Breakfast and a Boat: French Fry and Bacon Breakfast Casserole

Where I grew up in Western Pennsylvania, summers meant lots of time spent on the lake.  Fishing, boating, tubing.  It was a great place to spend those long, hot, summer days.

This past week has been a strange one here.  The humidity has been intense - unusual for Southern California.  Combined with the thunderstorms, it felt a little like Hawaii.  And with the heat, it felt like those summers I grew up with. 

So over the weekend, we decided to head to the lake.  Or "a lake" to be more precise, because there are several in San Diego County.  But on Saturday I picked up a magazine that spoke of Dixon Lake and the historic stories of old San Diegoans heading to camp there in the summer.  So we went to check it out.

 

The lake itself is picturesque, and in many way reminded me of the lakes I grew up with. With the exception of those mountains!  The lake sits in a basin, surrounded by mountains and trees.  You can't swim in the water, but you can boat.  And so boat we did.

 

We rented a peddle boat for the four of us.  It was Thatbaby's first time on one of these and he had a blast.  He was so quiet, sitting there and taking it all in.  But everytime we asked if he was having a good time he would nod his head very seriously.

Thatboy remarked to TMIL that she probably didn't think she'd be "camping" while they were here.  For him, being on the lake reminded him of his summers camping with his family.  With that in mind, I wanted to indulge him in a "camping" type breakfast.  Camping is in quotes here because I always tease Thatboy that his family, who proclaimed themselves to be avid campers, never actually camped.  They camped in lodges or campers, always with a working stove and oven.  So while my camping experiences involved cooking over an open flame, they ate the same foods they would have at home.  This is that kind of breakfast.  Filling, a great use of last night's leftovers, and there's something about breakfast casseroles that make you think about sleeping in a tent.  Maybe that's just me.  Since we know Thatboy has very little tent experience!

Bacon and Potato Breakfast Casserole

4 slices thick bacon, chopped
1 onion, diced
1 yellow bell pepper, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
8  eggs
1 cup milk
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
3 cups french fries

1. Heat the oven to 350. Spray a baking dish with baking spray.
2. Heat a large skillet over medium heat.  Add the bacon and cook until crisp.
3. Add the onion, yellow bell pepper, garlic, and salt to taste, and cook for 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and let cool slightly.
4. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs.
5. Whisk in the milk. 
6. Whisk in some salt and pepper. 
7. Stir in the cheese, french fries, bacon and vegetables.   Pour the whole mixture into the prepared baking dish. Bake for 40 minutes.

Whines, Wines, and Cake: Charlotte Russe

TMIL heads back home today.  Just in time.  I honestly don't know how much more I could take.  You know what they say about fish and house guests?  Well we definitely passed the three day mark. 

It's really hard to share space.  TMIL is so critical that she will literally look for anything she can sink her negative hooks on to, which means I spend the entire time she's here playing cheerleader.  Everything's great!  Everything's perfect!  It's exhausting. 

Since TMIL loves her wine (in a rather unhealthy way given that her doctors have told her she needs to cut it out) we thought she would enjoy a trip to wine country.  We spent the afternoon sitting at a table enjoying wine and cheese while she complained that she only liked whites and they didn't have enough whites for her to drink (as she continued to steal sips of our reds and declare how good they were even though she doesn't like reds).  Then we came home and she refused to eat dinner because she already had cheese.  Good times.

I'm celebrating her departure, and celebrations mean cake.  Or something cake-like.  This was actually inspired by the purchase of a charlotte mold.  I love getting old baking tools - there's something so nostalgic about it.  And now I actually have the space to house them in my kitchen.  It's a dangerous place to be.

Do you know about charlottes?  They're a French baked dish which are filled sponge cakes.  Like a very fancy twinkie.  The Charlotte Russe is a sponge cake filled with bavarian cream.  It's one of those dishes that looks fancier than it actually is.  And perfect for any form of celebration, big or small.

 

Charlotte Russe

1 envelope gelatin

1/3 cup sugar

1/2 cup milk

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

1cup heavy cream

sponge cake

1. Sprinkle the gelatin over 1/4 cup cold water and let it soften for 5 minutes.
2. Mix the sugar and milk in a pan, add the gelatin , and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the sugar and gelatin dissolve.  
3. Remove from the heat and add the vanilla.  Chill until  thick and syrupy, then beat until fluffy.
4. Whip the cream into soft peaks and fold in the gelatin mixture.  
5. Line a 1 1/2 quart charlotte mold with 1/2 inch thick slices of sponge cake.
6. Spoon in the filling and chill until firm.  Unmold before serving.

Mommy Mondays: Advice for a New Mom

Baby B is my first "real" niece.  Both Thatniece and Thatnephew were born when Thatboy and I were still dating, so I wasn't invested in them from the start the way I am with Baby B.  Add to the fact that my brother is one of my favorite people in the entire world, and the fact that I've already "been there done that" in terms of babies, it's really all I can do not to swoop in and take that baby from them every time they have an issue.

But it's not too hard to call back to those early days myself.  Those days when every person you met had "advice" for how to raise your new baby.  "Let your baby cry to develop its lungs"  "Don't hold the baby too much or you'll spoil it."  "You should fill the bottle with cereal so the baby sleeps through the night."  It's overwhelming.

Really, there is one piece of advice that every new mom should have, and one that I passed along to UDubb:  You are doing a great job.  You have carried this baby for 9 months.  You know her better than anyone does.  Go with your gut, because only you really know what's best for your baby.

You know what?  New parents are going to make mistakes.  It's inevitable.   But what they don't need is people making them feel like things they are doing right are mistakes.  My best advice is to build them up, give them the confidence.  Babies don't break easily (their skeletons aren't even really fully solidified yet!) and new parents are inherently nervous.  So why add to that?

I firmly believe that no matter what difficulty is thrown their way, Thatbrother and UDubb, like every other new parent before them, will figure it out.  And its much easier to do that without a million people telling you that you're doing it wrong, or trying to give you a better way to do it.  So the next time a new mom asks you for advice?  Tell her she's doing a fantastic job.  And the next time you're questioning yourself?  Remember, you're doing it all right.

Sunday Runday: Skirtin' Free

A couple of weeks ago, my friend SD Mom hosted a running event in conjunction with Running Skirts.  It was a running and shopping event.  Seeing as how I'm a fan of both of those things, it was a no-brainer that I would attend.

When I arrived SD Mom had a whole little goody table set up, with MamaChia squeezes, Nutzo, bagels, bananas and more.  She takes such good care of us.  Once everyone got there, we headed out for a run.

We did a short little coastal run, stopping on the way back for a little selfie action.  We went out in different groups.  I picked the latest (sleep-in-est) group.  We all got back to the store at the same time though.

After we rehydrated and refueled, we were turned loose in the store.

I'm already well acquainted with Running Skirts.  Thatboy introduced me years ago when he stumbled in one day while waiting for an oil change.  He came home with a pretty pink bag, filled with a pretty pink skirt.  And he loves spoiling me there around the holidays.  It's his one stop, stocking filling shop.

In general, I'm not a big skirt/short runner.  On long runs, where I turn into a sweaty mess, I do my best to avoid chafing.  But the thing that I like about Running skirts is that they have built in compression-like shorts.  That are fairly long.  Long enough that my thighs don't rub together.  And what's more important is that they don't ride up.  And they're super cute.  (See how good I am?  I put function over fashion!)  And they have a little pocket for keeping little things. 

One of the reasons I attended this shindig was because I wanted to pick up a new skirt for the race I'm running next weekend at Disneyland.  2 guesses as to what my running costume is going to be.

Special thank you to SD Mom for putting this event together.  Isn't she the cutest/best?

Visiting: Bavarian Cream

TMIL is currently visiting and staying with us.  This understandably adds an extra level of stress to my already stressful life.  Because TMIL is not an accepting, loving kind of mother-in-law.  Instead she's a negative, judging kind of mother-in-law.  When we told her we were buying a home, instead of being excited for us, she told us as many horror stories as she could about the area we were moving to.  Not that she had any actual knowledge about the area being as she lives hundreds of miles away and has never actually been there.

I feel like every meal I put on the table needs to be flawless.  (Tonight's meal included a salad, and apparently she can't eat leafy greens)  This means we have some sort of dessert every night, as the perfect way to round out the meal.  And because I'm short on time, it needs to be something I can prepare ahead of time.  And because I can't risk failure, it needs to be easy.

Puddings are a really hard dish to mess up, don't take long to prepare, and taste even better the next day.  This Bavarian cream is a cross between a pudding and a custard.  It's got the creaminess of the custard, but a more solid consistency.  It's sweet, it's easy, and it's pretty.  Perfect to serve for picky company.

 Bavarian Cream (From the Fannie Farmer Cookbook)

1 envelope gelatin

2 eggs, separated

1 1/4 cup milk

1/2 cup sugar

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

1 cup heavy cream

1.  Sprinkle the gelatin over 1/4 cup cold water and let soften for 5 minutes.
2. Beat the egg yolks slightly.
3. Heat the milk in a heavy-bottomed pan until very hot, then stir a little into the beaten yolks.
4. Return the yolks to the remaining milk in the pan and add the sugar, salt, and gelatin.  Stir constantly over medium heat until slightly thickened. Remove from the heat and refrigerate for 15 minutes or until cool.
5. Add the vanilla.
6. Beat the egg whites until they are stiff but not dry and fold them into the custard.
7. Beat the cream until it barely holds soft peaks and fold it into the custard.  Spoon into a 2 quart mold, cover, and chill until firm.  Unmold before serving.

Summer Pick Me Up - Ice Coffee with Jelly

It should come as no surprise that we are insanely busy right now.  During the week it's nonstop action from the time I get up at 6am until I finally collapse in bed sometime after 11pm.  There's the getting ready process in the morning, then work, then coming home and taking care of dinner, bedtimes, and prepping for the next day.  Plus a little workout time worked in - when there's time. 

The weekends are no less stressful.  Sometimes I even wake up earlier to get a run in before the day starts.  There are errands to run, housework to catch up on, and always some sort of fun event to attend - like Little LO's birthday party last weekend.

So how do I get through these long, very full days?  I'm not much of a coffee drinker.  But sometimes I make exceptions.  I am very picky about my coffee when I do drink it.  We have a fantastic local coffee shop that really helps me get through my Saturdays.  I'd much prefer to drink there than at Starbucks.  In general I don't really like Starbucks.  But when I was in college, Starbucks introduced a drink that was on the menu for a very short time period which I adored.  It was the only time I willingly and gladly chose Starbucks over other coffee shops.

So what was this magical drink?  It was a coffee with coffee jelly.  Since I love Boba (drinks with tapioca balls) this quickly became a favorite drink.  I was really sad when they stopped serving it.  So of course I had to learn how to make my own version.   For me, this is the perfect summer drink.  I haven't ever tried it with hot coffee, but I worry that it would melt the jelly, and therefore lose the consistency.  But with a nice ice coffee, it's the perfect way to cool down and start the day.

 Ice Coffee with Jelly

1 pot very strong coffee

1 envelope of gelatin

6 Tbsp sugar

1.  Mix the gelatin, sugar, and 1/2 cup of cold water in a small pan and let soften for 5 minutes.
2. Add 2 cups coffee and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until the gelatin dissolves.
3. Pour into a tray and chill until firm.
4. Turn tray onto a clean work service and cut into small squares.
5. Place 1/4 cup of coffee jelly in each cup and top with cold coffee, milk, and sugar to taste.

Best Buds: Orange Jello

When we moved into our new house, we left a lot behind. Like our bed that was probably 10 years old, and our couch which was in such bad shape we couldn't even get any organizations to accept it as a donation. 

We've replaced the big things, but we're still waiting on the couch we ordered.  And I've been holding off on having people over, because I hate forcing people to sit outside, since there's no place for them to sit inside.  But the days and weeks are dragging on, and honestly, one of the best things about having a house is being able to entertain.  So despite the lack of seating, we had L&O&family over a couple weeks ago.

The nice things about friends is that they don't care too much about the lack of a place to rest their bottoms.  And Thatbaby and Little LO had so much fun running amok in the backyard.

They took turns riding the bikes and motorized wheels, but then Little LO realized there was room for him on the back and they could ride together!

We didn't take advantage of our orange tree the night they were there, but it's perfect for one of the classic kid's desserts - J-E-L-L-O.  Honestly, it takes just as much time to make it from scratch as it does to make the store-bought version, but the taste is worlds apart.  There is so much more flavor when you make it from freshly squeezed juice.  It's brighter, and the sweetness isn't as cloying.  Once you try this, you will have no desire to ever grab that little white box again!

Orange Jello (From the Fannie Farmer Cookbook)

2 envelopes gelatin

1 1/2 cups freshly squeezed orange juice

3/4 cup sugar

juice of 1 lemon

1. Sprinkle the gelatin over 1/2 cup cold water and let soften.
2. Add 1 3/4 cup boiling water, stirring to dissolve.
3. Add the orange juice, sugar, and lemon juice.
4. Pour into a 1-qt mold and chill until firm.

Kid Stuff: Pasta with Chicken and Veggies

A couple years back we used to get together with Thatboy's coworkers on a regular basis.  We'd meet with all our kids and let them play while we ate.  Except Thatbaby was always an infant during those time periods, so he watched more than played.  Then they started having their seconds (and thirds) and got busy with babies so we kind of dropped our get togethers.

A couple of weekends ago, we got together with one of his coworkers to restart the trend.  It had been so long since we'd seen them, that Thatbaby had never even met their 2 year old daughter!

Unsurprisingly, Thatbaby was much more taken with the older brother.  A "big boy" which is obviously cooler than a baby girl.  Nevertheless, they managed to all have fun together.

There were games to play, puddles to splash in, and pianos to play.

Thatbaby loved having a day to play with his new friends.  He didn't want to leave.  The promise of pasta for dinner was definitely an incentive though.  Because kids?  They love pasta.  Or at least Thatbaby does.  He especially likes being able to pick out his own pasta shape.  And on those days when getting him to eat veggies is a chore, this is a surefire way to get them in!

Pasta with Chicken and Veggies

 8 oz pasta

1 Tbsp olive oil

1 chicken breast, chopped

1 garlic clove, minced

1/2 onion, chopped

1 Tbsp tomato paste

1 cup chicken broth

1 cup your favorite chopped veggies (zucchini, spinach, broccoli)

1. Cook pasta according to package directions.
2. Heat oil in skillet over medium high heat. Add chicken, garlic, and onions and saute until chicken is browned.
3. Add the tomato paste and cook for another minute.
4. Add the chicken broth and veggies and bring to a boil.  Simmer for 5 minutes.
5. Add the cooked pasta to the chicken and veggies, toss and serve.

Mommy Mondays: Potty Time (Part 2)

We've hit a really good "midpoint" of our potty training adventures, so I thought it was a good time for an update.

As you may recall from previous episodes, we're doing the anti-potty training method in that we're not actively potty training.  If Thatbaby wants to sit on the potty, great.  If not, then he doesn't.  My instinct is that eventually he'll want to wear underwear instead of diapers.  And I'm not going to force it, he'll do it when he's ready. 

Our big turning point came when we were in San Francisco for Bay to Breakers.  Out of nowhere, Thatbaby announced he wanted to go "poo poo on the potty."  This was a pretty surprising move for us, because everyone I know who potty trained their children had real issues with bowel movements.  About half of them still can't get their child to poop in the toilet.  But Thatbaby hasn't pooped in a diaper since.  Which was a lot of fun in the airport, and in gas station bathrooms, but hey - the day had to come sooner or later, right?

Going pee in the toilet came a little later.  It was underwear driven.  He wanted to wear underwear, and knew that if he wanted to wear underwear, he had to pee in the potty too.  So he started peeing in the potty.  And at that point he also started waking up at night to pee. 

So potty trained, right?  Not exactly.  First, he's still sporadic enough with the night wakes that we keep him diapered.  (In fact, last night he woke up crying at 1am because he had peed and wanted to know if he was in underwear or a diaper)  Second, Thatbaby is "weekend potty trained."  All weekend he wears underwear and stays dry, but during the week, when he's at school, he asks to wear diapers.  And at this point, we're going with it.  The kid potty trained himself, but for some reason he's still not comfortable at school.  Whether it's the fact that he's still adjusting to the new school, he's afraid of having an accident, or he likes the privacy that the school bathroom doesn't afford. I have faith he'll get there on his time.  So far he's proven me right that kids will potty train himself, and it's been a really easy process for us because of that.  And that's why this is only Part 2.  We've got one more chapter left to go!

Sunday Runday: Hit the Dirt

I wanted to take a minute or two to talk about trail running.  It's funny to me that some people are intimidated by trails - don't be!  Trails are fantastic.  They're better for your joints and body than pavement, and you don't have to worry about being hit by a car.

There are some cons to trail running.  The first is that most people are generally slower on trails.  They're a little more hazardous with loose rocks and dirt.  Some trails can be very narrow.   You often do have to avoid bikers.  And of course, there are the very real hazards of snakes and other wildlife.

But if you ask me, the benefits far outweigh the risks.  Trails have an inherent beauty to them because you're surrounded by nature.

I used to run on trails all the time, there was one just half a mile from our home, so that was my daily route.  Now I'm not nearly as close to a trail, so my daily route are the streets surrounding my home.  And then one of my running friends introduced me to a great nearby trail run.

 It's not half a mile away, I do have to get in my car and drive there.  But it's great for longer runs.  And so, often on the weekends I head there to get a nice, long, quiet run in.

The views always make it feel worthwhile.

Babies Babies Everywhere

On Sunday Thatbaby and I had a special mommy-son day.  And we took a road trip.  A very long roadtrip.  You see, I was heading up to LA to see some new arrivals - babies!  It's normally something I do by myself, but Thatbaby really wanted to come.  And so with the permission of the new moms, I found myself with a new little roadtrip buddy.

Our first stop was the visit NotMya's new little guy.  Thatbaby is really looking forward to him growing up a little more so they can play together.

We didn't come empty handed, Thatbaby brought a toy for the new little guy.  I brought lots of food.  Including some enchiladas

Chicken Gyros

and a Greek Salad

After we visited for a bit, we went to see JackieO's little bit.  Dixie, or Baby Dix as Thatbaby calls her, is a little older, and a lot more fun.  Thatbaby was smitten.  He wanted to hold her hands, her little feet, give her toys, and be her best friend.

I am always worried about bringing Thatbaby with me to see new babies, but he did remarkably well.  He was quiet, well behaved, and fascinated by the little ones.  And the car ride was far from the disaster I predicted!  Sure I had to listen to "baby bumble bee" for 15 straight minutes, but there was no crying or whining the entire 5 hours we were in the car.  It was a great day for both of us.

Rainy Day Sunday: Cornmeal Crusted Pork Chops

We've been having unusual weather here.  You may have heard "it never rains in Southern California."  That's not true.  Although it usually does hold true for the summer.  Not this year.  Thatbaby has had two playdates completely rained out.  Well, not completely.  We let the kids splash in the rain for quite some time.  Like I said, summer thunderstorms are rare here.  Although honestly, it's been so dry this winter that even I can't get too upset about rain in the summer.

The first big rain I didn't think to pull out my camera, but I should have.  The kids got soaked and had a blast riding their bikes in the rain.  We convinced them the slides were waterslides.  The only problem with our brilliant plan is no one had brought dry clothes.  I stripped Thatbaby down and bundled him up in my spare sweatshirt I keep in the car when it became clear the rain wasn't letting up.

The second rain I was better prepared and whipped out my camera to catch the kids in action as they splashed through the showers and puddles.

I love the moodiness the rain brings, and I kind of missed it this winter.  Although, I think I prefer the rain in the summer, when the summer heat makes it seem almost refreshing.  I made a special "rain playlist" I've been playing a lot lately, because mood music is so important.  Mood food is important too.  And on a rainy weekend, comfort food definitely sets the mood.  Like pork chops and potatoes.  But not just any pork chops, you need pork chops with a bit of heft to them.  Like these, which are coated in cornmeal and spices.  Served with potatoes and green beans, there's something so homey about them.  Makes you want to curl up beside the fire and watch the thunder roll.

Cornmeal Crusted Pork Chops (From Elly Says Opa)

 

1 cup cornmeal
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
2 eggs
4 bone in pork chops
1.5 TBSP canola oil

1. Preheat the oven to 425. In a shallow bowl or plate, mix the cornmeal, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, and a good amount of salt and pepper to taste. 
2. In another shallow bowl, whisk the eggs.
3. Season the pork chops with salt and pepper. 
4. Dip the pork chops into the beaten eggs, and then dredge into the cornmeal mixture, making sure to coat all sides.
5. Heat the oil in a large oven-safe nonstick (or well-seasoned cast iron) skillet. Once hot, add the chops to the pan. Cook for about 2-3 minutes, or until golden brown on one side. Flip, and cook for another 2 minutes.
6.  Place the pan into the oven and continue cooking until pork chops are cooked through, about 10-12 minutes, or until pork chops reach an internal temperature of 140º.

8 years

8 years ago it seemed the blueness of the sky was only matched by the blueness of the water.  We gathered those we loved to declare our love for one another.

8 years ago we were so much younger, thinner, and more optimistic.  We had our whole lives before us and it was filled with endless possibility.  We were young and in love, and there was nothing we couldn't do.



We have grown up so much in the past 8 years, but we have done so together.  In many ways, this has probably bound us closer together.  We have supported each other through the deaths of our father.  We have brought new life into this world.  We have struggled and we have persevered.


 



















This year we bought our first home.  It's a big step for us, a putting down of roots.  A new beginning, 8 years in.  Because we never stop growing together.  

Family Ties: Cheese Souffle

While UDubb was working on bringing my new niece into the world, the rest of the family was gathered together to visit with First.  He had brought his new girlfriend out to California to meet all of us - and there are quite a few of us. 

I love family get-togethers, they make me so happy and it's exciting for me that Thatbaby gets to grow up with all these wonderful men.  Yes, men.  Look at that picture - do you see the shortage of women we're working with in my family?  Maybe why I'm so excited about Baby B.  We need some more estrogen in this joint!

Being with the family also reminded me that I still haven't shared with you my souffle story.  The souffle I wanted to make when Mustang came for dinner, but didn't.  The souffle I made for my boys the next day.  And oh, the story of this souffle.

There is something to be said about a recipe.  It can make or break you.  And my souffle process has shown that the right recipe can lift you up.  And the wrong recipe will leave you flat, deflated.  I had been working on my souffles for a while, trying different recipes and different techniques.  Most of them ended up looking like this:

So I did what I always do when faced with a difficult dish.  I turned to Alton Brown.  Really, this is where I should have started.  Because when I start with an Alton Brown recipe, I usually don't even realize the dish is supposed to be difficult.  It's no surprise that the results were measurable:

My beautiful, high rising, golden souffle.  Airy and light.  Tasting like macaroni and cheese - so creamy, so cheesy.  It was an incredible success.  Lovely to eat on a summer night.  Equally as impressive for a fancy brunch.

Cheese Souffle (from Alton Brown)

Butter, room temperature, for greasing the souffle
2 Tbsp grated Parmesan 

3 Tbsp butter
3 Tbsp flour
1 tsp dry mustard
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/8 tsp kosher salt
1 1/3 cups milk, hot
4 large egg yolks
6 ounces sharp Cheddar
5 egg whites plus 1 tablespoon water

1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar

1. Use room temperature butter to grease an 8-inch souffle mold. 
2. Add the grated Parmesan and roll around the mold to cover the sides. Cover with plastic wrap and place into the freezer for 5 minutes.
3. Preheat oven to 375. In a small saucepan, heat the butter. Allow all of the water to cook out.
4. In a separate bowl combine the flour, dry mustard, garlic powder, and kosher salt. 
5. Whisk this mixture into the melted butter. Cook for 2 minutes. 
6. Whisk in the hot milk and turn the heat to high. Once the mixture reaches a boil, remove from the heat.
7. In a separate bowl, beat the egg yolks to a creamy consistency. 
8. Temper the yolks into the milk mixture, constantly whisking. 
9. Remove from the heat and add the cheese. Whisk until incorporated. 
10. In a separate bowl, using a hand mixer, whip the egg whites and cream of tartar until glossy and firm. 
11. Add 1/4 of the mixture to the base. Continue to add the whites by thirds, folding very gently.
12. Pour the mixture into the souffle. Fill the souffle to 1/2-inch from the top. Place on an aluminum pie pan. Bake in the oven for 35 minutes.