Milk Breath and Margaritas

Re-Direct Wednesday

2009-11-11T09:25:00.007-06:00

I have a few things to share, including an important birthday wish.

My Candied Sweet Potatoes looked so yummy that Blissfully Domestic asked to publish them in their Food Section. Whoot! (Thanks Rachel!)

I have two blogs to recommend to you. I know I know! You need more blogs in your Reader, like I do. heh.

But look, The Parsonage Family is written by a very classy lady with a personal style I admire. She's a talented, thoughtful writer, and posts pictures of one sweet little baby girl named Kate. What more could you ask for?

And Rebecca! Rebecca posts lovely photographs, some yummy recipes, and delightful reflections on being a mom to her adorable kiddos and other "mom thoughts." Worth a look, I tell ya.

This post over at Burgh Baby is definitely worth a read (bring tissues). And consider a donation - I made this one of my Christmas Angel donations for this year - it'll make you feel good!

And finally, happy birthday sweet girl.

Pop over and leave an encouraging word for Heather and Mike. Today is Maddie's second birthday. If I can't type that without crying, I cannot imagine how they feel. Prayers for them, for Maddie, and for their new baby girl, would be the best thing we can do. The next best thing is a donation (It'll make you feel good!) to Friends of Maddie & the March of Dimes. (You can also click my little button over there any time.)

Happy Birthday Madeline.

Never Out

2009-11-09T22:13:00.006-06:00

Never out.

or

Always in.

Classic.

Timeless.

Some pieces you just have to buy when you see them, whether you need them right then or not, because they will always work. Like this find from last year:

Dear Classic Calvin Klein Little Black Dress, forgive my craptastic photo which doesn't do you justice at all. And includes an ironing board and kid smudged mirrors.

I love the sheer top and little cap sleeve. Very sophisticated. Appropriate in nearly every season.

I know what some of you are thinking though.

Aren't they awesome? They are black satin, and you can tie the ribbons several different ways. They are also extremely comfortable. I've had them for probably 7 years and they are standouts. I will never get rid of them.

So, who are they? Manolo? Jimmy Choo? Stuart Weitzman?

They are Nine West. Under $100. FTW!

(It means "for the win!" The things I learn on Twitter. Astounding.)

What are your favorite classic pieces?

This post sponsored by a night out with my husband. Thank you Mr. P!

Candied Sweet Potatoes

2009-11-08T22:30:00.000-06:00

Welcome to Mouthwatering Monday.

Today's feature is Candied Sweet Potatoes. These are a terrific alternative to the standard mashed sweet potatoes with brown sugar and pecan topping. Not that I've ever turned down mashed sweet potatoes with brown sugar and pecan topping. I'm just saying...variety is the sweet potato of life.

Candied Sweet Potatoes

6 large sweet potatoes (about 4 lbs)
1 lemon
1 orange
3/4 C butter, melted
2 C sugar
1/2 C orange juice
2 t ground cinnamon
1 t vanilla extract

Peel potatoes; cut potatoes, lemon, and orange into 1/4-inch slices.

Place potato slices in a lightly greased 11x7 baking dish; arrange lemon and orange slices over potato.

I use the tip of a knife to pop the seeds out of the lemon slices.

Combine melted butter, sugar, orange juice, cinnamon, and vanilla. Pour mixture over potato mixture. Cover with plastic wrap and let stand 1 hour.

Oh yeah, now we're starting to look sweet and candied.

Bake, uncovered, at 350 for 1 1/2 hours, basting often with pan juices.

This dish makes people go, "Ohhhhh!" when you place it on the table. It's very pretty.

I've never been able to decide if you are supposed to eat the lemon and orange or not. I usually shove them aside and go for the tender sweet potatoes. What do you think?

Serves 8-10.
Southern Living, 1995

For amazing recipes links, visit Rachel in the Land of Monkeys and Princesses.

Weekly Winners - Canine Edition

2009-11-07T22:00:00.000-06:00

November 1 -7

Visit Lotus to see more Weekly Winners.

Sam.

Sammy. Sam-bo. Samuel. Sammy Dog. Sam Golden.

Whatever we call him, he is extremely sweet.

And dignified in his old age.

He has wise old eyes now.

But his nose still works like a young pup's.

Sometimes we call him St. Francis, because he is patient and kind to other animals, even cats.

No actual physical resemblence though.

He's quite the photogenic chap isn't he?

The Honey Bear Sings

2009-11-05T20:00:00.005-06:00

Happy Friday! I have nothing written! And pretty much nothing to say right now! So LOOK! A music video!

(Note: Chewing juicy candy makes singing difficult and slobbery.)

(Also, note after "one sell off and bumped his head," the seamless transition to "tinkle tinkle." I see a music scholarship in our future.)

Honey Bear's singing tickles me pink. And orange and purple and blue and green too. I could eat him with a spoon he's so sweet.

It's Friday! Have a good one! Tinkle Tinkle!

Stuff That Won't Be On My Christmas List

2009-11-03T21:29:00.012-06:00

This post received an award from The Mouthy Housewives!

I love kitchen gadgets. I really love me a salad spinner, that juicer top that fits on my large measuring cup, a egg slicer, a pizza cutter, a garlic press. I could go on.

But a good kitchen gadget should save time or help you do something better. It has to earn it's space in the crowded drawer. What follows therefore are kitchen gadgets that I have no interest in ever receiving.

They baffle me.

The banana slicer. (Really?)

This gadget ~~is another thing to wash and store~~ whisks or beats your eggs when you shake it. Like instead of the bowl and fork method. (When did this become a kitchen problem of such magnitude that it needed it's own gadget?)

Now these are cute, but I stand by my Toss Them In The Drawers style of pot and pan storage. (Does anyone have time for this?)

Speaking of cute - these are cute. Do you know what they are for?

Individually storing each and every tomato, onion, pepper (by color, and hey there's no yellow or orange!), lemon, lime, and garlic clove that you put in your fridge. (Hello time to shower! You are outta here! I've got to seal my veggies in plastic veggie shaped containers, because........I have no idea why I would do this.)

And then there is this plastic zipper bag for pie crust. (I don't even really know what to say. I would laugh if I saw someone doing this though.)

Santa, I have a nice little list going, but I don't want any of these things.

Also, I don't need this:

(This is to keep eye makeup from smudging. Yeah, I didn't know either until I read the description. Ever hear of a Q-Tip?)

What kitchen gadgets do you love and which ones do you think are silly?

Brothers

2009-11-02T21:21:00.006-06:00

I went to get Bear when he woke up from his nap, and happened to have my camera with me.

He was happy to see me coming. But I wasn't alone.

Having an older brother means really weird things sometimes happen.

Here comes Swamp Thing, formerly known as Someone Has Been Into The Closet Containing Daddy's Scuba Gear.

Bear, having recovered from his first look at Shark's Halloween costume (he cried), was unfazed by Scuba Shark.

Having an older brother prepares a little brother in ways I never suspected.

Shepherd's Pie and More

2009-11-01T22:02:00.005-06:00

I have a special installment of Mouthwatering Monday this week. Three excellent recipes!

Carnation Evaporated Milk sponsored these recipes, providing me with free milk and a little grocery budget to whip up something good.

I made two recipes from their holiday guide, which you can find on the web site The Cooking Milk.com. Then I made my Shepherd's Pie, using Carnation Milk instead of regular milk (it's a one-for-one substitution). That recipe is below, but first look at this:

The Carnation recipe guide calls this a Pear Oven Pancake, but it's a flan people, a flan. It is more of a custard than a cake, with pear slices, cinnamon, and sugar on top, and everyone loved it. I served it for brunch after church, warm with maple syrup on top. Really easy, elegant looking, and delicious!

I also made these:

Mini Party Quiches, which are perfect for a holiday brunch buffet for a crowd. I like this recipe because it's easy to do your own variation. It calls for red pepper, broccoli, and cheddar, but you could use ham and swiss cheese for example, or spinach and mushrooms. Nice recipe to have handy.

Now -- here is my version of Shepherd's Pie, a hearty dish for colder days.

1 pound ground beef
1 onion
4-5 large carrots
1 bag of frozen peas
2 C beef broth
Salt & pepper to taste
3 T cornstarch
Worchesteshire sauce to taste
Mashed potatoes
Cheddar cheese (slices or shredded)

My potato peeler hard at work.

The Mashed Potatoes: You peel 'em, you boil 'em in water, you cook 'em for 30 minutes, you mash 'em with a potato masher, you add lots of butter, salt, pepper, and maybe some sour cream or cream cheese, and milk. I substituted Carnation Evaporated Milk this time.

Preheat oven to 350. Brown the ground beef and pour off fat. Add chopped onion and diced carrots, broth, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 20 minutes until carrots are tender. Add peas.

Dissolve 3 tablespoons of cornstarch in 1/4 cup of water, whisking in a small bowl. Stir into beef mixture and keep stirring until it is bubbling and has thickened. Add worchesteshire sauce to taste. (I add about 1/2 teaspoon.)

Pour into a deep baking dish. Like this:

Top with cheese. Ummmm...cheese...

Then top with mashed potatoes, mound it up a bit and spread it to touch the sides of the baking dish. Dot with butter.

Bake for 15 minutes or until top of potatoes is golden brown. This is wrapped up in the fridge waiting to be baked for Tuesday night's dinner, so I don't have a "plated picture."

(You can also add more cheese on top of the potatoes before baking it. More cheese is always a good idea.)

Thanks to my other helper who arrived when I was in the middle of 4 different recipes and her baby brother had just awakened from his nap and started to fuss. She retrieved him and changed his diaper and allowed him to hang from her like this for half and hour while I got a few more things done.

I sent her home with food. It worked out well for everyone.

Thanks also to Carnation and One2One Network for this fun opportunity! Check out more of their holiday recipes here.

And visit darling Rachel for all the other Mouthwatering Monday recipes.

Weekly Winners - Halloween

2009-10-31T22:44:00.005-05:00

October 25 - 31

Visit Lotus to see more Weekly Winners.

Skittle Art

YUM

Clone Commander Fox and a growling Bear / Ewok.

He looks a bit concerned. And sort of smooshed.

He looks like trouble.

But oh my heart...

Jack

My professional head shot from work, slightly edited.

Don't eat too much candy, y'all.

Happy Halloween!

Smile for Mommy Sweetheart

2009-10-26T22:23:00.005-05:00

And this...

This is what I get.

Boys. They are so much more awesome than I ever would have imagined.

When Shark Boy was learning to walk (he walked at 10 months goodgrief) he fell and chipped a perfect little crescent shape out of the bottom of one front tooth. I tried not to be upset ~~I was devastated~~. Then a few weeks later at church, he was standing next to me and put his face down on a marble bench, gently, no smashing or banging, and chipped a perfect little crescent shape out of the bottom of the other front tooth.

I.could.not.believe.it. The shapes matched exactly.

In pictures you can only tell if you are looking for it, and by the time he was 3ish, the crescents had worn down and evened off, and it was as if nothing happened.

He has a beautiful smile (despite evidence to the contrary above).

And now it's changing again.

The other front tooth is loose and will be out soon. I taught him the song "All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth," complete with lisp, which he found hysterically funny.

He also decided, I believe, that it's best to play along like the Tooth Fairy is real, just in case you don't get any cash if you admit that she's not.

PS: Yikes, does he needs a haircut.

Weekly Winners - Fashion Edition

2009-10-24T20:24:00.007-05:00

October 19 - 25

Visit Lotus to see other amazing Weekly Winners!

Sugarplum works as Creative Director for a company that owns women's boutiques. As a stylist, part of her job is to choose models, choose outfits, pick out photos for ad campaigns, and that kind of fun stuff.

A couple weeks ago, she worked with Dwight Eubanks, the stylist on Real Housewives of Atlanta, on a fashion show attended by the Real Housewives. (I don't watch this show, but I know from Twitter that it's very popular.)

Recently, the boutique needed some quickie photos of a handful of looks from their fall line up. They told her to model the clothes herself and not spend time working with a model. When they discussed photographers, she said her mom takes pictures so she'd just ask me to do it.

I thought it would be fun to try fashion photography. Then I got nervous. They actually need these pictures for ads. I can take pictures of dew drops and roses and stuff but this is really different.

I don't have professional equipment. Or, you know, professional knowledge.

I did have a cute model who knew exactly what she needed and was easy to work with.

My personal favorites are the ones in the pasture.

I would love to have that hair.

They are very Ralph Lauren. If Ralph Lauren grabbed some mom off the street to shoot his magazine spread, that is.

I don't know about the quality of these pictures, but the girl is really sweet.

She's my Sugarplum.

Monkeys and Bears

2009-10-22T22:16:00.003-05:00

Tonight was Curious George Live night. Bear talked and talked after school about seeing George and he was wondering if "the monkey would be jumpin' on da bed!"

I was wondering how I manage to get into situations with impossible turn-around times. I had to get home from work with both boys, feed them (frozen pizza. send my Mother of the Year Award to P.O. Box Oh-Shut-Up-Already), change them into clean clothes, change myself into something suitable, and get back downtown, park, and get everyone in the building in their seats by 7:00.

We walked in during the opening song. Huzzah!

I want this monkey costume for myself for Halloween. It is adorable. It has a super padded bum that actually sort of reminded me of Bear's bum.

Bear really liked George. He said, as we waited for the valet to bring back our car (ok, so I was running late and there is seriously no parking there and I hated to do it, but I was alone, in the dark, with both kids - whaaaa), "Dat George is tunny!"

The show is colorful, fast paced, and the songs are done in real Broadway-style sung by real singers, so it's enjoyable for parents too. The story line included things my boys love - cooking, meatballs, an airplane trip, and Curious George of course.

It was a fun evening and I'm sure I'll be making pisghetti and meatballs this weekend.

The show runs through this weekend. Tickets can be purchased at the TPAC box office, at the Davis Kidd Booksellers in the Green Hills Mall, or online here.

Enter the code FRIEND to receive $3 off each ticket. (Not valid on Price Level 1 seating.)

PS: Mr. P (who joined us late) had two main observations. 1) These things are always so LOUD. 2) It's a really good idea to serve beer.

Wordless Wednesday - The Fountain

2009-10-20T23:09:00.004-05:00

Happy Hump Day y'all.

PS to Nashville - Don't forget the discount code FRIEND for $3 off each ticket to see Curious George at TPAC, this Thursday through Sunday.

See more Wordless Wednesday links at 5 Minutes for Mom.

The Camp Out

2009-10-19T20:16:00.009-05:00

Last year on the Cub Scouts fall camping trip, Shark Boy and I spent the weekend hiking and messing around. We sat around our campfire at night in the cold, clear peacefulness by the lake, talking and getting sleepy, him eventually climbing onto my lap to keep warm.

This year was different. This year, he and I didn't really spend any time together. Mr. P and Bear came this year, and Shark is a year older, and we had a large community campfire instead of individual fires.

I feel like I only saw him from a distance, running and laughing with his friends, while I had Bear glued to my leg. (Really, Bear was trying to keep warm. The Den may have qualified for the sub-freezing camping patch.)

How much fun the boys had can be determined by how dirty they were at the end of the trip. He officially had a blast.

I did get plenty of time with Bear, seen here in deep Walden Pond-esque contemplation of the wonders of nature. Or he might just be frozen.

Bear got to take numerous hikes. And the little dude can walk a long way. Here he's heading back to camp after a walk with Daddy. (Gosh, they are cute.)

Here he's heading up the trail with The Godfather. He let go of me and said to his God-Papa, "Hold my hand," and off they went. He periodically looked back to make sure I hadn't gotten lost, while he happily talked and talked to his Godfather, doing that little chuckle to himself once in a while that I find so endearing, even if I haven't understood anything he said.

It was a great trip except for the part where I couldn't sleep at night because it was that cold.

And the part where we finally got home to a warm house and we all needed baths and a nap and Shark and I didn't get those things because he went and stabbed himself on the hand (it was more like he tried to fillet himself actually) within 10 minutes of walking in the door and blood was everywhere (which I missed because I was putting Bear down, but it gave P a mild heart attack), and I had to take him in to see if stitches were required.

Other than all that, and the possibility that my hair still smells like woodsmoke, it was awesome.

Weekly Winners October 12 - 18

2009-10-17T22:00:00.001-05:00

The short and sweet edition...

Beloved Puppy

Fuzzy Halloween

My camera only works about 30% of the time now (see: craptastic Halloween photo above). However, they are so excited about dressing up I took a bunch of terrible photos anyway.

Shark Boy is Star Wars Clone Wars Commander Fox, and Bear is a bear. The bear costume was Shark's when he was 3. (We think Bear can pass for an Ewok though.)

What are your kids dressing up as this year? We are on year number 3 with a Star Wars character for Shark Boy. Bear is still at that awesome age where he'll go as whatever I put him in. I love that age!

Visit Lotus for all the Weekly Winners links.

Little Passports & Curious George

2009-10-14T19:36:00.014-05:00

I have a great Christmas present idea for you! (What? Haven't you started shopping?)

Little Passports asked us to review their Global Adventure for Kids geography educational toy subscription thingy, and since Shark Boy loves maps it seemed like something we would enjoy.

It is a clear winner. Kids love to get mail, and he gets a package each month. The child receives a suitcase the first time, with a boarding pass, a large map of the world, a passport, a personalized letter from the globetrotting characters Sam and Sofia. Then each month a new package comes from Sam and Sofia with a little gift from whatever country they are in, a postcard, stickers and a passport stamp, and a boarding pass.

The boarding passes have a code that you use to sign into the Little Passports web site and play games - trivia, puzzles, for Brazil there was a soccer game, and printable photographs of the featured country.

(Please forgive the rotten quality photos of my computer screen.)

Everything can be kept in the suitcase. He loves putting stickers for each new location on the suitcase and stamping his passport. (Bear chimes in when we play on the web site with commentary like, "My like that con-tin-nent. It's purple!")

The first souvenir Shark got sealed the deal - it was a rock. A little hunk of real amethyst. Shark loves geology and collects rocks, so he was totally impressed. The next little "toy" was a wooden 3-D puzzle of a toucan. (You can see both of these in the first photo above.)

I honestly can say the quality of everything from Little Passports has been first rate, and he is learning - finding things on the map and learning about each country. It's a great, fun teaching tool. We are looking forward to each new package that comes!

(The skinny: They sent us the first month's kit - the suitcase - free. I loved it and signed up!)

(Bonus: Little Passports donates a portion of every sale to SOS Children's Villages-USA and Ubuntu Education Fund.)

**********************

Nashvillians! Have I got a deal for you? Yes I do!

Curious George is coming to TPAC and I've got a discount code on tickets. Squee!!

Look how CUTE! In this musical, George ends up on a mission to help Chef Pisghetti’s meatballs win a world-famous competition. This adventure takes him to Rome and The Golden Meatball Contest. Bear LOVES meatballs! He will so be into this.

The show runs from Thursday, October 22nd - Sunday, October 25th. Tickets can be purchased at the TPAC box office, at the Davis Kidd Booksellers in the Green Hills Mall, or online here. Enter the code FRIEND to receive $3 off each ticket! (Not valid on Opening Night or on Price Level 1 seating.)

(Curious George did in fact give me tickets to the show. And we can't wait!)

Curious George was Mr. P's favorite when he was little. I honestly don't remember having a favorite character. (What is wrong with me?)

Who was your favorite?

Trouble

2009-10-12T22:00:00.001-05:00

I frequently have trouble thinking of good titles for my posts. In this case, the title seemed obvious.

Bear has such a BIG personality once he gets to know you. He's really the shyest of my children. (No really. He is.)

Oh my heart. Such diabolical sweetness! Words fail me.

When I ask him who my baby is, he always says his name. Unless he says, "I not a baby. I a kid."

Baby or kid or chubbasaur or bear, he gives the best hugs on earth.

And I'm totally putting that first picture in his wedding video.

Old-Fashioned Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

2009-10-11T22:00:00.000-05:00

I am lucky enough to have my grandmother's iron skillet. I can cook with it, which actually adds iron to our food, and if I ever need a weapon, it's my go-to choice for braining someone. (It's heavy.)

People used to make cakes in their iron skillets, so when my mom visited recently she showed me how to make a pineapple upside-down cake in my skillet.

Old-Fashioned Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
Take 1 cup of brown sugar and mix in 1/2 stick of melted butter. Coat your skillet or cake pan with cooking spray and then spread with the brown sugar/butter mixture.

Place pineapple rings on the brown sugar mixture with a cherry in the center of each one. You can also use crushed pineaple and place cherries where you want them.

Mix up a yellow cake according to directions, and spread on top of the pineapples and cherries.

Bake in the oven using the suggested temperature for the cake, but adding at least 10 minutes to the baking time. Cake is ready when it is brown and a toothpick comes out clean.

Turn it out onto a platter. This cake is so moist and delish!

Thanks to Mom, who had to make her own birthday cake for the sake of my blog post!

Visit Rachel for more wonderful recipes!

Weekly Winners October 4-10

2009-10-11T09:22:00.006-05:00

Visit Lotus for all the Weekly Winners links.

One Stormy Day

Sailing over the edge.

Sailor Bear

Proud fisherman!

The sun sets on a perfect week.

Beach

2009-10-07T08:44:00.001-05:00

Mr. P wisely noted that those lovely Corona commericals never have kids in them.

Can we go to the beachdockfishingbeachswimmingpoolbeachbackinsideontheboatbacktothebeachbackinsidefishingagain

and so forth forever and ever amen plus whining and assorted fights.

Good thing they are so cute.

Jenny

2009-10-01T22:00:00.000-05:00

This is my sister Jenny.

She is an adoring aunt to my kids. She likes to watch them play and she smiles at their antics. Or frowns at them, if they are messing with her stuff or generally being bad.

But mostly she smiles.

Jenny loves football and country music, which makes my football fan children and our location in Nashville a pretty darn near perfect fit with her interests. But that’s just happy coincidence. She’d adore these three kids if they were into underwater-knitting and lived in Kalamazoo.

Bear says, “My like Jenny. Jenny nice.” (He’s a smart bear.)

One time when I was pregnant, we were discussing what the sex of the baby might be and she said, "Well, it's going to be a boy or a girl."

Now that's some solid, Midwestern common sense talking right there.

This week Jenny has a birthday. She's 29 (wink) (again).

Happy Birthday Jenny!

A Letter To My Blog

2009-09-30T20:46:00.008-05:00

My dear blog,

I am sorry that I've so neglected you these last two weeks. I've thought of you every day.

As you well know, you are but a snapshot, a sliver of my life, representing only those things that I wish to capture in this way (and find time to actually do so). Or in my weaker moments, the things that are just buggin' me. Or, well, shoes.

Not to diminish your importance, for it is great. But I needed a break. I needed not to worry about you - about the writing, the emails, your wee blog cousins out there in my Reader (whom I adore), and your blasted statistics, those bloody evil numbers. And Twitter - goodness I've basically stopped twittering.

(I checked in with Reader a time or two to see posts about some mommy blogger bashing (again, dear GOD), likely bashing each other (again) if I had to guess, and I quickly clicked away. I'm not here for that, I don't have the mental energy to spare for it, and it helped me stay away a bit longer. Disheartening.)

You want to know where I went? Nowhere. Do not worry. I have to live a life in order to have something to blog about, you see. That statement should by all rights lead to an actual post about something but alas, no. Not yet.

I will say that I've been reading books. I've been thinking over some things. And I took my mom and my sister to a fashion show for Mom's birthday!

P and I went to the first concert in our Symphony season.

(This meant a weekend with Mr. Choo and Mr. Louboutin! They've not gotten out much lately.)

(Geez, I need a haircut.)

So things are humming along fine and I have missed you, dear blog. I will be posting regularly again. Swears.

Amy

Swiss Steak

2009-09-27T22:08:00.001-05:00

This Swiss Steak is an easy, hearty main dish.

1 large can of whole tomatoes
1 large onion
1 large green pepper
1 large red pepper
2 lbs of round steak - medium thickness
salt and pepper to taste

Brown the steak in a skillet until partially cooked.

Slice onion and separate into rings. Slice peppers into long strips. Put browned steak, peppers and onions into an electric skillet. Add tomatoes, chopping them into bite-sized chunks.

Cook for 2 hours or until meat is tender.

Visit Rachel for more wonderful recipes!

Shark Bites - The Mommy Can't Do This and Drive Edition

2009-09-22T20:12:00.009-05:00

Shark Boy is 7, which is a border age, a cusp, if you will. At his 7th birthday party P noted how all the boys ran around with blasters and sabers and swords battling each other, and then all slept with their stuffed animals and blankies.

This is played out in small ways in our conversations, where his thinking is a jumble of childish and grown-up concepts.

Like his thoughts on Christmas and Procreation, for example.
******************************************************

Driving in to work, Shark Boy told me he had seen a bunch of things at Toys R Us with his dad the other day that he really wants to put on his Christmas list.

"What were some of the things you wanted?" I was prepared to make mental notes.

"Well, one was a Star Wars Clone Tank! But it's $99 and I don't think my dad can afford that, so I'm asking for it for Christmas because Christmas is, you know, free."

And I laughed and laughed. And laughed.

And he was all "What? What'd I say?"

Sensitivity to budget considerations + the certain existence of Santa's elves = seven.

************************************************

Also in the car, out of the blue, he asked me how babies get out of the mom.

WHAT the WHAT? I'm driving here!

He only could think of two ways for the baby to come out and ew, that can't be true, right?

I took a deep breath and told him girls have a third, special, "opening," "down there," and it's ~~one and only sole~~ purpose is for the baby to come out of. But sometimes doctors do have to cut your belly open to get the baby out.

Then I held my breath, waiting. Waiting for the "Well, how'd it get in there?" The last time this came up he was 4 and I stuck with God. God gives every Mommy a special seed that grows a baby in there.

Wait. Did I say we had a special egg? Seed or egg? OMG I can't remember and kids never forget this stuff! He'll know if I say it wrong. Will he even still take just that, or will he want to know more? I can't do this while I'm driving!

He basically only said ew again and dropped it. The ball is officially in P's court. I've covered the general exit procedure and I'm not doing the entrance stuff. I plan to tell him that is for boys and their fathers to discuss. (Which will seem weird what with it being ostensibly a question about girls and babies. To that my response will be - "Son, you think that seems weird. You ain't heard nothing yet.")

Poor Man's Cake

2009-09-20T22:00:00.000-05:00

Great-Uncle Dave brought my Great-Aunt Helen into the family. Aunt Helen was tiny, with snow white hair and a pretty smile.

Aunt Helen was Polish and Roman Catholic. Growing up she was the only person I knew who had a picture of the Pope in her home (the rest of us were not Catholics). Being Polish, Pope John Paul II meant the world to her. My own conversion to the Catholic faith made her just as pleased as punch.

Aunt Helen is responsible for one of my family's heirloom recipes, Poor Man's Cake. This recipe came out of the rationing that was done during World War II, when you had to use your eggs judiciously. This cake doesn't call for any eggs at all. And if there were recipes I post here that I could somehow force people to make, this would be one of them. This cake is fantastic, beyond what the simple list of ingredients would indicate.

I present: Great Aunt Helen's Poor Man's Cake

Water
1 box of raisins
1 t baking soda
2 C sugar
1/2 C shortening
1 t salt
1 t ground cloves
1 t cinnamon
1 t nutmeg
4 C flour

Put raisins in 2 C of water in a saucepan and cook on med-high heat for 10 minutes. Remove from stove.

Add 1 C cold water and 1 t of baking soda; stir.

In a large bowl, mix sugar, shortening, salt, cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Add raisin / water mixture. Add flour, mixing well.

Pour into a greased cake pan. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes or until done.

This cake is perfect for fall, full of raisins and spices, and it's very moist and dense. Absolutely a family favorite of mine!

Visit Rachel for more wonderful recipes!