Monday, December 26, 2011

It's Not an Empty Nest.....


There are many kind-hearted souls who tell you that it's a wonderful thing when your children leave home, that you will find your "sea legs" within 2-3 months and will be enjoying ballroom dancing lessons in no time at all.



As with most things, however, it's an individual journey.    There are times when I feel focused and alive, ready to take on the world.   There are other times I just miss each of them terribly.  

I also miss the feeling of purpose that I had as a parent.   What can replace that?   Parenting is so important, and for a number of years it was all-consuming.   Who am I now that that period is over?

The answer to that question cannot be rushed, and it requires some experimentation.   So the ballroom dancing classes may be a good idea, and the interest may not last long.   Try lots of things and some will stick.   Activities, volunteer work, a new business.   Somehow, some way, a new person emerges.

The nest is not empty ....... I've just expanded my living space ......


Monday, December 12, 2011

A Blog is Reborn

The first blog  was about the love of food.... ok for a start, but really more Dave's thing than mine.   I love to eat, and I love wine, but cooking is something I generally prefer to watch.  

What I do love is to write.   I'm not sure yet about topics, or about audience, or even how to understand all of the technical language of blogging.    I just know I need to write.

The blog is thus reborn "In the Moment"  (http://falmouthmoments.blogspot.com/).

Let's see what happens from here.   Join me!!

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Good-by to the Old...

I opened up the pantry closet today and noticed the two shelves full of bottles of supplements.  

For a reason that I don't now remember (I'm sure it seemed valid at the time), I've kept both unopened and partially full bottles of supplements that I don't take anymore.   Why, you ask?   This is the part I don't remember.   I probably believed that those supplements would be needed in the near future.

For an equally unknown reason, today was my day to get rid of them all.   Expiration dates of 2007 and 2008 stared at me.   The contents of some of the bottles were disgusting.   Out, all of you!!   It felt very satisfying.

As Dave then said, "It's always nice to know we didn't fall prey to any nutritional fads...".   Right.

Monday, August 1, 2011

Tomatoes!

A bit more munching by the deer, but some very encouraging signs!   Although it is hard to see with so much green in the photo, there are two green tomatoes making their way into being.... (and into meals).

Friday, July 15, 2011

The Mixer and me

The mixer (please see blog post on May 2nd for background) and I began our relationship yesterday..... we did the dance and got to know each other....

Many baking recipes begin with the beating of butter and sugar to form a creamy base.   This is painful by hand, and sloppy with a hand mixer.   Yesterday, it was a thing of beauty.   I watched in awe, through 4 batches of blueberry muffins, as my Kitchen Aid performed miracles with butter and sugar.  Light and airy and very smooth.  I was thrilled.

I learned to attach and detach the blade, and to stop and scrape down the sides of the bowl on a regular basis.   I am still a bit befuddled on the process of adding flour, and eventually (by batch #4) decided it was easier to stop the machine, lift the blade, and add the flour rather than try to add it during the processing and having it fly around the room.   I did try the plastic ring which is supposed to help you when adding ingredients  but it seemed to take too long when adding flour.    Liquids were easy.

There is more to learn about my new friend.   And I am very excited about the prospect of making some bread!  

I count today as a success.    46 blueberry muffins (two consumed for taste tests) for the dining center at church.    Our guests at the dining center are an extremely appreciative group, so it's fun to bake for them.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

The Joys of Vinegar and Baking Soda

Confession:   I have not personally cleaned the house in quite some time.  
For various reasons ......  when the kids were younger, cleaning was part of their weekly chores (and that was successful to some degree...!).   As they left home, my excuses changed to long working hours and business travel ..... and almost anything else I could think of.

With my newly-arrived free time, and after reading "Be Thrifty:  how to live better with less", I decided that housecleaning was something I actually wanted to take on ...... someday.    And then the time arrived -- no more procrastination -- the house desperately needed attention.   So this past weekend, I cleaned the house.

The Thrifty book advises that you can do all your cleaning with distilled vinegar, baking soda and some microfiber cloths/mop.   I ignored the array of chemical cleaners sitting in the cabinet and went to work.   And was totally and completely amazed at the power of distilled vinegar.

The pros:
Cheap
Soap scum and mildew were beaten back
Mirrors were a thing of beauty
Baking soda and vinegar combined got rid of stubborn stains in the sink

The cons:
The smell.... at one point (as I was vigorously attacking mildew), I brought up a fan to my "work area" (the bathroom).   I was fairly convinced I would be pickled by the end of the day.

The microfiber cloths and mop were also amazing.... no chemicals required.    Just dust or dry mop and everything seems to get trapped in the fibers.   Plop the aforementioned cloths and mop in the washing machine and we're good to go for next time.

I felt a wonderful sense of accomplishment.   Let's see...... when will I do this again?

Friday, July 8, 2011

I still can't believe I was in Rome ....

This post is a bit out of order from the last two, but as I pulled together a photo album of cruise photos, I came across the following picture:
Seeing this photo took me back to that first evening in Rome.......

We were desperately jet-lagged, having landed at 8 AM, and finally gotten into our hotel room around Noon.   After a brief rest and shower, we took the metro to the Piazza del Popolo and met our walking tour guide at a nearby bar.   It was a wonderful tour.   Our guide was originally from the US, had lived in Rome for 22 years, and was an architect!   A perfect combination for a walk in this particular neighborhood.   We went into some of the churches, the Pantheon, and walked by the Borghese Palace.   Our guide pointed out good places for gelato, and options for an early dinner.    We loved the tour, and the feeling that we now understood something about this fabulous city.    Afterwards, we thought that we could easily find our way back to one of the places she had pointed out and grab some food.   We wandered, and as we wandered we realized we had no clue where we were.    And then, this particular bar just appeared and I realized it was the one!

I can only describe the pizza as being heavenly.    Look at how much cheese is on this pizza!!!   Each mouthful was incredible.   And with a lovely glass of wine, we began to relax.... and I thought to myself -- I am really here.   In Rome.   Eating pizza and drinking wine.   And it is so incredibly good.   And yes, it's hot, and we're now beyond the point of exhaustion, but this is Rome!   Unbelievable.  

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Peas, peas, peas

We love peas!!!!!!   It is a very short season and the last few years the pods have had very few peas.   But this year seems to be a bumper crop, and they are yummy.   Steamed with a bit of melted butter.    I think I could eat them every night during the season.

Monday, July 4, 2011

Update: the tomato plants are thriving!

The blog has not received much attention over the last month, and there are good reasons for that.   However, when you leave things alone for awhile, sometimes they just correct themselves.

The tomato plants seem to be doing quite well:


I am going to talk to them every day and hope for some tomatoes!!!!!!

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Deer 1, Humans 0

One of the reasons we decided to frequent the Public market more regularly is that we can't grow vegetables ourselves.    Although the front yard gets quite a bit of sun, we've decided to keep it looking just like every other front yard..... grass, flowers and trees.   The back and side yards are very woodsy, and therefore not conducive to vegetable gardening.

But the desire for freshly-picked veggies doesn't die easily, and so when I saw the little tomato plants at the Public market, I thought that perhaps one little sunny corner of the world could perhaps be devoted to 4 tomato plants in a window box..... and it was a very successful planting.

However, I forgot about our good friends, the deer.   Ever present, and occasionally seen lounging in our back yard, they have been known to munch on every "deer-resistant" plant ever catalogued.    We tried to strike a friendly truce, but then began to spray that noxious garlicky substance to keep them away from treasured plants (and yes, Dave does the spraying, not me).   On that fateful day of welcoming the tomato plants to our humble abode, we foolishly opted to wait til the next day to spray.

And here is the result!   Poor little guys.    They have now been sprayed, and we'll see if they are able to recover.   Tomatoes in November, anyone?

Friday, May 20, 2011

Be Thrifty


This is a wonderful book, full of wisdom that our grandparents knew (and a few things we know already!).    What I like best about this book is that it's not written from the perspective of scarcity (you don't have enough money so here's how to be thrifty); it is written from the perspective of enjoying what you have to the fullest (it's your money -- why not spend it on the things you most enjoy).

I am having fun with the opportunities for experimenting with housecleaning products and how to make things last a very long time.    Dave is having great fun with the food portion of the book, and is currently stockpiling vegetable leftovers for the beginnings of a lovely soup stock!

The book is organized so it can be utilized again and again as a reference.

Tomorrow:   Back to the Public Market -- woohoo!!!   First time in 3 weeks.   We'll see if I can get some photos this time.

Monday, May 2, 2011

New beginnings


This standing mixer is a gift.   I wished for it, but didn't really think I would receive it.   It holds the future potential of many happy hours of baking.    I am very excited about trying it out.   I am also a little afraid of it, and wonder if the creations will be any good.   So I'll read the instruction booklet and try the simple stuff first.   And then onto adventures!!!

My retirement from Kodak is a gift ......

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Get Porky on Easter!


Our outstanding Easter dinner featured Braised Pork Shoulder.  We purchased an all natural-fed pork roast from Seven Bridges Farm yesterday during our weekly trip to the Rochester Public Market.  Check out this excellent local farm at www.sevenbridgesfarm.com/.  The pork was fabulous - incredibly tender and full of delicious flavor!  After adding a dry-rub, we braised it with onion, garlic, celery, carrot and sliced fennel bulb in red wine (we used Shiraz) and chicken stock.  We served it with a lemon-zesty roasted rhubarb, peas sauteed with garlic, and roasted new potatoes with rosemary.  And last but certainly not least, we enjoyed a glass of our absolute favorite Apothic Red, a wonderful and unique blend of Zinfandel, Syrah, and Merlot produced by Apothic Wines (Modesto, CA).  Happy Easter!

Friday, April 22, 2011

Let There Be ...... Herbs!

Today's adventure was a trip to a wonderful nursery, Wayside Gardens.    Although the temperatures would lead us to believe that spring is still a long way off, the profusion of color and plants was a grand sight.

A small section of the enormous greenhouse was filled with herbs.    We purchased coriander, thyme, parsley, tarragon, rosemary and oregano.   Basil will be purchased at a different store.   The pots (once we plant them) will sit in the bay window in our kitchen eating area, which is the only location that gets a good dose of sun!    We are hoping to enjoy the bounty of these lovely plants throughout the year.


Update:   Basil was purchased today along with several additional pots -- we are enjoying the indoor farming!

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Who says Vegan has to be boring and bland?????

What to do when you have lots of veggies and you want a full flavor and healthy meal???  Create your own quesadilla, of course!!  We sauteed up some sweet onions, garlic and bell peppers, added some sliced mushrooms and black beans, seasoned it up with chili powder and cumin, and voila!  A phenomenal filling for quesadillas, along with some chopped cliantro.  I'm sure this filling would work equally well with tacos.  We kept most of the tortillas straight vegan but added some grated jack cheese to a couple.  Both options were delish!  A little salsa on top (kicked up with more cilantro), a caesar salad on the side, and we were good to go!  

Saturday, April 16, 2011

A Vegetarian Delight!

With the wonderful bounty of fresh, nutritious foods available at Saturday morning's weekly trip to the Rochester Public Market, it is easy to be inspired to prepare a vegetarian meal.  Today's feature was Eggplant Parmagiana, served with pasta topped with homemade tomato sauce, and a light salad tossed with homemade dressing (courtesy of Bobby Flay).  The eggplant tasted incredibly fresh and tender.  The tomatoes, advertised by their RPM vendor as the "best in the market", were full of flavor and did not disappoint!  We discovered that a 2009 Shiraz by Silvergum Wine Estates in Australia, with its fruit bouquet and slightly peppery accent, was a perfect complement to the eggplant and tomato sauce.  

Saturday, April 9, 2011

A Rochester Public Market dinner


You haven't really had lamb unless you've experienced the incredible lamb from Halcyon Grange farm.  Check 'em out at http://www.halcyongrange.com/.  In our case, it was lamb chops, which we grilled after seasoning with a blend of ginger, garlic, salt and pepper in olive oil.  Full of flavor and absolutely the most tender lamb we've ever tasted! No mint jelly required! Side dishes, all bought this morning at the Public Market, included roasted rosemary new potatoes, poached asparagus, and mushrooms sauteed in jersey cream butter and finished in a marsala reduction sauce.  The only way to top off this magnificent meal was with a glass (or two) of our favorite wine:  St Amant's splendid Mohr Fry Zinfandel.  It was a wonderful meal!  

Shopping at the Rochester Public Market

Saturday morning at the Public Market is a wonderful experience -- an incredible bounty of produce, dairy, meat and other items at very reasonable prices.   We filled three shopping bags.   Pictures to come when we visit again.

We found butter made from jersey cream.    We purchased several cuts of meat from local farms.   Seven Bridges Farm (all natural  beef) gave us an extra pound of ground beef at no charge!    Part of the incredibly good energy at the Public Market.  

Feasted on a breakfast empanada from Juan and Maria's.

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Light and Healthy

Returned home Monday with a craving for light, healthy food after a long weekend of rich, heavy (& delicious) restaurant food. Simple is often best. Fresh mozzerella cheese wedges on a bed of juicy Roma tomatoes and fresh basil leaves, with a dressing of EVOO, balsamic, salt and fresh ground pepper. Perfect accompaniment turned out to be angel hair pasta, tossed with EVOO and fresh grated parmesan and a slice of whole grain bread, grilled with basting oil. Easy, fun to put together, and delish! Ahhh... its nice to be home!

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Huevos Rancheros

Leftover black beans and rice..... what to do.... how to make it yummy?

Heat up beans and rice, add a couple of fried eggs, top with salsa (or Frank's)..... serve with a light green salad (pears were a nice addition).   Perfect meal for a weeknight.

Served with a peppery Cabernet Sauvignon.    Yummy.

Getting Started

We've loved food for a long time, for a very long time..... and particularly the food that we've had fun preparing. So in the spirit of Julia Child, "On the Road Again", and The Dirty Life, we thought it would be fun to begin a blog of gardening, public markets, recipe development, experimentation and eating!!   Along with drinking, of course.