Do vacation weeks go faster than other weeks? Definitely yes. I can hardly believe we're at Friday night again so quickly...
On the list for the week:
*So grateful we were able to drag husband away from work for the week. A wonderful family time together. From ferry to mini-golf to lunches out, just the three of us, it's been really lovely.
*Grateful to spend time with my parents at their home, in their environment.
*Grateful for this amazing warmth in the Okanagan Valley. It reminds me so much of my childhood to be here, see the sunshine on the lake, the beaches full of tourists, the town full of people. While I wouldn't necessarily want to live here now, it is glorious to visit.
*Yippee for figs... the beginning of fig season brings a big grin to my face, that's for sure (ask the boys--I was a giddy fool when I discovered them in the cooler at Costco!).
*I'm grateful for all my extended Kandt family that has trekked to Grandma's 90th party. Nice to be see quite a few of the branches and twigs on this family tree. Sorry to be missing a few, but that's how it goes...
*Grateful for my mother and our walks and talks. I couldn't ask for a better mother.
*Grateful that the news from home--yard, watering, Ruby biting things--has been quiet and mostly good. I am sure there will be some dry spots that need extra sprinklering next week, and probably a couple of little drip heads to replace, but it seems to have been minimal. Whew.
*Grateful for books and all that they bring to expand my world. Have been reading the most amazing book this week, "The Last American Man" by Elizabeth Gilbert (yes, she of "Eat, Pray, Love" fame). An amazing true tale of a rare breed of individual. Seth's been reading over my shoulder occasionally as well, and it's interesting stuff.
*Grateful and thankful and joyous for the love I am able to both give and receive in this world. I couldn't be a luckier lady.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Rhubarb desserts, yes please
Many moons ago I promised a rhubarb crisp recipe and promptly moved on. Disgraceful! I was reminded of my negligence when I arrived here on Mayne Island and Mom promised a new rhubarb recipe that a friend of hers made recently. It was quite lovely, of course, as most things rhubarb are, and so I'm posting both recipes at once. And following it with a future rhubarb recipe as well!
Rhubarb crisp
4 cups rhubarb, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1 cup granulated sugar
2 Tbsp. cornstarch
1 tsp. cinnamon
2 tsp. lemon juice
Topping:
1 cup oats
1 cup flour
1 cup brown sugar
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 cup cold butter, diced into small pieces
Combine the fruit with the rest of the crisp ingredients and put into an 8-inch square baking dish. Mix the topping ingredients together in a bowl and crush the butter into the mixture with your fingers until it crumbles into small pieces. Spread over the top of the fruit mixture and bake in a 375 degree F preheated oven for 35-40 minutes, until the top is golden and starting to crisp.
When researching various crisp recipes online, I found a number that had half the "topping" put on the bottom of the baking dish, followed by the fruit mixture and then the rest of the topping on top. I haven't ever tried it that way, but it sounds quite yummy and I think I will give that a whirl sometime. With the juices of the rhubarb, it might be great to have them soaked up above AND below!
Everything's better a la mode, don't you think?
Did I like it? Hmmm.
Rhubarb crunch cake
4 cups rhubarb, cut up
1 cup sugar
2 Tbsp. flour
1 egg
1 cup milk
2 Tbsp. butter
Topping:
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1 cup flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1 egg, beaten
Mix first three ingredients together. Pour into greased 8 x 11 inch cake pan. Beat egg. Add milk; pour over first mixture. Dot with butter.
Topping: Mix together; will be crumbly. Sprinkle over rhubarb. Bake at 350 degrees F for 40 minutes or until crust is golden brown.
So of course we doubled the recipe. And cut back a bit on the sugar (1.5 cups for both the filling and the topping, rather than a full 2 cups each that it called for, holy cow!), but I think it could have the sugar cut back even further. It is quite sweet. That's not a complaint, really! But a little less sweet, and I bet I might have eaten another helping... Oh, the other caveat: We supplemented the rhubarb with a couple of cups of strawberries we had lying about... that might have contributed to the sweetness as they were in their prime; they added a nice flavor to the dessert.
Here's the last rhubarb recipe, from a delightful blog called Dinner With Julie. I hope to make it soon!
Strawberry-Rhubarb Cobbler Cake
1/2 cup butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 cup sugar
4 large eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
pinch salt
2 cups halved or quartered strawberries (depending on their size)
2-3 cups chopped rhubarb (about 2-3 stalks)
1/3-1/2 cup sugar
Preheat the oven to 350F.
In a large bowl, beat together the butter and sugar until well combined and starting to get fluffly. Add the eggs one at a time, beating after each, then beat in the vanilla.
Add the flour, baking powder and salt and stir by hand or beat on low speed just until combined; the batter will be thick. Spread into a 9 x 13 inch pan that has been sprayed with nonstick spray, and scatter the fruit over top. Sprinkle with sugar and bake for 45-50 minutes, until the cake is golden and the cakey parts springy to the touch.
Makes 1 big cake.
Rhubarb crisp
4 cups rhubarb, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1 cup granulated sugar
2 Tbsp. cornstarch
1 tsp. cinnamon
2 tsp. lemon juice
Topping:
1 cup oats
1 cup flour
1 cup brown sugar
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 cup cold butter, diced into small pieces
Combine the fruit with the rest of the crisp ingredients and put into an 8-inch square baking dish. Mix the topping ingredients together in a bowl and crush the butter into the mixture with your fingers until it crumbles into small pieces. Spread over the top of the fruit mixture and bake in a 375 degree F preheated oven for 35-40 minutes, until the top is golden and starting to crisp.
When researching various crisp recipes online, I found a number that had half the "topping" put on the bottom of the baking dish, followed by the fruit mixture and then the rest of the topping on top. I haven't ever tried it that way, but it sounds quite yummy and I think I will give that a whirl sometime. With the juices of the rhubarb, it might be great to have them soaked up above AND below!
Everything's better a la mode, don't you think?
Did I like it? Hmmm.
Rhubarb crunch cake
4 cups rhubarb, cut up
1 cup sugar
2 Tbsp. flour
1 egg
1 cup milk
2 Tbsp. butter
Topping:
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1 cup flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1 egg, beaten
Mix first three ingredients together. Pour into greased 8 x 11 inch cake pan. Beat egg. Add milk; pour over first mixture. Dot with butter.
Topping: Mix together; will be crumbly. Sprinkle over rhubarb. Bake at 350 degrees F for 40 minutes or until crust is golden brown.
So of course we doubled the recipe. And cut back a bit on the sugar (1.5 cups for both the filling and the topping, rather than a full 2 cups each that it called for, holy cow!), but I think it could have the sugar cut back even further. It is quite sweet. That's not a complaint, really! But a little less sweet, and I bet I might have eaten another helping... Oh, the other caveat: We supplemented the rhubarb with a couple of cups of strawberries we had lying about... that might have contributed to the sweetness as they were in their prime; they added a nice flavor to the dessert.
Here's the last rhubarb recipe, from a delightful blog called Dinner With Julie. I hope to make it soon!
Strawberry-Rhubarb Cobbler Cake
1/2 cup butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 cup sugar
4 large eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
pinch salt
2 cups halved or quartered strawberries (depending on their size)
2-3 cups chopped rhubarb (about 2-3 stalks)
1/3-1/2 cup sugar
Preheat the oven to 350F.
In a large bowl, beat together the butter and sugar until well combined and starting to get fluffly. Add the eggs one at a time, beating after each, then beat in the vanilla.
Add the flour, baking powder and salt and stir by hand or beat on low speed just until combined; the batter will be thick. Spread into a 9 x 13 inch pan that has been sprayed with nonstick spray, and scatter the fruit over top. Sprinkle with sugar and bake for 45-50 minutes, until the cake is golden and the cakey parts springy to the touch.
Makes 1 big cake.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Friday night grateful moment
Sweet peace on the island... vacation has begun!
This week I'm grateful for:
*Husband, who is letting me borrow his computer while mine struggles to find a wireless connection. He's a gem and he knows I value my little Friday ritual.
*This island paradise where Ma and Pa reside. It doesn't come more tranquil than this. (Pictures will follow once my computer returns to its happy place.)
*A lovely visit with brother and family last night. Great walk with wonderful sister-in-law, catching up and bouncing ideas around. Good ideas, Kim!
*Sweet and thoughtful son, who is a joy to travel with and who shares my love of gelato. Bliss at the ferry terminal.
*Deadlines. I get things done on deadline and this week was no exception. There were moments when I wondered how it would all get done before the trip, and sure enough it did. Barely.
*Neighbors and friends who will come and harvest cherries during our absence, thus relieving my cherry guilt. We have had more fruit this year than EVER and just getting perfectly ripe as we walk out the door...
*Sunshine on the ferry. It was a gorgeous ride tonight. The ferry was filled to overflowing with families and babies and little kids all headed out to the various Southern Gulf Islands. There were even some whales frolicking out to one side of the ferry, but you had to have bionic eyes to really see what was going on besides a little splash now and then.
*Lavender lemonade. I've been meaning to make lavender simple syrup ever since I first was introduced to this nectar last year and I finally did that this week. (Will post specifics, I swear.) Seth and I harvested three lavender plants, I cooked up a batch and have been inflicting it on family wherever I go! It's divine.
*Sleep. Whatever works--short afternoon naps, full nights of sleep, you name it, I'm grateful for it. And so looking forward to it tonight! There's nothing like vacation sleep!
*The other, local, sister-in-law, who is looking after our place, keeping an eye on the wild dogs and making sure nothing dries up and dies in our absence. So grateful for that!
*Memories. Grateful for a brother with a freaky sharp memory who helps prompt me to remember odd and crazy things from 30 years ago. You need to be writing this stuff down, Shelby. It's priceless.
*Safe travels. I don't take it for granted.
A restful weekend to all!
This week I'm grateful for:
*Husband, who is letting me borrow his computer while mine struggles to find a wireless connection. He's a gem and he knows I value my little Friday ritual.
*This island paradise where Ma and Pa reside. It doesn't come more tranquil than this. (Pictures will follow once my computer returns to its happy place.)
*A lovely visit with brother and family last night. Great walk with wonderful sister-in-law, catching up and bouncing ideas around. Good ideas, Kim!
*Sweet and thoughtful son, who is a joy to travel with and who shares my love of gelato. Bliss at the ferry terminal.
*Deadlines. I get things done on deadline and this week was no exception. There were moments when I wondered how it would all get done before the trip, and sure enough it did. Barely.
*Neighbors and friends who will come and harvest cherries during our absence, thus relieving my cherry guilt. We have had more fruit this year than EVER and just getting perfectly ripe as we walk out the door...
*Sunshine on the ferry. It was a gorgeous ride tonight. The ferry was filled to overflowing with families and babies and little kids all headed out to the various Southern Gulf Islands. There were even some whales frolicking out to one side of the ferry, but you had to have bionic eyes to really see what was going on besides a little splash now and then.
*Lavender lemonade. I've been meaning to make lavender simple syrup ever since I first was introduced to this nectar last year and I finally did that this week. (Will post specifics, I swear.) Seth and I harvested three lavender plants, I cooked up a batch and have been inflicting it on family wherever I go! It's divine.
*Sleep. Whatever works--short afternoon naps, full nights of sleep, you name it, I'm grateful for it. And so looking forward to it tonight! There's nothing like vacation sleep!
*The other, local, sister-in-law, who is looking after our place, keeping an eye on the wild dogs and making sure nothing dries up and dies in our absence. So grateful for that!
*Memories. Grateful for a brother with a freaky sharp memory who helps prompt me to remember odd and crazy things from 30 years ago. You need to be writing this stuff down, Shelby. It's priceless.
*Safe travels. I don't take it for granted.
A restful weekend to all!
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Time keeps on slipping, slipping, slipping...
I have this magnet in my office and love looking up at it. A nice reminder some days between the zooming back and forth.
Meanwhile, I haven't disappeared off the earth like a certain South Carolina governor... no, not me. I've just been dropped into the black hole that is pre-vacation prep/yard work never ends/Seth's home (yeah for that last part). So blogging, not so much. It's been on my mind, and that's about as far as I've gotten. I'm behind on Top Chef Masters, I've tanked after one week of Table Topic Tuesdays and you can bet your sweet behind that I won't be partaking in this week's Thursday 13. Alas.
But I'll be back... my hope is that vacation will rejuvenate me in oh-so-many ways. And mayhap I will find a spare creative moment to share what I've been up to in the kitchen... besides spilling lavender simple syrup all over my nice new cooktop today, I have been enjoying many summer salads... But undoubtedly I won't be able to refrain from sharing my grateful list on Friday. I'd have to be in a coma to not share. (Hello, fate? Yes, that's me, tempting you. Back off.)
Heigh-ho, it's off to Canada we go!
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Future files: Happiest cake on earth
Imagine my delight when I found this cake:
It was featured on a blog I check in on somewhat infrequently: whatever. A very stylin' photographer gal with a crafty bent. Semi-celebrity in the blogosphere too, I do believe.
Actual. Intake. Of. Breath. (The happy kind. Not the kind I got from watching Hangover today, which was the somewhat horrified/frightened kind, at times. In between unabashed shrieks of laughter.)
Can't wait for a fun occasion to get dye all over my kitchen and make a mess. And eat it up. Whoo-hoo. Cake. And anyone who knows me knows my whacko penchant for colors, in a spectrum. Somehow haven't outgrown it. Yeah for that.
It was featured on a blog I check in on somewhat infrequently: whatever. A very stylin' photographer gal with a crafty bent. Semi-celebrity in the blogosphere too, I do believe.
Actual. Intake. Of. Breath. (The happy kind. Not the kind I got from watching Hangover today, which was the somewhat horrified/frightened kind, at times. In between unabashed shrieks of laughter.)
Can't wait for a fun occasion to get dye all over my kitchen and make a mess. And eat it up. Whoo-hoo. Cake. And anyone who knows me knows my whacko penchant for colors, in a spectrum. Somehow haven't outgrown it. Yeah for that.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Friday night grateful moment
Long week, but a quick one. Does that make sense? A little of the "not enough time in the day" with a pinch of "too much to do" and some "lack of focus" (some days) thrown in, and voila! You have a long, quick week!
But still so much to be grateful for:
*Thankful for girlfriends who come to lunch and leave two, maybe three hours later. Good conversation, good understanding, good support. Ahhh. And picking cherries off the tree for dessert? That's either lazy on the hostess' part (me!) or just life on the farm...
*Grateful for the cherry trees and the seemingly never-ending gifts at the moment. Had a "must" moment for cherry cobbler this afternoon, couldn't immediately place my cherry pitter and searched a couple local "marts" for one... no luck. Came home in sadness, one last look through the endless utensil/gadget drawer and there it was. Cobber currently in the oven... oh, it's out now! Ready for a little ice cream...
*So grateful for a husband who brings me flowers when I get a ticket. Shouldn't I be the one getting him flowers? Just the doltiest moment speeding through town... I have been SO GOOD lately, it was just perfect justice to get caught. Would have been just about par for the week if I'd been on the phone with Corinne, my usual in-car-chat pal... thankfully I was not!
*Thankful for an independent young man who did great at his first sleep-over basketball camp, despite some less than ideal circumstances. We're all looking forward to his return home next week... then off for some fun family vacation time!
*Thankful that the weather has been so beautiful to work in the yard. Not heavy and hot, just warm and lovely... until this morning when the rain helped me decide that, in balance, the house needed me more than the yard. Too true. I've always said it's either one or the other, and a rare day that both feel under control. With my grubby shoes wandering through from the yard, it was about time to take a layer off the wood floors! Everything feels happily scrubbed for the weekend now!
*Both husband and I are worn and ready for rest. I'm so thankful to be at Friday night, with a day of rest ahead. Peace. Shalom.
*Thankful that my muscles haven't gotten too out of whack with all the crazy lifting and rototilling and digging I've been doing. Maybe in my old age I'm actually getting wiser about what I bite off? Hmmm, not so sure about that. Maybe just a touch more careful...
*Grateful for inspiration, wherever it comes from... bloggers I follow, food or otherwise, creative and innovative ideas and people. Things to think about, cogitate, ponder... In searching for some old files in husband's home office this week I came across a couple of quotes I'd calligraphied a couple of years back and completely forgotten about. One of them was: Do not pray for easy lives, pray to be stronger men. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers, pray for powers equal to your tasks. --Philip Brooks. Seemed somehow appropriate for this time in the world.
*Grateful for optimism. I heard a report last week that Americans are more optimistic than Europeans about finding a way out of this global economic situation... I thought, well, that's about right. Optimism is a good thing, in moderation. Optimism has a lot to do with what has made America a great place, and it can help get us out of this mess as well (even if a little cockeyed version of it seems to have helped get us here to start with). A little saying about boot straps, right? I need to find mine, I think I have them packed away here somewhere...
*Thankful for the puppies and all their cheer. It's never a bad day in dog land. They come, they sniff, they love. Some try to chew, of course. I talk to them while striding around the yard--they hear quite a few opinions from me, some days! But they are wonderful companions, even the chewy one. If you ever need to feel like someone's listening, go talk to a dog. They really know how to listen. My appreciation for them has grown considerably over the years.
Happy weekend!
But still so much to be grateful for:
*Thankful for girlfriends who come to lunch and leave two, maybe three hours later. Good conversation, good understanding, good support. Ahhh. And picking cherries off the tree for dessert? That's either lazy on the hostess' part (me!) or just life on the farm...
*Grateful for the cherry trees and the seemingly never-ending gifts at the moment. Had a "must" moment for cherry cobbler this afternoon, couldn't immediately place my cherry pitter and searched a couple local "marts" for one... no luck. Came home in sadness, one last look through the endless utensil/gadget drawer and there it was. Cobber currently in the oven... oh, it's out now! Ready for a little ice cream...
*So grateful for a husband who brings me flowers when I get a ticket. Shouldn't I be the one getting him flowers? Just the doltiest moment speeding through town... I have been SO GOOD lately, it was just perfect justice to get caught. Would have been just about par for the week if I'd been on the phone with Corinne, my usual in-car-chat pal... thankfully I was not!
*Thankful for an independent young man who did great at his first sleep-over basketball camp, despite some less than ideal circumstances. We're all looking forward to his return home next week... then off for some fun family vacation time!
*Thankful that the weather has been so beautiful to work in the yard. Not heavy and hot, just warm and lovely... until this morning when the rain helped me decide that, in balance, the house needed me more than the yard. Too true. I've always said it's either one or the other, and a rare day that both feel under control. With my grubby shoes wandering through from the yard, it was about time to take a layer off the wood floors! Everything feels happily scrubbed for the weekend now!
*Both husband and I are worn and ready for rest. I'm so thankful to be at Friday night, with a day of rest ahead. Peace. Shalom.
*Thankful that my muscles haven't gotten too out of whack with all the crazy lifting and rototilling and digging I've been doing. Maybe in my old age I'm actually getting wiser about what I bite off? Hmmm, not so sure about that. Maybe just a touch more careful...
*Grateful for inspiration, wherever it comes from... bloggers I follow, food or otherwise, creative and innovative ideas and people. Things to think about, cogitate, ponder... In searching for some old files in husband's home office this week I came across a couple of quotes I'd calligraphied a couple of years back and completely forgotten about. One of them was: Do not pray for easy lives, pray to be stronger men. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers, pray for powers equal to your tasks. --Philip Brooks. Seemed somehow appropriate for this time in the world.
*Grateful for optimism. I heard a report last week that Americans are more optimistic than Europeans about finding a way out of this global economic situation... I thought, well, that's about right. Optimism is a good thing, in moderation. Optimism has a lot to do with what has made America a great place, and it can help get us out of this mess as well (even if a little cockeyed version of it seems to have helped get us here to start with). A little saying about boot straps, right? I need to find mine, I think I have them packed away here somewhere...
*Thankful for the puppies and all their cheer. It's never a bad day in dog land. They come, they sniff, they love. Some try to chew, of course. I talk to them while striding around the yard--they hear quite a few opinions from me, some days! But they are wonderful companions, even the chewy one. If you ever need to feel like someone's listening, go talk to a dog. They really know how to listen. My appreciation for them has grown considerably over the years.
Happy weekend!
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Thursday 13: Thirteen favorite summer desserts
Can't help myself. Fruit is already everywhere, and more is on the way! So what makes me happy in the sweet sweet summertime? These 13 desserts:
1. Peaches on pound cake. This is husband's birthday cake every August. It's heaven. Peaches are fresh and ripe and glorious. With vanilla bean ice cream, of course.
2. Strawberry trifle. This reminds me of my mom. And childhood. With slivered almonds on top. Custard and cream and cake... oh yes and strawberries too!
3. Rhubarb custard pie. This reminds me of my mom, too. She makes the best rhubarb custard pie!
4. Cobbler. You can vary the fruit--whatever you have on hand is great. And here's THE best cobbler topping recipe I've ever found. It will change your life. I'm not kidding. Revo-wait for it-lutionary. Again, with ice cream!
5. Cherry pie. This one reminds me of my sister-in-law. She has made many a pie looking for the best recipe, right combo... which one have you settled on, my dear? Let me know and I'll post it! (And this one has to be a la mode!) I have been standing under the cherry tree(s) this week and just eating them right off the tree. Pretty wonderful. The pie cherry tree is just about ripe, so I'll be needing that recipe soon, Kim!
6. Strawberry shortcake. See Sunday.
7. Blueberry buckle. Blueberries I can eat by the handful and just be happy. But if you HAVE to cook them, in a gooey cake works just fine for me. A la mode, if you pleaase.
8. Claufouti with raspberries. You must check out that link... it's to Eric Ripert's recipe, and, well, that's like The Almighty himself posting a recipe. A joy to watch.
9. Apricot frangipane tart. Anything frangipane works for me... with fresh apricots it's really good!
10. Tres leche cake with a mixture of fresh fruit--especially fresh figs!
11. Kuchen with peaches or plums or apricots. This was a specialty of my Grandma's back when she was in her baking prime. I have many a fond memory of eating slice after slice of kuchen. Always had a hard time picking my favorite flavor... I can't put my hands on her recipe right at the moment, and posting any other would just be heresy. So for now you'll just have to drool in anticipation--I will find the recipe and I will make!
12. Huckleberry crisp. Huckleberries seem so precious and the season so short. You have to grab this while you can get it! We have a great local restaurant that features this in season, so I usually let them do the baking on this one! A la mode!
13. Probably one of my all time favorites is just a slice of really fabulous watermelon. Well, more than one. But crisp and cool and so flavorful.
What's your favorite summer fruit dessert?
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Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Tuesday Table Topics
So you've seen those Table Topic games, right? There's the Family one, the Girl's Night Out... it started with just a couple and has grown into quite the little industry.
Which is all to say, I have the Gourmet version. How exciting is that? And it sits in my kitchen, I pull a card out now and again, and that's that. So I happened upon the idea of plucking a random card from the pile every Tuesday (alliteration is important, no?) and answering it here... in writing... for you all... my three loyal followers!
So how hilarious is this very first question I pluck from the stack: If you needed to gain weight what would you eat? Ha ha ha. So if you've been paying attention, I've been trying to take a little bit off lately, so that question is pretty darn funny. My gut instinct was: Oh, what I've been eating the past couple of years! But that's probably not what "they" meant.
Let's see, what would I eat? Hmmm. Carbs carbs carbs. Sweets sweets sweets. Cheese cheese cheese. Probably fettucine alfredo or carbonara... or both. A little custard, a little cake... a little of both! Milkshakes from the IceBurg, of course. With fries, onion rings and tartar sauce, a cheeseburger... Oh boy. (Didn't I make a resolution not to write about food in the evening? Yikes.) Oh, probably would need a steak. With blue cheese mashed potatoes. Grilled cheese sandwiches with lots of butter on the outsides to make them crisp. Oh, I just thought of fried things... that would help pack it on. Cheese sticks, yep. Any vegetable done tempura style. Oh my. A cheese plate, of course. Baked eggs. Oh, I forgot cheesecake. Lots of different flavors. And chocolate...
And then there's the different ethnic cuisines... lots of Thai peanuty noodles, and Indian curries with full-fat coconut milk and lots of ghee, enchiladas from our friends south of the border, gelato (how did I not mention chocolate hazelnut gelato already? I've obviously been blocking some of these foods out mentally), crusty baguette and brie, fondue (!)...
OK, I think I've adequately answered this first installment. Look forward to future, healthier Tuesday Table Topics in the future!
Monday, June 15, 2009
A musical Monday... with no school!
School's out... well, for most kids. Depends on how many fake-makeup-snow-days your particular school district decided to tack on to the end of the year (right, Maizy?).
In honor of school being out, I thought I'd post some videos of a cool kid choir that I have been enjoying. I happened upon them on some blog or other that I visit semi-regularly (I've forgotten which one!), and thought this was a really cool discovery. Of course, I then find out that they are little celebrities in their own right and have been on the news and have about 5 million YouTube hits... so this isn't exactly a new find, but take a look at some of these faces. These little performers will undoubtedly pop up at American Idol auditions in about 8 or 9 years... Check out their web site; these kids are getting a piece of music education that most kids could only dream of.
I have to say I think their choir teacher is a riot, even though I want to give him a haircut. Who wouldn't love to get to sing current, fun songs in choir with their teacher playing along on the guitar or piano? I won't even paint you a visual of my childhood choir, but suffice it to say I got a really sucky grade during my 5th grade year, because rather than sing, apparently I liked to throw eraser chunks at nearby boys... alas. Blame it on the lack of inspiring music, I say.
In honor of school being out, I thought I'd post some videos of a cool kid choir that I have been enjoying. I happened upon them on some blog or other that I visit semi-regularly (I've forgotten which one!), and thought this was a really cool discovery. Of course, I then find out that they are little celebrities in their own right and have been on the news and have about 5 million YouTube hits... so this isn't exactly a new find, but take a look at some of these faces. These little performers will undoubtedly pop up at American Idol auditions in about 8 or 9 years... Check out their web site; these kids are getting a piece of music education that most kids could only dream of.
I have to say I think their choir teacher is a riot, even though I want to give him a haircut. Who wouldn't love to get to sing current, fun songs in choir with their teacher playing along on the guitar or piano? I won't even paint you a visual of my childhood choir, but suffice it to say I got a really sucky grade during my 5th grade year, because rather than sing, apparently I liked to throw eraser chunks at nearby boys... alas. Blame it on the lack of inspiring music, I say.
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