Traditions

We all have them. Traditions ranging from chili on Halloween, to particularly lethal jokes on April Fool's Day. My cousin used to tape the sprayer handle on the kitchen sink so that his wife would get sprayed first thing in the morning. This happened every year, and still she would get soaked. Our traditions are not unusual, but I have discovered they have become quite important to the kids. Just when you think they aren't paying attention, you try NOT to do something during the season and you have mass mutiny on your hands!

Our traditions are probably much like anyone else's: Elf on the Shelf, Advent calendars, baking cookies and handing out treats to our neighbors (although we haven't yet done this - loser me). On Christmas eve we go to the family vigil mass and then have our "dress up" dinner right after wards at my parents' house, complete with china and crystal and a particularly nice cut of beef. When we get home (after driving through all the neighborhoods to look at the lights), the kids put out their stockings - not til Christmas eve! - do the cookie thing for Santa and go to bed. Christmas day is done in phases, we have our morning with cinnamon monkey bread, then my parents and brother + family come over where we do the "football game" and lunch.

Opening presents has always been done like a football game for us, complete with halftime (bathroom break), time outs (coffee refills), special teams (when the little kids need help opening), penalties (when the order gets messed up), the references go on and on and they afford us never ending laughs. Christmas day, with all the kids, is absolutely crazy. The cats LOVE all the wrapping and the energy in the house is borderline exhausting. Why in the world would I cook?

A tradition that we started a few years ago was in direct correlation to baby number five. Lizzie had just been born 5 weeks before Christmas and I did not want a big meal production to clean up in addition to all the present clean up. I decided then that we would order sandwiches from our favorite grocery store, pick them up on the 24th and then everything would be in the fridge when we were hungry. This proved to be such a hit and so easy that it has become our tradition. Everyone brings drinks, chips and stuff and we have a cold, un-cooked meal on throwaway plates. I spoke about changing this for this year and was met with cries of "but why?", "it's our tradition!", "mom!?". I quickly retreated and re-established the original plan.

Christmas night has always been the hardest part however. Last year we tried to go to a restaurant (in an effort to have a good meal that we didn't have to cook or clean up) and it was a complete disaster. 2 hour wait, lost orders, screaming children, imagine the scene... This year I wanted to avoid the post-Christmas inertia and let down by having a ready-to-eat dinner prepared. I am spending today making lasagna and putting in the fridge for an instant homemade dinner. I am even making it in a throw-away pan and we are eating on paper plates so that all I need is a trash bag. Not very green, I understand, but I spend lots of time being green the rest of the year. (We have even used up, yes, used up, our supply of grocery bags!)

All of this planning and thought is for one goal: an easy and happy Christmas. I don't always achieve it, but at least I've tried and amazingly, formed traditions for the kids at the same time! - K


This must be done the day before:
Cinnamon Monkey Bread
1 package of frozen dough for Parker House rolls (I like that brand Bridgford - sp?)
1 stick of butter, melted
1/2 cup of packed brown sugar
cinnamon (as much as you like)
pinch of salt (balances the flavor)

Mix the butter, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt together in a bowl. Toss the frozen pieces of dough in the mixture and stack them in a greased tube pan. Cover the pan with plastic wrap and let rise in the refrigerator AT LEAST OVERNIGHT.

The next morning (Christmas morning) preheat the oven to 375 and bake the monkey bread for approximately 20-25 minutes or until baked through. Turn out on a plate with a "lip" (to catch all the gooey sauce - which is VERY HOT) and go to it!

Beef Tenderloin
(this is my Aunt Christa's recipe)

7-9 lb. beef tenderloin, trimmed
honey
1/4- 1/3 cup good olive oil
mustard
minced fresh garlic
crushed dried herbs (parsley, marjoram, thyme)
salt and pepper

Salt and pepper the meat. Coat the meat with honey. Mix the rest of the ingredients together and spread on the meat. Preheat your oven to 500 and roast the tenderloin until the internal temperature is at least 120 (this is for rare). Before carving, let the meat rest for 10 minutes covered (the temperature will rise a little more) to re-distribute the juices.

Christmas is Coming!

Only 4 days. It is the last Sunday of Advent. Now that all (most) of the presents have been bought, I am reflecting on how to best approach our 2 weeks off from school. We have a trip to Winston Salem to look forward to; we will be spending time with Candice, Tommy and the kids. Before that though, we have our traditional Christmas Eve dinner with family. This year, we are going traditional with beef tenderloin, baked potatoes and roasted green beans. How lucky are we that we have such bounty? My brother always says we eat like KINGS! He's right, how blessed we are. I am reading a book (finally!) that Candice gave me over a year ago - The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. This novel tells the story of the time just after World War II in London through a procession of letters back and forth between the main character, a writer, and those she has befriended while researching her new novel. What has struck me in between the clever commentary and witty responses is how much these people actually suffered.

Slow to the Bandwagon

So I was driving my daughter to the pulmonologist check up the other day and she was watching Akeelah and the Bee, a movie that came out in 2006. I was just listening to it as I was driving, but I heard the Lawrence Fishburne character recite a quote that really struck me as amazing and liberating and profound. After doing a little research as to who said it and what the entire quote is, I found it on IMDB.com and then again on Wikipedia.com. This quote is from a woman named Marianne Williamson, a minister, author and lecturer from California.

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we give other people permission to do the same. As we're liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

This quote is simply amazing and says it all to me. I am just now jumping on this bandwagon because, after reading everything about this woman on Wikipedia and the various websites, apparently she has been around a while and I am not the first person to be struck by this quote.
As I read her profound words, I identify with the idea of being afraid of the person God created me to be. Expectations are so high when one fulfills one's destiny. What if I fail? What if I screw up my life, my children's lives, my family? I think the real question however is, how will I ever know if I don't try?

To be the person God created me to be, I must embrace all that He has provided. The good and the bad; the dark and the light. The choices that I make in this life show the kind of person I am. I was watching a newer BBC production of one of my favorite books, Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen. Marianne, the younger sister, after a period of high drama in her life (as expected from a tumultuous teenager) has an epiphany. I am paraphrasing, so forgive me if I don't get it exactly right. "It is not what we say or feel that makes us who we are. It is what we do; or fail to do." Now why can't I think of things like this? Honestly though, I feel like I am constantly being prodded into accepting my role in this world; however much I choose to pretend I'm not good enough or I don't have the right skills, I am a wife, a mother, a friend and I must choose to DO what is right. Not just talk about it.

I Must Be Old

Does time really go faster? When I was young, this always seemed like what grown-ups would say; after all, didn't Christmas take for-EVER, and Halloween take for-EVER to get here?? I used to overhear my mom and dad talk about how fast we kids were growing up, how the time was just flying by, how there was never any time to get stuff done. I always thought this was ridiculous. Now that I am a mom, I really think time IS going faster.

I mentioned in my last post (yes, I know it was weeks ago) how the retail sector pushes us forward against our will. I think there is a secret society made up of retail executives who all get together and plan to start the "season" one day earlier every year. As a result, we start thinking about Halloween in August, Thanksgiving in September, and Christmas starts the second the clock strikes twelve on Halloween night, sort of like a Cinderella-in-waiting. Because of this, I constantly feel behind; I am not yet finished with my normal day to day stuff before the other stuff intrudes: how big of a Turkey to buy, how many twinkle lights to put out this year, or what do the kids want in their stockings (do I even know where the stockings are)? Pushing against this force of nature that constantly pushes us forward is hard to do. I want to stand still sometimes; to get off the train and walk around a little bit before the train takes off to the next station. Or walk beside the cart for a while instead of constantly running behind it keeping the apples that fall off from hitting the ground. Candice and I laugh about how our lives are like a huge house of cards, delicately balanced, one card on top of the next. Remove a card from the bottom and a whole section falls down. There is constantly something going on; the lunches at the preschool, the birthdays at the elementary school, the opening of "the movie" (New Moon - YAY!), the early drives to school for tutoring sessions, swim practice and coaching. I find myself yearning for the holiday to actually come and go so that I don't have to worry about it anymore. And then of course, the guilt sets in as I realize that I am wishing away my life.

Next week, we have time off. The swim schedule changes so that we are done by noon. Thanksgiving will be here and we will sit down and count our blessings as birds in the hand. "The movie" will have been released and I can go see it during the day without any screaming 12 year-olds sitting next to me yelling every time Edward or Jacob comes on the screen (double yay!). We will begin the decorating for Christmas and thinking about presents. I can watch as the kids look at all the ornaments and laugh and remember. The point is, I have much to look forward to. The real point is, I don't want to be too caught up in the future to miss the present. -K

Where has all the time gone?

Wow, has another week (or 2?) gone by already? Life seems to be rushing by me in blurs as I continue to trudge my road. It is sort of like when you see an old friend after an extended time, her kids have grown at the same rate that your kids have, but you still see them as small in your head. When you finally wake up and see the world, it almost seems different with the things you've missed. We are fully past Halloween and fully in to the Christmas season. This is why I always feel behind, I think. The retail sector is constantly pushing me, pushing me into the next "pre-this" or "pre-that" season sale. I never feel like I have time to enjoy the season that we are in right now.

I picked up my son from preschool yesterday after spending the entire morning at the aquatic center setting up for the weekend swim meet. I had just ended the Birthday Extravaganza (3 weeks of birthdays and all the cupcakes that come with that - see earlier post) by making 6 (yes, 6) pans of macaroni and cheese - thanks to Ina Garten for THAT recipe! - for the coaches and officials. Plus, had spent all kinds of money - thanks to Costco - on all kinds of food. These goodies had to be delivered to and set up for the meet that began on Friday and will conclude on Sunday. I digress. When Ben's teacher told me to "have a great weekend", I was jarred into reality. At first I really did think she had made a mistake because it really couldn't be the weekend already, could it? Wow. I was wrong, it WAS Friday! Looking at Ben's school calendar showed me that their week off for Thanksgiving is only 2 weeks away! Where has all the time gone?

Thankfully, this meet will be over by tomorrow night. It is sort of like preparing for a big party, all the hard work comes the days before; by the time the party comes, all I have to do is sit back and watch. When the meet is over however, the real season begins and I already feel behind! I think what I will do is try to sit back and watch; try to really put down on paper the things I am thankful for. This is one of the hardest things to do when I am "in the trenches" of motherhood. Everyone knows what I'm talking about: the sick kids who need breathing treatments and steamy showers at 2am, the sheets that need to be changed in the middle of the night, the endless driving, the endless cooking and my favorite - the absolute imperative item that someone MUST have for school that day (that they just told you about as your sleep deprived mind is trying to help you pour the coffee IN the cup - is this salt or sugar that I like in my coffee?)

I AM thankful for all that I have. My family is very large and (relatively) healthy. I have a roof over my head (a nice roof) and we have 2 cars that help transport said family. I have a great extended family and tremendous friends. I am even thankful for the strangers that enter my life, those that make the comments about said family as they provide me a reason to laugh. If I had a nickle for all the comments, I could hire a "Hazel" (pop-culture reference from the 70s). My favorite of all time being the earnest question from a stranger as to whether all my kids had the same father. Oh, the things I WANTED to say....

I am thankful for my Bella and Edward obsession as it encourages me to read new and different works. I am thankful for my swimming as it allows my mind to sharpen and see things as they are. I will try to focus on these things as those old Calgon commercials play in my head. "Calgon, take me away...." - K

Perfect

I've been trying to put into words just what Kit said..confession. Thank you for getting it out there. Here's a confession... I'm a bible study-a-holic. I've got 3 going right now. I know it's a good thing to read God's word, but it also stops me from getting out and interacting with other women of faith. My bbfs right now, besides Kit, are Beth Moore, Donna Otto and Lysa TerKeurst. Another confession, I'm also in search of a home like a desert wandering Israelite. Really, I finally cancelled my Listingbook membership (a mls search) and I don't allow myself to go on Realtor.com. I've looked at every house in our school district with 4 or more bedrooms. I'm driving Tommy and our realtor crazy. I know that now is not the right time for us to buy a house and I need to focus on my jobs at hand (wife, mother, daughter,friend, parishioner, homemaker). So yes, I've been thinking about confession and when all 3 bible studies hit upon that theme at the same time... well I guess I
got the message. l've confessed it to God and now to you all and I pray that with repentence comes some answers. Why am I so kooky? - C

Confessions

Everyday that goes by is busy. I feel as though the world never stops spinning; Monday, shopping and swimming, Tuesday, sewing and swimming, Wednesday, swimming and swimming. You get the picture. In addition to all the swimming and shopping and sewing there is the little matter of my family and being all that they need me to be: cook, dietitian, psychiatrist, friend, cheerleader and so on. I really think that all moms must balance this multi-tasking existence and we must do it in such a way that keeps us moving forward. With all this being said, however, when is there time for ME?

Candice has asked me and all our bible study to go through the cathartic process of confession (on a small scale) to each other. What is it that takes up our thought processes and how can we better focus them in on where they should be? At what point does our multi-tasking minutiae overtake our good sense? When she asked me to think about this, I realized what I need to confess. Of course my family is already well-aware of what takes my brain away from them. Of what makes me tell them to "give me 5 more minutes and I'll come kiss you goodnight." I confess, I am a Twi-Hard.

For those of you who have NO idea of what I speak, I am completely obsessed with Bella and Edward of Twilight. I love them, I love the books, I love the romance, I love the drama. I can escape to Forks, Washington in my head whenever I want, and I do, at least once every waking hour. My top 5 searches on Google are Twilight Source, Twilight Moms, Bella and Edward and 2 Robert Pattinson websites. Yes, it is a sickness. But I cannot seem to rid myself of knowing what is going on with the making of the next movie, what Stephenie Meyer is up to now, or re-reading the entire series for the 5th time just in case it turns out differently or I find something that I missed the first 4 times I read them.

It should be noted that I resisted this entire world for a long time. My oldest daughter begged me to read the series and for 8 months I brushed it off as "weird" and "not worthy of my time." But then, being stuck in the hospital for 3 days having my 7th child, she sagely left the first volume with me knowing full well that between reading or watching the "judge" shows on in the daytime, I would read anything. After all, isn't this the woman who spent her entire beach vacation week reading Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince when it came out a few years ago? Ignoring her family's pleas to join them and engage with them. Ahh, Harry, that's another story. I digress.

I remember finishing the first book the day after I got home with new baby and absolutely ravenous for the next one. Thankfully, the last book had already been published, so I was at my leisure to read them and didn't have to attend any midnight parties to pick one up. The first movie had come out - Lucy had already seen it - a few months before, but it was still in the theaters, so we went to see it together. Since then, I have become such a nerd it is hard to even admit it to myself. My daughter is amazed that I am so obsessed and finds it hilarious that Bella and Edward are part of our lives in such a way. "Geez mom, they aren't really real, you know."

I try very hard not to let this obsession get in the way of things that really need to be done - the swimming, the sewing, the shopping. But it isn't easy. I have discovered that I can compartmentalize and change my focus. Right, and when that doesn't work, my IPOD can hold all the podcasts and audio books there are. Sigh, like I said, a sickness. ...K

Mt. Tide

I love laundry. Before the snorting begins, let me re-phrase. Of all the household chores there are, laundry is the least of all evils for me. I hold it up against, say, unloading the dishwasher, a chore I hate beyond all chores. Why is this you ask? I really have no idea, but it must be rooted in childhood somewhere. Laundry and dishes (clean ones) are essentially similar in nature, and actually, the dishwasher only takes about 5 minutes. I've timed it. Many may disagree, but there is something very satisfying in clean clothes, and something very tedious and tiresome in unloading a dishwasher.

Despite the fact that I have enough laundry to do at least 3-4 loads per day (which I don't do, so it piles up, hence the title of this blog), laundry isn't such a stretch for me. I love the peacefulness of sitting on the couch during naptime, watching my dvr'ed Vampire Diaries on TV and folding basket after basket of clean, soft, fresh-smelling laundry. I love looking at each article of clothing and thinking about the child (or husband) it belongs to, and how much they love it. It is also a very effective way of promoting hand-me-downs. When I see one of my kids wearing something that doesn't fit anymore, I make a mental note that next time it comes through, it goes in the younger kid's pile.

I admit that I am very "type A" about folding laundry. I don't care so much if it wrinkles, as it often does because it has sat in a basket for two days, but I like the towels to be just so, the shirts to be even and the jeans to be smoothed out. When my kids fold it for me, I have to resist doing it over, or at least do it over when they can't see. I may not have control over very much, but I do have control over whether the towels are folded in thirds (they stack better that way). If my neighborhood didn't have covenants forbidding it, I truly would have an outdoor line because there is something very therapeutic and calming in going through the motions of pinning out clean clothes and taking down clothes that have been dried in the sun. I have lived this way before, so I know of what I speak.

This has been discussed before with my bible study friends many, many times. I consider us very lucky as women and moms to have this absolute normalcy that we can depend on. There may be world wars going on, the financial system of our country might be going down the tubes, but our kids will always need clean clothes and we will be the ones to provide. In places where we have had devastation, Louisiana after Katrina, the recent floods here in Georgia where people lost everything, I have seen stories about what makes people the most happy. Clean clothes are right at the top of their lists. There is something about being able to get into a freshly made bed at night or laying out your clean clothes for the next day that lifts the spirits, calms the anxieties and makes you feel in control of something for once. We as moms get to always rely on the basics and the necessities in our lives to keep us sane. There isn't one thing we can do about some things in life; many, many things we have no control over. But we can have clean laundry. - K

Double Chocolate Mousse Cake

I found this clipping from the AJC last week and made the cake - YUM!
The date is Thursday, Sept. 9, 2004

2 cups (4 sticks) unsalted butter
16 oz. semisweet chocolate (chips or 1-oz squares)
1 cup granulated sugar
1cup half and half
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon instant coffee granules (this is MY addition, the original recipe doesn't call for it)
8 eggs
Chocolate glaze (recipe below)
Whipped cream and raspberries for garnish (optional)

Preheat oven to 350. Grease a 9 or 10 - inch springform pan. In a 3 quart saucepan over low heat, heat butter, chocolate, sugar, half and half, coffee and salt until chocolate melts and mixture is smooth, stirring constantly. Do not let mixture come to a boil. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Let cool.

In a large bowl, eat eggs until foamy. Stir cooled chocolate mixture into eggs; pour into springform pan. (I wrapped my pan with foil and placed it on a cookie sheet so my oven would for sure stay clean.)

Bake 45-55 minutes or until toothpick inserted 2 inches from edge comes out clan. Cool cake completely on wire rack. When cake is cool, remove side of pan; wrap cake in in plastic wrap and refrigerate until well chilled, at least 6 hours.

Prepare Glaze and spread warm over top and down sides of cake. Serve with raspberries and whipped cream if desired.

NB - I didn't make the glaze, I just used Hershey's syrup instead.

Chocolate Glaze
6 oz. semisweet choc. chips
2 T. unsalted butter
3 T. milk
2 T. light corn syrup

In a small saucepan over low heat, or in microwave safe glass dish in microwave, heat chocolate and butter, stirring occasionally, until chocolate melts and mixture is smooth. Remove from heat and stir in milk and corn syrup.

Birthday Season

Fall has finally decided to descend on Georgia. Every year we anticipate the brisk, cold air and every year we are visited by an Indian summer. Humid, thick, close air that stays with us and forces us to use the AC just to stay comfortable in the house. Despite having lived in Georgia most of my life, I have never been able to really enjoy the summertime temperatures for longer than it takes to vacation at the beach and run the swim team. When those two activities are done, I am ready for fall and all that it promises. The movie You've Got Mail described it best: anticipating fall is like looking at a container full of newly sharpened pencils (or something to that effect) - it is full of promise, creativity and activity. I love that thought.

Of my seven children, four of them (the four middle ones) were born almost exactly two years apart - within two weeks of each other and all during the fall. We always joked that if I could make it through March without a positive pregnancy test, all was well. The end result of this really is that I am in "cupcake overload" from mid-October through the first week in November, with Halloween right smack in the middle. There are cupcakes/cookies to make for the school classes for lunch, there are cookies to make for the different swim groups, the softball team, and of course the required birthday cake on the actual day of her birthday! Heaven forbid we don't stretch out this celebration as long as possible! I am cupcaked out come November 6th.

Years ago we adopted a policy of the "friend birthday vs. the family birthday" just to cut down on the cost of parties and more importantly, try to reduce the "entitlement factor" that our kids tend to suffer from. The kids alternate every year and after the 10th year, we reduce it to the BIG years (13, 16, etc.) But despite our best efforts the celebrations continue into the school lunches, after swim practices and after the softball games. The result is that I have found I need to sit down with each birthday girl in turn, ask her what she wants to bring to her various activity, ask her what she wants to have on her actual day and get a head count from the coach/teacher so that I don't leave anybody out. For most people, this isn't such a big deal and if my kids' birthdays were just a little more spread out, it wouldn't be a big deal for me either. It is only because they are so back to back that it gets stressful at all. I have to wonder though, is it better to do it all at once and go through three weeks of constant baking, decorating and transporting of sweet treats or would it be better to spread it out so that 8 out of 12 months I am doing something (including the Huz in that count)? I'm still not sure about that. Because each month (almost) comes with its own set of priorities and activities anyway, maybe it is better to take a deep breath, put my head down and sprint for the end zone protecting the ball and hoping I don't get tackled! (how do you like THAT football reference? clever, huh? :)) But it really does feel like that sometimes. I can get through it as long as I keep my eye on the end result; I can score my own touchdown.

This coming week I will need to produce cupcakes for the 4th grade class, cookies for the Rookie Blue swim group, cookies for the Age Group swim group, cookies for the softball team and 2 birthday cakes. Then we will have Halloween and the neighborhood party, treats for my Stingers (the kids I coach). Directly after that, I will have cupcakes for the Kindergarten class, cookies for the Rookie White swim group, cupcakes for the 2nd grade class and 2 more birthday cakes! YIKES! Sometimes I like to break up the monotony and make Rice Crispy treats instead, or have a doughnut cake (stacked up doughnuts with candles stuck in them), but there is no escaping the sugar overload.

No wonder I feel like a hamster on a wheel! I recently questioned this in a blog to my dearest friends that literally get me through each day. We have a bible study that we are doing "online" this semester because everyone is so busy. Over the past 3-4 years we have always met at different houses to do our study, but with changing work schedules, demands from the kids as they get older, we decided to go techie this year with an online blog. We are studying David this semester and all that he went through being God's chosen leader. My (very wise) friend said something profound. "David has an amazing story..can you just imagine what it feels like to know you have been picked by God to lead a nation...well, we have been picked by God to lead a family....just as amazing!" As I make it through the next few weeks I will endeavor to remember that I have been hand-picked by God to lead this family and all that it entails. ...K

P.S. the Chocolate Cake

I promised in my Twitter that I would blog about the cake. WOW! If you like flourless, dense, intense chocolate flavor - this cake is for you. It came from an Atlanta Journal Constitution article from years ago - I found it in one of my cookbooks and had all the ingredients on hand.

I can post the recipe (I guess I can?) if anyone wants it. Crazy stuff. - K

Frozen vs. Freestyle

I was speaking with a dear friend of mine yesterday, another swim mom incidentally, when I mentioned the fact that because all the kids had dryland (aerobic exercises and running) in addition to their pool workouts, our dinner schedule was all screwed up. I would have people coming and going at all different times and mealtime would be on a "three-shift schedule". To solve this issue, I abandoned my original dinner plans (veggie night, see a previous post) and opted for Plan B which was a store-bought frozen casserole with different veggies on the side. I could put all of this in the lower oven on 200 and let it just sit there until the dinner shifts were done.

When my friend and I were discussing this plan, she was thrilled that I was serving a frozen, store-bought meal because her daughter gives her flack about doing the same thing. Horror of horrors! I told her that I do this occasionally knowing full well 1/3 of my kids won't eat it, 1/3 will try to eat it and the last third will eat it and enjoy it. I am, frankly, ambivalent about it as sometimes meal preparation is so difficult with our evening schedule that I am just interested in "filling the hole" so to speak; I'm not as interested in what we are eating as I am in the fact that we EAT.

The jury in my head is still out as to whether or not the frozen casseroles actually taste good. Some are better than others, and ones that I think would be awesome just aren't. But, they DO fill the hole, and that's one less meal I need to really cook. With this being said however, I cannot help but compare what I could make vs. what the red box offers. The quality of what I can buy, on sale, is great and there is no beating the price; there is no way I could produce the same amount of food for under $4 (again, on sale), but I know that what I make would taste tons better. Herein lies the conundrum.

If I knew I could get my kids to eat it, I would make and freeze casseroles myself. One casserole could feed us twice - especially because they just pick at it, only 2-3 of them will actually eat the whole thing. So what to do? Maybe next time we have leftover chicken, I will turn it into the traditional chicken and rice or chicken and pasta casserole and freeze it. This way, I will have the option of an "on the fly" dinner when I need it. Every budget-friendly, time-saver, organizational article ever written mentions this strategy, but I have yet to do it simply because my family is "casserole-challenged," but maybe it's better than the red box? I'll let you all know...K

Therapy

I love the fall. I love the trees, I love the weather, I love the serenity of it all. I also love the activities and the schedule, structured and "full" as it is. After a relatively unscheduled summer, it is always nice to get back into the swing of things and have a list of things to accomplish and feel good about.

We had our first swim meet of the season yesterday. It was a particularly long day, because my oldest had practice before the meet and then we had a clinic for the little ones, the team picture, and lunch (which I helped organize) - all before the actual meet even started. Then there was the 4 hour meet keeping 4 (sometimes 6) swimmers in their events, heats and lanes, making sure I saw them all swim and cheering them on when they dropped time. Plus the baby was with me, on my hip, going everywhere I went. We were all exhausted by the time we got home at 6pm.

Waking up this morning, splitting church into two shifts - husband took the little ones early, I am taking the older ones tonight, enabled me to have some blessed minutes to myself. So I indulged in one of my favorite therapies - baking a cake. Do we need a cake sitting around here all tasty and yummy asking to be eaten? Of course not, but there is something very calming and therapeutic about making a cake from scratch. I relied on a tried and true recipe from an older Southern Living Christmas cookbook - Apple Cake with Brown Sugar Glaze. The thought of being able to use up the last of the apples we picked last month (they've lasted this long!) and making something that fit into the "fall" feeling was particularly satisfying.

So I put on my Jim Brickman cd, got out my Kitchen Aid and got to work chopping apples, mixing oil and sugar and planning when I was going to run to the store to get the brown sugar for the glaze, because of course we didn't have any. Am I the only person this happens to? Luckily it worked out. I have made this cake many times with and without the nuts. It can be made in the small, mini-loaf pans and given away as teacher gifts or neighbor gifts and is better than any store bought cake I've found. This time though, I selfishly made it in it's original vessel - the Bundt pan - all the better for the glaze to drip down - and we are going to eat the whole thing ourselves. ...K

Hopefully, I won't get in trouble posting the recipe. It comes out of Southern Living's Our Best Christmas Recipes copyright 1994.

Apple Cake with Brown Sugar Glaze
2 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
3 large eggs
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 cups peeled, finely chopped cooking apple
1/2 cup chopped pecans
Brown Sugar Glaze

Beat first 3 ingredients at medium speed of an electric mixer until creamy. Combine flour and next 3 ingredients; add to sugar mixture, beating well. Stir in apple and pecans.
Pour batter into a greased and floured 12-cup Bundt pan. Bake at 350 for 1 hour and 20 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack 10 to 15 minutes; remove from pan, and let cool completely on wire rack. Drizzle Brown Sugar Glaze over cake.

Brown Sugar Glaze
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 cup butter
2 tablespoons evaporated milk or heavy cream

Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan; cook over high heat, stirring constantly, 2 minutes or until butter melts. Cool to lukewarm.

Shopping for the family

So, it's Sunday and thus the shopping/planning day. Sometimes I just plan today and shop on Monday, sometimes I do both on Sunday. It is better to do it today so that there are no kids with me, unless it is my oldest because she is helpful instead of hindering - anyone who has gone grocery shopping with a child under the age of 10 can attest. Planning consists of using the internet to find the sale items and match them up with the coupons and making your menu for the week based on these two factors. Plus, about once a month, I will shop for meat at Costco because I can buy large quantities and freeze it in smaller sizes to use throughout the month.

I have a few rules of thumb that I have come to rely on with regards to my shopping. Sticking with these rules help us stay within the budget and make things easier during our crazy week. With kids coming and going from 3:15pm until 9pm and trying to have a semblance of a family dinner (sans one or two members), "the plan" is "the bible" (so to speak :)). Rule #1: I incorporate one egg dish and/or one vegetarian dish as a main meal every week. Whether this be "Southern Veggie" night complete with homemade cornbread (a particular favorite) or hash brown frittata with a side salad (or both on different nights), sticking to "no meat" nights a few times greatly reduces the grocery cost by allowing you to spread your meat budget further.

Rule #2: Thursday nights = Soup and Sandwich night. I have discovered that PTA and other similar school functions LOVE to schedule their meetings on either Tuesdays or Thursdays with the latter being the night of choice in most instances. When the entire family is rushing to get the 4th grader to the recorder concert at 6:30, and some of the others are either coming home from swim or going to swim, a traditional sit down dinner just isn't feasible. Hence the birth of "soup and sandwich night". By far, the most favored, most revered, most requested soup in our household is the famous Noodle Soup. This is something I invented many years ago when I was homeschooling my oldest child (many, many years ago) because it is relatively healthy, cheap, easy, and tastes good. It also appeals to most children because of the noodles. Basically it is fine egg noodles boiled in water with a Knorr chicken bouillon cube. Sometimes I add thinly sliced carrots for color and a vegetable. Pair it with a grilled cheese and kids are happy! Another favorite soup is Sausage and Kale soup; it is perfect for fall dinners and very healthy. I'll give the recipe for that in another post. Any kind of leftover or canned/frozen meal is also offered as an option for dinner on Thursdays.

Rule #3: I try very hard to never cook too much. This is much easier said than done. Fickle children and husbands like one thing the first time and hate it the next time I make it, plus, I have mentioned before my husband is not the leftover sort of guy. A family of my size requires somewhere between 2 and 2 1/4 lb. of meat when it is presented in solid form, like a roast, chops or kielbasa sausage, etc. When I can put the meat in something, like ham or sausage in mac and cheese, or ground beef in spaghetti or tacos, I can get away with much less; sometimes 2 chicken breasts (depending on the size) will make enough enchiladas to stretch to all 9 people when served with side items. I always, always opt on the "chintzy" side of this unless it is something I am SURE will be eaten leftover should there be any.

So, it is with this armor that I go forth to do battle with the grocery stores. What's for dinner tonight you ask? Hmm, what's on sale? ...K

Kid's cooking

So today, my husband and I are going to the UNC/Ga Tech game. Let me just say off the bat that my blood runs Carolina Blue. There are many things to look forward to this rainy Saturday: a date with my husband for one (although we might bring the baby, we still haven't decided), the Pig Pickin' tailgate party for Carolina alums for a second. One of the BEST things though, is that I'm NOT pregnant this year! I have been to two other match ups between these teams when they play here in Atlanta and have been pregnant BOTH times - and I mean REALLY pregnant, due within the month. People frown when you want to drink beer. I was even pregnant when I saw UNC play Maryland many years ago when we lived in Washington, DC.

Today will be different though. I will get to "relive" my college days - within my bounds of responsibilities, of course; ever practical and sensible. We are leaving the kids home to fend for themselves. With an almost 15 year old and 12 year old (both having completed the "Safe Sitters" program), in charge, I leave them without any regrets or worries - except for the cooking part.

My kids are VERY good about fending for themselves. I have heard stories on the news about situations where a two year old fed herself on ketchup packets and I have no doubt that my three year old could make himself cereal complete with milk if he had to. Thankfully, the circumstances are not the same as those stories on the news. My wonderful neighbors have been informed that we will be gone should my oldest need an adult for any reason. One of the rules that we will lay down though will be NO STOVE COOKING. We have a gas cooktop and there is something about the "open flame" that makes me nervous - hence the LAW being laid upon them again (this is not a new rule). My 12 year old is perfectly capable of cooking, and when we are here, she is allowed free reign in the kitchen. The worst thing that she ever does is not clean up. When we are gone however, George Foreman and the microwave will be their best friends.

What can one cook for oneself and one's younger siblings you ask when one can't use the stove? Hot dogs, hamburgers, grilled cheeses, chicken, can all be done on the "grill", soup, chili, frozen meals, etc. can all be done in the microwave. This is obvious to us grown ups, but how many times have you caught your child staring into the fridge or pantry with no inspiration about what to make or how to make it? Here comes "cruise director mom" with a list of options for them. That is how our family works, I will leave them a list of acceptable options so that there can be no confusion on what is allowed and what isn't. Kids like boundaries (unbeknown'st to them) and like being given choices. Make sure the choices are things that you can live with and all will run smoothly.

Wow! It's been a few weeks since the last blog. Funny how life sort of takes over, well, my life. Things have continued here in the absence of writing. School is in full swing, swim is in full swing, coaching and sewing are in full swing. We titled the blog "A Mom's Life" because there are so many different facets to it. Not only are we the "cruise directors" of our kids' lives (on every level), but we also have to figure out how to earn the money, spend the money and save the money. Since my husband took a new job last spring, money hasn't been as thick on the ground as it had been in the past. This is fine, as I welcome a challenge and I can truly say (and I REALLY mean this) that teaching my children about economy and priorities has been refreshing. As a parent, this is one of the MOST important lessons they need to know: the difference between need and want.

We have had some flooding here in Georgia; it is all over the national news. My mother has gotten at least 4 phone calls from long-time friends of hers all over the country checking on her and my dad. It is nice to know that when the chips are down, people care. My family hasn't really experienced any problems. At one point, water was coming in the basement, but it stopped and I cleaned it up quickly. In short, I feel very blessed and lucky as compared to some of the people I see on TV who have lost everything.

The kids have been out of school now for two days because of this. Cobb County was hit particularly hard and some of the roads are impassable and some of the schools are completely, and i mean up to the roofs completely, under water. The scary part is, is that the day this happened, there were children in that school until 2:30 in the afternoon, as only the middle school kids were released early. More than a couple of children (yes, children) have lost their lives because of this flooding - not in that school that I know of though. These tragedies put a whole new spin on one's priorities. Yes, we are operating on a less than adequate budget; but at least my children are home safe. Yes, we eat eggs once a week because they are cheap, but I have a kitchen to cook them in and a car to go buy more if I need to. I am not standing outside my house with a news camera in my front yard asking me how "I feel" about having just lost my two-year old when he was swept out of my arms in a torrent of water.

Priorities. The kids have had two days off from school. My high schooler is thrilled because she has more time to get her project done. My middle schooler is thrilled because she got to have a friend spend the night in the middle of the week. I have tried to, without being a "Debbie Downer" explain to them that we are very lucky and to tell them about the casualties so that they understand what is real. I think I will organize them to go and take things to the Red Cross shelter that has been set up here. Maybe this will impress the priorities. -K

A Healthy Lunch

Now that the kids are back in school and I'm not besieged with questions from them about "what's for lunch," I find myself flummoxed by that very same question day after day. I stand in front of the pantry and the fridge trying to find something to eat that, 1. tastes good 2. is healthy and 3. isn't fattening. There aren't many quick foods that fall into all those categories. Oftentimes I settle for a frozen diet meal which is great (actually, a lot of them are) because they taste good and are really easy. "Convenience" being the operative word.

Today I was faced with this same conundrum and decided to fall back on an old favorite. Lentils make one of the best meals as they fill all three of the above requirement, they taste awesome, they are extremely healthy and they only have 70 "good carb" calories. I make them with whatever veggies I have on hand that add flavor and texture.

Lentils my way start with a small onion, chopped. I cook this down in a tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. I then add whatever other vegetables I can find in the fridge. Today it was 1/4 of a red pepper, 10 baby carrots, and a celery stalk. I chop all these up into a small to medium dice and add them to the pot. Then I throw in 2 chopped garlic cloves - added at the end so it doesn't burn, a little salt and pepper. When the veggies are soft, I throw in a chicken bouillon cube (I like Knorr) and 1 cup of lentils. The lentils "toast" up in the hot pan while some water boils in the kettle. Adding boiling water (2 cups) to the sauteed vegetables ensures that the simmering process starts right away. Simmer the lentils for about 10 minutes and then add a can of diced tomatoes. Let the lentils cook for another 30-35 minutes on LOW until all the liquid has absorbed and they are soft. At this point you can eat them hot, cold, room temp or over brown rice, and they are also really yummy as a side dish.

I got the kids to eat some when they came in (see picture). The good news is, they are really filling too and give you tons of energy (again, the "good carb" factor). So now, they won't be hungry again for, oh, at least an hour...K

Farmers Market Euphoria

Last Friday I piled the kids in the car and drove twenty minutes to the Piedmont Triad Farmers Market. It is the largest farmers market near Winston-Salem. It's run by the state of North Carolina Department of Agriculture as is Asheville's Farmers Market. There are actually five big markets in the state, each in different regions. I feel blessed to live close to this one.

We arrived at 10:30 am. There were people shopping but it wasn't crowded by any means. There are three main buildings. Each offered a wide selection of vegetables and fruits. Some things we'd never seen before like october beans. They were still in their hull a beautiful variegated pink and red (see photo). The farmer told us they taste similar to a new pinto.

We purchased purple hull peas. Things I would normally never get my children to eat. But I've learned if I let them hull the peas they want to try them. It's amazing how we connect with things we have to work for to enjoy. Many times I've herd the old adage, " anything worth having is worth working hard for." I've seen this demonstrated with my kids love for crab legs. But who doesn't love crab? Purple hull peas are a completely different story.

We continued on our journey picking out the best peaches, blackberries, tomatoes and melons we could find. And that is no small feat with a five year old who uses the "poke your finger through it" test. We also found homegrown bouquets of sunflowers, lilies and zinnias. Not to mention a stop at the Amish bakery booth for a loaf of fresh sourdough bread.

All in all it was a great day. I stocked up on enough fruits and veggies to last two weeks for the unbeatable price of $60 including my splurge on a $10 bouquet. We've been eating great summer meals with organic corn, squash and potatoes. I've promised to make an apple pan dowdy with the 1/4 peck bag of apples we bought at the market. That post to follow. - C

School and Snacks

It is always the same conundrum...what to send with the kids for the "snack time" at school. As an aside, let me just say that when I was in school, there was no snack time. Nor did we get snacks after softball games, basketball games or any games. There was no designated person each day or time that was required to bring 11 juice boxes (when there are only 10 in a box) and a snack, healthy or otherwise. Where did this idea come from that every physical or mental movement our kids make needs to be finished off with a snack? I digress, I'll step off my soap box for now...

As I was saying, I always have a hard time figuring out what to send with the kids to school for snack. There is the endless battle of what I will let them eat vs. what they want to eat. Having done my own private research on blood sugar levels in kids - with four swimmers, I have a pretty good idea of what is considered a sustainable snack - I do not like sending mindless carbohydrates with them. This will only set them up for the blood sugar drop, ie. sleepy time around 1pm and a craving for more of it. If they want the pre-packaged stuff, I insist they take some sort of protein with them. Usually this is a cheese stick or peanut butter, because a piece of chicken is sort of awkward to carry around.

Having watched my favorite "celebrity chef" (Ina Garten) make granola bars - something I've always wanted to make - I decided to try her recipe and give the kids something good to eat during the school day. I changed up the recipe a little, adding only the fruit and nuts I had on hand (cranberries and pecans instead of dates, dried apricots and almonds) and I added a slight sprinkling of salt to the top (I always think really sweet things like this need a balance) and they turned out really, really well. Earning top kudos from my kids, "these are much better than I thought they would be," says my oldest. Ringing praise coming from her! They have honey and brown sugar in them, so they are by no means low calorie, but the sugar is balanced by the nuts and the whole grains - they also have whole rolled oats and wheat germ. So the sugar will be released more slowly than a packet of cookies, or even a piece of fruit by itself. Adding a cheese stick and water makes is a really balanced snack!

The kids are so excited (and anxiety ridden - high school freshman in the mix) about the first day of school. I'm excited too, if only to get our schedule back. ...K

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/homemade-granola-bars-recipe/index.html

Sorority Life

Perhaps I'm not in the best frame of mind to write this next blog, but life with 7 children (8 because we have a friend with us here) is much the same as it is in a sorority, I've discovered. Different personalities all following a different agenda, occasionally working towards the greater good, but because we are all human, mainly looking out for "number one". Food for example; I make a big dinner, trying to encompass each persons likes and dislikes (to a point) and there is so much coveting going on it is ridiculous! "I will get all I can because, 1. there might not be any left and 2. I wouldn't want my sister to have any!"

When I was in college, dinnertime at the sorority was served "family style" complete with the elbows, shoving and shoveling of food because if we didn't get some the first go round, there may not be any left in the kitchen. I find having a big family is just like this. Hence the term "family style" I guess. At what point do children learn respect, not only for the food but for themselves and each other. It is almost humorous, almost. Patience is the key I guess. I must always remember to count my blessings, not how many biscuits my 9 year old has on her plate at one time. Or how many spoonfuls of eggs she has despite the fact that eggs are not her favorite food.

I say this tongue in cheek, but also with a little bit of wistfulness that things might someday be different. I dream of a day when my family sits down to eat together without arguing, without bargaining with each other, without tears. I know the minute it happens it will be because they are all gone from me dealing with their own families, so I shouldn't be so quick to wish away the present. But it would be nice, if only for a day.

A husband, a three-year old (boy), and lighter fluid. Be afraid, be very afraid...(kit @ st. simons)

Don't sweat it - dinner's on me!

Of course when one gives one's children the option to pick dinner, from somewhere, emerges the child you would be happy to send out into society. High society. Rich, snobby society. My eldest (14) was the first child to be given the opportunity to select what we would have for dinner our first night at the beach. The child, who's favorite meals at home include hamburgers, meatloaf, pasta and other benign options chooses SEA SCALLOPS (at $18.99/lb. mind you). Am I thrilled that she knows what sea scallops are and that she would willingly eat them? Of course! It shows a certain "elevation" so to speak in her taste. Am I thrilled that when finances are at such a low ebb that she chooses this however? Decidedly not. But I bought them anyway. Cough, cough. And I tried very hard to not let the anguish show on my face. But, I am secretly proud of her.

And they were really, really good. I dried them off really well (they had been frozen). Sprinkled them with a little kosher salt and pepper, and seared them in a hot pan with butter and olive oil. Let them cook for 2 minutes, turned them and seared the other side. At the end, I added a touch of white wine and let them steam up for a minute. Voila! Gorgeous firm and sweet scallops with a baked potato on the side; worthy of any restaurant. For the people in the family who won't eat scallops (God LOVE them!) we had popcorn shrimp, to keep with the seafood theme. At least most of the kids tried the scallops, but really, do I want ALL my kids to like them? They might want to eat them at some point! The best thing though, my oldest, the one who chose the dinner in the first place, also chose fried okra. That's my girl.

Headed to Lexington to check out Transit Damaged Freight furniture store and The BBQ Center. Let you know about the salad bar!

So we r thinking of hitting a Cracker Barrel (or similar) for a BIG breakfast in DUblin, GA...Kit

Cheater-pants here: making eggplant parm for lunch. (er, actually bought it @ Costco.)

The Fridge Clean Out

Ok, so we are going on vacation tomorrow for almost a week, so the answer to the question of the day (see earlier posts, "MOM!? WHAT'S FOR DINNER?") is: FRIDGE NIGHT! yay! whoo-hoo! (cue chirping crickets)...

Yes, I CAN resist the urge to go eat a $12 burrito at La Parilla! I can do it! Really though, we MUST do it, but it doesn't help that it is Friday night, sigh. I have already stated that I have a leftover-resistant husband, he is quickly turning most of our kids into leftover-resistant kids as well. Fun times! I must have enough leftover food in my fridge to feed China for a week. There is something very sinful about throwing food away, so I just don't do it. Of course, it is ok to let food sit in the fridge for 2 weeks, get gross and THEN throw it away. At least then I know I tried.

So, tonight, we will line our counter with every tupperware container we own that is filled with half portions of last week's dinner and let the kids have chili and broccoli together, or macaroni and cheese with that leftover piece of chicken. Sometimes the kids love it, like when we DO get to go out and bring home the stuff we couldn't finish: the 1/2 hamburger and fries from Chilis, the last taco from La Parilla, the 10 bites of salad from Ted's. But mostly, fridge night gets met with groans and eye-rolls and the kids end up eating Chef-Boyardee. (Supermom? That's me!)

So, I'm goin' in! Tonight will be fridge night! Unless of course we are weak and end up going out, but I'd really like to think I can make it through. Even if we do end up eating cereal. Tomorrow is another day, another meal...Kit

The Horror

Today I had the daunting task of organizing my eldest daughter's half unpacked mess of a room. Basically she had opened and dumped her life on the floor and I was there to make it all livable again.

When I'm tackling a job of this magnitude I like to think about it, get over the shock, and then dive in. Of course my daughter had to help cull and clear treasured possessions from her piles of old stuff. At various points in the process I would find her looking at a dirty rock trying to remember it's importance, reading old journal entries and she even played two dice rolls of Yahtzee before I shot her the "are you really playing Yahtzee look". She didn't want to go through the mess she had made. Really how many of us like to clean up our messes. Isn't it easier to buy a new bin or container to stuff it into? How many magazines and books do you see dedicated to this subject alone?

Here's what I know... If it's your mess, you're the only one who can clean it correctly. And secondly, if you've identified a mess don't ignore it. I promise you it will not go away on it's own. In fact did you know that one mess breeds more messes. It's a theory called the "broken-window theory". This is a theory used by modern police that says any sign of social or physical neglect in a neighborhood (a broken window) leads people to commit more crimes and misdemeanors. So the simple act of leaving dirty clothes on the floor could lead to all kinds of household upheaval.

Cleanliness is not my natural disposition. Being a mother of four it has become a large part of my life's calling. When I fall short of the mark I get out my new favorite book on the subject Home Comforts by Cheryl Mendelson. This book is not for the faint of heart. It is a 856 page guidebook on almost every aspect of housekeeping. In it she details historical perspectives on housekeping as well as modern innovations that can help in our daily tasks. That's where I learned about the "broken-window theory". Yes, I'm a bit of a geek, even about housekeeping.

So if you are facing a mess be it household, financial, or personal start cleaning it up now. You may find it wasn't as bad as you first thought. The most difficult part is the first step in any endeavor. Even in cleaning your eldest daughter's mess of a room. -Candice

Home vs. Heaven

So we leave Saturday morning for the beach - Saint Simon's Island in South Georgia. It really is heaven on earth (other than Chapel Hill, NC of course - go heels!). The minute we drive over the intracoastal waterway, stresses seem to melt away. There is something about all the low-lying grasses, the boats and yachts at the marina and the huge suspension bridge that goes over to Jekyll Island that just brings a peace to my soul. Even the smell is enticing, salty, humid and breezy - it just makes me want to close my eyes and forget all the stress of home: school, swim practice, laundry, sewing, deadlines.

My mom and dad's house at the beach is such a treat for us all. We are so very lucky to have this option - don't think we don't know this. The kids though sometimes find the relaxed pace of the beach "boring". I guess they're right, sand, sun, waves, it's just not enough - whatever! One day they will appreciate what they have. Until then though we have to deal with their eye rolling, sighs and complaints. For some reason, the older kids seem to equate having fun with spending money: the waterpark, going out to eat, renting the little bike things on the beach, etc. etc. The younger ones are different; they are quite content to build castles, chase the birds, throw the ball and run back and forth from the water a million times.

So, how do we handle this? That is still a work in progress, but we play the board games, do the shopping thing and in general try to come up with enjoyable, but inexpensive things to do. Plus, it is also fun if they can bring a friend, what's one more kid anyway? I think this time I will also get them to help me plan and shop for the meals. We definitely have the "standards" for the beach: roast, spaghetti, hamburgers and tacos. This time though, I think I will shake this up a bit and see what the girls want to have for dinner and involve them in the cooking. This is not something I usually do at home because I am such a control freak in the kitchen, but since we will not be at home, I think we will change this. Heck, maybe I'll even let them cook....hmm. Maybe not.

So, what's for dinner tonight? Here at home we are having breakfast: homemade waffles, scrambled omlettes and sausage. Tomorrow and Friday are "clean out the fridge nights" - fun times. Maybe at the beach we can have some grilled shrimp or fajitas? I guess I'll have to ask the girls...

Ok, so the pound cake i made yesterday was AWESOME and i cant stop the snacking...any advice?

Ok I just caught up w/ kit's posts. I will testify to the b-b-q recipe. I use it all the time and have aptly renamed it "Kit's Tasty Butt".

Success! Watch out world this could be addicting-candice

It's a brave new world and i'm a mom trying to blog from my phone. Let's see if this thing works.

dinner tonight!

What's for dinner? No matter how much time I spend researching what's on sale, shopping, using my coupons (ask me for websites on that!), typing or writing out my menu for the week to hang on the fridge door, and no matter how much freaking toner I use printing out the beautiful calendar I have set up on My Documents with the color-coordinated menu, the question I get asked at least 6 times per day is, "mom, what's for dinner?" My favorite answer is, "read the menu", but lately, between working at the pool, getting the kids to swim practice and running the neighborhood team, not to mention the laundry, the house (see yesterday's blog) and the constant "stuff", my answer has been, "I'm not sure".

These days money has not been thick on the ground. I'm not really sure of a time when money actually WAS thick on the ground, but we've definitely been in better straights in the past. Thanks to the economy and the husband's new job with a boutique wealth management firm (as opposed to the national firm he used to be with), we are operating on a tight budget. So the days of Wednesday nights at the local Mexican restaurant - beer special night - are long gone. We still go out, and way more often than we should, but the cost of taking a family of 9 out to eat (never has it been inexpensive) has gotten even worse than usual. Two kids eat as "adults" and so-called "kids meals" are at least $4 each. The best way to combat this is to plan the meals, shop for the meals and execute the meals.

The problem with this is finding/making something that everyone will eat. I have a few "go to" meals; meals that are sure to please everyone at the table in some fashion. These include breakfast for dinner, shrimp and fish, sushi (believe it or not) and spaghetti. Beyond those limited choices however, I am guaranteed someone either not eating or telling me how much they "don't like chicken" or whatever it is we are eating. As a mom, part of me loves to say, "fine, we will eat again tomorrow, see you then" but then the guilt sets in and I really do try to make things that everyone can eat at least some of. Plus, there is the added issue of making sure that my swimmers get what they need to eat; two hour practices 5-6 times per week (not exaggerating!) takes a lot of fuel. I am big on them eating protein because too many carbs don't necessarily translate to them feeling good in the pool. There are ways to do this: marinating, grilling (they prefer the flavor), and serving beans in some fashion. I also encourage high protein snacks: cheese, peanut butter, ham roll ups, etc.

The other issue is making something that people will like without making the same things over and over again. I am not big on leftovers. This goes against the grain for most penny pinchers. but truly, my family does not make it worth it. I personally am fine with leftovers to a point, but there are some foods that don't really work well as a leftover because the flavor changes. Some chicken dishes get too "chickeny" for example. It doesn't help that I have a leftover resistant husband. So I end up trying to make "just enough", that way everyone gets full and I don't waste food or money by throwing out the leftovers a week later.

Tonight we are having homemade BBQ for dinner. Crock-potted Boston Butt makes the absolute BEST shredded pork. This IS something that can be frozen for later if there is any leftover. I have found one of the most effective ways to eat it later is to put it in a tortilla, Mexican taco style. So, into the crock-pot goes the meat, brown sugar, paprika, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onions (lining the bottom), liquid smoke and a few shakes of dried chilies. Served with fruit (instead of a vegetable), sauteed cabbage (which they like better than outright slaw) and potato rolls and my kids (and husband) are very happy! And yes, it is posted on the menu, so every time I get asked "what's for dinner?" I get to use my favorite answer, "read the menu!"

The Witching Hour

Ahh, the witching hour. So aptly named, I think. That time between 4:30pm and 6:30pm. When Everyday Italian and Barefoot Contessa and the news is on; the only time of day I want to watch TV, have a glass of wine, knit, or just sit down without something to do. Of course this 2 hour period is peppered with kids in and out of the pantry (“dinner’s an hour away, quit eating!”), Sponge Bob or I Carly on the porch TV, a crying baby who just woke up from her nap and “just wants to be held” because she’s not really hungry, just spoiled. This is the time I SHOULD be a good mom and cater to their every desire, but unfortunately the time I most want to shut down.

So does anyone else have this same problem? I was escaping upstairs, er, going up to make the bed (before the husband gets home and sees that it has been left unmade ALL DAY J - I have a little self respect!) and realized how much I love my bed. I love how pretty it is, I love how soft it is, I love how it feels, at the end of a day, to get in and feel how cool the sheets are on my feet. To make a bed really well is one of the little pleasures in life. I am extremely picky about it, and I pull the sheets so tight that you could almost bounce the proverbial quarter. But I really think those military people had something there. When my bed is unmade, my room is a mess, no matter if there is NOTHING else lying around. But when the bed is made, things seem in order, calm, and clean. The same holds true for the rest of my house; when I see nothing out of order, I can pretend that the rest of my life is just as orderly. I have a haven that I can always retreat to, say a few prayers and keep going.

This is one of my biggest goals in life – to create a haven for my family and friends. A place that everyone feels comfortable in, so that my kids WANT to come home and not stay out all night partying (fingers crossed). How do you do it with 7 kids? That’s the question I get asked anywhere from 1 to 20 times per day (depending on where I go during the day). It just happens, I make it happen. Am I a house Nazi? Probably, but I prefer to call it “high standards”. Really though, I have found that the most effective way to keep the house clean is to make the kids realize that THEY can’t stand it either when it is a mess, sneaky, eh? It is working too, my reverse psychology. I just praise them when they do clean up and tell them this is the surest way to my heart. When the house is neat, I’m a better mother; more able to play Parcheesi at a moment’s notice. Don’t we all want to just sit and play Parcheesi when your 5 year old asks?

I’m off, I think I’ll be blue this time…