Category Archives: family

But I would be proud to partake of your pecan pie

Posted on by
1

Last night JT and I ordered Indian, chatted with some ladies for a bit, then settled in to watch When Harry Met Sally.

A delightful film that we were both in the mood to watch on account of it being such a gem, Billy Crystal being both hilarious and sweet, and Meg Ryan’s outfits. Some of which we’ve seen walking around LA recently…but that’s another story.

Watching When Harry Met Sally fulfills so many movie needs: Road trip, New York, New York in the fall, great outfits, comedy, beauty, classic lines, people in love when they don’t even KNOW it, etc., etc. It was delightful to see a movie with fall (and seasons) to remind me of what’s to come.

I’m not saying I’m sick of summer yet. Because I’m not. I might even try to get Jeff to venture to the beach this weekend – I could use some more tan on my summer skin. But I also love seasons, and I love what’s coming; Camping in September, Nikki’s wedding, Thanksgiving, Christmas. Friends, family, food, cold weather, blankets, windows closing.

So even though August is barreling on, and we’re nearly to the month of nine, I am happy where this year has gone and is going, and hope the next four months are as fun as these first eight.

 

this weekend was:

Posted on by
Reply

Seeing people I haven’t seen in ages. Seeing people I never get sick of seeing. Red-eye. Picked up at 4:30 am. Laughing by 4:31. Diner by 6:00. Arriving by 7:30, and sleeping until my sister jumps up and down upon me. To the shower we go.

Both sides of the family. Delicious food from family friends. Smiling, hugging, laughing. Taking photographs, making plates. Little ladies helping us open presents. “Hold it up,” and “Can I have another?” Saving bows.

Family, family, family. Small, and large, both sides. Little ones running about, smiles everywhere. And then rain, falling…

Back to the Breen’s B&B, for more laughs. Getting later, later, later…can’t.stop.laughing. Honey-badger don’t care.

Sleep, then rain, rain, rain, and coffee, coffee, coffee. Coffee black. Like it should be. Monsooning, more laughing, more smiles. Getting picked up, heading to camp, sunshine coming out, family surrounding family. Softball game steadily going. More hugs, more smiles, more fun. More food.

Hiking through the woods. “Another one,” spider webs, creepy spiders, every where. “Are we lost?” and “Maybe the yellow trail is red” and “what do the doubles mean?” and “Blair Witch 3: Attack of the Perfectly Normal Nature.” Hiking, walking, hiking, laughing, and sweaty. But so good.

Out of the woods. Onto more snacks. “If you steal a cupcake I won’t tell,” or “How about you just give me a bite of yours?” Still getting some more chocolate, and some corn, and Jax, and…the list goes on. Volleyball, scavenger hunt, and time with babies.

Then, the ladies arrive! Hugs all around, keeping tears back, so excited. Quick showers, and dinner, and snuggles, and stories, and snuggles. Ice cream, and “CAROLYN?” and seeing someone I haven’t seen since I was in seventh grade. Getting a drink, laughing, and smiling, and can’t.believe.I.went.so.long.without.seeing.you.oh.my.

Back home, another night at the B’s B&B. Laughing late. Sleep, then up to repack, and head to the train. To another diner. Then to NYC. Two hours, no lockers? No problem: Little Italy. Pizza and cannoli’s, then ready for the plane. LA, here we come. CT, NYC, we’ll miss you.

 

 

Happy Birthday Jeff!

Posted on by
Reply

It’s Jeff’s birthday, which means the day of good Italian food, a delicious dessert, and lots of my saying, “HAPPY BIRTHDAY.”

Happy Birthday Jeff, and I hope you enjoy the clip. I am glad you were born so I could have someone to send me funny Internet videos and to help me when the dishes get out of control and to play tennis with, and to make watch bad movies. If I didn’t have you, who would fix my computer, make sure the kitchen was Jennie-proof, hike with me and then get coffee with me, and tuck me in at night? I love ya, and hope that the day and year bring fun, fun, and adventure.

In other news, things I want you to see:

That kid just has the right attitude.

 


“When I smell it, it’s done.”

Posted on by
3

Last night at work, my co-worker casually mentioned that she wasn’t sure if she had ever had Irish Soda Bread.

“What? How? Really?” I asked.

“Jennie, make some tonight and bring it in tomorrow,” Liz declared.

And that is exactly what I did. First, though, I had to call my house.

“Hello? Dad? Dad. Where are you? I need you to go to the kitchen. I need you to find mom’s soda bread recipe. It’s probably in the binder, on the counter with the cookbooks.”

About fifteen minutes later, with details yesterday and a, “You’re lucky that I watched mom make this yesterday,” and a “It says raisins or currants, but use currants,” and a “Crisco? This calls for Crisco. She used butter, use butter,” I was on my way.

I realized something. Here in California, I can get chiles, and dried Mexican spices, and there is a Latino aisle, but with that comes a lack of basics I’d find on the East coast, or even the Midwest. Which means no currants.

So, for one of the first times I replied to the question, “Did you find everything you need?” with, “No, actually. Currants? Do you not carry them?” The patient woman explained to me, “Well if we did have them, they’d be with the…”

“Raisins.” I stated. “I know. OK. Thanks.”

Besides the lack of currants, the night turned out swimmingly. Well that, and the fact that somehow I am out of sugar. How can that be true? I have super-fine sugar from when we made creme brulee, but no regular sugar. Super-fine is what I used, and I’ll have to restock my kitchen before Corelyn knows about this travesty.

I arrived home, cooked dinner, and started in on the soda bread. Which goes so fast when you have a Kitchenaid, I must say. Last night I also discovered the first recipe that I couldn’t find in my Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook: Soda bread.

I just needed to know how long to bake my bread for. Turns out, this wasn’t written on my mom’s recipe, and my dad laughed when I asked today and said, “Mom’s answer was when I smell it, it’s done.” Which might be true, but I needed a number. Luckily, The Barefoot Contessa has me covered. She suggested 30-45 minutes, and mine ended up taking about 30 minutes.

I brought half the soda bread to work today, along with a half-stick of butter for smearing. Two or three pieces later, it was a good St. Patrick’s Day.

Mom’s recipe:

3 cups all-purpose flour (she says to sift. Palluzzis never sift.)
2/3 cup sugar
1 tbsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp kosher salt
1 1/2 cup currants/raisins (use currants if you can find ’em. Makes it that much better.)
2 eggs, beaten
2 cups buttermilk
2 tbsp melted butter

1. Sift together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
2. Add raisins.
3. In a separate bowl, beat eggs, add melted butter and buttermilk, stir.
4. Slowly add to flour mixture. Stir until combined, but don’t over beat.
5. Put in greased loaf pans.
6. Bake at 30-45 minutes at 375.

Devour with butter, or clotted cream. Delicious.

For those of you who read my sister’s blog…

Posted on by
1

…I haven’t really had need to post. She’s documenting well (minus the fact that I did not see Canada at all this trip, because that was a JW-fam adventure.) I have also been eating like there’s no tomorrow, will probably not fit in my bridesmaid dress, and am heading to Chicago today for more eating.

But first, I am picking up my laundry from all about the house and trying to pack up my stuff. And I am ill, so apparently my lack of sickness on the west coast has more to do with climate than I thought…

At least I am not the only sick one. I am sitting at the kitchen table with my parents, both sick, both on computers, both taking turns with me coughing.

It’s good to be home.

Jeff comes tomorrow, but not until after a full day of wedding dress shopping and I am sure eating. Then comes more wedding dress shopping, a break for a Groupon use at Nordstrom Rack, and maybe some more food.

Here goes nothing, folks.