Taking The Good Baby to the State Fair

This year The Good Baby celebrated an important milestone here in the Midwest - her first State Fair.

Usually it is unbearably hot during the fair and it always rains for at least one day. The day we went was hot but nothing like previous summers. We decided to go after TGB had her morning nap so we could eat lunch and explore for a few hours before she needed her afternoon nap.

While TGB sat happily in her stroller people watching, I had chocolate covered bacon and deep fried key lime pie.

The bacon tasted more like a salty chocolate covered pretzel. I didn't taste too much of the bacon. The deep fried key lime pie just wasn't good. The batter was too thick, I couldn't actually use the stick to hold it and I hate powdered sugar. Since this is the second time I have had something deep fried that was bad, I think my deep fried dessert days are over.


This is the part of the fair I really like. Every damn year I forget what building the produce and food contests are in and I kinda wander around aimlessly until The Good Husband remembers. By this time we are usually on the other side of the fair grounds, so by the time we find it, we are thankful it is one of the few buildings on the grounds air conditioned.

Notice the blue ribbon and champion winners are in a refrigerated case. The runners up have to withstand the elements for 10 days.


On to the animal barns. I feel bad for the sheep since it is so hot and for whatever reason, they have to sleep in coats. The pigs were not dealing well with the heat. TGB got to pet a friendly goat. One of the sheep nipped at her, so she was happy the goat was kinder.


Awarding winning foods. Look at that pie crust. I can never make mine look so pretty.


TGB had a mini donut for the first time. The thing is covered in sugar and while it is definitely not organic or healthy, we let her have a few since it was her first fair. Other than her birthday cake with organic sugar, she has never had so much sugar at once. At first she was skeptical. But in the end, she liked it.

We also wore her out. Never before has she fallen asleep in her stroller. Thank god we brought the one that reclined and not her umbrella stroller.

I'm Betty Draper. You be the interior decorator

Remember in season 3 when Betty had the formal living room redecorated and then bought that fugly fainting couch all because Henry Francis pointed it out to her?

Well I already have something similar to the fugly fainting couch and I need help decorating around it. Right now I have new construction white walls with nothing hanging on them. We have been too scared to nail any holes in the wall even though we plan to be here for 20 years. I also have no sense of style and I have never painted anything before in my life.

The Good Husband hates what he calls fun houses - where every room is a different color. So the plan is to paint all the common areas - living room, dining room, guest bathroom - all the same color and paint The Good Baby's and our bed and bathroom separate colors.

This is how our living room looks now (click to enlarge)


To the left of the armchair (and notice our super fancy tv tray end table) is the kitchen and dining room. To the right of the couch is the hallway to the bedrooms and bathroom. The tv is out of frame, opposite the sliding glass doors.

The couch and the chair and ottoman are a tan-ish olive color. The drapes are a khaki color and the carpet is grey.

I was thinking about painting the wall with the fireplace and the half wall a dark grey color and all the other walls in the house 2 shades lighter. I think the grey would look good with the carpet but I don't know if it would look good with anything else. I can move the couch and chair and into the basement and buy something more compatible with grey walls if I had to. The curtains will have to stay for now since we just bought them and you know TGH is too cheap to let me change them.

I like the Colonial Cobblestone and Family Tree colors of Dutch Boy paint. I don't know if I can get them in a low VOC however and that is important to us.

The fireplace is another issue in itself. I want a large sliver frame mirror over the fireplace and only a few photos on the mantle. The rest of the photos I want to move to floating shelves on a wall - either the one next to the arm chair or the one opposite the sliding glass door (more decisions!).

TGH is not fond of mirrors over the fireplace but I don't know what else to put there.



So any suggestion would be great, whether paint colors or mantle ideas. Anything is welcome.

First Trip to the Zoo

We were going to go to the Farmer's Market on Saturday but instead I read in the paper our local zoo was having a ceremonial stroller walk for World Breastfeeding Week. I thought it would be nice to go, to show support for the lost art of breastfeeding, to celebrate the 11 months I nursed and pumped and to see the animals.

The Good Baby had a great time.

She got to see some animals like this African deer.

She also got to see goats in the petting zoo area. At first she wasn't sure about the goats but the were incredibly tame from being around people. They were very gentle, but persistent, when eating from your hand.

And I do mean persistent. This guy nibbled on my shirt until I gave him something to eat.

The Good Baby wasn't scared at all, which I love how fearless she is.

Our next big first with TGB will be going to the State Fair. I cannot wait.

Trip to the Farmer's Market #6 and assessment

This was the first FM we have been to since coming home from vacation. I always get in a weird place after we get home and I am distracted for a week or so. I have to clean everything in the house from top to bottom, which now takes longer since The Good Baby likes to help. I lose track of days and it takes me a while to fall back in routine.

But I have settled now and last Thursday TGB, me and The Good Husband all went to the night market. We came home with potatoes, cantaloupe, blackberries, an eggplant, brats and sweet corn.

We had dinner of brats, 'taters and corn with cantaloupe for dessert.

We had planned on going to the farmer's market on Saturday but then I saw our local zoo was having a breastfeeding walk for World Breastfeeding Week and we decided to go to that instead. Post to follow.

Sadly the farmer's market season is just more than half way finished. There is only 12 weeks more to go. I should start buying produce to can and freeze now for the winter. I will have to make a list of what all I will need. I will also have to clean out the pantry.

It has been fascinating to watch the different produce come and go from the market. Strawberries have been replaced by peaches. Tomatoes and sweet corn have arrived, as have melons and black- and rasp- berries. Zucchini and summer squash are preparing the way for acorn and butternut. Veggies like green beans, 'taters, onions and peppers have been a staple, available at almost every market.

For someone that never thought about food seasons before and the origins of food, it has been a valuable lesson for me.

The Good Family Vacation, Part 2 - The Food

There are some foods that are just so southern that you have to try them - fried chicken, collard greens, shrimp and grits, sweet tea.

The day we went to the beach we ate at Magnolias @ 26th Restaurant, a southern style buffet that had food to make Paula Dean jealous. I devoured the fried chicken and it was the best I have ever had. Seriously. I don't know what they did to make it so damn good but it was like crack. I also inhaled the fried squash.

I then had a huge helping of collard greens with vinegar and I.Did.Not.Like.Not.Even.A.Little.Bit. I really wanted to like it and I ate it all but it just wasn't my cup of tea.

Speaking of tea, I did drink about 4 gallons of sweet tea while on vacation. It was like tea flavored kool-aide.

We also ate at a place called Cooters. No review necessary.

While in Charleston we ate at Hymans Seafood. I really wanted to try the shrimp and grits but it was in the 100s and I was scared with the heat I would get sick. We waited a short 30 minutes before getting our table which by the way:

Then came boiled peanuts. Also did not like.


The fried green tomatoes were good. The spicy mayo dipping sauce was the best part. TGB did not like these.

Since I was afraid of the shrimp and grits, I ordered a buffalo shrimp po' boy instead. It was a generous sized sandwich and I almost did get sick afterward since it was a lot of food to eat.

TGB loved the hush puppies.

I am sad that I didn't get to try shrimp and grits but I guess I will have to try it next time we visit The South.

The First Good Family Vacation, Part 1 - The Sights

The Good Husband and I aren't big vacation people. We usually just take a weekend here and there and go camping or to St. Louis. This year we decided to drive to South Carolina. Drive. As in 10 hours in a car for two days. With a 13 month old.

It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be but I am never ever doing that again. I cannot stand to be in the car that long and I don't care what kind of scenery I get to view. I swear next time we are either flying or renting an RV.

But I got to experience The South, something that I really enjoyed being a Yankee and all. So I present to you things I found in The South.

What I saw:
~Waffle Houses
~Rims for Lease
~Cotton and tobacco fields
~The Stars and Bars
~Truck Nutz
~The ocean

What I heard:
~Y'all
~Yessir
~Bless your heart
~You want some sweet tea?
~Praise Jesus!
~A little too much southern sympathy for all the poor plantation owners that lost their way of life

We drove all the way to Georgia before stopping for the night and made it to Myrtle Beach the next day. We did a lot of shopping and sight seeing and of course took The Good Baby to the beach for the first time.

She was skeptic at first since the ocean looks nothing like the inflatable hippo pool she is used to swimming in.

She did not like it. She didn't cry but she didn't like the feel of the waves hitting her. As a bonus I lost my glasses in the ocean and thus paid $300 to be able to see again. Yay.


Myrtle Beach does have some beautiful beach homes. You don't see color like this in the Midwest.


We took a day trip to Charleston. This is one of the houses on the famous Rainbow Row.


Cobblestone streets


Gadsden Flag


Random house in Charleston

After touring Charleston, we decided to tour a plantation. We drove an hour to Magnolia Plantation outside Charleston. We took the nature tram, a 45 minute ride around the grounds. We were hot and tired and this was a good way to relax and help TGB cool off. We saw a lot of wildlife but no alligators.


Slave quarters

Swamp


The House

I was disappointed in the entire plantation tour and kinda pissed it was so expensive. It was not what I was expecting at all. I guess I have read too many Anne Rice books.

It was also hot as hell. I am not used to humidity like that. But we did have a great time and made good memories.

How to stock a fridge/freezer

This is a good basic list of what to keep stocked in the fridge and freezer so you can make a pantry meal with little effort.

Fridge

~Butter – salted (sweet cream), unsalted

~Buttermilk

~Cheese; cottage

~Cheese; cream

~Cheese; crumbled – feta, goat, blue

~Cheese; ricotta

~Cheese; shredded and block – cheddar, Colby, cojack, mozzarella

~Eggs

~Fruits, assorted; pre-wash, diced

~Fruits, assorted; whole

~Heavy cream

~Herbs, fresh – dill, mint, sage, basil, rosemary

~Mayo

~Milk – whole, 2%

~Pickles – whole, dill, bread and butter, relish

~Salsa

~Sour cream

~Vegetables, assorted; pre-wash, diced

~Vegetables, assorted; whole

~Yogurt, plain

Freezer

~Bread, whole loaves

~Fruits, assorted

~Meat, assorted

~Vegetables, assorted

Blueberry Streusel French Toast

So I was wondering what I could do with all the blueberries I got from the Farmer's Market and this idea got stuck in my head. Blueberry Streusel French Toast. Doesn't that just sound wonderful?

I toyed with how to make this. I baked two slices while I pan fried the other two. I preferred the pan fried version since that required more butter, but I will include the baked version as well.

I will add The Good Baby loved this. She literally gave me a hug after every bite. It was too cute for words.

Ingredients:
1 loaf day old bread - brioche or challah works best
6 extra large eggs
1-1/2 cups whole milk
1 cup whipping cream
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, freshly grated
1/4 cup melted butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup pecans, chopped
1 cup orange juice
2 tablespoons cornstarch
4 cups blueberries
3/4 to 1 cup sugar
Juice and zest of 1 lemon

Directions:
~To Bake - Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with butter or oil. Layer bread slices in overlapping rows. Whisk together eggs, milk, cream, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg and pour slowly over bread. Make sure bread is submerged and cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

~Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In saucepan melt butter; add brown sugar and nuts to combine. Remove plastic wrap from French toast and top with streusel topping. Bake 40 minutes. Let stand 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

~To Pan Fry - Whisk together eggs, milk, cream, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg in a medium bowl. Add bread, a slice at a time and allow bread to absorb custard mixture, turning once. Meanwhile, heat several tablespoons of butter in a pan over medium low heat. Combine melted butter, brown sugar and nuts in a small bowl; set aside. Remove bread from custard and allow excess to drain. Add the bread to the pan and top with the streusel mixture. Cook for 4-6 minutes on each side until the custard mixture is set. Top with blueberry sauce.

~To make blueberry sauce: Whisk together juice and cornstarch in saucepan. Add berries, sugar, and lemon juice and zest and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil about 5 minutes or until thickened. Serve over French toast.

recipe by: The Good Wife

Happy Birthday to The Good Baby!

The Good Baby turned one over the weekend. Just now have I cleaned the house, ate all the leftovers and assembled and put away all the new toys.

It was hot as ever-loving hell Saturday. It was 92 with a heat index in the 100s. But even with the oppressive heat, I think everyone had a good time. TGB certainly did.

We had the party in the late afternoon to accommodate nap schedules so we decided to just serve chips and dip and sandwiches. We made a sandwich bar of white or wheat bread, honey baked sliced ham, mesquite sliced turkey, sliced colby and provolone cheese, lettuce, onion, tomato and pickles with a choice of mayo, mustard, Dijon and horseradish.

I forgot to take pictures since I was busy with TGB but I did capture the most important part - the cake:

100% organic vanilla cake with vanilla buttercream frosting made by me

Safari cake for everyone else made by a wonderful local bakery



In the end, it was a great day. TGB was full of sugar and butter and wore out by the end of the day. She could barely stay awake in the bath.


Here's to many many more wonderful birthdays.