Live together, die alone....

All you fellow Losties know what I'm talking about! SEASON 4 starts TONIGHT! 8pmEST - 2 hour season premiere. I'm anticipating a good amount of jaw drops and gasps tonight. Enjoy everyone... there will only be 8 episodes this season due to the writers' strike. :(

"Hey good lookin', whatcha got cookin'...

how's about cookin' something up" - okay, you all know the rest, I'll stop.

So this post has been a long time coming. You all know I'm a big time foodie, I watch cooking shows religiously... this is nothing new. But there is a "cooking" show on the Food Network that I must speak out about. You might know it as "Semi-Edible Cooking with Barbie." No, that's not it. Oh right - "Semi-Homemade Cooking with Sandra Lee."

This show is an embarrassment to both the food cooking and eating public. So basically a travesty against humanity. Okay, maybe not that bad, but her food looks AWFUL. Heck, you can't even make half of her recipes without a packet of Spaghetti Sauce Seasoning (I did not even know such a thing existed), or a goodly amount of Whipped Topping. I shudder to think of the amount of preservatives, MSG, trans-fats, and other random junk that gets incorporated into her food due to the 70% pre-packaged ingredients.

Check out these ACTUAL comments/reviews I pulled from the Food Network website - they're for the Smothered Meatloaf she featured on today's Easy Elegance show:

No Way
01/22/2008 at 04:21pm
User: Anonymous User Rating:
I occasionally cook for my meat-eating relatives, but I would never, ever make this. A meatloaf that has been soaking in its own fat and cans of soup for seven hours is unappealing beyond words. And the 46 g of fat and 3298 mg of sodium per serving might actually kill my stepfather. Plus, this recipe saves neither time nor money.

bore me meatloaf
01/21/2008 at 09:03pm
User: dave from ocoee, FL User Rating:
this has to be the worst tasteless meat loaf i have ever had. Very dissappointed with Sandra lee,really cant believe she even has this recipe on her show.it was a waste of $40.00 which is what it cost to make. Hopefully the racoons will eat it.

See, I'm not the only one. Only, I'd never even actually TRY one of her recipes. At least not sober. And speaking of sobriety, what is up with her barrage of hideous cocktail recipes? I like me a stiff drink as much as the next gal - but I will NOT be trying any of these.

Okay, so I know her story... she's an entrepreneur who overcame odds to make it in various industries. She started with those curtain hanging gizmos and moved on to other things... (yes, somehow I actually managed to make it through her Chefography). And I admire her for trying to be the next Martha Stewart. However, her lame and often overbearing set decorations and hideous tablescapes are not cutting it. Heck, I don't even change my purse depending on my outfit - there's no way on EARTH I'm redecorating my kitchen every time I cook to reflect the food theme du jour. She would probably be horrified that here we are in the dead of winter and I still have my autumn harvest tea towel hanging from my oven door. But at least I serve good enough food to my family and friends that they don't need to be distracted by my perfectly coordinated decor and their take-home favors, strewn about the table like a party store explosion. Here's what another blog observed about Ms. Lee:

"This isn't really cooking. It's making crafts. It's edible scrapbooking. "

Amen, fellow blogger.

I realize this makes me come off as a huge food/entertaining snob. Let me address this.

I am not a food snob. I enjoy the occasional pre-packaged food as much as anyone else. I'll be (and have been) the first to admit that sometimes a can of Chef Boyardee or a box of Kraft Macaroni & Cheese totally hits the spot. And, I'll admit that despite having a fairly refined palate, I am repulsed by olives, capers, mussels, clams, and goat cheese. There I said it. I'm the foodie who won't eat capers or goat cheese. But at least I'm actually conscious of every ingredient that goes into my food, and, under normal circumstances, I won't use a pouch of chemicals for the sake of saving time if it means turning out an inferior meal - and one that plain old isn't good for my family.

And I'm not an entertaining snob either. Sure, I like having a presentable home and possibly some fresh flowers on the table for company - maybe even some napkin rings if you're lucky. But I'm glad my guests don't come expecting to be showered with dumb chatchke gifts when the meal is over.

In the end, Sandra Lee isn't a bad person. And maybe her semi-homemade mentality will help gear some more people into the kitchen to give cooking a try. A springboard of sorts, which frankly is great. It's important to get people cooking, especially our kids - learning a skill that will give back for life rather than relying constantly on pricey and often unhealthy take-out. And if it takes 3 rings of circus decorations in the middle of the dining room table to get your family around it, so be it.

Honestly, I don't care what you all are eating. I just hope that more people will get back on the road to eating together and sharing good times as a family. You might just discover that your time together is the whipped topping on a pleasant dining experience .

The kiddie quote of the day...

So this evening I was sitting at the dining room table playing trains with the kids when I heard the macaroni water start boiling over. I jumped up and yelled "Ack!" Riley chased me into the kitchen, and as he saw the foam begin to cascade over the edge of the pot he exclaimed "Mommy! I think that pasta is out of control."

Plain good eats...

So here's one of my favorite standby recipes: Salmon Croquettes. They're great anytime of year and can be accompanied by a variety of sides. I have one major twist that I use that normally raises some eyebrows, but believe me - it works! I substitute oat bran for bread crumbs. Trust me on this one, it gives the finished product a heavenly crispy crust (and adds some fiber). Here's the recipe!

Brannon's Salmon Croquettes - serves 4 (makes 8-9 patties)

• 2- 14.7 oz cans pink salmon
• 1 cup Oat Bran (found in the hot cereal section)
• 2 eggs
• zest of one lemon
• juice of one lemon
• small palmful chopped fresh parsley
• small palmful chopped fresh dill
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• olive oil for cooking

Combine all ingredients in large mixing bowl. When working with the canned salmon, I normally remove any of the skin that is still attached, and I also remove the bones. However, the bones are ENTIRELY edible, and can just be mixed in with the rest of the mixture, or eaten on the side as a high calcium snack. I just remove them for the sake of texture.

Cover mixture and let sit in fridge for 1/2 an hour. Remove from fridge and heat olive oil in pan on medium to medium high heat. Form patties about 1/2 inch thick and about as big around as the palm of your hand. Fry patties in olive oil for around 4-5 minutes, until they reach a nice golden brown on the outside. Flip gently, this is a delicate patty. Cook for another 3-4 minutes on the other side. Watch your heat to make sure that they aren't burning or cooking so quickly on the outside that they won't be cooked on the inside. A temperature of between medium and medium high usually works well. Remove from pan and drain on paper towel.

Last night I served these with some herb and sour cream smashed potatoes, but rice is also a great accompaniment. There will be a nice lemon flavor within the patty, but you might want a few extra wedges of lemon for those real lemon lovers. This is really a nice, light but yet filling and healthy recipe. Enjoy!

Scrumptdiddlyumptious...

So Nick and I made a REALLY tasty dinner last night. We'd seen a couple episodes of Jamie at Home (Jamie Oliver's cooking show which aired elsewhere in the world last year but just started airing in the States)... and we were positively inspired to try out a couple of dishes. We actually ended up combining two dishes, a roasted potato and onion dish & a chicken/potato/tomato tray bake. The results were heavenly. You have never smelled a more enticing aroma fill your home. I took some photos, but still have to upload them, I'll get them on here later. If you like good, English, hearty home cooking... you'd love this! We actually cooked too many potatoes and ended up making some herb smashed potatoes on the side as well - and just fridged them for later in the week, probably to be eaten with a meatloaf. I'll post those photos later, and also the (vague) recipe that we used.

Can't help lovin' that man of mine...

So I have the greatest husband in the world. When I just mentioned to him that I was feeling suddenly famished at 9pm, what did he say to me? "Would you like me to make you something? How about a couple of fried eggs, toast and jam?" And I didn't even have to pinch myself to see if this was real, because this is how he always is. Always looking out for me, always making sure I'm eating enough and the right things for the baby, etc.

Yeah, he's a keeper. :)

You don't know what you've got till it's gone...

So we're going on day 4 of me literally not being able to smell. It's AWFUL. Granted, this morning when Nick was complaining of the stench of Elliot's diaper from upstairs and yet I was up, close, and personal changing it just inches away... I suppose then the lack of smell was a perk. Couldn't smell a thing. Other than that, it's really a drag not being able to smell. I haven't tasted food in days. You wouldn't think it's an awfully huge deal, but it's really rotten. Trust me on this one.

So to you, my smell enabled readers, I give you this mission today. Be sure to stop and smell the whatever in my honor.

Lullabye and goodnight...

So we're all sick here again. Really awful cold and cough. Has knocked us all out. Even Elliot, who gave up his nap over a year ago... couldn't fight it and konked out on the futon today. Does it ever get old watching your wee ones sleep?

Quotable quotes...

Just a collection of some of my favorite quotes, just because.

“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” – Winston Churchill

"We are masters of unsaid words, but slaves of those we let slip out." Winston Churchill

“If you don't stand for something you will fall for anything.” - Malcolm X

"Fear is a darkroom where negatives develop." – anonymous

"If you think you are too small to be effective, you have never been in bed with a mosquito." – Bette Reese

"A woman is like a tea bag; you can tell how strong she is when she gets into hot water." – Eleanor Roosevelt

"Relish today, ketchup tomorrow." --anonymous

"Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday." -anonymous

Feel free to add any of your own in the comments!!

See you in September...

Well, just got the word today that Riley's Kindergarten materials will be mailed out in a few weeks and Kindergarten Registration takes place the last week in February. Holy cow. I suppose it helps that he has already been in preschool for nearly a year, that will help with the transition. But Kindergarten? Wow.

Constant craving...

There is one thing that reminds me daily that I am pregnant, because honestly, with the lack of belly, I do sometimes forget. However, the constantly increasing appetite and number of cravings are a definite reminder of my state of preggerness.

My top cravings:

1. Fish and chips - if I don't get some soon, it won't be pretty. The last time I had some was in late October in NYC at an ale house. Technically I had some at Nathan's in the mall, but.... it's just not the same as when you sit down in a restaurant and have it.

2. Marinated artichoke hearts - I've actually burned through a whole jar in one sitting on several occasions in the last few months.

3. Cheese/crackers/turkey pepperoni - Fat and sodium? A match made in pregnant heaven.

4. Cottage cheese and peaches - this was a big one early on, and it has recently returned with a vengeance.

It's funny, I craved all orange colored foods with Riley, and apples with Elliot. And Riley is my apple eater and Elliot is my orange colored (read: junk food) snacker. Who knows if Liam will have as eclectic taste as his mommy? Or whether he'll follow suit with his brothers who seem to have no connection tastewise with what I craved. Another mystery, waiting to be unfurled.

Shopping + aromatherapy = half-baked marketing scheme?

Apparently not. I just read this today:

"Female study participants in a room with a hidden chocolate-chip cookie scented candle were much more likely to make an unplanned purchase of a new sweater -- even when told they were on a tight budget -- than those randomly assigned to a room with a hidden unscented candle (67 percent vs. 17 percent)."

Interesting, right? Obviously we all know that when we walk by a TJ Cinnamon's/Cinnabon and catch a whiff, most of us will be quite inclined to go buy one. And I've heard of bakeries directing some of their exhaust piping onto the street to draw in customers. But that is bakery smell --> bakery purchase. Who knew bakery smell = clothing purchase? Read for yourself. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080108140137.htm

Mr. Green Thumb

So, it would appear that we have another gardener in the family, following in the (muddy) footsteps of Pa! (my dad)

Riley was "gardening" in the bath this morning with his little watering can, and told me "This is how you do it Mommy. First the soil, then the seeds, then the water, then the sunshine. Wait, when do you put the compost on again Mommy?" "Compost?" I say. "Where did you hear about compost?" "On TV."

What can I say, my little guy has a green thumb, and the green mentality to go with it.

3rd time's the charm...

So the big reaction we keep getting when telling people we're having boy #3 is that "that's great! You already have all the stuff!" Um, not quite true. We got rid of EVERY vestige of baby stuff last spring/summer - we had no plans for expanding our family, so figured we'd free up attic space and move out of the baby phase of our lives. We even gave away all the clothing up to 24 months, and only started holding onto the clothing when we found out that friends of ours were expecting a boy.

So, we're starting from scratch. In a way, I'm glad that Liam won't be just the "leftovers" baby. Don't get me wrong, I'm ALL for handmedowns, but he deserves to have nice stuff just as much as the other two, right? At least if he does get stuck with a lot of second-hand stuff, he'll be the best off in terms of being the child who was brought up when Nick and I had the most experience.

Anyway, I've been in the store, picking out some new things, and it just never gets old. I'm amazed how many things have gotten nicer since Riley and even Elliot was born. All kinds of bells and whistles, cute little gadgets, I'm realizing how much fun it will be to have a baby again.

The boys still say hello to him every day, Elliot asks me: "Can I talk at your baby? Can I talk at Wee-um?" It's fun to have the older children understanding what's going on this time, engaged with the pregnancy and aware of their little brother on the way.

I'm going to start trying to crochet a blanket later today, I'll try and take some photos and show you my progress at some point!!

That's it for now - sorry for the long and winding post, all!

My son the distinctive cookie...

So I realized the other day that I've already given baby a nickname. For some reason, I think of him as "Lido", presumably a combination of the first two letters of Liam and Donovan (his first and middle name). The name sounded a little familiar - and it took about a day for it to dawn on me that Lido is one of Pepperidge Farm's Distinctive Cookie varieties. Looks like this:

So, I'm not sure if I'm subconsciously wanting a bag of these babies or what... but in the meantime, now you know it's not so much a bun in the oven as a cookie. A distinctive cookie.

Edited to add: After about 30 seconds of research, I have discovered that the Lido cookie has been discontinued. Apparently they are occasionally still available as part of the Pepperidge Farm Entertaining Cookie pack, however, I'm not a big enough fan of PF cookies to go that far. The Peach Raspberry Verona cookies maybe... but that's about it. Anyway , if you're listening Pepperidge Farms, we want the Lido back. Not so much for eating, just for my son's nickname's sake. Are those Pepperidge Farms guys still chilling on their front porch with their weird Bostonian accent? Or was that Bartles and Jaymes? Too many old men in the food and beverage industry with too much time on their hands, I say.

We have a winner...

Well, sorry to inform the 68% of you who voted "girl" in our poll that you are wrong, but we are indeed having boy #3! After momentary disappointment, we got used to the idea and are now embracing it. He will most likely be named Liam Donovan. He looked great in the ultrasound, 10 fingers and 10 toes, all wiggling about. He weighs an estimated 8 ounces, and measures literally to the day for his due date.

That's it for now... go big blue!!

The waxing and waning baby belly...

Yeah, so I'm not sure what's up with my tum. Its perpetual ebb and flow of bumpiness has me guessing. It's the one thing that has made me wonder if I'm carrying a girl, simply because this is SO different from the way I was with the boys... namely, noticeably pregnant at this point. And strictly in maternity clothes. I had thought I popped sometime last week, but I think it turned out to be overflow from all the yummy food at Zip and Justin's wedding. I promptly deflated a few days later. So, I'll keep you posted on the tummy progress, but at this point... well, you see the picture.