Mama

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Last year I learned that tomorrow will be a painful reminder for many women of what they don't have.
Whether they are missing their own mom, or longing to be a mom, it will be hard.
Thinking of many of you.

Though I'll be wishing Pres would be up in the front singing to me at church tomorrow, I'm beyond grateful to be holding Ledger, even if we'll probably be in the hall due to tantrums :)

I'm grateful for Preslee and Patrick who made me a mama.



And thankful for Ledger, especially when he flashes his toothy little grin at me.


 
Or the fact he has started saying "mama."
And for helping me feel like a mom again.

We're also grateful for all 3 mom's in our life.

Happy Mother's Day.

Butternut Squash Pizza with Carmelized Onions, Peaches and Country Ham

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As promised, the non winning pizza recipe. Find the winning pizza recipe on the menu at Saul Good Pub soon~
Butternut Squash Pizza with Caramelized Onions, Peaches and Country Ham


This beauty was about to go in the oven (pre-mozzarella covering). There are no post oven pictures because...well in a house of 4 boys, there are rarely pictures of the finished product. They are like vultures around the stove at dinner time. There is little patience for a mom with a camera.

This recipe is very organic in nature, very apropos for a pizza representing Seedleaf. Here's what I did...its easy to replicate, so give it a try.

Click below for the full recipe and step by step photographs.



I use the pizza dough recipe from this book. The recipes are dynamite and the pizza dough is foolproof.

For the Sauce

1 Butternut Squash
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup chicken stock
salt & pepper

For the Toppings

2 Onions, caramelized well
Blue Cheese
Toasted Walnuts
Country Ham (here in Ky. country ham is prevalent. If you can't get your hands on it, prosciutto works well too).
Grilled Peaches (I "grill" mine in a cast iron skillet)
Mozzarella Cheese


Split a butternut squash (carefully) down the middle and roast, face down in the oven on 400 degrees until it is good and mushy. Turn the oven up to 500 degrees or so and get it good and hot for the pizza to bake. If you have a baking stone, go ahead and put that in while you make the other toppings and assemble your pizza.


Once it has cooled enough to handle, scoop out the seeds and stringy stuff ( you could also scoop that out pre-baking...up to you). Scoop out all of the good stuff into a food processor, a blender or a mixer. Blend until smooth with the cream, stock and salt and pepper. Taste and add more of any of those as needed (see, I told you, very organic in nature). Set aside.



If you haven't already, caramelize the onions and grill (or sear) the peaches. Set aside.

Next, get your 5 year old to roll out the pizza dough.







Finally, its time to assemble the pizza. Gather all of the toppings listed above and get to work. I start with an onion base layer and work my way up. Don't be too heavy handed with toppings. Too much is...well too much. Once you have everything on it, top it with a good layer of shredded mozzarella before popping it in the oven. Bake until the top gets bubbly and the cheese gets a little golden in color. The boys like Parmesan sprinkled on top and I'm sure some red pepper flakes would be a nice touch too.
Enjoy!

Kid Friendly Spring Cleaning

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I am a firm believer in pride of ownership and its a habit I am passionate about passing down to the boys. They care for their things very well, sometimes with a little prodding from yours truly, but each prodding is a chance for a little life lesson in showing responsibility over what they have so they can be given responsibility over more in time (i.e. there is no way under the sun they are going to get the bigger, more powerful Nerf gun if they can't even keep track of the foam bullets for the one they already own.)
Over the past couple of weeks we've dove head first into spring cleaning. The boys are always eager to help and its so great to see Otto take on some chores of his own.


Here's a task the boys love...shoe cleaning. Even Otto was in on the action this year...although as you can see from the photo, I think he got a little distracted and started cleaning the picture frame...with the dirty shoe cleaning cloth. Two year olds sometimes have their own cleaning agenda.


These photos were taken over the course of a couple of weekends, I promise. I am not a slave driver. Although the boys are perfectly content to wipe down every surface a thousand times over if it means they can have their hands in buckets of soapy water.


Otto, when not helping his brothers, can usually be found in a pair of my shoes and stripped down to his diaper. In my Toms, its cute. In my new 3 inch black heels...not as adorable (ok, fine. Its still adorable...just more work to scrape the caked mud off the heels). And let me also add, these days when you see Otto, he has a hat on backwards. Its his thing. This North Face hat (a gift from my parents to Canaan) immediately became a backwards fixture on Otto's head. Even on Easter Sunday...with his Easter outfit on...at church. Lovely.


Canaan got an upcycled bike this winter. He has yet to gain the confidence for a ten speed, but nonetheless (again, with pride of ownership) keeps the bike shining. (I can't get over how big Ezra is getting. Can you believe it? They are all growing up far too quickly for my liking. Slow it down, boys.)


Mike built this fence recently. He found the reclaimed horse farm boards for $.50 a piece so building it was inexpensive...although fairly backbreaking work. Our backyard is looking mighty lush and full this spring. Oh how I love it so.


And here's our sweet Otto. Much of the day I come outside and ask the boys, "where are Otto's clothes and shoes?" To which I get blank stares and alot of, "I don't know" responses. If you have kids, I don't need to explain this picture. Yes, he looks completely disheveled. Hanging diaper, dirty feet, tantrum in progress...yep, hello two year old. This tantrum was in an attempt to get him to come in for a diaper change (he's the stubborn one of the bunch...don't get me started on potty training). He is clinging to the fence for dear life.

Savoring each moment...even those with tantrums in progress.

Chocolate Muffins ~ Gluten and Sugar Free

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**last day to enter for the MINGLE magazine GIVEAWAY (click this link to take you there). The system has been a bit whack this weekend, not allowing people to enter. So sorry about that! Try again, if you had trouble before. The giveaway will end tonight at 9pm.



I am not a gluten free girl necessarily, although my intake of flour has dramatically reduced over the past year to almost non-existent. It started with a 40 day flour free fast over a year ago and during that time I realized just how much I didn't miss it. Which is crazy talk for this former bakery owner/northern-bagel-loving girl.
Because I am not gluten free, I don't go hunting down recipes to make gluten free baked goodies. I've looked at the recipes but the thought of keeping all of those flours and powders and such in our small pantry just hasn't struck my fancy.

But this recipe...found on Pinterest which was posted by this site...caught my eye. Oats, check. Eggs, check. Hot water, got it. I tweaked it from the original..lessening the sweetener & taking out the chocolate chips.
The only out-of-the-ordinary ingredient is some sort of a sugar substitute. I am not a big fan of those but I did have a bag of Stevia in the Raw around for guests so I thought I'd give it a try.
These muffins are...ok, let me start by saying, they aren't the best bakery muffin ever. BUT if you are craving a little baked goodie, one of these might do the trick. I like to under bake them so they are still gooey in the middle (think molten chocolate cake~almost). Don't overbake. I don't think that would taste so good.

Click below for the full recipe and photos.



Ingredients:

• 3 egg whites
• 1 3/4 c oats
• 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup plain 0% Greek yogurt
• 1/2 tsp cream of tartar
• 1-1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1-1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1 cup hot water
•  1/3 cup Stevia in the Raw (you could use honey too, I suppose)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 (12-cup) muffin pans with liners. Set aside.
In a blender, (or food processor), mix all of the ingredients together until oats are ground and mixture is smooth.
Pour mixture into prepared muffin pans.
Bake muffins for 10-12 minutes and begin checking for doneness. I like mine a little gooey in the middle. If you like yours dry all the way through, cook until domed and it springs back like a cake.
Servings: 8 Big Muffins or 12 Smaller Muffins
Calories: 58 Calories Per Muffin





 

Giveaway Winner

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Just a quick note to let you know...well first off...my sincere apologies to all that tried to enter and couldn't. Not sure what glitch happened in the Blogger system but many of you emailed telling me you were unable to enter the giveaway. SO SORRY!

But the show must go on and the lucky winner is Momuvfour76 who wrote, "I plan on giving a derby/princess themed birthday party for my 5 year old. It's only my 2nd time throwing a kid birthday party in about 8 years. Wish me luck."
Congrats! Contact me via email with your address!

Spring Home Collection 2012 Art of Homemaking Style

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our springtime mantle...with artwork I painted a few years back.

I almost shutter when I hear the word "collector". My mind flashes to scenes from Hoarders or memories of sitting at auction houses with my parents as a child, watching large collections of people's belongings being sold for chump change.

a collection below a collection. Can't seem to part with some of our favorite CD's just yet.

Boys rock collection below Mike's Wilco collection. I don't know if John Lackey did this one or not but he's
done many amazing Wilco posters over the years. Check out his site.  

But as much as I think I buck the system, I must admit, I am a collector. Spring has arrived here in Kentucky and some of my favorite collections have made their annual appearance. White stoneware, artwork, mason jars, and garden pots are on a seasonal rotation at the Smith Homestead.

these pots are awaiting their herbs...now to see if that will indeed happen before fall...

And as each season passes, the plaid painted kitchen floors gain more scuffs, scratches and wear...which is exactly the point, right? Each scuff is a made memory in my book.

Otto and his dog...the chasing ensues....

What do you collect?
And how do you decorate for spring?

Put A Bird On It

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Do you put a bird on it? That Portlandia sketch, (ummm...if you haven't seen it yet...go do that first and then come back here.), always pops into my head when I see a bird on a journal, on an IKEA lampshade or an Anthropologie bracelet.
Recently I was commissioned for some work (you can read that here) for Trawick and Martin, a luxury gift company based here in the bluegrass, and it got me thinking once again about...birds.

What do you put a bird on?

Beautiful photo from one of my favorite new sites, Griottes, Palatte Culinaire

I read an article in The Guardian about these two brother in Norway that devoted their lives to
bird watching and bird feeding. It was beautiful story.

Better Homes and Gardens bird feed storage idea. Easy peasy.

I love the idea of a bird watching picnic. You can follow my picnic Pinterest board here.

This might be a little too close for my liking...sweet pic nonetheless (found on Pinterest)

Women That Inspire - My Friend the Food Photographer

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Some women literally catapult me to the next level of creativity and inspiration in life. With each relationship that is forged, I glean (and hopefully offer) something different; an encouraging word, a new perspective, an unconventional angle, a fresh idea, an opportunity to help and motivation to grow. It's miraculous actually that we, as women, can provide this for one another.
I spent Friday night at the Sanola Photography art show at Wine+Market in downtown Lexington. Sarah Jane Sanders, who was showing her food photography collection (more on that tomorrow), is a genius in my book. A macaron is not just a macaron when it's in front of Sarah's camera. Her style is distinct and her talent is incredible. To boot, she is just one of those people that makes you think, "I want to know them more." I am inspired.
I snapped some shots that evening. Its hard to not want to photograph Wine+Market. In fact, I am sure there are thousands of Instagram photos floating around cyberspace of their digs. Each turn, each shelf, each counter is a perfect photo op.
**disclaimer: It is incredibly intimidating to snap photos at a professional photographers art show.

Serious Eats Pancakes. Thanks BraveTart.

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We are in an ongoing pancake predicament over here at the Smith Homestead. Pancakes are a staple in the Saturday morning diet of these growing boys and even with years of Saturday morning pancake-ing under our belt, we are on an ongoing quest for that perfect pancake recipe.
A cry for help on Facebook led me to this site, thanks to my friend Stella over at BraveTart (yes, that Stella. One of Food and Wine's best new pastry chefs...she's pretty remarkable.)

**and so many of those beautiful images on BraveTart's site are photographed by Sarah Jane that I talked about yesterday. Go over and swoon...

I had Stella's recipe suggestion sitting on one of those back brain burners for weeks and finally set aside the 2 minutes required to print it off last Saturday morning. The recipe is good...really good. Is it IHOP good? Maybe not. But any pancake that is flipped on a griddle while you drink cheap coffee at a Formica table and comes out served with pats of prepackaged butter is probably going to taste just a little better than homemade. Go ahead, agree. It's ok.
Find the recipe over at Serious Eats, but before you go...