What do you do during a snowstorm?

Snow Art, created by 6-year-olds

posted by  Melissa Baumgart
Here is what I have done during Seattle's Snowmageddon 2012:

1. Discovered new and addicting websites, such as Pinterest.
2. Studied for a Statistics test that seems like it will never happen.  Will we ever get back to school?
3. Search endlessly for contests to enter online.  Air popper for popcorn, Le Creuset cookware, a new bedroom set, a new couch, various vacations, another entry for the HGTV Dream House in Utah.
4. Continuously listened to Jamie ask over and over again, "Is it snowing?"  "Is it raining?"  "Is that ice or rain?"
5. Suffered miserably from allergies.  And to what?  Who the F knows.  I haven't been enjoying some of my favorite foods in the hopes of finding out which one may contribute to the atopic state of my being.  And still, two+ weeks in, I am still sneezing.
6. Walked to Central Cinema through the icy snow and darkness with six children to watch Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.  When we reached the theater, we were informed that the voucher I bought was worded in a misleading way.  The ten movie passes I thought I was going to use for the eight of us were instead only to be used by one person for ten separate movie entrances.  So, since I wasn't going to spend $50+ to watch a movie from the 1980's, we turned around and walked back home.  We walked uphill, Tallulah serenading us with her various whines of complaint the whole way.  I will never again use Amazon Local, and question returning to Central Cinema after that fiasco.  These deals should be VERY clear in the wording of the details, I have been burned too many times now from Living Social or Amazon Local.  I'll just stick with Groupon for my Seattle Deals, the OG of all coupons like this.  
7. Watched Indiana Jones at home, with yummy air popped popcorn thanks to my neighbor.  I gotta get one of those poppers.
8. Mulled over my list for Good Luck With That 2012.  I have too many things, and perhaps not enough "wow" factor.
9. Cleaned the house a billion times.
10. Had some more fun on Pinterest.  I think Good Luck With That needs to start posting pictures on there.  
11. Watched Tallulah and her friend create snow art with food coloring in spray bottles and squirt bottles.  Luckily, I live on the first floor and can do this from the warmth of inside my window.  
12. Played Amy at Dance Central 2 on the Kinect.  She kicked my butt.  But I did beat one of the kids.
13. Watched a couple documentaries.  Food, Inc and God Grew Tired of Us.  The first has got me up at night rethinking my food choices and figuring out how I can get back to my dietary and lifestyle choices of 1999.  What the hell is wrong with this world and all the greedy people that live in it?  The latter movie was about the "Lost Boys" of Sudan.  It was heartbreaking, touching and left me laughing out loud at points about our Western culture.  If you can even call it culture.  Since that movie, I have been saying "Hi!" to people I pass a lot more often.  
14.  Listened to, and attempted to break up, Lily and Levi fighting a billion times. 



The still hopeful walk to the movies.

15. Contemplated my Healthival commitment.  After reading Seattle Magazine's 25 best burgers, I am torn between Food, Inc. and my cravings.  But I have been flossing my teeth.  

And now, as the snow continues to dump, I wonder if we'll have school tomorrow.  What do you do for fun when Snowmageddon comes to your town?  

Here's to winter and possibly the last day of snow!  And hoping you had some better ideas than I did, and if so, please share.  Please.  We are getting a little stir crazy over here.

-Melissa

Just another Tuesday (Glee) Night

posted by Melissa Baumgart

Lentil and Sweet Potato Soup

Tuesday Night Dinner
Today my plan was to attempt to keep up with my goal of making bread 3 days every week and that whole everything from scratch thing.  Even though I spent last night at a pub eating everyone's leftovers (does that count since I didn't order it myself?) and tonight at a movie theater watching the season premier of Glee.

I did make bread, and it was the best so far.  I am thinking the more you make bread, the better you get at it.  Tonight's bread was crusty on the outside and fluffier inside.  Makes we wonder what the next one will be like?  Because so far I have to say, as good as it is, it is not better than store bought.

I also made another recipe from my new favorite cookbook, Ad Hoc at Home by Thomas Keller.  This time I went for the Lentil and Sweet Potato Soup.  Making a soup from his most simple of cookbooks, is not simple at all.  You have to accomplish multiple steps, like cooking each vegetable separately and cutting your own parchment paper lid.  This last part seems to be an essential for most soups.  At least this recipe didn't call for some already made ingredient from the back of the cookbook, like many other recipes do.  You really have to plan ahead.

Here is the recipe, and I have to say, it was pretty damn good.  As is everything else I made from said cookbook.

Lentil and Sweet Potato Soup
8 ounces of applewood smoked slab bacon
3 Tablespoons canola oil
2 Cups thinly sliced carrots
2 Cups coarsely chopped leeks
2 Cups coarsely chopped onions
1 teaspoon yellow curry powder
Kosher salt
1 ½  pounds sweet potatoes
2 Sachets (1 bay leaf, 3 thyme sprigs, 10 black peppercorns and 1 smashed garlic clove wrapped in a cheesecloth)
2 Cups French de Puy lentils
8 Cups chicken stock
1 to 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar (I did not use this)
Freshly ground pepper
Cilantro leaves


Cut the bacon into lardons that are 1 inch long and ½ inch thick.

Heat the canola oil in an 8 to 10 quart stock pot over medium heat.  Add the bacon, reduce the heat to low, and render the fat for 20 to 25 minutes.  The bacon should color but not crisp.  Using a slotted spoon, remove bacon and set aside.

Add the carrots, leeks, onions and curry powder to the pot and stir to coat in the bacon fat.  Season with salt, reduce heat to low, cover with a parchment paper lid (*see note below), and cook very slowly for 30 to 35 minutes, until the vegetables are tender.  Remove and discard the parchment lid.

Meanwhile, peel the sweet potatoes.  Trim them and cut them into ½-inch dice.  Put the potatoes, one of the sachets, and 2 teaspoons salt into a large saucepan, add cold water to cover, bring to a simmer, and cook until the potatoes are just tender, about 10 minutes.  Drain and spread on a tray to cool; discard the sachet.

Add the lentils, second sachet, and stock to the vegetables, bring to a simmer for 30 to 40 minutes, until the lentils are tender.  (At this point, the soup can be refrigerated for up to 2 days.)

Spread the bacon in a small frying pan and crisp over medium-high heat.

Add the vinegar to taste to the soup, then add the potatoes and heat through.  Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Serve garnished with bacon crisps and cilantro.

-Makes 10 Cups

*Using a parchment paper lid for soups allows some evaporation because of the small steam hole cut in it.   But because it covers the meat and/or veggies, it keeps the liquid from reducing too quickly and prevents the surface from becoming too caramelized as it cooks.  It's like having a lid and not having a lid at the same time.

To make a lid:  (this is my I-don't-want-to-type-anymore-version of making a parchment lid)
Cut a piece of parchment paper the same size of the pot you are using.  Fold it into a triangle with one curved side and cut a small piece out of the center)

Enjoy!
Melissa