CityMama™

Meal Planning Monday for 4/27/09

First of all, thank you so much to everyone who submitted dinner salad (as in salads you can eat for dinner) recipes last week. I drooled over every one and will be incorporating them into our weekly dinner rotation as we head into summer.  I think I can try them all before the summer is out.

But not this week.  It was in the 50's and freezing today. I don't know what happened to our glimpse of summer, but for now, it's still spring.

Here is our menu for the week. It's another really busy week so I'm not trying anything new, just trying to get something quick and delicious on the table. 

The [*] indicates locally grown or sourced items. Being able to find local rice and olives is just part of the joy of living and cooking in Northern California.

• Monday: Cream* of Asparagus* and Garlic* soup, homemade bread
• Tuesday: Chicken* and broccoli* stir-fry with black bean chili sauce, pork and leek gyoza, Japanese pickles, rice*
• Wednesday: Penne alla Puttanesca (tomato* and olive* sauce), salad*
• Thursday: Roasted cauliflower*, steamed asparagus* and fingerling potatoes* with lemony* Hollandaise, salad*
• Friday Family Movie Night: vegetarian Mediterranean take out.
• Saturday: (not sure yet)
• Sunday: Grilling night, I'll see what looks good at the farmer's market*.

What are you cooking this week?  Trying anything new?

The moments that make your heart melt

I was invited to co-present a panel on social media at the EngageHer conference in Berkeley today, and  J. suggested that the whole family go along. This is something we've done ever since we first started dating. If one of us has an appointment or an engagement somewhere a little bit far away, the other drives, finds something to do for a few hours, then comes back for pick up. It started, I think, because back then we wanted to spend every minute we possibly could with each other, and after 15 years and two kids together, I am secretly thrilled every time J. suggests it.

He said he'd drop me off and then he would take the girls over to Fairyland and come pick me up when I was done.  I wasn't sure what time the session would end so we arranged for a 12.30 PM pick up no matter what.

When my session was over, I was asked by the women from See Jane Do if they could interview me which meant that I needed to text J. and tell him not to pick me up until 1:00 to give us more time to get the filming done.  He said not to worry, they'd grab lunch, hit a park, and then come get me.

When the interview finished, I rushed to meet my family. J. had texted to ask if I was ready. They were here. I spied the car across an expanse of green lawn and hurried towards it, but as I got closer, I noticed that no one was in it. A second later, as I rounded a group of scruby rhododendrons, I spied my adorable family sitting on a blanket having a picnic lunch in the sun. The scene took my breath away.

There is nothing in the world that makes me happier than seeing three bright, shining, squinting-in-the-sun faces grinning at me. Nothing that sounds better to my ears than a chorus of, "Mamma!!!'s"

J. looked at me and his smiling eyes spoke volumes. Our girls are magical. Our family is love. This we know a thousand times over.

J. handed me a sparkling lemonade and I sat down on the grass. Bunny offered me a bite of her artichoke fritter and, giggling, shared how Papa got her Aranciata open by prying the cap off on a street sign after trying several other unsuccessful methods. Wallie speared mozzarella balls and tomatoes with a fork and handed them to me while scrambling into my lap threatening to drip olive oil all over my skirt. But I didn't care.

I just wanted to sit in the sun and sip lemonade and listen to the stories of Fairyland and picking out lunch at the deli and deciding on where to have the picnic until I felt like I had been with them for three and half hours instead of apart.

Yummie Tummie shapewear $100 gift certificate giveaway!

Head on over to CityMama's Stuff and enter to win! It's a really good prize.

Easy Shrimp and Grits

Shrimp and grits are one of those classic food pairings that have stood the test of time for a reason: they are delicious together.  I first tasted this dish in the 90's when a Southern-style restaurant opened in the city where I living. It was listed under the appetizer section of the menu, but I always ended up ordering it for dinner.  I loved it so much that my bachelorette dinner was help at the restaurant and shrimp and grits were definitely part of the meal.

After gathering recipes from friends and watching lots of techniques online, I've finally hit on a recipe that—while probably straying a little from its Southern origins—is all my own. It's simple and packed full of flavor and I hope you like it.

SHRIMP AND GRITS

For the grits:

The amount you cook depends on the number of people you are serving. I always make extra grits because my girls love it.

• grits (I use Alber's Quick Grits)
• milk or water (or a combo)
• a pat of butter
• 1/2 cup (a good handful) grated medium-firm cheese like white cheddar, goat gouda, p'tit basque or whatever you like

Prepare grits according to package directions. I use milk to cook the grits because I think it lends a better flavor, but water is just fine, too. You have to ensure that you stir the grits constantly as you are cooking them so they don't get lumpy. (Stir, stir, stir!) Once the grits are creamy, stir in a pat of butter and let it melt, then add the cheese. Give it another stir, then remove from heat, cover and set aside while you cook the shrimp.

My favorite earth-friendly products

Doing what I can to live a little greener is important to me and my family. I just wrapped up a gig over at Tonic where I penned a column called "Normal Green." I shared easy ways that anyone could go green. (The posts aren't listed on the site anymore--bummer--but I'll be posting some of those columns here on CityMama. No worries.) 

Part of my Normal Green philosophy is going green with minimal effort, or for some of us: realistic effort. For example, I'm probably not ever going to make my own cleaning products, but I can choose to use greener products in my home, pack waste-free lunches, etc. Whatever you can do, even if it's a little, is good.

In honor of Earth Day, I thought I'd share my favorite earth-friendly products and techniques and, as always, I'd love it if you shared yours.

Kids' hygiene

California Baby: We still use their 100% organic & natural body wash and calming lotion even though my babies are 6 and 4.

Whole Foods 365 (House brand) Shampoo & Conditioner: Gentle, artificial color- and preservative-free, and a great value ($4.99 for a 32-ounce bottle)

Logona Kid's Toothpaste (Strawberry): The only toothpaste flavor my kids will tolerate with natural strawberry flavor. Free of preservatives, artificial flavors, and colorants.

Meal planning Monday for 4/20/09 (Audience participation edition)

Hey, everyone! It's 4/20!  On the menu this week: Nacho cheese Doritos, Burrito Supremes, and DONUTS!

(Sorry, that was a joke for the stoners.)

Actually, I am not sure what's on the menu this week because it's SO FRICKIN' HOT, that I can't even think about cooking. I've been alternating cold fizzy waters and Arnold Palmers because it's, like, 95 degrees here. I'm thinking maybe a week's worth of dinner salads.  I love taco salad and chopped veggie salads, and lately I've really been digging Vietnamese Chicken Salad (shown), but I'd love to hear from you.  Maybe you can help me fill out my week and in the mean time come up with a collection of cool salads for hot nights that we can all keep in our culinary arsenal.

So tell me: what are your favorite big salads? And can you share your recipe?  We'd all appreciate it!

Stay cool out there!

This is exactly the 70's modern aesthetic I'm going for in our new place

I die.

Check out this amazing site, you guys! It's like a Woody Allen movie only with more color! I love everything about every detail in these photos. I never could get into the whole mid-century modern vibe because it's just too cold and too spare, and we're too messy. I'm all about cozy lounging and hanging-out. Bring on the 70's, man.

Can't you just feel the cheeriness exuding from these rooms? I think we can all use a little cheer, don't you?

Wary Meyers is now bookmarked where I will be visiting it (and drooling and wishing and coveting and scheming) daily.  Got more sites like this that you want to share? Bring it on! Oh, and big thanks for the tip, Marivi!  CityMama readers are the bestest!

Of schedules and routines

We've always been a pretty routine-oriented family. From a set bedtime routine that has been the same since both kids were babies to our habit of having coffee and pastries at the mall every Saturday when the weather is nice (it's an outdoor mall that is very pretty and pleasant) to Sunday mornings spent moving from one hippie church activity to the next until lunchtime, we're kind of set in our ways.

 The hardest times for me are the after school to bedtime hours, I know these hours are hard for a lot of stay-at-home parents. They are especially tough for me as a work-at-home parent because I am interrupted so many times during the day by appointments or phone calls or school volunteering or school picks-ups that oftentimes I'm not even really getting rolling with work until after lunch.  The afternoon is also when I try to schedule all my calls, something I may have to revisit.

We have after school activities that fill an hour or two here or there, but for the most part, we've been playing those hours fast and loose. And it's been a problem.  Left to their own devices, the girls will play for a while and then eventually start getting on each other's nerves. Then the day ends on a bad note where everyone is frustrated and pissed off at each other.

Meal Planning Monday for 4/13/09, I mean 4/14/09 [oops!]

We returned from Oregon on Sunday night and I still haven't gone to the grocery store, but as we are out of milk, cereal, and toilet paper, it's getting desperate around here and as soon as I finish writing this up, we're off.

Oh, a little bread machine update.  I made another batch of wheat bread this morning (we were out of bread, too), but this time I added more water. That seemed to solve the problem of the uneven, lumpy bread.  I also added some flax meal to the mix.  It came out really well. I will share the recipe soon.

I picked up the April issue of Cooking Light yesterday because the salmon and asparagus on the cover looked so delicious.  I haven't read it in a while and was looking for some healthy inspiration. Some of our dinners this week will be from Cooking Light and I'll be sure to let you know how it goes.

The [*] indicates locally grown or sourced items

• Monday—we had take-out Mexican (...after cheerleading which ends at 7pm. A late night for the girls, but sooooo worth it!)
• Tuesday—Chipotle Sloppy Joes (ground organic beef*), simple slaw*, pickles* (recipe from Cooking Light)...then Bad Kitty and I are going to see Natasha Bedingfield, N.E.R.D, and Blake Lewis at some T-Mobile Sidekick VIP junket. Free tickets! Beat-boxing? Pharrell? I'm there!
• Wednesday—Orange*-glazed salmon (recipe from Cooking Light), steamed asparagus*, goat cheese* grits
• Thursday—Southwest Shrimp and Corn Chowder, (recipe from Cooking Light), two side salads: green* and maybe something with tofu*, raw veggies*, and/or grains, still thinking on it
• Friday Family Movie Night—Take out
• Saturday—Date Night
• Sunday—Something local* on the grill...we'll see what the farmer's market brings

And last but not least: a very Happy Birthday today to my mom who has hopefully just enjoyed a memorable birthday dinner in the desert in Dubai.  I hope you finally got to see a camel!  I love you!

Easter Road Trip to Oregon: Highlights

Mt. Shasta Sky. Photo taken with iPhone and edited with the Camera Bag app.

We're back from spending four days in Oregon. Our road trip was fantastic--we drove there and back in a Ford Flex, a muscle car with mom appeal. I was a participant in a social media program targeting moms (put together by Ford and Ogilvy) and you can read about my experience with the Flex on my review blog.

Other highlights were spending time with my brother and his kids.  We dyed eggs and the Easter bunny paid a visit.  We spent an afternoon hanging out in Lithia Park in Ashland. We walked around one of the best farmer's markets anywhere (and one of my faves) the Southern Oregon grower's market. I got to see my niece score a goal in her soccer game and will never forget the way she raised both hands the air and smiled afterwards. (Proud auntie, here.) Tooth #7 placed under pillow and replaced with strawberry tooth paste. I got an entire morning to myself to go antiquing (no husband making snarky comments about junk and clutter, and no kids to have to monitor). Poked in and out of every antique store in downtown and saw amazing stuff that made we wish we could hitch a U-Haul to the car

Speaking of which, some of my haul included some cute vintage turquoise Pyrex bowls in a pattern I've been eyeing for a while, two cute tablecloths in excellent condition, and some books, including an old catalog of Atari games for J. (Is there such a thing as negative-bit graphics? My god.) Oh, and I saw so so many hipster owls.

Northern California and Southern Oregon in the spring = amazing. I highly suggest you go out and see it.

All of the photos are on Flickr.