Foodmomiac

Me? Cooking? Whaddayaknow (Chicken Milanese and Pasta)

Chicken Milanese with Pasta
Originally uploaded by Foodmomiac

I know myself better than to promise anything, but today begins July's NaBloPoMo (posting every day in a month), and the topic is food. I gotta at least try, no?

Last night we had Chicken Milanese. I sliced chicken breasts very thinly, dredged them in egg and panko (seasoned with salt, pepper and garlic powder) and then pan fried them in extra virgin olive oil. Once they were cooked, I popped them into the oven on low to keep them warm. Then, Dylan stepped up to help.

We grabbed a few leaves of basil from the garden along with some cherry tomatoes. These were all thrown into a wooden bowl with some capers and some baby arugula. She chopped everything up and then I added a bit of olive oil. No vinegar was needed due to the capers. I also threw in a bit of shredded cheese (an Italian blend that was lurking in the fridge).

The kids ate the chicken breasts plain. The adults topped them with the arugula mix for a delicious Milanese.

On the side, we had gemelli tossed with raw, chopped cherry tomatoes, black pepper, olive oil and chunks of fresh mozzarella. Such a nice summer meal.

Dispatches from Camp (the food edition)

Michael and I are sitting at a bar in town right now. We left the kids with one of the counselors; an identical twin who is at camp with her sister for her fourth year, I think. The kids love her, so I made sure to connect with her on Facebook before we left Chicago. Gotta love technology!

Anyway, we've found that it's vital to leave camp for a decent dinner or two. Cafeteria-style eating can grate on you after a day or two, and all of the strategizing is a bit exhausting.

Take drinks, for example. This year we brought our own coffee maker, which has been awesome, but last year, I really needed to finagle to get my caffeine. The coffee at camp is weak and bitter; a deadly combination. I compensated by combining it with hot cocoa and doubling my standard consumption.

My lunch and dinner drink is also a combo-deal. I make a camp version of the famous Arnold Palmer, combining iced tea and lemonade in one of those tall, pebbly plastic glasses.

The saving grace at camp meals (well, lunch and dinner at least - breakfast is a lost cause) is the salad bar. This year I'm really digging the Thousand Island dressing.

More soon! Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Dispatches from Camp (the rustic mental hospital)

It's coming to the end of our second full day at camp, and I'm feeling pretty mellow and relaxed. I only thought I heard my cell phone ring twice today (does that happen to anyone else?).

Max told us that this place is "great," and Dylan is having a blast. She and I spent a very sweet afternoon painting ceramics in the new arts and crafts center. I painted a cute dump truck for Max, and I'm working on a horse for Dylie. The arts and crafts center is kind of like a rustic mental hospital.

I sit there putting coat after coat of glaze on the rough ceramic pieces, and I feel the stresses of my life just melt away. As soon as I'm more fully decompressed, I'll move on to more complicated projects like fused glass or maybe tie dye.

Michael is doing his own mental therapy up here. He also worked on a ceramic piece (a Michigan football-themed coffee mug), but is mostly being physically active. He's gone on two runs and a bike ride. He also played some softball with the other guys here. He told me he was probably the best one out there. My reply? "Well, I'm certainly the leader in the ceramics room. I'm painting circles around those ladies!" Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

I really wanted that ice cream

Smoosh
Originally uploaded by Foodmomiac

As I was walking out of my office tonight, my cell phone rang. I answered, and was totally psyched to hear Kirsten on the line, inviting me and the kids (Michael is in San Francisco) to join her and HER kids for ice cream at Scooter's after dinner.

Scooter's is one of the best things about our neighborhood. It's open May through December, and is technically a frozen custard joint (versus ice cream). We all love going there, for both the delicious treats and for the great people who work there. I was also excited to have a fun mid-week jaunt.

Well, then I got home. And it was like Armageddon. Max was screaming and crying. Dylan began crying. There was hitting and pushing and scratching. MASS CHAOS. I texted Kirsten. No Scooter's tonight. Little demons don't deserve frozen custard.

But, now, as I sit here on my laptop at 9pm, I can't help but feel sorry for myself. Sure, I won the parenting battle, but what about MY summer treat? So sad.

Summertime!

My Beautiful Ballerina
Originally uploaded by Foodmomiac

Well, I think we're finally here. Dylan has graduated from kindergarten. Ballet is over (and we had an adorable recital, as you can see from the picture). Day camp started today, and we leave for family camp on Friday afternoon. Woot!

I realize that MY schedule doesn't change at all in the summer months, but it was still exciting to get Dylie ready for day camp last night. We made her lunch (she needs to bring a kosher lunch, so we bought a GIANT salami at Costco and sliced off pieces for a sandwich), got her backpack ready, picked out her swimsuit, laid out a casual summer dress, discussed her hair options (she wore it down, but brought a scunci for a hair emergency) and compromised on sneakers with no socks. (These, which are very cute.)

And now I've kicked into family camp readiness mode. We hit up Costco yesterday for giant boxes of snack packs, juice boxes and coloring books. Tonight I've talked my friend Kirsten into joining me for a trek to Target (followed by cocktails, I'm sure). Buying enormous bottles of sunscreen, stocking up on ear plugs and scoping out beachwear is always more fun with a friend, right?

Dinners this week are of the pantry variety, as I just couldn't handle a trip to the market after shelling out so much dough at Costco. Last night was Caribbean beans over rice. Tonight we are having spaghetti with tomato sauce and some garlic bread. We'll also throw in a pizza night and who knows what else. Hey, it's summer! Who wants to plan, right?

The TRUE foodmomiac is revealed (ENFP/32A)

Peekaboo!
Originally uploaded by aaronandjeanne

OK, I am ready to finally post again and push that lovely photo of Bourdain down the page. My friend Mary has been posting nasty comments to me, complaining about that photo all week (I exaggerate a bit). But, I have also received emails praising my choice of photo, so...

Anyway, THIS photo was taken at a fabulous lingerie shop on Monday morning. That's me on the left and Lisa on the right. We were also joined by the super-fabulous Jeannie and Jess. Now, I've been fitted for a bra before. Two times, to be exact. Both times were at the Town Shop in New York, and at one point I think I even decided that I'd never buy a bra anywhere else. Well, deciding something like that is kind of stupid, because it means you'll end up walking around in an old saggy bra for too long.

Luckily, Jeanne told me about Isabella's, and informed me that the one and only Boobologist was a friend of a friend! (The Boobologist is Lauren, and is great friends with Lisa.)

Well, we all went, and it was awesome. I got a whole new set of bras, and even though you could have fit 10 of them into one of the cups of anyone else's bra, I was very happy.

In other news, I also had a great day at work yesterday. We had a big Myers Briggs training session, and I just LOVED it. Turns out (and I think I knew this from back in college) I'm an ENFP. What this means in a nutshell is that all of my faults are actually just part of my lovely personality, and unavoidable. Ha!

Actually, yes, I should probably work on being more organized, but here is a description of my type that I wrote up in the training:

I am energizing, loud, easily excited, enthusiastic, casual, social, emotional, passionate, prone to overextending and procrastination. My team should know that I might overlook details and I'm most effective in the start-up of a project (vs. the implementation).

A Modern Woman's Guide to the Ultimate Sick Day

Step One: Look at inappropriate photos of your favorite chefs on one of your favorite blogs. Make inappropriate comments. Keep refreshing page to read other inappropriate comments.

Step Two: Watch The View. Decide you hate Elizabeth Hasselback more than ever. What is WRONG with that woman? (besides her voting record and stupid comments)

Step Three: Switch to the Style Network. Watch back-to-back episodes of Clean House. Decide you need Niecy Nash to come to YOUR house. Realize it's never happening. Get kind of bummed out.

Step Four: Receive basket of giant cookies on a stick from the best work team ever. Send them a love email. Commence cookie eating.

Step Five: Take a two-hour, codeine-induced nap. Nice!

Step Six: Have daughter bring you a fresh sports bottle of ice water. Kids are so useful!

Step Seven: Play endless games of Scrabulous, Scramble and Word Twist on Facebook. Realize that codeine is maybe not super conducive to high scores. Be thankful you aren't playing Liz from Mom-101, because her Scramble scores are frightening.

Step Eight: Realize you kind of miss life. Make dinner reservation for favorite German restaurant and decide to emerge from cocoon. Slowly.

I'm Alive!

In my recovery bed
Originally uploaded by Foodmomiac

So... the surgery is done. Phew. I am kind of misshapen still, and quite sore, but I'm getting better every day. AND, no codeine yet today. Saving those babies for the evening. :-)

The surgery itself was only about an hour and a half, but then I was stuck in a hospital room all day long, because I couldn't go home until I peed. And I couldn't lie about peeing, because there was a frickin' measuring cup in the toilet. So, there I sat, drinking endless ice waters and trying to pee. According to the REALLY annoying perky nurse, my issue was due to my status as "one of those people who carries a water bottle around all day drinking." Whatever lady. I'll tell you what worked. At 5pm, they told me that if I didn't pee by 5:15, they'd use a catheter. The word catheter is very motivating to me, apparently.

The best thing about my surgery has been laying around doing nothing. This is especially lovely in the evening, when I'm the one in charge. Last night, Michael had to order dinner, clean up after dinner, feed both dogs, walk them (multiple times), clean up dog pee, clean up kid pee, bathe both kids, and then put them to bed. Typical night for me. He was exhausted. Lightweight!

All about the hydration...

So, tomorrow morning at 6am, I have to be at the hospital for my long-awaited hernia surgery. For those not in the know, my pregnancy with Max caused an umbilical hernia. Basically, my innie belly button never returned. I still have the full-on, very pregnant-looking outie. Attractive!

I've waited so long to fix it because the recovery involves not lifting anything over 10 pounds for about four weeks. You know. Like kids. This should be interesting, but at least Max will "get it" when I tell him I can't pick him up. He won't LIKE it, but he'll get it.

Anyway, I have to stop drinking liquids after midnight, and I'm FREAKING OUT. Water on my nightstand is a fixture. Have to have it. I think I'm more worried about not being able to drink anything than I am about the anesthesia and being cut open. Well, kind of. I watched a LITTLE bit too much House last week, so I have some slight paranoia about weird complications, but I'm sure I will be fine. Thirsty, but fine.

In my quest to get fully hydrated before tomorrow, I have been drinking non-stop today, starting with one of those beautiful drinks up top. My fellow New Yorkers will understand my love of iced coffee. Sadly, before Starbucks started offering it, it was really hard to get iced coffee in the midwest! Luckily, it's now available, and you can even get it sweetened. Nothing says summer to me like a really strong iced coffee. Yum.

(P.S. Starbucks is an Edelman client, but I wrote this purely of my own volition.)

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?