Welcome to Our Restaurant

This is a repost from the now defunct Ohio Moms Blog, originally published in April of 2010. A few nights ago, I asked my daughter whether we should go out to a restaurant or stay home.  I was vying for restaurant because I didn't want to have to clean up dishes.

"How about a compromise?" she asked.  "We'll make a restaurant at home."

I rarely say no to her compromises because the act of offering one is something I want to encourage.  So restaurant play began as it has many times before.

We worked together on a big sign for the door that said 'Lizard Restaurant.'  My husband was designated the chef and Lillian, the waitress.  They collaborated to make a menu while I set the table with fresh place mats, cloth napkins, silverware and glasses.

Lil tied on a too small wrap around skirt as a cafe apron.  She choose a notepad on which to scribble orders, then called them to the chef.

I poured drinks and she carefully carried them to the table.  We used our real crystal and dimmed the lights.  Service began, in courses.  After an appetizer of chilled grapes and entrée of spaghetti with various toppings, we ordered dessert from the menu.  It was served on antique plates from my great grandmother.

Lillian the waitress has a lot to learn.  She rarely recalls an order correctly.  Sometimes she nibbles off the guest's plates.  She isn't very good about clearing the table and never remembers the bill.

But Lil serves up the biggest smiles and one great way to spend the evening together as a family!

The Dog with the Purple Eyelashes

Devie the big hound is adapting wonderfully to life with a single eye.

At our dinner party Wednesday, everyone commented on what a different dog she is now.  She is calmer, quieter, and seems happier than any time in the last year.

Guilt creeps in when I think that perhaps her bum eye was hurting her for a long time.  But there was no way to know how much pain she was feeling and only now we can notice that she feels enormously better.

Soon, Dev's 'purple eyelashes', as Lil calls the stitches, will be removed.  I hope all traces of trauma will also be tossed aside and many years will follow with our one eyed pirate dog.

So It Goes

It's been a wacky week here and I want to update you about lots of things: First, Devie the hound in trouble is doing very well after surgery yesterday to remove her left eye.  We are keeping her heavily dosed with pain medicine to let the eye heal and will taper that off in the next few days.  Stitches will be removed in about a week and then we'll have a counter-surfing, baying pirate dog!

We are still planning on having a Cider Pressing Party tomorrow from 2 - 4 pm.  It will be COLD and the press will be outside, so please dress warmly if you are stopping by.  We'll also have some apple bread and apple slices to enjoy around the woodstove to warm up.

Cathy Krist from Carousel Watergardens Farm let me know that they are offering a Thanksgiving Dinner CSA with six free range antibiotic free turkeys left.  Visit their site for more details on the Thanksgiving CSA or their winter vegetable, egg, and meat CSAs.

In bloggy news, I am thrilled that the CEO of the Columbus Metro Library, Pat Losinsky, mentioned my 'vote for CML' post in his last newsletter to supporters.  If you are here because of his link, welcome!

I think I'm participating in NaBloPoMo, the challenge to write a post each day in the month of November.  So far, I've written every day and I have lots of topics in the queue, so expect a little more frequency here for awhile.

I am not participating in NaNoWriMo, the national novel writing month, but I am hard at work on an manuscript about eating and cooking with children.  I have some anecdotes from participants in my classes but I want a more scientific understanding of children's eating habits.  I am working up a survey that I hope those of you with children will complete when the time comes.

Next week is Dine Originals Restaurant week.  Participating restaurants include most of the best independent restaurants in the city.  Each offers at least one menu that costs $10, $20, or $30, viewable online through the above link.  There are some fantastic deals among the offerings.  Unlike some restaurant weeks where the chef is just looking to get guests in the door, my impression is that the Dine Originals chefs are truly showing off their very best.  Take advantage!

Just before picking Dev up from the vet yesterday, Lil and I said goodbye to my college cat Kilgore.  I found him abandoned in front of the Ohio State University football stadium and took care of him during his first six months.  My parents adopted him ten years ago when I married cat-allergic Alex.  Kilgore was a feisty tom cat, frequently roaming the neighborhood and returning with wounds.  He purred loudly, showed displeasure with his claws, and whined to be let out as if a dog.  His behavior became more mild in the last few months as cancer took hold.  Rest in Peace, my furry friend.

Now, if I could ask something of you: Next weekend, my parents and Alex's parents are giving us a weekend away at a bed and breakfast in Versailles Kentucky near bourbon distilleries.  My parents are watching Lil for the weekend and I am so very eager for some relaxation.  I have two bourbon tours on the itinerary but am struggling a little bit deciding which restaurants to enjoy.  If you have any suggestions in the Versailles/Lawrenceburg/Frankfort/Lexington area, comment please.

Be well,

Rachel

P.S. Kurt Vonnegut is one of my favorite authors, hence the title and Kilgore's name.  I recommend you start with Breakfast of Champions if you have never read a Vonnegut story.  Your library undoubtedly has a copy.

Hound in Trouble

A year ago, at Halloween time, I noticed that the big hound Devorguilla's left eye was a little funky.  A trip to the vet revealed that the lens was not held in place properly anymore, possibly due to an inherited muscle degeneration.  The lens bouncing around left the eye looking cloudy.  I was told it could be a precursor to glaucoma but unless Devie seemed uncomfortable there was no reason for concern.

We monitored it through the year and noted no changes...

...until earlier this month.  Devie stopped opening the eye and on the rare chance we could get a view we noticed that the surface no longer seemed smooth and rounded.  There was a bump.

The vet examined her and explained there was an ulcer on the surface of the eye.  He put her under for surgery to remove the ulcerated cells and also smooth the epithilius of the eye so it could heal itself.

A week later, the ulcer was not healed.  Devie went into surgery again and this time the vet sewed her eyelid shut to encourage healing.  Two days before trick or treat, Dev came home with a costume of a large 'cone of shame' and exposed stitches.

On Thursday we returned for a recheck because the eye was weepy and swollen.  The vet switched her oral antibiotics and prescribed more pain medicines.

After two more days of stupor and antibiotics, the eye still didn't look right.  The vet squeezed us in this morning's schedule.  He removed the stitches but the eyelids are so distressed and swollen that he couldn't examine the eye itself.  We are now to apply a topical antibiotic ointment and keep her drugged to the gills so that she can rest and heal.

If the eye isn't significantly better by early next week, the next step is to remove it.  We might soon have a one eyed dog.

The whole house is stressed from this situation.  Devie is our oldest oddest pet.  She is definitively 'my' dog and I'm scared for her health.  Alex has been administering most of the meds and is tired and worried.  We are all a little grossed out at the sight of her oozing eye.  The little hound Hawise is desperate for attention, jealous of everyone doting on Devie.  And our non-existent veterinary fund?  It's hurting too.

I have been sharing some of the eye saga on facebook and twitter and very much appreciate the sympathy and concern shared there.  I didn't think I would ever miss Devie's regular bad behavior, but I'm ready for my loud-howling, food-stealing, counter-surfing dog to return!

Brandied Pears

My aunt Deb picked and delivered a large box of pears from her farm.  We ate some fresh, but soon the pears begged to be preserved before they rotted. My thoughts turned to pear sauce and pear butter, but I have a large store of applesauce already in the pantry and I'm not sure I would enjoy pear butter.  Then I considered, what about brandied pears?  They contain alcohol, which puts them head and shoulders above most canned fruits in my book.

I searched my regular Internet sources and found plenty of recipes but they all required refrigeration.  My fridge is full, thanks.

The gold standard, the Ball Blue Book Guide to Preserving, has one recipe that sanely recommends pantry storage.  I modified it just a bit by adding a few spices and adjusted quantities for the 8 pounds of pears I had versus the 10 pounds in their recipe.

Peeling, coring and slicing the pears consumed about an hour of time.

Then the pieces bathed in a sugar syrup gently flavored by whole allspice and clove.

The syrup reduced while I filled sterilized jars with hot pears.

Off the heat, I added brandy to the syrup and poured the liquid over the pears.

Fifteen minutes in the water bath canner and the brandied pears are complete!  They are resting in the pantry until I pretty them up for holiday gifts.

Canned Brandied Pears

makes about six pints

adapted from Ball Blue Book of Canning

8 pounds pears (approximately 30 small ones) aged at room temperature until ripe and tasty

1-2 tablespoons lemon juice

4.5 cups sugar

3 cups water

6-10 whole spices like cloves, allspice berries or cinnamon stick, optional

2.5 cups brandy

1. Peel and core pears.  Slice.  Toss with lemon juice to prevent browning.

2. Heat sugar and water in a large stock pot until boiling.  Add spices if you wish.

3. Add pears to sugar syrup and cook at boiling for five minutes.

4. Ladle pears into hot sterilized jars.

5. Meanwhile, continue to boil sugar syrup.

6. Remove syrup from heat.  Discard spices.

7. Add brandy to syrup and stir well.

8. Ladle brandy syrup over pears in jars leaving 1/4 inch headspace.

9. Fit sterilized rings and lids onto jars and place in hot water bath.

10. Boil for 15 minutes.

11.  Remove jars from water bath and allow to cool completely.

12. Remove rings and wash any syrup leaks off rims.  Label the jars and store at room temperature for up to a year.

This post is part of Simple Lives Thursday and Fall Fest.

Lessons from Lil: the "backup"

Can you translate this request from Lil? "Mama, can we make a backup?

Like when we went to Canada at Old McDonald's and stay in the car and they put food in a bag?"

Did you figure it out?  Lil wanted to visit a fast food restaurant, probably for the toy.

My heart swelled and I giggled just a little at this request.  I am proud in a way that my five year old does not know the name of the largest fast food restaurant chain, nor the vocabulary word "drive through".  She really doesn't care for the food and has little experience with it.

I am further delighted that Lillian's language has developed such that her thorough description allowed me to easily understand her request.  Good riddance to the days of toddler non-verbals.

Alex and I made no conscious plans to exclude fast food from our daughter's realm of understanding but we truly rarely go to the backup, I mean drive through.

A Day in the Slow Life

Annette of Sustainable Eats recently shared a day in her life and challenged others in the slow food lifestyle to do the same.

It is an interesting idea to compare our individual days. What chores do we share? What aspects of our routine are unique? What can we learn from each other? Why call it 'slow life' when we are so busy?

At any rate, here's what I did this Tuesday October 19, 2010:

7:45 am Wake up and get dressed with yesterday's clothes 8 Drop off Devie at the vet for surgery to address an eye ulcer 8:15 Return home, shower, dress in clean clothes (Lil and Alex still sleeping) 8:45 Eat half a Pattycake sticky bun and cup of coffee while posting pumpkin seeds recipe 9:15 Drive to Franklin Park Conservatory 9:30 Meet with Julia Hansel, education director, to brainstorm topics of kids and family cooking classes for 2010-2011 11:15 Return home, greet Lil and Alex for the day, start re-arranging basement to make a play area for Lil and better storage of home canned goods 12:15 Reheat homemade macaroni and cheese for lunch, pack Lil's preschool snack with crackers, apple, and kefir 12:45 Preschool drop off 1:15 Come home, begin making pumpkin puree from homegrown pie pumpkins 2:00 Take pictures of our tandem bike for sale 2:15 Finish pureeing and packaging 11 cups of pumpkin puree. 2:30 List Franklin Park events on the events calendar 3:00 Preschool pick up, play/chat with friends at playground 4:15 Return home, stopping at Clintonville Community Market for produce 4:30 Move a few more things in the basement 5:45 Pickup drugged Devie and meds from the vet 6:30 Return home, cook and eat polenta with roasted beets and goat cheese inspired by my friend Vanessa's recipe. Lil cries during dinner because she doesn't want to eat or get herself an alternative 7:30 Bedtime routine, including extra cuddles with healing Devie 8:15 Watch a little TV and drink wine while reading blogs, checking in to facebook and twitter 9:30 Realize I can barely keep my eyes open (seriously, this sinus infection or whatever it is WILL NOT GO AWAY) but continue to surf 10:30 Finally go upstairs, brush teeth, and settle in to bed with a short chapter of The Cook and the Gardener

What goes on in a day of your life?

This post added to Simple Lives Thursday.

An Outstanding 30th Birthday Weekend

My birthday weekend was fantastic.  Or as fantastic as it could be with me still suffering from this damn sinus infection but I really can't complain.

On Friday afternoon, I was presented with my second to last 30 before 30 gift: 30 dollar bills folded into origami.  My sisters and parents worked for HOURS folding each bill into a unique shape.

Saturday morning, my birthday, I was greeted with 30 hand-cut pink paper flamingos on the lawn. Thanks Trisha Dehnbostel for the photo! My Grandma Joyce has a 'thing' for pink flamingos, my in-laws have featured them in several artworks and I have several flamingos adorning my garden.  It was the perfect final gift, or so I thought.

Alex made homemade waffles for breakfast on Saturday.  He and Lil presented me with handmade cards, a rolled-by-Lil beeswax candle, a purple shirt and a chicken scrap bowl with sweet hens on the rim.  Family called to wish me a happy birthday and check in on the flamingos.

My good friend Mary Lynn called too.  We are 20 years plus 9 days apart and we always share birthday greetings.  She related a fable that reminded her of my sister's 30 before 30 gifts: a man walked miles to pick and retrieve a simple flower as a gift.  The recipient asked 'why walk so far for this simple flower?' 'The walk is the gift,' answered the man.

I had to cut the conversation short when Mary Lynn asked about my plans for the rest of the day.  I'm a terrible liar and didn't want to spill the beans - our plans were to drive to Dayton for HER surprise 50th birthday party!

When we arrived at Marion's Piazza (seriously good crispy crusted pie!), Mary Lynn was shocked.   She had no idea that a party was being planned.  Friends from Columbus and family from around the country kept secrets for months to pull off a surprise for her.

Sunday started with me doing a demonstration at Oakland Park Nursery.  Their newly renovated education center is a treat to work in.  I made apple pie jam (recipe coming tomorrow) for a small group of interested folks.

Family pitched in to throw an afternoon birthday party at Wild Goose Creative.  Alex made buffalo and mushroom mini wellingtons, another recipe I need to post soon.  They are so good!  My pastry chef sister Heather contributed desserts of mini apple pies and chocolate mousse in phyllo cups.  We drank grape champagne cocktails and munched on veggies, fruit, cheese, and crackers provided by other family members.

Having already received 30 gifts for 30 days (that's 900 gifts!) I already felt well-presented.  Apparently friends and family had other ideas and I was showered with more presents that suited me perfectly.  My sisters and mother had one final '30' gift, a handmade purple quilt with thirty squares.  I was shocked!  I can't wait to repay my three sisters when they turn 30 in 2, 6, and 7 years.

Not only was I given beautiful thoughtful gifts for over a month, my amazing friends and family have really walked the miles this birthday.  What a fantastic way to begin a new decade!