Winter S'Mores

We made these for New Year's Eve and they really were fun. The idea came while making the marshmallows (which need to be made the day ahead), but it was truly an experiment. I had never made graham crackers and I wasn't sure the tea light would work, but they were a success - the heat from the candle was more than enough to make the marshmallows a gooey mess. In fact, next time I will add a packaged WetNap to the plate.

These are really fun, but are probably better suited for adults to assemble, as candles, skewers and hot marshmallows do not mix with little fingers. Truth be told, they were probably not the best dessert choice for a post champagne tasting party, but all fingers and eyes were accounted for... I think.

Homemade Graham Crackers

Wayne Harley Brachman, Retro Desserts

by Wayne Harley Brachman via foodnetwork.com

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup light rye flour (you can substitute whole wheat flour for this)

1 1/4 cups whole-wheat flour

1/2 cup sugar (I thought these were a bit too sweet and will reduce the sugar next time)

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 cup cold butter, cut into 1/2 inch cubes

2 tablespoons honey

2 tablespoon molasses

1/4 cup cold water

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a food processor, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Add the cold butter and mix or process until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Add the honey, molasses, water, and vanilla. Mix until the dough comes together in a ball. Between 2 sheets of waxed paper or plastic wrap, roll the dough 1/2-inch thick. Chill for 1 hour, until firm. Set a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Lightly flour the dough and roll 1/8-inch thick. With a sharp knife or cookie cutter, cut into 2-inch squares. Arrange the crackers on nonstick or parchment lined cookie sheets. With a fork, prick several holes in each cracker. Bake for 15 minutes, until lightly browned at the edges. Remove from the oven and let cool in the pan.

Marshmallows

Barefoot Contessa Family Style by Ina Garten via about.com

Coconut version can be found at foodnetwork.com

3 packages unflavored gelatin

1/2 cup water

1 ½ cups granulated sugar

1 cup light corn syrup

¼ teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 cup water

1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

Confectioners’ sugar, for dusting

Combine the gelatin and 1/2 cup of cold water in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Meanwhile, combine the sugar, corn syrup, salt, and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan and cook over medium heat until the sugar dissolves. Turn heat to high and cook until the syrup reaches 240 degrees on a candy thermometer. Remove from the heat. With the mixer on low speed carefully pour the sugar syrup into the dissolved gelatin. Put the mixer on high speed and whip until the mixture is very thick, about 15 minutes. Add the vanilla and mix thoroughly. With a sieve, generously dust an 8 x 12-inch non-metal baking dish with confectioners' sugar. Pour the marshmallow mixture into the pan, smooth the top and dust with more confectioners' sugar. Allow to stand uncovered overnight until the marshmallows dry out. Turn the marshmallows onto a board and cut them in squares. Dust them with a bit more confectioners' sugar.

Yield: 20 to 40 marshmallows, depending on size

Adaptation

Need I say more?

He Speaks A Foreign Language

While Sam's parents were visiting, we did some exploring in the woods behind the house. Apparently, during one of the outings, while Owen and Gramma Nette were sharing some special time together, Owen told her he knew how to spell a bad word. When she asked him to spell it he said, "P - O - M". She asked him to clarify because he sometimes talks into his coat and mumbles. He again spelled, "P - O - M". The subject changed, but returned when he said, "Gramma Nette, my friend's sister teaches him bad words." Gramma Nette then made the mistake of asking what types of bad words, to which Owen replied, "B***H". Impressed with his vocabulary, she told us the story later that night. Maybe we were in denial, maybe we thought she didn't hear him correctly, but it sort of went in one ear and out the other (sorry Gramma Nette).

This past Sunday, Sam took the boys to get their hair cut. In the car they were discussing "strong words". Now that they are getting older, the kids hear words like "stupid, idiot, etc." on the playground and in cartoons, but we have tried to deter them from using them. Sam and I have told them that they are "strong" words, but are not "bad" and the context in which the words are used is important. So, Sam and the boys were discussing the words - they love this topic - and Owen again said he knew a bad word because Logan's sister "telled" them to Logan and Logan "telled" them to him. Again, when asked to repeat the word Owen said the big B word. Sam said he nearly drove off the road he was so shocked to hear that word come out of Owen's sweet little mouth. Sam asked Spencer if he had heard that word and Spencer said, "Ahh, ahh, I, um, I thought he was making it up, or speaking in a foreign language, or something."

So, I guess the moral of this story is to listen to your mother/mother-in-law because now instead of 1 child speaking a "foreign language", we have 2.

Serenity NOW

Well this was a day, by no means the worst, but a bit more than I bargained for so sure. I am in need of this and a glass of wine:

Lands End is having a big sale at Sears (30% off already marked down prices - big deals), so I decided to take Laney and AJ to the mall. I guess it has been a while because apparently shopping become a hands-on experience. I couldn't even walk down the mall without being accosted by people trying to straighten my hair, spritz me with perfume, rub me down with lotion or give me a massage. Hey, mall kiosk people do I look like I have time for you to rub my hands with AJ screaming and Laney whining about how hungry she is? No. Even if I did have the time, what makes you Mr. Strange Person Tying To Sell Me Something think I want you to touch me? Furthermore, when I say "no thank you" in my most polite but firm voice why do you follow me? I don't want your lotion, fake hair, or massage so stop following me. Seriously, I felt like I was shopping at the Turkish bazaar again. I did survive, however, only to nearly die of humiliation later in the day.

I went to pick up the kids at school this afternoon and because we got a bunch of snow this weekend, much of the parking lot was inaccessible. The overflow parking is on the lawn which is fine in the summer, but my car cannot go over more than a 1/2 inch of snow without having problems. I decided I was going to park along the street. Well, as I was making my turn, I misjudged the depth of the snow and got stuck. Really stuck. Sometimes this happens in our driveway and I am able to put the car in reverse, turn on the traction control and throw it into low gear and get out. But, that is at home where it really doesn't matter if I get stuck. This time I was stuck in front of the kids' school, with parent after parent driving by watching me shoot up snow and spin my wheels. I told myself not to panic, I would clear away some of the snow from the front tires and try the forward/reverse rock approach. That didn't work either. By this point I am flush with embarrassment and getting warmer by the second. Of course then AJ started to scream and Laney began her commentary, "Mommy, dis was not a vury good idea". Finally, one of the moms came to help. Of course she happens to be the prettiest one and now I find out that she is nice too - ugh! Anyway, we were working away and the principal comes out and says he will be back to help at which point I think my face turned yet another shade of red. In the meantime, a guy stopped to help and between the three of us we were able to get it out. Oh the humiliation. All I could do was crack a joke about learning to drive in California. The pretty mom gave me a hug and I then had to drive up to the school, late of course, to pick up the boys. I was sure the principal had solicited volunteers over the PA and I was going to be labeled the "that woman" for the next 7 years, but, thankfully, I was spared that embarrassment.

I'm not going to get a sunset tonight becuase we are expecting another 4 - 6 inches of snow. Hopefully, we'll have a snow day so I park my sled and maybe have a little serenity.

Time Well Spent

We had a wonderful holiday break. It seemed to pass too quickly though. If it were up to me every day would be Christmas break - I really do like having those little rascals home and it never seems like we have enough time to do everything we want to do. We did get a chance to spend some time in the kitchen.

Sam got a chance to redeem himself in the turkey department (more on that later):

We held our annual New Year's fry. While some people take New Year's Day as an opportunity to embark on their post-holiday diets, we are busy deep frying things. This year, Sam's parents joined us on our journey back to my Dutch roots and helped in the making of Oliebollen. Translation, oil balls. This description is rather unfair because they really are no worse than a doughnut and because they have currants and apple inside they are practically healthy. Like the logic?

Oliebollen

1tbs lemon juice

1 small apple, small diced

4 ½ cups flour

½ cup currants

2 cups warm milk

I small packet of yeast (1/4 ounce)

1 teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1 quart of oil for frying

Powdered sugar for dusting

Add yeast, sugar and milk together; stir until smooth. Allow to sit 5 minutes. Add apple to lemon juice & set aside. Mix flour and salt in bowl. Make a hole in the center of flour mixture and slowly add milk (I did it in the bowl of the KitchenAid). Mix until smooth. Add currants and apple pieces in the lemon juice. Cover the bowl with a clean dishtowel and allow to rise about 1 hour in a warm place.
Heat oil to 356ºF or 180ºC. Using a spoon, carefully drop 2” balls of dough into the oil allowing them to brown (about 8 minutes – rotating them occasionally). Allow to drain on paper towels. Arrange on plate and generously sift powdered sugar over the tops.

And, last but not least, the freakishly large turkey legs that were not to be forgotten:

Definitely time well spent.