homemaking

The House That Found Us……

March 16, 2010 by Edie Wadsworth 96 Comments

Just to be clear and to set the record straight, we weren’t looking for a house. We love our house. And our neighborhood. And our pool. And our trees. We’ve lived here since we were married and our two littlest have lived their whole lives here. I’ve made every single inch of this house my own. Neither of us are people who like the thought of moving. And besides, when you collect as much wonderful stuff junk as I do, the thought of packing it all up drives me (in a really fast car) to the brink of insanity.

So why did this house hunt us down and leave us no other choice but to buy it? All the forces in this sweet little southern town seem to be working together to make sure we move to this house. We were minding our own business when one of our wonderful friends—- some call her Martha, I call her Fate’s right hand man—–begged and pleaded and then forced us under duress to ‘just go look at it’. And when we got there, this is what we saw………

That’s so not fair. To take us there at sunset. It’s like we’d been taken hostage——by a lake house.

So, we’re moving. And we may take ‘homebody-ing’ to a whole new level in this house. Could you blame us?

And I’m a big bag full of mixed emotions. There are so many things to love about the new place: the lake, the sunset, a house full of windows, a dock and water toys, a fun kitchen re-do, having ‘school’ by the water, teaching the kids to ski and sail and fish, and did I mention that my husband grew up on the lake? so he’s kinda like a kid in candy store right now.

But there are also many things that make me sad: leaving this house, my friends and neighbors, my comfort zone, not to mention trying to purge and pack and sort through all our stuff. Then there’s the staging of this house to sell it (which I’m not thrilled about doing) after I’ve spent ten years making it our own personal cozy space. It may kill me to try to make it generic for selling it. Anyone wanna buy it as is? Turquoise cabinets and craft room and all? How generic do you think you have to make a house in order for it to appeal to the masses?

In short, I’m a little overwhelmed. I’ve starting the purging/packing process but it seems daunting. {We’re supposed to close in one month.} There are so many things that I don’t think will fit in the new house. Did I say it’s all windows? Which leaves little room for big furniture and wall decor? Steve reminds me that the lake is my decoration.

And I remind him that I love my stuff.

And he reminds me that big open floor plans were meant to accomodate the sparse look.

And I remind him that I’m anything but sparse.

Then he goes back to looking at boats.

And I go back to looking at kitchens.

OH do I ever need your help. You’re gonna have to hold my hand and remind me to breathe. I have so many wonderful memories here. I’m gonna take pictures of every nook and cranny—-as if I haven ‘t already. And then at the new house, I think we’re gonna go for a beach/cottage look so flood me with your ideas and inspiration. I’ve been scouring the latest issue of Coastal Living magazine, drooling over Erika’s kitchens. That may be all the inspiration I need but I’d love your input.

I’d also like to know from those of you who’ve moved recently, do you wish you had purged more or do you regret not holding on to some of your stuff? Should I have a yard sale in the next few weeks or wait until we move and then have a moving sale with what’s left? Maybe I’ll list stuff on Craig’s list or eBay? Maybe I don’t have time for any of those options.

See the chaos that ensues when a house takes you hostage?

The Times They Are a Changin’

How to Make Fish Tacos {on Friday during Lent}

March 5, 2010 by Edie Wadsworth 38 Comments

This post is dedicated to the ever talented and wise Todd Wilken: who is a self confessed lover of cats and fish tacos. We owe a debt of gratitude to Todd, Jeff and Craig for their tireless committment to ‘equipping the priesthood of all believers‘. You can subscribe to their podcasts on iTunes or listen directly from IssuesEtc.org. They faithfully proclaim the gospel every day through a variety of current issues and theological topics and have a highly qualified panel of guests. Todd posted a very funny facebook stream about fish tacos and it inspired me to write a little tutorial. So here ya go. Fish tacos ‘for the thinking christian’.

I first had fish tacos in Des Moines when Stevie and I were visiting Malachi, Savannah, Marcus and Nicholas. As we walked into the little dive by the water, I was skeptical. I like tacos and I love fish. But fish tacos? Really? But I’m a professing foodie so I’ll try almost anything. They were absolutely divine and I’ve been working on my fish taco skillz ever since. If you’re beginning to wonder whether or not this is a food blog, just know that I want to post a recipe everyday and often restrain myself. Everyday when I’m making dinner, I think, “Oh how my friends would love this recipe.” But then my children start whining about how hungry they are and beg me to stop taking photos of the food. Maybe I need a food blog. And maybe you need to try fish tacos.

Oh and give this a listen while you make them!

Here’s what you need:
Lime cilantro cole slaw
Seasoned black beans and rice
Beer battered and fried fish
Pico de gallo or homeade salsa

Lime Cilantro Cole Slaw:

Mix one bag of angel hair coleslaw with the zest and juice of one lime, a handful of cilantro chopped, one large tablespoon of miracle whip, 1/2 t. sugar, 1/2 t vinegar, and one large tablespoon of regular mayo or sour cream and salt to taste. Mix well and let sit until ready to use. Before you serve it, taste it and reseason if needed.

Seasoned Black Beans and Rice:

Drain two cans of black beans. To the drained beans, add salt to taste, 2 t. of ground cumin, 1 t. of garlic and herb seasoning, and 1 cup of cooked rice. Mix well. Top with 1 cup of cheddar cheese and bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

Beer Battered Fish:

I use Paula Deens’ recipe for the fish. I buy frozen tilapia, thaw it and cut it into small-ish pieces. And I fry in peanut oil. It makes all the difference. Besides seasoning the fish before I dip it in the beer batter, I also sprinkle it with a little Lawry’s seasoned salt after it comes out of the fryer. Keep everyone out of the kitchen when the fish comes out or it’ll be all gone before you can assemble the tacos.

Homeade salsa {winter version}

Salsa is not quite as fun in the winter without fresh tomatoes. But here’s a pretty darn good version of fresh salsa without fresh tomatoes.

Drain one large (28 oz) can of Cento roma tomatoes. These are whole romas. Add them to your food processor or blender along with 1 seeded jalapeno (or less if you don’t like heat), 1 peeled avocado, 3 cloves of garlic peeled, the juice of two limes, 1/2 red onion, 1 T. honey, salt and pepper to taste, and a big handful of cilantro. I also added a little squirt of sriracha for more heat. Pulse until it’s well mixed.

You’re almost there. Take small soft taco tortillas and heat them gently in the microwave and then layer all your yummy ingredients; fish, black beans and rice, slaw and then salsa. Serve with your favorite beverage to your favorite people. And enjoy!

Chalk Walls and Quirky

March 4, 2010 by Edie Wadsworth 37 Comments

I was over at Nester’s today, visiting like I always do(virtually, of course), and she’s talking about chalk boards. I wasn’t even gonna post today but how can a woman who has 3 chalk WALLS in her house not post about them? I may have an inner 8 year old doodler in me that refused to grow up but what’s not to love about chalk walls? Chalk walls are inspiring and beckon you to sit and write a while. I have a hallway of chalk walls between my kitchen and dining room….

and an entire chalk wall in my craft room. It’s perfect because when the littles grow weary of crafting, they can craft on the chalk wall instead. And for teens, it’s the perfect place to smatter graffiti. The chalk walls in my house are well used. And I’m gonna go ahead and blame my dust problem on chalk. I’m sure the surfaces in my house would be completely spic and span were it not for all the chalk dust flying around. That’s my story and I’m stickin’ to it.

{oh and by the way, my friend Jessica sent me the most wonderful L-O-V-E banner a while back and now it hangs on the craft room chalk wall. Isn’t it perfect?]

And all that got me to thinking about whether or not I’m quirky. People have called me quirky before. I’m sure I’ve called myself quirky. So I went on a little jaunt around my house looking for oddities. For things that would make people call a person quirky. You might be interested in what I found.

Exhibit A:

My kitchen cabinets are turquoise. The most wonderful cheerful joyous shade of bluish green that I’ve ever seen. I painted them one year ago and I love them today more than ever. I’m certain that my cooking has taken a more joyful turn.

Exhibit B:

After attending to thirteen years of post graduate education , I quit my job and homeschool my children in my garage. {Everytime I say that it reminds of Chris Farley and his ‘living in a van down by the river’ motivational speech.} Granted, it’s painted and cozy and inspiring but it’s still a garage. Irony of all ironies: I feel very unqualified to be doing this.

Exhibit C:

And oddly enough, in aforementioned schoolroom, there is no chalkboard or chalk wall. There is however, a sofa.

Exhibit D

My friend Shawna pointed out to me when she was here this summer for Taylor’s Graduation Party that I have dressers everywhere…….

except in the bedrooms.

I guess I’m gonna have to go ahead and plead guilty to quirky.

Visit Nester for more chalk surfaces than you ever seen in one place.

Spicy Tomato Soup Recipe

February 27, 2010 by Edie Wadsworth 38 Comments

39100297 - paprika soup

Spicy Tomato Soup

{with a hint of blue cheese}

don’t let the blue cheese scare you. this is the best tomato soup recipe i’ve ever eaten. ever. just ask stevie.

he won’t lie for me just to promote my tomato soup.

Now, if I’ve already offended you with the suggestion of blue cheese, don’t get your panties in a ruffle.

You just use a little—for a complex layer of flavors—- and I highly doubt you could tell it had blue cheese in it, if you didn’t already know.

Try it and you could always substitute the cheese if you have serious issues with blue cheese.

The other two stars of the show are sriracha and a large can of cento tomatoes.

Sriracha is a deliciously-hot-addictive sauce that has seductive powers unlike any hot sauce

you’ve ever had. Your mouth might burn but it will not stop you from adding more. A little squirt into soup is makes all the difference!

You’ll need these ingredients:

a few splashes of olive oil
1 small onion
2-3 cloves of garlic
1 28 ounce can of tomatoes
1 14 ounce can of diced tomatoes
1 cup chicken broth
2 T. honey
1 small squirt of sriracha (more if you like really spicy–but start small)
handful of basil leaves
about an ounce of blue cheese (or your favorite easy melt cheese)
1/3 cup of cream
kosher salt and pepper to taste

You’ll also need a submersion blender!

The directions:

In a large dutch oven, add a few tablespoons of olive oil. Don’t measure, just swirl a few times.
Then add the chopped onion and garlic and salt to taste and then saute for about 5 minutes.
Add the tomatoes in their juice.
Then add the rest of the ingredients except the cream and let it simmer for about 10 minutes.
Use your submersion blender to achieve the consistency you’d like and then add cream.
Taste it and reseason as necessary. I almost always have to add more salt and more honey.
And if you accidentally go heavy on the sriracha, add a little more cream to balance the heat.
Serve with artisan bread or crackers and prepare to be lavished with ” mmmm’s” and gratitude.

Garnish with basil and enjoy!

39100297 - paprika soup

Bread Baking and other Weekend Adventures

February 26, 2010 by Edie Wadsworth 31 Comments

This weekend, I plan to:

1. Embark on a new bread baking adventure with my newest book Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day. The luscious loaf that graces the screen above needs a little less salt—-otherwise, it is nearly perfection. More to come on that next week.

2. Ponder the wonderful ladies I met and some I reconnected with at our first bloggers’ luncheon. It was a delightful mixing of women, creativity, and technology. Denise, Kelly, and Jessica were there. I bet 12 in all. I’ll introduce you to more of them later. It was big fun. You should try it in your local area. Thanks Patty for organizing it.

3. Clean out various dusty and scary cupboards and corners of my winter worn house. I’d love to throw open the windows and feel the cool breeze blow through my tired bun. To make this clean-out yet more compelling, I plan to listen to the remainder of People of the Book.

4. Catch up on some Issues Etc episodes (smartest Christian talk radio out there) while I make my famous fish tacos. Malachi and Marcus (Steve’s oldest and middle sons) introduced me to fish tacos several years ago in Des Moines and though I was skeptical, I knew immediately I had to try to make them at home. I’ve been perfecting the recipe ever since. I blame this all on Todd Wilken and his very funny facebook stream on cats and fish tacos. And there could be a video tutorial in your future. Be very afraid. I often sing country songs while I cook.

5. Order Jasmine Green Tea (it’s a bulk tea—no bags) from the Bulk Herb Store online. My friend Susan (who also tutors my littles in Spanish and Latin) introduced me to this tea yesterday. I’m nearly speechless. I’ve always resorted to hot tea when I knew that to drink another cup of coffee would likely result in either a trip to the ER or a night full of infomercials in which I might order a bedazzler and/or a few sham-wows. I’ve never really been smitten with hot tea. This is hot tea that I am now craving. It’s just that good. Finally, a hot tea that doesn’t play 2^nd fiddle to coffee. And a very talented friend who teaches spanish and latin, inspires me with her love for home and tea AND makes the best jewelry.

6. Peruse Home Depot, Lowe’s and Sherwin Williams for the perfect shade of fire engine red. I think it’s almost time to paint again. I’m sure the Lowe’s staff has missed me. And yet after all the painting I’ve done in the last year, my favorite project is till my turquoise painted kitchen cabinets. Maybe it’ll always be my favorite. I think all kitchen cabinets should be turquoise.

7. Make a few handmade goodies for upcoming birthdays. I’ve really enjoyed making Darby’s rice bags. They’re easy and fun and ONCE YOU LOAD YOUR NEEDLE CORRECTLY, take no time at all. I really don’t deserve my sewing machine. If it could talk, it would yell obscenities at me and my needle loading skillz.

8. Try to make time to clean up some of the links on my blog that haven’t worked since I switched to wordpress. Maintaining a blog can be a lot like work sometimes. Which reminds me, if you’ve asked me a question via email and I haven’t responded or heavens to betsy, if I promised to mail you a bookmark, please email me again with your address. And accept my sincerest procrastinating apologies. I’m not very organized with my correspondence. Or my spice cupboard. I intend to right all wrongs in both places if given half a chance.

9. I must stop at eight because my 7 year old is ‘needing’ the computer and screeching things in my ear like, “Mahhh-uuum, you can’t do more than EIGHT things this weekend. Pleeeeeease can I have the computer now?” In all fairness, she wants to try out a new typing program on the computer.

So, I’d love to know, what are you doing this weekend?

We’re Gonna Hold On

February 24, 2010 by Edie Wadsworth 28 Comments

This is a public service announcement.

Following this advice will ensure that your car rides to and fro, from soccer to dance to the dentist, etc. will be nothing but pure family harmony and bliss. I don’t know about you but my children will argue about almost anything in the car. So it’s come to this.

I have a few little songs on my iPod that make me think of a some very endearing childhood memories. {My daddy and aunt singing country songs at full voice after a night of honky-tonkin’} And who doesn’t have the likes of Hello Darlin’ and You Ain’t Woman Enough to Take my Man as part of their music repertoire? Children must be catechized. Besides being sheer entertainment and cheap therapy, I’ve discovered that if snarky ungrateful attitudes begin to take hold of otherwise angelic children, and in retribution, I play one of my childhood songs and sing at full voice, my children will make all manner of unkeepable promises if I will but stop torturing their developing auditory mechanisms.

I acquiesce to their pleadings, usually after a verse or two and enjoy the remaining car ride watching their befuddled expressions—complete with eye rolling—-while they find room in their hearts to forgive and play nice and use car voices.

Today’s therapy/torture/musical masterpiece: We’re Gonna Hold On by Tammy Wynette and George Jones. I actually love this song so much that I’m thinking of singing it karaoke style at our 10 year vow renewal party to take place on 10-10-10. Why should Stevie be deprived these precious memories? Or for that matter, why should you? Please humor me and take this walk down memory lane with me. It’ll make you wanna get some aqua net and a guitar and start touring. At least that’s what it makes me wanna do.