mom's chicken and rice casserole revisted

To say that my mother wasn't much of a cook when I was growing up would be an understatement. She only made a few dishes and they were as follows...
  Shit On A Shingle (boil in the bag chipped beef poured on toast)
  Beef Stew (a can of UNDRAINED Veg-All mixed with ground beef)
  Hot Beef Sandwiches (can of brown gravy poured on toast-no beef or potatoes)
  Chicken and Rice Casserole (made off the Campbell's soup can)
She served Twinkies as breakfast or mixed cereals in one bowl.  Nothing like thinking you scored Fruit Loops for breakfast only to find soggy Corn Flakes four bites in.  The only fresh vegetable we ever had was potatoes.  Boiled.  You could smash it yourself at the table with butter. We always had bananas, though.  Or fruit cocktail. HA!
Her chicken and rice casserole was the only thing edible.  Most nights we just had TV dinners (Kid Cuisine, anyone??) or ate out.  We were regulars at Grandmother's and Julio's.  HOWEVER, despite this...I still crave that damn chicken and rice casserole.  Especially the one's she made where, just to be crazy, she added slices of American cheese.  The casserole wasn't even cooked properly half of the time.  Often, the Minute rice managed to be under-cooked, even though, it had spent a hour in the oven. I'm sure my brother does not crave it since she insisted on making it with Cream of Mushroom even though my brother abhors mushrooms.  He still does.
That all being said, I have never successfully recreated that culinary abomination. I have followed the directions on the back of the can, looked it up on All Recipes, everything.  She must of been doing something nuts. Or it as simple as, sometimes you cannot recreate the tastes of childhood.
On A Chef's Life, Vivian Howard made chicken and rice with her mother and admitted to her mother and viewers that her mom's was better.  Vivian is an extraordinary executive chef at Chef and The Farmer in North Carolina.  So I suppose if she has a hard time recreating her mother's dishes, so would I.
Recreating OTHER people's childhood dishes seems to be much easier.  Mike grew up eating these meatballs that had macaroni in them.  They were made in a sweet tomato sauce.  They are very similar to the DALS porcupine meatballs.  I finally made them.  They were delicious and just as Mike remembered them. so there you go.
I wonder what dishes my children will remember and crave when they fly the coop?  Will it be my Magic Macaroni & Cheese? Or Pasta with Bacon & Peas (pasta carbonara)? Who knows.  The point is all children remember something their mom or dad made them when they were growing up.  No matter how much or little their parents cooked.  Or how well.
.....
This Mom's Chicken and Rice Casserole 
{I had a fierce craving last week...so I made my own version.}
2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken
1 can of cream of chicken
3 c. cooked rice
2 heads of broccoli, cut
Shredded Cheddar
Cook chicken in cream of chicken soup in Crockpot on high for 3 hours.  Remove chicken and chop up.  Put back in crockpot, add cooked rice, cheese, and broccoli.  Combine well.  Pour into greased 9x13 baking dish. Top with more cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

boredom busters

cloud dough

tis the season for stir crazy kiddos.  either it's too cold, windy, or rainy out or worse...the kids are sick AND the weather sucks. anyone knows that oftentimes when the kids are sick they are still mobile and extremely stir crazy.  which makes parents crazy. at least it makes me crazy.  enter my tried and true ways to bust boredom in the balls.  i'm sharing them with you today, but also recording them for myself...so i can look them up and implement them instead of having a meltdown.

cloud dough 
slightly messy, but worth it. store it on one of those "under the bed" storage containers. (found here)

fish for letters
fill the tub up and throw a bunch of those magnetic numbers or letters in it.  have your kid fish the letters or numbers out with a kid fishing pole that has a paperclip attached to the end of the line.  older kids can spell stuff out or practice math.  younger ones can identify the numbers or letters.

shaving cream
this cheap stuff is your friend.  in a tub, cover a toy in it and have your kid shoot water at it until they find their "prize".  OR put some on baking sheet and let them add color with those water tubes that come with flowers.  just dilute food coloring in some water.  then let them go to town.  very easy to clean up.

tub painting
strip the kids to their underoos.  cover the tub walls in paper and make some edible finger paint or just color some cool whip with food coloring.  let them create a masterpiece.  when they are done, remove the paper and start bath time. OR make your own bath paint by coloring shaving cream with food coloring and let them paint during bathtime.

rice game
fill a bowl up with uncooked rice and hide things like magnetic letters in it.  have the kid dig around until they find all the treasures. give them some smaller containers and let them transfer the rice from container to container.  keep it all contained on a large, rimmed baking sheet for easier clean up. (i used this one for all of hendrix's 2nd year so that i could get dinner made)

pompom game
find some unbreakable container with a lid and preferably clear.  cut a smaller hole in the lid.  give your kid some pompoms and have them stuff the pompoms in the container.  use different colors and sizes then have them practice colors and sizes.  (this was also great when hendrix was about 1 1/2 - 2 1/2)

balloon pong
things can escalate quickly but it gets a lot of energy out. see here for how to.

make granola or animal cookies
easy recipes for kids to help with and they freeze for up to 3 months.  granola recipe is here and animal cookie recipe is here.

clean up relay race
at my house, everything that is supposed to be upstairs is always (somehow) downstairs.  so i get a tub and set it by the bottom of the stairs.  i go through the downstairs and collect everything that needs to go back upstairs.  while i do it i have hendrix RUN the items to the box.  gets energy out.  sometimes he falls, but he loves it.

paper highway
tear off a big piece of kraft paper.  draw roads and a town on it.  give your kids some crayons and cars.  have them add to the town and go for a drive.

.....
what are your boredom busters? let's all share so that we have some arsenal this winter and upcoming rainy (hopefully!!) spring.



  

let's get real

welp. my schedule idea has not worked out so well this week.  mostly, because my allergies have me walking around feeling like i got punched in the nose (which i was sure was a cold because it felt so bad).  also, i choose to redo my back porch, visit my niece and nephew, and pick some fruit instead.  so, now i have buckets of apples, peaches, and wild plums to do something with and this disaster. warning.  these pics might make you think i am a filthy slob or love me more for my honesty.  you see, i was talking to a fellow mother earlier this week and she was under the impression that i was always on the ball with my motherly & wifely duties.  if i led you to believe that...i trust these pictures will make you feel better.  life happens.

what happens when i can't bear to clean up after bathtime



what happens when i don't do the dishes for one day




the living room running from it's own bomb.  the bomb of hendrix.




what happens when i just let hendrix go to bed because i am so tired i want to die.



much better time then cleaning.





so, there you go.  go forth and feel better about your own homes, ladies.  i have to go call bio recovery services for the bomb that went off in my house.



on a schedule

photo by cami rawlings

i'm sure you have all seen the schedules on pinterest.  there's one for SAHMs or cleaning or menu prep, etc, etc.  they are enough to make anybody feel overwhelmed.  who has the time for such schedules? apparently i do.  apparently my organization skills are just borderline ocd.  i've talked about breaking up the cleaning duties and keeping up on the daily messes before and when i talk with the women of the pathway program during our "managing a home" discussions, i tell them the same thing.  something about cleaning your entire house in one day, while children run underfoot, is soul crushing.  and, really, aren't there other things to do.  in general, i don;t mind housework.  i even kind of like it.  see the line about possible ocd above.  however, i do not like it while i am doing it and hendrix all sudden needs me to do one million things for him.  also, a toddler's help is cute and all but let's fact it...it is not really all that helpful or realistic . he has his own chores like picking up after himself and feeding the dogs so i am not too worried about him learning about cleaning. so, i decided to come up with daily must dos along with one chore a day that would help me keep up on the actual cleaning of the house, as well as, the picking up, dishes, etc.  that way i can spend most of hendrix's naptime doing more important things like staring at a wall and building up my energy resources. i've been doing it for a couple of months now and it really has been working. who knows how it will work in the future or if we add more kids to the mix, but for now it works. and that is all that matters. the house is clean and i have time for my ever growing list of projects and more time in the garden.

MON: purge traffic areas (these get cluttered over the weekend) &
help hendrix pick up his playroom (the rest of the week i don't care where the toy is as long as it is in the play room, but on monday we re-organize and throw away any broken toys or trash) | 30mins

TUES: dust | 20 mins

WED: clean bathroom | 15 mins

THURS: do floors | nap time (it's all wood floors or tile in my house)

FRI - SUN: off or time to do projects

DAILY: dishes, laundry, pick up the house, and sweep (we have 2 large dogs and 4 cats)

what do you think? do you clean when the feeling hits you or do you break it up over the week? am i crazy? don't answer that.  i'm off to clean to clean the bathroom. however, i don't think i am only one that is struggling to find ways to keep the house together while teaching the kids the importance of cleaning up after themselves.  and still finding time to spend with our families and doing the things we enjoy.  it's a conversation i have often with my friends who are mothers. so, perhaps a schedule isn't the worst idea?
......
also, i leave you with this quote for Design Mom's Living with Kids post yesterday:

Motherhood is such a demanding career, yet it makes me restless. I felt trapped in the early months caring for an infant both times. I wanted to get things done, to be on the go, but I was needed to sit, nurse, and be still.
and check out this article for some discipline problem solvers.  i have put some of them into practice and let me tell you...they are working. for now.

harvesting rants

i was going to share with you several ways to use those over sized cucumbers of yours or how i was re- purposing some old shoes to look like these puppies or what to bring to people who just had a baby. but i didn't quite get the news i was hoping for yesterday and it put me in a funk.  so instead i turned the sprinkler on for  hendrix and worked in the garden.  this is today's harvest.  obviously it is time to get to preserving tomatoes and cukes.  maybe even green beans.  but that is a post for another day.

while i was working in the garden, i was working out a lot of bad energy.  just letting it sweat out.  thinking about the conversation my friend, marti, and i had yesterday about people prophetizing about the state of food, posting pics of dinner, and then spending their nights watching four hours of television. it got me riled up.  then i was too short with hendrix and felt bad about my mommy abilities. then he made this face.

then i realized that i needed to calm the eff down.  i may not of gotten the news i wanted yesterday, but it was still good news.  i have a good life.  for god's sake, i get to spend the morning in the garden while my kid plays in the sprinkler. i get to have a garden.  period. i get to.  there are a lot of things and people that annoy me. (people who take themselves too seriously, the food network, and mommy judgement/guilt being some of the things) but in the end they probably do because i see something that i don't like about myself in them. so that being said.  (i know i'm brilliant, aren't i? also, i am a slow learner with a sarcasm problem) i'm going to have a banana smoothie and i am going to cheer back up. i'll be back soon with cucumber strategies, silver shoes, and what people with new babies really need. 





so not cool

i came to the ugly realization on monday night that i am so not cool anymore.  i am so far from it.  i am the person i used to make fun of when i was in my twenties or even when hendrix was still a baby and i was working at the buv.  i also came to the realization that you can hold onto your coolness until your baby is mobile and has an opinion.  basically, once they won't sleep in their carrier while you have lunch with your girlfriends or dinner with your lover...you're screwed and you are done. done. you will then be spending all of your time chasing said baby around, cutting up food, taking them to the bathroom, and talking about monster trucks.
folks without children...you know that couple that walks into the hip, beautiful restaurant/ bar you are hanging out in?  you know the couple.  the ones with an almost gleeful, "we're free" look on their face.  the lady has nice dress on and the dude's got a polo on.  they might even get a little too tipsy, too fast.  well, you should be nice to them because they are on a date and they are pumped to not have to fill a sippy cup. or how about the group of ladies that showed up in the minivan and are a little overdressed? this is their girl's night, yo.  and these ladies just want to be in a pretty place with pretty people without cleaning their kids butt.  however, this realization does not mean that i will be wearing be-dazzled butt jeans anytime soon. or ed hardy. i do dream of getting a minivan, though.  also, i am still thrilled i had so much damn fun in my twenties.

the oven and my nemesis

i don't remember the last time i turned on my oven on.  i have only used the stovetop three times in the past two weeks.  mostly, i have been cooking dinner like it is 1995...on my george forman grill, in the crockpot and in the toaster oven.  i long to turn my oven on to make some pie. but i refuse to do such a thing to myself when it is 100 degrees outside. so what have i been cooking? among others: sausage & peppers, grilled zucchini ribbon salad, pasta carbonara, cheeseburgers, sausage stuffed swiss chard, kielbasa with latkes and shrimp tarragon rolls. only a couple more days and the heat wave will be broken.  hopefully. it brings some rain. the corn needs it.  i need it.  i got big plans to do some breakfast freezer cooking.  breakfast and i have been fighting lately.  i cannot bear to make anymore eggs for hendrix, but i have no backup plan.  if i don't have a plan, then i turn hangry. hangry is a condition where mommy turns crazed and angry with hunger right around 10 am.  it's not pretty.  however, the last two mornings i have made breakfast grilled cheese.  cream cheese, berries, a drizzle of honey on wheat bread grilled on....you guessed it! the george foreman.  what do ya'll eat for breakfast? 

save time

it occurred to me last night while i was assembling today's dinner in the crockpot that i really had wished someone would of shared with me how  much of a time suck the mundane, daily tasks would be....you know, like how much time mothers actually devote to meal planning & prep, cleaning, appointment making, childcare arranging, clothes shopping (because they grow out of stuff every.single.day), diaper changing, etc., etc.  i spend so much time doing this stuff.  it is insane.  however, i have gotten pretty good at saving time in certain areas so that i can cuddle on the couch with the kiddo or the hubby, work in my art::workroom, or (better yet!) sleep. 
here's what i got for you:
1. just do the dishes.
yes, i know they are sucking your will to live but they will be even more of a bastard in the morning.  clean sink every night makes for a much happier morning.
2. prep dinner the night before.
if it is going to be a crockpot meal, assemble and stick in the fridge the night before.  just set to room temp first thing in the morning and turn on before you are out the door.  if it isn't a crockpot meal, still do your chopping and any assembling the night before.  it will make dinnertime way more enjoyable.
3. put it away...asap
the minute we walk in from school, playdates, or errand running we put away our shoes, coats, bags, whatever.  otherwise, it piles up in the entryway and kitchen table.  and that blocks the sunlight to my soul.
4. 5 minute clean sweep
most nights (unless i am so tired, i want to die) i do a quick run through of the main floor and just pick up.  that way, in the morning, things start out organized....notice, i said start out.
6.  chores are glorious
i recently started a chore chart for mr. h.  and it is awesome.  that dude makes his own bed, puts his dirties in the basket, and picks up toys.  all for $1 a week. if you can get the kids to do it...let them.  i also still have him convinced that vacuuming is fun.  and don't anyone tell him different.
7. break up the list
i used to do all the cleaning in one day.  sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, dusting, bathrooms - in one day.  that was stupid.  i thought i was going to die and spent too much time yelling at the kid and pets.  now one day i do floors.  another dusting and bathrooms. cat litter another day.  it doesn't take that much time and allows me to keep the house semi-clean while hendrix has some sesame street time,
8. avoid the pile up...at all costs
i am guilty of letting the laundry pile up to several loads.  like seven.  that is dumb.  because when i actually on my A-game...we have clothes to wear.  peed through pj's are not the end of the world.  you see where i am going with this.  my friend, anj, once told me she did laundry every day.  she has four kids and i thought she was nutso.  then, i came to my senses.  lady knows what she is talking about.
9. look at the big picture (in advance)
every month i make a list and attach it to my calendar.  the list is for appts that need to be made, sitters that need to be arranged, deadlines for activity sign up, daylight savings time, bills, scheduled mommy time, & hubby appointments.  it is my way of knowing what needs to happen and staying on top of it.
10. plan, plan, plan
i plan our following week's meals and activities (usually) every thursday.  then on sunday i take out meat to thaw, print chore charts, get any outgoing mail(bills) ready, and write it all down on the white board next to my calendar.  that is the most important part...writing it down.  otherwise, nothing happens.
11. take inventory
i am a cheap a$$ so i typically only buy kids clothes at consignment or thrift stores.  however, if you go when kids have really outgrown clothes...you won't find anything. it's how the universe rolls. so, twice a year, i take an inventory of hendrix's clothes (august/march) and make a list of how many pants & shirts i need.  then, i go shopping (by myself!!) to get it all.  i also check the clearance racks at target at the end of seasons to buy for the following year. shoes are the only thing i don't buy in advance or alone.  i have been burned one too many times.  kid has to try them on before i buy.
12. everything has a station
this year has been all about organizing and making a place for everything.  it makes it much easier on everyone if everything is in the same place.  diapers are always in the same place.  the same with the tools, art supplies, coat hooks, shoe catcher, hats & gloves basket, toys in the playroom, and bathroom stuff.  if it is not and you can't find your stuff....that is not my problem.  hendrix had to wait for the snow to melt to find his toy shovel.  when he finally did....he promptly placed on the porch where it belongs.
13. just let it go
the house will live on if it is not cleaned or perfectly organized every day. no one will die if you eat take out once in awhile. if someone shows up unannounced and it looks like a bomb went off...blame it on your housemates. that's what i do.

party on with your (3 year old) self

construction crayons found here

lest you think it is serious around here all the time...we do party from time to time.  and boy! do we have a party coming...

hendrix is coming up on THREE...holy effing smokes.  and we all know his momma loves to plan a party (and that his daddy hates parties. but haters are my motivators), so here is the lowdown on hendrix's par-tay.
BE A BUILDER is the theme.
hendrix loves all things about building, farming, and landscaping.  he can name all construction vehicles on sight.  he peruses the stihl catalog every night before bed.  take him to a john deere dealership and he knows exactly what everything is, parked on their lot.  at menards he needs to check out the saws and lawnmowers.  yesterday, he told me he wanted to be a weed whacker when he grew up.  today he wants to be a cement truck driver when he grows up. you get the picture.  soooooooo....the party hats are hard hats.  the games will be pinata demolition and tower building.  the cake topper is a bulldozer.  blueprints are the decor. rulers, pencils, graph paper, and construction shaped crayons are the party favors. we will "construct" our own bird feeders. why? because if you build it...they will come.
.....
in other news....
this sunday is another "Go Big for Casey" Sunday Fun Day.  this one will be held at the dundee dell, with 25% of ALL food/drink sales made between 11am-1am going to support Casey K.

next week, i will talk more about making gardening and cooking accessible and fun for everyone.  i also tell you about my day at the heart ministry center and the day i have planned there on the 21st. hint: i need your help and recipes. and i will talk about my cheap ass ways. not whore/cheap ass. moneysaving/cheap ass.

and, last but not least, HAPPY CAKE!! to jackson. go blow up some candles, dude.

we don't own a ferret

as you can imagine we get lots of critters and bird sightings out at the farm.  this year i have seen deer, hawks, coyotes, turkeys, raccoons, turkey vultures, cardinals, blue jays, a feral dog, and mike swears he saw a beaver.  oh, and an opossum in my trash can. in my house. twice.
one lovely evening at home, after hendrix had been put to bed, mike and i were enjoying a bowl of popcorn. mike was also enjoying a couple of beers.  these beers would prove to be a good choice in just a short while.  as beer almost always does.
i got up to throw the unpopped kernels away and to grab something to drink.  we keep our trash can under the sink.  you know, to keep the house critters (i.e. the dogs and cats) out of the trash.  when i opened the cupboard door i noticed 2 red eyes staring back at me...as the body, the eyes were attached to, froze in motion. in the brief seconds that followed my whacked head was able to process the following...

why is the ferret in the trash can?
why did we get a ferret? i don't like ferrets. (my friend ashley had one when were growing up.  it used to run around and nip my heels.)
wait, we don't own a ferret.
oh, shit. that is not a ferret.
that is a possum (i see possum spelled this way in my head when i say it or think it because that is how it should be spelled, dammit).
shut the door, annie.

then i calmly (really, i did) told mike that there was an opossum in the trash can.  mike calmly (i know everyone can believe this, at least) got up, walked to the cupboard, pulled the can out, walked outside, and took care of business.  apparently, if you don't take care of business opossums &/or raccoons will keep coming back to the site of the food.  my uncle ed confirmed this for me because i was sure that mike was a baby opossum murderer. 
the second time this happened mike was dead sober and told me that it was terrible taking care of business.  also, the opossum was not a baby and was scrappy.  so i am sure that did not help. we needed to figure out the point of entry and remedy. our house was built in 1896 and has foundation problems.  so the point of entry could be anywhere. except this time it was easy...pretty sure it was the ginormous hole in the floor under the sink.  so i did what any country chick would do...i got the power drill and drilled some board into the floor, painted it a lovely chartreuse, added an awesome, black & white, baroque print wallpaper along the bottom, and organized the crap out of that cupboard.  i am happy to report we have been opossum free for 3 months. 
i used to care if animals were killed in the radius of my home. until, filthy opossums were getting into my trash can or deer were eating 20 rows of our field corn. now i am really into eating sustainable vension.

sometimes it's good to get real with yourself...

you know when you apply for jobs or have interviews and they ask you to describe yourself?  i decided to do that for myself. and you, i guess....

i am a former wannabe hipster who was a fashion obsessed,overindulgent party girl who was a waitress for over 10 years. then i got a job at a french wine bar/restaurant with a from scratch kitchen in the basement and specialty grocery store in the back. it changed my life. now i am former food grower, marketing maven, baby crazed mother that is about to marry the farmer of her dreams. and i am too hip for rural america.

well? how do you like them apples?

what to cook when it is 1 MILLION DEGREES

out here at the farm the charm really ends when a heat wave comes through and the lack of air conditioning makes me want to kill someone.  yes, i know window units only cost a couple hundred dollars.  our lovely home was built in 1895 and the electricity is less than great.  however, yesterday mike saved our relationship and family by figuring out a way to have a window unit run in the living room without blowing a fuse.  i fell in love with him all over again.  the downstairs living area is so livable and comfortable even at 88 degrees.  seriously. 
the kitchen and bathroom are another story.  which brings me to this. . . what the EFF am i making for dinner?  my guts and soul cannot handle anymore take out.  never fear the world wide web is here.

what to cook when it is 1 MILLION DEGREES
and you can't bear to grill for more than 5 minutes:

• lemon slushies for snack time or add vodka for a nightcap

• shrimp mango avocado salad (my favorite unfortunately mike is not a big fan. boo! hiss!)

• anything on a tostada shell ($1.49 a pack at aldi) -- shrimp, fish, beans & corn, gauc, or shredded pork (see below).  just saute the fish or beans in salsa until cooked through and pile on tostada with whatever else you want.

• crockpot pork tacos - yes i use the crockpot even when it is 1 MILLION DEGREES because it is not the oven - this recipe is pretty similar to one i use

• ratatouille - make it early in the morning or the night before.  eat cold or slightly warmed.

• crockpot ribs with some premade salads ( i made a bunch of kinds on friday when it was a bit cooler and have been snacking on them since) - these ribs are finished off on the grill for just about 6 minutes

• BLTs, of course!!

• hebrew national hot dogs made on the george foreman grill - yes, i still own one and use it.  i'm not ashamed.

alright, people, my mom guilt and pocketbook might make through this heat wave.  stay cool!

good for nothing

heat indexes of 1000 105 degrees are good for nothing except. . .

popsicles
lemon blueberry popsicles
1 box of lemon pudding
milk
blueberries
popsicle molds
prepare pudding according to package instructions.  pour into molds, about 1/2 way.  fill up 3/4 way with blueberries.  freeze for about 3 - 4 hours.  enjoy the creamy goodness. really easy to make with kids.

pool time
free water park. ..the papillion splash pad

smoothies
the hendrix special
frozen strawberries (about 1 1/2 - 2 cups)
1-2 bananas
soy milk
combine fruit in a blender and fill soy milk up to almost the top of the fruit.  blend and enjoy!!

farming in skirts not wearing a bra

wanna know one way a woman farmer is different than a man farmer?  a woman will farm in a skirt and leave her bra at home.  why? because it is 10,000 degrees outside and wearing a bra or pants when it is that hot is just torture.  women farmers differ from their male counterparts in a lot ways.  every month, for at least one week, we are dealing with our uterus rejecting us.  we run the risk of getting a rash from poison oak/ivy when we go to the bathroom outside.  we have to think about what to make for lunch not what's for lunch.  no one is in the kitchen making us lunch.  if the kid is sick. . .nothing is happening in the field that day.  all of this doesn't make the job of a women farmer harder or more trying than a man's. . .just different.  and it is not said for the sake of bitching. all of the women of clementine's are more than grateful for our magical gnome (mike) who spent the weekend weeding an 8 1/2 acre plot of land.  keep in mind, though, that magical gnome is pretty impressed with what all of the women have done to that 8 1/2 acre plot.

*look for details on our farm stand opening this week.  we will also be at the muchas gracias brunch on sunday selling veggies & tickets to our august dinner in the field event.

mobbed

we got mobbed.  crop mobbed.  on saturday, april 9th grower extraordinaries, children of all shapes and sizes, family, and strangers descended on our farm. their cars filled the driveway.  their tools covered the lawn.  their spirit filled the air.  their laughter brought life to an almost forgotten place.  their bodies made the soil pop.  their fingers placed life giving seed into the ground.  their love of farming made a little, old woman smile.
the turnout and work done during our crop mob was so overwhelming.  i haven't really been able to process it or write about it until now.  most of the people, mike or i had never met before.  all of the mobbers brought life and beauty to a farm that we cherish and hope so much for.  so thank you from the bottom of our hearts. we hope that our farm gave you as much life as you gave it.  you are helping us make food accessible, building a community, and bringing back the food farm to america.
we hope those of you who didn't get out last time will make it to our next crop mob.  and mobbers who came last time?  come on, back!  we already miss you. xoxo

sunday, may 1st --- 11:30 to 4
Our last crop mob was so wonderful, productive, and fun. . .we thought we'd do another. Crop mobs are a wonderful way to meet your growers and to see where the food is grown. We will start a bit later to allow people to go to church and we'll follow with a BBQ. Vegetarian and meat eater options available. 

what we will be doing:
*we will finish up the signs that bring traffic to our farm stands (bring your creativity and good handwriting) - good for kids!
*we will continue planting veggies and pest deterring plants
* help plant the heart ministry center's plot
*build compost bins
*finish any planting in the cut flower/herb bed that needs to be done - good for kids!
*stamp our bags for subscription delivery & farm stand sales - good for kids!
*putting up fence 

what we need you to bring:
rakes
trowels
gloves
hammers
wheelbarrow 
post diggers
shovels

to do lists

okey dokey.  it's monday.  it is sunny and cold.  and i have a TON of stuff to complete.  so here is a list of stuff i think you should know about. . .

1. my soon to be 2 year old no longer naps.  not because i wanted it to happen either, non parents. turns out, you can't make toddlers sleep.  however, quiet time is required in the household. so he is currently in his bedroom becoming one with himself.  while, singing into a microphone.

2. my sister-in-law, magali,  is a professional ballerina and will be performing this weekend.  you should go and get cultural. here's where you can get tickets.

3. we are so very lucky to be finding some wonderful women to work with us on our farm this year. 

4. i  heart valentine's day.  i don't know why, but i do.  i am printing these stickers out and putting them all over the fruit for valentine's day.  don't tell mike! *wink*

5. don't need a veg box because you have your own garden?  or you are planning on trying it yourself this year?  that is AWESOME.  seriously.  america would be a better place if there were more gardens.  if you don't have a tiller and don't want to spend the money to buy or rent one. . .mike will come out and till it up for you.  it's $40 for 500 sq. feet and an additional $5 for every extra 100 square feet.  tilling really prepares the ground to grow some awesome veggies.  email us at clementinespandp@gmail.com.

6. this is why moms are awesome. . .my grade school classmate, jenny plog timperley, started PLaiD with her friend becki huether.  both women have a child with pediatric liver disease.  1 in 25, 000 babies are born with pld.  PLaiD provides support, raises awareness, and educate.  these women are an inspiration. 

7. i should of started planning our wedding months ago.  anyone know of any event spaces that are AVAILABLE sometime in october or november, accomodate 90-95 ppl., & let you bring your own food & drink?

happy monday!

ED: my son just fell asleep while i was writing this.  thank you, murphy's law.

new ideas leads to a split personality

whew! it has been a busy one around here. i have been recruiting interns, hiring the operations assistant from heaven (caitie!), planning cooking lessons with elle, and trying to build a damn website. AND peddling veg boxes, scheduling meetings with potential new restaurants, placing seed orders. . .all very exciting!
oh, and i am the mother of a two year old and i keep forgetting that i need to plan me and mike's wedding.

now for the only time i will ever use this. . .OMG WTF!?

and i have fallen in a dinner rut. i mean a RUT, people. i am sick of braised meat, potatoes, crockpot stews, and spiced anything. over it. so i went searching. . .and i came back to one of my greatest loves, dinner a love story. run, don't walk, to this blog. remember cookie magazine? yeah, one of those gals started this blog. so fantastic.
which leads me to my dinner menu for tonight. . .it is one part spring and one part winter. fish and chips with coleslaw and bread pudding. for some reason, fish and chips remind me of rainy spring weather, lent, and light beer. all good things if you're me. and bread pudding is so a "hunker down" sort of dessert. at least i think so. a little split personality, but for the first time in weeks i am pumped to eat dinner tonight. and i made the bread pudding in the crockpot. yes, the crockpot.
my menu for this week is below with the links and the crockpot bread pudding recipe, too. if you are in rut, i hope it helps cure it.

1. lamb chops with quinoa salad (or use a rack, and cut it up, they are WAY cheaper)
2. fish sandwiches with sweet potato fries and coleslaw
3. meatball subs with coleslaw
4. chicken sausages & latkes (sausages from trader joe's)
5. peanut noodles

crockpot bread pudding
1 1/2 baguettes, cut up (or similar)
2 cups of milk
1/4 c. sugar
1 T. vanilla
1 T. baking spice (or similar)
4 eggs
1 c. raisins
1/4 c. butter, melted and slightly cooled
mix the bread and raisins. pack into your crockpot. whisk remaining ingredients together. pour over bread, fully saturating. cook on high for about 3 hours. or until knife inserted in the middle comes out clean. enjoy!
REVISION: serve this whiskey cream sauce on top of the crockpot bread pudding.
and if you are really in a rut AND have cabin fever. . .go to THIS!

what you need on a snow day

a snow day on the farm is beautiful and wonderful. . .as long as you are prepared and have plenty of food. here's what you need to enjoy it:

hot cocoa and marshmallows
a sled
snowmen materials
some soup in the crockpot
booze (for when the kiddos finally go to sleep)

hope you are enjoying your snow day! if you're not. . .spring will be here before you know it!

easy hot cocoa
1 part cocoa powder
2 parts sugar
1 t. cinnamon
1 c. hot milk
mix dry ingredients and stir into hot milk. don't forget the marshmallows! enjoy!

what are you making?

i am feeling totally uninspired about the whole christmas meal thing. no idea what to make. i'm thinking a brisket with horseradish mashed potatoes, roasted root vegetables, a tossed green salad, and some chocolate cake. thoughts? what are you making? what are doing for the holiday? or the holiday you and your family celebrate.
now as far as the cookies and the presents go. . .i am inspired! i am so freaking excited to watch my almost two year old freak the freak out on christmas. santa is bringing some real winners this year. i can feel it. kids make gift giving SO MUCH BETTER. kids make everything SO MUCH BETTER.
sidenote: hendrix threw a mini tantrum in trader joe's yesterday. but a really good tantrum. a good tantrum, you ask? hendrix was begging me to open the spinach bag so he could have some. i told him we had to buy it and take it home. he kept screaming MOM, MOM, MOM, and shoving the bag in my face. other mothers were looking at me like i was some sort of messiah. it was great. and one of my most proud moments as mother, so far. i'm done bragging now.

i think you should know about THIS!

1. we all have colds. AGAIN.
2. awesome wreath. . .i want to recreate this.
3. kale chips. gonna make them as soon as i step away from the computer.
4. keeping the oven on and baking things keeps the propane bill lower. (not really)
5. i made pumpkin muffins (recipe below) today and substituted applesauce for the oil, used 1/2 whole wheat flour, and cut the sugar by 1/4 cup. results? delicious!
6. if you haven't tried andrea's pancakes and you are a mother, someone who is frazzled in the morning, or someone who has to get up in the morning. . . you should. they will save your life.
7. i AM going to make this. mainly, in hopes, that otis the cat sleeps in there & not in our bed.
8. if you haven't checked out http://www.dinneralovestory.com/ you need to. here's your first recipe to try. . .you'll never look back. eat it with horseradish on the side.
9. my aunt & her friend started an etsy shop. so did my other friends, shannon & gabe.
10. if you become a friend/fan of metro neighborhood news on facebook and they reach 1500 fans. . .you could win some cool stuff. i won a $30 gift certificate to mangelsen's yesterday!

pumpkin muffins
3/4 c. whole wheat flour
3/4 c. all purpose flour
1 t. baking powder
1 c. pumpkin puree
1/3 c. applesauce
2 lg. eggs
1 c. sugar
1/2 t. cinnamon
1/4 t. nutmeg
1/8 t. ginger
1/8 t. cloves
1/2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
sift flours and baking powder. in separate bowl, whisk pumpkin puree through salt together. slowly whisk in flour mixture. fill paper lined/greased muffin tins, 3/4 full. bake in 350 degree oven for 25-30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in middle comes out clean. enjoy!

p.s. 11. the high winds outside are making me want to poke my eyes out.