Ice cream #SOLC

 

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Today it was 70 degrees in the Chicago suburbs.  Some of my students had spring fever (7 days til spring break!) and my classroom was warm and stuffy. This made for a long day.

After dinner, I mentioned that the whole town would probably go out for ice cream today, especially since it's the warmest day so far in 2022.

"Ice cream?" asked my husband.

Even the 23-year-old daughter's ears perked up, "Ice cream?"  she replied.

I sent them to the new Dairy Queen a few miles away with orders in hand.  They returned with a bonus Blizzard.  "I think they are still training people - we will just put this in the freezer!" announced my husband.

Dairy Queen cones always remind me of a favorite book, Duke the Dairy Delight Dog, by Lisa Campbell Ernst.  I no longer have a copy (I need to fix that) on my shelf, but this delightful story was a pure joy to read aloud to the kids at elementary school.  The vocabulary was super-duper, so I bet even my middle school kids would not feel like it was too babyish.

In a nutshell, the story focuses on the very detailed, cleaning Darla (ice cream store owner) as she deals with a dirty and determined Duke, a stray dog who has found his destiny at the Dairy Delight.  The two don't see eye-to-eye, but an encounter with wax and a floor cleaner manages to nudge Darla to more acceptance of Duke.

Here's to more ice-cream filled 70-degree days this spring!

Popcorn #SOLC22

 

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When thinking about favorite snacks,

our family definitely chooses the puffy, light crunchy awesomeness of 

popcorn

You can always tell when my husband needs a late-night snack.  I'll hear the microwave running and the corn popping.  
He prefers topping the freshly popped kernels with butter and salt.

My granny used to enjoy popcorn when she watched TV.  I remember once she was watching our dog years ago, and we came home to the two of them, sitting on the couch enjoying a bowl of popcorn together.  One handful for Granny, one kernel for puppy.

I'm the most basic popcorn eater out there.  I might add a little salt or nutritional yeast, but plain, air-popped corn is my preferred snack. 
When I need something sweet, I love to make a batch of microwave caramel corn.  Mmmmm!

What are your feelings about popcorn?

Thanks to Greg&Linda at WhereWeRV for inspiration to slice about snacks!

Dinner solved! #SOLC21

 

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I would not change the past year of having everyone in my family home.  Last March our oldest daughter returned  home and found remote work.  The youngest daughter adjusted to remote college courses and a new full-time job.  My husband has settled in to working from his basement office instead of flying around the country.

What would I change?  

Figuring out dinner.  Seven days a week.

When it was just youngest and me at home, some dinners could be egg sandwiches or pancakes.  I'd cook some random chicken dish and we'd have that for two nights.  When my husband was home on weekends, we'd eat out (before the pandemic).

I experimented with Pinterest recipes.  I tried meal prep.  I pulled out my copy of America's Test Kitchen Cooking School and attempted to learn how to cook.

We survived.  We ate.  It was fine, but this week I landed on a new miracle for dinner.

A local catering company offered a weekly meal kit.  The food is prepared (ready to heat or eat) and packaged so nicely.  I jumped on the opportunity to get one of these tasty meals every week.

Tonight was a Parisian picnic.  Next week is Nashville buttermilk chicken.

As long as I have a meal to look forward to each week, I can deal with the other days.  

I accept I may never be the diva of dinner preparation!

Finding our way in the kitchen #SOL19

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My oldest daughter, Lindsey, has become quite the foodie over the years.  She's a power user of Yelp when we travel, finding new and interesting restaurants, including farm-to-table eateries.  My husband can be quite the chef when he's not exhausted from his work travels or uninspired by what's in the fridge.  He would really rather eat out than cook.

Recently, Lindsey has been accompanying me to the grocery store each week.  She's taken an interest in cooking like never before.  Before we can go to the store, we take a look at what's missing from our pantry and fridge, then I'm encouraged to make a plan for our weekly meals.  She provides a little feedback if there's something she wants to make.  Then I make a list (by category) and only then do we head to the store.

I have to say, I've made some tasty dishes lately, even though I'm the one who despises cooking.

I'm no longer grabbing random meat and veggies at the store, hoping to throw something together each weekday.  I've shunned throwing beef and mushroom soup in the crock pot to make a pretty awful pot roast.

I won't say I'm a budding chef, but the more I practice, the better the food is tasting.  I do appreciate Lindsey's help with the groceries (especially when there is no bagger and she jumps in to help) and her company in the store and the kitchen.

Here's a recipe that Lindsey found for Skinny Chicken Enchiladas.  I simmered the enchilada contents in the crockpot all day and WOW these were delish.  Enjoy!

Pinch of Yum: Skinny Chicken Enchiladas

Dishes #SOLC

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You can tell who is home based on the dishes on the counter.

Coffee cups + Salad bowls + Sriracha sauce on plates + avocado knife in the sink = Lindsey

Cereal bowl with milk + lemonade in glass + chip dust on plate = Allison

Chocolate milk in cup + mac and cheese pan + water glasses (3 or more) = Jeff

Where are my dishes?
In the dishwasher. ;)


(P.S.  I don't mind the dishes.  It's always my "domain."  I'm definitely NOT the main cook,
I feel like I've checked an item off my list when the dishes are done.)

Sack lunches #SOLC18

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**I wrote this slice during a workshop with Ruth Ayres, one of the co-founders of Two Writing Teachers.  What an exciting day of learning!  Come back this week to hear all about it!***

Making my lunch is something I do every work day.  Monday's lunch was turkey and honey mustard on half of a whole wheat pita, a handful of blueberries, a low fat/low sugar yogurt (Siggi's) and a red pear.

I'm working to remove some food, replace others and health-ify my lunches.  I love fruit, I eat bread & carbs, and I need more veggies.  I started thinking back to my lunches in elementary school.

Lunch contained a sandwich.  This sandwich was on white bread, smeared with Miracle Whip.  (Yes, friends, I still don't like mayonnaise.) On the sandwich you would find veal bologna from the deli.  Sometimes there would be sliced American cheese on the sandwich, but not always.

Along with the sandwich, I'd have a baggie full of chips, crunchy Cheetos, or Doritos.  There would be a packaged dessert, perhaps a Hostess cupcake with smooth chocolate frosting and a swirl of vanilla icing.  Maybe a Nutty Bar or a Twinkie. (Mom shopped at the Hostess outlet store).

Last, a piece of fruit was found at the bottom of the bag.  Usually it was a red delicious apple.  On rare occasions I might have a pear or plum, but it was always a piece of whole fruit that could survive the day with minimal bruising or getting smushed.

I bought milk at school.  For many years it came in a triangular package that you would stick a straw into.  I remember milk being less than 25 cents, and at no time was chocolate milk available.  (Bummer!)

Looking back, I can see where my idea of what lunch should look like began.  I still carry some sort of sandwich and fruit.  I hope to be more creative with my lunches, but Pinterest pictures do more to discourage some new lunch ideas.

Do you have some healthy lunch suggestions?

Grocery shopping #SOLC17

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(Button art by Sandra Boynton)

Yup, I'm a foodie.
I love to eat, but
I really don't like to cook.
I leave that super power to my husband, Jeff
We call him Cheffrey (get it!?)

Unfortunately Jeff travels each week to his consulting job,
so I'm left to be
creative?      brave?    desperate.

Frozen pasta + frozen cooked chicken + pesto in a jar = tonight's dinner  YES!

Allison eating out with friends?
I'm on my own for dinner?

Scrambled eggs + English muffin + fruit ... for the WIN!

Tonight I must hunt, forage and collect food at the grocery store.
I'm overwhelmed by the choices.
Even though I can more easily walk through the bakery
(my sweet tooth is tuned to dark chocolate)
and I can choose healthy veggies, fish and chicken,
it's still a challenge.

I'm all set to go.
Wrote my list, gathered my reusable bags,
laced up my gym shoes.

Off I go to the grocery store
a place that should be fun, but to me
it's just a place
where I overthink
the daily BIG QUESTION

What's for dinner?

Chocolate #SOL16 22/31

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Ask anyone about my favorite sweet (family, students, strangers) and they will tell you it's chocolate.

My favorite holiday is the day AFTER Valentine's Day when the chocolate is on sale.  (No, not really.  I will pay full price chocolate any time).

I've become a bit of a chocolate snob over the years, but I've always preferred dark chocolate.  Semi sweet chocolate chips do fine in a pinch, but hand me some Dove Promises, and I'm your BFF!

My students think it's especially funny that I admit to loving chocolate so much.  They expect grownups to tout the benefits of vegetables and fruit.  "Chocolate grows on trees," I tell them.  Then I explain the cacao bean and tell them I dream of planting a cacao tree in my yard.

Sandra Boynton is one of my favorite illustrators and authors.  I have loved her work since I discovered a button in college with a hippo trying to hug a cake ("I never met a carbohydrate I didn't like!)  I was SO excited to order her new book, Chocolate: The Consuming Passion.  My husband laughed when he saw it in our online bookstore cart.  "The kids will love that one!" 

Well... this book will not be going to school.  It's for grown ups, and it's all about chocolate, so I will be keeping it for myself.  Unless you want to read it, but then I need it back!  It really is a sweet read!

Image from Amazon.com

All this writing about chocolate is making me crave a bit of dark chocolate.  You, too?

What's a "Slice?" #SOLSC 1/31

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Many years ago, I joined Michelle Nero in a classroom during our days of push in writing instruction.  The mini (maxi!) lesson was creating a narrative about a small moment in time ... just like a slice... of 

pizza!

The metaphor Michelle used was that life was a pizza.  You have good and bad experiences (mushrooms are good for me, maybe yucky for you!) and they all combine for your pizza of life.  You can't write about the whole pizza for a narrative - you just need to write about one slice!

Fast forward to 2016.  I'm in a new school with a fresh batch of elementary students in many intervention groups.  All of them have writing books, and I have a variety of writing tools.  When I hand them their writing books (simply a pile of copy paper sandwiched between two pieces of cardstock), I guide each group of students in making their pizza of life.

"What do you like on your pizza?" I ask.
"Sausage!  Pepperoni! Cheese, lots of cheese!" they exclaim.
"Do you ever put mushrooms your pizza?" I ask.
"NO WAY!"
"Why not?"
"I don't like mushrooms.  Ewwww," is the usual response.

 (Maybe someday, someone will like mushrooms like me!)

The purpose of this discussion is to have my students write words or draw pictures of people, places and things that are important to them and their life.  This pizza becomes a source of inspiration to them when they need ideas about what to write about.  When students get stuck, I guide them to their pizza.

What will go on your pizza?  What slice will you serve up each day of writing?

(Yes, you're right, food can be found on my pizza!)

Happy writing and happy slicing! 

The Dinner Dilemma

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It's hard to be married to a man who is a great cook and also loves to eat out.

Our kids definitely have opinions on what makes a great dinner:

• caesar salad
• beef tenderloin
• baked potato with everything
• sweet dessert

I'm lucky to remember to defrost some meat from the freezer and toss it into the crock pot with a can of condensed cream-of-something soup and some spices.

I'm not the person in the family who should be shopping, planning and preparing dinner.

The person who should works out of town 3-4 days per week.  When he gets home, cooking is the last thing on his list, even though he's been hanging in a town where the "fine dining" is Olive Garden.

Another force working against me ... the oldest teen has a job at a grocery store.  She spends hours checking out her favorite foods and snacks, taking mental notes about what we groceries we should have in the house.

What's a mom to do?  I'm capable of cooking with spices, creating rues from soups and sauces.  I know how to handle a meat thermometer, my oven and the grill.

I turned to Pinterest this year.

My cooking has not improved.  It's become more unexpected and experimental.

Maybe I'll make a list of some go-to dinners that the family likes and enjoys - (hahhahhahah) I wonder how many meals will be on this list.  Maybe I'll precook meals and keep them in the freezer.  Maybe I'll inspire my girls to take over dinner duty once in a while.

Then again, I may just stick to my favorite meal.  Eating out!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Saga SOLC #10

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In high school, my friend Christel and I called ourselves the Keebler Elves.  We could whip up a batch of chocolate chip cookies that were fluffy, chewy and delicious.  Nothing fancy -- we just followed the Nestle Toll House recipe on the bag of chocolate chips.

In high school I worked at Mrs. Fields Cookies.  I could only drop the cookie dough on to the cookie sheets when someone older than 18 mixed the dough (out of secret recipe bags).  I excelled at shaping the nicest chocolate chip cookies that weighed nearly a ton.

I married my husband in 1990 and my cookie baking skills were intact.  We learned that he was the head chef and I was in charge of baking.  My repertoire included chocolate crinkles, banana bread, sugar cookies,  pumpkin pies and chocolate mousse.  Our kitchen times were fun and relaxing.

The girls were born in 1996 and 1998.  Not much time for baking then, but a plate of chocolate chip cookies could still be found in the container on the counter every now and then.

When the girls turned 4 and 2, I gave them aprons and kitchen tools on Christmas Eve.  Our yearly tradition of baking for the neighbors began.

Two years after my Granny Pat passed away, we were missing the taste of her chrusciki (fried dough).  I figured out how to make this fluffy, golden fried dough just like she did.  That's the year my chocolate cookies started coming out flat, greasy and half-baked.

What happened?  We don't know!  My oldest can actually remember when the cookies went "bad."  Sure, they tasted great, but their consistency was less than desirable.

I tried different recipes.  I tried adding more flour.  I changed the settings on our convection oven.
Nothing worked.

Last night I decided to try again.  I took my time.  I followed each measurement and step precisely.  I completely creamed the butter and sugar - longer than I ever have.  When the cookies came out, they weren't half baked.  They weren't too flat.  They could be fluffier, but I have to start somewhere!

Success - even a little - is sweet!

Messy kitchen = happy family SOLC #5

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When we remodeled our house, I knew the kitchen wasn't for me.  I'm the now-and-then baker and throw-together-pasta-for-dinner cook.  My husband, Jeff, is the true chef of the family.

For the past few years, Jeff  has traveled extensively for work.  My daughters have gotten used to nearly-edible dinners and take out opportunities.  I usually get a text at dinner time..."We were thinking of grabbing dinner at  Potbelly's... is that okay?"  I never say no.

For the past two months, my husband has worked locally.  The vast amount of meat in our freezer has been defrosted proactively and turned into some beautiful dinners with incredible side dishes...

Baked chicken (brined before baking)
Beef Bourguignon
Spaghetti with a rich meat sauce
Roasted vegetables
Garlic mashed potatoes

Needless to say, I have a lot of clean up after dinner, but it's worth it!  Our beautiful kitchen deserves to be used, and I don't mind scrubbing dishes and the stove top.

Our stomachs are full of food prepared with love.  Dinner has become a less stressful part of the day for me and the head chef.  The girls are staying home for dinner more often, and we've had more time to talk and laugh as a family.

I wonder what's for dinner tonight!

Date Night? SOLC #2

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Last night my youngest daughter went snow tubing with friends.  My oldest daughter volunteered at the elementary school's fun fair.  This left my husband and I with a few free hours.

We started at the local family-run Mexican restaurant.  We enjoyed some tasty food and a mango margarita.  Yum!  Then we decided to go grocery shopping.

Romantic, right? 

There's a new chain of stores in our area that's a neat combination of fresh market/bakery/butcher shop and regular grocery.  It's a 20 minute ride from our usual store, but I think it's worth the trip.  My husband hasn't gone with me before, even though he's the head chef and foodie at our house.

I really thought the trip would be a dud.  Jeff hasn't been feeling his best, and I really considered going by myself.

As it turned out, we had an enjoyable hour in the store.  It wasn't very crowded and we were able to stroll down each aisle and really take everything in.  We challenged each other to find the cheapest item when brand didn't matter.  We discussed our youngest daughter's need for seafood (she should live in Maine!).  We made fun of the prickly okra (how do you cook that?) and admired the beautiful purple eggplants.

Maybe date night at your place looks a little different, but on this particular Friday night in our corner of the world, nothing beat a relaxing trip to the market!

Chocolate Chips - SOLC #12

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Oh, yes, ladies and gentlemen.  It's Monday.  The least favorite day of the week, if you're me.

Let's forget it's Monday and talk about....

Chocolate Chips

Chocolate chips are the best food on the entire planet.  (I dare you to argue with me!)  They are small, sweet little smooches with an adorable tiny top.  They are made by some of the finest chocolate companies on earth - Ghirardelli, Nestle, Hershey.  You can store hide them in the freezer or in the cabinet - whatever's most convenient for a quick hit.

When you need just a bit of chocolate love, chocolate chips are there for you.  They come in a variety of chocolate styles - milk, semi sweet, mint and white chocolate (which I've heard really isn't chocolate, but let's not be picky!)

My favorite chocolate chip story was told at my husband's Grandma Jane's funeral.  She taught 5th grade for many, many years, and she was a chocolate chip connoisseur, like myself.  During one holiday visit to my husband's house, Grandma Jane walked downstairs to have breakfast.  The kids were quick to ask her about the brown smear at the corner of her mouth.  She distracted them as she found a napkin and quickly cleaned her face.  As the kids grew older, they learned that Grandma Jane had a habit of carrying a handful of chocolate chips to bed with her at night, and sometimes she fell asleep eating them.

Ahhh, chocolate chips are little pieces of heaven!