Minty Fresh!

Aaaah,Wild  Mint! When I was a child growing up on MacArthur Road, it grew  in our yard and in the woods behind our house.  Our Mom would pick the leaves and toss them into salads, and add them to her  glass of iced tea.  We on the other hand, would rip off a leaf, sniff it, chew on it, and spit it out onto the ground. Gross, I know, but we were little kids and little kids do that sort of thing!    A couple of months ago, my husband and son returned from a local nursery with organic soil in preparation for the vegetables that were to be planted in  late  May. They also  had purchased a small plant that I  did not recognize.  "What is that, Justin?," I asked. "Smell it, Mom," he said. It smelled like mint but not the type I was accustomed to from way back when. He told me it was Grapefruit Mint. I was aware  there are many varieties of mint, in fact my friend Christine has an assortment of mint plants  in her yard.  Of course I immediately went to my laptop to Google information on this particular mint. Grapefruit Mint  (Menta x piperata citrata) Does well in sun and/or partial shade     Suitable for growing in containers  Attracts  birds,  bees, and  butterflies.  Height of 18" - 24" Flowers bloom late summer/early autumn Flowers are light blue to blue-violet in color and fragrant.  A hardy perennial Can be used dried or fresh  Use in Summer drinks and  fruit salads  I remember making sun tea years ago when my kids were little.Have you ever made sun tea? It is quite easy! All you need is a glass pitcher or jar. Add water, drop tea bags in, cover to keep the insects and other critters out and set in the  hot sun for hours...Let cool, add ice cubes...Presto, there is your sun tea! The other day I decided to test out out the grapefruit mint leaves. I randomly picked off  a few leaves, and  rinsed them off. I placed them in a glass Pyrex measuring cup and filled it with water. I set the measuring cup out on the deck and just let it do it's thing, soaking up the sun. A few hours later, I went outside to check on my concoction. The leaves had sunk to the bottom and the water had evaporated a bit. I removed half of the leaves and poured the rest of the liquid into a drinking glass and set it in the refrigerator for about an hour. I added ice cubes, gave the water a quick stir and offered the glass to Justin. The response I received was a positive one. Even without sugar it was absolutely delicious and refreshing! We are supposed to get a few days of rain, so it looks like I will  be trading the heat of the sun  for boiling water on the stove, and make a pitcher of Grapefruit Mint Tea for the family to enjoy.  :)

Airing Out the Laundry

When I was growing up in the burbs of Massachusetts, it was a common sight to see metal swing sets in the back yard.  I know we had one and spent hours playing on it, pumping our little legs in hopes of reaching the sky. Our Mom would hand us sheets of waxed paper for the metal slide. We would vigorously rub the metal till we deemed it slippery, taking turns running up the steps and speeding to the ground, sometimes landing on our bottom!

I also recall a grey aluminum monstrosity that resembled a tree in some of the yards on our street. It was an outdoor dryer used for hanging wet laundry. We did not have one in our backyard for my mother thought they were quite an eyesore. In fact she said they were downright ugly. I did not see what the big deal was because they were a source of amusement for us because you could spin them around and around...

Years later when I mentioned the old-fashioned dryer contraption to my husband, he had no idea what I was talking about. He grew up in Brooklyn, and lived in an apartment. His mother would hang laundry out to dry on a clothesline  attached to a pole in the backyard to  the next building. 
I grew up with a washer and dryer in my house until I moved to an apartment in Queens, New York. I had the not so pleasant experience of going to laundromats.  When we moved out to Long Island, it was a joy to have a laundry room of my own!  

 A couple of years ago Tom had an idea. Why not string up a nylon laundry rope from tree to tree in the backyard where the kids swing set used to be? I agreed because it was not in plain view since it was in the corner of the backyard. Besides conserving energy for the environment , we would be saving money from the evil  bloodsucking Long Island Lighting Co.( LILCO)during the warmer months.  Oh, and  what a treat it is to gather  fresh laundry dried by the sun and wind from a clothesline in my backyard.

It seems everything came full circle, right down to getting our kids a traditional metal swing set similar to the one I played on as a kid in the backyard.  We purchased a swing set when Marissa was two. Here is a photo of  five year old Marissa, and Justin, age two having a grand ole time before dinnertime.

Of course Justin wanted to be just like his big sister and loved the slide.I got such a kick out of it because it brought back great childhood memories of my own.

Even though wooden swing sets were becoming popular, we decided to take the metal one with us when we moved to a larger home five miles away.  The kids continued playing on the swing set during every season, running out back even when there was snow on the ground. 

Taking a break from swimming in the pool, and playing on the glider...

So many old-fashioned traditions from  the late 1960's are considered retro today, but I see many as common sense, and unlike my Mom, I will continue to air out the laundry in a corner of the yard where our kids once played.  ;)

Walk This Way

Hooray for real spring like weather!. Usually we jump from Winter smack right into Summer, but thankfully most of  Long Island has been fortunate with many lovely spring days. The temperatures have been warm to cool, the breezes have been absolutely refreshing I was pleasantly surprised when the azaleas bloomed in my yard. It just got better and better seeing everything turning green again.

                                                         

 Sure we had a few days of rain, but April showers bring May flowers...and what do May flowers bring besides more rain here and there? Me wearing my sneakers and  taking long walks with friends. It is a totally economical form of exercise.

Aaaaah, walking... No gym membership needed, just get on out into the neighborhood and go! The benefits of walking for me alleviate much stress accumulated from my day at work and things that may be on my mind in general, called LIFE. 

 Walking with buddies is psychologically uplifting and a great way to catch up on "stuff." A brisk walk of one hour flies on by when one is engaged in conversations and  taking in the sights with others.

You never know what critters you will encounter on an outdoor trek in town. Besides ducks, turtles, Cardinals, and Robins, I have seen some cute kitty cats and dogs in people's yards. That always puts a smile on my face.


We recently took a walk on the Nature Trail at Cedar Beach then  continued on the beach itself. For those of you unfamiliar with Long Island Sound, It is a mostly rocky beach so  unless it is low tide you are walking on small rocks rather than sand. Great for the thighs  and butt!

                                     
At the end of our walk we stumbled upon  something very special.
As you can see someone took great care in creating such a lovely  tribute. We wondered who made it and for whom. Stranger still, was a bouquet of flowers placed on the bench to the left of the heart. I wonder if the person that made the rock heart sat patiently with the bouqet of flowers in his or her lap waiting for their love. Did they ever show up? Or did they just forget their flowers? What do you think?

                                        
As I finish up  this blog, I am saddened that the weather man informed our area this spring weather has reached an end for now,  because tomorrow and  the next day will heat up with temps reaching 90!! I sure hope he is correct about next week's weather back down into the 70's because I would like to go walking and see what I can find on my journey! I wonder if that heart wll still be there...

Notes To Self

                                               

I have once again morphed into my mother. I   am not talking about the  classic mother-isms my sisters and I heard,  such as, "When I was your age and the dinosaurs were stomping around..." or better yet..."Wear clean underwear in case you are in an accident." :insert eye-roll:

Nope, I am talking about writing friendly little reminders to none other than...ahem... myself. You see, my husband and I have been joking around lately how we can not remember anything unless we write it down.

Which reminds me...

I can remember it all oh so very clearly...It is 1977. I am a Senior in High School.  My alarm clock  goes off at 6:30 a.m. I trudge into the bathroom and lo and behold, this seventeen year old self-absorbed teenager,finds annoying yellow post-its all over the bathroom mirror.
Honestly Mom, do you really need all of these post-it's all over the mirror? Now I only have a small square of mirror, ugh! It did not end there in the bathroom. Downstairs in the kitchen on the cabinets, on the counter tops, on the kitchen faucet for goodness sake! More post-its!

"Return library books" "Make out check for field trip" "Garage sale this Saturday at Elks Lodge"

Here it is 2011. I  have been using Post-it's for years now.   

Who knew these handy little notes would make such a difference in my life! The mornings are a lot smoother when I am greeted with messages written the night before I go to bed. It is like having a private secretary kindly reminding me. "Liz, don't forget your  yogurt for lunch."

I have stacks of these Post-it's, 100 in a pack, 4 x 6 and some are even lined! An added plus! 

Mom would  love these! Hmmm, Mother's Day is around the corner...

What's Cookin'?

As much as we all enjoy my husband's eggplant cutlets, I was in the mood to try something
new. I found a recipe on-line and with a few of my usual alterations, I concocted a tasty meal
for four.

EGGPLANT ROLLATINI

Two medium eggplants, ends trimmed

2 Cups Part Skim Ricotta Cheese

2 Cups Part Skim Shredded Mozzarella

1/3 C. Seasoned dry bread crumbs

1/4 C.. Grated Parmesan Cheese

1/4 C. fresh, chopped basil

dashes of oregano, garlic powder, pepper
bits of fresh parsley

1 jar of marinara sauce

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1.  Pre-heat oven to 350F.

2.  Cut eggplant lengthwise into 1/4" thick slices.

3.  Place the eggplant in a microwaveable bowl and heat @ 4-5 minutes/until tender.

4.  You can use papertowels or clean kitchen towels for the next step: Place the eggplant slices in a single layer on towel. Place another towel on top and press out excess moisture from eggplant.

5.  In a bowl mix Ricotta, 1-1/2 C. Mozzarella, bread crumbs, Parmesan, Basil, spices until blended.

6.  Place @ 1/3 C. of mixture down center of eah eggplant slice, Roll up, Place seam-side down in greased  13 x 9" baking dish.

7.  Cover with sauce, sprinkle remaining mozzarella on top, garnish with parsley.

8.  Cover with aluminum foil and bake @ 30 mins./ till boiling

      I posted three pix (below) before heating them up! 

Every Picture Tells A Story Don't It?

How many of you recognize that line from Rod Stewart's song? I remember hearing it on the radio many years ago, but I never really paid attention to all of the lyrics since I was not a huge fan of Rod's ~ sorry about that Rod ole chap...but I did enjoy the chorus and  would scream along with that rhaspy voice of his.

 I called my Mom a couple of weeks ago to catch up and see how she was doing. We engaged in our  routine conversation of questions & answers concerning her health, my family, the weather, and of course re-hashing old memories. I was surprised when she  asked me if I knew who Rod Stewart is, and I said sure, I remember a few of his songs and how he "went disco" in the eighties and didn't he just become a Dad again at the age of 70 or something? She went on to tell me the gossipy details and mentioned she and her friend, John, were interested in purchasing tickets to see him perform in Boston.

After I got off the phone,  I typed, "Every picture tells a story, don't it?" into Google. I found  the lyrics, and read them. Of course, what jumped out at me was the chorus, and I  burst out laughing. For some reason, I  flashbacked to the 1970's. It was the first day of school, and time to pose for the obligatory "first day of school" photograph. 

 I recall it was a very warm September morning. I was fourteen or fifteen and did not want to deal with this stupid ritual  My two younger sisters and I absolutely did not want to deal with Mom's photoshoot. We protested to no avail, making faces, and squinting into the sun, while being  told to smile!  After we endured what seemed to be hours of torture, she was satisfied with that one great picture for "First Day of School: 1974"

I am posting the one photo I am sure she was not thrilled with, but I am so glad it has survived.  Every picture tells a story, don't it?

Asbestos Hands

I love to cook! Okay, a little too much emphasis on the love part.

Let me re-state that comment: I love to cook  on my terms, and my terms only! 

I am one of those kitchen tyrants that believe in the mantra, "Too many cooks in the kitchen spoil the broth." Don't get me wrong,  I positively gush with enthusiasm when our family is pitching in  to create a fantastic meal., in fact I encourage it! (Except for when my husband adds a little too much of this and that spice...)

Unfortunately, as I am cooking,  I tend to get anxious over  the dreaded clean up time. It stems from the wise advice of a former neighbor, nearly twenty years ago, and much to my family's chagrin, I adhere  to that advice.

You see, when I was a young stay at home mom, I enjoyed cooking, and especially trying elaborate new recipes. My main complaint was the gigantic mess that did not magically disappear on its own. Add that to the dreaded bewitching hour...if you are a mom you know what I am talking about. I had a three year old and a baby to contend with and dinnertime is prime cranky time  Even back then I had to pick and choose my battles Obviously the kids were priority so the mess remained...till later.

So, what is this advice I speak of? It is relatively simple:  " Clean up as you cook."  Yes, that is  it!  Done with that mixing bowl?  Wash it out NOW while the  pot of  whatever is simmering on the stove. Are you done sauteing  the onions and garlic? Then wash out the iron skillet! Why oh why let it all accumulate when you are zapped of energy from a long day at work?

One night after frying up chicken cutlets for my famous chicken cutlet parmigiana,  I grabbed the iron skillet, and immersed it into scalding hot water. I was racing the clock to get as much mess cleaned up before actually eating dinner, when my husband came over to the sink to rinse off his hands (yes, he was helping, too) "Ouch!, he exclaimed with a couple expletives thrown in for good measure. "Why do  you always make the water so hot?"  Our kids were in total agreement with him,about how desensitized my hands are to heat. "Just call me "Asbestos Hands", I blurted out. That cracked everyone up including myself. 

Well, tonight Asbestos Hands can take it easy. A  big pot of  homemade chicken soup was prepared yesterday, so this evening will  be a relaxing one...until later in the week when the pot needs to be washed.

Sleep is a place to go...

I had big plans for today. The first being, sleep in late! Considering I have great difficulties mastering the art of a decent night's sleep, it is a constant on my "To Do List."
 I stop consuming caffeine by two p.m., I take a nice hot shower at 7:00 p.m., lay out my work clothes before bed, and retreat to my cozy nest of pillows and blankets. Book in hand, I read till my eyes tell me to stop. I aim for 10:30 p.m. and yes, I make a trip to the bathroom before  turning in!

Here's the thing; I have no problem conking out! I awaken three to four hours later and it is as if I just took a nap! Eventually I do fall back to sleep, but it is certainly not a blissful slumber. The soothing music of my alarm
reaffirms it as I fumble for the off switch.

I  realize most of my troubles are due to a myriad of  disturbances which are entitled LIFE. I know and have been told by family that I do not know how to shut my brain off, and I am the first to tell you, yes, I do obsess about "stuff."

And before you tactfully  ask, "Well, errr, you are 51, could it be contributed to *gasp* menopause?" Ding, ding, ding...I had the blood work done recently, and it came back normal. Honestly I do believe hormones must be a contributing factor, so pooh to the lab results!

 Whoever said things always  look brighter in the morning,  you are so right!  I shall tip my mug of chammomille tea  your way and bid you a good night's sleep as well!