Playing School

Adelaide woke up early this morning, as usual, but let me sleep while she got busy with her new school supplies. She wrote a list of rhyming words on her new paper by herself with the exception of waking me to ask how to spell "darnit" and its rhyming word "hornet."
After heading downstairs for breakfast we are back in the room waiting for the pool to open and playing school. The teacher set the student up with a writing assignment (write your name, draw a picture of yourself, and if you have time you can write more rhyming words and the alphabet) and then took a leisurely shower (we are obviously an alternative school).
The student finished the assignment and asked for more, so the teacher gave her a math worksheet. She completed the first 6 problems in no time (as in, the teacher was thinking she might have time to do something besides teaching for a minute, but no luck). So more problems were added, including some sudoku puzzles.Soon it will be time for recess, so student and teacher are getting their swimsuits on. Did I mention the school has a pool?

Palin Poetry read by Shatner

Couldn't embed this video but this is worth watching: William Shatner reading Sarah Palin's farewell speech as poetry:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PR4MDzIf6oM

Sweet Relief

After 3 nights of little sleep due to exceedingly hot bedrooms, drastic measures were required. I had in mind a little hotel just a few miles from home with a little pool and of course air conditioning. When I called I was told that they were fully booked, so I did some looking online for an alternate. After growing frustrated with several sites that listed many suitable hotels which were also not available I began a new search on yahoo travel, only to discover a listing for the hotel I had originally had in mind. I immediately clicked through for a reservation, and somehow got lucky and got a room for 2 nights.The current lifesavers: ice machine, air conditioner and cold beverage. Ahhh.

Go to folder - FileFactory.com

So Long, Farewell

As I was bringing Adelaide to school today I realized that because her Dad is picking her up today, this would be my last visit to the preschool, too. Adelaide got to stay up late last night due to the fact that she would either be roasting awake in her bed or roasting awake out in the living room with the rest of us, so she worked on cards for every teacher, a picture of them with all of their names, and a wall hanging (hearts she drew and cut out, strung on yarn with beads and notes).
We got the doughnuts and delivered them to school with much excitement. Adelaide is very pleased about all of it and I think she is definitely ready to move on. It feels strange to be ending 5 years of a routine and it will be interesting to go through the next two months of transitions.

Happy Last Day

Tomorrow is Adelaide's "Happy Last Day" at her preschool. So far, the plans include the bringing of a special snack and the eating of a doughnut breakfast before school. Adelaide spent a good portion of the afternoon composing and illustrating good-bye cards for her teachers.She did the writing herself by sounding out the words, occasionally asking me for what letter said a certain sound in the word. It reads: Dear Tiffany, I am sorry that I am graduating but I will be coming back.

Heat Wave

We've been experiencing record heat in Seattle, and in particular in my house. I employ a system of opening and closing doors and windows to maximize airflow but minimize sun and outdoor heat making its way inside, but this is additionally complicated by the lack of screens and lack of judgment on the part of the cat. (As in leaping from second story windows, getting outside but then getting scared and hiding somewhere outdoors for days on end, etc.)

Today Iris must have escaped while I was hanging laundry outside or squeezed through a barely open window. She can't have been out for more than an hour, but in this heat with her black fur she was in desperate shape when she returned. I heard a scraping sound at the back door and opened it to find her clawing desperately to get in. She was breathing rapidly and her little tongue was out and curled to make a tube.

I think she's feeling a bit better now,though she will probably stay passed out for quite a while. I'm hoping this will help her be less inclined to make escape attempts in the future.

Farm to Table, Part 3

The enchiladas were a success, and survived the drive to the coast packed in the cooler. They were quick to assemble and with the salad made for a satisfying meal.

Farm to Table, Part 2

I settled on enchilada casserole for the main dish, with fresh salsas, avocado, chips, and spice-rubbed tofu for appetizers. We'll have a big salad with heirloom tomatoes and peas from the farm for our greens, and the tofu chocolate mousse for dessert. So, for the enchiladas, most of the cooking is really going into the sauce, since that will make the dish. First I seeded and quartered 4 red peppers (yellow and orange being considered red here) and 2 anaheim chilies. Adding a walla walla sweet onion and a couple of small red salad onions, I gave everything a light coating of olive oil (I used my sprayer, but a brush coat or fingers works fine, too) and salt and popped it into a hot oven (I'd say around 400, but since my oven has no numbers on the dial its always a guess). Basically, you want to roast them for about 20 minutes or until they look pretty charred but not totally black.


For this recipie I went a little lighter because I was not planning on peeling them after. For others, a more thorough char assists in the peeling. Next I threw some fire-roasted tomatoes in my skillet with garlic, cumin, smoked paprika and some fennel seed which I had seared for a minute in hot olive oil. I used about 6 cloves of garlic and about a tablespoon each of the cumin and fennel. Just a small amount of the paprika. I used a 32oz can of Muir Glen tomatoes but I also like to roast my own when I have them, using the same technique as the peppers. I saved about half the can to blend and put half in with the chard so there will be some good chunks of tomato in the final dish.
Cook the chard down with a cover to steam it, should only take 5 minutes or so and look like this when it's done.
Prior to the sauce I actually used the same spices to season the tofu cutlets, first searing the spices on their own and then adding the tofu for a quick fry before baking them.


I removed a lot of the spice rub before baking so it wouldn't burn, and put them in a 250 - 300 degree oven for about 30 minutes. They can go shorter or longer, but too long and they will get dried out. They are kind of good that way, but more of a cracker than a cutlet!

These will be good with the salsas and chips, just cut into bite-sized pieces for a little protein with our snacks. I didn't photograph the salsas but I made one with heirloom tomatoes and one with mango and pickled jalapeno. Will try to get shots for part 3 if it works out.

When the peppers and onions were done roasting, I put them in a bowl and blended them with the rest of the tomatoes plus a little extra tomato sauce (about 1/2 of a 16 oz can). I added a pressed clove of fresh garlic and some salt and pepper, but the veggies were so sweet and smokey that the sauce really needed very little seasoning at all.


Since we're travelling to the coast and the meal isn't until Saturday, I put all of these items in containers to assemble when we get there. Given that I will be using corn tortillas in the casserole I decided it would be too mushy if it sat, and if I baked it today it might get dried out or over-baked when re-heating Saturday. In case I don't get any final photos, I intend to layer the sauce with corn tortillas, cheddar (for one dish, and almond rella for the vegan version), and thinly sliced quorn (faux chicken cutlets). Served with the salsas, avocado and salad, I think it will be a good spicy meal on a hot night.

Farm to Table, Part 1

Today Adelaide and I returned to Farm Kids at South 47 Farm for another wonderful morning of exploring. She wanted to go off with the group of kids and the farmer without me, so I got a knife and scissors from the farmers at the farm stand and headed out into the U-pick veggies with my bags. I had a menu in mind for the weekend meal I'm preparing (needed to be vegan and wheat-free to accommodate the group I'll be feeding) but I also knew that the farm would tell me what we should be eating right now. For example, these were a must:
Next was some rainbow chard and cilantro. Lucky for me, the farm stand had cukes, onions, and a few other items ready even though U-Pick isn't available on them yet. When Adelaide was done she joined me at the berries, and then we went to see the animals. She got to pet a chicken and feed the goats and alpacas, and hold a warm fresh egg.








When we got home, we started cooking together. Adelaide is a great sous-chef, doing all the tasks like peeling garlic, shelling peas, and chopping anything that can be chopped with a butter knife. She also likes to pull a chair into the kitchen to get a top-down view of things cooking on the stove, blending, or getting a rinse in the sink.













I enjoy watching her interact with good food and learn some of the basics of cooking. Of course, I do think the chocolate mousse preparation was her favorite. She does a fine job of clean-up on spoons and bowls when chocolate is involved.The rest of the prep involved either sharp knives or the stove and oven, so I sent my sous-chef off to do some art and listen to her book on cd while I moved on to the next steps. I will post part 2 with photos and the menu separately, and then perhaps if the mood is right on Saturday I will add a part 3 with the actual meal. Given that it will be 8 hours of yoga into a yoga retreat and beach walking weekend, I may be too mellow, tired and/or hungry to bother getting any photos!

Duckdance

This one's for Grandma. To use in emergencies at the office.

Too Hot to Cook

Inspired by my 10% off coupon for produce at the PCC, I loaded up on heirloom tomatoes, fresh basil, some unexpected asparagus, and some gorgeous summer fruit. Despite the ridiculously high temperatures in my kitchen, I fired up the stovetop grill (the outside grill would definitely have been an even hotter experience). With some brown rice and a little feta to add some zing, we have a mix and match supper waiting. After I get back from my swim, of course, as I am so hot that even food this appealing doesn't appeal.

Silly Monkey

Last night we had a picnic and then did yoga in the park. Adelaide has been working hard on the monkey bars at school, and wanted to show off her skills.

Crosswords

Adelaide saw me doing a crossword the other day and asked for one of her own. I made her several, like this one:

She enjoys them and so I have been leaving her a puzzle to do in the morning while I am still sleeping (or trying to).

Yesterday morning and this morning she decided to create a puzzle for me to do when I got up. Her clues require a little bit of translation, which is written in pencil but I will provide as well since the photo may be hard to decipher.

Clue one: "you love" (answer: pumpkin pie).

Clue two: "we have" (answer "a dog," not true but wishful thinking for the future on her part)
Clue three: "you are it. it's sort of like mom."
(answer: Ma, as heard in Little House on the Prairie)

Top Ten Excuses for Not Posting to Blog

I realize that my July posts are lacking, so I took a few minutes this morning to try to figure out why. Here are the top ten reasons I have not posted much of late:

10. I have too much free time. How is this an excuse, you say? Well, I actually have time to read and pursue other interests at the moment, which apparently is confusing to my system and dulling my impulses to write.

9. I don't have to go to work. Again, this would seem like a reason I should blog more, not less, but sometimes writing happens in a little space in the back of my mind while the front of my mind is busy with other tasks. At work I can get the kernel of an idea percolating (or some other mixed metaphor) and by the time I am finally free in the evening I have the inspiration to draft it out.

8. My kid demands my attention. Okay, this is true all of the time, but this feels like an intense time in parent world -- the drawing to a close of preschool, the drama of five year-old friends, the excitement of reading and writing emerging, and the constant challenging of boundaries. I have had several parenting related posts brewing (tie this in to previous mixed metaphor) but things are changing so quickly I can't keep up.

7. I have taken on work outside of my job for some reason which I have forgotten. I can't remember why I thought I should try to generate some work outside of my work, but I have succeeded in doing so. Um, hooray? I have some work to do now?

6. My cat ate my blog post. No explanation required.

5. Speaking of eating, it's too hot to cook. Given that a big percentage of my posts are inspired by yummy meals, and of late I have been chopping veggies and eating dips and crackers for most meals, I am a little low on material. I posted about the veggie and dips meal already, and that was weak the first time around.

4. Speaking of hot, you can't really compute outdoors. Though I have tried, on occasion, with towels or other sunlight-blocking arrangements. Usually by the time I work out being able to see the screen I'm too hot to stay out anyway.

3. You also can't compute at the gym. Or the yoga studio. Okay, not to brag, but I've been a total fanatic about working out this summer. I was before, too, but having a couple of days a week to myself is allowing me to go over the top with going to classes, walking everywhere, and generally upping the ante on staying fit. Makes for lots of endorphins but no creative energy.

2. Netflix. This service is simply too good. I cannot avoid excellent viewing arriving in my mailbox or on demand on my computer screen.

1. High Standards. You may beg to differ, if you are a regular reader of this blog, but I do think better to post nothing than to post boring. So, given items 2 through 10, I would rather wait for inspiration, time, and quality than present a higher quantity of drivel. My drivel needs to be my best drivel.

Bedtime Conversation

C: Goodnight. I love you.

A: I'll love you your whole life, until you die and turn into dirt.

C: I'll love you my whole life, too.

A: Can I have fresh water, with four ice cubes?

C: Yes.