Natalie quickly agreed to eat it again and we’ll experiment to make it as kid friendly as possible.  The jalapenos weren’t over the top, but might need an adjustment.  An initial idea is to use only the juice from the jar to still achieve that vinegary bite.

On to the main course - (and utter kid-friendliness) - flash-fried steaks and white bean mash

The premise is simple: thin steaks in the skillet, 90 seconds per side; the juice of a lemon to scrape up and sauce up the bits; plated and done.  Meanwhile the cans of white beans are mashed into warm olive oil, garlic and lemon zest.  Done!

Nigella proposed a 5 minute overall time frame, but much like a certain cook’s 30 minute goal - it’s a bit of a stretch.  10 minutes would suffice to make this tender and flavorful dish.  Perhaps the 5 refers to the time necessary to clean every inch of your plate.  There’s nothing about this recipe that needs to be fiddled with.  Just bookmark the page and return again and again.

That’s what eating well and cooking well can do.
And I want to do it, too.

During this holiday season, I’ve received three of her books.  In the style of Julie & Julia, though, I won’t be cooking my way through them in this next year’s time.  I’m going after something all-together different (yet perhaps a bit of the same).  I’m to cook,eat or both with heart.  With love, confidence and an attitude that may also be contagious.

Sunday the 27th

Dates wrapped in bacon and fried to crispy perfection

I pulled this from Sunset and was pleased with the results.  They didn’t unroll in the pan and looked quite appetizing.  They lacked a little sweetness, but I have plans for round 2.

Baked brie with truffled honey

Can’t go wrong with a classic like this.  The honey crisp apples were a nice pairing.

Cypress Grove chevre - Bermuda Triangle

I was a newbie to this triangle of rinded goodness.  Whoa.  We’re talking creamy, salty goodness - and a choice that I’ll make again and again.

I have to stop, though, and look at it all through her eyes.  We all must seem like sloths - slowly going about business.  To her, it seems our business, our lives aren’t interesting or important.  We should be orbiting about her, serving her and entertaining her.  This royal attitude is often kept in check.  She knows our basic rules and expectations for behavior, but then something changes and it all falls to pieces.  I’ve read and am reading books which outline ‘triggers’ in spirited kids.  It isn’t that simple, though.  I think that more than how you prepare a child for a routine change.  More than how you word your request or offer praise or cook the vegetables or breathe - its just about energy.

When I’m running low or in a perfect-storm-horrible-situation N’s is low too, wham!  And not even Wham! can fix the breakdown.  Until a warning meter is invented, this formula will have to make do:

Stella’s energy level - ((Mom + Dad’s energy)/2) + 5 for extra cherries on dessert + 10 for grandparents’ visit - (5 - Porter’s proximity in feet)
If > 10, no chain reaction, no meltdown
If < 10, run for cover

Not numerically inclined?, here’s my handy rule-of-thumb: keep your energy/attitude above 90%, keep Porter a few feet away and make a lot of dessert.

If such a productivity enhancing device is too far in the future, then let’s create a rubber stamp that claims, “This isn’t important - I’m only forwarding it because my boss gave it to me”.  Or “Don’t reply - I don’t really want your input”.  How about “I don’t even know why I’m sending this because I haven’t identified the real problem yet”?

I know there are others I’m not thinking of and maybe all of these could be boiled down to a “B.S.” stamp which best summarizes any content, but someting should be done.  In the meantime I’m off to empty my recycling - these papers are towering.