IDOL Magic

For the third consecutive week, we think that James Durbin has taken the night. I know who to vote for, now. What an outstanding performance of "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow"! There are a bunch of reasons I'd love to see this boy  win the season, in addition to his amazing musicianship and incredible voice. Good Luck, James. Rock 'n' Roll is SO here to stay!

And following up on Thursday's elimination night, I'm here to say that I still love the amazing musician, Casey. If jazz is your genre, surely you'll be seeing and hearing a lot of him.

Another Fab Bread Knife For Cheap

This (link) Komachi 2 bread knife, available for only ten dollars on Amazon, is fabulous for thin-slicing tomatoes, as well as my bread loaves. 

Salmon Alternative

Y'all know about the good omega-3 fatty acids in salmon; it's a great food to eat with some regularity. We stopped consuming the farm-raised variety, years ago. Gross. Are you familiar? Well, if not, do a little research, 'cause the facts herein are rather uninspiring. We eat only wild salmon, with mercury risk being the lesser of the evils. Problem is, we're not crazy about the wild, as it tastes rather... well... wild. We both enjoyed last night's salmon burgers, though. I'll take a photo, next time 'round.

I tossed two six-ounce fillets in the bowl of the Cuisinart, along with an egg, tofu, two wedges of Laughing Cow Light, slivered carrots, mustard, pepper, fresh lemon juice, garlic, parsley and some bread crumbs. I whirled away and then formed the mess into three very healthy patties. After rolling in almond crumbs, I grilled stovetop in a tad of EVOO. Joe had his on a roll, smothered in mustard and with a side of homemade oven fries. I topped mine with hummus and tomato - no roll - and had raw veggies, on the side. We were stuffed... and the bonus? The third one was leftover and delicious cold, for lunch today.

Don't care for my ingredients? This is an anything-goes recipe. Have fun.

♥-Healthy...Buon Appetito

Scrabble

Have I ever mentioned that I'm a Scrabble addict? My parents gifted me my first game, when I was ten. The rest is history. I've had every version possible, including the current one for MacBook and an iPad application.

Hunter played on my iPad, as Chloe napped, often choosing the epic word game over Rio's Angry Birds. Now, that's something. He said, "G'ma you should get the 'real' one," meaning the board game. "Honey, I have an awesome version for you to play!" Out came the vintage turntable; it was well received.

Even Little Missy got in on the action, with her imaginary, winning words. Start 'em young! 

♥

"This is gonna end in tears...." MF

No visit would be complete without having our four Grands spend quality time together. And so, a week ago today, they spent many hours traveling the emotional highway known as "Playtime".

We had a first, in that normally Aubrey and Hunter pair off, leaving their younger siblings to do the same. This time, we had teams, it seems, in girls versus boys. Now that was a sketch. Aubs confided, "G'ma, I just don't understand why we're fighting. That never happened before. I think it's because we're not doing a show; the boys don't want to." As I giggled inwardly over her seriousness, I suggested some artwork 'n' girl-time and said, "People who love each other so much can sometimes squabble; it'll all work out, later." And, it did, of course... so much so that my traditional photo session turned into an uncontrollable laugh-fest. 

 I'd have preferred a background of the great outdoors, but rain prevented that scenario. The fireplace is always good, its limestone hearth a natural stage. Each clutched his or her Lindt rabbit and went into performance mode. Convulsive laughter sent Chloe into a loss of balance; she hit her head. Rubbing with one hand while clinging to Rabbit with the other, she was a tad stunned... and then they came... the flood of tears, that is. Told ya... or, Mom told ya. Not to worry; it was a superficial injury and gleefulness resumed, within seconds.

As kids, when Ronnie, our Cousin Nicholas and I would play and laugh very hard, Mom would scold, "This is gonna end in tears!" She did not mean it in a good way, but rather in support of the theory that what goes up must come down. The three of us would always get into trouble in church, with Gran. One would start with a little giggle... and then, the eruption. Ah, I'm lovin' the visual here.

The moral of the story is that the kids had an awesome day and started missing each other immediately upon separation - a bond refreshed.  And on Easter Sunday at Bri's, Gavin brought me to his room to show me the sign on his door: "No girls allowed in this room." Well, except for Grandmas, that is. ;-)

G'ma Giggles. ♡

Meanwhile...

Back at the ranch, we're seeing quite an abundance of our own variety of exotica. Spring. Rebirth.
 In preparation for wooing and nesting, the birds are taking over where the Baby Grands left off... eating us out of house 'n' home, by emptying feeders daily. And finally, we are beginning to bloom.

 Pretty-ful.

In Love ♡ Catchin' Up With Movies

AP Photo/20th Century Fox

Before the kids arrived, Johnny Depp redeemed himself in our living room (remembering "Rango", here), with his performance in "The Tourist". JD as a normal person? Love, love. And, to note, in my next life, I'm looking just like Angelina Jolie. Ignore the reviews and relax in Venice, for just a while. It's far superior to the well touted "Black Swan", a movie we did not care for, at all.

We switched gears to take the Baby Grands to lunch at Friday's and the theater to see "Rio". Grab a kid (or not) and enjoy!  We're in love with Blue, Jewel and the entire cast. Even the bad guys are sort of endearing. The colors are to die for. And the music is superb. As soon as it's released, we'll purchase the DVD; this one is too good for a mere pay-per-view revisit. Classic. Easter perfection. "G'ma, is that a statue of Jesus?" queried Hunter.

Love♡Grows

Sleep Interrupted

In my previous post, I neglected to mention that the Gourmet Waffle Fare was  presented somewhere in the vicinity of seven a.m., about an hour post-awakening. Nights were rough, with Chloe frequently calling out to me. Lucky Joe can sleep through anything... need I say more with reference to this arena? But, you've gotta love the enthusiasm for sunrise and the beginning of a new day.

When sleep deprivation ultimately caught up with me, Joe corralled the kids downstairs, closed our bedroom door, and let me sleep in. When I wandered down, there were all of the children's "friends", being taught proper nutrition. Gotta laugh at their mimicry of our obsession. Joe moved Gran's bowl from the dining room table, so that Hunter could set up properly, as Chloe worked the grocery cash register from the great room. Her pal, Diego, colored at the kitchen island, while Mambo guarded a stolen sock and wondered, "Is it ever again going to be 'normal' around here?"

Not to worry... I keep a supply of emptied, cleaned food vehicles just for this purpose. They reside in the downstairs playroom "store", along with the cash register. This remodeling took a lot of work and stair-climbing. Do you like the look? :-)

I ask, "Who needs Fisher Price?"

An Observation: I'd purchased a multi-pack of dried cereals, so as to have a choice for the kids. I hid the "bad" ones; not sure WHY? I didn't just toss them. Hunter managed to find Fruit Loops, amongst the banned boxes. He somehow (ahem) finagled Gramps into a sugary pre-breakfast. Look hard at the plate/box in front of him, on the table. Men! Always in cahoots... gotta love 'em. 

The Jackpot 'n' Carrot Cake

 In an attempt to pack some power into breakfast for the sometimes finicky Chloe, I hit on buttered buckwheat/cinnamon/yogurt homemade waffles, served with apples, mangos and strawberries, and garnished with pure maple syrup and a dollop of enticing whipped cream.

 The combo was then requested for several consecutive mornings by both kids!  "Well, it seems that I've finally hit on something," said I to Joe. In walked Chloe, who commented, "You hit the jackpot, G'ma." (She'll be four, on Sunday.) In keeping with a little decadence...

Every now and again, I break my own rules. Isn't that what they are made for? With killer sugar, bad fat and tons of calories, I offer up Springtime Carrot Cake:

1-2/3 cups sugar

1-1/2 cup canola oil

4 eggs

2-1/4 cups unbleached flour

1 tsp. salt

2 tsps. baking soda

2 tsps. cinnamon
3 cups grated raw carrots (I mince in Cuisinart bowl)

1-1/2 cups chopped nuts

Handful golden raisins 

Beat sugar, oil, eggs on medium for two minutes; add dry ingredients and beat low for another minute. Stir in carrots, nuts and raisins. For one easy cake, spread in Pam-sprayed 13 x 9 x 2-inch pan and bake in 300-degree preheated for about an hour. I prefer making a couple of small bundt cakes or a combo of cake/cupcakes, as this freezes well. When ready to serve, frost with:

8 oz. softened cream cheese beaten till fluffy with

1/4 cup soft butter

Add 2 tsps. vanilla and gradually beat in a pound of sifted confectioners sugar.

Not recommended if you're dieting. Sigh.

Buon Appetito

Talkin' Trivia...Let Me Think ♡

Grand Hunter - Thoughtful Pose

Who to tell? Over the course of a day or a week, so many little things or thoughts occur that I'd like to share. But another's ears are not always available for the listening. During Christian's college and law school days, I kept a running list of mentionables that would normally comprise a face-to-face conversation, saving them for our ear-to-ear phone catch-ups. My blog is so useful for the overflow. So much to say. Smile.

I recall a long departed neighbor who was impatient with his wife, my friend, about daily trivia. She once expressed amazement when we compared dinnertime chatter. "Really? Joe doesn't 'mind' talking about the mundane?" "Excuse me?" said I, incredulous that her own day was continually deemed insignificant in the eyes of her spouse. How arrogant.

Where is this going? Well, as I resume blogging after a much needed break that happily coincided with a ton of family activity, I'm trying to discern what to extract from my mental notes and photo proof. Let me think... it's been hectic around here. Huge smile.

Happy Easter ♡

Michelle's Basket '11 ♡

Happy Birthday, Vicki... ♡

Ladybugs 'n' Hearts...
Do you remember what we named the little dotted ones?

In a hiatus from hiatus, we're here to say, "We Love You, Happy Birthday, and it was great to perform, along with Nan, for you, last night!" Oh, and one more thing: Please note the spelling of your name on this saved ♥-note, from days gone by. Giving thanks, 'cause I'm not crazy, after all. Muah. Love you, Sweetie. xoxo

Just Call Me Nick

Bri spoke at an excep-
tionally young age... precisely, clearly and with an impressive vocabulary... he was just a year and a few months old. When he was two, he realized from Joe's and my references that Mommy and Daddy were also Nick and Joe. He began calling us by our names. I recall thinking, at that time, how very intelligent he was for observing the association.

I vividly remember a shopping trip, during that period. Another patron overheard him talking away to me, calling me by name. She stopped me to ask why I wasn't correcting him. "Aren't you his mother?" I responded with a proud "Yes!" and an explanation that he would return to "Mommy" on his own, being such a brilliant child. :-) She looked at me like I was nuts, just as I thought her humorless.

Sure enough, in a few months time and with no reprimands, Bri resumed calling us by our parental monikers. 

All this happiness came flooding back to me yesterday, when Gavin disappeared with instructions for me to stay out of his dining room, while he worked on a project. 

How precious my rainbow...Color Me Inspired 

♥

Blog-Browsing Brownies

Not sure if you've noticed that I've all but eliminated sugar from our diets. Except for the kids' cupcakes and "Tens" (my choco-chip cookies), I bake without it, subbing a touch of honey or pure maple syrup in most recipes. For a hit of chocolate, we've switched to the share of 86% cocoa Ghiradelli or Lindt. All good, right? Well, yes, except that every now and again, we crave the real deal. We are, however, satisfied after a bite or two, as sugar-y seems too sweet, now. Well, I'll be danged.
 I digress.

Seems that I saved this recipe from I-don't-know-whose-blog (SO sorry). It's for the simplest, quickest, cheapest brownies ever. My 9-inch-square agate pan seems to have gone missing. Chances are, I gifted it with product. Sooooo, I stretched the batter a tad in an 8 x 13-inch baker and decreased sugar from a cup down. Very nice; they'll do just fine, in all their simplicity, though they are not quite as chewy as their more decadent cousins:

Cream 1/4 cup butter with 2/3 cup sugar and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Stir in 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa, 1/3 cup flour, 2 eggs, some chopped nuts and chocolate chips. Bake in sprayed pan at 350 degrees for about 20-25 minutes. Cut and cool. Buon Appetito.

Antidote To A Light Dusting

Happy 16th, Keith ♡

I know, I know - this pic is almost two years old. But, hey, we think it's adorable, in its depiction of boy cousins buddying up; and now, they are 
sixteen and six. 

Keith has a lot to celebrate, on this birthday. We wish him continued success and a bright future. We love you, Honey, and we're in your corner, cheering.

♥Aunt Nick 'n' Uncle Joe

Hands Down... Great IDOL Night

James overcoming the
adversities of Tourette's
and Asberger's
DailyNewsPhoto

The RRHOF honors the best of the best.... and the Idol kids paid tribute to some of its members with awesome song choices from this arsenal of rock 'n' roll music. Who is the weak link to be eliminated, tomorrow?

First-up Jacob Lusk sent chills through my spine with his awesome rendition of MJ's "Man In The Mirror". Nothing idle here... WOW!

His bass and some Creedence showcased Casey, an amazing musician. LOVIN' our Idols!

James did George Harrison proud, with beautiful guitar gently weeping... and a few sentimental tears of his own.

And Pia rocked Tina, sending the boys a warning that there is a female presence in the competition.

Just to mention a few... we shall see.

THURSDAY UPDATE... America got it so wrong in sending the best of the girls home, tonight. Lots of tears were shed, as Pia departed with "I'll Stand By You".

Fatten Up 'n' Thin Down

In a leap of faith, I purchased fat asparagus at Trader's, the other day. Sure, I've always preached the virtues of the skinny ones; but I've had a change of heart. These guys redefine "fresh"... look at them! Are they not pretty-ful? There is no better culinary way to say, "SPRING!!" And sure, I know that an omelette is not a new concept, but check this one out and salivate.

Ingredients include four x-large egg whites, a couple thin slices of tofu, lots of asparagus, fresh tomato and a Laughing Cow wedge of cheese, seasoned with paprika, garlic powder, pepper, and whatever. You know what to do; but a hint would be to start it on the range and then take the time to finish under the broiler. 

Share it, if you must. If volume is your thing, though, fold over and devour in its entirety at under 300 calories. It takes time to savor properly and satisfies in a health-conscious way.

Just do it! Buon Appetito.

Kirstie 'n' Maks...A Metaphor

ABC Photo

"It's not how you fall but how you get up," declared one of the judges, in com-
menting on the strength of character it took for Kirstie and Maks to continue, after his leg pain brought them down. And so, they rose to the challenge of completion, seemingly in a style similar to that which allowed Kirstie to dance through life, pursuant to her highest-lowest day. The revelation that she landed her first significant acting role on the very day that her Mom was killed in an auto accident, as her Dad remained severely injured, endeared her to us even more. What we don't know about those who entertain us for decades tells their stories. How appropriate her choice of song in "Somewhere Over The Rainbow", IZ style. As for Maks, he was beyond gracious in his handling of the upsetting situation; what a class act. Together, they share the makings of champions. 

Showin' Them How It's Done... Hotness

AP Photo

Still skeptical about "American Idol"?? Why not consider Steven's amazing idol-ness and Carrie's A-I version. Somewhere along the line, they merged. The CMA's left a lot to be desired, in my book. But Steven and Carrie? WOW!

Gran's Birthday ♡

From the left: Moi, Dale's maternal Cousin Janet, ??,
his maternal Aunt Frances, OUR Great-Grand Nonna,
his maternal Grands, his Mom holding his Bro Dennis,
GRAN holding Ronnie, his maternal Cousin Tommy

Every picture tells a story, as does this relic. Actually, this one speaks in multiples, but I'll try to stay on track. It was not taken on Gran's birthday, but rather during a summer past. Hey, 'twas a party!

Y'all have met my first cousin, Dale, here on CMI (most recently as we vacationed together in Cape Cod). His family on both sides is greatly represented in this shot, 'ceptin' that he wasn't born yet. :-) We share Gran, his paternal and my maternal. 

This gathering obviously took place at the summer home of his maternal Grands, "up the hill" from OUR Grand's cottage. I could make this very confusing, but I won't. Suffice it to say that Gran (holding my baby bro) loved a party... any party... but here I think she was eyeballing me for playing with the balloon. I don't see my parents, so she must have been in charge. 

I can tell by the style of developing that Dale's Dad - Gran's son, Mom's bro and my Godfather - took this shot. He was good... would have loved my new Nikon and the fun one can have in PhotoShop. He once costumed and posed Brian and Christian, when they were young boys. The results were a barrel of fun; I'll dig them out for a scan, sometime. I digress.

Standing to the left is OUR great-grandmother, Nonna. She didn't speak a word of English, but smiled and hugged a lot. She had eight children, and Ronnie and I got to know all of them. Why? Well, Gran always lived with us, and she was a true nucleus. Both at the summer cottage and home, relatives flocked to see her. Strong woman. Mind of her own. Definitely a huge influence on whomever she came into contact with. My heroine. 

Heaven's rockin', today. I love you, Gran, on your birthday and always.

♥

Special Request - Cinnamon Raisin

Left double-click to enlarge

Joe suggested a twist for Minimalist Bread. After the dough was fermented and ready for the "folding" stage, I incorporated golden raisins (soak them for a bit) and cinnamon. This is not stretchy, pliable dough; do the best you can to flatten it out and then roll it into a loaf, incorporating additions. I added cinnamon to the final-stage flour for rising, too. Very delicious, though I'm told it can use more sweet raisins. I think I need to open a bakery...

Nothin' says lovin' like somethin' from the oven. 

Tolerable Traffic

Clearly, this guy has the right idea!

April Ablaze

Couldn't Resist

Yesterday Morning

The Fort ♡

Today is Tommy's 40th birthday; that's him to the left, in the photo. You'll note that he is joined by Brian and Christian, who used to be the shortest, at a few years younger. :-) And there's Baron, our first Giant Schnauzer, hard to see in all his blackness. He was never far from the boys - clearly their protector.

The structure would be "The Fort"... a summer project that extended over many years. The "lot" was cleared in the woods between our house and Tom's; and nail by nail, the kids built their refuge. I think I hear them hammering and laughing, as I write... sigh. Great times.

One summer past, Joe thought to gift me this little figurine. It is on display, to this day, from a series appropriately named "The Family Album". 

Memories are made of this. Happy Birthday, Tom! You were 9 months old, when first we met. ♥

It's ♦ April...

...when daisies and diamonds are a girl's best friends. Sorry, but I just couldn't resist one more recent pose, provided by this Diamond upon his arrival in South Africa.

New Pals

Do You Have A Yukon Bread Knife?

No? Well, you're missing out on the greatest thing since... well, since white bread, as the saying goes. If you've made the Jim Lahey No-Knead Bread that I've mentioned more times than I can count (recipe to the right), you know that its crispy crust is tough to get through for even, thin slicing. Not with the (link) Yukon. The loaf pictured came out of the oven, just as the mail arrived with my purchase. I sliced it hot and there was no crushing of its tender inner crumb. The knife can be used for thin-slicing roasts and veggies, too... and, though unlikely, should its stainless blade ever need sharpening, the service shall be provided, free of charge. Then, there is the beautifully crafted handle... and the amazing customer service.

Go bake bread, for Heaven's sake... but first, place 
your order! Buon Appetito.