food – Page 22

How flavor defines a marriage…

Published on February 8, 2011January 17, 2013 by Mae @ Rainydayinmay4 Comments

There is this saying, among circles of parents with attachment disorder kids that Sugar is a Mommy’s Love. Pretty much, the theory is that you give these kids (whom you desperately love as they lash out and push you away, regardless of your best efforts) candy to eat when you aren’t with them. You tell them over and over that candy is your way of reaffirming “I love you”, when you can’t be there to show it.
It may be weird, but it works…

Which isn’t really that different than any of us really… Sad? We eat some ice cream. Cold? We make a big pot of soup. PMSing? Grab the chocolate.

As much as research seems to point a finger at comfort food being the downfall of a society, I think they’ve got it all wrong. (sidenote: perhaps that downfall is EXCESS. anyway) I mean, how many otherwise great dinner dates can be damaged because of a bad meal out?

The reality is that taste, at it’s core, is a sensual process. It is so that our moment can be enhanced. (though some times the current flavor does the opposite, obviously.) Taste is as much of a shared experience as any other involving of our senses. While eating a half gallon of ice cream, with a wooden spoon- hiding in one’s closet is not a healthy habit- that doesn’t mean that never sharing an ice cream cone with your child or attempting to recreate the Spaghetti scene (ala’ Lady and the Tramp) with your husband is something to feel guilty about later.

One of my favorite things to do with my husband is to cook. While he doesn’t particularly like to be the one on dinner duty, when we are working together in the kitchen we both agree it’s FUN! Quality conversation and moments ensue- and almost always, whatever we created tastes fantastic. This is no different than the moments in the kitchen I’ve had with my kids either. Then again, I love to cook… But, my family also loves to eat. We share dishes, we explore new restaurants and flavors. These things have grown important to us, so that evenings around our dinner table aren’t monotonous forkfuls of food into our mouth- but quality togetherness…

It may sound funny but while Sugar may be a Mother’s love- Taste is a testament to my family’s…

And every Saturday’s brunch at home, (unless we go out to brunch together) is the proof of this collaboration of love.

Today, for my 28 day challenge I will:
– Have a dinner date with my husband, where we simply cook and create something together after Gen’s in bed. We’ll dine, by candlelight, with soothing music in the background and conversation between us.
– I will surprise Genny with breakfast in bed.
– I will bake my family their favorite cookies so, when they eat them, they can be reminded of how much I love them.

Moonlighting…

Published on January 28, 2011January 17, 2013 by Mae @ Rainydayinmay4 Comments

I should have known…

I mean, it’s not that I’m bitter about it or anything, because honestly I’m not.

BUT, that being said, I should have known.

I’m a planner. It’s what I do. But the funny thing about my best laid plans is that they seldom, (if ever) go the way I plan them. Sometimes, I’m ok with that. Other times, when it’s all said and done, I’m able to look back and realize that things worked out better after all.

I’ll admit it though, there are times when I am just one giant, pouty cry baby about the whole entire thing…

My son Lucas went into the army. The army told him he’d be graduating from his individual training next summer, in Missouri. Awesome! One of my absolute best friends lives in Missouri. Win/Win.

But, if we’ve learned anything about the army, we have learned that what they say and what happens are two entirely different scenarios. Once he transferred from MO, mid training, the new plan was a Florida graduation. Panic set in, about cost and the distance from here to Florida- but in all of our new found wisdom and maturity, I rolled with those punches and an awesomely fantastic new plan emerged. Road Trip!

But, alas, once I (in my stubborn and foolishly planned ways) had the route all laid out and told friends we were headed through their area- the Army mixed it up a bit…

Alabama. MONTHS sooner than we’d anticipated. True panic set in… How would we get there? Which of us would be lucky enough to go? Insistent that we be there, (as if we’d miss it), I set about planning our third journey. Again, connecting with friends and ironing out all of the details. Miraculously, and against all odds, a plan came together in a way that would allow the three of us to go to Alabama…

What happened next? Well… you know. Only this time it wasn’t the Army as much as my son. He would rather have a party/reception when he came home the day after his graduation. After all, he was going to be here for almost a month. It would be awesome… Then, on his birthday, he’d be due to report to a base right next to my sisters home in Colorado. Perfect!

I booked the venue, planned the date, and well, I am sure you can figure out what happened next… (the sum of that part of the story is far less than a month at home and no Colorado…)

Suffice it to say, it’ll all work out, nothing like I planned but I laugh and smile because Lucas will be home (for however long he’ll actually be here-) and it’s all about him, not me…

Feeling head-achy and a bit on the miserable side, I ran around Boise yesterday finalizing everything I could for the big event, because after an insanely busy Friday, we were heading out of town for a weekend at the Winter Festival up in McCall. We’ve been trying to go, for the past three years, and to no avail something has come up every time… (Starting to notice a pattern, yet? *smile*)

Early, early Thursday morning Gen woke us up with shouts and crying, because her tummy hurt…

Just after a miserable breakfast, later, Thursday morning I realized that she was covered with Chicken Pox. To add to the beauty of the kink in our better laid plans- we are BOTH quarantined because my “feeling crummy” could be some how linked to a flair up of the virus in me. Yippee…

We’re trading in beautifully carved ice art, birthday cake (niece) and family fun in the sunshine and great out doors for Caladryl lotion, oatmeal baths, and never ending redbox/Netflix watching…

Nothing like I planned, but I’m ok with that. (or working on getting there anyway) I am pretty sure I’m not alone in my best laid plans winding up as sod for my reality… I am reassuring myself that the cow who was BFF’s with Diddle Diddle, in the nursery rhyme, had only planned to stroll through a pasture when he accidentally jumped over that illustrated moon. I’m no fool, you don’t have to tell me which option makes the better story, so I’ll go with it and continue eating my ice cream for dinner. It doesn’t matter that its night two of being the only thing I can swallow. I mean, hello!?!? It’s ICE CREAM for dinner…

well, it’s too late now…

Published on January 15, 2011January 17, 2013 by Mae @ Rainydayinmay1 Comment

{fourteen}

365 life : v. the act of capturing one photograph, per day, from life.

life= my life, because this is my blog.

On January 1st i decided that compiling my most beloved recipes onto an online database would be organizational and way to help me simplify things… pretty much, I was a giant dummy. It’s going to take me all freaking year- ALL year… ALL. YEAR. LONG.

Or maybe forever.

Nutshell: this is totally a photo of my life…

Standing strong…

Published on January 6, 2011January 17, 2013 by Mae @ Rainydayinmay3 Comments

I have been without internet for what feels like forever… For the most part, I am ok with not having the online distraction, but i do admit to missing blogging… Quite some time ago my reader got messed up and I lost subscriptions I loved {oh dearest huckdoll} and it honestly feels like months since I’ve had the time to update any blog with any zest, much less read them. Routine, however, is gently sleeping at my feet and I am glad to say those blog filled afternoons may be here… (assuming my internet provider cooperates that is…)

Through the direction of an awesome friend, i ended up signing up for a one word resolution here: http://myoneword.org/… The idea intrigued me. For the past several years I have been theming my years with things like “simplifying”, “loyalty”, and “happiness”, taking on projects or experiences to further my journey towards such things. For some people, these plans may not work but for me they do… This idea though, behind theming more of a personal quest associated with one character word, instead of a years theme. At any rate, I decided to jump on board. i am sure, from time to time, I may mention the journey here- so, for good measure I thought I’d share my word…

UNWAVERING

yep. that’s it.

And you know what, it may seem like a pretty lame word but I’ve got to be honest- it’s kind of scaring the crap out of me a little bit…

in other news, five days into Prescatarianism is awesome. i made THE most amazing tomato soup. Seriously. To. Die. For. For lunch today Gen and I had the best havarti and tomato paninies and for dinner I made zucchini and pepper fajitas. YUM. My veggie loving younin’ told me, this afternoon “I can’t wait for every day’s food, it’s all so yummy!” and it pretty much is…

Then again, it’s day five…

One of us, at some point, my jump out of our second story window screaming “I want steak!!!” (and that someone will be Chw, no doubt about it) but so far there are no complaints. We have talked about, when our 90 day challenge is up, maintaining the lifestyle except for a meated meal once a week. I would rather not, but it’s about compromise I guess…

Now that my baby {canon} is fixed and working, i have taken a ton of recipe shots. It’s just a matter of having time to get them on here… it’ll happen…

While the internet was gone I thought of a dozen great blogs… now that I have internet, this is what you get. Psh. Sorry, guys…

tree image courtesy of Tree Garden…