Local Food Round-Up

Is there a plan? Here’s an amusing detail about this past week’s local food plan: the best meal of the week was the one I threw together on the fly, zero advance plotting. Ugh. Or fab. Except that such results do not inspire continued Planning.

Nevertheless, despite, because, as if, et cetera …
I’m planning to cook a pot of black beans for one main meal this week. In the fridge, I still have a few red beans from the chili meal, so for a second meal this week, I’ll toss those together and make a two-bean soup, or another chili. Meal number three may involve yet more of those beans (I always make lots), and some red sauce I froze from Friday’s successful meal–spiced up with cumin and coriander and baked in layers with tortillas and cheese. I’m also glad to have a winter squash to pop in the oven for colour and variety, and some cabbage to chop into a salad.
So the theme appears to be, by default: beans. I’m off meat at present, so I’ll stick with some local hamburger as an add-in, if desired.
Have to add as a note that I originally typed: “I’m planning to cook a plot of black beans …” Sounds like a spicy short story set in the tropics. I was going to riff on that theme for a few glorious moments of fantasy here, but have been advanced upon by a weary husband holding a newly bathed and howling baby who looks darned adorable in his ducky towel and, though said babe is pre-verbal, he seems to be calling my name rather effectively.
Well, then …. Shabaddy-woo (as I like to say, heaven knows why, to my baby).

Children Who Blog

This blog, and my frequent typing spells herein, have attracted the attention of the children, who wish to join in the fun. I indulged Apple-Apple yesterday, and the result, creative spelling and all, appears below; but when she and her brother began frothing at the keyboard this morning, I decided to create another parallel blog to send their missives into thin air, and the link appears at right. We launch with a brief reflective piece by Apple-Apple on Mom’s book club. Worth noting, though not mentioned, was her observation this morning that just when she thought she was falling asleep last night, she heard “another shriek of laughing.” This was spoken in world-weary tones. “What was so funny?” Albus wanted to know, geniunely perplexed. You know, moms–not the funniest people on the planet, according to that population of critics known as offspring.

The Big Walk

Written and Typed by Apple-Apple

cj is woking to me and giving me hugs and then he wates for me to cariy him back to wher he was.i like to tele the storea of the big wack when cj tok the long whay that was the longist wack he did and he stel hasint wacked any farser.

CJ

At ten months … he’s walking, but can’t stand from a sitting position, so chooses to crawl more often; plus he’s super-crazy-fast on hands and knees. He’s scared of heights. He can climb stairs, but as soon as he gets about four or five up, he freezes. He has no teeth. He’s a natural drummer. He loves to hear singing, and tries to join in. He initiates chasing and peekaboo games which make him laugh hysterically (us too). Makes noises like an engine while pushing cars or trucks. Plays well on his own. Adores his sisters and brother, but likes his own space, and has a special grunting protest noise he makes when one of them is picking him up against his will. Has separate protest noises for: I’m stuck; put me down; I’m mad; someone’s stolen a toy from me. Loves to be outside, even in the snow.

Is crawling down the hallway away from me right now …

Local Food Round-Up: Suggestions Welcome

Hmm. Haven’t been keeping up with the local food round-up plan. I’ve been doing it in my head, just not getting to here, lately. I’m blaming my dwindling determination and lack of follow-through on winter. Honestly, it’s minus 19 out there today. The chill is seeping through the walls. My fantasies about spring are growing more vivid by the hour.

My local food theme of the week is: Suggestions Welcome. We kicked off this theme on Super Bowl Sunday, when Kevin requested chili. I served it with cornbread on Sunday, then reheated it for Monday with rice. Tuesday I took a friend’s Facebook suggestion and made the garlic-heavy Ethiopian Lentil Bowl from Simply in Season, with homemade naan bread; this required frying it up with CJ in a backpack to keep him out of harm’s way. Last night it was leftover surprise, plus fried potatoes. Should have taken suggestions, because no one liked it (except, maybe, me). Complaints Welcome became the unintentional theme. Tonight I’m planning to roast a nicely-thawed chicken, as suggested by Kevin, with root veggies.

Okay, Fooey is screaming “Read me a book, Mom!” over and over again from the couch, and CJ is dozily destroying a cookie, and I need to snap out of the computer zone. Snap!

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About me

My name is Carrie Snyder. I work in an elementary school library. I’m a fiction writer, reader, editor, dreamer, arts organizer, workshop leader, forever curious. Currently pursuing a certificate in conflict management and mediation. I believe words are powerful, storytelling is healing, and art is for everyone.

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