Salem Living

Cheap Thrills: Wolf Hollow in Ipswich

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn M.) — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 13:56:00 +0000

Checked out Wolf Hollow in Ipswich last weekend with Chloe. It's right down Rt 133 in Ipswich just before the turn-off onto the road to Russell Orchards. I'd been waiting until Chloe was old enough to have a hope of sitting thru the hour-long talk that's part of the presentation.

She actually managed to pay attention pretty well. The presentation is given at 1:30 in the afternoon and two wolves are present behind a double fence while the guide talks about wolf varieties and their history with humans. The two wolves are Weeble, the oldest wolf and Nina, a young female. Weeble sniffed around a couple of times, ate some cheese treats and retreated to the shade of a large tree while Nina trotted back and forth constantly making eye contact.

There's a full moon howl on this coming Saturday too: Wolves, reggae, beer and barbeque! Adults, $10.00, kids under 5 free. Event starts at 3pm.

Wolf Hollow Saturday Presentation: 1:30pm
Adults admission: $7.50
Kids admission: $5.00

Beat the Heat: Green Curry

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn M.) — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 13:01:00 +0000

Even though it's hot and sticky outside and the cicadas are screaming, I still can't put down my wok. Standing over a pan-full of frying tofu and vegetables while sweat beads on my forehead makes it even more worthwhile when you are sitting down and eating this awesome vegetarian curry!

Ingredients:

1/4 cup canola oil
4 oz tofu cut into 1-2 inch strips
1 small head of broccoli
2-3 handfuls of green beans
1 zucchini, cut into 1/2 slices
2 or 3 handfuls of mushroom slices

for the sauce:
1/2 medium sized can of coconut milk
1 cube of vegetarian bullion
1-1.5 tablespoons of curry paste (I use Patak's)
1 inch piece of fresh ginger root shredded or 1/2 tsp ginger powder

1 cup of brown rice
2 cups water

Prepare the vegetables and keep them close to the wok for quick, efficient cooking. Heat the oil in the wok over medium heat until it starts to smoke. Add the tofu with a long-handled utensil (to avoid spatter burns) and fry it until it has all browned on both sides.

My general rule of thumb is to add vegetables in the order of their water content. Since the broccoli is the hardest one (least watery) here, add it after pushing the browned tofu up into the sides of the wok. Cook the broccoli until it has softened a little and push it up before adding the green beans. Once they have cooked, add the zucchini slices and the mushroom slices along with the ginger.

Stir-fry everything together for about a minute and then add enough water to cover the bottom of the wok. Add the bullion cube and let that dissolve before adding in the coconut milk and curry paste. Stir the sauce in with the vegetables until everything has blended and then lower the heat and let the mixture simmer for about 10 minutes to blend the flavors together.

Turn off the heat and add the curry to helpings of rice and enjoy outside with a nice frosty beverage. (A crisp white wine is a good choice)

Vida Local: Coven

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn M.) — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:10:00 +0000

I had about 30 seconds to spare before a meeting in Salem this morning and decided to grab an iced coffee and some kind of pastry at Coven. The interior is really fun, with tons of local art everywhere (Rich Flynn Cheap Art!) and a television that was showing everyone's favorite meddling kids, The Amazing Chan Clan.

I got the large iced coffee and a blueberry muffin that was inspiring. As in, I took the first bite and could taste all the right ingredients and instantly wanted to run home and bake my own. Not the usual clod of fats, sugar and flour, but a light, yet substantial cup-cake-sized muffin with fresh blueberries. Bonus points too, for the little spice shakers shaped like lightbulbs at the coffee station.

Coven is located on Essex Street across from Harrison's Comics.

Bargain of the week! Hummingbird Feeder

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn M.) — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 18:22:00 +0000

Guess what I found in the "Seasonal" aisle at Shaw's yesterday? $1.49 Hummingbird feeders! It was fairly easy to set up, just needed to climb a tree next to the patio to get the right "hang". I found this site that has some good info about using the feeder and a nectar recipe to boot!

(Almost) Guilt-Free Waffles!

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn M.) — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 15:15:00 +0000

I got a waffle-iron a couple of Christmas's ago and it's one of the favorite things in our kitchen. Chloe's able to pour in the batter pretty well now and it's fun for her to watch the egg whites turn into foam. I started out with making the traditional recipe that came with the appliance booklet, but it made way too many waffles and used an entire stick of butter. Since someone in the family has to watch their cholesterol (ok, both of us), I've adapted the Whole Wheat Waffles recipe that was also in the Oster booklet.

I should have taken a picture, but these were so good I ate them before I remembered to.

Ingredients:

1.5 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup wheat bran
4 tbs wheat germ
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 eggs, separated
1.5 cups soy milk
2 tbs honey
4 tbs olive oil

Preheat your waffle iron

Mix the dry ingredients together

Beat the egg whites until just stiff

Mix together the egg yolks, soy milk, honey and olive oil

Using a rubber spatula, stir the egg yolk mix into the dry ingredients. Fold in the egg whites.

Pour the batter in about 1 ladle-full at a time into the pre-heated waffle iron and bake.

These are really good with maple syrup and blueberries!

The Lost Art of Real Cooking

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn M.) — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 15:43:00 +0000

I found this via Delicious Days' website. I found a great excerpt here, but you can find it slightly cheaper here. I can't wait to get this! It's the perfect combination of self-reliance, thriftiness, localvore-ness and taste that I've been looking for! I just hope that my attempt at beer won't turn out like this:

East Indian Succotash with Brown Rice

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn M.) — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 01:08:00 +0000

I had to use up some vegetables this evening and decided to put a recent purchase of bulk brown rice into the mix as well. Actually came out really good! The texture of the brown basmati rice and the silky coconut curry sauce really took me back to the days of dining out in restaurants that don't hand out crayons (sigh)

Ingredients

1 cup brown rice (dry measure)
2 cups water

1 large zucchini
3 ears of corn
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 med can stewed tomatoes (or fresh)
3 or 4 scallions
1 cube vegetarian bouillon
6 oz coconut milk
1 teaspoon curry paste

Cook the brown rice in either a covered pot or a rice cooker

At the same time, boil the ears of corn for 2 minutes, then remove them from the pot and use a knife to slice the kernels off the ear.

Chop the zucchini and scallions and add them to the oil in the wok. Stir fry until the scallions are soft and the zucchini has browned a little.

Add the tomatoes. Use some of the liquid if you are using canned or add 1/4 cup water if fresh.

Add the corn and simmer everything for a few minutes.

Pour in the coconut milk and add the vegetable bouillon. Stir until the cube is dissolved.

Add the curry paste and stir until blended. Simmer for a few more minutes, then add the stew to the brown rice when it's ready.

Vida Local: 3 Reasons to Celebrate!

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn M.) — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 19:35:00 +0000

Survived the crazy thunder/hail storm yesterday and today is one of those days that makes it almost impossible to work downstairs in the "bunker". If you are stuck indoors too, here's 3 reasons to cheer up!

1: The Salem Farmers' Market opens in less than 2 weeks! Sure it gets as crowded as Ben Thanh during Tet, but it's always a great feeling to elbow in there and get your fresh corn while you catch up with your neighbors.

2: Local farmstands are open for business again!

3: Picked-that-day fresh produce is starting to appear in the bins of farmstands. My new favorite is Green Meadows Farm in Hamilton. It's a fun mini-daytrip to go to Bradley Palmer State Park, then stop in at the farm on the way home to pick up dinner. Out of the farmstands I've been to so far this year (4), this is the best one to shop at for all your family's needs. They have guilt-free meat in the freezer section, yogurt, Richardson's milk, toiletries, flowers and enough animals out back to keep a 4 year old entertained while you shop.

Cooking Green: Double Bake!

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn M.) — Sat, 29 May 2010 22:37:00 +0000

Why turn on the oven for just one little batch of cookies or 1 loaf of bread? Get twice as much use out of the same amount of heat by baking two items that cook at the same temperature! Not only will your house smell 10 times better than one of those cheesy scented candles that smell like baked goods, but homemade gives you control over you and your family's intake of whole grains. I've found that buying a sack each of wheat germ and wheat bran and adding a shake or two to some batter is a great way to "sneak" fiber into someone's diet.

Here's two items that lend themselves nicely to the practice of "double-baking": Whole Wheat Bread & Whole Wheat Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies!

First, take out 1 stick of butter so it can soften while you get the bread going:

Whole Wheat Bread

Ingredients

1 1/3 cups lukewarm water
2 1/4 tsp dry yeast (I've found that it's much more economical to buy a jar of yeast rather than the packets)
1/4 cup dry milk
1/4 canola oil
1/4 honey

2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup white flour (this makes the bread lighter)
1 1/4 tsp salt

Directions

In a large bowl, combine the warm water and yeast. Let it dissolve and start its thing while you combine the flours and salt in another bowl.

Pour the dry milk into the yeast mixture, then add the oil and the honey. (tip: if you add them in this order, it makes the honey slide out of the measuring cup easier)

Gently stir the mixture. Then, add the flour mixture. Stir until the dough comes together and then turn the dough onto a floured surface. Knead for 7-8 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic.

Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, turning it once to coat the dough. Cover with a damp kitchen towel and put in a warm place for about 50-60 minutes until the dough has doubled in size.

Lightly grease a 4X8 loaf pan. Take the dough out of the bowl and shape it into a loaf. Place it in the pan and let it rise again in a warm place until the dough is 1" over the top of the pan. (about 45 minutes, during which you can make the cookie dough)

Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees, then put the pan in once the dough has risen enough. Bake for 40 minutes total, tenting with tin foil after the first 20 minutes to ensure a good crust.

Let the pan cool slightly and then invert to shake the bread out. Once it's fully cooled, I've found it keeps best when it's wrapped in foil then bagged in a bread bag.

Whole Wheat Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

1 stick butter softened
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
1 large egg
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp ginger
1 cup dry oats
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup dried fruit such as raisins, cranberries or cherries

Directions

In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugars together (if you are co-baking the bread, just use the same bowl that you let the dough rise in.)

Add the egg and vanilla then mix well

In another bowl, combine the dry ingredients then add to the butter mixture.

Stir in the chocolate chips and dried fruit. Some people might like shredded coconut or chopped nuts too.

Drop the dough by tablespoonfuls onto a lightly greased or non-stick cookie sheet (tip: I usually save the paper that the stick of butter was in to grease the pan if needed)

Bake the cookies alongside the bread. They brown nicely in about 12 minutes and with a little practice, you can have both cookies and bread done at the same time!

On the "vida local" tip, I buy the eggs, butter and honey at local farms such as Connor's Farm in Danvers or Green Meadow Farm in Hamilton. Both places have animals on site so it's worth the extra time and gas to get out there if you make it into an outing with the kids! (Even without kids, it's really cool to see the origin of what you are eating and support local farmers in the bargain)

New Playground taking shape on Salem Common

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn M.) — Sun, 23 May 2010 00:38:00 +0000

They say it will be open for business by next weekend. The new flooring has to set. It looks like it's going to be worth the wait!

Growing Vegetables Upside Down

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn M.) — Sun, 23 May 2010 00:30:00 +0000

Great info in this NYT article about growing vegetables upside-down. I'm not sure I can trust the gutter over the back porch with the weight of a 5 gallon container of dirt though. Still, the yield seems to be better and there's some good pictures of homemade containers that look way better than those lime green topsy-turvy planters.

Second Life: Plastic Fruit Containers

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn M.) — Sat, 08 May 2010 18:28:00 +0000

Those plastic containers that berries come in are too useful for the recycling bin. I'm hoping that I'll see some marigold sprouts soon!

BTW, the drain tray is the top of a supermarket sushi tray.

Cool Backyard Flora & Fauna ID Resources

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn M.) — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 18:39:00 +0000

Fauna

Birds

Birdwatcher's Digest: They offer a list sectioned by type. As you mouseover the different birds, a thumbnail image of that bird shows up to the left.

Whatbird.com: This page has an extensive list of birds commonly found in MA with an image of the bird as well. This was how I found this bird.

Critters

AA Animal Control.com: Wow, unless I'm off in my selection of keywords (wild animal guide massachusetts), there's nothing on backyard critters that is as fun to use as the bird guides listed above. This is packed with useful information though.

Flora

There are some good iPhone apps, such as Landscaper for identifying plants by site.

I found this Flickr Group that has a tagging method to search their image database.

This blog also has a good list of book resources too.

If you come....we will build it! The new playground on Salem Common

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn M.) — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 14:37:00 +0000

Volunteers needed for the new playground build on Salem Common!

When: May 21, 22 & 23 That's Fri/Sat/Sun 7 am to Sunset

Where: Salem Common

What: Community Build

Why: The time has come! The new playground is almost here but we need all hands on deck to help build it. The more help we get –
the faster the build! The Salem Common Playground has long been in dire need of a serious upgrade. Thanks to the tireless (and I do mean tireless) efforts of Sarah Wheeler-Gaddipatti and all the Parents at Parents United of Salem, this plan is finally coming to fruition! Kids of all ages will finally have a playground that is accessible and safe for all!

Who: Volunteers needed for 3 hour shifts

To Volunteer: Please email with your available days/times: melzwilson@hotmail.com

Second Life: Snack Size-Easy Seed Trays

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn M.) — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 14:12:00 +0000

Tomatoes and Lavender have begun to sprout!

I've been collecting those little snack size containers of Greek yogurt and applesauce all winter mainly because every time I hovered over the recycle container with one its size and shape seemed to cry out "Wait! Are you sure I couldn't be of some other use to you?

Well, actually, yes. I poked some holes in the bottom, filled with potting mix and put the containers in some old tofu and take-out sushi containers. Push some seeds into the mix, conscript your kid to water every day and you've got a great way to show your kids the value of growing your own food and recycling! Bonus.

2 Birds with 1 Stone: Shopping & Working Out

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn M.) — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 14:30:00 +0000

I'm lucky to live near some conservation land and lately I've been trying to get more exercise. But some days (most days actually) the idea of taking 45 minutes to "work out" just isn't practical. So why not combine a work out with an errand? I found out that if I walk to the local grocery store (instead of getting in the car and driving 20 minutes to a big chain store), I get moving for 45 minutes, plus the extra effort of carrying the bags home, AND I get to walk past scenery like the photo above. Double Bonus!

Clutter Busting: Kid Picasso

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn M.) — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 18:34:00 +0000

Art is messy. Kids are messy. Put them together and you have a big (happy!) mess in the time it takes to dip a paintbrush. It's alway been the biggest clutter-generating activity in the house and I'm slowly learning how to get a handle on it.

Here's what Chloe's art corner in our new place looked like:

Everything had a place, but there were a lot of empty and half-empty containers of random items and taking anything out to use it was a bit of a process. At first I was convinced that I needed some sort of storage system, but once I cleaned the corner out, I knew I could make better use of what I already had.

The first step was to sort everything out into piles:

1: Glitter, glitter glue, glue, foam stickies and pom-poms. (crafty stuff)

2: Finished works of art (to go into portfolios)

3: Paper that could be used for drawing and painting and construction paper

4: Paints and brushes

5: Activity books

6: Potential containers

7: Stamps and ink pads

The next step involved thinking about the best way to store small items. Luckily I had a set of stacking file boxes on wheels that I wasn't using any more. They were conscripted to hold paints (on the bottom) and all the stamp stuff, small craft items, glue and scissors. Like I said in my last post, the muffin trays I used to hold the paint jars were a great way to easily move the paint jars around en masse. Put the paints in the bottom, craft stuff in the top crate and voila! Instant roll-around art cart!

Next I needed a way to contain all the paper and activity books. I simply put them in a canvas fold-out crate and had an easy way to quickly find the right material for Chloe's next masterpiece. Once I consolidated everything I had some containers left over so I put the ones that were past their prime in the recycling bin.

Second Life: Muffin Tins

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn M.) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 06:28:00 +0000

Paint Trays!

They stack too!

Nesting has a new hero!

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn M.) — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 19:36:00 +0000

Roost, at 40 Front Street in Salem, has hit the block running with a great selection of what they call, urban country design. They sell terrariums, cookbooks, natural and organic products, handmade soaps, decorative vases and dishes and french presses and teapots, all chosen with an eye towards great design and alleviating the winter blahs. Check them out and help support the awesome 3/50 project as well!

State and Month Peak Season Produce Map

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn M.) — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 17:22:00 +0000

Via Lifehacker, this is a very useful tool: A flash-based map that tells you what's in season in a particular state in a particular month. Bonus feature! When you click on the name of a fruit or vegetable that's in season, recipes pop up! Yay!

Second Life: Gift Wrap Tube

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn M.) — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 02:15:00 +0000

After you've spent all those hours disentangling miles of christmas lights, you can recycle a used giftwrap tube to wind the lights up for easy(er) trimming next year. Just tape the female end of one strand to the end of the tube, then wind the lights around until all the strands are wrapped around. Now tape the male end and wrap in plastic bags for December. When you get them out again, just plug in and unravel as you circle the tree!

Ultimate Holiday Cookie Guide!

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn M.) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 18:31:00 +0000

Found this amazing collection of cookie recipes on the NYT website. Merry Christmas/Winter Soltice/Kwanzaa/Hanukkah! If anyone needs me, I'll be in the kitchen whipping up rugelach & shortbread

Why Big Box Stores Suck

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn M.) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 05:08:00 +0000

Sears Saleslady (ringing up kids stuff from clearance racks): "Do you have a Sears Rewards card to save 10% off on purchases today?"
Me (trying to corral rampant 3YO): "No"
SS: "Would you care to sign up for one today in order to save the 10%?"
Me (glancing back at long line): "Uh-no"
SS: "That will be $14.99"
Me (taking out debit card): "OK"
SS: "Are you paying with your Sears Master Card today?"
Me: Um, no I've got this debit-"
SS: "Would you like to take 10 minutes to open a charge card with Sears today?"
Me (starting to sweat with effort of holding onto 3YO's hood and wallet): "No Thanks"
SS: "Are you paying with any Sears Gift Cards?"
Me (swiping DC through): "No"
SS: "Would you like to purchase one and receive $10 back on your purchase today?"
Me (thinking OH MY GOD, IT'S EASIER TO GET THROUGH CUSTOMS IN A COMMUNIST COUNTRY!!!! SWEET JESUS, JUST LET ME BUY MY KID HALF-PRICED "BRAND-NAME" MIX 'N MATCH SEPARATES WILL YOU????) "No. Thank you, not today."
(NOT EVER! UNLESS THERE IS SOMEONE THAT I DESPERATELY NEED TO GET REVENGE ON!)

Herb Garden in Winter?

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn M.) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 20:11:00 +0000

I say why not? I've been looking for basil plants for a week now and guess who has a great selection of organic basil, chive and parsley plants? The fancy gardening store? Super Stop and Shop? Nope. Market Basket!!

I put the new plant in the window garden in the bedroom, but I think I'll have to move it because I woke up this morning craving spaghetti for breakfast.

Favorite Thing of the Week

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn M.) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:40:00 +0000

Leave the kids with a trusted relative/friend/spouse in the Activity Room on the first floor and go check out the Iris Apfel show at the PEM before it disappears! Or, go in the morning before all the "art snobs" start mucking up the place and let the kids play with the addictive online paperdoll display while you marvel at the idea of making your own jewelry out of the barbie accessories currently living underneath your couch.