Fast Fajitas

November 25th, 2009 | Posted by Alison Spath in Dinner Time - (7 Comments)

The girls were with Aunt Ellen today while I got some work done around the house. I managed to sneak in 45 minutes of Runner’s Yoga before I left to pick them up with plans to run some errands on the way home.

We were out longer than I expected. By the time we got back some of us were pretty cranky. Some of us were pretty hungry too. And some of us were all of the above.

I had nothing planned for dinner. What else is new. After a quick scan of the produce drawer I pulled out a green pepper, mushrooms, onions and tofu and got to work.  Read more...

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Polenta Pizza: Take Two

November 24th, 2009 | Posted by Alison Spath in Dinner Time - (17 Comments)

Friday night’s Polenta FAIL was an attempt to make Polenta Pizza. The recipe I was using called for instant polenta, mixed with water.

But I didn’t use instant, I used this:

Melissa's Organic Polenta

Melissa’s Organic Polenta, found in the produce section at Wegmans. What do you mean this isn’t “instant”. Looks instant to me! Open the package and BAM! Polenta! How can you get more instant than that?

Well, I guess there is in fact an instant variety of polenta because when I added water to this as directed in a magazine recipe clipping, I had very watery polenta that didn’t behave at all like I expected it to. I didn’t make anything resembling pizza on Friday. I made polenta pizza soup.  Read more...

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There’s Always a Silver Lining

November 20th, 2009 | Posted by Alison Spath in Dinner Time - (17 Comments)

Tonight, in the history of cooking in my own kitchen, I had an EPIC FAIL dinner. It was a disaster – completely to blame on a new ingredient that I’ve never cooked with before: Polenta.

I will attempt this meal again next week and will share more details on tonight’s disaster then. Until that time I’m going to be annoyingly cryptic.

Fortunately though, there’s always a silver lining.

Like a giant salad? Thank goodness there’s always a Plan B.

Salad Makes It All Better

Packages from sweet friends named Whitney would be part of tonight’s silver lining as well.  Read more...

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Laundry Catch 22

November 19th, 2009 | Posted by Alison Spath in Dinner Time - (16 Comments)

On days when we stay home all day I try to get caught up on all tasks that are neglected when we’re away from home and running full speed ahead. You know… vacuuming, sweeping, feeding the cat.

Laundry is always on this list too, except when we’re home all day, Maxine changes her outfit six times over the course of about 12 hours. New socks, new underwear, the whole 9 yards. Usually she times her wardrobe change for when I’m elbow deep in rubber gloves and dishwater or I’m caught in a firestorm of pots and pans and herbs and spices trying to make sure nothing is going boil over or burn.  Read more...

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A Healthier Moose

November 17th, 2009 | Posted by Alison Spath in Dinner Time - (27 Comments)

One afternoon a couple of weeks ago I was at Wegmans, minding my own business, looking through the nice display of huge heads of cauliflower and searching for the perfect head that was destined to come home with me.

I noticed a woman checking out my head (talking about the cauliflower head here) as I approached the produce scale to get my bar code sticker. She commented on how beautiful it looked (I was hopeful she was talking about the head attached to my neck now…) She then told me how much she loves cauliflower. I agreed and we went on to discuss the various ways we like to eat cauliflower… steamed, raw, roasted or standing on our heads (cauliflower or otherwise), we’ll happily eat it.  Read more...

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Avert Your Eyes

November 14th, 2009 | Posted by Alison Spath in Dinner Time - (15 Comments)

Children with Granny, the man off with some friends, I had the joy of making lunch in total peace and quiet this afternoon.

And I had a hankering for a veggie burger.

Veggie Burger Mash

1 can of black beans, rinsed, drained and mashed
1/4 c ground flax seed
3 Tbsp bone suckin’ bbq sauce

When I was getting out veggies for burger toppings, I spotted some mushrooms hiding in the back of the fridge. Into the burger mix they went.

Oh Looky Looky! Mushrooms!

Shhhhh, listen? Do you hear that? Just a quiet burger sizzle and a gentle bubble of my veggies steaming.  Read more...

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Change of Plans

November 12th, 2009 | Posted by Alison Spath in Dinner Time - (18 Comments)

More homeschool ice skating today! Except today we found the equivalent to training wheels for beginner ice skaters.

Training Wheels for Ice Skaters

We had another little lesson this week from a very sweet instructor. (But would have preferred Sk8ter Gurl Hollyz or Ice Dancing With The Stars Cindy – sorry ladies, we had to settle.)

Homeschool Skating

And within 10 minutes, she was off and running. Errrr, skating.

Now She's FAST

From the ice rink we skid home for a fast, late lunch and then off to the gym for homeschooling Phys Ed.

Homeschool Gym Class  Read more...

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Glitter

November 11th, 2009 | Posted by Alison Spath in Dinner Time - (20 Comments)

Now this is what I call a real salad.

A Real Salad

I guess I’ll just have to be my own fruit and salad company. You know what they say! If you want something done right you just have to do it yourself. Can do.

We kept ourselves busy today, both in and out of the kitchen.

Let’s make more MamaBars!

Let's Make Banana Bites

Let’s make something with glitter! *insert insane shrieking here* ANYTHING WITH GLITTER! Let’s make it! Gliiittteeerrrrrrrrrr…

I’m not so sure though that the “do it yourself” cliche applies to Christmas ornaments. Some things really are better store-bought.  Read more...

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High Hopes

November 10th, 2009 | Posted by Alison Spath in Dinner Time - (14 Comments)

I had high hopes today.

High hopes that the Garmin 405 would be available to borrow at my local running store from their electronic lending library.

Beat Up 405

Score! After reading Shari’s post yesterday on gadgets I had Garmin envy and hit up the cheapest way I know to get my hands on a Garmin (FREE), even if it’s only mine for a week.

I had high hopes for a dinner out at a restaurant near Zak’s office before a homeschooling gathering tonight. He eats lunch here frequently and has only had good things to say about their salads.  Read more...

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We Came, We Saw, We Raked

November 9th, 2009 | Posted by Alison Spath in Dinner Time - (16 Comments)

Before I realized that I never published my morning post, we were off like a herd of turtles to help my grandmother rake the sea of leaves in her yard.

Lots to Rake

And rake we did. Lots and lots of raking. Did I mention we raked today?

Not At School

And some jumping too.

Now you see her.

Now You See Her

Now you don’t.

Now You Don't

After a couple hours of yardio, we broke for lunch. Homemade bread and homemade squash soup. If that doesn’t just shriek AUTUMN in your ear like a banshee on a hayride I don’t know what does.  Read more...

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