Grown up Food, Baby Food

My mom gave us some of her overage from thae farm "leftovers" that she gets from her friend Susanne every week. We got cauliflower & broccoli & lettuce.
So, we had our favorite soup last night - Cauliflower Soup with Pecorino.
Gillian loved it, too. She ate TONS of it. So, I will be making more creamed soups this week. We got fresh peas in our farm box last week. So, I'll make Pea Soup with Mint Cream (from my "Greens" cookbook) & I'll try this Broccoli soup, too.

Fearless Flyer

I read about Trader Joe's Harvest Grain Blend last week, in the fearless flyer. So, I picked up a bag to try. We ate some the other night for part of our dinner. We were totally CRAZY for it. It is so good. Go get some. Try it. I think I will stock up a bit, in case they stop carrying it!
We also really enjoyed a couple of the wines the flyer talks about - Novella & Panilonco.

The Farmer's Wife

A few days ago, Scott brought home a huge bag of artichokes from work. Yeah! It's always a big treat when he brings home the latest pick, whether it be Raspberries, Strawberries or Artichokes. I feel like a farmer's wife on those days, suddenly having to think of something to do with the "harvest". I just trimmed, halved & steamed all the 'chokes. I plan to try making some stuffed, fried artichokes this week. I'll let you know how they turn out.
Do any of you have recipe boxes on Epicurious? They just started the option of being able to make your box public. I am currently ranked as the most active. I am not sure how that happened. Maybe no one else has gone public? Anyway. Check out our recipes. My user name is erinadams41. And, if anyone else has a public box, let us know, so we can try your favorites, too.

Swing Time

Yesterday we had an appointment over in San Jose & then went to dinner in Campbell. After dinner, we had a little play break before driving home. Here is Gillian swinging at the park for the first time. She loved it!

Two Years

It was 2 years ago today, when our son Gabriel went home to be with Jesus.

In memory of him, here is our special verse for Gabriel -

Psalm 139:16
"Thine eyes have seen my unformed substance;
And in Thy book they were all written,
The days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was not one of them."

Home is Best

We are home. Yeah!! It is so great to be here.
I enjoyed a couple hours of home this morning, getting all our stuff put away from the trip, etc. I began a load of laundry & shortly after notice that I was hearing something leak. Continuous, loud dripping... The drip pan under the water heater was nearly full. Oh good. Maybe it will overflow & drench our new carpet.... So, I got on the phone right away. And now, we are having a new water heater installed.

Beaker...the original cannon fodder

It struck me the other day that Beaker is the original Kenny. They both talk in a way that is unintelligable to anyone except those close to them (Professor Bunson for Beaker; Kyle, Stan, and Cartman for Kenny) and they both die every time they appear. Well, ok, so Beaker didn't "die", but it was as close as the FCC and the time period would allow.

Matt and Trey ripped off the Muppets!!!

Comments?

Klamath

Yesterday, for the Mother's Day, Scott & Gillian took me out to dinner at the Ranch House. It is a great restaurant at the Running Y Ranch - a golf resort on Klamath Lake. The view from the restaurant is beautiful. They specialize in Northwestern Cuisine. We had the option of ordering Elk, Buffalo, Pheasant... I had chicken. Crazy, eh? Scott got the pheasant. So, I got to try it, & I ended up really liking it.
Before dinner, we had a good morning at church, Immanuel Baptist. And then we spent the afternoon with 2 of the families from church here, making new friends.

Who's Your Favorite

While in Macdoel, I have been able to watch Food Network! We don't have T.V. at home. So, this is a treat. I can't wait to get back home & start cooking.
Who is everyone's favorite Food Network Chef?

I think my favorite's are -
Sara's Secrets & Everyday Italian
close seconds are -
Barefoot Contessa & Essence of Emeril

What does everyone else say?

American

Last night we had some of Scott's co-workers over for dinner. We had Jambalaya (prepared before we made this trek north at Fresh Prep Kitchens). I had never had it, never sounded good to me... But, I loved it!! Even with shrimp in it! I also made cornbread to go along with it. One of our guests for dinner is South African & he had never tried cornbread. So, we got to serve him up a little bit of America. He loved it!
We had Bananas Foster for dessert. Another first for me. And, I liked that, too. My husband really gets me to expand my food world.

Juanita

Yesterday afternoon we drove up to the hills on the edge of the valley to this gorgeous little lake - Juanita. We walked around the lake, then had a dinner picnic. Gillian's picnic was sweet potato puffs. In this picture, she's got one in each hand!

Yesterday... seems so far away

Yesterday the sun was out & work in the fields was moving along at a great pace.
This morning we woke up to several inches of snow on the ground.

Old & Busted

On our walk yesterday evening, we stopped to photograph this neat, old combine/bailer. It is hard to imagine it ever working in the hay harvest. How things change.

Macdoel

This is a shot of the valley we stay & work in twice a year. It is high desert country. Very beautiful.

Mei Tai

Here is my latest completed project! Gillian loves it. I love it, too. It is very comfortable. My friends Sara & Jamey both use this style of carrier. Jamey had made hers. So, she let me borrow it & gave me a little advice & it took me less than an afternoon. Yeah!! They are an asian-style baby carrier, called a Mei Tai.
p.s. Yes, those are real Uggs that Gillian is wearing. A gift from our friends the Rohrigs!

Ovid

"Take Rest;
A field that has rested
yields a bountiful crop."

I read this today & it made me think of a discussion I was having with my mom & sister this weekend. Work hard & rest well.

Surprised

I love this photo. I guess grandpa was doing someting that caught her off guard. She looks a little surprised.

Poetry

I am reading John Piper's book "Don't Waste Your Life". He mentioned an old saying that I have heard, but had forgotten...
"Only one life,
'Twill soon be past;
Only what's done
for Christ will last."

More Cousin Time

Yesterday we made the 8 hour trek to Macdoel (middle-of-nowhere) California. Gillian was a super road-tripper. We are really impressed. The weather was lovely when we got here. Today it is rather overcast.
Before we left, we got to have some time visiting with family, over at my parent's house. We got a photo of Gillian playing with her cousin Jackson. They seem to get along really well. So, that's nice.
If you are wondering why Jack's lip is white - that is some of the cream cheese tart his dad had just given him. Gillian had just enjoyed some of the same.