Time for Cheesy Potatoes

I'm having one of those Januarys. One where it's nasty outside and you can't think of anything fun to do. One where you sort of just want to hibernate like other sane mammals and just wake up in the Spring. Seriously, most days I feel like I've been bored out of my mind or motivated to do nothing but feel sorry anyone who's with me in this miserable, cold weather.

That's when it's time for cheesy potatoes. We had a potluck at church this weekend, so I figured it was a good time to bring out the big guns. There are many things I love about my church, but one of them is that we know how to throw a potluck. We're a pretty young demographic, so sometimes the traditional sides aren't plentiful...which is why I "take it upon myself" to make the most conventional, classic potluck offering of all time! This recipe is from my dearest mother-in-law who is a potluck goddess to be sure. I realize this picture maybe looks less than appetizing, but I promise every bite is a dream come true.

Here's the recipe for those who need a potluck dish, or a January pick-me-up. I scooped out a serving for myself before the meal so that I could be sure to get some...and so I could bring some cheese-filled goodness to my cold, lame winter.

Ingredients

• 2 lbs cubed frozen hashbrowns
• 1 can cream of celery soup
• 1 can cream of chicken or potato soup
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 1/4 cup margarine
• 10 oz shredded cheddar cheese

Preparation

1. Mix all ingredients putting potatoes in last. Place in 9x13 inch dish. Crush 1 pkg Ritz crackers and mix with 6 tbsp melted margarine. Put this mixture on top of potatoes for the last 20 minutes.
2. Bake at 350 for 50-60 minutes.

Urban Farmer

Our church started a vegetable garden a few years ago, and it's raised hundreds of dollars for our Warming Center and other community efforts. It's also allowed many of us to get our hands dirty and learn a thing or two about growing food, city-slickers that we are.

I signed my city-mouse up to be on the garden team. I figure no one's too young to contribute once they're able and it would get us out in the sunshine!

So far, he's been a good farmer who loves to water the plants, eat the veggies, and play in the dirt. Sawyer's a huge fan of tomatoes, so he seems to find these mini ones particularly wonderful. Beans are a close second.

An interesting development in this year's garden has been the flourishing of seeds that we never planted, but that have risen out of soil that was from the church's compost bin. Peppers and gourds spring up all over the place that weren't planted. I mean, what the heck is this thing, a mellon? A cantaloupe? Whatever it is, it's massive and it's growing in our temperate garden unbeknownst to us.

I long for the day we have our own garden where we can sow and reap to our hearts content, but until then, this city plot will have to do!

Anchors Away!

We've been the benevolent recipients of our friends Bruce and Carol's hospitality over the last several years. They've got a boat. A nice big sailboat. Moored in Monroe Harbor, right smack dab on the Lakefront downtown across from Millennium Park!

Captain Bruce and his lovely first mate brought us out into the lake where there was swimming, competitive diving, and general merriment. I could get used to a life of leisure.

I Scream, You Scream!

I'm not a huge fan of ice cream. I mean, I'll certainly enjoy a scoop if one is offered to me, but I don't stock it in my freezer. Don't get me wrong, I've got my vices when it comes to food, but ice cream just isn't one of them. I don't crave it. I don't bask in it's goodness.

Last week I realized that because of my disinterest though, I've unintentionally kept my sweet child from exploring his potential love-affair with it. Oops! My mom was in town and was trying to think of a date she could go on with the little guy and suggested Dairy Queen, so I encouraged the trip. Evidently he was a fan, so TK and I went again with him this past weekend.

Sawyer got a twist and I got vanilla with sprinkles. I AM a huge fan of rainbow sprinkles. Huge fan. I shared and let him take a handful. Chicago has been brutal this summer, so it was nice to actually get outside and enjoy a tolerable temperature!

Poolside

All I wanted to do on Memorial Day was to plop my lawn chair next to a good old-fashioned kiddie pool and sit outside all the live-long day...and I got what my little heart wanted!

Sawyer's a water-boy at heart and pretty much jumped into the ice-cold water and chilled for two hours straight.

He also ate a decent amount of soggy cracker crumbs...yuuum!

Oh, a boy in summer is a wonderful sight to behold! I think the next three months are going to be a glorious thing...

How Do You Like to Go Up In a Swing?

Spring is finally rearing it's pretty little face around here...if I'm not mistaken, this "spring" was the wettest and grayest in Chicago history. TOTALLY LAME! We've been stuck inside for way too long and now that the weather's attempting to make a turn, the neighborhood playground has been calling our name.

My boy is all about swings and underdogs, and I like to sing him this song my mom used to sing to me, which I've since come to learn is a poem by Robert Louis Stevenson.

The Swing
How do you like to go up in a swing,
Up in the air so blue?
Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing
Ever a child can do!

Up in the air and over the wall,
Till I can see so wide,
Rivers and trees and cattle and all
Over the countryside—

Till I look down on the garden green,
Down on the roof so brown—
Up in the air I go flying again,
Up in the air and down!

Bald is Beautiful

This is Elin. Isn't she a pretty girl?

Bald is beautiful! Her mama, Lauren, and I are friends from college and spent the better part of last Friday afternoon corralling these two rug rats. Sawyer's looking through my wallet for some money no doubt...kids these days!

Before we got together, Sawy Boy and I hung out and played in the ample green space outside their condo on the lake. We occasionally shared our blanket and space with an assortment of dogs who were nearby at the adjacent dog park.

He's learning to appreciate dogs. They tend to bother him a little.

Scandinavian Almond Cake

Have you ever had the pleasure of indulging in a slice of Scandinavian Almond Cake? No? So sad. So unfortunate. You've really got to try it. It's light, it's subtle, it's perfection.

The recipe is beyond simple and all you need is this handy-dandy pan that you can find in any Scandinavian boutique. You can also get it here if you're prone to online shopping. I'd send you to this link first - the BEST Swedish store ever - but their online store is under construction. If you live in Chicago, you need to find some time to get yourself to The Sweden Shop in Albany Park. It's a dream-world full of tomtes, clogs, dala horses, and Marimekko.

In addition to the almond cake pan (and some Andy Williams Christmas music playing in the background), you'll need some basics: flour, baking powder, sugar, an egg, milk, almond extract, and butter.

Two things you don't want to go through the holiday season without are almond extract and butter. Let's be honest: almond extract is like liquid gold. Every drop is a blessing from above. Extracts were buy one get one free the other night at Jewel-Osco, so I jumped on it. If you're saying to yourself, "Duh...why would I buy almond extract for just this one recipe?," I'll say in response to you that you'll most likely want to make this cake again, and I'll also ask if you remember the recipe I posted for Almond Chex Mix last year.

The recipe is below and all you really need to remember is to be sure that you let the cake cool completely before you try and release it from the pan. Don't get any bright ideas here...you can't rush perfection. Enjoy!

Scandinavian Almond Cake
1. Spray pan with Pam or cooking spray.
2. Beat well 1 1/4 cup sugar, 1 egg, 1 1/2 teaspoons almond extract and 2/3 cup milk.
3. Add 1 1/4 cup flour and 1/2 teaspoon baking powder.
4. Add 1 stick melted butter.
5. Mix well.
6. Bake at 350 degrees for 40-50 minutes. Edges must be golden brown. Cool in pan 10-15 minutes before removing. Cake will break if removed too soon or too late. Sprinkle with confectionery sugar.

An Invisible Grace

We celebrated Sawyer's baptism a couple weekends ago and were blessed to have all of our family there to witness this visible sign of an invisible grace.


While helpless like a baby, it is my deepest belief that our creator loves us all beyond understanding, knows our need, and claims us as his own. It is our prayer that our boy will find his hope in Christ alone.

In Christ Alone | Owl City | www.owlcityblog.com

Houseguests

Our dearest friends, Amy and Andrew, have been staying with TK and I for the month of January as they go through a time of transition in housing. I know what you're thinking: this should ruin our friendship and cause us to despise even the mention of each other's names from here on out. But you would be wrong because it's been lovely to share our space with these fine souls.

Not only do they provide lovely company in our home, but they've been helping this near-term pregnant girl clean and cook every stinking day! I honestly don't remember the last time I went to the grocery store or cooked a meal. With some elbow grease and his trusted Bar Keeper's Friend, Andrew even scrubbed down our entire kitchen. And bathroom. Hardly ruining our friendship.

Last night we feasted on decadent pork chops, just one of the many gourmet meals they've made for us. As TK and I approach the cusp of first-time parenthood, we've been blessed to be able to spend our January evenings with two kindred spirits in life. Look at these clowns!

Wanna-Be

Since I was a little girl yearning for toe(point)-ballet shoes, I've wanted to go see a "real" production of the Nutcracker during the Christmas season. I've never been one for Broadway or musicals in general, but for some reason an official seat at the Nutcracker Ballet has always been an aspiration of mine.

This weekend my lovely sister got the two of us tickets to the Joffrey Ballet's presentation and it was all this old wanna-be-ballerina hoped for and more. Tutus and soldiers! Evil mice and the Sugar Plum Fairy! I relived my childhood dreams for 2 hours and wished I had never given up ballet. What was I thinking as a 12-year old!?

Who Wants a Starter?

Amish Friendship Bread is one of my favorites, and I'm really glad I got a starter a few weeks ago. It's not everyone's cup of tea though, so I'm not about to lose friends by forcing starters on them. The steps involved in making the bread are minimal, and after a painless process you have some to-die-for sweet bread wafting through your kitchen.

I created a bit of a monster though when - upon my husband's request - I kept two starters after baking the previous batch. Instead of 3 to give away, I now have 7 bags for some lucky ladies (or gentlemen) living in the Chicagoland area. If anyone in Chicago is looking for some decadent Amish Friendship bread, I've got it and would love to give a bag to you...just let me know! As an added incentive, the starter is already on Day 4!

An important note on Amish Friendship Bread for those hesitant of the experience. If you’re sick of mashing the bag, making bread, and possibly losing friends by passing them starters every 10 days, do yourself a favor and dispose of it all! Contrary to popular belief, the Amish (and you) can find the starter recipe online (allrecipes.com) if you decide to start it up again.

Any takers?

All Grown Up

It is my experience that the modern world is majorly lacking in official rites of passage. As a twenty-something, I find myself constantly questioning whether I'm really an adult or when it was - if yet - that I "grew up." Am I "legit" when I am done with college? When I have a job? If I get married? When I buy a car? If I have my own apartment? When I contribute to society? When I find out what I want to "be?" Maybe people have always felt this way throughout the centuries, but I think it's safe to assume most modern-day young adults don't quite know where they fit into the landscape of "adulthood" and where it started.

At long last, I might be one step closer to feeling a little more grown up. We bought a new couch that screams sophistication. Nothing says, "I'm responsible and have a job and can pay my bills," like a grown up couch ordered from a store and delivered to your house. Just look at this beauty. Modern design. Tweed upholstery. Clean lines. Perfect.

Until a few weeks ago, I had an old set of couches for almost 6 years that had an imaginary sign on them that read "bachelor pad." Now rid of them, I can face the coming challenges and responsibilities that are sure to come in life knowing that at least we have the couch of our dreams.

The Swap

Over the weekend, I led a little sewing session at my church for a monthly event we have called "The Swap." Each month, someone leads those who show up in a session/workshop on something they are interested in or have a passion for. I obviously wanted to spread my love of sewing to any willing participants.

Besides teaching my new proteges and sewing together, one of my favorite parts of this weekend was buying loads of fat quarters I could have never justified just buying for myself! Look at how luscious it all is! I felt like Scrooge McDuck swimming around in his vault of gold coins, basking in the glow of all this yummy fabric before my eyes.

We made custom pillow covers and it was grand old time! Here are some pictures from Saturday. I wasn't able to get everyone's, but below are a few. In a world where many of our jobs require sitting at desks all day with results and work that is often un-quantifiable, it just feels good to make something with your own two hands and actually see and feel the fruits of your labor.

Urban Farming

Excuse my absence friends... sometimes you just have writer's block and are generally uninspired, right?

Moving on. As part of our church's "Just Food" ministry, an urban vegetable garden has been installed in our back yard. Some friends, TK, and I have spent several weeks installing and caring for this living beast. Over a weekend, we leveled the ground, built raised beds, filled in soil, and planted a wide variety of veggies. The past weeks have been filled with rain, sun, and plant care. It's been amazing to see the garden come to life in such a short span of time.

We've planted herbs, tomatoes, squash, zucchini, cucumbers, peppers, beans, kale, broccoli, and more.

It's been about a month since we started planting and look at all the growth! While I haven't enjoyed the rainy weather we've experienced over the last few weeks, our plants are drinking it right up. It's amazing to watch as the sun does it's wonder on the earth. I'm particularly intrigued by broccoli. When you're used to getting food in a plastic bag from the grocery store, there's something magical about cultivating it with your own two hands and watching it become something from nothing.