Cooking Up a Storm

This year, not only am I doing Erev Rosh Hashana, but I am also doing the Second Day! Lots of cooking for me.

Erev will be dinner for 8! Second Day will be dinner for 10!

Menu:
2 Homemade Challahs made by me
Knishes
Hummus
Moroccan Tomato Dip - made by me
Mushroom Soup - made by me
Chicken with Tomatoes - made by me
BBQ Tofu - made by me
Basmati Rice
Carrots with honey
Fruit
Homemade apple crisp
Cookie Plate - zucchini bread, brownies and Mandelbrot

Second Day
2 Homemade Challahs - made by me
Pigs in a Blanket
Hummus
Tomato Dip
Chicken Soup - Mady's recipe made by me - will be in the SISTERHOOD COOKBOOK
Roast Chicken
Cranbery Rice Bake - Made by me - will be in the SISTERHOOD COOKBOOK
Roasted Potatoes
Broccoli
Fruit Honey Cake Made by me
Cookie Plate - zucchini bread, brownies and Mandelbrot

Snacks and Lunches

So this year, I now pack a lunch and a snack for Mark; and a lunch and a snack for Naomi. After years of packing lunches, you would think I have this down. But I don't. Naomi is not a big fan of sandwiches. I mean ALL sandwiches. She doesn't mind the stuffings, but she can leave the bread. And she does.

Mark for the most part of his career has eaten either peanut butter and fluff sandwiches or turkey sandwiches. He isn't that picky.

One sandwich that Naomi will eat (and of course Mark) is pastrami. So, I buy a pound of Kosher Pastrami at the supermarket, which both kids are loving. Of course they are getting protein (and more fat that I want), but they are eating it.

However, I like variety. So today's lunch is roasted chicken on the bone. Because they are going to afterschool, where there is a microwave, I am able to do this. I take the chicken off the bone, cut it up and put it in a microwave safe container. Mark likes to take vegetables with his lunch, so today he has some cucumber slices. Naomi, prefers fruit, so she has a big bunch of juicy red grapes.

Snack has gotten easier. The following items are okay for either kid: yogurt and or granola bars. Each one gets either a fruit or a vegetable with the yogurt or granola bar. But again, I like variety. This weekend I made zucchini muffins. Each one has a zucchini muffin, and loves it. Sometimes there a pretzels. Sometimes Pirates Booty.

Mark and Naomi prefer homemade baked goods, so each one for lunch has a chocolate chip brownie.

I hope when they pack snacks for their children, they put in as much thought and love as I do.

Sweet Pototoes

I totally love sweet potatoes. I love them baked. . . I love sweet potato fries. I love sweet potato mash. I LOVE sweet potatoes. To me the fall is the best time to eat sweet potatoes.

Tonight I sliced sweet potatoes, and the put them on an oiled cookie sheet, and baked them.

YUMMY in MY TUMMY. I LOVE SWEET POTATOES.

Here are some other ways to eat them!

Recipe #1

Recipe #2

Recipe #3

CookBook

Now, I love my hubby. . . I really do. . . . but he hasn't bought me a surprise for awhile now. . . (non birthday, non anniversary, etc) surprise gift in a long time.

He emailed me from work a couple of weeks ago, that one of his coworkers brought in this ice cream as a thank you.


http://www.jenisicecreams.com/

And he ordered me the cookbook.

So, it came, and I gave it a whirl.

Salted Caramel Ice Cream

IS

THE

BEST!

Can't wait to have more. . . . and thank goodness it only makes a quart, because I would be eating it morning, noon and night!

http://www.amazon.com/Jenis-Splendid-Ice-Creams-Home/dp/1579654363

MUST BUY IT if you own an ice cream maker!

Lemon Creme Tart

I made the most amazing Lemon Tart last night. So very yummy, and very easy. I found it in the "Bon Appetit Desserts" cookbook. I served it last night, and I can't wait to eat the leftovers!

Here is a link to the book.

Waffles

Today at camp Mark earned his Junior Yeoman (in archery), so he wanted waffles. He got waffles! This time we used a mix that my mother in law purchased for me.

It is really easy. . . but doesn't make enough for my waffle crazy family.

Mark and Naomi love waffles fresh from the waffle iron.

Topia Inn - our weekend getaway without kids

I highly recommend the TOPIA INN in Adams, MA. . . . a great get away in the Berkshires. It is an all organic bed and breakfast, and reasonably priced. Leave YOUR shampoo, conditioner and deoderant at home . . . bring your brush and toothbrush . . . . They need you to use their stuff. . . . and it is okay, and sometimes better. They don't want your stuff messing with their inn.

Once we arrived, we had to take off our shoes, and Nina showed us around. . . our room and the breakfast room.

Our room was CLEAN, and I mean CLEAN. . . like the place had opened YESTERDAY . . . and not three years ago. The bedding is organic. Their cleaning products are organic. The lights are LED lights. They do have A/C and sateliite TV for the flat screens in each room. It is a CLEAN place.

The inn is heated with vegetable oil. They provide their own electricity. They have solar panels on the room, and the breakfast room has the meter.

Our first breakfast was poached pears with a mango syrup, which was totally yummy. Followed by a crustless quiche and banana bread made with applesauce. Again. . . yummy. Organic tea and coffee (with caffeine).

Our second breakfast was a banana smoothie with mango lemonade and then the most amazing STEAMED french toast. OMG. . . . delicisou.

Everything is certified organic, except for the produce that they grow themselves.

Each of the nine rooms have different themes, and we stayed in the french room. Two rooms have floating beds, which would be cool to try.

www.topiainn.com

Read reviews on www.tripadvisor.com

See their article in the NY TIMES!