Foodmomiac

Creating Space

We have a small house, which I really like. I mean, it's not TINY. It's just compact. We have all of the space we need, and nothing more. I like it that way. In Toledo, we had WAY too much space, and I don't do well with that. We are a messy family, and messy has the tendency to overtake everything in its path. So... the smaller the better, in my opinion. Less to clean. Less to maintain.

ANYWAY, though I LIKE the small house, it does feel a little cramped sometimes, especially after the longest winter ever in the history of the world. It was extra lovely, then, to work on our outdoor space this weekend. We had picked out our deck furniture about two months ago, but procrastinated, which actually worked to our benefit, as it was all on sale. It is beautiful stuff, and just confirms that Target is the best place ever. (My Aunt Susan is laughing right now, because she claims that every time she compliments one of my possessions, I tell her it's from Target.)

We also did a lot of gardening. There isn't that much space to garden, but we filled all of it. Many of the existing bushes and small trees were dead, so we removed those. They were replaced with hostas, a lilac, three hydrangeas and a gorgeous-smelling jasmine. Dylie and I also planted two flats of impatiens and a teeny tiny vegetable/herb garden comprised of one patio tomato plant, one basil plant, one dill plant and one rosemary bush. Oh, and we stuck two mint plants way in the back where they'd have room to run rampant (chocolate mint and spearmint). I'd like to add some Italian parsley and some oregano, but that will likely have to happen in a planter, as we are all out of room.

How did you guys spend the weekend?

Why We Didn't Watch the American Idol Finale

moon
Originally uploaded by Foodmomiac

It wasn't because I couldn't bear to watch David Archuleta win (which I couldn't, because he gives me the creeps, and YAY DAVID COOK!). It wasn't because a two-hour finale is ridiculous (which it is, duh).

We missed the finale last night because we were out at a Chicago dinner for former, present and future campers at our beloved Camp Michigania!!

I've written before about how much this camp means to me, but since it's only one week a year, I tend to get caught up in life and forget how magical that week is. AND IT'S LESS THAN A MONTH AWAY!!

We got to spend the evening with the director and with a bunch of other campers (mostly from other weeks - we're week 2 campers), and we watched a fun PowerPoint presentation showing us pics of some recent camp improvements. I am not ashamed to admit that I got teary-eyed looking at the photos.

I CAN'T WAIT.

You Might Not Want to Know This Much About Me

So... I have a secret. Want to know more?

Spring Farmers' Market Chicken Salad

Because I haven't yet purchased those Green Bags that Stefania just raved about (I am shocked that these actually work, and excited to get them), I was faced with the task yesterday of finishing up every last item that Dylan and I bought at the Farmers' Market last week. The radishes went into our Greek Salad, and I made some tea with the mint, but we still had snow pea sprouts and chives. Dylan decided that her school lunch would be chicken salad, so I incorporated everything into that. She declared it delicious, and even twittered (yes, Dylan is now on Twitter - too cute) about it:

Here's what I did:

Spring Farmers' Market Chicken Salad

1/2 chicken, meat removed (we did a mix of white and dark, but most people prefer just white meat, in which case, do that - maybe 2 breasts)
6 chives, minced
1 oz. sprouts (we used snow pea shoots), chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped fine
mayonnaise to taste

Chop up chicken, add veggies, add mayo. Ta da!

Licorice Heaven

Licorice Heaven
Originally uploaded by Foodmomiac

Growing up, I went to sleepaway camp every year, and care packages were my lifeline. I got them from both grandmas and from my mom.

When we left Toledo, my in-laws were devastated. Especially Moppy, my mother-in-law. She is so very close to Dylan, and they spent time together multiple times a week. Luckily for Dyl, Moppy has been great about keeping in touch, and part of that "keeping in touch" has been with care packages.

This picture is of a box of black licorice that she sent over earlier this week. I believe it was technically for Michael, but all four of us are licorice hounds, so this is like heaven in a box. So exciting to have it in my kitchen!

Thanks Moppy. :-)

Spring Produce: Finally!!!

yum asparagus and fiddlehead ferns
Originally uploaded by Foodmomiac

Dylie and I had a BLAST this morning. We left the house at 6:45, and drove down to the market listening to Radio Disney (what else?).

Once we arrived, we only had 45 minutes to do our shopping, so it was truly a whirlwind! I re-introduced myself to one of my cheesemaker idols (Judith Schad from Capriole). We met years and years ago at an American Cheese Society conference, and she was gracious enough to pretend to remember me! At that booth, we bought a Wabash Cannonball - so excited to eat it!

We then made our way to my favorite sprout vendor for some snow pea sprouts, and to the crepe stand for breakfast. I had a butter and sugar crepe. Dylie had maple. Once we ate, we had to really book!! We bought French breakfast radish, asparagus, a patio tomato plant, a basil plant, chives, gai lan (Chinese broccoli) and the very best thing of all: FIDDLEHEAD FERNS!!

Fiddlehead ferns don't taste very unique. They are kind of like asparagus. BUT, they are only available for about two weeks, so they are a real treat. I love stuff like that!

An early morning date

Dylan with her Living Lettuce
Originally uploaded by Foodmomiac

Here is Dylan last year at the Farmer's Market. Tomorrow is the opening day of Chicago's Green City Market (Hallelujah!!), and we are going to be there exactly at 7am. Kindergarten starts at 8am, so it's going to be a big 'ol rush, but even if she's late, this is so worth it!

We are both super excited. I'll report in tomorrow with the details of our booty and a review of our breakfast crepes.

(P.S. I can't believe she was able to wear such a skimpy tank top last year at this time. It's pouring rain right now, and tomorrow morning is going to be CHILLY.)

Thank you!

Lucy
Originally uploaded by Paty bb

Thank you everyone for your well wishes. I ended up scrapping my written eulogy and just speaking from my heart. I think it was best. I don't do well with things that are pre-prepared.

The whole thing just sucks, and there is not much more to say. Luckily, there was a lot of laughter all week as we remembered my Uncle's funniest moments. There were just so many of them.

Anyway, I'll get back to my regularly scheduled programming tomorrow. Until then, here's a shot of the new baby in the house. She's a LOT louder than she looks, but we love her anyway.

I am in New York right now. Following an illness that lasted way too long, my Uncle Steve passed away yesterday. My aunt is obviously too emotional to stand up and say anything, so she asked my dad to do the eulogy. My dad is going to speak, but since he hates public speaking, I told him I'd get up and speak a bit too. I typed in my notes here, but I have no idea if this is what I'll end up saying. Somehow, the more special a person is, the harder it is to memorialize him. Words don't just seem to cut it, you know?

Anyway...

Describing my Uncle Steve to others was always a bit of a difficult task. Adjectives just don't do a very good job of expressing who he was.

Funny? Of course. But lots of people are funny.

Generous? To a fault.

Mischievous? Sure.

But, still, these words don't present a full picture.

The best way to do that is through the stories. And there are just so many of them.

I have no idea how this started, but my brother and I had the strange habit of chasing Uncle Steve around in a circle trying to bite his leg. Yes, totally bizarre, and, again, I have no idea why or how this tradition started. One day, we were chasing him around, I caught him, bit his leg, and my tooth fell out! My daughter is now starting to lose her own teeth, and this is one of her favorite stories.

Fast forward almost 15 years, and I had my first internship at Uncle Steve's company, Petry. It was a great summer, and he was the perfect Uncle. While he must have been alarmed watching me party with all of the older employees, he never said a word. At the end of the summer, he wrote me the sweetest note, telling me how proud he was of me. I pulled that note out recently. It meant so much then, and it means even more to me now.

My final story, though I could go on for a long time, took place the weekend of my grandparents' 50th anniversary. It was Thanksgiving weekend, and we all went up to the Nevele to celebrate. Uncle Steve was the official videographer, but simple recording of the weekend activities wasn't enough for him. No. He decided that he'd get EVERY SINGLE EMPLOYEE of the Nevele to say "Happy Anniversary Irv and Lil!" into the video camera. From the janitors, to the waiters, to the person working at the ice skating rink, he hit them all.

That story, and his whole relationship with my grandparents says so much about my Uncle Steve. As those of you who knew them can attest, my Grandma could be a tad overbearing, and my Grandfather a bit gruff. But Uncle Steve was never phased, and he brought out the best in both of them. A son-in-law of my Papa could have easily become the Meathead to his Archie Bunker, but Meathead had nothing on my Uncle Steve. He didn't have the humor. He didn't have the heart.

I'm so grateful to have had such a character in my life. He certainly shaped the person I am today, as I know he has for so many others that his life touched. I'm going to miss you Uncle Steve.

Weekly Menu and A New Addition to the Household

Lucy and Dylan
Originally uploaded by Foodmomiac

Meet Lucy!

Lucy arrived Saturday afternoon via an American Airlines flight from LaGuardia to O'Hare. The story of how and why we got her is kind of long, and I'm sure I'll share more over the next few weeks. In short, my uncle is very ill, so Michael and I decided to help my aunt out by taking Lucy. She is a four-year-old Border Terrier, and is already right at home in our house. Friday was a bit snotty on day one, but seems to be adjusting OK. She actually allowed Lucy to play with her for a bit yesterday. So interesting to watch the alpha dog dynamic in play. Dylan is THRILLED to have a dog that she can walk. Friday pulls way too hard on the leash for a child to handle her, but Lucy is a little thing, and exactly the right size for Dyl.

Anyway, the house is as chaotic as ever, but we must like it that way, right?

This week's menu:

Sunday: Last night Michael cooked dinner, and it was great. Homemade burgers, sliced potatoes and onions cooked in a foil packet on the grill, French green beans

Monday: Marinated skirt steak, potato salad (a joint Michael/Danielle venture, made yesterday), iceburg wedges with bleu cheese and crumbled nitrate-free bacon

Tuesday: Something without red meat!!! I'm thinking eggplant casserole and steamed artichoke

Wednesday: Spaghetti night? I might have something else, but I can NOT remember what else we bought.

Thursday, Friday and Saturday I'm in Santa Barbara with my ladies, so the family will have to fend for themselves. I know hot dogs are on the menu for one of the nights.