Rice with Lentils and Carmelized Onions

I made this one night for dinner, and the kids had friends over, and everyone loved this.  The friends asked for leftovers to bring home!

Adapted from Persian Food from the Non Persian Bride by Reyna Simnegar

SERVES 12

RICE
3 cups basmati rice, rinsed
8 cups water
2 T salt
1/2 t. turmeric
1/2 c canola oil

RICE TOPPING
1/2 brown lentils, rinsed
1 1/2 c water
1 onion, caramelized (roughly chop an onion.   Heat a fry pan with a bit of oil and cook onion over high heat until it turns golden brown, then turn heat down to low and continue to cook onion for 25 minutes until brown.  Stir while on low.  Remove from heat and set aside.

POTATO
canola oil
2 T water
1/2 t saffron powder
2 large potatoes, peeled and sliced


Fill a large non stick pot with 8 cups of water, add oil, salt and turmeric.  Cover and bring to a boil over high heat.

Make the rice topping - in a saucepan bring the water and lentils to a boil.  Reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes.  Remove from heat, drain and set aside.

When the water and turmeric boils, add the rice and cook uncovered over medium to high heat, stirring occasionally.  After five minutes, take a grain of rice and see it is al dente.  If it is, turn off heat, and drain rice over strainer.  Set rice aside.  Then stir rice and lentils together.

Place the large non stick pot on the stove top over medium heat with 1/4 inch of canola oil.  Add 2 T of water.  Add saffron powder and stir.  Add sliced potato in a single layer.  Then add rice and shape it into a pyramid.  Cover and cook for 5-7 minutes until the rice begins to steam.  Uncover and place one cloth towel around the cover and put the cover back on the pan.  Make sure all ends of the towel are ON TOP of the cover, so that the ends aren't near the heat source.  Reduce to low and cook for 45 minutes.

Serve on a platter or in a bowl and put the caramelized onions and potatoes onto the rice.  Serve hot.

Child Care

As a working mom, I have depended on child care providers to help with my children.  We started out in 2002 at Brookline Infant Toddler Center (called BITC), in Auburndale, MA.  Both of our children thrived at this daycare.  The teachers there are wonderful, and many have been there for years, which in the child care world is rare.  The infant room was wonderful, especially when my son had numerous ear infections that resulted in him having tubes, which removed ear infections from his life.  The older infant room and the toddler room were great places for the kids to learn and explore.  The three's room was next, and the teachers there LOVE the threes.  And the last two years are preschool I and preschool II.  The teachers were our partners.  She was concerned with our daughter's health.  When my son was receiving services, the teachers in the toddler room, requested that the Early Intervention therapist come into the classroom and see him in a school setting.When our daughter needed to keep a journal of everything she ate in the toddler room, the teacher assisted us.  The same teachers who taught our son.  After nine years of daycare, I cried that we were leaving their nest for good - after nine wonderful years.  My wallet did not cry, but I cried.  They were my extended family.  We visit every once in awhile to see our family.  We used to stop by more often with donations of outgrown toys, but sadly we are out of those also.

We then found Rec Place as our elementary after school program.  Nance Miller is a wonderful program leader, and has a staff of caring teachers and junior teachers.  Nance introduced the kids to many wonderful things, including pumpkin picking without your parents, having a service dog trainer come into the program, and other wonderful things.  Nance believes in child nutrition and has an array of fresh fruits and vegetables every day at the program that the children can eat.  She cares about the environment and teaches the children that by having re-usable plates and glasses.  She installed an industrial dishwasher so the program could continue using plates and glasses.  She lives by her words.  Last year, our son was a senior in the program - a fifth grader.  He finally got to sit in the senior lounge, and he and the guys hung out there.

We also found Meadowbrook Day Camp in Weston, which has been a wonderful program.  My kids really learned how to swim under Candy's direction.  The kids learned to love archery.  The kids played tennis, soccer, baseball and basketball.  The kids had ropes and dancing and music.  The kids love it there.  Dan, the director, is a wonderful director, and his family is wonderful.

Our son attends The Highlands After School Program, and we are discovering another new family.  This program has two middle schools that use the program, and they are right in the center of the village.  So far our child has enjoyed his time there. 

As a parent it is important for me to find safe and fun places for my child to learn and explore.  And all of these come with a price.  All of these cost money, and I have to say, I feel like these are the best people to watch my children when I am at work. 

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

Adapted from the King Arthur Cookie Companion

 

2 ½ t. baking powder

2 ¾ cup all-purpose flour
½ t salt
1 1/3 stick of butter, melted
2 ¼ cup packed brown sugar
1 t vanilla
3 large eggs
2 cups chocolate chips
1 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Spray a  10 x 15 jelly roll pan with Pam.

In a bowl, combine flour, salt and baking powder.  Set aside.

Melt the butter in a pan on the stove top.  Once melted, remove from heat. 

Add the brown sugar into the butter and stir.  Add vanilla and stir.  Let cool for a few minutes.  Add the eggs one at a time, stirring well after each one.   Add in the flour mixture.  Add in chocolate chips and walnuts.

Pour batter into jelly roll pan and spread.

Bake for 24-26 minutes (check often).  The top should be shiny and golden, but DO NOT OVERBAKE.  A toothpick inserted into the center will NOT come out clean. 

Cool to room temperature and then cut.

A crowd favorite

This weekend I did a lot of baking, including a favorite:

http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2012/08/my-favorite-brownies/

I make these brownies quite often, as my co-workers really like them and they are really easy to make!  I highly recommend them.

September 11

Recently we had a conversation with the kids about September 11 . . . . and what happened that day and how the world changed. 

My kids had no idea that before September 11, that security at airports was different.

My kids had no idea that before September 11, one could carry a cup of coffee or a bottle of water through security.

My kids had no idea that before September 11, adults could keep on their shoes and belts.

My kids had no idea that before September 11, kids could look into the cockpit before take off.

We explained to the kids what happened physically on September 11 . . . about the four planes. . . the heroes that died in Pennsylvania.  We explained how two planes were from Boston.  We explained about the Pentagon.  We explained that thousands of people died in America on one day because someone else had planned this destruction.  We explained how air travel in  the United States was SHUT DOWN.

I also explained to Naomi for the first time about the boy who I went to school with . . . .  who died while working at the World Trade Center in Manhattan.  I explained to both kids that he never got a chance to get married and he never had a chance to become a dad, and coach his kids in youth soccer.  Erik would have loved that opportunity.  Erik was a kid I went to school with from fourth grade until we both graduated MHS.  Erik was a kid who smiled alot.  Erik was a kid who lived for soccer season. 

Today, I think about Erik and all the others who lost their lives while just doing every day things - typing on the computer, drinking coffee, flying in an airplane. . . . I think of the heroes who died in a field in Pennsylvania trying to save others.  I remember.  I won't ever forget.

It is hard that the kids think of this as a day of history . . . .  just as I had thought of Pearl Harbor as a day of history.  It isn't history.  I think about, not just today, but during times of the year.  Last year I thought about Erik alot, as I watched my daughter play soccer.

9/11 - a day that will not be forgotten by me and many others.

Early Blog Years

This is one of my favorite blog posts from my blog.

Naomi

It was from the first year of the blog - vintage!

Rosh Hashana Menus

This year we are hosting Erev Rosh Hashana for seven and then the second day for ten.  The second day is going to be a completely vegetarian menu!

Here are the two menus:

Wednesday Night:
Two Homemade Round Challahs with NO raisins
Honey
Vegetarian and Meat Knishes
Gazpacho (too hot to make chicken soup)
Roasted Red Pepper Dip
Chick Pea Salad
Gefilte Fish (optional course)
Persian Chicken in Tomato Sauce
Persian Basmati Rice
Mushroom Tart
Roasted Carrots
Fruit
Apple Pie (homemade from the Pie and Pastry Bible)
Lemon Tart (homemade)
Pastry tray with maple brownies, salted chocolate chip cookies and rugelach

Friday Late Lunch
Two Homemade Round Challahs with NO raisins
Honey
Vegetarian Knishes
Gazpacho (too hot to make chicken soup)
Roasted Red Pepper Dip
Persian Carrot Salad
Rice with Lentils and onions
Glazed sweet potato
slow roasted tomatoes
Potato Kugel
Carrot Kugel (made by our guests)
Fruit
Lemon Tart
Chocolate Mousse
Pastry tray with maple brownies, salted chocolate chip cookies and rugelach

And here are some photos for the girl - who did not want to be left out

The first day of daycare:

The first day of the toddler room:

The first day of the Three's Room:

The first day of Preschool One:

The first day of Preschool Two:

The first day of kindy:

The first day of first grade:

From last week:

Middle School Here We Come

Back 11 years ago, there is no way, I could picture my little boy going to middle school.  But somehow, that has happened.

This is back on Mark's first day of daycare:

Then we have a photo from the first day of kindy:

Then we have a photo from the first day of fifth grade:

And then a photo from last week:  Almost in sixth grade: