Sophia has lots and lots of toys. We’re fortunate though because most of them have been hand-me-downs and we have not had to spend a lot of money on toys. We did purchase a little red kitchen for Sophia because we cook a lot and she loves to help. We wanted her to have her own space where she can be a master, too. The kitchen was half off on Cyber Monday … and came in just yesterday. Evan spent a few hours putting it together and Sophia “helped”, of course. Here she is organizing all her faux foods…
Winter made its presence known this weekend with a cold and wet snow storm. We are not getting as much snow as our families up north, but it is still beautiful to wake up on a weekend to the sight of white flakes blanketing our trees in the back yard. Expecting snow, we hunkered down and cooked, crafted and spent lots of time together. Here is how the weekend started.
After a lazy start on Saturday, we hunkered down and cooked, cooked and … well, cooked. Chicken parmesan, southwestern pulled brisket, lentil and kale soup/stew, mushroom and potato soup, slaw and picked onions. All that Saturday cooking left Sunday wide open for more leisurely pursuits.
This is my lunch for Monday 😉 leftover lentil and kale soup and some red pepper hummus… healthy and satisfying.
Sunday mornings must start with coffee, unless it snows, then they must start with hot chocolate.
Not store bought, powdered and grey stuff. Homemade on the stove top with milk, dutch processed cocoa and … wait for it, bittersweet C-H-O-C-O-L-A-T-E. Thick, rich and bitter … grown up.
This was also the first time Sophia tried it and she liked it… as much as any child can enjoy bittersweet chocolate.
A quick excursion despite the inclement yet gorgeous weather, a lunch from leftovers and the Pièce de résistance…
Southwest pulled brisket served with homemade cabbage and scallion slaw and pickled onions served on tortillas. Satisfying.
First hot chocolate for Sophia, first time making pulled brisket, first snow of the season … a weekend of firsts.
Very few things are just about us once we become parents. While at times overwhelming, it is endearing and entirely worth it. Evan’s birthday was this Sunday and we celebrated it just as we intended — with his parents and grandmother. My mother-in-law baked a carrot cake with cream cheese frosting which is Evan’s favorite.
Sophia helped ring in Evan’s new year.
As for what to get a man who has everything? A cookbook, of course! It is a rather selfish gift, I know. I am sure to benefit from this over the years when Evan prepares delicious dishes artfully described in this bright text. Actually, there is a story behind this cookbook; Back when we lived in Philadelphia, we used to attend dinners hosted by Shola Olunloyo, an excellent and famous chef who at one time co-hosted a dinner with Alex Talbot who one of this cookbook’s authors. The techniques they both used were very unique and each dish was packed with flavor. We were inspired and have since experimented with some of the methods used by both chefs. Anyway, though this book is not an experience (which is what we like to gift each other) per se, it will lend itself to many culinary experiences.
I alluded to the secret crafts my sister and I were working on for our little cousins for Hanukkah and I can now finally share what we’ve been up to for the last few weekends. We have six little cousins (four on my side and two on Evan’s). We thought that instead of getting books or toys, we’d do something a little more personal; Something from the heart. Fall is finally here and there is a chill in the air. What can be better than a cup of hot chocolate and home-made cookies made with your brother or sister? So… we made hot chocolate and cookie mixes for everyone to make and sewed aprons to ensure no outfits were dirtied in the process. The hot chocolate mix requires very little work — just add hot milk. While enjoying their hot chocolate, the young chefs need to mix oil, eggs and vanilla adding those to the dry ingredients we provided in the mason jar. Finally, I want to highlight the special food stylist at the photoshoot to capture the Hanukkah gifts. 🙂
I have a tradition on this blog to, around Thanksgiving, share what I am most grateful for. Of course like most other people I am grateful for my family, Evan and Sophia. I could produce a top 10 list, but will refrain because that’s very boring and you can probably guess what is on my list, anyway.
This Thanksgiving I am grateful for my in-laws who are hosting my parents and sister and in effect ensuring that Sophia’s Thanksgiving is shared with everyone in her family. Families aren’t chosen; We are born or marry into them, but we choose how to make ours extraordinary.
Hanukkah is one of my all-time favorite holidays. For one, it features latkes and jelly filled donuts. Secondly, it is celebrated for E-I-G-H-T days and nights. Last year, my sister gifted Sophia EIGHT presents. They were such a hit and Sophia loved the attention her Aunt showered her with. The winner was a hand-made color book where each of the primary colors was quilted into a page and its name was cross-stitched on the opposing side. She still reads it and loves it. This year, I caught the crafting bug and tried my best to spread the crafts around.
This year, my sister who’s a genuine balabusta — a perfect homemaker and gracious host — hosted a Hannukah dinner for my parents and us. She made latkes, khatchapuri, sufganiyot and a few other dishes, too. After all, whoever said that Hanukkah couldn’t feature a few Georgian dishes? To compliment all the fried dishes, there was my mom’s to-die-for beef stew and a few others, too. Let’s just say this was a practice run for tomorrow’s Turkey Day dinner hosted by Evan’s parents.
As we were celebrating the festival of lights and gifts were on the kids’ minds, we delved in. Evan and I held off on giving Sophia any gifts just yet as she was yet again a lucky recipient of my sister’s generous gifts. I will reveal some of my own crafty creations in due time as Sophia opens them. Until then, I am especially grateful to Evan for watching Sophia while I crafted not only for Sophia but for our cousins (all six of them!!!).
Trends and societal preferences cycle through the years. Fashion is perhaps the most visually obvious example of this phenomenon where the cuts and patterns our mothers wore when they were young are once again in. One hundred years ago, affording something that was mass-produced was a sign of affluence. These days, we have once again embraced the slow movement. Slow food, handmade products, individuality.
While the slow movement has squarely made its presence known here in America, it has never really left the old world. Perhaps this is the very essence of why we find European cities so charming. Cobbled streets lined with one-of-a-kind shops, art studios and mom-n-pop restaurants where each establishment excels at just a handful of products whether it be pottery, handmade soaps, an authentic recipe for spaghetti cacio e pepe like the one served at the Ristorante de Paris in Rome or the stuffed peppers I still can’t forget at Inn Buffalito in Sorrento, Italy.
Our family are big fans of the farm (or garden) to table, slow, handmade concept. My parents have had a garden for as long as they have owned their house and last year, Evan and I gave gardening a go. Our garden was a success and we enjoyed the experience. In fact, we just only recently picked our last harvest of cherry tomatoes. When traveling, Evan and I go out of our way to find local places and artisanal shops that are known for just a single product. Our passion for handmade and individually tailored was further supported when we lived in Philadelphia, the home of the Naked Chocolate Cafe, Philadelphia Distilling Co., La Colombe, The Franklin Fountain, Capogiro Gelato, DiBruno Brothers, and many, many more. With the exception of La Colombe and DiBruno Brothers, the other establishments came to be while we resided in the city of Brotherly Love and it is nice to see so many of them have reached national acclaim and still retain their passion for creating good quality products.
Philadelphia is of course, not the only city that embraces artisanal, individually-owned, slow and slow-food enterprises. New York City, and Brooklyn in particular has been a mecca for young and passionate craftsmen like the Mast Brothers, Brooklyn Soda Works, Kombucha Brooklyn, People’s Pops, The Brooklyn Salsa, and Stanley and Sons. These represent a very brief sampling of the immense talent housed in Brooklyn.
When traveling, we make a point to stop by a few of these mom-n-pop places to enjoy the local offerings and interact with people who are passionate about their craft. No matter the product, it always feels a little more luxurious when it is hand-made and individual. I feel just the same way when receiving something hand-made especially if gifted by the maker. So the next time you receive something that was hand-made, take a moment to realize and recognize the amount of time someone poured into this special piece and that it was probably made with a lot of love.
We couldn’t have asked for a more gorgeous weekend. Our neighborhood is very wooded and is lit up in a glorious colorscape this time of year. Green, yellow, orange, pink, red and maroon… simply breathtaking. We made the most of the weekend by spending some time outside in the afternoons. The mornings were all about having a lazy weekend with pancakes, coffee (for Evan and me, of course) and cartoons for the little Miss. When not cooking, enjoying the weather or puttering about the house, we did a lot of … this:
We took Sophia to the supermarket on Friday evening which is a big deal for us. You see, with her motion sickness worse than ever and our store being 20 minutes away, she’s only been there three times including Friday. She was a champ and really enjoyed the store and people watching there. After stocking up on so many yummy things, we had no other option but to cook with all the delicious produce we stocked up on. Warning: Food Pictures Below.
Sea Trout in Bercy Sauce . It sounds fancier and more difficult than it really was. This, together with the veggies below, was a 20 minute dinner.
Evan’s famous sesame zucchini
Nikujaga — mmm so good and we have leftovers, too.
Sometimes, a simple rice dish is just what is in order. Fried rice made the cut for a Sunday night dinner. Evan used five-spice, garlic, ginger, mirin (japanese rice wine), sesame oil and peas to make this salty, sweet, and aromatic dish.
Before Sunday, but after Saturday’s pancakes, we needed something for breakfast that didn’t require cooking on the morning of. After looking at our two super-ripe bananas, we all agreed on banana muffins.
Oh, and I have brownies in the oven as I write this, but I’ll spare you the picture and maybe you won’t run out for a morning snack after reading this.
We made our usual, bi-weekly pilgrimage to the Philadelphia area this weekend to celebrate my nephew’s 10th birthday. My sister was making a spread fit for a wedding and everyone was excited. Unfortunately, the birthday boy got sick! The party was cancelled! The food didn’t go to waste — some of it was generously donated to us and we are grateful. I was and still am incredibly disappointed that the party didn’t happen. I am told a swift re-do is in the works. The weekend wasn’t a complete wash because we were with family. My in-laws took turns visiting with us. Even our Bubbie made it this morning and we were very happy to share Sophia with everyone. Once again, sad to leave and wishing we were living closer to our families.
Any mother knows that the minute you hear that your child is unwell, you want to run to them and be with them. You would do anything to make them feel better. Something happened when I became a mother. All of a sudden, I had, without any deliberate effort, attained an acute sensitivity to suffering of any kind and especially, that of children. That isn’t to say that I was heartless before. In fact, most who know me extremely well, will say that I am very compassionate. But motherhood has somehow elevated my sense of compassion to a whole new level.
Someone close to me once said “all children get sick, it is no big deal.” She was obviously someone who does not yet have children. I found the comment to be ignorant but I bide my time until she becomes a mother. A prospect of a sick child doesn’t just mean a child in discomfort. It also guarantees sleepless nights (likely more than one) for the mother. But I digress…
I grew up in a family where when my sister or I were sick, my mom did everything and anything to make us feel better. There was first and foremost a stern lecture how we must have caught this cold because we didn’t a. wear our hat/scarf b. ran around until we broke a sweat and then gulped ice cold water and c. didn’t wash our hands before eating. The reasons were, universal if you’re Russian, dubious and likely untrue. Once the lecture was finished, we were loved. That meant hot tea with homemade raspberry jam on demand, hot chicken soup with matzo balls or dumplings. We were allowed and encouraged to lay down, watch tv or read books. Sometimes, when feeling especially poorly, my mom would lay down with us (even when we were older) and just hold us. It was just nice and I believe that children can feel that and it instantly calms them and soothes their already aching bodies. Just look at infants whose mothers can soothe them by just holding them. The infants can smell their mother and are instantly comforted. This and all that special yummy goodness continued well into adolescence. Not to be mistaken for a mommy’s girl, which I am definitely not, but I even felt infinitely better when my mom came and spent my first full day as a new mother in the hospital with me. She just gave me such reassurance.
This past Friday, Sophia had a runny nose. She’s so miserable when she has a cold because she have yet to master blowing her nose. Even though our nanny is more than capable of administrating medicine and trying to sooth Sophia, there is no-one better than Mama to make it all better. I rushed home from work to try and comfort her and hopefully curtail the advances of this cold. I defrosted some chicken soup, made warm tea (that’s right, we’re Russian and we drink tea!), bundled her in a warm cardigan and even held her while she napped. We thankfully nipped this cold or allergies or teething or … whatever it was in the bud. Fingers crossed. Oh and she drinks “flowering honeybush” tea which is naturally caffeine free.
Taking a selfie with my sleeping child is not beneath me :-). This is mothering. This is love.
