G is for...

Gardens

The kids are each seeing if they can get six rows of seeds to start growing. We did not pay much attention to recommended start times but are just doing it (with older seed packages).

They are both growing two kinds of peas, pumpkins and Moon and Star Melons.
Preschool Girl is growing Baby's Breath and helping First-Grader with cucumbers.

Geography

Clickable map quizzes that test geography knowledge. I wish schools taught SO much more geography (we homeschool and do teach so much more geography and the history that goes along with it).

Glazed

-----Susi's Kochen Ynd Backen Adventures: Glazed Corn Beef...what we were originally going to do with our St. Patrick's Day brisket this year but it proved too time-consuming for the the time I had. (Instead we had New England Boiled Dinner for breakfast at Easter. LOL.)
-----Glazed Carrots with Irish Whiskey and Ginger. Not the most appetizing photo...but probably pretty yummy. I will make this the next time I have more than just the remainders of Husband's whiskey. You know, maybe I will make it sooner...the recipe only calls for 2 tablespoons of Irish Whiskey.
-----Popcorn With Sesame-Glazed Pistachios. We love a Sesame Popcorn from Food Network Magazine. I pop the popcorn stovetop, in Ziyad Extra Virgin Sesame Oil.)
-----Asian Swai Fish. Vietnamese catfish...a favorite of mine for light fish dishes. Preschooler picked out this particular recipe which we will try.
-----Carmelized Banana Bread with Browned Butter Glaze. When Little One, now First-Grader, first saw the recipe photo, he declared, "Burnt toast. That's burnt toast. Don't like burnt toast."
By the way, National Banana Bread Day is February 23rd. :-) You need to know for next year and could have a belated celebration now. :-)
-----Bourbon Maple Glazed Chicken Wings. I can eat a ton of chicken wings.
-----Sliders with Beer-Glazed Onions and Brie
-----Double Chocolate Bundt Cake with Chocolate Glaze
-----Vanilla Buttermilk Pound Cake with Lemon Glaze
-----Hummingbird Bundt Cake With Cream Cheese Glaze. A one bowl recipe for a Southern classic.
-----This is an unusual one...Cantaloupe Bread with Praline Glaze. "This excellent bread is very moist and has the texture of pumpkin or zucchini bread. Can puree and freeze extra cantaloupe to make bread in the off season."




Trial run of doing glitter nails still holding up/cleaning up. I am the guinea pig for Preschool Girl's nails.
[My hands aren't that wrinkly yet...just cold from Raynaud's Phenomenon.]
The Youtube tutorial is HERE. :-)

A Blue Apron recipe. Romantic dinner with Husband. Cauliflower Steaks With Spinach Gratin & Green Beans

Gratin recipe from my Mother's recipe box.
Tip: Doll's are great to photograph a recipe at a good angle.

Gratin

-----Broccoli Cheese Casserole. "Broccoli Cheese Casserole gets a bad rap because generations of moms have resorted to canned soup, frozen broccoli, and mayo. This version is closer to a French gratin, with everything (easily!) made from scratch."
-----Brussels Sprouts Gratin. Provided this is not greasy, it sounds YUMMY. Stores around here are just starting to get pancetta.(Several years ago, we enjoyed this Creamy Brussels Sprouts Bake. Thank you A to Z Challenge for helping me finally find the recipe...in my Pinterest "We Liked This" board that goes. We will have to try this again sometime soon to see if our palates have changed since having this last.)
-----Cheesy Leek Gratin. The preferred cheese is goat's milk cheddar. (As an aside...we recently read in several books that the Mongols mainly drank MARE's milk.)
-----Rich and Creamy Salsify Gratin.Recipe from Gabriel Kreuther, Food and Wine 2004. Salsify is a root vegetable that's shaped like a skinny parsnip and has blackish skin with white flesh. It tastes a little like artichoke hearts. It's available from June through February.



Guinness Soup...an easy recipe that I found last year and haven't gotten around to doing yet.

Homemade Mashed Russet Potatoes with Skillet Barbecue Gravy

Gravy

-----Bacon-Shallot Gravy. Dana Cowin, Food & Wine, 2014. (How Dana Cowin Helped Shape the Modern Celebrity Chef)
-----Cider Pork Roast with Apple-Thyme Gravy. Stephanie Spencer, Sunset Magazine, December 2012
-----Bourbon Gravy. The recipe is from Le Creuset. I wouldn't mind having their gravy boat in the "Marseilles" blue color. :-)


I am using the A to Z Challenge to organize and motivate myself. :-)
I sure collect(and do) a LOT of projects!

Thursday Thirteen

1. Test run of Pesto Lo Mein went well.
My new side for pepper steak.
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1 1/2 Yellow onions sauteed in olive oil until lightly brown. Add minced garlic to taste and sautee a few minutes more.
Bring noodle water to a boil. 9oz. No Yolks Stir Fry noodles goes into the water, bring back to the boil and boil about 14 minutes.
Add noodles to the skillet with the onions. Add lots of soy sauce, less sugar than normally used for lo mein (so maybe use 1/2 tablespoon...you will want some). If you go over on sugar when tasting, balance it with more soy. I use pure cane Morena sugar.
Also put in small amount pure sesame oil and small amount olive oil. 2 oz. basil pesto. A few dots of Sriracha, a little garlic powder, a good amount of ground ginger.
Stir-fry.
Add about 5 grinds of black pepper at the end (when it is cooked through, steaming a bit and oil is lightly coating everything). Stir-fry the pepper in lightly.

2.

I am reading the preview excerpt of "The Queens of Innis Lear" which comes out at the end of the month. Like a lot of books set in a foreign world, it is taking a bit for me to start sorting out what's what. The book is described as being an adaptation of King Lear, feminist and somewhat like Game of Thrones. I have not read King Lear itself (I will be reading it soon).

The erratic decisions of a prophecy-obsessed king have drained Innis Lear of its wild magic, leaving behind a trail of barren crops and despondent subjects. Enemy nations circle the once-bountiful isle, sensing its growing vulnerability, hungry to control the ideal port for all trade routes.
The king's three daughters—battle-hungry Gaela, master manipulator Reagan, and restrained, starblessed Elia—know the realm's only chance of resurrection is to crown a new sovereign, proving a strong hand can resurrect magic and defend itself. But their father will not choose an heir until the longest night of the year, when prophecies align and a poison ritual can be enacted.
Refusing to leave their future in the hands of blind faith, the daughters of Innis Lear prepare for war—but regardless of who wins the crown, the shores of Innis will weep the blood of a house divided.



3.
-----Slow-Cooker Chicken Enchilada Stew
-----Red Cabbage and Dill Slaw. I want to make this because I love slaw, like dill and love vividly colored dishes.
-----I want to try making an Oven Denver Omelet.
-----Beef and Broccoli Noodle Bowls
-----Irish Coffee Cheesecake Squares
-----Instant Pot Chicken Posole
-----Broccoli Cheese Casserole
"Broccoli Cheese Casserole gets a bad rap because generations of moms have resorted to canned soup, frozen broccoli, and mayo. This version is closer to a French gratin, with everything (easily!) made from scratch."



4.

Deviled Eggs :-)Husband said they were addictive. Olive oil mayonnaise, sour cream (outnumbered the mayo), Dijon, lemon juice, a bit of Inglehoffer Wasabi Horseradish, smoked paprika.



5.
This seems a bit darker than the original and not a hint of song or dance, thus far. Are you planning on seeing it?



6.

7.
The kids are still working on learning to whistle. Your tips are appreciated!



8.

_____________________________

Mommy (to Preschooler): Preschooler, your patience is legendary.
Preschooler: I never had patience.



9. St. Patrick's Day menu ideas:
-----Brisket Tacos with Red Cabbage. Alex Guarnaschelli, Food Network Magazine
-----Chocolate Stout Cupcakes with Bailey's Irish Cream Cheese Frosting #ProjectsThatNeverGotDoneYET




10.

Low-FODMAP Quinoa Stir-Fry with SauekrautA healthy lunch we had a few years ago. We enjoyed it more with kielbasa(well that diminishes the health a little). I plan on making it again this month...and enjoying it with chopsticks. :-)



11.

12.

Our preschooler is excellent at coloring. :-)


13.

Okay, so this took a while!Have you read anything interesting lately?300-500 more to organize in that unit of bookcases.
I organize to protect the books. Less damaging light, amazingly small amount of dusting, less weight on the books, orderly lines I like, I easily know when a book has been absconded with(sadly there was an issue...wow and WHY). I have seen where this kind of organization is becoming a bit of decor trend.

Join Thursday Thirteen. :-)

Based on true events. It's currently on Redbox.