Spectacular Saturday

When the children are away, the parents will play (and laze)

People, it is absolutely remarkable how zen my home feels when the children are happily elsewhere. Since they are with my parents who take them swimming as much as they want AND feign interest in Pokémon AND take them for sno-cones and donuts, I know that the children, who are elsewhere, are most definitely happy. Since that's the case, we are rolling in lazy zentasticness over here. Swear to g, y'all I neither changed out of PJs or brushed my teeth until 1:30 this afternoon. Why bother with either when A) it's raining and B) you have nowhere to be and so C) you can clean Oliver's, aka Tiny Hoarder, room? I cannot even tell you how much stuff I purged from that "treasure chest." You heard it here first if he ends up starring in a hoarder reality show some day. Some of the "treasures" with which I dispensed:

  • a paper lunch bag FULL of pine needles, chipped bark and a faux gem
  • a secret stash of assorted gum and candy wrappers
  • a giant petrified raisin
  • various paper crowns, tee-pees and feather-bedecked hats(?)
  • multiple drawings of pokeballs and butts

I felt wildly productive and free.

As I stood up, my calves seemed locked into some sort of bad position that can only derive from lack of use. It therefore seemed appropriate (necessary) to visit a long-lost haunt known as the gym. I stretched, did some cardio, saw some friends and finally returned to my car at which point I realized, upon seeing a sort of diagonal angle of myself in the car window, that my bosom looked extremely unbalanced. Long story short, only one of the boob pads in my sports top was in. I give up on boob pads because A) they're annoying to remove for the laundry and then put back in because (and perhaps this is my failure) they always end up with an odd crease that seems to show through and alert everyone to the fact that I have boob pads in; B) they remind me of people who put other folks' pictures on dating sites: you are definitely going to be found out, person, and you will then look like a total tool.

Once in the car, I ripped out the remaining pad and threw it into my console. It occurred to me that if someone looked in my car, it'd be really weird to see a beige, oblong foam pad in there so I hid it with my grocery list.

When I arrived at the grocery, I hid the damn pad again because obviously I needed my list. The market was so busy I started to wonder if I'd missed news of Armageddon happening tonight, but I channeled my zen and let everyone have the right of way. Where did I have to be? Nowhere. Karma people, karma.

Back in the car, I threw the boob pad in my purse where it remains (note to self: remove it because discovery by anyone else will be embarrassing) and headed home in a jolly mood. Intending to make granola and ricotta, I instead had to haul immediate ass upstairs because Tom decided to relacquer our table and I am certain I lost an enormous number of brain cells in the short time it took me to throw everything into our fridge. It seems we will be going out to eat tonight. And you know what? We can.

This staycation is SUCH a gift. Thank you, Mom and Dad!

Last night's dinner

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Yesterday, I was overcome with such a serious yen for short ribs that it felt like a schizo imperative. We ate well last night, in part because of this moment of craze. Braised short ribs atop hominy stew (thank you, Hugh Acheson), watermelon-feta salad (I know, serious obsession) and my crispy Brussels sprouts with lemon, capers and Pecorino. Outstanding. Then we played Monopoly, and I got creamed. Then we watched The Knick which is beyond fabulous and totally redeemed my glum over having been stripped of Boardwalk. If y'all are not watching Clive Owen and this fab new show, you need to start doing so!

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Tart recipe posted, "this day"

Ol always says "this day" and "next day" which I love and hence the title. This day was just that: a day. A less than stellar one, a tired one at that (more up-all-night'ness last night; fever; sick; yuk) but a regular old day really. I don't even know my name anymore but the kids are in bed and T and I are cooking dinner together which is lovely:  grilled lime chicken; the Brussels sprouts; roasted carrots. Simple but it'll be good. And, I've a lovely glass o' tequila which I super-deserve. Quick note that last night's magnificent tart recipe is now posted in Entrees as Caramelized Shallot, Cabbage and Tasso Tart. Fab.

Oliver'ism of the day for your pleasure: 5:45am, in our bed. Ol is coughing and we're out of children's Mucinex (worst name ever by the way). T and I are wondering aloud if the CVS down the street is open yet, and Ol pipes in with "I think it is because when we went out looking for pinecones that morning, it was open."

Erm, reference being the morning last September when they snuck out in all manner of weird outfit, ostensibly to look for pinecones, and were returned to us by the FBI at roughly 6:20am. CVS does open at 6am so Ol's recollection checks out. Not sure whether to be proud or not. Keen observation skills? Check. Humor? To be sure.

Did y'all see Taran Killam's impersonation of Matthew McConaughey on SNL last night? Flipping hiLARious!!!!

Oscars, snow day, Sprouts recipe

Thanks for all the interest in the Crispy Brussels sprouts dish I've been making since being knocked off my chair at Blue Duck Tavern last Thursday. Recipe is now posted in Sides, and you can also click here. Don't wince when you see the amount of olive oil called for. It's what makes these puppies crispy. Also, don't be shy about your salt and pecorino use. The salt brightens the entire dish immeasurably and the pecorino is clutch! As perhaps are you, we are snowed in again. Yesterday's rain gave way to an overnight freeze which this morning changed hats and has blanketed us with more o' the white stuff. Lots of it. We knew yesterday school would be cancelled but I admit that when I woke up this morning and realized that anew, I suffered a brief meltdown. Pity party? Check. Now over it? As best I can be.

The boys and I watched lots of old home movies and looked at countless pictures from birthdays and fun times past. It was an hour's trip down memory lane and was delightful. Now they're watching...wait for it...Star Wars. Revenge of the Sith. Again. Whatever. They're in the basement, and I'm in the kitchen. I decided that the best way to give winter the middle finger salute would be to make a pie that screams SPRING!

Southern Cal rhubarb and Mexican strawberries I couldn't pass up at the market a few days back? Yes, thank you, good purchase. Into a pie went they. I just pulled this baby out of the oven and can't wait to enjoy it later.

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I thought this year's Oscars show was the best in some time. Ellen was terrific, Lupita looked gorgeous, Jared Leto gave a lovely speech, Matthew gave such a Matthew one. The pizza delivery was a hoot, and the selfie shot turned out great. Did y'all see it?

Ellen's Oscars selfie