Rat-patootie

Have you seen the movie Ratatouille? I am unnecessarily fascinated by the animated people cooking....it is a cute movie and I really identify with the idea that a food or smell can evoke memories. Food is so much more than just fuel to me, it is a creative outlet, a way to love my family and a way to remember times or people. So with a movie for my inspiration I decided to make some ratatouille with fried polenta, we also had some grilled pork chops and foccacia. It was very good, I think I will try a different type of eggplant next time, this one was too big around to make a pretty pattern with the squash, zuccini, and tomato.

100?

I was going to post about Abbie.....I took a break from cleaning the haz-mat site in the garage to attend Abbie's first cross country running race! Unfortunately I forgot the camera, but she had a great time. The kindergarten, first, and second grade kids start in order and run a one kilometer loop. Everybody gets a medal for finishing and Abbie was in the middle of the pack. There are three more races this fall, this one was all the way out at Two Rivers and I think the next one is in Salcha, but there should be two at Birtch Hill. It will be nice not to have a 30 minute drive! Anyways, back to the title, when I logged in, the dashboard counter said 99 posts! Is this really 100?? How cool!

Yuck

This is what we did yesterday:


Our basement/crawlspace had water in it at some point, we are estimating about two inches at the low points. The water is mostly gone now, but it certainly left its mark. We had to junk a lot of stuff and are discovering a lot of mold. Most of the Christmas ornaments will be salvageable because they are glass, but lots of papers are beyond saving. I haven't found anything yet I am distraught over loosing, a few handmade lace ornaments are pretty moldy but it might be possible to get them clean or sucker Mom into making me replacements. It is a big job to get it all clean and re-packed in plastic totes, and we will be making a dump run today. Next up, better drainage for the basement!

Escapees

Just wondering if those of you with babies are missing anything?


The first item is affectionately named "corn poop" the recipe says it is fresh polenta and my Mom says it is creamed corn. I make it by grilling corn on the cob then cutting off the kernels and simmering them with milk and butter before pureeing. It is sweet smoky and good, whatever you call it. But, it does look a little.....funny. On the plate with sausage is the newest batch of beer mustard, the best for most anything you would eat with mustard. I made it last week and it is already half gone! Again, tastes great, looks funny.
(I didn't take a picture of it, but Zara's kraut is funny too, she had purple cabbage to use up so the kraut is a vibrant maroon!)

Grandma's birthday

Family photo taken at Grandma's birthday party, August 17, 2009.

First day of school!

August 17, 2009...Liam Arron, age eleven and Abigail Rose, age six. Sixth grade and first grade.

Snow white cake

I seem to have become the birthday cake baker for all our friends. This cake was requested by Liam's friend Kelsey for her early b-day party. It is a white chocolate cake with seven minute frosting.The cake was good and the frosting set up correctly this time, but together they were very sweet! I think chocolate frosting with this cake next time. We also had dinner with our friends, a big thanksgiving spread! I couldn't resist this pic of one of their puppies. This is Daisy, a St. Bernard, she is about 3 times the size of our dog and about 100 times more mellow!!