Over the course of the last six months we decided it was time to replace the family mini van, which is my car. I love the mini van. I am a mini van mom. When we bought the mini van, it meant that I had finally reached "parenthood" and had kids to drive around. Granted Mark was only 2 1/2 and Naomi wasn't around yet, but I had a family and kids.
In May, the beloved (beloved to me at least) mini van needed some expensive repairs ($2k) and was going to need more in the future. After talking to a few people, we decided instead of throwing money into a 12 year old (nearly 13 year old) vehicle, we would buy a new one.
We decided we didn't need another mini van. Mark is going to college in four years, and Naomi shortly there after, and in 12 years my kids would be out of college, and I would still have a mini van. So we test drove a Highlander and a Pilot and a Pathfinder, all of which were great, and large. As was the price tag. It became clear to me that I did not NEED a 7 passenger car for the next 12 years. So, we started to look at other cars, and tonight we pick up my new Toyota RAV4 - 5 passenger SUV.
Still the kids were not sad to see the mini van retired. I am very sad. So the kids and I developed a short Mini Van Memory List, so we can remember the beloved family mini van that has served us for nearly 12 years.
Not in any order.
Mark as a toddler puking in the mini van as it was snowing, and we stopped in CT in breakdown lane of I91 and I84. Mark remembers being nearly naked and puking on the side of the road, in the snow.
Mark flapping with excitement when we picked up the new van.
Our trip to Maine during my maternity leave with Naomi. My mom, Mark, Naomi and I drove to Maine (to a train museum) and Mark was hysterical that I didn't have a GPS, but I proved to him that I could read a map, and we got there and back with no problem, except for little Miss Naomi who had a full diaper of poop that stunk up the car so badly that I had to pull over and change her on a side street.
In the summer of 2015 getting rear ended twice by the same guy.
One kid during carpool season leaving a slice of pizza under my third row (don't ask, but luckily it was January and it froze).
Another mom hitting my car in front of the elementary school.
Going apple picking with the kids daycare, and me and one of the teachers forcing the kids to sing loudly so they would NOT fall asleep on the drive home.
Overnight camp drop off and pick up.
Ikea purchases.
Girl Scout cookie pick up
Naomi puking in the car on the way to Mark's third grade Kabbalat Sidur.
The Blue Zone
The mini van getting hit in the blue zone
Family trips to Long Island, NYC, Baseball Hall of Fame, Toronto, Niagara Falls, Hershey, Philadelphia, Storyland, Vermont, Rhode Island, Maine and other places.
Getting stuck in Long Island post Christmas Traffic in a Target parking lot
Lots of first day of school drop offs
Lots of "I need to use the bathrooms"
Driving Naomi from daycare to the dentist after she fell and her teeth went into her gum.
Kids music.
Concerts!
Getting a flat tire and pulling into the Direct Tire parking lot.
Lots of memories, and the kids smiled to read how many memories we thought of in ten minutes.
Tuesday, September 20, 2016
Tuesday, September 13, 2016
Amazing Brownies
I made brownies over the weekend, and I did not bring one to work on Monday. All I wanted in the afternoon was one of those amazing brownies. VERY FUDGY brownies. I can't remember the cookbook's name, but it is from the Culinary Institute of America.
Today I brought a brownie for myself for an afternoon snack.
1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter
4 oz unsweetened chocolate, chopped
2 large eggs
1 1/3 c sugar
2 t vanilla
1/4 t salt
1/4 c cake flour
Preheat oven to 350. Lightly spray a 9 inch (or 8 inch) square pan with cooking spray.
Melt butter and chocolate in double boiler. In a stand mixer with the whisk attachment, whip the eggs, sugar, vanilla and salt on high for 4-5 minutes. Scraping every once in a while. Should be thick and light.
While stirring, pour some of the egg into the melted chocolate. Then pour the chocolate mixture into the egg mixture and blend on medium. Mix in flour on low til just blended. Pour into pan and spread. Bake for 30-40 minutes. It will be done when a toothpick is inserted into the center of the brownies and comes out with a few crumbs.
Cool on a wire rack before cutting.
It says makes nine brownies, but I got 16!
Today I brought a brownie for myself for an afternoon snack.
1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter
4 oz unsweetened chocolate, chopped
2 large eggs
1 1/3 c sugar
2 t vanilla
1/4 t salt
1/4 c cake flour
Preheat oven to 350. Lightly spray a 9 inch (or 8 inch) square pan with cooking spray.
Melt butter and chocolate in double boiler. In a stand mixer with the whisk attachment, whip the eggs, sugar, vanilla and salt on high for 4-5 minutes. Scraping every once in a while. Should be thick and light.
While stirring, pour some of the egg into the melted chocolate. Then pour the chocolate mixture into the egg mixture and blend on medium. Mix in flour on low til just blended. Pour into pan and spread. Bake for 30-40 minutes. It will be done when a toothpick is inserted into the center of the brownies and comes out with a few crumbs.
Cool on a wire rack before cutting.
It says makes nine brownies, but I got 16!
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