Thursday, April 28, 2011

STILTS, CRICKETS, PIT TRAPS and SPINACH. Big Bad Collars.

Both my older girls are part tomboy, in different ways.  One is a fashionista...daredevil.  The other loves all things cute, pink, fluffy...and dinosaur...and reptiles...and monster trucks...and ironman...and F-22's... and ...  This year the oldest had only one request for Easter.  Not chocolate.  Not candy.  Not a fluffy bunny.

Stilts.

There are some logistical problems to consider when it comes to fluffy mythical cottontails carrying 6ft units of lumber.  For the first time ever, the bunny delivered a gift card...to Home Depot...to a nine year old fashionista.  (The same one heard to shout on her birthday "my shovel!  You got the exact one I wanted at Home Depot!"  The next morning I caught her digging a pit trap for her friends coming over later..."Mom...do you have like a sheet or picnic blanket that would cover...)

This same child often acts as if I am poisoning her at dinner.  Most everything I cook is offensive at best.  Considering she once ate a cricket on a dare...with less gagging than she does for my meatballs...It is particularly noteworthy that last night she ate Spinach!  and liked it!

Since it was such a landmark event, I offer to mothers and hostesses of the world this celebratory recipe.  Of course I was too stunned to get a picture of the food...they actually ate it! before it occurred to me.

Taken from Fanny Farmer, my favorite "go to" cookbook.  I served this many times for guests in Japan since it was so innocuous, flavorful and plates so prettily.  It was one of those things that I had just put aside for 10 years...and revisited on a night with too little in the fridge and too fussy kids.

SPINACH SAUCE

1 large bunch spinach (about 1 pound)
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 cloves garlic minced (I was lazy and didn't bother to mince since they puree later)
2 tablespoons heavy cream (half and half was what was in my fridge :-)
1/4 cup mayonnaise
Salt

***SERVED WITH:
Lasagna noodles, 1lb, cooked

2 chicken breasts:  cubed and sauteed in olive oil, dill, marjoram, Italian seasoning, salt
 
Wash the spinach, place in a pot with the water that clings to the leaves; cover and cook on medium high for about 2 min, until the leaves have wilted.  Add the olive oil and the garlic to the pan and saute for about 1 minute.  Puree the spinach mixture in a food processor or blender until you have a smooth puree.  Add the cream and mayonnaise and process until blended.  Add salt to taste.  Serve immediately or keep warm gently.

I only had lasagna noodles left sooo...

Artfully arrange 2 or 3 full lasagna noodles on the plate
Sprinkle or swirl the sauce prettily over the noodles
Then sprinkle with sauteed herbed chicken breast

Serve with shaker Parmesan cheese for kids, or the fresh stuff for the kid at heart...

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Happy Easter! Big Bad Collars.

Just emphasizing the need for
VERY  
big dogs.
Our kids will sleep safe tonight :-)

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

PATIENCE is NOT his VIRTUE. Big Bad Collars

We are getting a new fence (finally!  HOORAY! HOORAY!)
But one member of the family is not too happy....
Talk about the King of Sulking...
But I personally couldn't be HAPPIER!  We are talking Church Lady Euphoric Happy!








He will be too when it is all done!