Farmers' market goodies

Yesterday we ventured out to the farmers' market.  It was a bit of a struggle.  It was going to be another super hot day.  I had been super uncomfortable the night before and didn't want a repeat of that.  Bigger was cranky, at least partly because I refused to push the double stroller and therefore he had to walk.  And there was always a chance that the popcorn lady wouldn't be there or wouldn't have my favorite sweet & salty popcorn.  And the real reason for going was for the popcorn.  Yeah, yeah, get out of the house, get some fresh air and exercise.  My motivation was not so virtuous. 

So we wandered over.  It isn't really that far.  You can see the mall where the market is held from our living room window, I guess it would be about 2 blocks walk in all.  The popcorn lady is at the far end of the market so you never know till the very end.  But by now I had come up with a backup plan - no popcorn and we would stop at McD's for egg and cheese biscuits on the way home.  (Because in those two blocks there is a McD's and they would be serving breakfast at 9:30 in the morning.)  I was not going home empty handed. 

Cruising the market on our quest for popcorn, Bigger was like a treat seeking missile.  He stopped in front of every possible booth where they had once or might give samples.  Of course the bakery, the cupcake company, and the homemade ice cream mobile were all right in a row.  And I wont deny that I was tempted, sorely tempted.  But funds were limited and we were here for popcorn.  His puppy dog eyes did not sway me - we were on a mission. 

And there it was - sweet & salty kettle corn!  Success!  I bought two bags. 

We also bought peaches (seconds, so we have to eat them up quickly, shucks ;-)  And cherries.  And the boys did get to sample a sugar plum.  Looks like he's saying "get in ma belly!"  to all that yumminess, doesn't it? 

No, he is not missing any teeth.  He just has a big ol' gap.  All the better for jello and spaghetti slurping.  And Bapa has a gap too so it's all the cooler. 

On our way home, this little stinker declared he had a good idea.  We should get bologna.  So we went to the "bologna store."  (There is a European market kinda next to the McD's, of all places, with a nice deli counter.  And a really good bakery.  But I digress.)  Bigger got to pick which kind he wanted - with the red casing.  And the boys each got a sample slice right there at the counter.  :)  As long as we were there I thought we should get some fresh pretzels.  After all, Bigger and I had read Walter the Baker by Eric Carle at 5:30 that morning.  And I was getting a little hungry myself.  Even after a peach and (more than) a few handfuls of popcorn. 

Stinker tried to pitch a fit when he discovered he hadn't picked the checkout where the nice lady always gave him and his brother a piece of candy.  So he fought his brother over the bag of pretzels.  Once that was settled he headed out the first door - and leaned on it so I wouldn't be able to open it.  Just as I was getting him to move enough to open the door an older couple went out the door on the other side, Bigger dropped his fight for the door, and held their door open for them.  Very sweet child, isn't he?  And as soon as they were through he let it shut.  In front of me and Littler in the stroller.  Did I mention he was a stinker?  The couple did stop at the next set of doors to make sure I would get out.  Or maybe it was straight up curiousity as to how this would play out.  Either way, we did all make it out of the store and even all the way home without further incident. 

All in all, it was a good outting.  And now I'm thinking about more pretzels.  :)  (I already had a peach and some popcorn for breakfast.)  





This is why...

we are more often than not days behind in the dishes.  And it's not just laziness, although I'll admit that that plays a part. 

 No, this is the real reason.  This is what happens when I try to actually accomplish anything. 
Here's another shot, a little context. 

While I attempted to wash the dishes, Littler pulled on the curtains on the right side.  Hard enough to pull the curtain rod out of the little holder-doohickey and bend the rod in the middle.  I used to swear that they would spill stuff in the living room just so I would have to vacuum and they could run to their bedroom and create mischief of one kind or another.  Yes, I really do think that a 3 year old and his trusty little brother sidekick can really pull that off.  And yes, this was one of those days. 

So on days like this all I can do is sit there while one boy takes over my lap looking at a picture book of Excalibur and his brother sits between my feet on the foot stool, pretending to drive his car and getting handfuls of gas from his rocking chair.  And I try to stay awake.  Until the reader catches on to the driving game and takes over the driver's seat while brother is refueling.  And we're off to the races again. 

This also explains why I have trouble losing weight.  They pull this stuff and after it's cleaned up I go into the kitchen and have some Halloween candy.  Today I topped the candy - I made extra rice for dinner so I could make rice pudding.  I substituted cut up dried apricots and cardamom for the raisins and cinnamon.  Yum!  And I can admit to the other reason my weight and I don't agree - yes, I ate almost half the pan standing at the kitchen counter.  (And true to form, a large portion of that large portion was while the boys were pulling more stunts while I tried to, you guessed it, wash the dishes.  They were taking the tops off their milk cups in the living room to give you an idea of some of our evening chaos.) 

Birthday Cake

This might go down in the memory books as an epic fail. Or maybe as one of the world's best salvages. Either way at least it was tasty.

 For whatever reason we didn't have all the ingredients for Littler's birthday cake before the actual day.  So after Mass we headed to the grocery store for what we were missing, like flour.  After that it was downtown for the 9/11 memorial and then back to the church for the parish picnic.  Then home for a rest and to bake a cake.  I hadn't wanted to put it till the last minute but sometimes these things cannot be helped. 

So I found a recipe for a one bowl chocolate cake that serves 8 - perfect.  So I started to mix it up.  DH took the Birthday Boy out to pick up the Birthday Pizza. 

In my rush to be finished before Birthday Boy and Daddy got home and needing the cake cooled for frosting I tried to turn it out of the pan too soon.  A chunk of cake remained in the pan resulting in one really sad looking cake :( 

My brilliant plan was to use the cooling rack to flip the top back onto the bottom and then just serve it out of the pan.  But the cake had other plans and simply slid back into the pan, top side down.  Oh crud, now what do I do?  I cried, which thoroughly upset Bigger and, in true 3 year old fashion, started to fall apart too saying "I'm sorry, it's my fault."  So first I calmed the two of us down.  And  then I called my parents. 

Mom suggested adding pudding, which sounds yummy.  But we lacked pudding mix or enough milk to make pudding.  So I added a little milk to the frosting and drizzled it on the messy top.  Then to complete the "I meant to do that" look I added red and blue sprinkles. 

The Birthday Boy doesn't seem to find anything strange to his cake.  In fact he was quite tickled by it. 

And it seemed to pass the taste test.  The WeatherMan and I agreed it tasted a little spice cake-like which we thought was odd.  Not in a bad way just not like chocolate cake.  So next time, more chocolate.  And more patience.  :)  And maybe a little planning ahead. 

Happy Summer!

Ahh, the longest day of the year.  Nothing to look forward to but shorter days and longer nights after this as my dad always remarks.  ;-)  But we're gonna enjoy it while we got it. 
In honor of the day, Bigger Boy and I made water ice.  And no, as much as it will upset some people, I am not teaching the boys to call it "wooder" ice.  That makes me a little crazy and I'm sure they will figure that out soon enough and say it just to bug me. 

 It's a fairly simple procedure.  Even with a 3 year old.  Boil 2 cups of water and 1 cup of sugar. 
Remove it from the heat and add the juice of 1 lemon plus about 1/4 cup of bottled lemon juice (because this is what I had.)  Throw in some lemon zest too since you had the lemon. 

 Littler likes lemons so we gave him the halves once we juiced them.  And yes, that's our air conditioner still sitting on the floor and not in the window where it belongs at this time of year.

 Pour into a dish and try to find space for it in the freezer.  Remember to be careful when checking on it.  Don't let it slide out of the freezer or slosh onto the floor - it makes one seriously sticky mess.

Yummy!  The Boy approves :)  And so do I - it's been a heck of a day.  I'll try to post more on that later but for now I'm just trying to stay awake until the Boy is asleep. 
Next I want to try watermelon, just have to work out the water ratio for that...