A Spicy Little Giveaway

French's in the yellow bottle, best yellow mustard ever, asked me to tell you about their $25,000 recipe contest. It's getting down to the wire so you better get hopping if you want to enter. Recipes are due on Halloween. Maybe you have a secret family recipe hiding up your sleeve? Hmm maybe? Well if you do and you want to enter go here for details.

Now on to the giveaway. You have until Sunday at midnight to enter to win this great little prize pack:

you get:

• 1 bottle of French's Worcestershire Sauce
• 1 bottle of French's Horseradish Mustard
• 1 bottle of French's Classic Yellow Mustard
• 1 bottle of French's Spicy Brown
  
• 1 bottle of French's Honey Mustard
• 1 can of French's French Fried Onions
• AND of French's T-shirt

Here's how to enter:

• leave me a comment telling me if you are a mustard, ketchup or both kind of person
• extra entry for ALL of my followers just leave that extra comment stating you are following me
• link back in your blog and leave a comment for that
• follow me on twitter and leave me a comment saying you are following there
  
• twitter this @whats4dinnermom enter until Sunday midnight to win a French's prize pack details at www.heywhatsfordinnermom.blogspot.com
• randomly twitter this @whats4dinnermom is the Queen of All --for any extra entries :D

Sorry contest open to US residents only!


Yes today is better than yesterday. Honestly it can't get...wait I am so not tempting fate with that one. Nope not me.

Peace and Love,

10 things I hate about today

**Warning this post contains references to extreme bodily functions by people other than myself**

1) woke up at 2 am by prairie wolves in 6 year old's bedroom

2)woke up at 3 am by same boy barfing on me

3)awake rest of night waiting for other shoe to drop

4)it finally drops at 7am with another 'accident' of a different sort

5)graceful lovely cottonwood in neighbors yard is blown down in a wind storm

6)dryer is dead, can't be fixed must be replaced

7)at recycling center smash hand between dryer and back of truck

8)husband forgets to transfer money for new used dryer and I'm stuck at the shop waiting

9) on the way home the youngest boy who I took with me for an adventure complains of headache and subsequently barfs all over the seat next to him and into the seat belt compartment, basically everywhere but on himself

10)after cleaning up the mess on the side of the highway in 60 mph winds I jump back into the truck, slam my hair in the door without realizing it and leave a nice bald patch on the left hand side of my head when I turn to check on my son


Now excuse while I'm off to surely be smashed by the new used dryer falling down our very steep basement stairs.

Love and Peace,




Damn forgot the dishwasher drained all over the kitchen floor...upshot? the floor is now clean, or was anyway

Cat Cookies and Quick Meatloaf Muffins

How about some food? Yes? Good lets go! I saw these adorable cookies on Coleen's blog and I knew we would be making them. I'm glad we did, while they were fairly work intensive (small easy kid friendly steps mind you) they are worth it. Ours were not hardly as cute as Coleens but made by kids makes up for that. I think.

Cat Cookies-oven 350˚

1 cup butter at room temperature
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
3 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups all purpose flour
1 cup baking cocoa
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
candy corns

in a large mixing bowl or your KitchenAid mixer, cream butter & sugar until smooth
beat in eggs and vanilla
combine the flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in another bowl
slowly add it to the creamed mixture

Roll dough into 1½" balls
roll the ball in sugar
place on a cookie sheet ( I used my silpat mat too)and flatten with a glass
pinch the top of the cookie to form ears
for the whiskers, press a fork on each cat cheek
add 2 green or orange M&Ms for eyes and a black one for a nose (Halloween colors)
bake at 350˚ for 10 minutes
cool on wire racks.

Next up is a family favorite! Meatloaf muffins, these tasty little guys cook up fast making it a great weekday meal for any family. My son actually asked me to make these and everybody loved them, as usual excect my 4 year old who was completely crushed when he realized his "muffin" was meat and not chocolate. Poor guy he was doubly confused because I used moose meat and he thought we meant chocolate mousse when we were talking about the "moose muffins". He did eat the required 3 bites and a few more to prove he was a good sport. Gotta love him, right?

Meatloaf Muffins oven 350˚ makes between 20-24 muffins

2 pounds lean ground beef, I used 1 pound 10% ground beef and 1 pound ground moose
2 slices of bread
1/4 medium onion, more if you like onion
1 pickle
1 large carrot
2 eggs
2 teaspoons salt more to taste
1/2 pepper more to taste


preheat oven to 350˚
break up the meat into a large bowl
in the bowl of a food processor whirl the bread until it is crumbs
pour over meat
in the same food processor bowl(no need to wash) add the onion, pickle and carrot process until finely chopped
add to meat
break to eggs and add to meat in bowl
sprinkle in salt and pepper
mix gently until ingredients are completely incorporated
spoon in muffin pans (no papers)
I usually get between 20-24 from that amount of meat but you can make them bigger if you like be careful if you use a fattier meat as the fat may bubble up and out, yuck!
bake between 25-35 minutes watch them because bigger muffins may take longer while ours were smaller tonight and almost burned, not quite though

If you like you can use your own meat loaf recipe and just bake it in a muffin pan. I like my recipe because it has carrots and pickle and I think the flavor is spectacular, in my humble opinion.

Thanks for leaving such wonderful and thoughtful comments on my post yesterday. I was expecting a mass exodus of followers and commenters but I picked up a few more actually! I do like to keep my blog about raising MY kids and how WE live but sometimes I just can't stand the idiocy anymore and have to speak out. Thanks for listening and coming back.

Peace and Love,

Don't Let Hindsight be 20/20

The following was written under the influence of rage and disgust. It has nothing to do with food and a whole lot to do with making broad all encompassing generalized statements. I thought seriously of taking it down but decided against it. While it may offend some readers maybe it will inspire others to become the parents they should be to the very small souls given to them for a short while. At least I hope it makes you go hug your kids.


Apparently there was some horrific gang rape outside a school dance, it lasted for 2 1/2 hours. And other people showed up and joined in. I was on twitter and a "mom" twitterer was waxing on and on about "how youth violence laws need to be tougher" Really?

I don't think it is the answer. These kids have had violence shoved down their throats since they were toddlers. Sexuality too. The average kids in America watch 32 hours of tv a week. A WEEK. That's what like 4 1/2 hours a day? Wow!? They are routinely taken to movies that make me blush. Anyone watch Transformers 2? Violence and sex at every turn. They had a 3/4 nude girl dry humping the star of the movie and then grabbing him by the neck with a tail that wiggled out from her scantily clad backside. She nearly choked while beating him to death. And it goes on and on and on. Unbelievable violence teamed up with some steamy sex kitten shots. Not for kids right?

Guess which fast food chain had kids meal toys for this very adult movie? Burger King! Yes 4 year olds were being marketed to. And parents assuming it would then be a suitable movie for little kids took there kids. Except surprise it's not a kids movie but gee we paid 10 bucks so we're not leaving. Can't waste that money now can we?

And lets look at daycare. Where I'm pretty sure that kids basic needs are met but where are the parents to provide that intimate one on one time that is so essential to kids. Yeah you guessed it out earning the money to take their kids to COMPLETELY inappropriate movies. We are saying to our kids, money is more important than you. Sorry kid I'll squeeze you out but after that you are someone else's problem. Except they don't learn (by and large) whats really right and wrong because mom and dad are too damn busy making money to pay for daycare.

Someone needs to be there with the kids. Period. Sure it's hard but we can all do it, it takes a commitment to living on a budget, not having the best of everything and being ok with a 3 year old cell phone. You will get kids who care. Who stand up for what is right. And when they do something stupid and get caught they don't try to keep getting away with it because they know it's only going to get worse.

So sure it's easy to say we need tough youth violence laws but how about tougher parenting guidelines? You squeeze 'em out, you stay home with them and raise them right. Quit passing the buck, stand up, do whats right even if it hurts and it's hard. Because it's right. And your kids are watching.

Am I way off here? What are your thoughts?

Roasted Tomato Soup and the FREAK!

I had a box of grape tomatoes teetering on the edge of rotting away. I bought it last week on a whim for a bulgur salad. I used a handful and then the box got shoved to the back of the fridge. I pulled it out today because I knew it was getting close. I had to throw a few out but mostly they were good, whew. A near miss, I hate throwing away food. Or at least throwing it to the chickens.

We have been meatless on Mondays for quite a while now. I really enjoy it and so do my kids who don't care for meat too much. We eat other various meatless meals throughout the week but every Monday is meatless, unless of course it isn't.

Today was no different. And it's days like this I am so glad I am a food blogger, when I have almost 2 pounds of grape tomatoes almost rotting I know of just the recipe I want to make. I actually saw this originally on Jen Lancaster's blog Jennsylvania. I saw it two-ish years ago and filed it away. You should really go read her post, it's snort stuff out your nose funny.

Here is my version of her version of someone else's recipe.

Roasted Tomato Soup oven 400˚

1 3/4 pound of grape tomatoes or same amount of regular tomatoes
2 Tablespoons assorted herbs, I used rosemary, basically use what you like
1 medium sweet onion quarter
3 garlic cloves, crushed and minced
3 Tablespoons olive oil
salt and pepper
chicken broth up to 4 cups
milk(optional if you want creamy soup, we did)

wash and dry tomatoes
toss with olive oil and pour in a 9x13 baking dish
sprinkle with herbs, salt and pepper
roast in a 400 ˚ oven until soft and slightly browned
cool slightly and remove as many skins as possible, I removed about 3 skins and it was fine
add tomatoes to a food processor pulse for thicker soup or puree until smooth (I made it smooth)or pour in to a dutch oven puree with an immersion blender (sadly I killed mine last year)
add chicken broth and or milk until it is the consistency you like**
adjust seasonings adding salt and pepper as needed
heat until hot and serve with a wedge of parmesean cheese and a box grater

**Note I discovered my box of broth was a wee bit too old so I added 2 cups plain water and milk until it was the consistency I wanted, the water was not detrimental to the soup and I only used it because I already had the tomatoes pureed and it was dinner, yikes!







As promised I have finally captured the freak chicken on film. See how he/she/it towers over everyone else? Seriously it's a giant freak chicken. I have decided to quite calling it the freak and have switched to Big Red. I didn't want my kids to think anyone who isn't cookie cutter like everyone else was a freak. But in my head?




FREAK!




Behold the freak, er Big Red in the back there. See the normal girls in front that's Goldy and one of the Supremes in there too. And then it, lurking back there, it could be a turkey sized bird soon.



ahh freak is coming run run run!!!





Peace and Love,

Pumpchini Muffins + I'm a Winner

I don't generally like muffins. I think if I'm going to eat mini cake bite things they need a mile of frosting on them to be thoroughly enjoyed. Without the frosting I'm not so interested. But other people in my house love muffins because they are as close to Hostess or Little Debbie snacks as they can get. So I try to appease them by making muffins occasionally.

Last week I was supposed to bring snacks to farm school twice, the first day I brought biscuits with apple jelly and then the next day I decided to make some pumpkin muffins. I had read about a pretty famous blogger's pumpkin muffins and thought I would give them a whirl. Not a good idea! They were horrid and about 1 inch tall. The teachers liked them and they did have a good flavor but it was a bit embarrassing to whip out 24 muffins that were flat as hell!

So I set out to make some nice big muffins with the same flavor, which was easy because it was such a normal spice combo for pumpkin. I think they turned out so much better and better looking. I added the zucchini because I still have zucchini hanging around from summer and it does give the muffins some serious moisture which I think makes them all the more palatable. They are also pretty healthy. My son and his friend inhaled them and they didn't even know they were healthy for them. Score one for mom!

Pumpchini Muffins oven 400˚

1 3/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon allspice

3/4 cup of milk
1 tablespoon vinegar

1 egg, beaten
1/4 cup of butter, melted
1 cup pumpkin
1 cup peeled grated zucchini

mix the dry ingredients
add the vinegar to the milk and let it set for five minutes
meanwhile mix the egg, butter, pumpkin and zucchini
grease a muffin pan and set aside

add half the milk to the flour mix stir gently
add half the egg mix and stir gently
repeat
only stir until combined, some lumps are fine
quickly fill your muffin pan
bake in a 400˚ oven for 15-20 minutes
eat hot, warm or cold

Even I like these and that's saying something. Also when I say 1/4 cup of melted butter I mean, cut off a 1/4 cup of butter and melt it.

Mara my friend @ What's for Dinner has been blogging for a year and held a blogoversary giveaway and guess who won? ME!! Thanks Mara! I can't wait to get my big ol' box a goodies!


Peace and Love,

Potluck Pleasers

Tonight we had a Harvest Potluck up on the farm. The farm? Yes a huge (700 acre?) gorgeous farm where my middle boy attends an enrichment school. They do all these FANTASTIC outdoors projects with the kids, teach them old fashioned games, run 'em ragged and generally let them be kids who are eager to learn. We love the farm and their lovely teachers, all fantastic wonderful women who get down and dirty with kids. Love them and their mission.

One part, especially near and dear to my heart, of the school is the snack rule: no pre packaged overly processed CRAP. It has to be real food and I am so down with that. In any school type situation before the farm my kids were looked at like they were freaks when they asked what gummy fruit by the foot was and especially when the wanted to know what ranch dressing was. Here it is always something real and usually whole.

For the potluck tonight I wanted to bring something special and that kind of stumped me. I mean I had several ideas and none seemed quite right. Then I happened upon the extra salmon fillet I made into gravlax this summer in the freezer, foodsavered and ready to eat. PERFECT! I served it with mini bagels, cream cheese and a walla walla sweet onion from the garden. It was so good even after being in the freezer for 10 weeks, love my foodsaver.

I also took along another favorite dish at potlucks Greek Bulgur Salad. Even though I screwed up the dressing it was a great side dish, how can you go wrong with feta, tomatoes, cukes and olives?

All in all the party was a great time. The kids played so well together and all the adults were mellow and relaxed. The hubs was sorry to miss it but seeing as he's in Nashville he didn't have a choice. And when he gets back on Saturday the boys are all his, I am running the hell away for the whole day. Gone. Protective custody or shopping or curled in the fetal position on the floor whatever works. He's been gone all week, the boys have been, well boys and I need OUT.


I am including a link to the post on our summer dipnetting trip, if you are new here you might want to find out how we caught all these: and why I felt I could make gravlax and not be worried it would suck.



Peace and Love,

Random Thursday Thoughts

I think I'm ready for winter. The lawn is cleaned up, mostly. Toys are stacked. Gardens harvested. Meat birds butchered. Freezer is full. House is decorated for the fall and Halloween. Costumes while not completed are at least underway. I'm ready to tuck in and relax for a while. How about you?

While 'relax' is a relative term in my book any day where I am not outside working half the day is relaxing. My house is finally getting clean-ish. And house work catch up is really satisfying. I cleaned my fridge. Blech. I think peoples kids have been taken away for lesser crimes than how dirty my fridge was. I washed my windows and found out the sky was really blue out there. And all those happy dust bunnies under the couch have been sucked up. Slowly but surely I am reclaiming my house. We also HAD a mouse but it's gone now, no more details shall be given.

So what AM I going to do with all my free time? Well I need to brush up on my knitting skills, read the manual for my camera(it still sucks though), work on grants for the Waldorf inspired charter school and clean out the crap, er, craft closet. And cook, amazingly I will be cooking too.

I'm still homeschooling the boys which is fun, mostly. We play a lot and craft too which involves lots of cutting, gluing and tape. We need to buy stock in 3M soon. The boys have discovered the joy of hide and seek and tag and I love to watch them play with each other.

We have a flock of laying hens giving us about 10 eggs a day, plus a rooster and one freak who's sex is a mystery. It doesn't crow but it's twice the size of everybody else and has small bumps where the roosters spurs are located. Freak birds freak me out.

So turns out just about everybody uses their microwaves the same way, pop, thaw and reheat. And of course Michelle who makes soap in hers. Freak. Kidding! So as long as I have time and inclination I plan on keeping my life microwave free. Thing is I think people expect some sort of microwave conspiracy theory and I don't have one. I could have one but I don't. Oh well.

And holy shit I just saw a mouse! Apparently we had more than one. Or else another slipped in. We (kids not me!) have a tendency to leave doors wide open anytime of year and this time of year that is a big old "welcome mice" sign. Umm gotta go now...

Peace and Love,

The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again

Remember those old movies? Tim Conway and Don Knotts? Fumbling stupidity? Man our elementary school used to show them after school for a quarter, those were the days. Alas my kids are a bit too young or old too enjoy the Apple Dumpling Gang for real but they do enjoy my Apple Dumplings, gang.

Have you ever had an apple dumpling? You really need to make these while the apples are fresh, cheap and delicious. Think baked apple wrapped in pie crust and brushed with caramel syrup hot out of the oven. Thankfully you don't NEED to get into a bathing suit anytime soon so enjoy these sweet little beauties while you can before bare body parts season comes around.

Apple Dumplings oven 425˚ and 350˚

2 cups sifted flour
1 teaspoon salt
2 Tablespoons sugar
2/3 cup shortening-I use butter I always do in pie crust
5-7 Tablespoons cold water

6 small baking apples
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup water
2 Tablespoons butter

in a bowl mix the first 3 ingredients
cut in the shortening or butter
alternately use a food processor, I did
when the flour looks like coarse crumbs slowly add just enough water to make a ball of dough
roll the dough out and cut into 6 equal squares, how big depends on the size of your apples
core the apples, you can also peel them but the skin cooks up just fine
mix the sugar, butter and cinnamon together and pack into the cavity of each apple
wrap each apple in dough, gently stretching to make them fit
if you have enough leftover dough make cute little stems and leaves
or not, your call
place in large baking pan big enough to keep the apples from touching
chill in the fridge for 30 minutes
meanwhile boil the last 3 ingredients together for 5 minutes until a nice caramel sauce is formed don't burn this p.u!
when the apples are done chilling pour 1 tablespoon of caramel sauce over them and bake in a 425˚ oven for 10 minutes
then reduce heat to 350˚and bake for another 30 minutes basting every 10 minutes with the caramel sauce
serve warm with a scoop of ice cream or a drizzle of heavy cream
I used small braeburns for these and they were great but feel free to use your favorite apples. Also don't let your dumplings set for any length of time in the syrup, they get gooey and the crusts falls off, trust me on this.


Love and Peace,

A Blog Award, cause I rock

I received a blog award from Sandy aka Doris the Great over at Aging Disgracefully! Woot!


In order to pass it on you have to answer each question with one word. Not so easy! So here are my anaswers:
1. Where is your cell phone? purse

2. Your hair? insane
3. Your mother? gardener
4. Your father? passed

5. Your favorite food? yummy
6. Your dream last night? gone
7. Your favorite drink? water
8. Your dream/goal? sustainability
9. What room are you in? bedroom
10. Your hobby? living
11. Your fear? bills
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? smaller
13. Where were you last night? netflix
14. Something that you aren’t? quiet
15. Muffins? no
16. Wish list item? appliances
17. Where did you grow up? Alaska
18. Last thing you did? laundry
19. What are you wearing? flannel
20. Your TV? off
21. Your pets? lab
22. Friends? awesome
23. Your life? busy
24. Your mood? quiet
25. Missing someone? no
26. Vehicle? paid
27. Something you’re not wearing? Keens
28. Your favorite store? thrift
29. Your favorite color? green
30. When was the last time you laughed?dinner
31. Last time you cried? forget
32. Your best friend? Deborah
33. One place that I go to over and over? Vagabonds
34. One person who emails me regularly? viagra
35. Favorite place to eat? sushi


Here's who I'm passing this on to:

Monica at Lick the Bowl Good

Michelle at Honest and Truly

Heather at Heather in SF

Janet at Pretty Green Girl

Erika at In Erika's Kitchen

Coleen at Coleens Recipe's

Christina at Dinner at Christina's

These are some of my favorite blogs and bloggers so go check them out, I think you'll enjoy them as much as I do.

If you haven't weighed in on microwave usage please do! I'm curious as to how and why people use their microwaves.

Also Mara @ What's For Dinner is celebrating her blogovesrary and is giving away her favorite things, head on over for a chance to win.


Peace and Love,

Why I live Microwave Free

I want to address the #1 question people ask me when they figure out I don't use or own a microwave, WHY?

It started when I went to college, we had ultra modern dorms/apartments. A full kitchen, dining room, living room, bathroom and 4 bedrooms. It had a microwave so I didn't need one. Then I went off the next year on my own and was too broke to buy one and discovered that I didn't really need a microwave.

Then it became a 'thing'. I didn't want one and didn't need one. My first husband wanted one but we never bought one because I always said no no no. I guess we spent our money on other things like a baby and such. It was still a 'thing' and I kept refusing one.

When my first husband abandoned us I really couldn't pay my mortgage let alone buy a microwave. Everyone insisted I should really get one because I could cook quick dinners up for my son because now that I needed to work I wouldn't have time. Wrong. I started a business cleaning houses and offices and put him on the bus and met him after school almost everyday. I had time. I made time.

My poor son melted more things in the school microwave than any other kid and he was constantly trying to use friend's microwaves with bad results. People were seriously bothered by us not having a microwave and were constantly trying to give them to us. As if we were living some sad little life without a microwave. And now it was really a 'thing' and if I even wanted one how could I possibly get one after I made SUCH a fuss about not getting one.

When I met my real husband his parents instantly offered us a great microwave. My oldest and only at the time was so excited there was hope on the horizon, mom was dating someone who lived on microwaveable bachelor food. Hope! And we dashed that because I brought my boyfriend now husband over to the dark side of a slower kind of life where cooking is a pleasure not a chore to be hurried through. Making time is important.

So we remained microwave free. We still are. I probably always will be but I can assure you that my oldest son will be buying one as soon as he moves out. He has already informed me of this. He has tried to buy one for his room but I quashed that, imaging the pest problems we would have if he was actually cooking in there. I mean the stacks off dirty dishes are more than enough already just imagine the disgusting mess a cooking teen boy would leave in his room. Yeah, no thanks.


So there it is, why I am freak without a microwave. Because I was broke, then it became a 'thing', only to come round to an understanding that there is time in life for what matters.

The question I get asked 2nd most often is: how do you live without a microwave? Easy, whatever can be done in a microwave can be done in/on a range. I guess I don't know what people use their microwaves for. What do you use it for? Do you cook? Or thaw? Or pop? Why do you need one? Yes I want answers on this! Please leave many many comments on your microwave use. I feel like now I NEED to know.

Peace and Love,

Castles in the Sky the big day

The day started fine presents torn open, toast consumed and clothes put on.





We went on a special field trip for school, the Musk Ox Farm!





Oh the babies are so cute, yes?


Then it was a long and torturous wait for the party to start.

But when it was a roaring success!

The kids came in as pages but were immediately promoted to squires. They were presented with surcoats and new boffer swords (foam rubber pipe cover over pvc pipe). They had to complete 4 feats of Knighthood to go on to being Knighted.

#1 Sword Skills: training, one on one and melee
#2 Dragon Battle: using a squirt gun to put out a candle
#3 Jousting: galloping with a sword and hitting a target
#4 Ogre Hunt: An Ogre stole their gold and they had to track him through the woods and recover their gold

Then they were Knighted, ate dinner, opened presents, ate cake and played.

Big brother was here.

A fantastic party start to finish. Whew!

Now on to the museum tomorrow for a quiet little family time, ahahahahahaaa. If you knew my kids then you would know why I'm laughing they are the loudest wildest hooligan beasts and I love them.


Peace and Love.





ps the cake was a HUGE success

Castles in the Sky

Ah, Union is 6 today, I think my heart might break. Just yesterday he was born, last night he started talking and now he's six already, tomorrow he'll be driving. How is this possible when I just graduated from high school last week? *sigh* Time, she does fly.

Apparently last year I "forced" him to have a pirate party and since then he has periodically brought it up and asked for a castles party. After we painted his room and added in the castle he ramped up his requests for a castle party. My husband is secretly pleased, being a historical re-enactor, this thrills him because he doesn't want to push his interests on our kids. But really? Who elses kids hunt goblins in the woods? And shoot wood bows? And know what a morning star is? Yeah, I thought so.

This year the kid is getting a Castles in the Sky party. Complete with "Feats of Knighthood", sword training, squire surcoats and knighthood if they complete their training. Beef pottage in bread bowls, 'ale' and a Castles in the Sky cake are on the menu. You want castles you got it!

So now I'm off to bed to sleep before the boys wake up. I'll leave you with a few shots of the cake.


Peace and Love,

Bubble and Squeak-Listening

I am busy planning a "Castles in the Sky" party for my soon to be 6 year old son. I'm swamped. I'm re-posting this post from my private blog that I abandoned to write this blog. See I had plans that I was going to conquer the blog world and make buckets of money off google ads so I broke up with my private blog and started this little blog. I wanted to keep my kids off of a public blog and that lasted about 12 minutes. I love this recipe, it's a great way to use leftovers and the name, well it speaks for itself. HA!


The summer before my grandmother died she was going to make bubble and squeak. She'd never made it before and had found a recipe in a magazine that looked interesting. I feel guilty because I never asked her if she made it. I never followed up and let her know I was listening. But I was.

I listened, I really did. I know how she ripened her tomatoes, which of her apples were good for baking and her favorite depression era snack. It's just this bubble and squeak recipe I never asked about. I wish I had, not just because I feel guilty now but because I would like to spend an afternoon in her presence just one more time. I wish.

So today someone said "oh we passed out a bubble and squeak recipe with our csa veggie boxes" and I nearly burst into tears. I have decided to conquer a bubble and squeak recipe.

The original recipe came from "an Englishmen in America" website.


BUBBLE AND SQUEAK

-1lb leftover cooked potatoes

-3/4 - 1lb of leftover cooked cabbage or brussel sprouts

- 1 Tbsp olive oil

- salt and black pepper if desired.

Chop potatoes if needed into bite sized pieces
Chop cabbage or brussel sprouts also
mix together
place a large heavy skillet over med heat and add the oil
when the pan is hot pour in the potato mixture sprinkle with salt and pepper to your desired tastes
and pat into a pancake
cook until brown then carefully turn the pancake over**
continue cooking until both sides are nicely browned and crispy
serve in wedges


**because there is no binder in the mix I actually just turned as much as my biggest spatula was able to move at one time and then patted it back together when all the pieces were turned*

Peace and Love,