78 posts from 2008

I gave both my men a haircut two days ago.  First time doing Daddy's.  He got a high and tight on the Christmas hair he grew for me.  Then, I finished little man's haircut this morning.  One of the ways for us to have a pleasant

experience is to break it up into two short sessions.  So I did the back and over the ears last time and then I did the top and fringe this time.  I love this book (to the left).  I use elements of three styles for DS.  I more or less do a layered cut for him, but the back where his crazy cow-lick whorl is, needs to be 3.5" long to lay down so I do sort of a wedge back, and I use the clippers for the whole thing,  But it's only short as a buzz in the back lower portion of his head (occiput).  I tried taking him to the expensive kids cut place last time.  He got to sit in a "car" chair and watch Power Rangers, but the cut wasn't good.  Mostly because he's wiggly, but aren't all kids his age?  Even though I explained in detail, he still had a cowlick that stood straight up for 5 weeks.  We've tried several places now and I think he does better with me.  I would like to give my hairdresser a shot at him one of these days.  I used to think it was too much for a kids cut at my salon, but now that I know what the kiddie places charge, I may take him there for a special occasion.  I love the local salon, my hairdresser is really good.  I only get a cut every 3-4 months there, but I am very picky.  I am very specific about what I want, she listens and doesn't over-cut.  I either get a free cut at the school and suck it up, or go to her and am happy.  Then I color it myself.  Can't wait to have a little girl to braid and style!  

We sent Reader's Digest to some family members for Christmas presents again this year.  I really like the magazine and hope they do too!  Here's one of their cartoons. 

Cooking is not my favorite thing, because I had to learn on my own, and didn't until we had our son.  But I am proud of myself when I do well, and I keep trying new things.  But it's hard to do the spread for the whole family and accommodate all the food allergies.  And this year I put two things on the table that have allergens, but everyone will be aware of that. This is why my sister and I takes turns.  She did Thanksgiving, so tonight it's my turn.  Milk and eggs are the hardest to do without.  I started prepping two days ago.  I began cooking yesterday.  And I've just sat down for the first time today.  Only because I can't run my hairdryer while my son naps.  I know it's like this for everyone who hosts and event.  I just have a hard time seeing how people could LOVE it.  I like getting the family together and having the home cooked special meals, but it's not my favorite thing to do.  I'd never be a caterer or anything like that.  So my hat is off to all the true cooks of the world.  You guys are crazy.  JK

So here's what I did.  The family will be here in an hour.  I'll have a relish tray, corn chips, pretzels, carrots and celery sticks out with Hummus (with sesame signage) Guacamole and Salsa.  Oh, and a homemade SanFran-style sourdough loaf.  We've got ipods attached to the TV and radio in both living rooms with Christmas music.   We'll munch and maybe open presents before dinner.  I will get the last of the food finished and on the table.  We'll all eat Honey Baked Ham- my DHs favorite, corn, Broccoli with red pepper slices (very Christmasy), stuffing, a loaf of sourgough pumpkin spice bread, crescents Spinach Salad, Strawberry cran Dressing and whatever I am forgetting.  No potatoes because I decided we had too many carbs.  It will take about 20 minutes for all that food to get eaten.  Then we'll open the presents if we haven't already and have desert.  I made dutch apple, pumpkin (with egg signage) and cherry pies.  And I did a  cocnut milk whipped topping for them.  We'll have some wine and the kids can have sparkling fruit juice.  And maybe we'll drive one street over to play Rock Band  or Scene It at my sisters house.  I can't wait.

Here are a couple of the nondairy tthings I made:

Sourdough 1.5lb Loaf
1/2 c water
2c bread flour
1 cup starter
mix these and let sit for 4 hours then add
4 tsp olive oil
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
2Tbsp whole wheat flour
1 c bread four
use "dough' cycle on bread machine but turn it off as soon as it's done with the first kneading. 
let it set for 16 hours, covered
(here you could punch it down and let it rise again for about 6-8hrs, but I didn't this ime)
pop it back into the bread machine and cook it on the 'bake' cycle.

Sourdough Pumpkin Spice Bread
3/4 c Sourdough Starter
1/4 c plus 2 Tbsp water
2 c bread flour
mix these and let sit for 4 hours then add
1 c pumpkin puree
2 Tbsp canola oil
1 1/2 c bread flour
3 Tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/4 tsp yeast
cook it on the standard cycle in a bread machine with the 'dark' crust setting

Impossible Pumpkin Pie (a Bisquick recipe)
preheat oven to 350 deg F and cook pie crust for 8 minutes
Then mix
3/4 c sugar
2 Tbsp Squeeze Parkay
1 1/2 c soy millk
1/2 small pkg cookable vanilla pudding
2 eggs (I used egg beaters)
1 can plain pumpkin puree
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
beat all of these and when well mixed add
1/2 c Bisquick
pour into crust and bake for 50-55m

Stabilized Cocnit Milk Whipped Topping
1 tsp pln gelatin
2 Tbsp cold water
1 c coconut milk
3Tbsp powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
Put mixing bowl and beaters in the freezer, Cocniut milk in fridge overnight
Sprinkle gelatin in cold water, set over boiling water until it's dissolved then cool to room temp
Take out top portion plus enough to make one cup of coconut milk
Whip half way
Pour gelatin right in the where you are whipping sithout stopping
Add sugar and vnilla and finish whipping 

I'd like to ask for prayers, if you pray, for my son's teacher and all of the families waiting to bring a child home this Christmas. 
Happy Holidays and Bless You!

My favorite photographer did a 72 self-portraits in 72 days thing this summer these were some of my favorites.  I have to add that most of these were done with is cell phone camera. 

I have been culturing a sour dough starter for almost a month now in order to have Sourdough breads for Christmas dinner.  I tried the first loaf last night.  The flavor was excellent, but the single knead and 13.5 hr rising didn't do it.  I was trying to still keep it fairly simple and use the bread machine.  It was too dense.  It would make for a great bagel, so I'm gonna keep that in mind.  I'm trying the 'batter' technique today.  I'll add all the water and 2/3 of the flour from the recipe to that starter and let it grow for 4hrs, then knead in everything else and raise and bake.  Still gonna try baking in the machine on this round.  If THAT doesn't give me a light enough bread I'll do a punch down and another rise before baking.  So I have a plan.  But I was really hoping the easy route would work out.  Ha.  I should know better by now.  :)

So I finally got to see Twilight the movie.  I liked some of it because I liked the books so much.  But some of it was just hokey.  I think they should punish the screen write.  And Edwards character would have done better if he could just emote and not use the same slow drawl to sound American.  They totally got the whole teen angst / sexual frustration thing which must be why its so popular with that age group.  but that wasn't my favorite part of the movie.  I guess I thought they'd make the movie more appealing to adults because so many of us read them, outside their expected market.  I guess I could say I liked it because I went back through what happened in the first book as I watched it.  but you couldn't suspend disbelief and fall into the story on this one.  It wasn't done that well.  The makeup was crap, the special effects were goof.  But Edward Cullen's character, the guy from Harry Potter movie (Sedrick Diggory), is cute and the couple is believable.  They practically skipped over Jake, though.  The funniest part was when they talked about hiding in highschool.  And it really portrayed the horror of living highschool forever.  Yikes.  Which leads naturally to facebook...  I have been on a few days now and have wasted many hours there.  I was really excited to see a few close friends, and it has been so much fun to see everybody's families.  But it's addictive.  I imagine that'll taper off.  I mean, I've just gotten to the point where I check my email every day.  usually. 

  

just substitute Squeeze Parkay for non-dairy goodness
(as always, read all the ingredient lists to be sure, but most marshmallows don't have milk protein and so far my Squeeze Parkay and Rice Krispys have been ok, too)

Rice Krispy Treats:
1/4 cup Squeeze Parkay 
1 10.5 oz pkg of mini marshmallows (read these too)
6 c Rice Krispies
sprinkles (optional)

melt Parkay in large glass mixing bowl in the microwave, then smear the side of the glass with it
add marshmallows and microwave about a minute, stir, then continue to microwave for 30s intervals and stir until soft,
add Rice Krispies and stir
Transfer to a greased baking pan and press in with spatula, sprinkle with festive decoration
Cover and refrigerate until firm
cut and serve

(maybe I'm the last person on earth to make Rice Krispy treats, maybe not.)

The next recipe came from the Veganomicon, but I changed it some

Chewy Oatmeal Cookies
1/4c Butter Flavored Crisco or Parkay
1/4c Canola Oil
1/3 c Rice, Soy or Oatmilk
2Tbsp water
1/3 c Maple Syrup (or 1/4 c honey)
3/4 c Brown Sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/3 c All Pupose flour
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice (or substitute apple pie spice or another 1/2 tsp cinnamon)
1/2 tsp salt
2c rolled oats
1 c dried cranberries (or dry cherries or raisins or nondairy choc chips or nuts....)

preheat oven to 350deg F and grease baking sheets
Mix all the wet ingredients (first 7)
Mix all the dry ingredients except oats and mix ins (next 6)
Mix wet and dry
fold in oats and fruit/choc/nuts
mix well with
(grease hands, optional)
roll into walnut sized balls and space 12 to a baking sheet
press flat with the bottom of a drinking glass. dip to wet before each press
Bake 10-12 m until lightly browned
Cool on sheets a few minutes before transferring