Cozy Side Dish

Roasted potatoes are not rocket-science, I know. But, if they are not on your weekly menu, particularly in the fall and winter (okay, it is still 68 degrees here, but still...) you are missing out. This is a warm, hearty, healthy side dish. We have been doing vegetarian dinners, so roasted potatoes go well with a vegetable omelet, asparagus and salad, or if you eat fish, broiled salmon.

I use this recipe but add two chopped zucchinis and one chopped onion. I also use a lot less olive oil, but I don't really measure so I am not sure how much I use. The tiny fingerling potatoes at Trader Joe's right now are so buttery and the bag of blue, red and yellow potatoes look just a bit fancy.

Ingredients
3 pounds small red or white potatoes
1/4 cup good olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons minced garlic (6 cloves)

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Cut the potatoes in half or quarters and place in a bowl with the olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic; toss until the potatoes are well coated. Transfer the potatoes to a sheet pan and spread out into 1 layer. Roast in the oven for 45 minutes to 1 hour or until browned and crisp. Flip twice with a spatula during cooking in order to ensure even browning.

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Kitchen Envy

I am grateful for my home.

I love our simple life.

We are warm and safe and fortunate.

But, can I also simultaneously really, really want to redo my kitchen and have it look like this?

Seriously. Can we talk about that chandelier? And the red pan? And how cute the kiddies would look with their bottoms on those stools, dripping oatmeal all over that lovely counter? And how my pumpkin muffins would always puff up just right in that oven?

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Things I Love

Silver nail polish

Seriously, for 6 dollars, I actually feel just a little bit current and cool. This is refreshing seeing as I just finally heard that darn "Umbrella" song everyone has been talking about. Or everyone was talking about. Last year.

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Mark Bittman's How to Cook Everything Vegetarian

It is huuuge. Really, really huge. But, you can read through it like a book. Okay, it will take weeks. But his simple approach to plant-based meals is refreshingly easy and with a plethora of recipes, you will certainly know what to do with those last measly vegetables in your produce drawer.

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We Planted a Tree by Diane Muldrow

This read-aloud will delight your children. The illustrations are beautiful and fun. The story teaches the importance of nature and also the growth/changes of family. I admit it; I cried.

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Mad Men

Okay, please tell me you watch this show. Please. It is superbly acted, dramatic, funny and such an interesting glimpse into recent American history. Plus, the clothes. And Joan. Okay, and Don. And the role of women and...the clothes. Don't be alarmed if you watch and suddenly have an urge for a cocktail.

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I like Arting

My oldest declares the above, "Mama, I like arting," while coloring with crayons. When asked what she did at school that day, she answers, "I arted." And after my visit with her teachers this morning for our getting-to-know-you sesh in her new classroom, she asked, "Was there a lot of arting stuff in there?" My little one, last night, followed the trend. When I asked him what he was doing, he answered, "I am a hard worker. I am arting."

So, last year I saw this brilliant idea to help deal with the massive amount of art projects that our children bring home from school, in addition to the masterpieces produced at home. Well, I have never used photoshop and we don't have much wall space. So, I came up with an alternative. Probably a bit lazier and a little pricier, but I think the kids will love it. (Hope to try the aforementioned idea next year...photoshop tutorial, anyone?)

I took photos of L's masterpieces throughout the year, kept a few in a folder for her to look at in the future, and secretly recycled the rest. (I know, I know. Terrible, but necessary.) Then, I created a book on Shutterfly for her, with a photo of her on her first day of school, 20 photos of her art, and a photo of her at the end of the year. The book is en route and I can't wait to see what she thinks!

Abundance

We always have a lot of zucchini. A lot. I wish I could mention my garden here, flourishing with organically-grown zucchini that I regularly make into zucchini bread and drop off at my neighbors' homes. But, in reality, I just buy a lot of zucchini from Trader Joe's.

I find that I can shred it or put it in the the food processor and add it to many recipes to get a little extra veggie intake for the kiddies. One of whom declares, "I don't like veggies." Ugh.

Here is one of my favorite zucchini recipes from my lady, the Barefoot Contessa. I use significantly less butter (only a pat) and usually one onion and a few zucchini. I find that you can just take the essence of this recipe and use whatever you have at home to get really delicious results. Using the amounts listed must make an enormous amount of gratin. Be prepared or cut the recipe down significantly.

Ingredients

• 6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, plus extra for topping
• 1 pound yellow onions, cut in 1/2 and sliced (3 large)
• 2 pounds zucchini, sliced 1/4-inch thick (4 zucchini)
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 cup hot milk
• 3/4 cup fresh bread crumbs
• 3/4 cup grated Gruyere

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Melt the butter in a very large (12-inch) saute pan and cook the onions over low heat for 20 minutes, or until tender but not browned. Add the zucchini and cook, covered, for 10 minutes, or until tender. Add the salt, pepper, and nutmeg and cook uncovered for 5 more minutes. Stir in the flour. Add the hot milk and cook over low heat for a few minutes, until it makes a sauce. Pour the mixture into an 8 by 10-inch baking dish.

Combine the bread crumbs and Gruyere and sprinkle on top of the zucchini mixture. Dot with 1 tablespoon of butter cut into small bits and bake for 20 minutes, or until bubbly and browned.

Weekend Musings

This weekend was FULL. Too full? I am still pondering that one. We definitely planned the weekend with the kids' needs in mind, minus a few hours for the hubs and I to each get a workout in. The kids played at three parks, went to a birthday party, (barely) made it through church (with a late arrival, at that) and rode bikes/flew a kite/played ball at the beach. Their needs were met. Certainly. But were ours? Not sure.

All I know is that I found myself on Sunday night with a glass of red wine (okay, I had two), remote in hand, ready to watch the Emmys.

And I was tired. TIRED, people.

Tired.

I know the kids are happier when they are running and playing and outside and loving up the fresh air. But when I am feeling more exhausted on Sunday night than I did on Friday I wonder what went wrong.

Next weekend, I am going to try to pencil in a little something for me. How was your weekend?

Laughing As I Type

Okay, first disclaimer: I love TV. I know that the popular, intellectual and politically-correct response to television is to shun it, or at least to talk about how little you watch and how you simultaneously knit/do the Sunday NY Times crossword/can your own peaches. Well folks, I do my best TV watching while lying down on my overstuffed sofa and looking at the pile of clean laundry on the floor in need of folding.

Which brings me to my new TV find...Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. I thought he was hilarious on SNL but have since "lost touch" due to my early-bedtime-or-else-I-freak-out situation. Meaning: I had kids.

I saw him on Larry King last night and his impressions alone had me crying. He is quick, smart and looks kind of like Ben Affleck, no? I realized that I rarely watch shows that make me laugh. More laughter is needed my friends, so my DVR is set. Going to log in some couch time this weekend....Happy Friday.

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