Farewell Gifts

This past week lent itself well to crafting a bit and I had a great excuse: my niece is moving to Amsterdam and she needed something to entertain her on the plane.I made a crayon roll, maybe not very age appropriate, but perhaps it will help with cleaning up afterward, but fun and easy to make.

I tried making some sewing cards- I had intended on coloring things myself but clipart and the printer won out. Thanks to the laminator, things should last awhile.

A book was fun to make, I looked through all the past pictures of the two growing up together and again the laminator came in handy. Hole punched with an easy binding. I think that we will try out making Asher some books this way.

And I tried out an I spy quilt, for her to find matches on the plane. Hopefully it keeps he occupied for some of the 8 hour flight. Plus it was awesome to use my walking foot again to quilt-- love that thing.

All About Food: Sweet Corn

There is something amazing about fresh sweet corn and here in illinois people don't seem to mess around. People go crazy throwing elbows to get to "their"ears, even though the whole cart is full and there seems to be plenty to go around. Until the Lubchansky's show up with two large bins to pack up. They pick their first ear, open it up, break it in half and give it to that son of theirs who is signing more and stating corn and begins to devour it, corn milk running down his chin.

We picked up about 80 ears of corn one weekend to put up, this is an easy one that anyone could do, you need a knife and ziplocks, some bowls and a cutting board come in handy and this is definitely a chore we prefer to do outside, so that spare table comes into good use.

Step One: Shuck the corn, don't worry about all the tassel strings, you can't get them all off, so don't try. Discard bad tips and bugs.

Step Two: Cut off kernals- this does need to be done with fresh corn, your grocery store stuff has converted its sugar to starches and therefore requires blanching, if you can open up the corn and take a bite, and it is yummy, things are still in good shape- you can also have your children do this for youStep Three: Fill your bowls with corn. It is best to use bowls that will easily allow the corn to slide off into a bag and to fill the bowl with only as many kernals that will fit in the bag.

Step Four: Fill and seal the bags, we like to make sure things lay flat, they store easier in the freezer. So don't over fill the bag, I also suck out as much air as possible to give it a vacuum seal appearence. Drop in the freezer, pull out as needed.

And it is so so good in the winter, sweet, great for some corn chowder, fantastic for enchilada casseroled or a black bean salad, just helps you relive the summer and just a bit goes a long way. We have 10 bags in the freezer for us and the business.

All about Food: Tomatoes

We are deep in the processing month that september lends itself too, and the photos have turned out well so I thought I would share:

Tomatoes

We are lucky to have growers like Jon and blue moon farm to have hundreds of pounds of tomato seconds being dropped off on our doorstep and they have been kicking our ass a bit to get canned, but we are caught up and I think done-

Step one: secure a buttload of tomatoes (We abandoned our tomato crop at the community gardens this summer, I couldn't handle park district stuff and Ben couldn't get out there enough, so good things for back ups)Step two: core and half the tomatoes, then worship your vitamix blender for its ability to liquify skins and seeds. No need to peel tomatoes in this house.

Step three: Simmer on the stove for hours. Be thankful that its not that hot to simmer the tomatoes on the stove for the next 6 hours to reduce them and get out all the added air from the blender.

Step four: Put tomato goodness in jars, pressure can and put up for winter. I think that we have at least 60+ jars currently: most to be used for food nanny meals, but still as much as we need.

With our heirloom slicers, that we do have in the side yard garden, we have enjoyed many fresh, but slicing them relatively thin and oven drying them on racks... holy yummy, they don't last long and have been a great addition on pizza's this summer and with cheese platters.

I will say that the only reason I tolerate the heat of summer is for the harvest, so putting it up for winter is really the greatest reward.

An attempt at Summarizing

Where the hell have you been? It's september already?

Let's attempt to wrap up what was my summer (and oh how happy I am that I feel fall on the way.)

First and foremost: I have been gestating, baby number two will be joining us in February. This was the last suprise I was expecting as I wrapped up my emploment at the UPD. Ben and I were not exactly planning this, were in shock for awhile not believing that there was indeed another life growing inside of me. We heard the heart beat for the second time this week, and all sounds good, time to start preparing for this addition. And boy does it take it out of you. Luckily I was able to spend plenty of time napping with Asher in my state of unemployment...

Which I took a short break from to work at the common ground food coop, which became way to overwhelming as a part time job that required 46 hours the week prior to opening, had me standing way to long at counters and sinks right at baby belly height. Ben and I quickly realized the good that has come from me quitting, that there was necessity in the decision and so I quit CGFC as well, only after all the stress seemed to culminate in me cutting my pinky with a very sharp knife while cutting peaches, requiring another trip to the emergency room (abandoning the coop on their opening day mind you when they really needed people cooking) and resulting in 7 stitches in my pinky- I'm told is a lot as it is a small finger- this is my first experience with stitches. I'll spare you the actually stiches, man are they ugly, so here is my bandaging.

Ben and I had a lovely camping trip with his parents and brother Zak and Cody. It was wonderful to get away and play in water with Asher who was so happy to have some many of his favorite people around.

Asher and I have hung out with play group, I am still trying to fit in a little bit... I am a bit wierd making new friends these days and am not really good at small talk- we are getting there, but I definitely feel awkward.

Ben and I had an amazing anniversary, 3 years celebrated at L'Etoile.

Holy cow it was amazing. I don't know that the meal can ever be recreated. Ben suprised me with a 7 course tasting already picked out, so I didn't have to think about ordering. I was sad to miss all the yummy wine B got with his tasting, but I put drops on my tongue to enjoy a bit of it. Yup, just incredible, a great anniversary. Asher stayed with my parents and went to sleep with only a little fuss...

yes we are still nursing and trying to ween, but that boy hasn't gotten the memo, so this was a big step. Also FYI nursing while pregnant is a bit draining.

I did get just a little time to craft this summer, I would have liked more, but most free time went to napping. Invitations for V & D's shower, we are still anxiously awaiting Henry's arrival... any day now, for v's sake.

And was able to finish Shane's quilt... he departs for amsterdam with my brother, sister in law and niece first week of October, so we were in a bit of a time crunch, bumper still to come.

The quilt contains my first bit of machine quilting with my walking foot, an amazing accessory. I suspect this will be a year of quilting without hand stitching, Shane still got some hand stitched stars on his.

Our Food Nanny endeaor is just going great. People sometimes approach Ben in hushed voices to ask if he is the "food nanny" he is like a superhero in the town which is amazing... we have 31 members and our goal over the next year is to have 50, so things are great!!

I am at a loss of what else to include, this morning I have woken up to yet another cool, gray, rainy day, which I could not be any happier about. Yesterday was the first day in too long that i have had no headache, nasuea or desire to nap and it was awesome!! I am ready to be fully footed in my second trimester and get that nesting energy... there is lots to do, starting with laundry and sweeping. Hope you are all well.

A Bit of Craziness

Things have been a bit hectic around here. I was in the hospital Thursday night with a lot of pain, Ben and Asher got to stay in the waiting room, we left around 4 am. Not so much fun, not much sleep and for sure not a very happy babe who wanted to snuggle up with his mama. I have a super fun kidney stone still yet to pass, so there is more fun to come. I am going to try and be active today and get this bad boy out.

After quitting my job I was aware that this month was a detox month to remove the poison of the nature center, I was not expecting this physical evidence of pure evil that I would have to pass, I guess you have to be careful what you ask for.

In happier news all of our fruit shrubs are bearing like crazy this year and we have really been able to enjoy a lot of raspberries, black raspberries, currents, and soon our gooseberries, which seem to refuse to ripen- they have been tempting to try for the last week, but haven't done the final sugar conversion.

Things that make me happy

STRAWBERRIES!!! Oh how we are indulging in them this season. Local, in season, red all the way through actual strawberries. Asher has been loving them as well, he loves the farmers market now and has learned how to rifle through the bags attached to the stroller while sitting down buckled in just to get to his berries!

Today was an extra special indulgence. For Food Nanny deliveries, we made strawberry rhubarb shortcakes for everyone with a couple for us. The first one with whipped cream in the middle and the top, my late afternoon snack only with cream on the top- we were lucky enough to have some organic valley heavy whipping cream in the fridge so ben whipped it up!

So many yummy things for me. Tonight we get to eat lots of garlic scapes.

A Bit Lighter

So as my last post was a bit heavy and definitely not uplifting here is something fun:

Mulberries! We thought that our tree was male as the last 6 years we have lived with it, there was never any fruit. Then to our suprise as I picked our first black raspberry this morning, we saw a mulberry ripe and ready for the picking. Then another and another and then I was under the tree looking up and saw loads of fruit. Asher was pretty pleased and enjoyed a mid morning snack, the chickens were happy too.

What Spring is

Asparugus popping out of the ground, our first year harvesting from our patch.

Green Garlic, a remarkably fresh, spring flavor.

New Chickens- our laying flock to be.

We are having a beautiful rainy day here. The type of lighting that just make everything look brighter and more beautiful. our tulips are knocked over a bit, I didn't post upside down pictures. This morning, getting up early everything is a glow! I love it.

Bleeding hearts, with a filter in picasa, such pretty flowers.

A grape hyacith poking up on the edge of the driveway.

So Kate, what have you been up to?

Well it has been an incredibly busy couple of weeks around here. we had a busy week last week and a busy one the week before getting ready for it. We are up to 25 people for meal deliveries making it 50 meals a week, catered a 235 person paying gig, a 50 person and a 10 person dinner party and then had our own sader. Above, a portion of the 750 meatballs I rolled out. Below Ben cooking them up- isn't fire dramatic?

My first attempt at ruggalah- only 50 of those needed.

As well as a great kosher for passover coconut macorroon recipe- first attempt, sweet sweet success.

Our weekend here will be a relaxing one, prepping for Tuesday cooking, and another weekend with a couple of gigs. Hopefully will be back to the blog, I miss the updates.

An Actual Scoop

So things are going. Ben and I know that the next few months trying to get this business officially off the ground are going to be a lot of work, and know that it will be worth it... needless to say regular posting hasn't quite made it's way back onto the agenda of my days. Work is boring me and I long for the day that I can say goodbye and put all of the uncomfortable egg shell walking behind me and forget about the boss who feels she has the right to criticize my body type during my yearly evaluation... yes she went on for 20 minutes, yes multiple people have told me to find a lawyer to sue the park district and no there does not seem to have been any type of disciplinary action taken... so moving on.

Spring is here, it started slowly and came a little later, but 3 weeks ago we got these

Snowdrops blooming in the front yard

then a few days later the crocus had their chance- they didn't do to well as Asher wanted to pick them all

And along that same time our spinach started thriving in the cold frame.

Today was a day full of gardening... 80 feet of potatoes, trenches dug by Ben, planted with assistance from Kate and Asher.

And Cabbages are in the ground as well! Things are really wet out there but much dryer than a few weeks ago.

In good news our food nanny gig is going well. We lost a family this month unfortunately, but picked up two mores, one of 2 and one of 4. So we are very happy and of course still looking for a few more to help out with summer especially as things are a bit hit and miss with peoples vacation schedules. If you want to check out what we have been cooking check out the food nanny blog here. Here are seven families meals divied up and loaded into our car a few Tuesdays ago... we are getting a bit more organized.