This Vintage Chica

knocking it out

I've been knocking things off my list left and right today. And feeling pretty good about it. The kitchen is clean, the floors are swept and laundry is laundring. My virtual quilting block for April is finished as of a few hours ago. And May's block is staged to be finished this evening if the stars continue to be alligned perfectly.

Oh and since Im on a roll, how about another recipe? One of my favorite things my mother makes is her "dirty rice". It is one of those basic recipes that can be changed from a side to a main dish with the addition of a few extra pantry items. Add green peas and browned ground beef and it is a meal in itself. Or add black beans (or any kind of beans for that matter) for a bit more protein. I can make it in my sleep, and often do. The best thing about this recipe is that it is one of the few things that I know my boys will ALWAYS eat. No matter what.

Diana's Dirty Rice

1 cup long grain white rice
1 can beef consume soup
1 can french onion soup
1/2 stick of butter

Put all ingredients into a glass baking dish. Bake at 425 degrees for 45 minutes or until all liquid is absorbed, stirring once during cooking.

Sorry for no photo of the rice. But the quilt block was prettier.

family recipe: pound cake

Grammer Shirley's Pound Cake

1 c. butter or margarine (or 1 stick each)
3 c. sugar
6 egg yolks
add 1 small package of sour cream
3 c. cake flour (one at a time)
1/4 tsp. vanilla

Cream butter and sugar.  Set aside egg yolks.  Add sour cream, flour and vanilla.  Beat egg yolds and fold in above mixture.

Bake at 300 degrees for 1 1/2 hours or until knife comes out clean.

*****************

This cake is a perfect partner to any Spring berries and holds up nicely with ice cream as well.

If you would like to participate in the family recipe challenge, simply comment in the comments section of the previous post and I will add a link to your recipes from the new family recipes page.

pickin' and a grinnin'

We love strawberries!  I mean who doesn't?  They are the perfect fruit to me.  When I was pregnant and had gestational diabetes it was one of the best "sweets" I could eat and I learned to use them in more ways than just sliced in cereal.  We put them in salads, on cake and in smoothies.  And this year we are making jam, lots and lots of jam.  For us, strawberry season is a sign that Spring is coming to an end and the dog days of summer are headed our way. 

Wednesday we met some friends in Pungo to do a little pickin'.  Or a lot of pickin' - 19 pounds of strawberry picking to be exact.  I am glad the owners of the field didn't weigh the boys before we headed out with our buckets.  Because I am certain they each ate their weight in berries while we were there. Yes, I am absolutely certain about that.

We didn't leave until all four of our buckets were full and our little legs (and backs) were tired.  Ahhhh, a good day in my book!

With all of these strawberries around I have been thinking about old time summer recipes and some of my family's favorites - like my Grammer's strawberry shortcake.  And this prompted an idea.  I am going to challenge myself to collect and learn to make as many family recipes as I can this summer.

So, I thought next week I would post one family recipe each day.  Consider your self invited to play along if you would like.  Just comment to this post if you would like to participate and I will provide a link to your post on the Family Recipe Challenge page. 

How fun will it be to have all of our old time family favorites in one place.  And to share those recipes with others.  What a resource for others this summer who might be looking for the perfect one to use up the excess of zucchinis from their gardens.  Or someone who might be looking for the most perfect cherry pie recipe for a 4th of July picnic.

So make those phone calls to the best cooks in your families.  Go through your recipe boxes.  Let's post those recipes before they are lost forever.

Happy weekending all!  See you next week.

the process of reconnecting

I thought I had given myself (an us) enough time to adjust, but well...I guess I should have allocated three weeks instead of just two.  I am still walking around a bit like a zombie, not knowing where to start on anything.  You know the first few weeks after you bring a new baby home and you just wander around in a daze and realize that four days have gone by and what the heck have you been doing the whole time?  Yes, thats me.  That's where I'm at.  S jumped right back into a regular work up schedule so there hasn't been any time for him to take his 90 hours of leave.  And it hasn't helped that his car has died.  And we finally had the obligatory knock down drag out over finances and scheduling last night.  This coming together of minds is a good thing - it is a sign that we are finally getting back into our groove of being a family of five again.  However, that is one thing the Hispanic culture has down pat...get all of your frustrations out, yell and scream, throw a few plates and then put it all behind you.  Make up and forget about it.

Every time we are in this place, I am reminded of how much energy it really takes to be married and to parent together. A lot my friends!  A lot!  I have not blogged or sewn much and it has left me feeling a bit like a loser and a bit disconnected.  I have done a lot of gluten free cooking for S, cleaning, hosting get togethers for our friends, conversating and organizing the house since S's return.  And I am just as exhausted at bedtime as I was when he was gone.  Now, how is that?  You would think that having an extra pair of hands around would be easier on all fronts.  And in some ways it is.  He helps with laundry, dishes, keeps the boys busy before dinner, etc.  But truth be told, it just takes time.  And I am trying to be patient with myself - and us.  I'm learning.

I have finished up two big projects that have been in the works for several months now.  I am excited to show you, but waiting for the a-ok to do so.  How is that for a tease?  And since I have no crafty photos to share, how about a few of the projects I finished right before S's return?

New curtains for our master bedroom out of a bolt of ticking I bought on sale from a second hand fabric store back last summer.  My mother gave me the iron tie back ages ago when we decorated my first little rent house together.

Of course there have been several trips to the beach between the wind and storms and tornadoes.  I put together this floppy beach bag together out of some natural linen and a thrifted pillowcase to hold all of our snacks and treasures.  I had full meaning of adding some embroidery to the top, similar to Amanda's here.  But it hasn't happened yet, and its OK if it doesn't.  I just love the blue and white pattern.

Sorry friends.  I feel like this post is a bit all over the place.  Just like my brain right now.  But in any case...here's to the ups and downs, the best made plans going all askew, and to being patient with the process.  Knowing that in the process itself there is beauty to be seen and growth to be experienced.  Or at least that is what I am telling myself.