care.
This is the best place ever. No line. Nice staff, nice nurse, nice doctor……and a very nice InstyMeds machine. No need to drive to the pharmacy, no need to wait 40 minutes for your prescription, no need to buy magazines and sundries you don’t need. The InstyMeds machine is one of the best inventions of the 21st century, just behind the I-POD (my most prized possession). It’s just so Jetson’s. The machine asks that you confirm your birth date, punch in your prescription number and insert your method of payment, and within three minutes……your medicine! All that’s left is to head home, take the first dose, follow up with a wine chaser and watch a little American Idol and re-runs of Modern Family!
On a Saturday morning, six weeks ago, I finally broke down and went to Urgent Care for goopy head stuff that had become unbearable. The nice doctor did the nice thing and juiced me up with meds and told me to go home and get some rest. I said I would right after I went to my son’s hockey game, to which she replied, “A cold ice rink is the perfect treatment for an upper respiratory infection!” In agreement (wink, wink), I was off.
Over the next several weeks, I’ve gotten only marginally better. Because I am the mom, I self diagnosed and determined that the remedy was a course of Claritin D, Sudafed PE and a wine chaser. Today I could take it no longer. For weeks I have had ears popping, post nasal drip, dripping, and now my throat…..excruciating; I pulled in the driveway, dropped off Amanda, picked up my book (Jodi Picoult’s Handle With Care, so far so good), you know I’m a multi- tasker, and zipped over to Urgent Care.
This is the best place ever. No line. Nice staff, nice nurse, nice doctor……and a very nice InstyMeds machine. No need to drive to the pharmacy, no need to wait 40 minutes for your prescription, no need to buy magazines and sundries you don’t need. The InstyMeds machine is one of the best inventions of the 21st century, just behind the I-POD (my most prized possession). It’s just so Jetson’s. The machine asks that you confirm your birth date, punch in your prescription number and insert your method of payment, and within three minutes……your medicine! All that’s left is to head home, take the first dose, follow up with a wine chaser and watch a little American Idol and re-runs of Modern Family!
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Why Set a Spring Table....Unless You Serve a Beautiful Meal.....RECIPES!!
There are so many elements that go in to being a lovely and gracious hostess. One, of course, is the style in which your home greets your guests. The only thing a guest hopes to experience is a warm and welcoming feeling. As the More is More Mom®, I am crazy for over the top, but that’s my interpretation. Simple and straight forward is beautiful too. The only true requirement is that as a host your efforts are genuine.
One way for your guests to feel comfortable is for you, as their hostess, to be relaxed and ready to enjoy their company. If you have a pulse, the only way to be relaxed is to be prepared. I am a complicated kind of gal, and I like to make everything as difficult as humanly possible, but the only way to achieve that sort of near perfection, and pull it off with ease, is to streamline your efforts on the day of your event. You need to do as much in advance as possible.
I get heart palpitations when I entertain because I want everything to be perfect! I get totally stressed if I am racing around at the last minute shopping, chopping, cooking or cleaning. I like to be so prepared that the day of my event is spent nearly in leisure, addressing the last minute details at the very last minute; putting ice in the water glasses, turning on the music and lighting the candles. Organization and preparation is the only option!
Take for instance Amanda’s Confirmation this past week. We were on a super time crunch. Our family came at 4:30PM, we ate at 5:00PM (when Amanda got home from gym….a little extra preparation for her Regional Gymnastics Meet), Amanda and her sponsor (my cousin Terri, who is the go to gal in our family. She is my brothers Godmother, my Confirmation Sponsor, my Matron of Honor, Amanda’s Godmother and now Amanda’s Confirmation Sponsor. It’s a wonder that she doesn’t tire of us) needed to scoot out the door by 5:45PM (don’t be late for God). That gave the rest of us a window of thirty minutes to get the kitchen squared away (lest there be a feast left out for Wrigley. He would be the world’s happiest dog, but what a mess that would be!). Time constraints should certainly play a role in your menu selection.
I decided to prepare some of our personal family favorites. I made Roasted Chicken with Pancetta and Olives, Twice Baked Potatoes and Green Beans with Balsamic-Shallot Butter. If that doesn’t make you hungry, I have no idea what will.
Roast Chicken with Pancetta and Olives:
(I can’t remember if this recipe is from Gourmet or Bon Appetit, but there is a note that mentions that the contributor frequently prepares this dish for his family with rabbit. Ewwwww. Clearly I am not a connoisseur, but that sounds rather disgusting. I like my rabbit in the form of the Easter Bunny, or Bugs Bunny, or even the Energizer Bunny, but never on a dinner platter.)
2 chickens (about 3 ½ lbs each) backbones cut out and each chicken cut into 12 pieces
I, however, don’t love all of the various chicken parts, and cutting up a chicken sounds gross (Julia Child, please forgive my savage ways), so I figure that 7 lbs of chicken breasts and drumsticks are a perfect substitute. I find that is typically 3-4 breasts and 5-6 drumsticks, that way everyone in my house is happy.
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil (I’m more of an eye-baller, so I combine the other ingredients first, then I add what looks like a good amount to cover all of the chicken)
1-2 Tbsp chopped thyme (I prefer fresh)
1 -2 Tbsp chopped rosemary (the rosemary that they carry at my local markets comes in a plastic container. I typically will use a whole container for every 7 lbs of chicken, which is more than 1-2 Tbsp. Rosemary is so fresh and lovely and tasty.)
1 Tbsp fine sea salt (I’m a salt-aholic and this is plenty, especially once you add the olives)
½ - 1 tsp hot red pepper flakes (or a little more….some like it hot!)
10 garlic cloves, peeled (I’m telling you that the huge container from Cost Co is awesome. You just grab a huge heaping handful and toss it in.)
2 (1/4 inch thick) slices pancetta, cut in to 1” pieces (they have got to be completely kidding. The pancetta part is one of the very many best parts. I put at least three whole slices of pancetta on each breast, and then one for sure per drumstick, and what ever is left over I just toss on top. I mean really now, who can bear to have only a teensy weensy taste of bacon? That would be quite a teaser, and besides, who doesn’t like to dine on swine?)
1 cup dry white wine (Now who’s kidding who? Everything NEEDS MORE WINE. And anyway, the chicken stays really moist as it roasts in the shallow wine bath. Sounds like Heaven!)
24 oil-cured black olives (24? Really? Do they think we are just going to count out 24 olives? No way. Drain a jar of pitted Kalamata Olives and toss ‘em on top.)
Preheat oven to 450 degrees, with the rack in the middle.
In a bowl combine the oil, thyme, rosemary, sea salt, red pepper flakes and for good measure some pepper. You know I always love the cracked black pepper. Mix well.
Place your chicken, skin side up in a pan. Please note this entertaining helpful hint: My preference is to never serve a guest out of a disposable anything, however, chicken can be a juicy mess, and for the sake of a quick clean up prior to flying out the door, I used two disposable roasting pans. It was perfect. After we ate, I tossed the pans in to a garbage bag and took them out to the trash and……voila a quick, clean kitchen!
Once your chicken is in the pan, pour your oil mixture generously all over the chicken.
I then place the slices of pancetta over the tops of the chicken.
Scatter the garlic cloves on top, all over. Be generous.
Roast chicken for about 20 minutes until it begins to brown.
Drizzle wine all over the chicken, and roast for another 8-10 minutes.
Scatter olives over chicken, and roast for an additional 15-20 minutes. Let stand for 10 minutes. This chicken is mouth watering goodness!
Twice Baked Potatoes:
If once is good, twice must be better!
Butter (1 ½ - 2 sticks, room temperature)
Cream Cheese (1 brick, room temperature)
Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Scallions or Chives, chopped
We were 11 people for dinner, so I started out with 8 baking potatoes (figuring that once cut in half that would be 16 potatoes, and then there are always a few casualties in the scooping process, so I really ended up with 14 halves. We like leftovers, so I wanted a few extra. That was a perfect amount.)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large mixing bowl place the butter and the cream cheese.
Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil.
Cut additional pieces of foil to wrap the potatoes in for baking (enough sheets for each potato).
Scrub your potatoes. With a fork, poke several holes in the potato.
Pour oil in a small bowl. Brush oil on to each potato and then wrap each potato in a piece of foil. When all of the potatoes are wrapped and ready, place them on the cookie sheet, and put them in the oven. Here’s the thing, I like a really creamy potato, so I think that it helps to use very soft potatoes. I cook them until they are pretty mushy, for at least 1 ½ hours, maybe even a little longer.
After the baked potatoes have cooled, I cut them in half, and remove the centers. I find it works well to score each potato. Using a knife I cut all the way around the potato, using the edge as a guide, I leave a border of about ¼ of an inch. You want to leave a wall thick enough to maintain its shape. After I cut an oval shape around the perimeter, I then make a slice down the center, and another one across leaving four quarters cut. A teaspoon is the perfect size to remove the pulp without compromising the structure of the potato. This makes it much simpler, less messy, and more likely to leave the base of the potato in tact.
One by one, I scoop out all of the pulp and put it in to the bowl with the softened butter and cream cheese. With a hand mixer I start to whip the potatoes, adding splashes of milk until it achieves a beautiful, creamy consistency. Once you are completely satisfied, add a generous amount of shredded cheddar, and mix well. I realized that I had forgotten to pick up scallions or chives once I got to this point, but if I had them, I would have mixed them in now. Scoop the potato mixture back in to potato boats. After the fact I scattered chopped chives over the top of the twice baked potatoes, which worked out just as well.
I prepared the potatoes a day in advance, placing them on a foil lined baking sheet. I simply covered them tightly with foil and put them in the fridge until the following day. If I am preparing a number of dishes in advance, I will take a handy dandy Sharpie, and directly on the foil, I will record what temperature the dish requires, the duration it needs to cook and the time of day I need to put it in the oven. Simple and streamlined! After about 30 minutes in the oven they should be perfect! Clean up couldn’t be easier; throw the foil lining away, and put away the cookie sheet.
Green Beans with Balsamic-Shallot Butter:
These make the very best leftovers. My family thinks the balsamic is a little stinky while it simmers in the saucepan, but I don’t mind it at all. This is an oldie from the 2001 Bon Appetit magazine.
½ cup balsamic vinegar
2 large shallots, finely chopped
1 stick (or two) of butter, room temperature
2 lbs of green beans, trimmed
Again, the beauty of this baby is that it can be prepared a day in advance of your event.
Combine the vinegar and shallots in a heavy saucepan. Boil over medium heat until most of the vinegar is absorbed. Stir frequently for about 6 minutes. Transfer mixture to a small bowl and cool completely. Add the softened butter and mix with a fork until well blended. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
Cook beans in a large pot of boiling salted water until crisp tender, about 6 minutes. Drain. Dunk beans in an ice bath and drain again. Because I like to do this all in advance, I line a 2 gallon Zip-loc baggie with paper towel (again, Bounty is my favorite brand), add the green beans, and top with more paper towel to absorb the moisture. Refrigerate until ready to use.
When you are ready to serve, take a large skillet and melt the balsamic and shallot butter. Add the green beans and toss until well mixed.
So there you have it; a gorgeous and delicious meal! Spend less time cleaning and more time with your family and friends!
One way for your guests to feel comfortable is for you, as their hostess, to be relaxed and ready to enjoy their company. If you have a pulse, the only way to be relaxed is to be prepared. I am a complicated kind of gal, and I like to make everything as difficult as humanly possible, but the only way to achieve that sort of near perfection, and pull it off with ease, is to streamline your efforts on the day of your event. You need to do as much in advance as possible.
I get heart palpitations when I entertain because I want everything to be perfect! I get totally stressed if I am racing around at the last minute shopping, chopping, cooking or cleaning. I like to be so prepared that the day of my event is spent nearly in leisure, addressing the last minute details at the very last minute; putting ice in the water glasses, turning on the music and lighting the candles. Organization and preparation is the only option!
Take for instance Amanda’s Confirmation this past week. We were on a super time crunch. Our family came at 4:30PM, we ate at 5:00PM (when Amanda got home from gym….a little extra preparation for her Regional Gymnastics Meet), Amanda and her sponsor (my cousin Terri, who is the go to gal in our family. She is my brothers Godmother, my Confirmation Sponsor, my Matron of Honor, Amanda’s Godmother and now Amanda’s Confirmation Sponsor. It’s a wonder that she doesn’t tire of us) needed to scoot out the door by 5:45PM (don’t be late for God). That gave the rest of us a window of thirty minutes to get the kitchen squared away (lest there be a feast left out for Wrigley. He would be the world’s happiest dog, but what a mess that would be!). Time constraints should certainly play a role in your menu selection.
I decided to prepare some of our personal family favorites. I made Roasted Chicken with Pancetta and Olives, Twice Baked Potatoes and Green Beans with Balsamic-Shallot Butter. If that doesn’t make you hungry, I have no idea what will.
Roast Chicken with Pancetta and Olives:
(I can’t remember if this recipe is from Gourmet or Bon Appetit, but there is a note that mentions that the contributor frequently prepares this dish for his family with rabbit. Ewwwww. Clearly I am not a connoisseur, but that sounds rather disgusting. I like my rabbit in the form of the Easter Bunny, or Bugs Bunny, or even the Energizer Bunny, but never on a dinner platter.)
2 chickens (about 3 ½ lbs each) backbones cut out and each chicken cut into 12 pieces
I, however, don’t love all of the various chicken parts, and cutting up a chicken sounds gross (Julia Child, please forgive my savage ways), so I figure that 7 lbs of chicken breasts and drumsticks are a perfect substitute. I find that is typically 3-4 breasts and 5-6 drumsticks, that way everyone in my house is happy.
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil (I’m more of an eye-baller, so I combine the other ingredients first, then I add what looks like a good amount to cover all of the chicken)
1-2 Tbsp chopped thyme (I prefer fresh)
1 -2 Tbsp chopped rosemary (the rosemary that they carry at my local markets comes in a plastic container. I typically will use a whole container for every 7 lbs of chicken, which is more than 1-2 Tbsp. Rosemary is so fresh and lovely and tasty.)
1 Tbsp fine sea salt (I’m a salt-aholic and this is plenty, especially once you add the olives)
½ - 1 tsp hot red pepper flakes (or a little more….some like it hot!)
10 garlic cloves, peeled (I’m telling you that the huge container from Cost Co is awesome. You just grab a huge heaping handful and toss it in.)
2 (1/4 inch thick) slices pancetta, cut in to 1” pieces (they have got to be completely kidding. The pancetta part is one of the very many best parts. I put at least three whole slices of pancetta on each breast, and then one for sure per drumstick, and what ever is left over I just toss on top. I mean really now, who can bear to have only a teensy weensy taste of bacon? That would be quite a teaser, and besides, who doesn’t like to dine on swine?)
1 cup dry white wine (Now who’s kidding who? Everything NEEDS MORE WINE. And anyway, the chicken stays really moist as it roasts in the shallow wine bath. Sounds like Heaven!)
24 oil-cured black olives (24? Really? Do they think we are just going to count out 24 olives? No way. Drain a jar of pitted Kalamata Olives and toss ‘em on top.)
Preheat oven to 450 degrees, with the rack in the middle.
In a bowl combine the oil, thyme, rosemary, sea salt, red pepper flakes and for good measure some pepper. You know I always love the cracked black pepper. Mix well.
Place your chicken, skin side up in a pan. Please note this entertaining helpful hint: My preference is to never serve a guest out of a disposable anything, however, chicken can be a juicy mess, and for the sake of a quick clean up prior to flying out the door, I used two disposable roasting pans. It was perfect. After we ate, I tossed the pans in to a garbage bag and took them out to the trash and……voila a quick, clean kitchen!
Once your chicken is in the pan, pour your oil mixture generously all over the chicken.
I then place the slices of pancetta over the tops of the chicken.
Scatter the garlic cloves on top, all over. Be generous.
Roast chicken for about 20 minutes until it begins to brown.
Drizzle wine all over the chicken, and roast for another 8-10 minutes.
Scatter olives over chicken, and roast for an additional 15-20 minutes. Let stand for 10 minutes. This chicken is mouth watering goodness!
Twice Baked Potatoes:
If once is good, twice must be better!
Butter (1 ½ - 2 sticks, room temperature)
Cream Cheese (1 brick, room temperature)
Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Scallions or Chives, chopped
We were 11 people for dinner, so I started out with 8 baking potatoes (figuring that once cut in half that would be 16 potatoes, and then there are always a few casualties in the scooping process, so I really ended up with 14 halves. We like leftovers, so I wanted a few extra. That was a perfect amount.)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large mixing bowl place the butter and the cream cheese.
Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil.
Cut additional pieces of foil to wrap the potatoes in for baking (enough sheets for each potato).
Scrub your potatoes. With a fork, poke several holes in the potato.
Pour oil in a small bowl. Brush oil on to each potato and then wrap each potato in a piece of foil. When all of the potatoes are wrapped and ready, place them on the cookie sheet, and put them in the oven. Here’s the thing, I like a really creamy potato, so I think that it helps to use very soft potatoes. I cook them until they are pretty mushy, for at least 1 ½ hours, maybe even a little longer.
After the baked potatoes have cooled, I cut them in half, and remove the centers. I find it works well to score each potato. Using a knife I cut all the way around the potato, using the edge as a guide, I leave a border of about ¼ of an inch. You want to leave a wall thick enough to maintain its shape. After I cut an oval shape around the perimeter, I then make a slice down the center, and another one across leaving four quarters cut. A teaspoon is the perfect size to remove the pulp without compromising the structure of the potato. This makes it much simpler, less messy, and more likely to leave the base of the potato in tact.
One by one, I scoop out all of the pulp and put it in to the bowl with the softened butter and cream cheese. With a hand mixer I start to whip the potatoes, adding splashes of milk until it achieves a beautiful, creamy consistency. Once you are completely satisfied, add a generous amount of shredded cheddar, and mix well. I realized that I had forgotten to pick up scallions or chives once I got to this point, but if I had them, I would have mixed them in now. Scoop the potato mixture back in to potato boats. After the fact I scattered chopped chives over the top of the twice baked potatoes, which worked out just as well.
I prepared the potatoes a day in advance, placing them on a foil lined baking sheet. I simply covered them tightly with foil and put them in the fridge until the following day. If I am preparing a number of dishes in advance, I will take a handy dandy Sharpie, and directly on the foil, I will record what temperature the dish requires, the duration it needs to cook and the time of day I need to put it in the oven. Simple and streamlined! After about 30 minutes in the oven they should be perfect! Clean up couldn’t be easier; throw the foil lining away, and put away the cookie sheet.
Green Beans with Balsamic-Shallot Butter:
These make the very best leftovers. My family thinks the balsamic is a little stinky while it simmers in the saucepan, but I don’t mind it at all. This is an oldie from the 2001 Bon Appetit magazine.
½ cup balsamic vinegar
2 large shallots, finely chopped
1 stick (or two) of butter, room temperature
2 lbs of green beans, trimmed
Again, the beauty of this baby is that it can be prepared a day in advance of your event.
Combine the vinegar and shallots in a heavy saucepan. Boil over medium heat until most of the vinegar is absorbed. Stir frequently for about 6 minutes. Transfer mixture to a small bowl and cool completely. Add the softened butter and mix with a fork until well blended. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
Cook beans in a large pot of boiling salted water until crisp tender, about 6 minutes. Drain. Dunk beans in an ice bath and drain again. Because I like to do this all in advance, I line a 2 gallon Zip-loc baggie with paper towel (again, Bounty is my favorite brand), add the green beans, and top with more paper towel to absorb the moisture. Refrigerate until ready to use.
When you are ready to serve, take a large skillet and melt the balsamic and shallot butter. Add the green beans and toss until well mixed.
So there you have it; a gorgeous and delicious meal! Spend less time cleaning and more time with your family and friends!
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Chocolate Means Love.....
Ah….Sunday morning. Sunday is such a day of transition. Most weekends we have an opportunity to sleep in a little bit and enjoy a leisurely morning. Then about half way through the day it becomes apparent that there is a mad dash to the getting-prepared-for-the-upcoming-week finish line. It would certainly be nice if we had a three day weekend every week. When I am Queen of the World, that will be my very first order of business, a Three Day Weekend (right before I make the 9th of each month Donny Osmond Celebration Day, the 9th being in honor of his birth date, FYI).
I usually start my Sunday mornings by making Chocolate Chip Pancakes for the week (I swear sometimes we eat fruits and vegetables too, but chocolate makes us happy. Recently, Nick ate a box of 36 packages of Reece’s Peanut Buttercups from Cost Co, in 9 days. I guess that is kind of gross, but he argues that the peanut butter is protein. I suppose he’s got a point.). My pals like pancakes in the morning before school, unless Nick is running on Teenager Time and requests a toasted Pop Tart for the road. Only the best…..
Anyway, I prefer Mrs. Butterworth’s brand buttermilk pancake mix, and I make a double batch. I like the batter to be on the thicker side so my pancakes are nice and fluffy, which sometimes means I add a little extra mix at the end to achieve a thicker consistency. When I’m happy with the batter, I add a heaping serving of Nestle Tollhouse Chocolate Chip Mini’s.
I store my pancakes for the week in a 13x9 glass baking dish with a lid. I line the bottom of the dish with parchment paper, and then as I flip my pancakes I place them inside, topping them off with a little bit of butter and a hearty sprinkle of powdered sugar. I fit six pancakes per layer and place a piece of parchment paper in between each layer, so they don’t stick together. In the mornings we just warm them up, and top them with our favorite maple syrup, which happens to be Hungry Jack.
If my pals are really lucky, some Sunday mornings I make bacon (actually, if I am going to make a mess I will make 2 lbs of bacon). Years ago my cousin Terri taught me the most excellent bacon making secret ever (as a substitute to frying it in the pan with grease splattering everywhere and taking forever). Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees. Line rimmed cookie sheets with foil (for easy clean up). For 2lbs of bacon, I need three large cookie sheets. Bake for 30-45 minutes, depending on how well done you prefer your bacon (I like crispy). Then for storage I line a Rubbermaid rectangular container with paper towel and layer the bacon with alternating sheets of Bounty (you know, my favorite…quicker picker upper) to absorb all of the grease, and refrigerate until ready for use. You’ll have days and days of savory bacon-y goodness! Just warm it up for a few seconds in the microwave and you have a tasty treat.
Greasy bacon and chocolate chip pancakes? I suppose we should just eat cookies for breakfast, but what kind of mother would that make me? POPULAR ……and the Best Mother Ever!
I usually start my Sunday mornings by making Chocolate Chip Pancakes for the week (I swear sometimes we eat fruits and vegetables too, but chocolate makes us happy. Recently, Nick ate a box of 36 packages of Reece’s Peanut Buttercups from Cost Co, in 9 days. I guess that is kind of gross, but he argues that the peanut butter is protein. I suppose he’s got a point.). My pals like pancakes in the morning before school, unless Nick is running on Teenager Time and requests a toasted Pop Tart for the road. Only the best…..
Anyway, I prefer Mrs. Butterworth’s brand buttermilk pancake mix, and I make a double batch. I like the batter to be on the thicker side so my pancakes are nice and fluffy, which sometimes means I add a little extra mix at the end to achieve a thicker consistency. When I’m happy with the batter, I add a heaping serving of Nestle Tollhouse Chocolate Chip Mini’s.
I store my pancakes for the week in a 13x9 glass baking dish with a lid. I line the bottom of the dish with parchment paper, and then as I flip my pancakes I place them inside, topping them off with a little bit of butter and a hearty sprinkle of powdered sugar. I fit six pancakes per layer and place a piece of parchment paper in between each layer, so they don’t stick together. In the mornings we just warm them up, and top them with our favorite maple syrup, which happens to be Hungry Jack.
If my pals are really lucky, some Sunday mornings I make bacon (actually, if I am going to make a mess I will make 2 lbs of bacon). Years ago my cousin Terri taught me the most excellent bacon making secret ever (as a substitute to frying it in the pan with grease splattering everywhere and taking forever). Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees. Line rimmed cookie sheets with foil (for easy clean up). For 2lbs of bacon, I need three large cookie sheets. Bake for 30-45 minutes, depending on how well done you prefer your bacon (I like crispy). Then for storage I line a Rubbermaid rectangular container with paper towel and layer the bacon with alternating sheets of Bounty (you know, my favorite…quicker picker upper) to absorb all of the grease, and refrigerate until ready for use. You’ll have days and days of savory bacon-y goodness! Just warm it up for a few seconds in the microwave and you have a tasty treat.
Greasy bacon and chocolate chip pancakes? I suppose we should just eat cookies for breakfast, but what kind of mother would that make me? POPULAR ……and the Best Mother Ever!
Thursday, April 15, 2010
How to Set a Beautiful Spring Tablescape.....
As the More is More Mom® there is little I enjoy more than planning a party! In fact, I am frequently inspired to have a party because I want to share a new recipe, or I’ve found great plates or a fun centerpiece. I’m all about the cart being in front of the horse! However, this most recent party was to mark a special occasion in honor of my Amanda making her Confirmation (just one of the reasons that she needed four new dresses this season!).
You know I have theories and methods for just about everything, and setting a beautiful table is no different. I’m excited to share with you my beautiful Spring Time Tablescape!
Every good tablescape starts with a base. For this event I selected a chocolate brown tablecloth not only to protect my table, but also to set the tone for my event (another Target purchase from their Hotel Series). I am sorry that I am not a purist, I am and extremist and therefore feel that white tablecloths are just plain dull. Here’s a little tip: your iron may not seem like it, but it is your friend. It is imperative to smooth out all of the wrinkles and put your very best foot forward. It is the first step in making a good impression!
Next, because I am a More is More kind of gal, I begin the process of adding layers. I like to set the tone for my design theme by adding some personality by way of a runner or a table topper. For this party, I have chosen a lively, modern floral runner featuring hot pink, turquoise blue and apple green on a clean white base.
The next layer I am going to add is the all important placemat. In addition to being a pretty detail that adds to the richness of the design, it is functional. The purpose of the placemat is two-fold. One, it helps to protect your tablecloth, and two it delineates your guests personal space. It gives them a little elbow room. Because my table was crowded with ten people in attendance (eleven if you count Amanda, the guest of honor, who only joined us for a few moments at the corner of the table to scarf down her dinner at break neck speed. She actually went to gymnastics for two hours after school and had to eat, get in the shower, dry her hair, put on her pretty dress and be out the door at 5:45pm. Race, race, race. Run, run, run.), I selected a round placemat (another Target find from last year. I bought a slew of them on super clearance) because it doesn’t take up quite as much space as a rectangular one, and my guests flatware and glassware aren’t on top of each other overlapping. I liked the pink woven placemat, with its several different shades because it complimented my runner.
I am the Queen of More and like everything else, chargers are no exception. I have chargers that are; leather, rattan, plain gold leaf, gold leaf with a hob nail trim, plain silver leaf, silver leaf with a hob nail trim, ruby red, turquoise, the list goes on and on. I love a charger because it adds to the layering by giving dimension, and because of its formality. I have selected a turquoise charger (shockingly not from Target, but from the store of fabulous finds, Tuesday Morning) with a scalloped edge detail to compliment and re-enforce the turquoise stripe that runs down the center of by runner. Here’s a little tip for creating a seamless and symmetrical table setting: select one element of your charger, in this case I chose to feature a scallop in the same position at each and every one of my place settings.
To set a tone of elegance for every party I throw I set my table to the nine’s, even if that means that I will make extra work for myself by removing items I need when it comes time to serve my meal. I love for my guests to be wowed when they walk in the door and get the full impact of my entire tablescape. When it’s time to serve dinner, I rarely serve family style, I will gather up all of the dishes to plate my meal. Today I selected a beautiful white dinner plate with a scalloped edge that mimics the scallop in my charger, and compliments the white background of my runner. I am not a proponent of good china. It’s ridiculously expensive, and just plain boring. I prefer to have the option to mix and match and create fantasies. You can’t create a fantasy out of dull and ordinary. Fantasies require that dream like quality that can only be achieved from excess. For instance these plates are from Lenox. While the white china adds a delicate sensibility, the embossed vines, leaves, and butterflies add an air of whimsy. I got these gems at TJ Maxx and More (more, more and more). They really pop’s against the turquoise charger on top of the pink placemat. Here’s another little tip: just like we did with the charger, we are going to select one element on the plate, in this case I have chosen one particular embossed butterfly, and I am going to place each plate in the exact same position. For this setting I have placed the butterfly at the bottom directly across from, and in the middle of the scallop placed at the top of the charger. Our objective is to create a harmonious and peaceful table. If all of the elements were askew the tablescape would be an unpleasing, jumbled mess.
Whimsy and detail trump function every time. I love to incorporate a salad plate or a dessert plate in to my place setting because it gives both dimension and personality to my tablescape. Once again, when it is time to serve my meal, I will simply remove the items not being used from the table. It is of course extra work, but then again More is More! I have these super great, multi colored polka dot plates (one of the keys to successful entertaining is INVENTORY. So, it will come as no surprise that the plates came from Target several seasons ago, at a very reasonable price). Polka dots just scream fun! Help hint: again, I chose one element from the plate, a particular polka dot, and lined it up on top of the embossed butterfly. I did this at each place setting around my table.
The meal I was serving was simple since we would be racing out the door shortly after we ate. The only utensils we required were a fork and knife. I love to pull out my good silver, but when we’re entertaining on the run convenient clean up is key. Attention to detail is what sets apart an ordinary table from that which is spectacular! I am a proponent of mixing high quality, just can’t live without, items, with inexpensive finds that help pull the whole ensemble together whether it be in tabletop design, home staging or fashion. I have gobs of flatware. Sometimes simple silver will just not do! Because my vision was a colorful garden bouquet I chose to use these fantastic apple green handled pieces (once again, from Target years and years ago……I keep everything forever!).
Now, I hate to lecture, or be a complete snob, but when you entertain in your home paper and plastic products should all but be banned. I can live with a paper cocktail napkin because there are so many fantastic wonderful designs that you are certain to find the perfect tie in to your event. However, for a dinner party you must never use disposable products, only cloth napkins, real glassware and tableware will do. I collect everything in quantities of 20 when I can, though I am a bargain hunter, so my mission frequently takes me on a treasure hunt from store to store. I love everything and cloth napkins are no exception. For this tablescape I decided upon these sweet little pink napkins, to tie in to my color scheme, with small white polka dots to re-enforce the polka dots in the dessert plates. I got these beauties some time ago at Kohl’s at a drastically reduced rate of $.97 a piece. Amazing! To continue my garden theme, I used these fun watering can napkin rings. I can’t remember exactly where they came from. My guess is Steinmart, but I can’t be completely certain. At any rate….they’re perfect! Help hint: the napkins should all look the same, and be placed in the same position at the individual place setting. I chose to feature the handle of the watering can napkin ring on the inside of the setting with the spout facing outward, and repeated that detail for each guest.
We have come upon the ever important topic of glassware. Why, as you can imagine, I think that more is never enough! I have a huge inventory but my preference when entertaining a crowd is to incorporate some of my signature, dishwasher safe pieces. I’m crazy for bugs (not the creepy crawlers) in my décor. As a water glass I have selected to use a footed goblet, with a bumble bee raised embellishment (a great TJ Maxx and More find). Helpful hint: on your glassware, when you have the opportunity to identify a feature, select one element to line up at each place setting. In this instance I lined up the bumble bee with the knife to form a uniform, straight line.
We’re ready to put the finishing touches on this tablescape. A centerpiece grounds your design and solidifies your vision. I have used this brown iron basket for many different purposes over the years (in fact it is featured in a previous post as the home to four fun snowballs that I found at Pottery Barn years ago). It’s a charming piece, detailed with birds and leaves, another tie in to my spring theme (you must think I live at these stores…..I do. This was a great find from a day of rummaging through the treasure at TJ Maxx and More a few years back). The other reason I felt it worked so well in this tablescape is that the brown iron basket compliments the chocolate brown tablecloth and really pops against the bright colors in my runner. The beauty of the basket is that you have the opportunity to fill it up with anything. I really like the organic quality of the moss and raffia balls. These accent pieces can be found at your local craft store, but my gems are from, you’ve got it, Target! Really, is there a need to shop much of anyplace else (this is not a paid endorsement, but I think it totally should be!)?
The very last element to address before your guests arrive (other than the cooking and cleaning) would be…illumination. Candlelight is soft and beautiful, and everyone looks especially lovely in its glow. I have these amazing, crystal, hot pink candelabrum (TJ Maxx and More is a beautiful thing, though I am certainly sounding as though I need to be in a 12 step program for my addiction). Rather than enlist the aide of predictable white candles, I chose green taper candles because I love the completely Preppy pink and green color combination. Like, Oh my God!
So there you have it…..a beautiful Spring Tablescape. I hope you are inspired to throw a dinner party, and I hope you invite me along for the ride, because I love a party. Next time…..the menu!
You know I have theories and methods for just about everything, and setting a beautiful table is no different. I’m excited to share with you my beautiful Spring Time Tablescape!
Every good tablescape starts with a base. For this event I selected a chocolate brown tablecloth not only to protect my table, but also to set the tone for my event (another Target purchase from their Hotel Series). I am sorry that I am not a purist, I am and extremist and therefore feel that white tablecloths are just plain dull. Here’s a little tip: your iron may not seem like it, but it is your friend. It is imperative to smooth out all of the wrinkles and put your very best foot forward. It is the first step in making a good impression!
Next, because I am a More is More kind of gal, I begin the process of adding layers. I like to set the tone for my design theme by adding some personality by way of a runner or a table topper. For this party, I have chosen a lively, modern floral runner featuring hot pink, turquoise blue and apple green on a clean white base.
The next layer I am going to add is the all important placemat. In addition to being a pretty detail that adds to the richness of the design, it is functional. The purpose of the placemat is two-fold. One, it helps to protect your tablecloth, and two it delineates your guests personal space. It gives them a little elbow room. Because my table was crowded with ten people in attendance (eleven if you count Amanda, the guest of honor, who only joined us for a few moments at the corner of the table to scarf down her dinner at break neck speed. She actually went to gymnastics for two hours after school and had to eat, get in the shower, dry her hair, put on her pretty dress and be out the door at 5:45pm. Race, race, race. Run, run, run.), I selected a round placemat (another Target find from last year. I bought a slew of them on super clearance) because it doesn’t take up quite as much space as a rectangular one, and my guests flatware and glassware aren’t on top of each other overlapping. I liked the pink woven placemat, with its several different shades because it complimented my runner.
I am the Queen of More and like everything else, chargers are no exception. I have chargers that are; leather, rattan, plain gold leaf, gold leaf with a hob nail trim, plain silver leaf, silver leaf with a hob nail trim, ruby red, turquoise, the list goes on and on. I love a charger because it adds to the layering by giving dimension, and because of its formality. I have selected a turquoise charger (shockingly not from Target, but from the store of fabulous finds, Tuesday Morning) with a scalloped edge detail to compliment and re-enforce the turquoise stripe that runs down the center of by runner. Here’s a little tip for creating a seamless and symmetrical table setting: select one element of your charger, in this case I chose to feature a scallop in the same position at each and every one of my place settings.
To set a tone of elegance for every party I throw I set my table to the nine’s, even if that means that I will make extra work for myself by removing items I need when it comes time to serve my meal. I love for my guests to be wowed when they walk in the door and get the full impact of my entire tablescape. When it’s time to serve dinner, I rarely serve family style, I will gather up all of the dishes to plate my meal. Today I selected a beautiful white dinner plate with a scalloped edge that mimics the scallop in my charger, and compliments the white background of my runner. I am not a proponent of good china. It’s ridiculously expensive, and just plain boring. I prefer to have the option to mix and match and create fantasies. You can’t create a fantasy out of dull and ordinary. Fantasies require that dream like quality that can only be achieved from excess. For instance these plates are from Lenox. While the white china adds a delicate sensibility, the embossed vines, leaves, and butterflies add an air of whimsy. I got these gems at TJ Maxx and More (more, more and more). They really pop’s against the turquoise charger on top of the pink placemat. Here’s another little tip: just like we did with the charger, we are going to select one element on the plate, in this case I have chosen one particular embossed butterfly, and I am going to place each plate in the exact same position. For this setting I have placed the butterfly at the bottom directly across from, and in the middle of the scallop placed at the top of the charger. Our objective is to create a harmonious and peaceful table. If all of the elements were askew the tablescape would be an unpleasing, jumbled mess.
Whimsy and detail trump function every time. I love to incorporate a salad plate or a dessert plate in to my place setting because it gives both dimension and personality to my tablescape. Once again, when it is time to serve my meal, I will simply remove the items not being used from the table. It is of course extra work, but then again More is More! I have these super great, multi colored polka dot plates (one of the keys to successful entertaining is INVENTORY. So, it will come as no surprise that the plates came from Target several seasons ago, at a very reasonable price). Polka dots just scream fun! Help hint: again, I chose one element from the plate, a particular polka dot, and lined it up on top of the embossed butterfly. I did this at each place setting around my table.
The meal I was serving was simple since we would be racing out the door shortly after we ate. The only utensils we required were a fork and knife. I love to pull out my good silver, but when we’re entertaining on the run convenient clean up is key. Attention to detail is what sets apart an ordinary table from that which is spectacular! I am a proponent of mixing high quality, just can’t live without, items, with inexpensive finds that help pull the whole ensemble together whether it be in tabletop design, home staging or fashion. I have gobs of flatware. Sometimes simple silver will just not do! Because my vision was a colorful garden bouquet I chose to use these fantastic apple green handled pieces (once again, from Target years and years ago……I keep everything forever!).
Now, I hate to lecture, or be a complete snob, but when you entertain in your home paper and plastic products should all but be banned. I can live with a paper cocktail napkin because there are so many fantastic wonderful designs that you are certain to find the perfect tie in to your event. However, for a dinner party you must never use disposable products, only cloth napkins, real glassware and tableware will do. I collect everything in quantities of 20 when I can, though I am a bargain hunter, so my mission frequently takes me on a treasure hunt from store to store. I love everything and cloth napkins are no exception. For this tablescape I decided upon these sweet little pink napkins, to tie in to my color scheme, with small white polka dots to re-enforce the polka dots in the dessert plates. I got these beauties some time ago at Kohl’s at a drastically reduced rate of $.97 a piece. Amazing! To continue my garden theme, I used these fun watering can napkin rings. I can’t remember exactly where they came from. My guess is Steinmart, but I can’t be completely certain. At any rate….they’re perfect! Help hint: the napkins should all look the same, and be placed in the same position at the individual place setting. I chose to feature the handle of the watering can napkin ring on the inside of the setting with the spout facing outward, and repeated that detail for each guest.
We have come upon the ever important topic of glassware. Why, as you can imagine, I think that more is never enough! I have a huge inventory but my preference when entertaining a crowd is to incorporate some of my signature, dishwasher safe pieces. I’m crazy for bugs (not the creepy crawlers) in my décor. As a water glass I have selected to use a footed goblet, with a bumble bee raised embellishment (a great TJ Maxx and More find). Helpful hint: on your glassware, when you have the opportunity to identify a feature, select one element to line up at each place setting. In this instance I lined up the bumble bee with the knife to form a uniform, straight line.
We’re ready to put the finishing touches on this tablescape. A centerpiece grounds your design and solidifies your vision. I have used this brown iron basket for many different purposes over the years (in fact it is featured in a previous post as the home to four fun snowballs that I found at Pottery Barn years ago). It’s a charming piece, detailed with birds and leaves, another tie in to my spring theme (you must think I live at these stores…..I do. This was a great find from a day of rummaging through the treasure at TJ Maxx and More a few years back). The other reason I felt it worked so well in this tablescape is that the brown iron basket compliments the chocolate brown tablecloth and really pops against the bright colors in my runner. The beauty of the basket is that you have the opportunity to fill it up with anything. I really like the organic quality of the moss and raffia balls. These accent pieces can be found at your local craft store, but my gems are from, you’ve got it, Target! Really, is there a need to shop much of anyplace else (this is not a paid endorsement, but I think it totally should be!)?
The very last element to address before your guests arrive (other than the cooking and cleaning) would be…illumination. Candlelight is soft and beautiful, and everyone looks especially lovely in its glow. I have these amazing, crystal, hot pink candelabrum (TJ Maxx and More is a beautiful thing, though I am certainly sounding as though I need to be in a 12 step program for my addiction). Rather than enlist the aide of predictable white candles, I chose green taper candles because I love the completely Preppy pink and green color combination. Like, Oh my God!
So there you have it…..a beautiful Spring Tablescape. I hope you are inspired to throw a dinner party, and I hope you invite me along for the ride, because I love a party. Next time…..the menu!
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