homemaking

Ringing in the New Year

January 7, 2010 by Edie Wadsworth 16 Comments

How do you get your children to:

1. Sing for you on New Year’s Day

2. Make ‘2010’ with their bodies in the cold windy chill….

3. Join in a collaborative effort to do the dishes

4. And with only a small amount of tomfoolery?

Answer:

You feed them large amounts of pasta and bread and then tempt them with all manner of chocolate fondue covered yummies

then if that doesn’t work, you do whatever is necessary!

I can’t think of a better way to ring in the New Year then right here at home with the kids. We were happy to have Cody and Morgan join us too! Hope your 2010 is filled to the brim with joy!

The Verity has still been playing a few shows here and there despite the fact that the 3 of the boys are in college now. It was just like old times to enjoy their music live.

Christmas Break Shenanigans

December 31, 2009 by Edie Wadsworth 12 Comments

Patty and I took our kids to Market Square yesterday for ice skating. The girls and I had so much fun and truly enjoyed their company. I’m not sure she and I would ever run out of things to talk about . We are two peas in a pod—from our mutual love of indian food —-to our obsession with coffee —-to our creative/ADD /photographer tendencies.

There was lots of fun had by all and her children are wonderfully kind and engaging.

I tend to think mine are pretty wonderful too. But I guess I’m a little biased.

Surprisingly enough, the kiddos weren’t all that hungry when we got home. (I’m such a pushover.)

Thanks Patty (and Jordan and Lexi) for a wonderful afternoon. And for the samosa suggestion. We loved them!

My Big Fat Greek Goulash

December 29, 2009 by Edie Wadsworth 28 Comments

I have tendency to be a little over-zealous when the New Year rolls around. I want to train for a marathon and read 52 books in a month and reorganize my whole house and take sewing, photography and dance classes. All today. Right now. And I usually set lofty goals only to be reminded a year later that I’m only one person—with plenty enough to do everyday—aside from visit the Sistine Chapel and learn to quilt. So while I work on a very bold and bright ’40 Things to Do While I’m 40 list’ (in photoshop) I thought I’d share with you one of my favorite recipes. And if you have any wonderful suggestions for my 40’s list, leave them in the comments section and maybe I’ll add them to the list. And now, lest you think I have no recipes that aren’t laden with butter and cream, I give you

My Big Fat (Butterless, Creamless) Greek Goulash

What you’ll need:
1 ½ pounds ground beef

½ t. ground cloves
1/3 pound bulk sausage

½ t. cinnamon
1 large eggplant

1 T. balsamic vinegar
2 large onions

1. T. worcestershire
2 cloves garlic

1 T. olive oil
1 can tomatoes

2 T. honey
¼ t. Cayenne pepper

salt, pepper to taste
AND
Tzatziki Sauce (16 oz greek yogurt mixed with 2 T. lemon juice, 2 T. olive oil, 2 T. honey and chopped cucumber)

Brown beef and sausage together adding salt and pepper to taste and a little olive oil if the meat is ultra-lean. Add cayenne and chopped garlic. (This photo makes me almost want to be vegetarian.)

Cut eggplant into small bite sized cubes and add to meat mixture. The eggplant will soak up all the liquid but be patient and it will release its’ liquids soon.

Chop onions into thinly sliced half moons and add to a separate pan with 2 T. olive oil.

If the meat and eggplant mixture get too dry, add a little olive oil if necessary and cook on medium heat until the eggplant is softened.

Add one can of diced tomatoes (with juice) and then cloves, cinnamon, vinegar, Worcestershire, and honey. Taste and add more salt as necessary.

Continue to cook the onions—it usually takes about 30 minutes until they are carmelized.

Cook 1/3 package of orzo pasta according to directions on package and then add the fully cooked pasta to the meat mixture. Then make the tzatziki sauce using the greek yogurt.

Serve by layering each plate with meat/pasta mixture then onions topped with feta cheese and tzatziki sauce. The carmelized onions are like a party in your mouth. Do not attempt to skip this step or worse yet add the ‘fried onions’ you can buy at the store. Don’t do it. Carmelize your own and soon you’ll be adding them to your Raisin Bran. Enjoy with pita bread and a greek salad!

Download a copy of the recipe here.

And for those of you blog stalkers who care, I’m leaving on Saturday for a quick visit to Philadelphia/Atlantic City for my 40th birthday. I’m going with my sister and JamieKnoxville. It should be big fun. I’m taking every precaution and forbidding Washington apple martinis! (a very funny inside joke). I plan to laugh till I cry, spend hours chatting with two of my favorite people, spend the afternoon in Anthropologie, take hundreds of pictures, and read a book. What other suggestions do you have for me?

Christmas Brunch 2009

December 24, 2009 by Edie Wadsworth 12 Comments

We gathered to eat and open a few goodies with my extended family. Oh what fun!

taylor and corey and their loot

that scream and horrible face was brought to you by a creme brulee flame torch

american girl heaven

and Marcus’ love for the cheese balls seemed out of proportion to the quality of the gift—but he carried them around all day and thought of all sorts of scenarios where they’d come in handy.

the men folk

sisters’ new jeans—very nice

facebooking together–i’m pretty sure the cheese ball pic is uploaded!

Kris and the kids with Grannie and Papa G

Sis (Gina), Mark, Corey, Hope and Marlea

the sibs

the motliest crew of all

and Grannie and her new Northface jacket! (she said three times “What are you calling that, North what?” She’s the same dear mother of mine who says “I need to go to the Walmart.”

You gotta love her. At least she’ll be nice and warm in the Northface.

Now I’m busy making the bouillabaise and pizza bianca for dinner and then off to a candlelight and communion service. Hope your day is merry and bright.

Things I learned while Christmas Crafting

December 22, 2009 by Edie Wadsworth 20 Comments

1. There’s hardly anything more endearing than pictures of little ones crafting. The actual real life crafting is a little more stressful than the photos reveal.

2. When 75% of your crafts involve straight pins, there will very likely be screams of pain…..and 8,765 straight pins on your floor.

3. There’s hardly anything more endearing than pictures of little ones crafting.

4. When 50% of your crafts involve gum drops, there’s a good chance you will find gum drops in odd places for the next 5 days.

but it will most definitely be worth it!

5. When you plan too many crafts in one day……

the children will leave you for dead in a pile of straight pins, gum drops, fabric scraps and felt birds to……..

make some fun of their own.

6. Those of your children who are very diligent and slightly perfectionistic will continue the ‘creating’ and complain that the “snow” is very runny this year.

7. Everyone works better if the projects are edible.

Check out the crafts we attempted here at my tumblr site (the place where I store links/things I don’t want to forget).

Update on photo: Thanks a million for all your funny and thoughtful responses to my Christmas card dilemma. I think I have a win/win solution. I got an email today from Vista for 50% off New Year’s cards so I think I’ll take that option. I also plan to use some of the funhouse photo cards to give to people at church and to some other folks whom we see often (who know that our real life faces are not quite that wide). How’s that for compromise?! Hope your week is merry.

And thank you Cindy for the PS tutorial. Now I need 4 or 5 good undisturbed hours (or weeks) to play!

Lots of love to you all!

A Sparkly Christmas Tour

December 13, 2009 by Edie Wadsworth 56 Comments

Welcome to my warm and cozy and very sparkly Christmas tour. This year I have simplified my festive decor and hope you’ll enjoy the lights, fresh greens and the smell of wassail on the stove! Come on in y’all.