Use-cases

iPad, wedged between toaster and old-school "printed" cookbook

iPad balanced on drying dishes

iPad supported by cactus (the most stable, arguably)

I haven't done any extensive formal user research for some time, and suspect this collection of photos I've been taking in my kitchen is scratching a latent itch. I should [not] note that this iPad is on loan from a really nice client. I'm not sure it was intended to be the recipe holder that it has become, but it's going to be a sad day when I return it. Hopefully not too oiled and floured.

Week 115—Spare Moment Seized!

Mon – BBQ Pulled Pork w/slaw (Best Loved Crock Pot Recipes)

Tues – Rigatoni w/sausage and peas (Viva Italian)

Weds – Chicken fingers, corn, fruit salad
Thurs – Enchilada Casserole (Taste of Home)
Fri – Fish, mashed sweet potatoes

Alts – left-overs from the weekend

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This week's menu plan is arriving from 15 minutes that magically appeared in my lap this afternoon.

Gifts of time, no matter how small, aren't to be taken for granted. We got a notice in my daughter's school folder that there was an information session for Girl Scouts this Saturday morning. She has always been interested in joining scouts, and it seemed like it might be a good thing to attend. When we mentioned going to the info session, she balked. It's Saturday morning, and unless we're doing something fun and distinctly family-oriented, none of us are usually too interested. Sledding? Sure. Hitting a musuem or concert? Ok. Playing a game? Yep.

The scouts info-session didn't make the cut in her mind, and we all heaved a sigh of relief. One less event, one less series of activities. She's 6, and there's time. If she gets excited about joining mid-year, I have a feeling they won't turn her down.

Happy cooking.

Forgotten entree

Ever have a dinner party and forget to put out a main dish?

We had a soup supper tonight, with friends bringing their favorite soups to share. Great conversation, kids happily playing together until the wee hours (ok, 9PM, but that's pretty fantastic for the not-yet-2 through 7 set).

We made some sandwiches to go along with the soups. Unfortunately, I didn't remember them until everyone had gone home and we were cleaning up for the night.

What do you call food that isn't technically a left-over? Forgotten-overs?

Wish I had taken photos of all the soups. There were 6, and all fabulously different.

Cosmic Alignment

I was munching on an apple while working on my (oh my) Apple computer last week. When I finished the apple, I set the core on a paint sample that I noticed was called "apple core."

Later that afternoon, I carried the apple core and paint samples downstairs to throw away, setting the items briefly on my dining room table which is covered with…(drumroll)…

apples.

Week 114—What's been cookin'

Mon – Chicken pot pie (Trader Joe's)

Tues – Beef stir-fry

Weds – Pasta w/garlic bread and salad
Thurs – School dance and dinner
Fri – Salmon w/sweet potato fries

Alts – chili and baked potatoes

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I made an in-store dinner plan this week during a quick stop at Trader Joe's. The nice thing about a small grocery store is that you save time. Less to look at, less distance to cover. Good thing to remember! Happy cooking.

Promising use for Flaxseed Meal

Don't these little bites look tasty?
http://smashedpeasandcarrots.blogspot.com/2011/08/no-bake-energy-bites-recipe.html

Wait. I should hesitate before sending you off to some other blog that looks tended, stylish, and like they have hired photography, but what the heck. When I showed them to my daughter, she said, "They look like oatmeal meatballs!" Fair enough. But the presence of chocolate chips will get me to try anything.

Considering that for a moment. Yes, I think that's true.

My brief search for flaxseed meal recipes landed a lot of muffins, smoothie add-ins, and brownies. Hm. Thanks, Sylvia, for sending me this recipe and therefore providing a glimmer of hope that I'll use more of this stuff before finding it rancid in my fridge a year from now.

In the meantime, if anyone needs to borrow a bit of flaxseed meal, I'm willing to share.

p.s. peanut allergies? My friend says sunbutter makes a good substitute in this recipe.

Week 113—Flaxen Post

Mon – Dirty rice and buttermilk biscuits ("ChopChop" magazine)

Tues – Lasagna (meal exchange)

Weds – Cereal
Thurs – Yogurt
Fri – Pizza

Alts – fasting?

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Desire to continue painting our upstairs this week is making me slack on fully planning this week's menu. I know, I know. This should work the opposite way, right? Plan the menu, then it's less to think about. Well, for now I'm just eager to get a paintbrush in hand, so I'll leave W-F as works in progress.

Hadn't cooked out of "Deceptively Delicious" for a few months when I chose the chicken nugget recipe last week. Turned out great—very flavorful, made with panko, sweet potatoes and flaxseed meal, which I had never cooked with before.

Anyone have experience with flaxseed meal? When do you use it? I was surprised to read on the package that it can be used as an egg substitute when mixed with water. That is crazy. Next Sunday brunch: scrambled flaxseed meal! Mm.

One moment please...

Compliments of Wikipedia
Flax is grown both for its seeds and for its fiber. Various parts of the plant have been used to make fabric, dye, paper, medicines, fishing nets, hair gels, and soap. Flax seed is the source of linseed oil, which is used as an edible oil, as a nutritional supplement and as an ingredient in many wood finishing products. Flax is also grown as an ornamental plant in gardens.

So there you have it. Happy cooking.

Hot Dog Party

Temperature according to my Mac when
we came back inside

It's February 5th, with almost no snow on the ground here in St Paul, Minnesota. When the kids suggested having a fire today, we instantly thought: Hot Dog Party!

So while most of the country was Super Bowling, we gathered in winter coats and plastic snow-hardy lawn chairs around our outside fire pit, roasting hot dogs and marshmallows. Joy!

By the way, there are many ways to enjoy a hot dog party.
If you're my daughter: plain hot dog on a bun
My oldest son: bun with ketchup, hold the hot dog
My youngest: plain hot dog, hold the bun
My husband: bun, hot dog, mustard
Me: bun, hot dog, ketchup, or whatever the kids haven't eaten

foot fetish

I adore little kid feet in all the random shapes, sizes, and softness that come with them. These days my youngest can often be found playing in the kitchen sink after dragging a chair over to reach all those fun knives, bowls from breakfast, and wet dishcloths that await.

When that happens, I get to stare at cute little toes straining to enjoy the extra inch going tip-toe brings.