Adorable Chalkboard Banner Giveaway

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Who's ready for our next giveaway?? Me!!! My cute friend Jen runs this adorable shop on Etsy called Lishie. Jen has graciously donated one of her adorable chalkboard bunting banners for one lucky winner to win here on the blog! 


This banner comes with 13 pendants each approximately 4.5 inches wide by 5.5 inches tall. Made from 1/4 inch hard board and cut free hand. Painted with charcoal grey chalkboard paint on front only.  Includes twine and ready to hang. 

I used mine here at my little Parker's 2nd birthday party!

... and I also used it on Father's Day to decorate my mantel! 

It's that so cute!?! It's so easy to decorate quickly with this banner and chalkboards are SO in right now!  
Here's how to win:
You can do one or all of these to enter! Up to 4 entries per person!

Become a follower of Classy Clutter and leave a comment letting us know you're a follower.

"Like" Classy Clutter on facebook and leave a comment that you've done so.

Comment on this post telling us what you'd use your banner for if you win.

Visit Lishie and come back and tell me what your favorite item is in Jen's shop!

Giveaway ends Sunday, July 1st!  Ready, set, ENTER NOW!


PS. Use coupon code classyclutter for 15% off her shop! 

Build a DIY Kid's Seesaw for under $30

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Since the weather is absolute perfection in New York right now, we've been spending every waking hour outside! My kids wake up and first thing they want to do is go jump on the trampoline, go play on the swings or just plain go OUTside! I love it! I even enjoyed a scrumptious breakfast on my patio last week and loved every minute of it. 


I was inspired by Ana White's "Birthday seesaw" and I knew it was destined to be in my own backyard! I'm a novice wood worker so I know that ANYONE can build this and build it well. It took about 2 hours or so. Ana gives a full shopping list, wood cut list and how-to tutorial for the whole project making it a cinch!
image via Ana-White plans
I used Ana-White's tutorial completely and added some padding and fabric to the seats to make it a little more comfortable and dress it up a bit.

We had a playgroup at my house for my son's 2nd birthday and the kids LOVED it! I hadn't painted it yet when the party rolled around but the kids could care less. ha!


Here she was the day of the party...



The Birthday Boy, precious little Parker! (How in the H is my baby 2 already??)

After Parker's birthday party, I decided I should probably put the finishing touches on this little seesaw...



I used my staple gun to staple the red/white chevron fabric (from Fabric.com). I may still opt to add clear vinyl to the seats. My only concern is the vinyl getting hot on their little legs. The chevron fabric has held up extremely well to the weather so far. 

I used Rustoleum's pre-tinted paint from Home Depot called Glossy Apple Red!
After spraying a few coats of the glossy red paint on the wood, it's done! We're so excited for summer and my boys are thoroughly enjoying every square inch of our backyard.

Just FYI: my aunt and I rode the seesaw with no problems so I'm comfortable it can hold children 100+ pounds on each side.


So do you like it?? If you do,!!
Hope you all are enjoying your summer! XOXO!Linking up at Home Stories A to Z!

Zero Water Pitcher Review - How's your TDS?

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I live in the Great Lakes basin where water is plentiful. In the Great Lakes basin, municipal water goes through mandatory primary, secondary, and tertiary treatment stages. Look it up. It's fascinating.
Even in the Great Lakes basin, unfortunately, water can contain particles that slip through the water treatment plant. People in the know refer to these as Total Dissolved Solids, or TDS. TDS can contain lead & chromium, among other metals; pharmaceuticals (unneeded medications flushed into the water supply), and more. These particles are tiny; they're measured in PPM, or parts per million. It's a wee bit scary, isn't it, to think of these microscopic dangers in our drinking water.
Enter the solution: the Zero Water Bottle for filtering water.
I have a water pitcher with a filter already, but I have no idea how much it filters out of my tap water. I offered to test the Zero Water brand filter because my current pitcher is an awkward shape for the refrigerator and because the Zero Water pitcher comes with its own water meter for measuring TDS. Before taking a sip, Chuck and I read the directions.
Chuck: This has more instructions than a broadcast camera! Me: No problem. Clear instructions are good. Chuck (reading enclosed pamphlet): Actually, it's not that bad. What is TDS? It's measured in PPM, parts per million. Me: Total Dissolved Solids. See above for explanation of TDS.Chuck: Why should I care? Me: Those dissolved solids can be lead, chromium, medications... you name it. Chuck: Ah. I get it. Me: This will be fun. I don't get enough hands-on science any more. Hand me that meter.
Getting started using the TDS meter was indeed fun for me. I looked up the directions, made sure the meter started on zero, and then filled my new Zero Water pitcher. Meanwhile, I measured my tap water at 117 ppm.
You can find an estimate of your own TDS by entering your zip code at the Zero Water site. According to the site, my reading should have been higher: 275 ppm. I sent my own reading to the webmaster to help correct their data, something you can do if your reading is not the same as the one they have on record.
Now back to the pitcher. After going through the ion exchange filter in my new Zero Water pitcher, the TDS reading was an impressive 000. This process only took a few minutes.
So far, I'm impressed by the Zero Water pitcher. It fits nicely on my refrigerator shelf. It has a spout for pouring and a dispenser button at the bottom. In addition to these practical aspects, the filtration met, no, exceeded my expectations. I'm very pleased with this product.
Would you like to win a Zero Water filter pitcher of your own? You can, courtesy of MomCentral and ZeroWater. They're giving two readers a chance to own their own pitchers just like mine. Readers, leave a comment to be entered into the pitcher drawing. That's pitcher drawing, not picture drawing. Ahem. To make this even more interesting, leave your TDS reading from the Zero Water web site. It'll be fascinating to compare the data.
Make sure I have your email in your comment profile or already in my address book so I can contact you if you're a lucky winner. The drawing closes at midnight on Wednesday, April 25. It'll be worth your while. Limit yourself to one entry, please, despite my enthusiasm.
While you're waiting for the contest to close, you might want to visit the Zero Water web site and their Facebook page. If you don't win, or if you want to buy one for someone else, you can use MC30 for 30% off on a 10 cup pitcher at this site.
I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of ZeroWater and received a water pitcher to facilitate my review, two pitchers to giveaway, and extra filters to thank me for taking the time to participate. Participation was fascinating and fun.

Isn't my blog the center of the universe?

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Actual evening conversation in our home

Me: Oh, no! Our Internet connection is really, really slow!
Chuck: May I recommend you wait a day? There may still be some problems caused by last night's storm.
Me: But I'm in a Blogathon! I have to get tomorrow's post ready!
Chuck: Life goes on, dear, despite your blog.
Me: But it's part of my marketing strategy for the new domain and new URL!
Chuck (now trying not to laugh): Life goes on, dear, despite your blogging needs.

Luckily, I got online at that point.

Yes, we are still married.

And I'm cross-posting for a while at both URLs while the new Compost Happens is under construction. You can check out the progress here: http://compostermom.okaybyme.net. Let me know how you like the new look!

There's a storm coming in.

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It's literal and it's figurative. There's a storm brewing in my state.Skies are clouding over and the temperature is dropping. The radar shows lots of green (rain) with patches of yellow and red representing the stronger storms within. The forecast predicts thunderstorms overnight and through tomorrow.That's the literal storm.To read the rest of this post, go to the new Compost Happens. 

Gluten Free Cherry Scones

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It’s time for the June Improv Challenge: Cherries and Almonds.   For anyone just tuning in, the Improv is a monthly cooking challenge where all members are given the same two ingredients and asked to come up with something delicious.  (See my Improv page for details about joining and upcoming themes).  It’s so much fun to see what the Improv-ers come up with!!

This month marks a breakthrough for me.  I finally ventured out on my own to do some original gluten free baking.  Oh yeah.  The craziness is starting! Kristen has overcome her initial fear of gluten free flours.  There is no telling what you may see in the future!

I have a recipe from my great grandmother for Welsh griddle scones.  They are fantastic and they are gluten full and off limits.  I have never blogged about them….I will remedy that sometime, but in the meantime, I wanted some scones that I could eat.

This challenge seemed like the perfect time to make some…though frankly, as usual,  I went through many options before I decided on scones.   Now let me tell you gluten full eaters something you may not know about non-wheat baking.  It is different.  Seriously different.  I have read that you need to give yourself at least six weeks between giving up wheat flour foods and trying any gluten free baked goods.  I believe that just may be true.   I tried gf bread right after I switched.  I did not like the texture at all.  However, six months into the new routine, I am fine with it.  Heck, I am now eating hotdogs on rice cakes, so you can tell how much my life has changed.  So this recipe may just be for the gluten free.

Gluten Free Cherry Scones

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Ingredients

• 1/3 cup almond meal
• 1/4 cup coconut flour
• 1 1/4 cup brown rice flour
• 1/4 cup garfava flour
• 1/4 cup tapioca flour
• 1/4 cup potato flour
• 1 tsp xanthan gum
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 3 Tbsp butter, room temperature
• 3 Tbsp coconut oil
• 2/3 cup coconut milk
• 1/2 tsp almond extract
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup dried cherries, chopped
• 1/4 cup walnuts, chopped

Instructions

1. Whisk together dry ingredients in a mixing bowl.
2. Cut in butter and oil with a fork, pastry blender or fingers.
3. Add cherries and walnuts.
4. Combine coconut milk, extract and eggs with a fork, slightly beating the eggs.
5. Add to flour mixture, stirring until dough forms.
6. Divide dough in half.
7. Pat each half into a domed circle.
8. Cut each into four pieces.
9. Place on baking sheet (I use a silicone liner)
10. Bake 425 degrees for 20 minutes or until golden brown.

2.2.7

Pork and Hominy Skillet

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I originally posted a Pork Skillet recipe in August 2009.  I went back to make it again as part of my never ending effort to add photos to old posts, and I completely changed the entire thing.   The original had a tomato base.  Most of my children will eat tomatoes, but Princess Pat has a complete aversion to them unless they are in pizza sauce form.  She does not even like ketchup.  I keep putting a Tablespoon of spaghetti sauce on her noodles, but I have made little progress over the years.

So, when I saw the tomatoes in the old post, I knew I needed to do something.  I decided to make a skillet with the flavors of Posole.  We all love that simple soup, so I figured a one dish meal along the same lines would be a hit.  And it was.

Do you ever read a recipe one year and think, “No, I don’t think I would like that,”  and then months or years later, you come across it again and decide it doesn’t sound so bad?  That is happening a bit as I remake some of these older recipes.  Isn’t it funny how our tastes change?   The only recipe I have ever firmly decided never to try involved hamburger, lime jell-o and Miracle Whip.  It will be a cold day in the Hot Place before that one graces my table.

 

Pork and Hominy Skillet

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Author: Frugal Antics of a Harried Homemaker Ingredients

• 2 cups cubed, leftover cooked pork
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 2/3 cup uncooked white rice
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 tsp Mexican oregano
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 can white hominy, drained
• 1 small can chopped green chilies
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

1. In a large skillet, cook the onion and garlic in oil until soft.
2. Add broth and rice.
3. Place meat over rice mixture.
4. In a bowl, combine hominy, chiles, cumin, oregano, salt and pepper. Pour over meat.
5. Bring to a boil.
6. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and simmer for 20-25 minutes or until rice is done. Sprinkle with cheddar cheese.
7. Cover and let stand 5 minutes to let cheese melt.

2.2.7

Sour Cream Cheesecake

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My regular cheesecake recipe is truly the end all recipe.  It came from Rosie’s Bakery All Butter, Fresh Cream, Sugar Packed No Holds Barred Baking Book and going along with the title of the cookbook, calls for a whopping 3 pounds of cream cheese.  I posted it in the early years of my blog, so the photos are pretty bad.  Okay.  They stink.    The recipe, however, is spot on.  I have been paid to make that cheesecake for other people…seriously….it’s that good.

However, that recipe has little bearing on today’s offering.   It so happened that I found my self with an over abundance of sour cream.  I had something like 5 containers in my fridge and due to the number of people in my family, more than one was open.  I was on the brink of a frugal emergency and you all  know how much I hate wasting food.  I turned to my cookbooks for help.  I contemplated a potato dish, a couple of cakes and even cookies.  Then I came across the recipe for Sour Cream Cheesecake  in an old Taste of Home recipe.  With a lot of tweaking, it turned into this.

This recipe is cheaper to make than the 3 pound cheesecake, but only just.   It calls for 4 cups of sour cream and 19 ounces of cream cheese.  It is still not any better for you, although you can use both light sour cream  and cream cheese (but not fat free).  Unlike many cheesecake recipes that call for sour cream, this one does not have a separate layer for it, but combines the cream cheese and sour cream into one super creamy layer.  For the crust, I used a pulverized package of Bran Almondina Cookies for the crust.  You can use graham crackers or other crunchy cookies.

Sour Cream Cheesecake

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Ingredients

• 2 cups cookie crumbs
• 1/3 cup melted butter
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon (optional)
• 32 ounces sour cream
• 19 ounces cream cheese (2 8 ounce + 1 3 ounce)
• 3 eggs
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 Tbsp vanilla
• 1 can pie filling (strawberry, blueberry or cherry) for topping

Instructions

1. Combine melted butter, cookies and cinnamon in a bowl.
2. Press into a standard spring-form pan.
3. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 minutes.
4. Remove from oven.
5. Meanwhile, beat sour cream and cream cheese until smooth.
6. Add eggs, sugar and vanilla and continue to beat.
7. Pour into baked crust.
8. Bake at 350 for 1 hour. (Center will not be quite set)
9. Cool on counter for 20 minutes and then refrigerate 8 hours or overnight.
10. Serve with pie filling dolloped on top of each slice.

2.2.8

 

Fruit Smoothie - It's Like Ice-cream for Breakfest

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Fruit smoothie is my favorite breakfast!

In my quest for real food and reducing the amount of processed food in our diet I stopped buying ice-cream about the time I got pregnant.  I hadn't missed it until I entered into the third trimester. Now I'm thirsty all the time and I am always hot, especially with the warmer weather.  I guess the saying "bun in the oven" has more implication than I thought. 

We don't have an ice-cream maker but we do have a food processor.  The same Good Eats 'Live and Let Diet" episode that has the Avocado Sardine Sandwich; now a weekly staple in our menu also includes a delicious looking smoothie. Alton Brown calls it a "Buff Smoothie".  I'm not sure why it is buff. To me buff implies that there's a heavy dose of protein.  Really it's mostly fruit with a dollop of yogurt. 

Ingredients: frozen fruit, yogurt, 100% grape juice.

The first time I made the smoothie I bought a frozen berry medley of strawberries, blackberries and raspberries.  Jeff and I both picked seeds out of our molars for the rest of the day.  Leave the seedy berries out.  Peaches, strawberries, blueberries, mango, banana are all delicious and seed free.

Here's the section of the Good Eats episode with the recipe:



Ingredients:

4 ounces plain, low-fat soy milk
4 ounces acai, grape, or pomegranate juice
4 ounces frozen banana
4 ounces frozen strawberries
4 ounces frozen blueberries
4 ounces frozen peaches

The trick is to weigh each of the fruits on a scale.  Alton suggests a scale with a tear function, so you can use the blender carafe and keep resetting the tare as you add ingredients.  All I've got is a little thing that will measure up to a 16 ounces.  It works just fine.  If I rinse the dishes as I go the clean up is quick and easy. 



For a liquid, drink-it-through-a-straw type smoothie, Alton's method of measuring the ingredients and putting them in the fridge overnight works perfectly. I like a thicker soft-serve, ice-cream consistency so I defrost the fruit lightly just before blending.
The nurtrion information is for a recipe for two smoothies made from 4 oz by weight of each: peach, blueberry, strawberry, 100% grape juice, and plain Greek yogurt.

A nice summer project would be to pick the fruit locally and store in the deep freeze.  I'm sure I can find U-pick places for the peaches, blueberries and strawberries.  I could even potentially get grape juice locally.  Just a couple more things to add to my plan to preserve!

This smoothie is just what I want for breakfast. It takes care of my thirst and I feel good that every ingredient is whole and healthy; no sugar added! Plus lots of antioxidants, fiber and nutrients from the fruit.

Do you make smoothies?  What's your favorite combination?



29 weeks (note to self: clean mirror)


Quick pregnancy update:  I'm now 30 weeks pregnant; nearing the end of the seventh month. People now ask me "When are you due?" as if it might be tomorrow.  Or maybe the dress I wore to Master Gardeners last night was a little too flow-y, but gosh darn it was comfortable.
My laptop no longer fits on my lap nor does the cat.  I worked a bit in the herb garden at the CSA yesterday and was pleased to find that I can still pull weeds with no problem although putting on my work boots was a little tricky. 
So far I don't have any real complaints. One interesting bit is that the peanut is transverse; laying sideways in utero.  In the next couple of weeks there should be a head down rotation. I would think there would be more room in there in a vertical position. 

With ten weeks or so to go we're stocking up.  I'm making cloth wipes (I think we have enough cloth diapers), learning how to make laundry detergent, adding more casserole type dishes to my repertoire and generally enjoying having two free hands. 

This post was included in Simple Lives Thursday. 

It's a Girl

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Our little girl arrived on June 3rd!


I haven't decided if I feel comfortable using her name on this blog.  So for the time being I won't.  
It feels great to no longer be pregnant.  I am much more myself than I have been in months.  I'm officially done with gestational diabetes.  My blood glucose has returned to normal and baby's blood glucose was normal right from the start.  I celebrated with a piece of chocolate cake.  
I'll have to write a more complete birth story, but this is the story in a nutshell.  My water broke around 2:00 pm on June 2nd before contractions.  They started just a couple hours later.  We headed to the birth center at 2:00 am even though the pains weren't that strong with the hope that the midwife would be able to help speed things up. However, I progressed slowly.  By 10:00 am, I was having horrific back labor and the pain wouldn't abate even in the birthing tub. I was only 5 cm dilated.  I labored there until 3:00 pm.   Then I risked out of the Birth Center because it had been 24 hours since my water broke and I was only 7 cm dilated.  
I was moved to the hospital where I decided to get an epidural.  I had wanted a natural water birth, but let me tell you that epidural was wonderful.  I went from being unresponsive and completely sunk in pain to able to make eye contact and carry on a conversation. Within an hour of the epidural I was fully dilated.  But it wouldn't be until just before midnight after hours of pushing that our daughter was born.  For those of you keeping track that was 32 hours of labor.  
Our midwife was wonderful and supportive.  I felt she tried everything she could to keep us at the birth center and once we were at the hospital she continued to be a source of strength and encouragement. At one point towards the 30 hour mark she spoon fed me honey for energy.  The labor nurses were also wonderful.  I have nothing but good things to say about the whole experience.  Well minus my water breaking early and the back labor, but I am assuming those were things inevitable.  Fairhaven Obstetrics in Goshen, Indiana was worth the long drive.  
Despite my fears, breast feeding has been easy.  The baby's got an appetite that can only come from her dad's side of the family.  At her two week doctor's visit she had more than gained back her birth weight.
We are settling into our new life. Honestly, it doesn't feel all that new, just rearranged.  Jeff and I do a lot of laundry and simple things like making a batch of cookies or dead heading flowers in the garden take several installments.  
The baby is now 16 days old and life is good.  

OMG - Lets Talk Oreo's

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If you grew up in America, its all about the Oreo Cookie huh?

For those of you in other countries, take a quick second to learn some interesting stuff about this iconic treat.

Oreo's are 70% cookie and 30% cream filling.

This cookie was introduced 100 years ago, and has flourished in sales the entire time.

20 1/2 million are eaten each day.

Over 345 billion Oreo cookies have been sold.

Nabisco uses 47 million pounds of cream filling for only one batch of cookies.

Somebody recently told me that Oreo's have become the #1 cookie in China, but do your homework on that.

But the one thing that kinda makes me sad is that Oreo's have been the most popular cookie in America throughout my entire life.

Let's take a quick look at what ingredients make up an Oreo.

INGREDIENTS -

Chocolate flavor sandwich biscuits with a vanilla flavor filling

Sugar, wheat flour, vegetable fats (with antioxidants: E-306, E-304), fat-reduced cocoa powder, glucose and fructose syrup, raising agents (sodium and ammonium bicarbonates), whey powder (from milk), cocoa mass, salt, emulsifier (soya lecithin), flavoring (vanilla).

Will these cookies kill you?

No, maybe not, but look at those ingredients, that is what's my countries fave cookie.

I don't even want to get into the fact that who knows where they are made, and how many days do they sit on a truck or train traveling across the country (or maybe now days the world).

And then they sit on your grocers shelf for how many days or weeks?

And then when you finally-finally get them home, how many days does it take you to devour an entire package?

And this my friends is more popular than Grandma's, Mothers or Church Lady Betty's Chocolate Chip cookies......

Forgive them Polish Jesus.....they know not what they do.

End of Transmission.

Priests, Poets and Bakers

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Last night I had a tough choice to consider, go to the University Club for the season ending reading, or watch the NBA finals.

With confronted with such choice, typically I will opt for the one that gets me out of the house, therefore preventing me from becoming a total Plop A**.

But Lebron is "My Guy" and I was wanting to will him across the finish line.

So I go the artsy route anyway, and it was OK, except the Celtic guy who insisted on playing those God Awful high pitched pipes.

Afterwards, I headed into the bar, grabbed a Carona, and the bartender (who was a guy) asks....

"Ya want a lime with that?"

Well of course I do, its a Carona, but dude should know that no "Real Guy" wants to ask  for a lime....

Just shut up and shove it down the bottle neck brah.

So now the Poet Laureate grabs the chair across from me, others join her, and then finally a priest is the last slides into our group as well.

My stars...if it isn't Father Gillespie.

Father Gillespie was one of the readers on this evenings ticket, and w/o a doubt gets my vote for one of the cities Top 10 most interesting orators.

Dude must of flourished in Homiletics 101, because he had the lot of us eating out of his hand.

He starts his set mentioning that his poetic reading will be like a perfect Mass, you know...the kind where the ending is close to the begining.

But then he talked about the Poet Billy Collins.

So at our table people are sqwauwking...."Blah-blah, Saint Paul Stuff, more Saint Paul Stuff, Irish this and Irish that."

Eventually the priest looks at me and says.....

"Baker, you are kinda quiet tonight."

"Father' I said "I was trained as a youth to never discuss the Irish."

The Poet Laureate rolls her eyes and reminds me....

"C'mon Klecko, after all 1/2 your blood is Irish."

So I turn to the table, smile, nod.... and then report the following.

"In 1965, when I was 2, my father the Mick deserted my mother, and from that time on, she always got annoyed when we embraced shamrocks or leprechauns. Ever since then we just set our eyes on the red and white, and all the angels of Warsaw."

The table sits silent.....

One - One thousand, Two - One thousand, then the priest interjects.

"Well your mom was a Pollack, no wonder why he left her, I'm surprised he stayed as long as he did!"

O-M-G.....I so LMAO.

Now that's my kind of priest, keeping it real, sipping a high ball and have a little fun with his flock.

Now the Padre asks me if I knew Bruno, the guy who baked at Kramarczuk's Deli?

"Yeah, I knew him. That's a Pollack joint over Northeast, I was raised over there, and btw....at Holy Cross, they said the Mass in Polish. How old was Bruno when he passed Father?

"Funny you should ask, I don't remember the age of everyone whose funeral I officiate, but Bruno was 83."

I smile and toss a little theory onto the table.

"Don't quote me on this, but I think Bruno baked all the way, up until his death."

Father Gillespie takes a belt off his cocktail and verifed my thought....

"Yeah, he did bake till the end. about a year before his passing, I asked him when he was thinking about retiring, and he just said WHEN I NO LONGER REMEMBER THE RECIPES. Yes, Bruno was loved. In fact, when the hearse carrying his remains was headed to the cemetery, they made certain to pass Kramarczuk's. when it did, the entire staff stood outside on the curb and they all removed their hats and had a moment of silence as Bruno passed by."

Ya think?

I so hope somebody misses me when my final ride passes, don't you?

The Ivan's Are Coming

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Props out to my friends in the former Soviet Union!

For the last 2 years, my home boys from Germany have been my #1 Viewership (other than my hometown USA of course).

At the end of my first year the Russian's had just finally cracked the top 10 and moved into the #8 slot.

This morning, some 320 post later, my Ruskie friends had taken the throne of international viewership for the first time.

I feel so honored, Prevet Comrades.

In closing, you might have been bumped down a notch Germany, but don't forget, it was on you backs that I obtained my momentum, I.E. Literary Success.

Thanks to everyone involved, but i do hope you will join me in thanking and celebrating our Russian friends commitment to baking.

Mad Love.....Danny Klecko

Instant Ice Cream?

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I received an email the other day from someone wanting toknow how they can make ice cream without the machine I demonstrated in ourvanilla ice cream video. I replied that you really can’t, since it’s the churningof the mixture while it freezes that gives you the desired texture.
Then, the very next day, I saw this video from my friend Johnathan Lynch, showing how to make a berry ice cream with no ice cream machine.Technically it’s frozen yogurt, but still. You do need to find a foodprocessor, but if you can, this trick does work very well,and as you can see, it's very fast and easy. 

By the way, yes, that is Fabio Viviani making a cameo appearance! Thanks to Johnathan for sharing,and I invite you to check out his YouTube channel for more. Enjoy!

Happy Father's Day!

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Besides reminding me of my father,
this also reminds me how primitive
my audio/video equipment used to be!

I like reposting this video on Father’s Day, since it’s the recipe that most reminds me of my father John. Growing up, I used to tag along with him on the golf course, and after the round he’d take me to the clubhouse for lunch. I always ordered the exact same thing – an open-face, New York steak sandwich, medium-rare. 
I just loved how the crispy toast would soak up all those wonderful juices, and eating a sandwich with fork and a knife always seemed so grown-up. Sitting there eating, while the men laughed and argued about their rounds is one of my earliest and fondest culinary memories. I’d even get a glass of Coke with a cherry in it to mimic my father’s Manhattan, so I too could participate in the post-game cocktails, which even at that age I could tell were an essential part of the ritual. 
Speaking of golf, we’re heading to Sacramento to celebrate Father’s Day with my father-in-law, Al. Not only is Big Al is a great golfer, but he’s an even better father, and I only wish he and my dad could have played a round of golf together. That would have been a lot of fun. Anyway, whether you’re golfing or gardening, eating steak or tofu, drinking Manhattans or iced tea, I hope you all have a wonderful Father’s Day. Enjoy!
Click here for the original post with ingredients!

Grilled Jerk Pork Tenderloin – Because We're All a Little Jerky

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Whenever I make this incredibly flavorful jerk spicemarinade for chicken, I think to myself, “Man, I bet this would be greaton pork tenderloin. I’ll have to try that next time.” Well, a few dozen summershave come and gone, and since I still hadn’t experienced that “next time,” Idecided to finally try it, and it was great!
As expected, the spicy, aromatic marinade worked wonderfullywith the lean, mild pork, and as long as you heed my warnings not to overcookthe meat, you and your guests will be very happy with this. Of course yourguests' happiness should be the most important thing to you, but let’s face it,it’s not.
No, a stunningly successful grilled recipe like this is allabout you standing next to that platter of perfectly cooked pork – beer in onehand, tongs in the other – soaking in waves of compliments and adulation.Does that make you a Jerk jerk? Yeah, a little bit. Anyway, I hope you givethis very easy recipe a try. Enjoy!

Ingredients for 6 portions:
2 (1 1/2-pound) pork tenderloins, trimmed, cut in 3 pieceseach1/2 bunch fresh thyme, about 1/3 cup picked leaves1/2 chopped onion1 to 4 Scotch Bonnet or Habanero peppers, seeded4 garlic cloves 2 tbsp minced fresh ginger1/4 cup white vinegar2-3 tablespoons soy sauce2 tablespoon vegetable oil1 tbsp brown sugar1 tsp fine salt1/2 teaspoon black pepper1/4 teaspoon cayenne1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg2 teaspoon ground allspice1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
*cook until at least 145 F. internal temp

Happy Father's Day!

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Besides reminding me of my father,
this also reminds me how primitive
my audio/video equipment used to be!

I like reposting this video on Father’s Day, since it’s the recipe that most reminds me of my father John. Growing up, I used to tag along with him on the golf course, and after the round he’d take me to the clubhouse for lunch. I always ordered the exact same thing – an open-face, New York steak sandwich, medium-rare. 
I just loved how the crispy toast would soak up all those wonderful juices, and eating a sandwich with fork and a knife always seemed so grown-up. Sitting there eating, while the men laughed and argued about their rounds is one of my earliest and fondest culinary memories. I’d even get a glass of Coke with a cherry in it to mimic my father’s Manhattan, so I too could participate in the post-game cocktails, which even at that age I could tell were an essential part of the ritual. 
Speaking of golf, we’re heading to Sacramento to celebrate Father’s Day with my father-in-law, Al. Not only is Big Al is a great golfer, but he’s an even better father, and I only wish he and my dad could have played a round of golf together. That would have been a lot of fun. Anyway, whether you’re golfing or gardening, eating steak or tofu, drinking Manhattans or iced tea, I hope you all have a wonderful Father’s Day. Enjoy!
Click here for the original post with ingredients!

Zero Water Pitcher Review - How's your TDS?

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I live in the Great Lakes basin where water is plentiful. In the Great Lakes basin, municipal water goes through mandatory primary, secondary, and tertiary treatment stages. Look it up. It's fascinating.
Even in the Great Lakes basin, unfortunately, water can contain particles that slip through the water treatment plant. People in the know refer to these as Total Dissolved Solids, or TDS. TDS can contain lead & chromium, among other metals; pharmaceuticals (unneeded medications flushed into the water supply), and more. These particles are tiny; they're measured in PPM, or parts per million. It's a wee bit scary, isn't it, to think of these microscopic dangers in our drinking water.
Enter the solution: the Zero Water Bottle for filtering water.
I have a water pitcher with a filter already, but I have no idea how much it filters out of my tap water. I offered to test the Zero Water brand filter because my current pitcher is an awkward shape for the refrigerator and because the Zero Water pitcher comes with its own water meter for measuring TDS. Before taking a sip, Chuck and I read the directions.
Chuck: This has more instructions than a broadcast camera! Me: No problem. Clear instructions are good. Chuck (reading enclosed pamphlet): Actually, it's not that bad. What is TDS? It's measured in PPM, parts per million. Me: Total Dissolved Solids. See above for explanation of TDS.Chuck: Why should I care? Me: Those dissolved solids can be lead, chromium, medications... you name it. Chuck: Ah. I get it. Me: This will be fun. I don't get enough hands-on science any more. Hand me that meter.
Getting started using the TDS meter was indeed fun for me. I looked up the directions, made sure the meter started on zero, and then filled my new Zero Water pitcher. Meanwhile, I measured my tap water at 117 ppm.
You can find an estimate of your own TDS by entering your zip code at the Zero Water site. According to the site, my reading should have been higher: 275 ppm. I sent my own reading to the webmaster to help correct their data, something you can do if your reading is not the same as the one they have on record.
Now back to the pitcher. After going through the ion exchange filter in my new Zero Water pitcher, the TDS reading was an impressive 000. This process only took a few minutes.
So far, I'm impressed by the Zero Water pitcher. It fits nicely on my refrigerator shelf. It has a spout for pouring and a dispenser button at the bottom. In addition to these practical aspects, the filtration met, no, exceeded my expectations. I'm very pleased with this product.
Would you like to win a Zero Water filter pitcher of your own? You can, courtesy of MomCentral and ZeroWater. They're giving two readers a chance to own their own pitchers just like mine. Readers, leave a comment to be entered into the pitcher drawing. That's pitcher drawing, not picture drawing. Ahem. To make this even more interesting, leave your TDS reading from the Zero Water web site. It'll be fascinating to compare the data.
Make sure I have your email in your comment profile or already in my address book so I can contact you if you're a lucky winner. The drawing closes at midnight on Wednesday, April 25. It'll be worth your while. Limit yourself to one entry, please, despite my enthusiasm.
While you're waiting for the contest to close, you might want to visit the Zero Water web site and their Facebook page. If you don't win, or if you want to buy one for someone else, you can use MC30 for 30% off on a 10 cup pitcher at this site.
I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of ZeroWater and received a water pitcher to facilitate my review, two pitchers to giveaway, and extra filters to thank me for taking the time to participate. Participation was fascinating and fun.

Isn't my blog the center of the universe?

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Actual evening conversation in our home

Me: Oh, no! Our Internet connection is really, really slow!
Chuck: May I recommend you wait a day? There may still be some problems caused by last night's storm.
Me: But I'm in a Blogathon! I have to get tomorrow's post ready!
Chuck: Life goes on, dear, despite your blog.
Me: But it's part of my marketing strategy for the new domain and new URL!
Chuck (now trying not to laugh): Life goes on, dear, despite your blogging needs.

Luckily, I got online at that point.

Yes, we are still married.

And I'm cross-posting for a while at both URLs while the new Compost Happens is under construction. You can check out the progress here: http://compostermom.okaybyme.net. Let me know how you like the new look!