A moment of unadulterated delight

My anguish from not winning Good Eats 'Great Fan' contest was eased when I happened upon this link on the REM official website.

Scroll down to the last section labeled 'I Don't Sleep, I Dream' and click on the link. I was pleasantly surprised to see where it took me. I can't seem to wipe the smile off my face.

The best thing I ever ate...

When Ari and I planted tomato seeds back in March, I had two goals. The first, I at least wanted one tomato to be produced from the batch of seeds; the second, to be able to make marinara sauce from my own home grown tomatoes. Well, I am happy to say that I have now achieved both of my goals. Well, I didn't really achieve the first goal, the tomato plants did that all by themselves; but I did make the marinara sauce on Friday.

Since we planted those seeds, I envisioned a meal consisting of fresh pasta and home-made marinara. The time was finally right as we had an abundance of tomatoes taking residence on our kitchen counter. On Thursday night, I prepped the tomatoes by quickly blanching them in order to remove the skins. I then crushed the tomatoes by hand and let them sit in the refrigerator overnight. I used about twenty tomatoes.

After work on Friday, I hurried home to get started on dinner. I shredded a couple carrots, diced on onion, and sliced a few cloves of garlic and sautéed them on a saucepan. Then, I added the crushed tomatoes, salt, pepper, and some dried herbs. I brought the mixture to a boil and then let it simmer on the stove while I started on the pasta. The marinara had a lot of reducing to do, so I saved my final seasoning adjustments for when it was at the right consistency.

The meal came together rather easily, aside from the final fluster of cutting and boiling the noodles. I had a few hiccups with my normally reliable pasta roller, but that's another story. Once the marinara was at the desired consistency, I added a little olive oil and some red wine vinegar. I don't normally pat myself on the back, but I have to say that dinner was the greatest meal I have ever had the pleasure of eating. I think it was the freshness of all the ingredients that really set it apart. The marinara had a subtle sweetness to it unlike anything I have ever had. The noodles were so delicate and flavorful, I just couldn't get enough.

To my delight, the tomatoes keep coming and coming, and I am saving some for another batch of marinara. The twenty tomatoes I used was just the right amount to feed the four of us and the kids on Friday night. It was such a memorable meal; and simple, too. I can't wait to make another batch!

Cheers for ears!

Ahhh...corn on the cob. Here in Indiana, it just doesn't get any better than that in the summertime. There is more than corn in Indiana, but there doesn't need to be. Biting those sweet succulent kernels off the cob one row at a time sometimes feels like a religious experience. Add a little butter, salt and pepper...mmm...no words can describe the flavor sensation.

Yep, the corn is finally in season this year here in Indiana. Pick-up trucks with their beds full of corn dot the intersections and it's hard to resist stopping to pick up a few ears. So easy to prepare, so fun to eat, truly a treasure for the taste buds.
Even Walter can't resist.

Idea Thief

As many of you may already know, my lovely wife has recently started her own blog. Yes, Fearless D & Girlish Glee is part of the World Wide Web. Great news right? Well, not for me; not with new post ideas being ripped right out of my hands!


Just the other day, we were out taking pictures of the kids. Ari was on his bike pulling Emilie behind him. How cute! What a perfect event to document on latent chestnut! Too bad my wife was thinking the same thing, only for her own use. How selfish of her!

Soon enough, I was browsing through her site and saw the pictures with a nice little write up. Well, there's one idea right down the drain. But Fearless D & Girlish Glee is dedicated to the kids so she can have it, I really don't mind. But if she starts to write about R.E.M. or cooking, then I may have a fight on my hands...

New Kitchen Curtains...Hallelujah!

The project completion train keeps chugging along as I put the finishing touches on some new kitchen curtains last week. They are a major upgrade from the ones we had prior...major. I thought about posting before and after pictures, but I couldn't bring myself to take a picture of the old ones.

I learned a lot from the curtains I made for Ari's room and these were a cinch to make; and I completed them in no time at all. I still don't know if I'm making them the 'right' way, but I guess the end result is all that matters. I would have posted a picture of the other curtain, but I couldn't find an angle to take a flattering picture.

I think they turned out really well and I am filled with the joy of a job well done every time I look at them. In my opinion, the fabric pattern is reminiscent of the wallpaper in Nonna's dining room. To me, it has the same style and feel. So that sense of familiarity and comfort makes them even that much more enjoyable. I am glad that they are part of my kitchen.

The R.E.M. Quilt

My quilt is finished and functional! No longer are my old R.E.M. shirts destined for a life of darkness and squalor in my bedroom closet. No! They have been given new life, a breath of fresh air and a chance to be apart of something so much bigger; united as one. Their destiny has been fulfilled and they will live on to be enjoyed by all who snuggle in their warm embrace.

Well, maybe I shouldn't be so dramatic...

I am happy though, a project that started in January after being conceived the month prior is finally finished. With the invaluable help of Eva and Katie, my dream was realized, and I truly couldn't have done it without them for so many reasons. Thank you Eva and Katie for all you have done for me!

I ended up tying the quilt layers together which proved to be quite time consuming. I'm sure I did more than a few things to make the traditional quilter cringe, but I got it done nonetheless. I ended up using two colors of embroidery thread to make the ties because I couldn't decide which one to use. That decision alone caused me many more hours of work.

Here is a peak at the back of my quilt to show the ties:


Pictures I took of the quilt didn't look a whole lot different from my last post showing the completed front, so I took a picture of it folded to show it is quite a bit thicker with the three layers.
I am also glad to report that is fits perfectly on our queen bed.
Looks pretty good, huh?

I absolutely love my quilt and I am so glad I decided to do it. It was so nerve racking cutting that first shirt, but the payoff was more than worth it. The memories ingrained in those shirts and in making this quilt are priceless and I will cherish them forever.

Please click the 'r.e.m. quilt' label in order to see the different stages of the quilt.

My Good Eats Fan Video

I did it. I entered a contest. I submitted a minute long video for a chance to to meet Alton Brown and be part of the Good Eats 10th Anniversary Special. If I win, it would truly be a dream come true. And how often does somebody get a chance like this. I couldn't let this opportunity go by without at least trying.

I found out about the contest from fellow AB fan Lisa over at the All About Alton blog. There are six winners, so I hope we are both part of the chosen few. I think the video turned out well, and I think I may have a fighting chance to be selected. The judging is next week, so I'll know soon enough. In the meantime, check out the video, if you'd like...



I have been getting reports of people not being able to view the video here. If that is the case for you, you can view the video directly at:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/happy-anniversary-good-eats/package/index.html

It is entitled 'Growing Up with Good Eats' and was submitted on 08/03/2009; it should be on the first 2 or 3 pages under the 'Most Recent' section. If it doesn't work here, try going there. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Bounty

The sun was shining and a gentle breeze cooled the air. Ari & I went outside for our daily tomato inspection. Some tomatoes were starting to turn red, so we were hoping to finally be able to harvest a tomato or two. Ari looked down at a beautiful plump red tomato and asked me if it was ready. I told him it was, and he picked the first ripe tomato of the season.
He held it up with pride and quickly took it inside to show Mommy & Em.

I sliced the tomato and we all delighted in the succulent summer treat. It was quickly devoured in no time at all, and I have never had so much satisfaction from eating a tomato. Our first gardening adventure is officially a success.

Good-bye Ju-ly

Today marks the end of one of the coolest July's we've ever had here in the Hoosier heartland. We've had a few days where the high temperature did not get out of the 60's. That's almost unheard of! But we've made the best of it. Our annual trip to the county fair was so windy and cool; many of us wished we had on sweatshirts; as a lot of people did. This weather is tailor made for bike riding, but not so much swimming, so we haven't frequented my mom's pool as much as we had planned. But, she got a new swing-set, so that has kept the kids entertained; and so has the sandbox. What a hit those have turned out to be.

I don't know if the cool weather has anything to do with it, but the clouds over the last couple of weeks have been simply breathtaking. Looking up in the sky during the day has been nothing short of a welcome treat for the eyes. I have found myself gazing up in awe of their spectacular beauty, so much so that I had to get my camera out and capture the moment. The picture doesn't really do it justice, but I wanted to share it nonetheless. Seeing these clouds bounding through the atmosphere has been a real delight this summer.

everleavers

"You Are the Everything", the third track off of R.E.M.'s 1988 album Green is perhaps the quintessential lullaby (as R.E.M. songs go, anyway). I started singing it to Ari when he just a baby and when he started talking, he dubbed it "everleavers"; I guess "You Are the Everything" was a bit too much to say for a one year old.

As Ari got older, he started making requests for bedtime songs, and "everleavers" sort of fell off the play list, much to my dismay. I would suggest it to him, but he would always decline and pick another song for whatever reason. I can't even remember the last time I sang it to him.

Recently, Valerie and I have been letting Ari pick who will put him to bed at night, and the other puts Emilie to bed. When I get to put Emilie to bed, I almost always sing "You Are the Everything" to her. There is just something about that song that really resonates with me and I think it is the perfect song to sing to end the day.

Sometimes I feel like I can't even sing
I'm very scared for this world, I'm very scared for me
Eviscerate your memory
Here's a scene, you're in the back seat laying down
The windows wrap around
To sound of the travel and the engine
All you hear is time stand still in travel
And feel such peace and absolute
The stillness still that doesn't end but slowly drifts into sleep
The stars are the greatest thing you've ever seen
And they're there for you
For you alone, you are the everything

I think about this world a lot and I cry
And I've seen the films and the eyes But I'm in this kitchen
Everything is beautiful and she is so beautiful
She is so young and old
I look at her and I see the beauty of the light of music
The voices talking somewhere in the house
Late spring and you're drifting off to sleep
With your teeth in your mouth
You are here with me, you are here with me
You have been here and you are everything

Sometimes I feel like I can't even sing
I'm very scared for this world, I'm very scared for me
Eviscerate your memory
Here's a scene, you're in the back seat laying down
The windows wrap around
To sound of the travel and the engine
All you hear is time stand still in travel
And feel such peace and absolute
The stillness still that doesn't end but slowly drifts into sleep
The stars are the greatest thing you've ever seen
And they're there for you
For you alone, you are the everything