Thinking about Recipes

It's that time of year when we think about recipes. And I wonder, when my kids come home from college, what food would they want me to make for them? Do I have certain dishes that I make, well no not really. 

When you ask them what they want for dinner, they say Chicken Noodle soup, homemade pizza or mac and cheese (blue box, ugh). But, I want them to remember and ask for certain things. However, just recently, I realized that I don't have recipes.

I have a formula. We tend to eat a protien, two veggies and a starch. Yup. When they leave for college they are going to ask me to make them a FORMULA when they come home?

No. They are not.



So, this week I embarked on my adventure of recipes. First I tried this lovely little diddy from Rachel Khoo, she cooks on a BBC show called Little Paris Kitchen. SO. CUTE. Her and her apartment-- both, very cute. And her food, is so fresh, fast and Mama-Friendly. But different in an, "ooooo, I tried something new" sort-of-way.

So, this weekend, I gathered the ingredients to make Boeuf Bourguignon. While at the meat counter, I had to ask what Beef Shin was. That's ok. It's just stew meat or soup bone meat left on the bone. And I had to get a bottle of wine. The rest was lurking in my kitchen.

Here's the video of her making this beautiful meal. I didn't make the dumplings, but I will soon. I served this over a bed of rice.

And after last nights meal, we all agreed, that this would be a new family favorite. The meat was so tender, the mushrooms were perfect (I threw them in after I pulled the pot from the oven while I set the table... no mushy mushrooms here)!

With a set table, candles simple salad, a bowl of cut apples and some ice glasses of water (Sips of wine for the adults), this easy meal thrown together over lunchtime became a dinner that we'll remember. And perhaps, if I keep making it every so often, something they'll ask for in the future.

On Being Six

One night this week, during homework time, we had 4+2 on our math flash cards and the answer made Izzo cry.

She said, "I'm so excited to turn seven, but I'm so sad to leave 6. 6 was such a good year."
So we snuggled before bedtime and talked about all the things that being 6 brought.


She's learned how to ride a bike, tie her shoes, jump off the dock, read chapter books, take the bus, have great conversations(which she's always done, but in such an understanding way now) and how to be a good sister.

She said she wanted to spend her last few days 'being very 6.' I don't know what that means, exactly. But I think she's right on.

On Friday, this little lady turns seven. And I wonder, how did she get this big? This wise? This thoughtful?

Giving Thanks

I wrote another post but, I realized that I have written it almost every year!... (2009, 2010, 2011). But this is such a special week and time of remembrance for our little family.

We've made a lot of huge life changes in November. And for the past few years, we've looked back with grateful hearts at where we've been. And we've said prayers for where we are going.

So as you sit at your Thanksgiving table, in such sweet abundance. For food, for family, for life, health and (hopefully) peace. Let's give thanks together to the one who gifted it all in the first place. Asking that He "Grant us a heart wide open to all this beauty" of the world.