At This Moment

December 17, 2013December 16, 2013 / makingofahome / 2 Comments

At this moment, I am…

~preparing my eldest’s Girl Scout Daisy smock. Today is her first Daisy meeting, and I am just praying her little cough from last night is better this morning so she is able to attend. She is so very excited.

~putting the finishing touches on the sleep hats I mentioned last week. More on this to come later this week.

~frosting biscotti. It’s my Nona’s recipe from Italy, and they are delicious. No worries, more on these tasty treats later this week as well 🙂

~wishing a few extra hours could be added to each day this week. There is so much that needs to be done.

~reminding myself what is important this time of year, despite the above mentioned craziness that seems to be seeping into each day.

~awaiting an important day in my family’s life. Check in on Friday for more about this news.

~hoping each of you has a wonderful start to your week.

Celebrating

December 2, 2013December 1, 2013 / makingofahome / 2 Comments

As I so often say in this space, Thanksgiving through the New Year is my favorite time of the year. I love the decedent foods that warm your soul, the many adornments that work to embellish even the most drab of locales, and the melodies that seem to interweave their way into my thoughts. But most of all, I cherish the quality time spent in celebration with family and friends that this time of year brings to our lives.

This Thanksgiving was a true celebration of family, which was a much welcomed change over last year’s cold and flu-filled Thanksgiving celebration. And I must say, my favorite part of the day was the spontaneous dance party that broke out in the garage while our frogmore stew was cooking away.

Here is a peak into our weekend of celebrating…

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend, and I wish you a very happy Monday!

At This Moment

November 25, 2013November 24, 2013 / makingofahome / Leave a comment

At this moment, I am…

~recalling a fabulous weekend of crafting and fun.

~returning from a very early trip to the grocery store for our first round of Thanksgiving dinner shopping. A five o’clock (in the AM my friends) arrival time is a sure fire way to beat the crowds at the ole’ grocery store 🙂

~glancing at my stack of Christmas cards, and thinking I may be able to get them in the mail on Friday. Fingers crossed.

~looking forward to a short two days that my girls are in school this week. I cannot wait to spend five full days with my babies!

~preparing for my favorite holiday of the year. A day filled with family and food. What could possibly be better?

~hoping to get some sewing projects wrapped up this week.

~wishing each of you a wonderful start to your week. Have a great Monday!

Dash to the Finish

October 23, 2013October 22, 2013 / makingofahome / Leave a comment

Every year it happens. The mad dash to get anything and everything in the garden harvested and indoors before temperatures dip below freezing for the first time of the year.

That day came on Monday, when the evening’s forecasted low was 27 degrees. So, I spent my day entangled amongst the tomato and cucumber vines, and bending over the multiple herbs remaining in the herb garden. Each year I say I will do this all sooner, so I’m not rushed come late fall when cold temperatures are eminent. But each year I find myself in this position, racing against time.

But I must say, I’m growing to enjoy this dash to the finish line. Because at this time of year, when I’m weary of harvesting, canning, freezing and drying, I see ahead of me a time of rest. A time spent nestled inside, surrounded by projects and crafts. It is at this time of year I am grateful to live in an area where we experience all four seasons. When there is a natural break, and a chance to rest and recharge for the next growing season. This time of rest is so close now. I feel the subtle pull inward, and I cannot wait to embrace all that it has to offer me in the days, weeks and months to come.

Grandma’s Three Bean Salad

October 22, 2013October 18, 2013 / makingofahome / 1 Comment

Isn’t it just fascinating how food memories work? One morsel of food touches your tongue and you are whisked away to times gone by, to the exact moment when you consumed that particular piece of goodness. That’s why each time I task three bean salad, I am brought back to Zanocco family 4th of July celebrations. With this annual celebration always came laughing children singing (and yelling) the words to “Miss Mary Mack”, throw-and-pop firecrackers and sparklers, olive dip, and of course, three bean salad.

I dug through my recipe box last week and found Grandma Zanocco’s three bean salad recipe. Looking over the hand-written recipe card, I wondered if I could perhaps make it a bit healthier, while maintaining the integrity of the dish. With a bit of tasting here, and help from my sous-chef there, I think I’ve done it. I hope you enjoy this dish as much as we did, and I hope it helps to create some wonderful new food memories for all of you 🙂

Grandma’s Three Bean Salad

(You can use canned beans, or dried beans. Just be sure that if you use dried beans, they have already been soaked and are fork tender.)

4 cups kidney beans

4 cups pinto beans

4 cups black beans

Pour all of your beans in a large bowl and set aside.

In a food processor, pulse 1 cup diced yellow onions. Then add 1 cup olive oil, 1 cup Bragg’s Apple Cider Vinegar, 2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon pepper and 3/4 cup raw agave syrup. Pulse the mixture a few times in your food processor until you have a reasonably smooth dressing.

Pour your dressing over your bean mixture, and allow to sit at room temperature for about an hour before serving. You can garnish your salad with a little oregano or parsley if you wish. Enjoy!

*A note about all my recipes: I use all organic ingredients, local when available. I use non-homogenized milk, and all of the dairy we use is from animals raised on pasture. I also use oils that are non-GMO verified. All our meat is raised locally on organic feed, and our beef is grass-fed, grass-finished. All our spices and cane sugar are fair-trade certified and purchased through a cooperative.

The Real Deal

October 21, 2013September 1, 2015 / makingofahome / 1 Comment

While at “the fair” last weekend, I was lucky enough to watch a hands-on soap making demonstration conducted by Mary Jane Toth, author of Goats Produce Too. Ms. Toth was a wonder to watch, for she made soapmaking so approachable. For the first time, I felt that I could make real soap, and venture beyond my melt-and-pour roots. (Some of my favorite melt-and-pour soap recipes are: eczema-friendly soap, shave soap, anti-bacterial soap, and lavender rosemary soap.)

So, late one evening last week, I poured myself a glass of red wine (one must always be prepared for this type of new adventure I dare say), set out my lard, coconut oil and lye, and started this new journey towards homemade soap. This was the real deal, and once those lye crystals hit the water, there was no turning back.

Now I’m just praying the soap saponifies properly and cures as it should. The waiting process on this type of soap is much different than that of melt-and-pour, so we shall see. Fingers crossed 🙂

Anew

October 15, 2013October 14, 2013 / makingofahome / 1 Comment

There are those times when each of us needs a breathe of new life. When the grind of our day to day tasks feel a bit too heavy to bear, and we need an opportunity for fresh air to fill the fibers deep within our being, giving us a renewed direction and energy to guide us further on our personal journey through life.

This greatly-needed internal recharge took place this past weekend, which I must say was perfect timing for this mama who was trying her best to stay afloat in her desire to maintain a holistic household, while feeling pulled down by the current of a fast-paced, industry-driven society. Our family made the trek to Lawrence, Kansas and attended the Mother Earth News Fair where we were allowed the wonderful opportunity to interact with over 10,000 like-minded individuals, seeking that same recharge we were so desperately needing.

Our time was spent learning about everything from primitive drilling skills, to chicken keeping, to fermenting, to non-traditional building methods, and everything in between.

But the most wonderful moment of the weekend came in those last 60 minutes of the fair, when we were privileged enough to listen to Joel Salatin speak. Back home when my husband or I bring up this name, people look at us with raised eye brows while muttering, “Who?” beneath their breaths. But at the fair in Kansas, all of these people…

not only know him, but crowded in amongst one another to listen to him articulate just what it means to be a true steward of the Earth.

Chills formed on my arms before the presentation even began because the energy in this space was palpable. The words Mr. Salatin greeted us with were, “It’s lonely out there isn’t it? But look around you today. It feels a lot less lonely right now doesn’t it?” Tears brimmed in my eyes at hearing these words because yes, I had recently been feeling so very lonely. Lonely in my thoughts, beliefs and ways of life. But looking around this space made me feel so whole again because I am not alone. Not by a long shot. There is an entire community of people out there trying their best to live more deeply, trying to raise families in a way in which they tread a bit more lightly on the Earth. I left Kansas inspired. I left recharged. I left anew.

May each of you feel a sense of rejuvenation and renewal as you move through your week. Today I leave you with Joel Salatin’s final words of his presentation. I hope they move you as they did me…

May all your carrots grow long and straight,

and your radishes be large and never pithy.

May the coyotes be struck blind by your pasture chickens.

May all your culinary experiments be delectably palatable.

May the rain fall gently on your fields,

the wind be always at your back,

your children rise up and call you blessed,

and may we all leave the world better than we found it.

Weekending

September 30, 2013September 29, 2013 / makingofahome / 2 Comments

This weekend was one of those that will be looked back upon with fondness. While we normally spend our weekends close to home, this one brought us on many adventures. One where the hustle and bustle was completely embraced, and fun was truly had by all. Our hours were filled with alpacas (it was National Alpaca Weekend after all), pumpkins and retro amusement park rides. Yes, quite the eclectic combo.

Here is a glimpse into our two days of fun…

I hope you all enjoyed a lovely weekend as well. Have a wonderful week my friends!

A Walk in the Woods

September 23, 2013 / makingofahome / 3 Comments

There has been a sickness streak in our house over the course of the last week, so when Sunday greeted us with beams of sunlight peaking through the curtains, crisp air squeezing through the window panes, and a home bursting with people finally feeling well again, we decided to get out there and embrace the day.

We ventured to Atwood, one of my absolute favorite parks in our area. My oldest daughter has also discovered the magic of Atwood over the course of the last year, having attended a multitude of day camps at this fabulous preserve. So, when she shouted, “Ok, I’m in charge today. I’m your tour guide. Follow me. Let’s go!” We all followed close behind, eager for the places she was about to take us.

Without further ado, here is our walk through the woods, courtesy of our six-year old tour guide…

Cooking Sauce with Daddy

September 19, 2013September 18, 2013 / makingofahome / 3 Comments

While I was enjoying myself at a baby shower in the beautiful Anderson Japanese Gardens, my girls were home making pasta sauce with Daddy. My husband gets huge bonus points for this because not only did he cook with the girls (a feat in and of itself), he took pictures of them doing it! In honor of this momentous occasion, today I bring you a blog post written by the man himself…

Pasta sauce, or “sugo” has a special place in our family. Every holiday I can remember involved Grandma Jan’s giant pot of sauce, simmering on the stove, filled with meatballs and hunks of pepperoni. The pasta was always an afterthought, the lowly vessel on which more sauce could be ladled. Her recipe was given to her by her mother-in-law, my Great-Grandma Lou. She could flat-out cook and to this day, her skills bring the conversation to a halt, as eyes glaze over in remembrance of what she could do in the kitchen. Although she is no longer with us, her memories inspired a lazy Saturday to turn into a sauce making event that I was honored to share with two excited and delightful sous chefs.

This time of year brings us tomatoes, onions, oregano, carrots, and basil right out of the garden. Despite eating more than we process, there were enough tomatoes to get the project started. The girls both helped with Gianna pulling carrots from the garden and Addie peeling cloves of garlic. Both girls helped peel onions and prep the herbs. We absolutely destroyed the kitchen, used every cutting board in the house, and left onion skins all over the floor. Despite the mess, I was able to spend a few hours with my girls recreating the smells and flavors that I remember growing up with. My most sincere hope is that they will remember these moments and find time to create them with their children and grand children, so that future generations will know the importance of food, family, and the sense of community only found in the kitchen.