I have always loved fall. Don't get me wrong, I love spring, summer and winter as well - each season has something to love about it. But fall.....mhhhhh, fall just seems to step down the tempo that we live our summer days by and become a bit more reflective. It's a time that I get a bit nostalgic thinking of my own childhood - romping about in the leaves, going to the Community Orchard for apple turnovers and cider, picking out our own pumpkins and crisp hikes around a local state park.
It's a time for the trees to shed their leaves in one last brilliant hurrah before going dormant and standing starkly naked against winter skies only to wear while robes of frost and snow in a few months - brilliant feathery and crystalline bathed in the first light of day. Fall - like no other season has a feeling of community and gathering families together as the days shorten and we find comfort in each other's fellowship.
I look forward to a slower more contemplative pace after several busy months on the run playing at the lake and getting back into the routine of school. The final two months of the year provide some time to reflect on all that has been and all that can be in the next 365 days to come.
One of the most perfect gatherings of Thanksgiving was when we lived in Lakewood. The table and the banquet table butted against it stretched the entire length of the dining room and extended to the living room. My parents, my husband's parents, brother, brother-in-law and his family, my two grandmothers and grandfather all converged with a groaning table of food. The traditional "cookie turkeys" that we make gathered and served as place markers in the middle of the table. The house was bursting with people - and I couldn't have been happier. It's never happened since - and we've said good-bye to both my grandma and grandpa since then, but I smile every time I think of that rare gathering. It was so great to have all of our family in one place. Family time is the best gift of the holidays. Gifts come and go - but being together and making memories will last forever.
Time with family is wonderful and a fleeting thing. I am thankful to have such rich, warm memories to pull close when the cold winds blow and the temperature dips.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Keeping the past alive
I don't know exactly when I discovered my passion for cooking. Maybe it was during college when I was living in a dorm that had a shared kitchen. It was a bit of a haul from the main campus and I opted out of the meal plan my second year of school after the dreaded "Freshman 15" added more girth than I cared for.
With mom and dad miles away, and a basic understanding of a few recipes, I would cook for myself and friends. Big hits were those from memory - written down at first and then only there to glance at one in a while. These days I find myself going basically on general suggestions of recipes than exact amounts.
As I was searching for some paperwork tonight I found, amongst my misfiled papers, a recipe from my Grandma that I had been looking for the night before. It's written on and index card, in her hand writing. I LOVE that. Not only do I have the pleasure (and challenge) of recreating this amazing recipe that she shared with us at many family gatherings, but I have the recipe - penned in her handwriting. That's special and I will type it up (and share it with you)...but I think there is much to be said for those old index cards of recipes that we have loved since our childhood.
I found another one from a gracious, short, plump neighbor I referred to as my "backyard grandma" - it was for Pepperkakos. An old Norwegian recipe, most likely handed down to her as a young girl. A spicy and cookie, rolled so thin you wonder how you managed to take a bite of it without it breaking into a zillion crumbs. Just seeing her perfectly penned letters takes me back to sitting in her kitchen, learning to play a game of hearts, having milk and some cookies and smelling the sweet fragrant pipe of her husband in the next room. No margarine called for here....generally it called for "oleo"...those words make me smile. And sad she is no longer here to share my stories.
These are the recipes I cherish so much - there is so much more that goes with them - it's a bit of nostalgia and keeping those sweet memories so real and at that moment I almost feel as they, these venerable creators of such tasty offerings, are here keeping me company over a cup of coffee as I try my best to do honor to the recipes that that lovingly penned for me to share and make my own memories.
So here for you is an incredible recipe that my grandma C. would make for dessert on Sundays after we would enjoy a carb-laden dinner that usually involved pasta, angel biscuits (*yet another recipe to share another day) and a bit of Lambrusco to wash it all down. Please feel free to share this and keep a part of my past alive.
Cheers, happy cooking and making your own memories!
14 Carrot Cake
Preheat oven to 350 degrees, prepare pan with cooking spray and a pinch of flour to coat pan. Can use 3 - 9" layer pans if desired. (*I use a regular cake pan)
Combine in a large bowl:
2 c. sifted flour
2 t. baking powder
1 1/2 t. salt
2 t. cinnamon
Add:
2 c. sugar
1 1/2 salad oil
4 eggs
Mix well and add:
2 c. finely grated carrots
18.5 oz. can of crushed pineapple, drained
1/2 c. chopped nuts (I use pecans or walnuts)
12.5 can flaked sweetened coconut
Blend thoroughly and pour into pan(s). Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 min. or until tests done. Cool and frost.
Cream cheese frosting:
1/4 lb. butter
8 oz. cream cheese
1 t. vanilla
1 lb. confectioners sugar (sifted if lumpy)
Combine butter, cream cheese and vanilla. Cream well. Add sugar gradually beating well. If too thick add milk, if too thin add more sugar.
With mom and dad miles away, and a basic understanding of a few recipes, I would cook for myself and friends. Big hits were those from memory - written down at first and then only there to glance at one in a while. These days I find myself going basically on general suggestions of recipes than exact amounts.
As I was searching for some paperwork tonight I found, amongst my misfiled papers, a recipe from my Grandma that I had been looking for the night before. It's written on and index card, in her hand writing. I LOVE that. Not only do I have the pleasure (and challenge) of recreating this amazing recipe that she shared with us at many family gatherings, but I have the recipe - penned in her handwriting. That's special and I will type it up (and share it with you)...but I think there is much to be said for those old index cards of recipes that we have loved since our childhood.
I found another one from a gracious, short, plump neighbor I referred to as my "backyard grandma" - it was for Pepperkakos. An old Norwegian recipe, most likely handed down to her as a young girl. A spicy and cookie, rolled so thin you wonder how you managed to take a bite of it without it breaking into a zillion crumbs. Just seeing her perfectly penned letters takes me back to sitting in her kitchen, learning to play a game of hearts, having milk and some cookies and smelling the sweet fragrant pipe of her husband in the next room. No margarine called for here....generally it called for "oleo"...those words make me smile. And sad she is no longer here to share my stories.
These are the recipes I cherish so much - there is so much more that goes with them - it's a bit of nostalgia and keeping those sweet memories so real and at that moment I almost feel as they, these venerable creators of such tasty offerings, are here keeping me company over a cup of coffee as I try my best to do honor to the recipes that that lovingly penned for me to share and make my own memories.
So here for you is an incredible recipe that my grandma C. would make for dessert on Sundays after we would enjoy a carb-laden dinner that usually involved pasta, angel biscuits (*yet another recipe to share another day) and a bit of Lambrusco to wash it all down. Please feel free to share this and keep a part of my past alive.
Cheers, happy cooking and making your own memories!
14 Carrot Cake
Preheat oven to 350 degrees, prepare pan with cooking spray and a pinch of flour to coat pan. Can use 3 - 9" layer pans if desired. (*I use a regular cake pan)
Combine in a large bowl:
2 c. sifted flour
2 t. baking powder
1 1/2 t. salt
2 t. cinnamon
Add:
2 c. sugar
1 1/2 salad oil
4 eggs
Mix well and add:
2 c. finely grated carrots
18.5 oz. can of crushed pineapple, drained
1/2 c. chopped nuts (I use pecans or walnuts)
12.5 can flaked sweetened coconut
Blend thoroughly and pour into pan(s). Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 min. or until tests done. Cool and frost.
Cream cheese frosting:
1/4 lb. butter
8 oz. cream cheese
1 t. vanilla
1 lb. confectioners sugar (sifted if lumpy)
Combine butter, cream cheese and vanilla. Cream well. Add sugar gradually beating well. If too thick add milk, if too thin add more sugar.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Occam's razor and my life
So I was doing a little light reading on Occam's razor. I think I like Einstein's variation of it best: "Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler." Huh?! Okay. That's good advice. But where do you start - to whittle away those things that don't make sense, but not to the point of too simple.
Granted this is making a stretch of this theory beyond it's original intention *(entities must not be multiplied beyond necessity)...but I think it's a good starting point to try and simplify life.
I am also a fan of Thoreau - but I think his advice of "simplify, simplify" is a bit to vague.
What spurred this whole monologue within me? Maybe it's the back to school schedule...a bit overwhelmed with the oldest child having to get up an hour earlier than last year to catch the bus, feeling unfamiliar in the new role of middle school parent and the fact that now the kids have a cell phone and an email account. When did things change so fast?! It seems like it happened all within a week, but truthfully I think the decisions on the cell phone and email had been made a while back, I was just putting them off in denial...my way of trying to keep things simple.
It's a new school year. And it has taken a while to acclimate to the nuances of our new adventure - some are good, some are unchanged and some are VERY different. But with all of this brings a lot of clutter, schedule changes, confusion and being disorganized. I am reaching - stretching - for that balance of being organized and attentive (a perception of control exists here). I feel so distracted right now. Pulled in so many directions...it is time to simplify...but where to start...
It starts with me. Within.
I smiled the other day when my grown-up-overnight-7th grader came home and was discussing communications with me. She said that her teacher said that it's possible for someone to be talking, but for the listener not to hear. "To hear but not hear - that's what we talked about at camp," she said. I smiled. That was one of my favorite prayers during Shabat service. It speaks of a quiet calm that starts with REALLY hearing and tuning into the world and people around us...and I think that's the best place for me to start to start shaving off those distractions - making changes in me, my behaviors, my world...whittle it down to the most simple way of life, without being too simple.
Granted this is making a stretch of this theory beyond it's original intention *(entities must not be multiplied beyond necessity)...but I think it's a good starting point to try and simplify life.
I am also a fan of Thoreau - but I think his advice of "simplify, simplify" is a bit to vague.
What spurred this whole monologue within me? Maybe it's the back to school schedule...a bit overwhelmed with the oldest child having to get up an hour earlier than last year to catch the bus, feeling unfamiliar in the new role of middle school parent and the fact that now the kids have a cell phone and an email account. When did things change so fast?! It seems like it happened all within a week, but truthfully I think the decisions on the cell phone and email had been made a while back, I was just putting them off in denial...my way of trying to keep things simple.
It's a new school year. And it has taken a while to acclimate to the nuances of our new adventure - some are good, some are unchanged and some are VERY different. But with all of this brings a lot of clutter, schedule changes, confusion and being disorganized. I am reaching - stretching - for that balance of being organized and attentive (a perception of control exists here). I feel so distracted right now. Pulled in so many directions...it is time to simplify...but where to start...
It starts with me. Within.
I smiled the other day when my grown-up-overnight-7th grader came home and was discussing communications with me. She said that her teacher said that it's possible for someone to be talking, but for the listener not to hear. "To hear but not hear - that's what we talked about at camp," she said. I smiled. That was one of my favorite prayers during Shabat service. It speaks of a quiet calm that starts with REALLY hearing and tuning into the world and people around us...and I think that's the best place for me to start to start shaving off those distractions - making changes in me, my behaviors, my world...whittle it down to the most simple way of life, without being too simple.
Friday, August 27, 2010
In the beginning....
So here I sit...in my newly created personal space in the basement I lovingly refer to as "Robin's World" - but at this particular time I am not in solitude...my family accompanies me and my thoughts! The kids are digging through old pictures - giggling at our hair ("it was all puffy and curly"), our clothes and how different people looked all those years ago. Husband having a glass of Pinot Noir with me providing feedback and spelling corrections. In reality this is my world - never really alone, but not resentful about that! :)
After watching "Julie and Julia" I was inspired to blog - I have always enjoyed writing and journaling...but this was taking it to the next level - making my thoughts public...leaving me open to criticism and being vulnerable. But also to share my life, thoughts, recipes (*you might find that in every blog as it's my passion!) and life lessons.
I am still figuring this out - so bear with me - and any suggestions on blogging, etc. are always appreciated as is feedback. Teachers - please go easy on my occasional misspellings and grammar.
I guess I don't know exactly where this journey will take me, how long it will last, and if I will like the process...but here it goes...my life, like my new compost bin - being broken down, reused where it can be and hopefully helpful in some way!
After watching "Julie and Julia" I was inspired to blog - I have always enjoyed writing and journaling...but this was taking it to the next level - making my thoughts public...leaving me open to criticism and being vulnerable. But also to share my life, thoughts, recipes (*you might find that in every blog as it's my passion!) and life lessons.
I am still figuring this out - so bear with me - and any suggestions on blogging, etc. are always appreciated as is feedback. Teachers - please go easy on my occasional misspellings and grammar.
I guess I don't know exactly where this journey will take me, how long it will last, and if I will like the process...but here it goes...my life, like my new compost bin - being broken down, reused where it can be and hopefully helpful in some way!
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