Day EightySix::ThreeSixtyFive

My sugar bowl.
This morning I discovered someone had replaced the confection with salt.

Everyone's a comedian.

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Day EightyFive::ThreeSixtyFive

Chopsticks.

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Day EightyFour::ThreeSixtyFive

My little superman.

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Day EightyThree::ThreeSixtyFive

Today A., my 7yr old took me on an adventure.
He rocks.

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Day EightyTwo::ThreeSixtyFive

Today we fed the ducks in this pond.
When the kids ran out of bread they jumped in and scared them all away.


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Farro Soup (good for boredom AND torture)

Farro is one of those grains that I pull out every now and again when I'm feeling bored with the ones I commonly use.
and when I want to torture my children.

I do my best to camouflage it in a soup.
hiding it well among the carrots and stars.

They deftly pick around it
until I coerce them into taking 3 bites...
When that fails, I resort to bribery.
Dumdums works well.

Farro Soup

*by Heidi Swanson

Ingredients:
2 TBSP olive oil
2 large onions
1 cup sweet potatoes- peeled & diced
kosher salt
2 TBSP curry powder
2/3 cup farro, rinsed
1 1/4 cups french lentils, rinsed
4 cups beef stock
2 cups water
lemon flavored greek yogurt
lemon zest

Directions:
Heat oil over medium high heat and add onion and sweet potato.
Sprinkle with a 4 finger pinch of salt.
saute for a few minutes, until soft.

Add curry powder and stir.

Add farro, lentils, stock and water.
Bring to a boil.
Cover & simmer for about 45 minutes, or until farro is done.

Season with salt.
salt.
salt.
salt.

Spoon into bowls and top with a dollop of yogurt and some extra zest.

Day EightyOne::ThreeSixtyFive

Straight from the playbook of Miss Mary Poppins.

Perhaps we'll try the champagne room next.


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Day Eighty::ThreeSixtyFive

This year I am hosting Passover for the first time.
All week I will be trying out recipes to serve.
This is the haroseth.
It rocks.

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Day SeventyNine::ThreeSixtyFive

DoodleBug.

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Day SeventyEight::ThreeSixtyFive

Hanging out.

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Day SeventySeven::Three SixtyFive

Basket (case)
Heh heh.

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Day SeventyFive::ThreeSixtyFive

Today I am photographing some more dishes with one of my most favorite people.. Tasia Malakasis for her first cookbook coming out later this year.

Tasia's Table.

This is the pork tenderloin with apple chutney.

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Day SeventySix::ThreeSixtyFive

Today I'm finishing up some last shots for Tasia's Table.
This is canned salmon.

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Day SeventyFour::ThreeSixtyFive

The birth of the Death Star

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Day SeventyThree::ThreeSixtyFive

March Madness Mosquito Style

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Day SeventyTwo::ThreeSixtyFive

Texting while driving.

Day SeventyOne::ThreeSixtyFive

I pulled over on the side of the highway today to take this photo.
Tomorrow it will look totally different.
I both love and hate that about springtime.

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Day Seventy::ThreeSixtyFive

Two things I love: grain sack cloth and Paris.
bisou.

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Day SixtyNine::ThreeSixtyFive

Backbends.
How long had it been since you've done one?

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Day SixtyEight::ThreeSixtyFive

I've been eagerly awaiting the arrival of a new (old) coffee table.
It's a Railroad cart.
The delivery guy commented- a freight hauler, just like me!
Indeed.

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Day SixtySeven::ThreeSixtyFive

Today the clouds have set the mood.
The light is soft and delicate.

Instead of seeing this as yet another chore, I saw the beauty of the light catching the folds in the sheets.

The delicate way the shadows curled around the highlights.
And the sweet notion of my little girl dreaming there moments before.

I took a photo.
Then closed the door.
No need to make the bed today.

Day SixtySix::ThreeSixtyFive

Morning smoothie.


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Day SixtyFive::ThreeSixtyFive

Here's a pretty shot of a silo with the sun just starting to set.


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Day SixtyFour::ThreeSixtyFive

Oranges

A Happy Birthday Letter to my Children

To my children,

Let me begin by telling you how much I love you.
I love you with all my heart.
and I  appreciate you.

I appreciate your recent metamorphosis into Keepers of International Atomic Time by prefacing every conversation with...
...'for my birthday can we....'
or
...'next week, on my birthday...'
or
...'It'sFiveMoreDaysUntilMyBirthday. Good morning mom!"

It's the subtly I respond well to.

 I also appreciate your inquisitive nature in all things Birds-and-Bees biological.
especially during dinnertime.

But what I am most thankful for these days is that you do not question how it came to be that four out of five of you were born during the same week.
I'd be forced to come up with some lame reason you are likely to misinterpret (or worse yet, understand) like:
'Well kids, the cable tends to go out more frequently in June.'
or maybe 'it's the evening gin and tonics enjoyed on the back porch.'
or perhaps 'the morning bloody marys'...

Whatever the reason, we can all agree on the fact that there is an ample amount of cake consumed during this time.
I know it drives you bananas that I insist on making each one.
You in turn fight seedless fruit with seedless fruit and each year go to battle on this issue
begging and pleading, as though for your lives, to buy the cake at Costco
or Krispy Kreme Doughnuts
or just skip the cake altogether and hand out spoons and tubs of frosting.

I choose not to view this as yet another battle, but rather as an opportunity to teach lifelong skills in the art of negotiation and compromise.

We make a cake- I win!
from a box- You win!

Happy Birthday guys!
I look forward to doing battle with you next year!

Love,
Mom

Birthday Cake
*there is no recipe. This happiness I get from a box and a tub.

Day SixtyThree::ThreeSixtyFive

I was driving along an unfamiliar road today and had to pull over when I saw this patch of land that was completely covered in dead vines.


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Belle Chevre Sweet Paul Giveaway

I had the pleasure of photographing this latest giveaway from Sweet Paul.
A beautiful basket filled with delicious cheese and cookies from Belle Chevre.

Head on over there, leave a comment and be entered to win!
Good luck!

Day SixtyTwo::ThreeSixtyFive

A sneak peak to an upcoming post.
Chickpea stew.

Day SixtyOne::ThreeSixtyFive

Nothing brings back childhood memories like food:
Twinkies...
Ho-Hos....
Lucky Charms....
And of course, Goldfish

Day Sixty::ThreeSixtyFive

Happy Birthday Theodor Geisel!
So many pearls of wisdom...

Day FiftyNine::ThreeAixtyFive

Hockey

Day FiftyEight::ThreeSixtyFive

Flowers.
Lit but natural light.
Natural tornado light.

Day FiftySeven::ThreeSixtyFive

Today I am photographing an Easter promo for Belle Chevre
I'm in love with this creamery,
it's cheese
and the women (and man) who make it.