In the Saddle

top chef

Turkey chili is so damned easy to make.

And so damned good.

We are a happy family right now.

Productive Polly

Thanksgiving weekend was an appropriate mix of craziness, rest and productivity.

My sister-in-law and her family were in town for the holiday, so there was a lot of activity at my in-laws’ house all week. I had to go home to the city to take care of Jessa on Wednesday night, so I took the opportunity to begin my contribution to Thanksgiving dinner…homemade apple pie. I usually have trouble with the crust being too crumbly, so I figured, maybe if I make it and let it sit overnight it’ll be a bit better.

Boy was I right! I drove up to my in-laws’ early Thursday morning and started to work rolling it out. You guys, I was so proud of this pie crust. Like, SO proud. It was perfect. Perfect texture, perfect elasticity…no cracking or trouble getting it into the pie pan! I immediately took a picture, because, you know, what else does one do when faced with the most perfect pie crust one has ever created?

check it:

Soooooo prettttttyyyyyyy!!!!

Then my niece helped me fill it with the apples and I put the other (also perfect) crust on top and sealed it in. Jonny requested a smiley face in lieu of the normal four steam slits in the top and, it being Thanksgiving and all, I obliged:

We put it in the oven and it kind of lost some of its beauty…ended up looking a little like Popeye:

BUT…it was possibly the best pie I’ve ever made (which isn’t very many, but still). I was highly pleased with my efforts.

Ah, how times have changed that these are the things that get me excited. Hilarity.

I also worked like a maniac on Saturday and Sunday and managed to clean out our den closet in preparation for baby/selling the place. This included pile upon pile of “this is trash,” “this is to be given away,” “this needs to be reorganized.”

I went through several files of old bills and statements and such…ones from my days in NY…and I marveled at my old life—where I shopped, what I bought, what I did on weekends. It felt a little sad to throw those receipts out, like I was throwing out my past. But they were just documenting what I already remember. The past, more than ever, is the past. Moving on feels good.

Anyway, I worked pretty much straight through the day yesterday, and ended up being too wired to have a normal night’s sleep. I tossed and turned until about 2:30, when I bit the bullet and went out into the living room so I could turn on the TV and hopefully fall asleep there. I did, eventually.

I seriously might fall over.

Tonight will be my sabbath and I will do nothing but rest. And it will be good.

God, Elton, can’t you SUCK?

Why do good vacuum cleaners have to be so damn expensive? Well, because they’re really good. And the question goes around again.

The little cheapie thing we got at Bed Bath & Beyond when we moved in to our condo three years ago is actually a pretty good cleaner. But it is starting to lose steam. It just can’t keep up with all of the Jessa hair. Because it’s a LOT. Poor little vacuum.

Is it lame that 10 years ago my wish list would have included like a new wardrobe or amazing loft in Manhattan or something, and now it’s all about Dyson or Oreck vacuum?

Don’t answer that.

Good nonetheless…

Tonight’s dinner of linguine with marinara and turkey meatballs ended up being more like linguine with crumbly turkey meat sauce.

Oh well…still damn good.

Prep.

I have spent virtually all day in the kitchen. In a continued effort to eat better and save money by cooking more, I prepared a bunch of little things that will make it easier to throw together lunches and dinners. Chopped tomatoes, zucchini and squash…made dressings and sauces…marinated and cooked some chicken…made pesto…and all of this with all dishes done and a clean kitchen.

I’m pretty proud of myself. I have to say.