tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68246320981984519442012-01-30T09:18:42.632-06:00Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.comBlogger1661100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-30030016813119676782012-01-30T09:16:00.001-06:002012-01-30T09:18:42.644-06:00

I want to roast vegetables. No, I want to shop for/harvest, clean, chop, oil and salt, then roast vegetables. But it's January in Iowa, and there's not a sprig of homegrown kale, a clove of Mollie's garlic, or even one little lemon sized purple tomato for me to exert my will upon. I have tomato soup. I have the red, thin skinned potatoes from the food coop. I have odds and ends, they just aren't

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-62560349369818355562012-01-29T11:08:00.000-06:002012-01-29T11:08:48.153-06:00

Reading a cookbook, is for me, soothing like spooning warm water over badly scraped knees. Weeks ago, and in spite of my new love for the Nook I received for Christmas, I ordered myself a new cookbook. An  Everlasting Meal, by Tamar Adler drew me in with the Amazon sample. I've been feeling a bit uninspired, even irritable about the day to day chore of cooking these past few months. Tamar seemed

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-36661269937252490242011-11-21T12:51:00.000-06:002011-11-21T12:51:01.565-06:00

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-14751535429259535832011-11-08T11:01:00.000-06:002011-11-08T11:01:49.020-06:00

I (and by I, I mean my teenage son) pulled this pile o' trash out of my garage a couple of days ago. He has no faith in my vision. So he complained a lot. Perhaps a small murder occurred in the drawer? I have a lot of stuff that needs to be contained, and an elevation issue with my TV. So I figured I could use this homeless piece of oak and some odds and ends of stuff that was probably going to

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-70522788283298353742011-11-02T12:57:00.000-05:002011-11-02T12:57:07.981-05:00

If I could send myself a letter...back through time...and have it arrive in my mailbox in 2001, I'd just put this picture in an envelope instead.

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-4986197517596423712011-11-01T15:08:00.000-05:002011-11-01T15:08:55.107-05:00

It's take-it-easy-Tuesday, and I've used that (plus my inability to face The Important Desk refinishing project) as an excuse to basically do nothing today. If you are waiting for me to apologize, grab a beer and settle in. Highlander and I took the little girls to Mad-town this weekend and we wandered up and down State Street like Zombies. Ha. After lunch at the Dane, I actually used the makeup

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-56200132708726486362011-10-14T08:43:00.000-05:002011-10-14T08:43:38.829-05:00

Torture.  So, here we are in Europe, apparently. Or in the back corner of Grandma's basement. This avocado isn't doing it for me, really. I mean, it kind of is. But chances are, I'll start hating it in March, and no one refinishes furniture in Iowa in March.  Back at the farm....Don't get me wrong. I'm down with the farm. Totally. Chicken wire, antique wheels, messy gardens full of food and

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-91328599568096625702011-10-14T08:28:00.000-05:002011-10-14T08:28:28.100-05:00

And what I did was procrastinate and fend off the taunts of an antique secretary desk that badly needs to be stripped and refinished. This picture is from about four months ago. Bastian took it outside for me, then he brought it back in. Last weekend, he took it outside for me. Teenage boys eat a lot, but they also move heavy things. It all works out. I've been avoiding this project for ten

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-74667403701963885152011-10-12T19:51:00.000-05:002011-10-12T19:51:16.374-05:00

First, I'd like to note that adding three drops of Peppermint oil to the Chocolate Chocolate Chip cookies is a very good plan. Second, I'd like to note that adding a cup of shredded mozzarella cheese to the middle of a loaf of homemade bread is possibly the best idea I've had in twelve days.  Here's the deal; 6-3-3-3-13 is what you need to know. 6 parts warm water, 3 parts salt, 3 parts

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-14796761823898530032011-10-10T09:37:00.002-05:002011-10-10T09:45:30.918-05:00

So, I'm on day 6 of paying attention and getting ready for Something. And this ended up on my computer screen this morning. http://www.oprah.com/spirit/Martha-Becks-20-Questions-That-Could-Change-Your-Life_1/2 Upon realizing that I was having a mental tantrum about this assignment from the Universe, I decided to spend the day with these 20 questions. I may also clean the kitchen, fix a broken

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-83247085955100099252011-10-10T07:55:00.000-05:002011-10-10T07:55:42.459-05:00

Yesterday, I made cookies. The recipe is kinda funny. Even funnier? People think I'm some kind of baker. 1 box cake mix 2 eggs 1 stick salted sweet cream butter, melted but not hot-hot. 1 bag chocolate chips Mix all ingredients, drop onto parchment lined cookie sheet, and bake at 375 degrees for 8 minutes. I don't really bake desserts. I'm just not interested. Also, I think food like cake

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-30706948320469829822011-10-08T11:00:00.001-05:002011-10-08T11:00:05.857-05:00

Drive Thru      Drive Home I love Buffalo Chicken Wraps from McDonald's. Love. Love. Love. Except, as Alton Brown pointed out the other night at his lecture (thank you Cedar Rapids Public Library!!!!)  Asking yourself, what is this "chicken" I'm eating, anyway? While eating a Buffalo Chicken wrap from McDonald's will destroy your appetite for a Buffalo Chicken Wrap from McDonald's. I

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-38138347942585371362011-10-07T11:19:00.000-05:002011-10-07T11:19:14.515-05:00

I stole this and changed it. It counts.

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-44892057562742327552011-10-06T10:00:00.004-05:002011-10-06T10:00:05.128-05:00

Remember the nightstand I found in the garage on Saturday? I didn't paint it red. Bonus: a little blue place to keep the collection of remotes. Another bonus: I don't need a crappy piece of furniture row pressed board in my awesome brick house.

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-61624038528194122652011-10-05T11:11:00.000-05:002011-10-05T11:11:53.770-05:00

Every day, for the next 30 days, I'm going to post a picture of something I made, changed, or affected. Why? Because then, Something will happen. I don't know what will happen. Don't ask me what will happen, because it will just confuse me. It's the journey people...the journey. Day 1

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-2306825680982989782011-10-03T07:52:00.000-05:002011-10-03T07:52:21.990-05:00

Ready? OK. (I talk fast. So read fast.) Last week was quite busy. I set the kitchen on fire by shorting out my crappy stove with my mind. It was a small, albeit alarming fire (even though the only alarm going off was me, hollering "B! Get the Extinguisher!" and his typical teenage response, "uh...why?") I was a little knocked off my center by the realization that had I not been standing Right

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-52733938282565167882011-09-26T09:02:00.001-05:002011-09-26T09:03:43.504-05:00

They are salty, spicy, pickl-y (not a word. I know.) and just heaven. I know this because one of my jars didn't seal so I put it in the 'fridge. For later. Or now. Highlander ran the Quad Cities marathon yesterday morning, and qualified for Boston. (yay!) So I get to figure out what one eats when one is in Boston. (yay!) I stayed home, roasted a chicken, made peanut butter bars, and ate Dilly

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-8388929965441221892011-09-21T17:31:00.000-05:002011-09-21T17:31:36.556-05:00

Iowa Valley Food Coop brought it home today with a fabulous grand opening. I brought it home, too. Onions, potatoes, green beans, garlic, bacon, hot peppers, and those beautiful raspberries. Which I promptly poured Everclear over. I'm convinced that I can conquer something so simple as Raspberry Liqueur. Especially if I have two pints of pristine organic raspberries to fiddle with. Hooray. Live

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-57905574202980432602011-09-15T08:42:00.000-05:002011-09-15T08:42:24.947-05:00

I waited inside the front door for the bus this morning. Zoe and her cousin sat on the bench facing the street. When the breeze blows, it knocks the first few fall leaves off of the trees and the whole thing looks like the inside of one of those silly little fall themed snow globes. I was enjoying the view when it occurred to me that today is the last day that Zoe is a five year old. It's

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-65566332065862882632011-09-08T08:56:00.000-05:002011-09-08T08:56:29.422-05:00

I struggle with leftovers. If I don't plan for them, the family sucks up every scrap of food on the table and then complains that there's nothing in the fridge for lunch the next day. If I fill the fridge with leftovers, everybody wants to eat out. So to solve this problem, I employ my new favorite tactic. Apathy.   You get what you get and you don't throw a fit. In this case, you get potato

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-47459791474368107822011-09-07T09:27:00.000-05:002011-09-07T09:27:31.477-05:00

So, maybe I have a reputation for being the chick that will figure out what to do with the cow bits that no one else wants to mess with. I may have gained that reputation by asking for (begging, really) the parts of the cow that no one wants to mess with. So I have this pile of shank.... It was only a few years ago that I was asking the dude in Hy-Vee how one might cook a steak. Now I'm on my

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-29551428825948270972011-09-01T18:42:00.002-05:002011-09-05T13:11:04.277-05:00

I went furniture shopping last spring. I went to Furniture Row, and all those crazy warehouse places. I took the little girls with me, and although we got kicked out had a blast, I was loathe to bring any of that pressed board/oak veined/nightmarish over priced crap-ola into the awesomeness that is my brick house. So....one day while cruising through an second hand shop, I spied this under a

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-36824987010239098982011-09-01T10:41:00.000-05:002011-09-01T10:41:42.739-05:00

First of all, http://ildottoredelgusto.blogspot.com/ He hasn't put anything on his blog for two years. My little foodie heart is broken. Broken! Ow! It hurts. He's still pretty, though. Isn't he. Also, if you haven't read Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, but you read this stream of consciousness foodie mess of a blog of mine, what are you waiting for? This is the Mama of all food books. Barbara

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-18916971364122732382011-08-28T08:45:00.003-05:002011-08-28T08:54:09.649-05:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csZahD3slfQ I have to stop listening to Jeff Bridges. But I think I have mad love for him now that he sings. Let's face it. Willie's going to bite it one of these days and then what will I do? Well, Cry. Find a new Dream.

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-73825505916026743732011-08-24T10:56:00.005-05:002011-08-24T11:05:07.967-05:00

I Love You. -R Here's what I did to some tomatoes last night. It was so good that I ate most of it myself. Highlander (when he finally got back from his three hour run) got the leftovers. 2-3 large homegrown tomatoes (cut into one inch chunks) or 4-5 homegrown roma tomatoes (cut into four pieces) or three big handfuls of cherry tomatoes (cut in half) dried homegrown oregano sugar salt

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-50490910450654468402011-08-19T12:51:00.003-05:002011-08-19T12:56:22.118-05:00

I'm not getting much done down on the Urban Farm till school starts. The littlest one is headed off to Kindergarten next week, so I'll have some...alone time... Really? It doesn't seem quite possible. What ever will I do. Laundry. Yoga? Or dishes. Then, tomatoes. Every year I get nervous when I see that our heirloom tomato plants have reached up over my head, but haven't managed to produce

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-15695445396665244842011-08-17T09:04:00.004-05:002011-09-21T17:33:07.703-05:00

We went to Madison (my favorite town) and had this drink, which I am in LOVE with. I watched the bartender make it. First, I asked her what it's "called" so I can order it every time I'm presented with the question "what are you drinking?" and she kindly responded, "it's only served here, and we use mint from our own chef's garden out back." Oh. Crap. So....here's what she did. She opened a

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-29241621759637800352011-08-05T11:36:00.002-05:002011-08-05T11:41:00.288-05:00

I was all inspired to share Something Very Private just now. I've been struggling with my writing voice, and truth be told, my inside voice, and I was going to talk about that.Then I changed my mind.It's none of anyone's business. Hell's bells. It's none of my business.Do you believe Gene Simmons is going to propose to his long time house-mate? Because I don't. Highlander knows him and says he's

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-68536986715166322502011-07-01T14:14:00.003-05:002011-07-01T18:32:30.035-05:00

I'm gettin' winded going up and down the stairs again, which means it's time to add some Iron. It's a HUNDRED degrees out today, so heavy cooking is not on my to-do list.Here's what's in my crock-pot now:1 lb dried black eyed peas2 cups homemade chicken broth4 cups water1 can diced tomatoes with chilis2 tablespoons ground cumin5 tablespoons sorghum1 small white onion, diced1 tablespoon chopped

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-31681469024047443662011-06-20T15:02:00.004-05:002011-06-20T15:13:21.106-05:00

I. Love. Buffalo. Chicken.I accidentally invented this dish, and it got a round of compliments from the whole family, ages 5-55.You need:3 cups (or so) cooked chicken meatThis is a great time to use left-oversOne tube of crescent roll dough8 oz cream cheese2-3 Tablespoons of Frank's Hot Sauce1 cup of finely shredded Sharp Cheddar CheeseBring the cheeses to room temperature, and stir in the

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-109468401234015162011-06-08T15:16:00.003-05:002011-06-08T19:29:57.759-05:00

I know. It's kind of crazy to turn on the oven today, since today Is the Oven. But my family BEGS for bananas (consuming five pounds in five days) and then refuses to eat them the next week. I came a bit late to the banana bread party, so I am so impressed by freezing over ripe bananas as an alternative to throwing them away. I tried to feed them to our dogs. That did not go well. Just as I

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-32467384224804562482011-05-25T13:16:00.002-05:002011-05-25T13:17:48.928-05:00

That's shakespeare. I hate him. Hate! Him!My ninth grade son, Mr. B, is currently nose-deep in freshman language arts. His teacher has a degree in Shakespeare and a minor in hating-on-teenage-boys.Yesterday, the B-Meister announced that he had to MeMoRiZe a passage from Shakespeare, and although the assignment was given out at the beginning of the semester, he was supposed to do it yesterday.

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-51861657088262166242011-05-09T11:23:00.002-05:002011-05-09T11:28:12.083-05:00

Beer Bread. Because it's still cold. In May.Mix it up in the non-stick bread pan.Realize that you are not Lazy. But rather, Resourceful. 3 cups SIFTED self-rising flour3 tablespoons sugar1 bottle beer (not lite beer.)Pour 3-4 tablespoons of butter over the top and bake in a 350 degree oven for an hour.Let cool 15 minutes. In my house, that means you'll have to guard/hide it.Your house will smell

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-62677506416832656112011-05-09T11:15:00.002-05:002011-05-09T11:22:41.959-05:00

I "took the day off!" Today.Lotta good it did me....I began the day by lecturing number one son on the merits of attending and participating in the ninth grade. I continued it with a spat involving my husband and our persistent inability to communicate where the business of running this house is concerned. Zoe wore flip flops to school on a field trip day. Tori packed her own lunch: juice box,

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-31026568524400208772011-02-10T11:59:00.003-06:002011-02-10T12:02:25.666-06:00

It's not too late to get in on "We Love Bacon"at New Pioneer Coop in Coralville.Genie is teaching it.Ah, we do love bacon. We do. with Genie MaybanksThurs., Feb. 10, 6:00–8:00PM$15/personBacon is sexy, bacon is fun! Join bacon lover Genie Maybanks for a romp through her favorite recipes featuring outstanding bacon from Iowa and beyond. Learn about and sample pancetta, prosciutto and thick cut

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-82173667571055061972011-02-10T11:42:00.003-06:002011-02-10T11:48:14.631-06:00

My mom used to make something called "Pineapple Dump Cake."I looked it up on the vast internet, and come up with a lot of recipes for a heart attack and diabetes. So I figured, how hard can it be to recreate this horrid Good Housekeeping recipe from 1982?Yeah. Not Very.And bonus! T & Z love love love it!Butter a 9x13 glass baking dish, dump in a large can of crushed pineapple, 2 cups of

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-22756808260798449092011-02-03T08:03:00.004-06:002011-02-03T08:12:31.175-06:00

I stopped working that big life sucking job. I'm back.I don't think I was making a profit. More importantly, my family was suffering. I was suffering. There are many reasons. I can be really analytical. I can prove anything with a spreadsheet, and I will. So I proved that we could probably make it on one income. The thing that really did it for me was this drawing that Zoe made one afternoon

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-79565300332374650162010-11-03T17:26:00.002-05:002010-11-03T17:35:02.819-05:00

I know that makes no sense. But it just sums it all up for me right now. I work a lot these days and miss my children very much. Just this morning, I overheard this;Tori: What's Mom doing?Zoe: I think she's singing.Tori: Those vitamins must be getting to her.See? They crack me up. I feel like I Never See Them anymore!Zoe is in preschool. It's an active preschool mostly attended by the children of

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-68757444893671102192010-09-10T13:53:00.003-05:002010-09-10T14:15:21.510-05:00

I recently had a dream that I was lost on a lake and couldn't see the shore. It was very dark. The clouds moved with the breeze and the full moon illuminated the face of Ray Liota. He was a midget and he was laughing at me. Behind him sat an old nun. She had her eyes closed. She looked dead. On her lap sat a monkey.Years ago during after-work-drinks, some of my slightly insane coworkers and I

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-73805179422659160642010-08-27T08:23:00.005-05:002010-08-27T08:35:11.702-05:00

And I feel like the biggest poser in the world. People have mistaken me for an on-call doctor. No, I sell advertising. And I'm a terrible liar, so I say, "No. I sell advertising." This week, I did not sell a lot of advertising. So today (Happy Friday!) I'm here in the town that will not be named and I'm not leaving until I feel like I'm good enough at something to warrant carrying two cell

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-75918186061774973502010-08-26T10:56:00.004-05:002010-08-26T11:03:25.397-05:00

This morning, my beautiful seven year old told me she hates my job. The little one isn't really even speaking to me. My house looks like a bomb hit it. My paychecks are still really really small. I'm trying not to think, "what the hell was I thinking?" and remember that transition is always difficult. I am sitting in a coffee shop. Not crying.Yet.I want to quit. I won't. But I'm just saying that

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-7615304255420700922010-08-17T08:49:00.003-05:002010-08-17T08:51:53.290-05:00

Like Dorie. I chant this.I'm currently out in the world, away from my kitchen, for 10+ hours every day. Today, I'm leaving at 9:30 and I'll be home (I sincerely hope) by 8. The job is going pretty well. It's not difficult, once you learn it. It's the learning it that's killing me.I don't talk to anyone. I swear. Actually, I talk to 40 business owners every day. I don't talk to my friends. I miss

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-5740580401710235752010-07-25T17:53:00.002-05:002010-07-25T17:59:29.804-05:00

I took a J.O.B. and I'm really excited about it. Grown up clothes, a reason to fix my hair in some other way than the ten-second-pony-tail....conversations...interactions...you know. The good stuff. It's been fun here playing the oh so glamorous roll of Maid, Manager, and Poop Picker Upper. Now the the kids are officially spending more day time hours at school than at home, I'm Out!And, like

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-31866978366236638002010-07-23T16:44:00.002-05:002010-07-23T16:49:50.915-05:00

I have recently developed a problem with yes.I can't quit saying it.Yes, I will work 30 hours next week to cover your vacation.Yes, I will cater that bat mitzvah. Oh! And yes, I will do one the next day, too.Yes, I will wear black pants. (Um. It's 100 degrees.)Yes, I will accept that job offer.Yes, I will write the article. Which I believe is due on Monday.Yes, I will be home by 8. Yes. Yes.Yes,

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-52057343027990613982010-07-09T08:41:00.004-05:002010-07-11T20:21:25.268-05:00

That's what we are looking for in a good crop of corn 'round here and this year....we got Thigh High by the Fourth of July. I'm not sure if it was our record setting wet June, or if it's just time for some really sweet sweet corn, but this year's crop is outstanding. We're headed over to Mollie's for a two family corn processing festival. I've never blanched corn in a turkey fryer on a deck. It

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-53650675613503876152010-07-02T09:06:00.004-05:002010-07-02T09:25:12.027-05:00

This is one really big huge giant beef joint. It's heavy. At the moment, it's simmering in a big pot of water, making my house smell like roasted bones. Why? Because I am angry, that's why. It's best to make stock while you are angry. Allow me to explain. The reason one would make one's own stock is a fairly simple one; you can't buy it. There's really no point, beyond satisfying the requirements

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-56445071053571198022010-06-28T17:30:00.007-05:002010-06-29T09:13:13.207-05:00

Totally one-dish supper worthy.In a heavy bottomed pan, stir together 2 tablespoons of butter and 2 tablespoons of Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Flour Mix. Keep stirring over low heat until the mixture starts turning a bit brown.Add one medium sized diced yellow onion and one large diced garlic clove. If the mixture seems really thick, add another tablespoon of butter and stir. Cook over low heat

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-53939335058156065772010-06-17T14:48:00.000-05:002010-06-17T14:49:48.473-05:00

And here are the recipes:French Toast1 cup plain yogurt2 T sour cream3 eggs2 T honey, warmed1/2 tsp salt1/2 tsp fresh ground black pepper8 slices Udi Bread, white2 T butterWhisk yogurt, sour cream, eggs, honey and salt/pepper in a bowl. Pour into a pie pan.Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Dip bread into egg mixture and soak for 30 seconds on each side. Set bread aside for 2 minutes.Melt 1

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-48829481945289520552010-06-15T17:59:00.002-05:002010-06-15T18:03:26.334-05:00

We've been calling it that since the eighth grade and we've helped fuel the rumors:The beef is "Grade D But Edible."Never Eat There! I can't tell you why.....just trust me.I knew a guy who knew a guy who knew the dude that saw the, um, rodent head....Here's a new one:There's sand in their Taco Pizza. Actually, there's sand in their beef. They use it to keep the product from clumping during

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-65460039082638736972010-06-14T08:22:00.002-05:002010-06-14T08:40:53.954-05:00

Oh my. It looks more out of place in writing than it does when I say it. I'm on my fourth cup of coffee and I've taken my vitamins. I'd still like to go back to bed. While I'd like to blame the rain, I think it may be my personality. I'm much more effective (and cheerful) after 10am. The children are watching a movie. I'm about to out myself as a potential "bad parent."My dear, sweet Highlander

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-85388683247696639222010-06-01T12:45:00.003-05:002010-06-01T12:59:21.232-05:00

So says my 86 year old Grandmother. We buried Grandpa a few weeks ago and rumor has it that Grandma is doing pretty well. She still lives out on the farm, and since it's a solid five hour drive from here, I haven't been seeing much of her. So I rely on family rumors to gather information.Grandma really wants to drive herself to town. There are lots of folks around there who'd be thrilled to take

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-6048774691184945492010-05-28T11:18:00.004-05:002010-05-28T11:34:53.726-05:00

Mommy is moving. That's right. I'm putting my stuff in boxes and I'm moving. Right into the basement. We have the house I intended for us. It's just perfect. Except for the closet situation. Highlander uses the closet in our bedroom. And the dresser. And the floor. And the hooks on the wall. I use the closet in the girls' room and a little wicker basket that I keep by my bed. Inconvenient? You

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-13052750842432375892010-05-28T11:16:00.003-05:002010-05-28T11:35:08.990-05:00

Here is my card. It's got my Cell number, my pager number, my home number, and my other pager number. I never take vacations, I never get sick, and I don't celebrate any major holidays. -Dwight from The Office

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-89883212954908335182010-05-27T11:46:00.005-05:002010-07-02T16:38:29.103-05:00

Yes. People will be congregating at New Pioneer Coop in Coralville to discuss Asparagus. I just made my grocery list. And I remembered that last time, I really wanted to make this salad ahead of time to hand to people as they walk in. The eating should begin immediately, I say.Quinoa Salad with Asparagus3 cups cooked quinoa (follow package instructions and let quinoa cool)1 lb very small

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-80154109485783485912010-05-25T22:32:00.002-05:002010-05-25T22:45:07.082-05:00

This morning, there were five teary outbursts before breakfast. None of them were mine. Victoria heard me tell Zoe that he shoes were very fancy. Tears. Zoe thought Tori was taunting her for eating her bagel slower than a three year old (she's four.) Tears. Tori thought the bagel had chocolate chips in it. They were raisins. Tears. Zoe wanted "Puny Tails" like Tori, but a preschool graduation cap

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-44599323054889710022010-05-25T12:45:00.003-05:002010-05-25T13:04:04.990-05:00

If you live in a city/township/village that currently has an ordinance that prohibits you from keeping a few hens as pets, please check out CR-CLUC (Cedar Rapids Citizens for the Legalization of Urban Chickens) on facebook. Put CLUC in the search field and we'll pop right up.We are in the beginning stages of forming a means by which to help folks change their community's laws to allow them to

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-91497859282402376392010-05-24T08:39:00.004-05:002010-05-24T08:55:42.658-05:00

They are old.So say the good folks at http://www.chickenkeepingsecrets.com/.The average grocery store egg is 45 days old when you bring it home.The average egg from a happy backyard chicken is four hours old when you bring it inside. I made that up. But it's fresh. And also, no animal was tortured to bring you an omelet.

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-48479947530691776832010-05-21T17:07:00.005-05:002010-05-23T09:41:43.304-05:00

In the interest in spending less time cooking, and more time gardening, I'm working on a set of recipes that you put together, refrigerate, and cook later in the day. This is in the oven, now.It smells yummy.We'll see.Make the Marinade in a food processor. A little one will work fine.1/2 cup fresh sage3 tablespoons vegetable oil 1/3 cup water1 tsp white rice vinegar2 tablespoons lemon juice (from

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-35491338633298541012010-05-21T11:39:00.004-05:002010-05-21T12:24:39.613-05:00

A package from Seedsavers in Decorah came yesterday. Apparently, someone ordered tomato starts when it was cold out. Highlander opened the box and was just as surprised as I was to find NINE Gold Medal Tomato Plants. There are also a couple of Green Zebras and a yellow sweet pepper plant. I have room for FOUR Gold Medal Tomato Plants, and that's pushing it. These things are indeterminate, which

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-33958510113659970322010-05-19T12:47:00.003-05:002010-05-19T13:19:59.367-05:00

There are two parts to this situation. The first is sad. The second is hilarious. There would be no second without the first. This causes a third situation that almost doesn't count because it just hangs back in the shadows. It's inappropriate.My Grandfather died last week. That is the sad part. I know everyone generally thinks that when someones "Grandfather" dies, it's just sad, but certainly

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-23176797605456893862010-05-12T18:43:00.003-05:002010-05-12T18:52:58.383-05:00

Cedar Rapids is getting chickens!And also, we had a busy day here on our little city-farm.The dog discovered how to tear out the little fence around our raised gardens so she can lay among the broccoli. In the rain.Zoe refuses to take her pink cowgirl boots off in the house. Also, she line dances now.I'm starting a new set of cooking classes in a few weeks and am eyeball deep in curriculum and as

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-18526063075960679562010-05-07T10:31:00.003-05:002010-05-07T10:48:25.746-05:00

Welcome to the Backyard Cocktails section of my life. My dear sweet husband has perfected the rhubartini. He made me one of these last Saturday afternoon and I love it. Here it is:2 pounds rhubarb, chopped into one inch pieces1 cup simple syrup (that's a cup of sugar and a cup of water, simmered until the sugar dissolves)lemon juicevodkasugarPut the rhubarb in a big pot and cover with water. Add

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-66959386965242203142010-05-06T15:13:00.004-05:002010-05-06T15:33:01.392-05:00

I googled it. I came up with a recipe for blue cheese burgers with garlic aoli. Seriously. The dude tagged his recipe as "kid friendly." His kids eat blue cheese and raw eggs? Well, mine don't. So we're going back to the current chicken stand by around here. Today, I'm sharing. Tori's Cheez-It ChickenTwo Chicken breasts, cut into long skinny pieces(about a pound)1 cup Cheez-It Spicy Crackers 2

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-17198721137897866102010-05-03T10:49:00.003-05:002010-05-03T11:01:47.427-05:00

My dear friend had to go back to work today after spending *exactly* six weeks with her newborn. The baby is in daycare. The mommy is at work. Make the universe realign itself so that she's OK. Right this minute she is very sad. Things must change. Send thoughts to make this happen. She's very new to her Mommy Super Powers and probably doesn't get exactly how they work yet. Extra support is

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-39636260489467732512010-05-03T10:47:00.003-05:002010-07-02T16:43:27.502-05:00

All three of our new garden beds are planted. I feel so happy about this.

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-67761099584516511322010-04-28T12:40:00.002-05:002010-04-28T12:48:34.348-05:00

No. Not the kind you grind up with cilantro and sea salt to create a devastatingly good pesto.I mean me. I've grown tired of our furniture. Every. Single. Piece of it.Every time I turn around there's an inadequate bookshelf. Dated hardware. A not quite so comfortable any more couch (or three.)Last night my favorite dog peed on one of those not quite so comfortable couches. And then I declared war

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-28115693485147680382010-04-22T14:22:00.003-05:002010-05-21T12:27:27.884-05:00

Well, that may not be quite valid. My hair is always sticking straight up...Anyway, I just saw this little bit of news. Seems Alice Waters (foodie/locavore queen) is pondering a TV show on PBS. She's a purist. No compromise. Local food in schools? That was her idea. She has a farm to table program at a middle school in Berkley to prove it. Food issues seem so clear cut with her. She says that

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-68247239276098625402010-04-21T18:16:00.004-05:002010-04-22T11:36:37.743-05:00

after...before....I am very tired and I smell like compost. But when you have little girls, and you have an empty fountain, something must be done. See, I'm such a mess I can't even get these pictures flipped around so you see "before" and then "after." Now I need to go shower so I can cook supper and not infuse it with poopy dirt.

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-6715798819625646432010-04-21T14:12:00.004-05:002010-07-02T16:43:59.123-05:00

There will be blood....and swearing*.....and arguments over technicalities (a 2x4 is not 2"x4"----Who Knew?) but there will also be raised gardens and a tremendous sense of accomplishment.These are made with 2x10's and 2x4's (again, the name of the lumber is only somewhat indicative of it's actual size.) They come pretty close to being 4'x8', 10 inch tall raised gardens, though.It took us all

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-89649729325768807452010-04-20T12:19:00.003-05:002010-04-20T12:34:22.852-05:00

I keep getting these posts that pop up on my little face book account. "Our Food Is Killing Us." and "The Organic Manifesto" followed by how evil Monsanto is, and how buying conventionally grown produce and feeding it to your children is sterilizing them. I can't solve any of that. But I can react to all that the way I react to the show, "Hoarders; Buried Alive." I just clean up my own house.We

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-42254336783640807232010-04-15T12:20:00.003-05:002010-04-15T12:27:25.893-05:00

Bob's Red Mill makes a Gluten-Free Pizza Crust Mix that rocks. How much does it rock? Well, my kids didn't notice that anything was different about their cheese pizza last night.I made little squares of something that remind me of Pita Chips out of the leftover dough. I miss Pita Chips.If you add a tablespoon of fennel seeds and a tablespoon of cumin seeds to about 1/3 of a prepared batch of the

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-25427127268511775882010-04-11T14:13:00.003-05:002010-04-11T14:21:09.739-05:00

has been made.The dog's gate is fixed, seven bags of mulch have been spread in his "area." I got groceries, donated a backseat full of stuff to Goodwill, and put gas in the car.Our dear sweet little girls will be back home in three hours and I must clean up around here a bit in order to maintain the illusion of control. I did the family budget for the year (yes. I am a nerd.) and we are spending

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-84474528828932208272010-04-10T17:04:00.003-05:002010-04-10T17:08:35.423-05:00

This is so cool.http://www.mypetchicken.com/They have it all. Your questions will be answered. They ship their baby chicks with special heat packs so they don't die in the cold. Not that it's really all that cold right now....GO there! OK, Highlander is outside working hard on repairing the gate that Max tore off of its hinges. I should at least get up and do something productive. Or go bother

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-72082811795124711752010-04-09T09:56:00.005-05:002010-07-02T16:36:19.368-05:00

And woke up hungry for spaghetti. I haven't had the real, old fashioned, fever/body ache flu in years. We seem to have come through it, though. Tori's back at school today and Zoe is in the sun porch pretending to be Hannah Montana. All is well.My feverish night left me with remnants of some pretty interesting dreams. About chickens, of course. I think it's coming down to this: we are going to go

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-50373012951711779992010-04-08T09:00:00.005-05:002010-07-02T16:21:17.821-05:00

Last night at 12:30 I woke from a peaceful cozy slumber to the sounds of my seven year old freaking out in her top bunk. She decided to wait for me to get up and tell her to get out of her bed before she attempted to crawl down the ladder. By then, she had puked down the side of the bed (in all the drawers) and had managed to hit the other set of drawers on her way out the door. She then

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-73863956770410780362010-02-10T14:28:00.002-06:002010-02-10T14:32:57.688-06:00

I've noted before that it takes as long to grow a human child as it does a tomato. Here we go again. Our sun porch is serving as a grow room this year. We'll order seeds over the weekend and they'll be in the dirt before March 1st. I don't have a place to plant 200 tomato plants, but starting them seems like the right thing to do, anyway.

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-6896939450044809302009-12-31T08:12:00.004-06:002009-12-31T09:41:57.172-06:00

It's what I've waken to twice this week. Max (our beloved mascot) is perfectly housetrained. Sometimes he just has tummy troubles. When we started doggie shopping three years ago, I insisted that I did not want a PUPPY IN MY HOUSE. Wouldn't it be easier to just have infant twins? I asked in all seriousness. The kids were 2 and 4 and the time. Mentally adding a puppy to that mix was enough to

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-71104039636846793012009-12-29T08:12:00.005-06:002010-07-02T16:18:30.907-05:00

Strange how the definition of luxury changes after you have children. They are still asleep. Highlander pushed the button on the coffee maker, let the big dog out (oh, that's right. I need to not forget that he's outside) and asked me three or four questions that I'm pretty sure I answered but can't remember. Then he left for work. That was an hour ago. I listened for the kids and decided to take

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-40357483892006607742009-12-08T16:38:00.002-06:002009-12-08T16:48:15.572-06:00

Yep. I know. I may come to regret admitting that in print. But whatever. It's a Snow Day. It's the First Snow Day of the year and the three of us were Very Excited this morning. Especially me. I was So Excited that when the auto-bot from school called my cell phone at 5:45 am to announce the news that school was cancelled due to fear of winter weather, I couldn't really go back to sleep.The

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-20070257135250243132009-12-02T08:21:00.002-06:002009-12-02T08:27:32.579-06:00

My kid is sick. Along with everyone else's I suppose. She puked every twenty minutes from 9:00 last night until 3:00 this morning. Some kids will puke in the bucket. Mine won't. She likes to throw her six year old body about the room in a zombie-like fit while hollering, "WHY IS THIS HAPPENING!!!!!!" over and over. I respect the fact that even in the midst of severe physical trauma, she is

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-40806945555455775272009-11-24T09:33:00.006-06:002010-07-02T16:19:07.231-05:00

Let's hire a consultant, form a committee, call PETA (because they always have such helpful hints,) take a series of votes, write some letters, and discuss it until the problem solves itself. I'm frustrated by some people's unwillingness to make a decision. They don't want to make a mistake, get blamed, or move forward, so they opt for paralysis by analysis. Even when the answer to the question

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-78449906323257204802009-11-19T09:24:00.003-06:002009-11-19T09:32:29.056-06:00

We have tee shirts! Head to the CLUC facebook page to find out how to get yours. If you live in Cedar Rapids, CLUC expects to see you at the next council meeting dressed in egg-yolk yellow. Got Eggs??Our groundswell (as requested by council member Monica Vernon) is sure swelling. The facebook page has been up for exactly one week and we have 325 fans.Did you know that you can breed pit bulls in

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-88813459975936150482009-11-05T12:00:00.003-06:002009-11-05T12:07:09.343-06:00

CLUC (Citizens for the Legalization of Urban Chickens) will address the Cedar Rapids city council soon. Then they'll talk about us behind our backs, ask questions, get answers, and if we think we can make it fly, we'll ask them to change the ordinance prohibiting backyard hens for egg-laying and pet-having purposes. I get to address the council. I have promised to behave. Oh, how I wish I had a

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-63307119199640957422009-10-26T13:08:00.004-05:002010-07-02T16:19:44.010-05:00

I can't feed me on this crazy gluten free diet! I'm eating taco rice again. And again. And again. All my favorite treats that I eat when I'm alone are bread. Now when I eat I have to think first. It's cumbersome. I'm headed to New Pi this afternoon with madame Zoe to check out their flour selection. The sorghum in Bob's Red Mill gluten free mix is not a taste that I enjoy. I thought I'd get used

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-1113160934160005372009-10-23T10:44:00.004-05:002010-07-02T16:22:51.478-05:00

I love to eat at Taste of India!We went last night. It makes me truly happy. Seriously thrills me. The smell is divine. I love to sit and wait for my food, just concentrating on the smells.I get so very confused when anyone disagrees with me about how wonderful their food is. It happened over lunch this week at Phong Lan (another favorite place to eat...more on that later.)I now understand what

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-3855710120668108192009-10-21T09:12:00.005-05:002010-07-02T16:22:22.294-05:00

I love the naan. I made it last night and tried to modify it to be gluten free. Highlander said it was good. But he loves me and wants me to feel well, so I suspect he was exaggerating. It was good enough to keep messing with until I get it right.Here's where we started:2 cups gluten free flour (Bob's Red Mill)1 teaspoon xanthan gum1/2 teaspoon salt3 teaspoons active dry yeast4 tablespoons

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-73065173814959215802009-10-20T08:43:00.001-05:002009-10-20T08:44:24.317-05:00

This is my seventh day without a stomachache. Goodbye Bread.And Good Riddance!

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-88989642544191074332009-10-19T15:24:00.005-05:002010-07-02T16:20:17.746-05:00

Just in case you really do come here for the food, here's the new thing I eat a lot of. It's pretty easy. It's also quite yummy and it helps me not think about bread.Taco Rice (but not the salty kind from a bag)This recipe makes as much as you want to make. So far, it's a hit with the kids, too. I like the Mexican Rice that you just buy in the bag and then dump in boiling water, but Highlander

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-49111888412741451332009-10-16T13:38:00.005-05:002009-10-19T17:16:45.697-05:00

OK, so I haven't been writing. At all. Not even in those dozen or so blank books I have stashed away that my sister SWORE she'd swiftly and secretly remove from my home and destroy in the event of my untimely death. Because I've been feeling like crap, that's why. C.R.A.P. I won't give you a long drawn out explanation of my symptoms because that would be boring, and because I'm not 94 years old.

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-44827562282241051132009-10-02T08:02:00.003-05:002010-07-02T16:35:18.385-05:00

I just received an email from someone who must not know that I love food. It contained the most horrible recipe for chicken chili I've ever seen. Bland, colorless, silly.So I wrote mine down.Here it is:To get really good chicken meat and stock:Get this stuff out of your fridge and cabinets:A chickenCeleryOnionsCarrotBay leavesBlack peppercornsSea saltA big stock potA strainerSome little

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-71419428778987747222009-09-09T12:26:00.004-05:002010-07-02T16:23:20.848-05:00

Last night, the girls and I walked over to their Aunt Sarah's house to get a few pears. We came home with 60. They were the size of golf balls, but not quite ripe. Peeling them didn't seem like an option and most of the nutrients in fruit is in the skin, anyway. I looked around on the internet for ideas, but couldn't find anything about how to make food out of 60 tiny sweet pears. I think what I

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-48800470666688025562009-09-01T19:27:00.004-05:002009-09-01T19:33:30.341-05:00

That's what they called it. I can't even bring myself to watch the video. But I can say this: if you are buying eggs from the grocery store and you live in the midwest, where it's very easy to find farm fresh eggs that weren't created via torture methods, then you are either very ignorant and there's room for improvement, or you are an ass. Yes. I said that. Here's the article. Video shows chicks

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-83861850698124600252009-07-24T08:48:00.002-05:002009-07-24T08:53:59.737-05:00

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-83638683730517448862009-07-24T08:44:00.001-05:002009-07-24T08:48:04.167-05:00

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-31492843091851100152009-07-17T09:02:00.005-05:002009-07-17T09:19:15.261-05:00

We made the most amazing supper last night after a quick walk through our gardens. Sauteed broccoli, hungarian wax pepper, bright lights swiss chard, baby white onions, and garlic over pasta dressed with olive oil and lemon zest and topped with cherokee purple and yellow pear tomatoes, blue cheese crumbles, toasted pine nuts and sea salt. Oh Yum. Highlander said it best. You can't get food like

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-62173770608678145282009-07-15T08:38:00.006-05:002010-07-02T16:20:55.953-05:00

We went to a little family get together this past weekend in Missouri. On the way, we stopped at the farmers market in Des Moines, of course. Highlander bought the most amazing breakfast burrito. It was overflowing with tomatoes, cilantro, potatoes, spicy chorizo, and scrambled eggs. I might have eaten well over half of it if he wasn't such a fast chewer. The little girls had a fabulous time, as

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-46216168792068012772009-07-07T11:51:00.005-05:002010-07-02T16:40:53.085-05:00

I'm going back in for another marathon cooking class at New Pi. The Asparagus class went so well that I couldn't resist spending two hours talking about tomatoes. I get to wear a head set with a microphone, like the Sham-Wow guy. Of course, that means that the "students" can hear me muttering to myself. It also means I don't lose my voice by the end of class.I'm working on what to cook. I think

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-60096875433685797072009-07-05T12:40:00.004-05:002009-07-05T12:53:41.894-05:00

July 5th vegetable progress: Sweet bell peppers. We'll leave them on the vine until they start to turn red.Striped German tomato. They are a favorite around here. Makes an impressive BLT. This is my first try at red cabbage. I have a friend who just invented Buffalo Cole Slaw. It's not for the faint of heart. I think a nice fat head of happy local cabbage will make it even more irresistible.This

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-23276920974991472702009-06-29T12:55:00.005-05:002010-07-02T16:24:12.962-05:00

We finally got to see Mad City Chickens yesterday at Indian Creek Nature Center. It was a good time. I recommend it if you are considering adopting a few hens as pets. I also recommend it if you think that's a stupid idea. The filmmakers were there, too. The project took three years and they say they have enough extra footage for a sequel. Here's the thing; I'm not much for those Humane Society

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824632098198451944.post-58139399366146190002009-06-26T17:23:00.003-05:002009-06-26T17:30:08.036-05:00

So I have all of this broccoli and cauliflower and Budweiser and Ranch dressing and cheddar cheese left from our big event last weekend. I invented a soup. I ate it for lunch and froze the rest. If there's any left in November, it'll be a welcome fall warm-up.Beer Broccoli Cheddar SoupOver medium heat, in a large sauce pan, cook 1 large white onion (diced), 5 cloves of garlic (diced), 1 cup of

Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13195121195847772307noreply@blogger.com3