Hooray for Snow Days
I don’t know where the days have gone. Well, I’ve been partying. I was out again the other night, with my school colleagues. We went to karaoke at the Gladstone (which is a blast by the way—the host is fab and it’s an eclectic crowd). I helped perpetuate the karaoke cliché of six drunken women screaming “Total Eclipse of the Heart” (when will I learn I’m a terrible singer). Good times.
Despite my intentions to have an early night, I stayed until the end. There were rumblings of an after-party, but I bailed. I was kind of sad about that—I always used to be the girl who hosted the after party—but I was thankful the next day when I took Cakes to see Santa along with 20 other toddlers. By the way, toddlers are afraid of Santa. They don’t really enjoy being taken to see him. They do like the presents though…
Yay! More plastic Dora shit.
Other than that, McHotty and I have been doing Christmas stuff with our girl.
We were going to get our tree today but we’re snowed in…
I'm kinda loving it, since I don't have to be anywhere today. But Cakes only appreciated it for about half a block.
Tonight we’re going to start watching Battlestar Gallactica. So many people whose opinions I value have recommended it to me. It must be good.
One last thing—we’re having vegetarian (not that there’s anything wrong with that) friends over for New Years Eve. Can anyone recommend something special McHotty can whip up for us?
posted by metro mama @ 5:23 PM
22 Comments:
Assuming they'll eat cheese, twice-baked potatoes are yummy. With some of those "not-really-bacon" bacon bits...
Are you looking more for appetizer stuff or a full-on meal?
you are so lovely. it makes me miss you and wish i was singing (poorly) along next to you.
I'm looking for a gourmet meal--it's also my birthday!
There's this:
Yam Casserole
1 cup all-purpose flour
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup chopped pecans, toasted
1/4 cup light margarine (stick)
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 1/2 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and halved
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 large egg white
5 ounces evaporated skim milk
Vegetable cooking spray
For extra flavor, the streusel is stirred into the casserole plus sprinkled on top.
Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
Combine first 5 ingredients in a small bowl, stirring to form a streusel. Set aside.
Place potatoes in a Dutch oven; add water to cover. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat, and simmer 30 minutes or until very tender. Drain well; place in a large bowl, and mash. Stir in 1 cup streusel, granulated sugar, and next 3 ingredients. Spoon into a 2-quart casserole coated with cooking spray; top with remaining streusel. Bake at 350 degrees F for 45 minutes.
And this:
Penne with Spinach and Sundried tomatoes
1 cup sun-dried tomatoes, without oil
1/4 cup vegetable broth
1 tsp EVOO
1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
3 medium garlic cloves, minced
16 oz. cooked garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
2 cups spinach, chopped
6 oz. uncooked penne, cooked (I like the whole grain or Omega-3 enriched varieties)
2 Tbsp grated Parm. cheese
1/8 tsp sea salt, or to taste
1/8 tsp black pepper, or to taste
Combine tomatoes with 1 cup boiling water. Let stand about 20 minutes or until softened. Drain and chop.
In a large bowl, combine broth, oil, vinegar and garlic. Add chickpeas, spinach, penne, cheese and tomatoes.
Toss well. Season to taste and serve.
These are good as an appy, I think:
Black Bean Lettuce Bundles
Ingredients
1 cup canned black beans
1/2 cup cooked corn kernels
1/2 medium sweet red pepper(s), seeded and chopped
4 medium scallion(s), sliced
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
2 Tbsp fresh lime juice
1 tsp olive oil
1 tsp ground cumin
1 medium garlic clove(s), chopped
1/2 tsp table salt
1 head Boston lettuce, washed and seperated into leaves
Instructions
1.In a medium bowl, mix the black beans, corn, bell pepper, scallions, cilantro, lime juice, oil, cumin, garlic and salt. Refrigerate, covered, until the flavors are blended, at least 1 hour.
2.Place a lettuce leaf on a work surface and fill with about 1/3 cup of the bean mixture; fold up burrito-style. Repeat, using all the bean mixture (save any extra lettuce for a salad).
and Happy Birthday!
I'm not really sure what gourmet means, exactly, or if any my recipes would qualify, but... Sugar D does a mean risotto with romano beans, tomatoes and parmesan. I do a nice pasta with chickpeas, spinach and red peppers (plus a bit of wine and chili flakes if it's for a kid-free audience). Sugar D also has a great repertoire of curries... I do a pretty good lasagne if I do say so myself, with ricotta and spinach and other veggies... if any of these pique your interest, email me and I'll send you the recipes. Oh -- and I also do a nice cauliflower gratin with feta, tomatoes and capers that I serve with couscous and sometimes salmon filets (you and McHottie could have the salmon)... anyways, let me know if you're interested in any of those...
Snow days are fun, aren't they!
The Taxman shoveled the driveway and made a small toboggan hill in our front yard, which kept The Happy Boy engaged for about 20 minutes. Cute.
As for vegetarian stuff, have a look at my post about a vegetarian thanksgiving dinner:
http://urbanmummy.wordpress.com/2007/11/16/a-vegetarian-thanksgiving-the-real-deal/
might give you some ideas. If you like, I can post some stuff over at the above site - it's a vegetarian cooking (and lots of other stuff) blog that is due for a good post! Just let me know what you'd like to see!
MMMmmmm. I say a nice Ratatouille with crusty bread and maybe a selection of nice runny cheeses.
And lots and lots of wine.
And it will be your birthday!
xo in advance and more in person.
Nothing beats drunken karaoke - we should do that after sledding.
Love the gingerbread house and the sledding photo is super cute (we didn't make it past the balcony).
I recommend chocolate.
Ha! I think we did the same gingerbread kit today too (pics will be up tomorrow). Isn't it the perfect snow day activity?
I love that last shot in the snow... just beautiful.
Drunken karaoke. I can't wait. I'm so dragging you along for some of that the next time we see each other.
And I'm a big Battlestar Gallactica fan.
But then, I have a Spock ear and like Britney Spears. Can I really be trusted?
Whooooo. Okay, Nigella Lawson has a yummy and fancy vegetarian menu in Feast - Italianfied Guacamole with crudites and bruschetta nuda, involtini, and baci di ricotta. I've made the guacamole and involtini before and can vouch for them - let me know if you want the recipes.
great pics! i love snow day - bee also lasted about 5 minutes outside. i didn't even get dressed, but that's standard these days.
how about a stuffed manicotti kind of thing for ny?
ps - love your coat!
Oh she's so beautiful!
You must tell me what you think of BSG - onr of my favourite shows ever!
We love to make gingerbread houses... so much fun!
i think cakes and my isabella have the same hair!! ;)
How did you keep Cakes from eating the gingerbread house, that's what I'd like to know. I don't think I would have had such will power.
And risotto is always good for dinner parties. Just make sure you make it with vegetable stock and not chicken stock. That could be bad.
I was kind of loving the great big snow - although I am cursing having to drag the kid to daycare on a toboggan, because it is toughgoing and me? I am not a husky dog.
You look lovely there in the snow.
I think it is funny in my American sort of way that a Dora toy box is labeled in both English and French, rather than Spanish as it is here. Your kids get to be trilingual, and ours are only bilingual. ;)
I just posted a great artichoke dip over at MBT and my site! It's super easy to make.
Love snow days, we only lasted 5 minutes thought outside as there was such a wind that made it absolutely freezing.
I have to agree with the chocolate recommendation. You can never go wrong with chocolate.
Lovely snow day you've got there! Wish we could have had some real snow and not just slush. And that gingerbread house looks fantastic!
That photo of you and cakes is gorgeous!
Post a Comment
<< Home