All posts filed under: food

backyard grape jelly

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About four years ago, a friend gave me a grapevine.  It didn’t even sprout a grape for years, but it kept sprawling down the fence along our driveway.  Last year, we finally had grapes and I was so excited! They were beautiful!  I kept waiting for them to ripen just enough to pick.  One day, I went outside and noticed that every last grape was gone.  Someone had a feast. This year, I beat out whatever furry or feathery animal got them all last year.  I went out with the biggest metal bowl I could find and started harvesting the grapes during Anderson’s nap time.  The bowl quickly filled.  I grabbed my largest colander and filled that.  Then, I yelled to Chris to grab me another bowl and filled that too.  I couldn’t believe how many grapes came from one plant. Hello, jelly. It took hours to sort through all of the grapes, ditching the completely green ones and the ones that were already dried up and shriveled as well as pulling every single grape …

blackberry lemon coffee cake (and my first ferry ride)

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I’m writing this recipe out for you while aboard a ferry, which is a first for me (though I won’t actually be able to publish until later because I have no wifi).  I’ve never actually driven my car onto a ferry before and I must say, this is the way to travel.    It is beautiful and really calm, plus you don’t have to sit by sweaty people, snoring people, or loud cell phone people.   Here’s an “I’m on my first ferry ride” shot. Also, a few snaps during the ride.  By the way, I used my dear friend’s camera (thanks, Marisa!) which happens to be a Canon.  My camera is a Nikon.  Read below to see why I might have felt a little weird carrying a Nikon camera around.  Anyway, it is always fun trying a new camera out. I’m headed to Long Island from Connecticut for my first trip at my not-so-new-anymore job as an invited media guest at Canon HQ.  I’m quite excited, I must say.  I’d be more excited if …

faux chicken tart

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In the midst of an everyday sort of setting, I had a moment today when I thought I’d burst with love for my family. I was sitting next to Chris on the sofa.  Anderson was crawling around the living room after one of the cats yelling “cat” at the top of his lungs (which sounds more like cah).  Maybe it was the James Taylor song playing or the look on Anderson’s face?  I don’t know.  I just sat there smiling and thanking my lucky stars.  I love them so much that my heart feels like it will explode sometimes. Today was really slow and sweet.  We didn’t even talk much and we didn’t  have anything on the agenda other than some cleaning and grocery shopping, so we just sortof hung out. I also made a new dish inspired by “Rustic Chicken Tart with Spinach and Brie” from The America’s Test Kitchen Quick Family Cookbook.  I don’t like Brie and we don’t cook with chicken, but the concept seemed really easy.  I just adapted the ingredients …