Wintry Mix

Today I finished sugaring the Meyer lemon peels I candied, and I started making the next batch of candied peels, those being sour oranges. I almost gave up on them for being too bitter, but the fourth dip in boiling water did the trick and most of the bitterness is gone. But not all! I must say, I do prefer the Meyer candies--they are so sweet and lovely, I was snacking on them constantly. The sour oranges I am seeing as more of a cocktail garnish, not really a sweet. They have a bit of a bite. I might even just can them in their syrup, instead of drying them. We'll see where I am when they are done with their sugar baths.

What kind of day did I have today? Well, the above picture looks so tranquil, doesn't it? I'm sugaring candy while my docile child plays. What a lovely image. But it's really not what happened. It happened for about ten minutes, which was dreamy, and then it abruptly ended. That's why I love all these kitchen tasks that take days and barely any attention. I can put the candy away and be there for the incessant question: "what's next" which will one day very soon turn into, "I'm bored!" 

Advent-ageous.

We did get an advent calendar today from a friend of ours. Lucky us! It has toys instead of candy, which I like a lot. Advent calendars are a lot harder to explain to a four year old than you would think, but he was very patient when I explained we didn't open it until tomorrow, and even then it's only one door a day. Patience is a virtue, as they say.

White whole wheat buttermilk pancakes.

We made some pancakes. And chocolate chip cookies. They are required on a frozen day filled with little flurries buzzing down from a gray forbidding sky. I used coconut oil in the chocolate chip cookies for the first time. That is the ticket, I want you to know. Coconut oil in any kind of chocolate-y dessert is a good thing in my book. Then you can tell yourself it's good for you!

Toasted buckwheat is kasha. 

Lest you think all we eat are sugary treats, I did toast these buckwheat groats to make a recipe from Food in Jars' cookbook. Well, I guess it was for granola, so maybe I don't eat anything healthy. Actually, now that I think of it, I had breakfast all day long today. Steel cut oats with maple syrup for breakfast, the rest of the oats with parmesan cheese and pepper for lunch--oh, wait, I had turkey noodle soup for dinner. There's something not breakfast-y. Whew!

In the afternoon, we had a pre-cookie tea party which ended up with a broken teacup. This is what happens when you use real glass (and nice vintage ones, at that) for tea cups for a four year old boy. I knew what I was up against. In this picture, I was setting up a shot in which life would look so easy and wonderful: some tea, some cookies, a cozy kitchen. My little fantasy turned into a crying boy and a harried woman vacuuming the grimy floor, making sure no slivers of glass remained to cut little (or big or feline) feet.

The cozy life of a stay at home mom looks pretty idyllic from the outside, doesn't it? But really you go a little insane from the incessant tedium. The pretty tea parties belie broken cups, the endless trains make you a little crazy, and cold days are your nemesis. That's why you see so many of those crazy craft blogs by mommies who are trying to fill a freaking day! I sometimes find myself wondering how some people do it: three kids and not a day goes by without gorgeous pictures documenting it all. I guess humans like the glossy ideal or the train wreck, and the in between dailies aren't often as appealing, whether you are taking the pictures or viewing them. And that's the beauty of photos. A snapshot of a train set looks so inviting, but five hours of it can crush your soul, and leave you a gasping for a few minutes of frosty outside air. 

But then you come back in and breathe in the warmth, and it's all okay again.

Candied Meyer Lemon Peel

Back in the early spring, when I was flush with citrus, I squirreled away a large ziploc of Meyer lemon peels. I had juiced many lemons for curd and was left with perfect cups scraped clean of flesh and pith. I put them all in a good freezer ziploc and froze them for a wintry day to turn into candied peels. It's certainly a winter time task, especially before the holidays when you may want to dole out the candies dipped in sugar. Or to fold them into a special dessert. And if there is any left over, to brighten a February day. 

Candying citrus peel is really very easy, it just takes a long time. Basically, you are infusing the peel with sugar. How can you go wrong? Well, it's possible. There are also about a million different recipes out there, which confuses it further. I'm still figuring out my particular method, so until I have it down pat, I won't be writing it down here!

It's possible to make a mess with just about anything, even if it's something you've done a million times. Today, even though these candied peels came out great, I had a stellar fail when I scorched some apricot jam. It's the first time I've pretty much ruined a batch of jam. It could not be saved. And my pan suffered, too. I also boiled the syrup from the peels a little too much, and I believe I have canned some lemon candy. Sigh. Things could be worse, of course, but it's days like this that have me going to sleep a little earlier with a good story. 

The Apple Pie Bakery Café

Vanilla Sugar Brioche Doughnut

I won't lie. I really liked taking the weekend off. Actually, I needed to take the weekend off from writing. I had no time to do so on Saturday (preparing for a party), and no ability whatsoever on Sunday (recuperating from said party). And I've finally gotten to the point in my life where obsessions are recognized for exactly what they are and are treated accordingly. That is, they are indulged when possible. Like this trip to the Culinary Institute of America. There are a few restaurants there, but for now, with four-year-old in tow, I have to settle for their bakery, which is really one of the nicest little cafés in the area. And not to mention, a pretty spiffy setting.

We walked all over the campus, the blustery winds whisking in from the dull greenish-gray river that the buildings look over. We talked about the young chefs walking all over in their checked pants and white jackets, with various accessories, like ear buds, phones and knit caps. There were so many young women! And it smelled amazing right outside the main building, but as we walked towards the dorms the smell changed dramatically. Laundry detergent, cigarette smoke and the smell of junk food, like potato chips and cheap bowls of ramen (and not in a particularly good way). Still students!

We had fun running through the gardens by the Ristorante Caterina de Medici. (Did you know my middle name is Caterina? Now you know.) Last time I was here I saw a fat woodchuck nibbling on some lovage here. He was gone, but this time we found an old staircase that led to nothing. My favorite kind of staircase!

We were happy with our small, but filling, meal of doughnut, a savory spinach and goat cheese turnover and sweet apple turnover. We could have done so much more damage. See below. I think I enjoyed looking at these beauties more than I would have eating them. Maybe?

The serious pastries.

Sandwich Discoveries

Bark Friday.

That people are out today, on their day off, in a consumerist frenzy just boggles my teeny tiny mind. What the heck is going on? As a child, we never went to the Macy's parade. Actually, I still have never gone, and I'm perfectly fine with that, being a person who hates crowds. But as far as traditions go, it's an okay one. Outside in the brisk city air watching silly balloons float by? Okay. We also never, ever watched football, unless it was what you call soccer in the U.S. And certainly not on Thanksgiving. To be perfectly fair though, my childhood Thanksgivings were not a treasured memory. They were slightly stiff and maybe even austere. So, parades and football, okay, at least everyone was hanging out together and having fun. But getting up at 5 a.m. to shop? People, that's just the craziest thing I have ever heard. 

I know I'm preaching to the choir here, so I will end my rant there. Tonight it's now finally raining after a long stint of perfect weather. Like today, we hit one of our local hikes at around 3 p.m. and that sun is slanting hard already.

I made two sandwich discoveries this week. (Not while out hiking, though.)

1. Avocado-Sauerkraut-Greek Yogurt Whole wheat toast, on one side spread half of a perfectly ripe avocado (that in itself is pure beauty), on the other side spread some Greek yogurt (yes, with fat please!). Drizzle rosemary olive oil, salt and pepper on the yogurt. Put a few forkfuls of sauerkraut on the other (cabbage, carrot, apple in this case). Put the two together, chomp, and then probably if you are me: repeat.

2. Sausage and Kale on Parker House Rolls Brown your (homemade garlic) sausages in a pan, then pour in a half cup of white wine, let it sizzle, lower the flame, add chopped kale (from the garden), roasted pearl onions (from Thanksgiving leftovers) and cook for about twenty minutes. Heat up the rolls (again, T-day leavings),  stuff them with the sausages, kale and onions, a smear of good mustard. Repeat often. Those rolls were small!!

Thanksgiving

I thought my table looked rather pretty even with all the mismatched chairs and uneven tables. We had about twelve people here in our little dining room, and it was just lovely. I was slightly disappointed in the turkey---next year I will most certainly brine again. This year I didn't, and it just wasn't as succulent and seasoned as a brined bird. And I do believe I made the best apple pie--scratch that---best pie I've ever made in my life. It's all about the crust. Two words: leaf lard! And we were lucky to enjoy some Quady North Syrah that came all the way from Oregon, made by more family. Isn't that cool?

I kept on trying to explain to my son, who kept on wondering what Grandma would bring him, that Thanksgiving was not about presents (neither is Christmas really, but we'll get there soon). And it was sort of nice to repeat to him, and therefore myself, what Thanksgiving is about. 

It's about being thankful for what we have, that is, our family, our friends, the roof over our heads, the food on our table. This feels especially poignant right now, as our family is now living on their second floors (thankful for a second floor even!) due to Hurricane Sandy. They are driving an hour to buy brooms, rebuilding their homes, and watching others who are still more unfortunate themselves. And yet they are still the same people, having fun with us, talking, jibing, joking, eating and drinking. I wish I could offer them a cozy dining room every day.

I'm often thankful for what I have, but I still think it's important to spend this day remembering that specifically. Isn't it nice to know that a large portion of the country are at some point on this day feeling thankful? Maybe they are not doing it the exact way you are, but in some way they are sharing their life with friends and family, and that's really very huge.

Happy Thanksgiving! And thank you, always, for reading.