Vanilla Icing

Reading in Frick Park

Yesterday Tristyn and Maia were very grouchy and stir crazy.  It was time to get out and move!  We collected back packs, water, a snack and library books.  Tristyn and Maia took their scooters but I stuck to my feet and together we went to the library where we exchanged our library books for new ones.  Then we went to Frick Park where we played at the playground and read library books.  We didn't stop there though!  From there we went through Regent Square to Giant Eagle and picked up some pineapple and a few other things for dinner before we finally made our way home.  If I had to guess I would think we traveled about three miles altogether?

It felt good to get out together.  The kids were tired but happy at the end of the afternoon.  I think it was just what we needed!

A Long Six Months

Maia's friend and her family are going to Australia for six months.  Maia is really going to miss her friend-- especially when it really sinks in that she's not at the top of the street for her to run up and see.

In recent months, their little duo has become a trio.  There were a few things they worked out at first but now, just when they really got the hang of it they are going to be broken apart.  They will all miss each other but I think they will have fun sending letters.

A few pictures, in no particular order:

Ice Cream after Dave and Buster's.

Dave and Buster's.  (I told you in no particular order, remember?)

New Year's Eve a couple year's ago.  They were doing some tribal-y sort of pot dance.

Pretending to be kitty cats.

Picnic-ing on the front porch.

The trio at their earliest! 

Sunshine girls.  Sometimes they like to match their outfits.

Sharing secrets.

Vacation at the Outer Banks.

We will miss you guys!  Have a safe and fun trip!

Saturdays in Summer

...are for discovering a tomato plant in the garden that you didn't put there.  A seed from last year crop perhaps?

Satisfaction

Pretty V. Functional

Don't you just hate when something is prettier than it is functional?

I don't.  Not when it comes to bread.  Never mind that a braided ring of sourdough doesn't make for nice, clean slices--it sure makes a pretty display on the dinner table.  Especially, if unlike me you have the foresight to put the olive oil dipping bowl in the center of the bread ring and not leave it over on the table when you are taking the picture.

On a different note, my zucchini from CSA Boxes Two and Three are multiplying while I sleep.  I am sure of it.  We've had zucchini slices, stuffed zucchini and yesterday I made zucchini bread.  (Keep in mind, zucchini in moderate to large quantities makes me very, very ill)  I still have two zucchini on my counter top.  Every time I use one, the next morning there are two on my counter top. Despite my best efforts, There are always two on my counter top.  I think I am going mad.

I forgot to list the contents of CSA Box 3 so here it is:

2 large onions
3 tomatoes
1 big box of strawberries
3 zucchini
2 small loaves of French Bread (Ha!  And these were in the box the day I made ciabatta)
1 Broccoli

This box didn't feel quite as plentiful (hence the bread) but it was with reason.  The day before we had very bad storms in our area and a lot of people experienced flooding.  I'm not sure that our farm could have completely escaped and I think that's why we didn't have a 'full' box.

Man Food

Rick and I had the opportunity of a romantic dinner, alone and at home, together the other night. 

A meatball sub on sourdough ciabatta isn't very romantic.  I take complete blame for the lack of romance present at our dinner.

But, in my defense, I must say I felt very loving towards the beef and pork as I mixed them together with the other ingredients.  I whispered endearments to them about how they were going to be the most perfect meatballs and taste so delicious once they were cooked and rolled in my sauce and topped with melted provolone.  I explained how they would be nestled between the halves of the ciabatta Chuck and I had made together from the heart.   Didn't they know that bread was made solely with them in mind?   And I told them how cherished they would feel when they reached their final destination--our stomachs!--after such sweet longing all week.

All this, I told them.  The meatballs understood their destiny.  I felt the love present while I ate them.  I was filled with happiness and fulfillment.....and love.  What about Rick?

You don't really think Rick was thinking all that mush do you?  Do you??!!  Actually, neither was I.  Here's what we were thinking as we cracked our teeth as far was they would go to stuff the ciabatta in:

'Mmmmm....man food.'

Saturdays in Summer

....are for sharing secrets.

A lot of times, a lot of us who keep a blog don't tend it very well on the weekends because there are so many other, more important things to do on the weekend.  But, I thought it would be fun to take just one quick picture--more often than not with my cell phone camera because it's nearest to hand--of just one thing that happens on Saturdays in Summer.  Only a few words at most to accompany the picture and then back to those things that make summer so memorable.

I haven't a fancy button for you to add to your blog, but if you decide to join me for Saturdays in Summer I'd love to know!

Chuck's Ciabatta

Ciabatta.  

Chuck's Ciabatta.  Mine too.  It turned out much better than the poor picture shows.  I couldn't manage to 'pose' the ciabatta to my liking.  There must have been more than 2 dozen attempts on my camera!  And yes, this, was the best of the worst.  Ah well, good thing our taste buds aren't so picky.

The interior crumb has a good many irregular holes (as a good ciabatta should) but I couldn't help but wish for MORE of them and some larger ones as well.  I'm fairly satisfied with Chuck and I's first attempt at ciabatta.

I have one loaf left and I'm thinking of splitting it for a giant meatball sub for Rick and I to split for dinner tomorrow.  All the smallish holes should help catch the sauce quite well--and the the lack of larger holes should prevent messy drips.  IF I don't first slice it up and fry it in a bit of butter to go alongside some eggs for breakfast!

Spinach & Ricotta Pie

On Tuesday, I tried to poison my children.  I made Spinach & Ricotta Pie and it wasn't a hit. 
W---e---l---l, I liked it a lot, Rick tolerated it, Tristyn choked it down and Maia wouldn't touch it.  Now normally, this would have annoyed me but frankly this time it made me boiling with anger that nearly spilled over.

I kept it in check, because most of that anger had started bubbling when the recipe from blogland I was following was not working.  A quarter of the way through, I tossed that recipe aside and improvised.   Things got better--and tastier!--from there until I served it to my family.

It was the spinach that made everyone unhappy.  No one around here likes spinach but me--and that's only if it's cooked.  I got a lid on my anger and helped myself to a second slice.  I couldn't be too mad.

After all, two weeks in a row I've managed to use ALL of the spinach in my CSA box without any going to waste.  Three out of four of us ate it.  And that IS an improvement over last year!

Do You Have a Tunnel? We Do.