Un-Paula Deen Mac-n-Cheese

I make a conscious effort to not let small things bug me.  And it takes a lot of effort.  I still want to stick a poker in my eardrum, however, when Paula Deen says 'oil.'  It comes out "AHHHL."  I get that she's a Southerner; I just feel like she could make an 'O' sound if she really tried.

One of the more puzzling pairings was when Ms. Deen did segments on the Today show with Al Roker.  How was it ever a good idea for those two to be giving America tips on what to eat?  It reminded me of the church cookbook my dad gave me: In the 'Salad' chapter there was a recipe that called for chopped-up Snickers bars.  Good salad.

Giada De Laurentiis did have some good recipes when she did segments on Today.  I was even able to overcome her overly dramatic pronunciation of Italian words.  "Beautiful BUffala MOZZaRELLa." What ruined her for me was our friend Scott who pointed out how disproportionally short her arms are. Unfair but true.  He tucked his elbows to his side and pretended to cook with only his forearms.  It was hysterical and I now can't look at Giada the same way;  We had no choice but to break up.

One of the multitude of magazines I receive is Cooking Light.  It's actually one that I pay for (Mags for Miles accounting for the bulk of the rest).  I love how the Paula Deens of the world love to make their dishes more luscious with BUDDER and AHHHL, but Cooking Light does the exact opposite.  Their Baked Mac-n-Cheese here is proof.  Instead of loads of cheese or cream, the base of this dish is low-fat cottage cheese, pureed in a food processor.  Pair this with the new-fangled pastas with extra fiber, protein and vitamins and the result is a mac-n-cheese I'm pleased to give my kids (and, OK, myself).

Baked Mac and Cheese

1 (12 ounce) package macaroni (I used Ronzoni Smart Taste "With 2.5 x the Fiber!")
1 (16 ounce) carton low-fat cottage cheese
1/2 cup finely shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese, divided
salt and pepper, to taste
cooking spray
1/2 cup panko (I pre-browned the panko in a skillet with 2 teaspoons olive oil (AAAHL)
1 tablespoon minced flat leaf parsley or 2 teaspoons dried parsley

Blended cottage cheese, who knew?

Where's the BUDDER?  Just pureed cottage cheese and very little cheddar and parmesan.

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2. Place cottage cheese in a food processor; process until smooth.  Combine cottage cheese, cheddar cheese, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper in a large bowl.

3. Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions, drain and add to bowl with cheese mixture.  

4. Combine pasta and cheese well and spoon into a 11x7-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray.

5. Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a skillet; toast panko until golden brown.  Remove from heat and combine with remaining 1/4 cup parmesan and either fresh or dried parsley.  Sprinkle evenly over pasta mixture and bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes.  

Done and done. 

If Carter ate cheese, this would be in the family dinner repertoire for sure.  Alas, he doesn't, so it isn't.  But when he's gone?  Semi-family dinner.  This actually went over so well this time that I might buy little thermos cups to send this mac-n-cheese for lunch.  

Again, for something to bring a family who needs a meal?  I think this would be great.  Vodka optional.  

Lilac season!  Free bouquet of the week.

X2. (Actually X6; our house is full of lilacs.  It's dreamy).  Searching for the re-blooming lilacs I've been reading about.  Talk about a dream come true; 

When re-blooming peonies are an actual thing, I'll be done.

Hold the door for the person behind you. 

XO, 

Leah

Set-outs plus Healthy Spinach and Kale Dip

I'm pretty open about my love for Trader Joe's.  Coffee, tea, wine, flowers, CHEESE, Dr. Bronner's soap*, sesame sticks, wasabi peas, and now, Spinach & Kale Greek Yogurt Dip.  Oh praise thee, Trader Joe's Reduced-Guilt Spinach and Kale Greek Yogurt Dip.  So good.  Could do with a shorter title, but still.

Buy this.

Here's where I'm going to sound even lamer (is that a word?) than I am in real life:  I didn't want to go across town to get this treat today because the last time I was at Trader Joe's it was sold out.  Now, 'across town' in Ann Arbor takes approximately 18 minutes, one end to the other.  It's nothing.  We could go three blocks in Chicago in that time on a good day. But there's a bridge that's out.  And our TJ's parking lot is a disaster because it's a one-way loop, and there's always someone who, I feel mostly every time I'm there, chooses to not follow the clearly marked asphalt directionals and chaos ensues.  And the carts in the parking lot...my God, the carts in the parking lot.  

So I decided to get all LHOTP (that's Little House on the Prairie) and attempt to replicate this lovely creature on my own.  Here's where I ended up:

Faux Trader Joe's Reduced-Guilt Spinach and Kale Greek Yogurt Dip (FTJRDSKGYD).  Catchy.  

6 Cups washed and chopped kale (remove the stems and ribs)

2 Cups chopped baby spinach

2 stalks celery, diced small

2 small carrots or 1 large, diced small

1 Cup nonfat Greek yogurt

1/2 cup reduced fat mayonnaise

1/2 (8 oz) can water chestnuts, drained and chopped

1 envelope Lipton vegetable soup and dip mix

 This is going to look like a ton of greens...

But she cooks down mightily. 

1. Wash, chop and saute the kale and spinach (there's probably enough excess water after washing so you don't need to add additional water or fat.)

2. Saute greens until cooked down, 4-5 minutes.  Drain excess liquid, if any.

3. In a large bowl, add greens and remaining ingredients.  Stir to combine.  Can serve immediately if needed, but it tastes so much better if left to sit for a while, refrigerated, before you serve.

Dinner.  No lie.  Somewhat sad; also no lie.

4. Serve with pita, bagel, baked tortilla or pretzel chips.  Plus veggies because you always have to have veggies.  

My husband kills me because he was raised in a very proper home and yet he chooses to call appetizers either "set-outs" or "put-outs".  Depending on the crowd, perhaps?  Anyway, the first time we entertained at our ramshackle house in Chicago he had me doubled over in laughter by saying, "Uh, Leah, everyone's going to be here in 20.  Do we have any put-outs?"  The charm has not worn off; and the set-outs just get better.

* Trader Joe's is by by far the least expensive place to buy Dr. Bronner's.  I tried the peppermint soap as a body wash thanks to my friend Heather who got her best New York accent on and said, "It's like an AL-toyd for your BAH-dy." It really is.  It's also good for cleaning up organically after any type of dog 'happening'.  

The International Signal for Bread

Long, long ago, my friends and I were having a conversation about international signals: the signs that are easily translated between countries and cultures.  OK, it was probably a drinking game in college, but let's just go with it.  We'd already covered choking - the hands gripped around the neck, and stop - a firm hand raised in front of your body.  Next we did crazy - the pointer finger circle motion next to one's ear.  We were all still aboard.  

Then, my dear friend J said, "Well, then, there's the international signal for bread."  For WHAT NOW?  I don't know if I was there for the actual occurrence or just one of the (hundred) re-tellings, but I recall everyone absolutely busting up asking her to, please for the love of GOD, show us the international signal for bread.  

One of the things I love the most about my friend is that she never shies from retelling a good story, even if it's about her.  And even if it's years and years later.  Kind of a great quality about a person, no?  

So J was, and, as far as I know, is still probably game to demonstrate the international signal for bread.  And here's what it is:  a raised hand doing an abbreviated twist of a lightbulb.  To her, it's signaling the waiter you'd like your bread basket to be replenished.  To everyone else she's ever showed it to, it is pure comedy.  I still crack up thinking of her sincerely twisting that arm in the air, looking for more ciabatta rolls.  

I thought of my dear friend today as I baked a new recipe for Italian bread.  I was home alone and I have to admit I twisted my hand in the air a couple times.   

The recipe, from Cooking Light, is here.  I made it two times to test it and ended up with four loaves.  I gave one to my mail carrier, Mr. Jim (for years the boys thought everyone in a USPS truck was Mr. Jim), one to my neighbor whose apple branches I probably cut for a bouquet last week, one to my friend Angie who just deserved it, and kept one for dinner tonight.  

Rolling out the dough and trying to approximate a rectangle.  Total fail.  

I had no idea what I was doing and yet...

After that dough was rolled.  Look at that pan, do you think we make pizzas, much?

Still don't know what I'm doing, but the dough raised and I made some mean cuts.  

And then did a less mean egg-wash. 

Whoot.  I got four of these.  They're not worthy of a baguette, but I'm getting there.  

The recipe title, "Chewy Italian Bread" is perfect.  This is a Crowdpleaser bread for sure.  

Return your carts to the cart corral,

XO

B.L.A.T. / B.L. Sandwich Night

I am a firm believer that sandwiches taste better if somebody else makes them for you.  Salads too.  So tonight I totally scored when Carter said he'd make dinner and we would be having BLTs and salad for the family affair.  The man knows his way with bacon, and we happened to have some good Zingerman's bread and some decent Campari tomatoes.  Game on.  He also made basil mayonnaise, which earned him extra points.  

Carter developed allergies and went dairy-free in college.  It was a rough start for us as I am dairy-land proud.  Cheese and eggs?  I would rather do without beer, and that's saying something (notice I didn't say Vodka).  Trader Joe's to the rescue once again.  They make a Vegan mayonnaise that's really, really good.  

Hello, lovely.

With this discovery, things like tuna salad and BLTs were once again in our repertoire.  Yee-haw.   I read a blog called "Everybody Loves Sandwiches" and I fully concur. 

Basil mayonnaise, which (for us) is just a good scoop of T.J.s mayo with about a tablespoon of chopped basil and some salt and pepper and a squeeze of lemon juice stirred in, adds really good flavor to all things sandwiched between bread.  

BLAT (Bacon, lettuce, avocado, tomato).

The sandwiches were delicious.  I had mine open-faced which meant I got twice the bacon with half the bread.  At least in my mind that's what it meant.  

The boys had BLs.  They are really pretty good eaters but they're funny about tomatoes.  As in they won't touch them with a ten foot pole.  Except when they eat tomato soup, which I call "vampire soup".  They love it.  Shhhh.  And avocado?  If it were to appear on their plates you'd think we'd served them a platter of strychnine.  But they love their guacamole in tacos.  Shhhh again.  We will tell them in due time.  Like when we drop them off at college (or trade school as the trend indicates).  Are there residential trade schools?  I sure hope so.  

Greek Quinoa Salad and Why My Sister Hates Me

I love my sister.  I feel like for the most part the feeling is mutual, except when she asks me to send her a recipe.  Then she doesn't love me so much.  Typically I'll start with something like, "Saute a bunch of chicken and add a ton of chopped greens with broth."

She then has the audacity to ask questions such as:
1) What kind of pan do you use?
2) What cut of chicken do you buy?
3) How do you prepare said cut of chicken?
4) Do I need oil or butter to saute?
5) DAMNIT, OIL OR BUTTER?
6) What kind of greens?
7) Size of the chop?
8) Type and amount of broth?
9) WTF, Leah?

I cook by luck; she cooks by recipe.  We are at odds.

I made one of my summer favorites last weekend and thought of my sister as I tried to quantify the ingredients here.  I tried my best; add more of what you like to make it to your taste (best disclaimer ever for hating my recipe).

Greek Quinoa Salad (serves 6 easily)

1 cup uncooked quinoa, prepared according to directions - yielding approx. 2 cups
1/2 to 3/4 pint cherry tomatoes, quartered
2 mini cucumbers or 1/2 English cucumber, quartered and diced
1/4 cup chopped red onion, or to taste
1/3 cup chopped pitted Kalamata olives (be sure to buy the pitted ones to save you the trouble.)
1/3 - 1/2 cup crumbled Feta cheese
Zest and juice of 1 lemon
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
salt and pepper, as needed
olive oil, as needed (good for refreshing if it's been in the refrigerator for a while)

Chopped veg.

Altogether now.

Dinner is served.  With yogurt-marinated chicken served on spinach for fabulous color.  Seriously, even if you don't eat the spinach it always looks good.  Put it on the plate.

Quinoa was a new thing for me about a year and a half ago.  Apparently I was a 'late adopter' on that one.  I brought this salad to the boys' new school's welcome back picnic last August and it was gone by the time we'd been through the potluck line.  That's not a brag; my serving spoon was gone, too.  

Costco has proven to be the most cost-effective place by far to buy my friend quinoa, but you will be buying quinoa for a platoon.  Trader Joe's is second.  If you buy the little packages as the grocer, it will be hugely expensive.  At that point, just go with couscous.  Sorry, Sis, to add that variable to the 'recipe.' 

Baked Fish that Doesn't Suck

As my previous attempt at baked fish (fish & chips) was a big fail, I went back to the drawing board.  Inspiration struck when I toasted breadcrumbs in a skillet to serve tossed with roasted cauliflower.  The breadcrumbs (Panko) turned from pasty white to a golden brown in less than two minutes and with only a couple teaspoons of added oil.

The big problem with faux fried fish (breaded and baked in the oven) is that either the fish cooked but the breading didn't brown, or in my case, the breading browned unevenly and I ended up over-baking the fish trying to get a uniform color.  With pre-cooked breadcrumbs, the fish could bake quickly and at a high temperature, yet still emerge with an evenly browned appearance.  I'm going to call it a success.  Or beginner's luck.  


Crispy Fish 


1 Cup Panko (Japanese bread crumbs)
Salt and pepper
2 teaspoons olive oil + cooking spray to coat pan


1/2 Cup flour
2 egg whites, lightly beaten with 1 teaspoon water


1 pound whitefish (I had tilapia, but cod or walleye would be good too) cut into uniform 'sticks'

Panko seasoned with salt and pepper just added to a medium-hot pan 

with 2 tsp. oil and cooking spray.

After about 2 minutes - golden brown.  Remove from pan and add to 

shallow bowl or rimmed plate.

Heat oven to 450 degrees.  Spray a cookie sheet with nonstick spray.  Set up a breading station with three separate shallow bowls or plates: 1) flour 2) egg whites 3) toasted Panko.


Coat each fish strip in flour, then egg, then Panko and place on the prepared pan.  

Bake at 450 for 9-10 minutes.

Pre-baked but already looking gooood.

Baked and served with Asian slaw.

Asian Coleslaw


1 bag coleslaw
3 tablespoons rice vinegar
3 tablespoons reduced fat mayonnaise
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon Sriracha sauce
Zest and juice of 1/2 lime
1/4 cup chives or green onions, chopped 

Mix until blended and serve or cover and refrigerate until serving.  I realize this slaw is about as Asian as I am, but I'm going with it.

We let the boys dip their fish in ketchup.  They would eat their shoes if dipped in ketchup.  Or Ranch dressing. But, hey, they ate it.  Our fish was dipped in this:  

Sweet Chili Sauce - I might eat my own shoes if served with plenty of this.

Free arrangement of the week - apple blossom branches from our yard (or else potentially our neighbor's yard, but they didn't say anything).

Tomorrow: Greek Quinoa Salad, because you can't live in Ann Arbor and avoid Quinoa for long.  

Blame the Kardashians. And Best Coffee Cake.

Carter has taken to blaming the world's problems on the Kardashians.  Kim, in particular.  I count myself among the zillions who want an explanation as to why they're famous, but he takes it a step further.  Republican presidential candidates?  European debt crisis?  Taliban?  He blames the Kardashians for all of it.  It's hard, yet funny, to watch the news with him because he just shakes his head and mutters, "Kardashian" after every segment.  


Have you seen this?  The SNL Kardashians are almost as good as Bill Hader cracking himself up as Stefon.  


Anyway, the coffee cake my friend Lena brought over on Easter is the Anti-Kardashian.  We made it for the first time this weekend and I can say with certainty it's going to be a regular in the rotation.



Easiest Coffee Cake
1/2 c brown sugar
1 c sugar
2/3 c butter

Cream above ingredients

Add 2 beaten eggs

In a separate bowl sift together:
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon

Alternate adding dry ingredients and 1 cup plain yogurt to butter/ sugar mixture

Pour in a greased 9x13 pan

Batter - thick but don't be alarmed.

Topping:
1/2 c brown sugar
3/4 c chopped pecans
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 

With crumbly topping.  Who doesn't love a crumbly topping?

Sprinkle topping over batter, cover and refrigerate overnight .

Bake at 350 for 35 minutes.

My dainty portion.  One of several dainty portions.

So that's the recipe from Lena.  Here are my confessions:  I didn't sift the dry ingredients because I gave my flour sifter to Goodwill, and I didn't alternate the dry ingredients with the yogurt because it all gets mixed together in the end anyway.  I also used Greek Yogurt because it was all we had.  I think it turned out jussssssst fine.  We ate an embarrassing amount of this delight this morning.  Plus fruit, though, so it was kind of a wash.  So easy and so good.  This is going to be a staple for holidays and brunches.  It's almost worth making just for the way it will make your house smell.  Crowdpleaser for sure.  


I'm not sure why it needs to sit overnight; maybe that will be my next experiment.  Anyway, I had plenty of time to bake this morning seeing as my day began at 5:45 a.m. when I woke up to both the infernal birds in the aviary that is our yard AND a thunderstorm.  Both.  My morning greeting to my beloved was, "Are you effing kidding me?  I can take the birds or the rain but not both."  His response?  "KarDASHian."

Greetings Feline + Dark Chocolate Banana Muffins

I was watching a show called "Happy Endings" a few weeks ago and found it pretty entertaining.  Not sure when it's on but it's an ensemble cast featuring a smart couple in an inter-racial marriage (please tell me this is not groundbreaking), the ubiquitous straight-playing gay man who refers to his straight male friends as 'ladies,' and Jack Bauer's daughter from "24."

I felt the young Ms. Bauer, whose real name I'm sure I could find in 1.42 seconds but am too lazy to do so, was horribly miscast on "24".  But she plays kooky well and is much more believable on "Happy Endings".  There's no joke there.  Although there could be.

What made me laugh aloud in the episode I saw was the character Penny (possibly from Saturday Night Live?) who said she grew up poor but still managed to record her dreams in her Greetings Feline notebook.  Greetings Feline being the off-price Hello Kitty.  Now that is funny.  As someone who's pretty sure she owned a pair of Birkenstorks in college, it's extra funny.

Paging through one of my scholarly magazines the other day I came across something that was so blatantly stolen it made Greetings Feline look original.  I present:  Bobs.

Skechers Bobs

If you read their (full page) advertisement you'd think Skechers is doing a really humanitarian thing - they give a pair of shoes to charity for every pair of Bobs you buy.  J'ACCUSE, BOBS!  Where on earth did you get that clever idea?

Right, blatantly copied from TOMS

Now, in this day and age where Bounty PAPER TOWELS FOR THE LOVE have to document the approximate weight of red grapes their damp towel can withhold before tearing, how in the world is BOBS getting away with this nonsense?  

I tried to list a pair of "Gucci" sunglasses on E-Bay last year and was threatened with litigation within an hour of posting.  And yet BOBS?  

I swear I had a reason for that diatribe.  Oh yes, accept no substitutions.  With the exception of Splenda for white sugar in baking.

Dark Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins

(Adapted from the March 1999 issue of Bon Appetit, because I've been making them that long.)

2 large ripe mashed bananas

1 large egg

1/2 cup (1 stick) melted butter

1/4 cup milk

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour (I use whole wheat to feel better about myself although it's nutritionally negligible; use what you have.)

2/3 cup Splenda (or granulated sugar)

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup dark chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray a (12 muffin) muffin pan with cooking spray.  Mix bananas through milk together.  Add dry ingredients and stir until just mixed.  Incorporate chocolate chips.  

Divide batter evenly among muffin cups (will be about 3/4 full).  Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean, about 30-34 minutes.

Pre Baked

Post Baked

The boys started their spring soccer league this week and have come home from both practices asking for their "second dinner."  What the what?  This is not Taco Bell.  There is no "FOURTHMEAL(tm)" at this establishment.  These banana muffins + a yogurt have become the post soccer go-to for a quick but filling snack before bed.  

I imagine everyone, like myself, comes up with talking points for a chance meeting with Michelle Obama.  Right?  On top of my list is that FOURTHMEAL(tm).  I feel like she and I would joke about that zany-ness and it would segue into those Doritos Locos Tacos and we would just laugh and laugh.  Bad Idea Jeans, Taco Bell.  Both the First Lady and I are laughing at you.  

P.S.  As I was writing this post I was watching "30 Rock" which featured "The Woggles" instead of "The Wiggles."  As I thought the phrase the went until about two years ago, "I arrest my case."  And also, I rest my case.  Accept very few substitutes.  

Lox-y and The Crazy's the Best Part About Her.

I love Easter.  Although to me it's less "The Lord is Risen," and more, "Yay, Spring is here. Let's celebrate and eat."

Growing up largely in Minnesota, Easter was always a sad display of little girls with their pretty new Easter dresses covered up with parkas and snow boots. Such is life in the Midwest, I suppose.  However as this year had been so awesomely warm we threw caution to the wind and made the announcement: Egg Hunt at our house Easter Morn'.

Then came the big question: what to serve?  I wanted something that could be made ahead so that I could participate in the festivities.  I thought Egg Bake, but then it needs to be kept warm and could dry out.  Nyet.  Then my most favorite breakfast came to mind: Bagels and lox.  Add a bowl of fruit and you've got yourself a tasty nutritious breakfast (put your toaster on the buffet and let everyone toast as they go) with absolutely zero work required of you.  Perfection.

Are you allowed to call it Lox if you're not Swedish or work at Ikea?  Cured salmon, then.  Whatever.  It's easy and good.  The only thing it requires is time.  I've been liking the dill and chive/scallion combo.    I've also done lemon zest and chives for hors d'oeuvres.  Nice with Champagne.  A.K.A. sparkling wine (I think that whole Champagne thing is pretentious.  Suck it, France.)

Lox
1 (1lb.) salmon filet
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup Kosher salt
1/2 cup chopped dill
1/4 cup chopped green onions
3 tablespoons chopped chives

Combine salt and sugar.  Combine herbs separately.  Layer as follows:

Greens

Place a layer of plastic wrap on a plate.  Put about 1/3 of salt and sugar mix on the plate.  Follow with a layer of herbs and a piece of salmon.  Repeat layers.  

Wrap it up.

Tidy little package.

Place the wrapped fish in a bowl with a plate on top and weigh down.  Let sit in the refrigerator for 48 hours.  That's two days.  I did three days this time and it was salt-o-riffic.  Two days is good.

Unwrapped and pre-rinsed.

Rinsed under cold water until you can't rinse anymore.

Thinly sliced and pretty.

Accoutrements.  Plus Capers.  

We split the bagel order so there was something for everyone.  Blueberry for the sweet lovers, plain for those who swing both ways, and everything bagels for the salty salts like myself.  Everyone was happy.  Especially because my Muslim friend came to her first egg hunt and brought about the best and lightest coffee cake I've ever had.  It was gone by the time all the eggs were found.  Winner recipe to be posted soonest.  

For once, nature agreed and the clouds we awoke to quickly dissipated.  Easter was gorgeous.

Carter explaining the rules of the hunt (priceless).

Whoo hooo!

Happy campers.

As we were rushing to get the boys bathed and in bed at a suitable hour last night I overheard the following:

- "...But that's what Mom said..."

- "Yes but Mom's crazy."

- "I know that.  The Crazy's the best part about her."

They had no idea I was listening and they said that the Crazy was the best part about me. Can't beat it.  Happy Easter,  Happy Spring.

The end.

Spring Break-y

We have a bad record with spring break.  We wait and wait until C's travel plans come together, and, in full disclosure, I'm finally motivated to plan it.  Last year worked out beautifully, by chance.  We shared a beach-front Florida condo with my sister (thanks to my sister's dear friends who gave us the stay gratis).  It was amazing.

Early morning Florida beach happiness.  2011.

This year was not quite as auspicious.  We waited until the bitter end and then tried to use mileage and companion fares to go south.  Not so much.  Also this year we've bought a new car, a new roof, and are preparing to buy a new bathroom.  Sometimes I dislike being an adult.  New roof?  I object.

Plus, we somehow dodged the bone-chilling cold that settles in the upper Midwest for about, oh, 5 months from November-April.  It just wasn't that bad.  "Get me the hell out of here," was so 2011.  This year it was more, "Maybe let's find someplace fun that none of us has visited."  

So I started a search of places within a days' drive where there would be attractions for both kids and adults.  DEAR GOD we went to Niagara Falls.  Although it's not the Roman Aqueducts we visited in September, Niagara is still an engineer's dream.  So Carter was good.  As for the boys, we got upgraded to a suite with a hot tub within the living room (boys' room).  So H. got to sit in a hot tub whilst watching Sponge Bob.  He thought he was the coolest kid in the world.  

Our hotel was also connected to a 4-acre water park.  Monday I was awoken with poke...poke, "Hey Mom, MOM.  MOM?  Can we go to the waterpark now?  MOM?  HEY MOM?  MOM?  Can we go to the waterpark NOW?  MOM?" It was 7:00 a.m.  The waterpark did not open until 10:00 a.m.   So I replied, "Child, do you SEE the lump at the other end of this king-size bed?  That would be your father.   Your father gets to sleep in hotels like this about four nights per week.  Please defer all further questions to the lump."  

Spring Break 2012  - not at the beach.

The boys maybe loved that water park more than going to the ocean.  I'm nearly convinced, however, that we could've traveled about 20 minutes northeast of our home, checked into the nearest Holidome (remember with the chlorine that burned your eyes even you weren't in the pool) and they would've been equally happy.  That's the beauty of six.  They don't stay that dumb innocent for long, I reckon.

Carter calls family travel a 'trip' instead of a vacation.  It's getting easier all the time but I still have to agree.  One thing we did on our trip was eat a lot of bad food.  And we didn't even go to McDonald's once.  No, I'm talking about the family restaurants --  the Ruby Tuesday's, the Chili's, the Romano's Macaroni Grill and the like.  In much the same way my Superbowl Sunday is synonymous with that horrible Velveeta queso dip (which is soooo good), trips, to me, equal, "I'll have the onion rings with that."  Ugh.

Since we've been back I've been trying to eat and serve foods in more their natural state.**  And without cheese sauce.  Oven dried tomatoes fit the bill.  Take a pint of regular grape tomatoes, toss with a little olive oil place on a sheet pan and roast in a 250 degree oven for 2-3 hours.  What happens is transformative.  They become intensely sweet and totally addictive.

Post-roast.  

For a quick dinner I sauteed these tomatoes with a little asparagus and white wine and served over a little pasta.  These tomatoes on a baguette with goat cheese?  Lunch is served.   

 "Look at that amazing feat of Engineering!"  They totally wanted to go watch Sponge Bob.

So many pieces of Canadian flair.

Back to school Monday.  Time flies when you're on a trip.  

**Until Sunday when I have my annual date with every flavor of Jelly Belly jellybeans except Buttered Popcorn.