a taste of my own medicine

As a child, I was a very picky eater.  I had all kinds of tricks:

1. storing veggies in my cheeks like a chipmunk, and spitting them out later
2. claiming I had already taken my two extra bites for Papaw Richard and Grandma Betty (but a nice trick, Mom!)
3. hiding vegetables in the secret drawer in our kitchen table
4. not caving when Mom would tell me “You’re going to have to sit there until you eat a few more bites, so you should do it before it gets cold.” (I figured out that  Dad would eventually let me go when mom wasn’t looking, without taking the bites, because he wanted to clear the table)

Oscar has developed his own method.  If he doesn’t like what you’re feeding him, he’ll shun you.  And since our little man has developed preferences, this is happening more frequently.  Take today, for example:

Avacado? What the what?

Oscar then turned away from me for several minutes without looking back.  He jabbered, as if to scold me.

You've lost my trust, mom.

He finally turned around, but then for 10 minutes violently shook his head and squawked at each bite I presented to him.  I finally surrendered.  I went to the kitchen and came back with one of the boy’s favorites.

What's that? Carrots?

dimples + big blue eyes = mama is doomed.

magical cinnamon rolls

I’ve made these twice now, and let me tell you that they really are magical!  The first time I tested the recipe and shared with Greg’s worship team volunteers, neighbors, my parents, and still froze two pans.  Did I mention the recipe makes 7 pans of incredibly buttery, sweet, deliciousness?  I told you they were magical.  This time, I made them to take to the in-laws Christmas day.  Greg’s brothers huddled around them fresh from the oven, and agreed.  They think they are lovely, too (which I interpreted from their groans).

I highly recommend adding this recipe to your “need to make soon” list.  Really, the whole website is full of great recipes.  We love everything we’ve made from it so far, including: this wonderful casserole, and chocolate and sea salt truffles.  Enjoy!

 

 

 

plate-spinning is not for me

I am notorious for silly little mix ups.  “Oops, I accidentally bought diced tomatoes with green peppers instead of plain diced tomatoes.”  or “Yikes, I got you the right deodorant smell, but I accidentally got you the yucky gel kind.”

These mishaps tend to happen when I’m super busy and am simply not paying attention to what I’m doing.  Since going back to work in September, things like this are happening often all the time.  Yesterday was just another one to add to the list.  I wash a load of baby laundry, hear it shut off, and lift the lid to find a washer that looked like a winter wonderland inside.  I had done it.  I had washed a diaper.  How it got there, I really have no clue.  I think I’ll go with: the “someone” who had bathed the baby the night before (while mama did dished) lumped the diaper in with dirty baby clothes and put it all in his hamper.  “Someone” really should be more careful.  🙂

Really, how it got there is irrelevant.  I am the one with a track record.  This just doesn’t help.

japanese from tennessee

Japanese food from East Tennessee is very special to us.  Most of the restaurants we’ve found around that part of the country serve a special sauce with their meals, called Shrimp Sauce.  The name has nothing to do with shrimp, but more likely refers to the color of this tasty concoction.  They also, almost always, serve boiled sweet carrots that would have any child celebrate to be eating their vegetables.

We have enjoyed the dining experience of Eastern Tennessee Japanese with many of our friends over the years.  These friends have all researched and contributed in various ways to the recipe below.  I am offering my interpretation of how to closely mimic this cuisine, while utilizing and recognizing the efforts of all my friends who have helped to bring this meal into their own kitchens.

You can download a PDF of the recipe below:

Tennessee Japanese Recipe

the new family room

With Christmas just a few days away, we are spending extra time in the kitchen, making yummy treats to be shared.  Oscar is enjoying the extra time in the kitchen too, as long as he has the following items:

1. sippy cup
2. stacking cups
3. this (thanks Steph)
4. boppy pillow, just in case he forgets how hard he’s working to sit up

introductory post

We’ve decided to enter into the wicked web with this blog.  It’s a place for us to keep friends and relatives up to date with our family.  We’ll post about family events, food consumed, music created, and yarn crocheted.  We’re excited to see what transpires!  Don’t be a stranger!