Settling in

It's September 6 and the high today is supposed to be 85 degrees. But I still got myself my first pumpkin spice latte on the season. Mmm-mmm, bring on fall.

When Jeremy and I were house-hunting in the spring, I reflected that there is only so much research you can do on an area - the schools, amenities and property taxes. But your neighbors - well, only time will tell.

Blessedly, we landed in a very warm, community-oriented neighborhood, anchored by a one-lot playground. On school mornings, the kids parade down the streets, walking to the elementary school. Friday evenings, there are pizza parties on the playground. We had our block party last weekend, where Jeremy and I got to meet more people. One woman noted that the house really becomes your own when you start cooking and baking your favorite recipes, perfuming your house with those wonderfully comforting, familiar smells.

I thought of her as I prepared our Rosh Hashanah dinner this week. We had what are becoming our traditional dishes for this holiday - Italian-style brisket and apple cake; I had my little baker at my side.

And we added some new side dishes; all from Barefoot Contessa Foolproof: Recipes You Can Trust:

Provencal cherry tomato gratin

3 pints cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
1 1/2 tablespoons plus 3/4 cup good olive oil
1 teaspoon dried thyme
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 large garlic cloves, peeled
1⁄3 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
2 cups coarse bread cubes from a country bread (crusts removed)

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Place the tomatoes in a 9x13-inch ceramic dish. Add the 1 1/2 tablespoons of olive oil, thyme, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and toss together. Spread the tomatoes evenly in the pan.

Place the garlic, parsley, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade and process until the garlic is finely chopped. Add the bread cubes and process until the bread is in crumbs. Add the ¼ cup of olive oil and pulse a few times to blend. Sprinkle the crumbs evenly over the tomatoes.

Bake the gratin for 40 to 45 minutes, until the crumbs are golden and the tomato juices are bubbling. Serve hot or warm.

Potato celery root puree

5 tablespoons unsalted butter
6 cups chopped leeks, white and light green parts (4 leeks)
4 cups (1½ pounds) Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and diced into ¾" cubes
4 cups (2 pounds) celery root, peeled and diced into ¾" cubes
3 cups heavy cream
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper

Melt butter over medium heat in a large (8" to 10") saucepan or Dutch oven. Rinse leeks well in a colander, spin dry in a salad spinner, and add to pot. Sauté over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, 8 to 10 minutes, until tender but not browned. Add potatoes, celery root, cream, 1 tablespoon salt, and 2 teaspoons pepper to the pot, stir, and bring to a boil. Lower heat to very low, cover pot, and simmer gently 25 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender. Be careful—don't let the vegetables scorch on the bottom of the pan! In batches, pour mixture into the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade and pulse until coarsely pureed. Taste for seasonings, return to saucepan, and keep warm over very low heat. If mixture gets too thick, add a little more cream.

Green beans gremolata

1 pound French green beans, trimmed
2 teaspoons minced garlic (2 cloves)
1 tablespoon grated lemon zest (2 lemons)
3 tablespoons minced fresh flat-leaf parsley
3 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts
2 1/2 tablespoons good olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper


Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the green beans and blanch them for 2 to 3 minutes, until tender but still crisp. Drain the beans in a colander and immediately put them into a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking and preserve their bright green color.

For the gremolata, toss the garlic, lemon zest, parsley, parmesan, and pine nuts in a small bowl and set aside.

When ready to serve, heat the olive oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Drain the beans and pat them dry. Add the beans to the pan and saute, turning frequently, for 2 minutes, until coated with olive oil and heated through. Off the heat, add the gremolata and toss well. Sprinkle with 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and serve hot.

Happy weekend!

Joy

After Friday's terrible story from Newtown, Connecticut, all I wanted was my family, my kids, my joy. Much of the weekend was spent thinking of and praying for the parents who lost their precious children, as well as feeling this sense of gratitude - as well as guilt for that gratitude - that I had my children with me, safe and sound. I still has moments of exasperation but overall tried to practice a bit more patience when my kids' behavior got nutty.

It was rainy and bleak most of the weekend but Jeremy and I turned up the holidays indoors. We made our annual visit to breakfast with Santa at the Chicago Botanic Garden early Saturday morning, which included a visit to the Wonderland Express. The kids loved the holiday trains; I loved seeing the miniature Chicago landmarks created from natural materials.

Visiting with Santa was an adventure. As we waited in line, Jossie kept making beelines for "San-tie, San-tie." But when it was our turn - and I set my sweet girl down in front of the big jolly man, Jossie burst into tears. When Santa asked her what she wanted, she sobbed, "baby doll."  And big brother Jack was pleased/relieved to hear he was on the nice list before asking for more Legos.



Jeremy's parents and sister arrived in the late morning for a quick weekend visit and a Hanukkah party that night. I'm not sure how it works out this way, but most of the holidays I host are the Jewish ones - Rosh Hashanah, Passover and Hanukkah. And I have to say, I kind of rocked Hanukkah Saturday night - not bad for an Italian Protestant girl. At one point, I believe I went so far as to instruct my Jewish mother-in-law on the making of latkes.

My new favorite nosh with pre-dinner drinks is Ina's rosemary cashews - a hint of heat and a hint of sweet.

Rosemary cashews
From Barefoot in Paris: Easy French Food You Can Make at Home

1 pound cashew nuts
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh rosemary leaves
1/2 teaspoon cayenne
2 teaspoons dark brown sugar
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 tablespoon melted butter

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Place the nuts on an ungreased baking sheet and bake for about 10 minutes until they are warmed through. Meanwhile, combine the rosemary, pepper, sugar, salt and butter in a large bowl. Toss the warm nuts with the rosemary mixture until the nuts are completely coated. Serve warm.

Dinner was latkes, homemade applesauce, rack of lamb, and Brussels sprouts. Dessert was cookies and zucchini bread. It was nice to have this family time - around one table.

 

I really needed a little holiday.

Keeping traditions

One of the nicest things about the holiday season is remembering the traditions our families taught us, as well as forging new ones.

Jeremy and I helped host a Hanukkah party at Jack's preschool last Friday. Jeremy had the kids laughing with a Hanukkah picture book he read. He also talked about our family menorah, which we inherited from Jeremy's grandparents.  They have both passed on now, but I know how much they would have loved the idea that we were sharing something so special.  That Sunday night, we lit the menorah. Jossie tried to lead us in a round of "Happy Birthday to you," while Jeremy explained the tradition. 

The next night, as Jack decorated our small but mighty Christmas tree with a few more sparkly ornaments, I take a pan of Christmas cookies out of the oven, a recipe my grandma often made. A cookie that was on every plate of Christmas cookies that she would set down on the table after dinner was done. She and my grandpa are also gone, and I am comforted by the idea of carrying on their memory in my own small ways. 

I can see the wheels turning in Jack's head. Right now, he is starting to embrace our traditions. Right now, he doesn't realize that we're kind of different in that we celebrate two holidays and two faiths. Right now, things are working for us as we honor our past and we look to the future.

The days have been crazy. My trusted co-worker - another working mama and faithful City Sweet reader - and I have started a mantra to cheer one another on. It's go time - work deadlines, school engagements and preparing for the holidays. More to come as the days quiet down, and we focus on the blessings of this holiday season.

Go, you, go!

The lights shine brightly.

No style points

I often say we get things done in my house - it might not be pretty, but it gets done.

This past week exemplified that.

I have been sick for the better part of the last two weeks - hence no blog posts. It was all I could do to keep my family and my work going, let alone anything else. This week started with me being dead tired, still congested and plates and plates full of work at the office.

I have tried to climb back.

I ended the week in better footing. Still more work to do at the office but was energized by a new group project, an extraordinary surprise grant and a few proposals sent. We were invited to a cookie exchange Friday night, and it was all new friends to meet - the kids and I had a great time. And it was in a different part of the city we rarely visit anymore, so that was exciting and new too.

Today is December 1 and the holidays are upon us. I feel like I write this blog post every year, but I'm feeling it more and more as a mother and a fundraiser this time of year. It's busy - there are a lot of things taking my attention, and my goal is to be present this holiday season.

To be present at home with my kids. When Jossie grabs my hand with her chubby hand. When Jack asks me to cuddle when he's watching a TV show. When Jeremy is talking with me. And to be present at work. To look at my co-workers and not my email when they're speaking with me. Just to be.

The holidays are a special time. But so is time spent with people whom you love, value and admire. And that can be any day of the year.

More to come - wishing you a reflective and loving holiday season.

I did it my way

All weekend, my thoughts have been in two places: Here and There.

We made a conscience decision to not go There for Easter - my parents' house in Cleveland. As much as we knew we would miss my mom's meals, the cousins playing together and my dad reading to the kids, we're traveling again in a few weeks and it's getting harder to travel with two (though I remain proud at the efficiency in which Jeremy and I bring to an airline security line with two kids, two laptops, a double-stroller, four pairs of shoes and coats and so on). So we decided to stay home. Here.

And it helped that my mom visited last weekend for some Jack and Jossie cuddles too.

So Here we were - my first Easter not at my parents' house in about a dozen years. And - to boot - it was Passover as well. So in our glass-is-half-full perspective, it was time for Jeremy and me to start making some family traditions of our own for the brown-eyed babies.

We had the best dim sum ever with our friends in Chinatown Saturday morning at a place called Cai. It was very user-friendly - pictorial menus with English and Chinese. We - and I mean my friend's mom - over-ordered - the lazy Susan that sat in the middle of our table was a feast for the eyes and the belly. This is probably 25 percent of the food we sampled:

We're lucky that our kids aren't picky eaters and tried all of the dumplings. It was a beautiful day as we left the restaurant. We took in the afternoon walking around Chinatown with the kiddos and then came home for naps.

Saturday night was our four-person Seder. Jeremy did his best Seder ever, taking it slowly and explaining the symbols to Jack. Jack probably got about 5 percent of the Seder and that's okay. With time and repeated ritual, will also come understanding.

An Easter egg on the Seder plate because that's how we roll.

And Sunday morning was nicer than I had expected. I tried in earnest to not get too crazy with the Easter baskets and it went over well - a small toy, a book and candy for Jack and Jossie each.

Who doesn't have this picture from growing up? Okay, maybe not with the Yoda Easter basket.

 

Jack and I went to church. I've never been to a major holiday at my big-city church and there were lines out the door. I went with Jack to the children's service, held in the church cafeteria. We were joined by one of his day school friends. The leader told the Easter story by using differently colored pieces of paper. If a child had a particular color under his/her chair, they were to go stand by the leader. Not all children had a piece of paper, and when the leader called for the color blue, our charismatic Jack announced loudly, "Well, I'm wearing blue." And before I could say anything, he was standing by the leader. Other children caught wind of this notion, and soon half the room was standing at the front. That's my Jack - he can convince you of anything.

Jack and his buddy were restless. Jack probably got about 5 percent of the service and that's okay. With time and repeated ritual, will also come understanding.

Jeremy and Jossie picked us up for brunch at Ina's, one of our favorites, and I was geeked out to be seated at Ina's table in the back, where I promptly ordered a vanilla bean latte as a treat. And in the afternoon, after Jack's tennis class, we spent time at the Chicago Botanic Garden, enjoying the warm weather, the blooms and each other.

So all in all? A good weekend. Jeremy and I did it - two holidays and two happy kids. Happy week ahead, gentle readers!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Making time for the good stuff

I would like to preface this post by saying I love Internet shopping. It is my saving grace this holiday season. Thank you, Amazon.

This past Sunday morning, I was standing on Michigan Avenue and thought to myself, "What the heck am I doing here?"

You could feel the rush of holiday shoppers descending on this shopping destination. I myself had just left church. Taking advantage of my validated parking at a nearby building (that's city living for you - validated parking to attend church), I had three errands to run: Return a pair of pants bought online; buy gloves for Jeremy at Bloomingdale's; and buy a box of thank you notes. I kept my head down and moved quickly.

As most parents I know, Jeremy and I are trying to keep perspective on the holiday season, focusing on the joys of Christmas and spending more time with family and less time on the hustle and bustle of the season.

Last night, we felt the joy. Jack and I made a mess of holiday cookies. Emphasis on the mess. There were sprinkles everywhere but we had the Frank Sinatra holiday station playing on Pandora; Jossie squealing at her toys as the Christmas lights sparkled; and the sweet smells of sugar cookies perfuming the air.

I've shared this recipe before but it's worth sharing again. It's my mom's tried-and-true recipe:

Sugar Cookies

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1 cup butter, softened

1 egg

1 t. vanilla extract

1/2 t. almond extract

2 1/2 cups flour

1 t. baking soda

1 t. cream of tartar

Mix powdered sugar, butter, egg, vanilla and almond extracts. Stir in flour, baking soda and cream of tartar. Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Divide dough in half. Roll each half 3/16-inch thick on a lightly flour-covered surgace. Cut dough in desired shapes with cookie cutters. Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet for about 7 to 8 minutes (until edges are slightly browned). Frost and decorate as desired.

I did not frost the cookies; I simply used sprinkles because it was easier. I picked up red and green sanding sugar at Williams-Sonoma and was so pleased with the results. If you do have time for frosting, however:

Creamy Decorators' Frosting

Beat 1 cup powdered sugar, 1/2 t. vanilla extract and about 1 T. water or 1 to 2 T. of half and half until smooth and of spreading consistency. Tint with 2 to 3 drops of food coloring, if desired. Makes enough for 3 to 5 dozen cookies.

This morning, I plugged in the Christmas tree lights and held Jack close as we enjoyed a quiet moment. I asked him what Christmas is about.

"Being nice...," he replied and I felt my heart sing and a tear spring to my eye. "...to Santa, so I can get presents."

Okay, so maybe there's a bit more work to be done.

And mamas, my BFF turned me on to this website if you do need some quick, good ideas for Christmas gifts. All of these links are my own personal editorial - nothing was sponsored - just me spreading my finds.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Sigh

So our home laptop crashed tonight. And when I say "crashed," I mean that literally. I foolishly left it on the arm of the couch, and a second of later, it was on the floor with a little boy standing next to it.

I had taken a bunch of pictures from breakfast with Santa at the Chicago Botanic Garden last weekend but had not had a chance to upload them to the Internet. I had uploaded this one to Facebook, and it's the only one I might have from our weekend:

Jack and I might be banned from Jo-Ann's

The last time I checked, the Christmas spirit did not include my purse strewn on the floor of Jo-Ann's, a box full of ribbon rolls upended onto the floor, and me grabbing a toddler by his winter coat and sticking him in the grocery cart. A grocery cart that is filled with at least 25 things from the dollar bin that Jack has thrown in, which I will dutifully return to their rightful places.

It's Tuesday night after work and I made the unwise choice to make a quick stop at this craft store. It's pre-dinner and Jack is cranky. My "quick" stop turns into 45 minutes of hunting down craft supplies. I am totally that woman who cannot control her child. I thought 2 years old was hard but 3 seems to be a roller coaster ride so far.

But by goodness, I got all of my supplies for my homemade Advent calendar - an idea I "borrowed" from this great blog.

Toddler mittens from the dollar bin, a pretty ribbon and mini clothespins will help us count down the days until Christmas. Each mitten holds a treat for Jack and for his cousin Andrew when he visits us mid-month.

And what's the first treat for December 1? Well, a dreidel, of course, to celebrate the first night of Hanukkah.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Wishing you a sweet Valentine's Day!