post partum pudding...

...for a rainy day!

(proof, rain on the torino)

ok, I know that "post-partum pudding" sounds like maybe the grossest thing ever but I always think of it with that name because Myra (who has been in my pottery class for 9 years with her husband Jim and is a doula and accupuncturist-guru-extraordinaire) whipped this up for me after Silas. She said she does this for all her "moms". Ever since, I feel that it is the most wonderful, healing love-in-a-bowl. I meant to make it for Cami after Finley...but it just didn't work in July. So here it is. Feel free to make without giving birth!! It is essentially a kind of rice pudding but it is low in sugar and the kids love it for breakfast...I have even substituted brown rice!

1 1/2 or 2 cups arrborio rice (washed and strained)
32 ounces or a box of lowfat plain or vanilla soymilk
2 cans coconut milk
1/4 cup turbinado sugar (or less)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
bit of cinnamon

wash your rice to get the goop off (I have skipped this step)
put it all in a pan and bring to a boil then turn to low and simmer with a tipped lid for 1 hour.

condiments that make it ridiculously good:
berries or peaches or whatever
shredded coconut (toasted quickly)

...and for all of you that are generally freaked out that my posts have become a bit Holly Homemaker (Lauren!)...don't worry, it's still me. I only have about two more recipes in me before I've shared all in know in the cooking dept. I am hoping for all of you (out there in the blogosphere) to comment or post YOUR best family recipes.
Edgy Annie will one day return!

what's this blog business all about...

...if it's not about sharing info in a new way?! (that and obsessively taking pictures of our babes!) Honestly, I have been inspired by Amy's sewing, Caroline's music, Lauren's politics, Daleth's food, Cami and Craig's baby:), Lydia's home projects etc. (and feel free to mix those all around...Craig and Cami's music, Caroline's food)...This whole thing is about ideas. So here's one idea to conserve a bit this holiday season. Probably not new to many of you who have ever received a present from me or my kids...
...Wrapping presents in Scap Cloth instead of Wrapping Paper!!
There are many advantages: it's actually easier than paper!!, there's little need for tape, scap cloth is easy and cheap to buy, looks good messy, a kid can do it, encourages NO BOXES (because its hard to wrap the large box holding grandmas sweater...and easier to just wrap the sweater!) and best of all, if this catches on I'll be giving you my cloth and you can reuse it for someone elses present and so on. Also, cloth can be washed and stored barely folded with scented candles or soap so another sense has been thrown into the gift giving mix. What d'ya think?
Books can be tricky to wrap this way so we often resort to using last years cool artsy calendar...or even the produce section of the newspaper with bright colored yarn!
I know some of you are not into the whole crafty thing, but the THING is that this is not crafty! It's easy! The most difficult part is the extra trip to the fabric store bargain bin! And I recommend buying it in big pieces and not cutting it up too small because you can just wrap the cloth around and around...so no "peeksies" and no tape, just twine or ribbon. It's even easier on Xmas morning because you don't need to deal with all that trash that can't be recycled!!!

(my drawers full of cloth and yarn, twine, ribbon etc.)

something about soup...

I have always thought of soup as a bunch of good ingredients thrown into a pot and cooked for a long, long time until..."voila!"...hearty yummy-ness! But let's face it, often I am really just trying to use up old veggies and make dinner in the 5 minutes before I leave for school in the morning (I love my crock pot!).
Well, the other day I asked Rebecca how she makes the worlds most delicious soups and she told me. Today was the tester. Wow! Now that's soup!
The difference...roasting, boiling down, THEN crock pot magic for hours. In other words, more flippin' dishes...but worth it if you are going for the real thing and you're really in the mood! (Just what all of you with day jobs need...a long complicated recipe! Forgive me, when Silas naps and I am stuck in the house holding the monitor aka "the Hisser", this is a great outlet...cooking, gardening, art projects and messin' around with the blog!)
So this is my usual recipe with roasting added...makes all the difference I think!(And I hear rain is coming...perfect!)

Yummy Slow Veggie Soup (very minetstrone-esque)

First Roast the following at 325 for 45 minutes on a baking sheet with olive oil and garlic brushed over:

8-10 tomatos
carrots
mushrooms
1/2 onion
sweet potato with skin
potato with skin

Then, dump all this into a pot, add 2 cups water salted or 2 cans veggie broth add the following herbs and veggies (all optional):

rosemary, thyme, basil (obviously best fresh but...whatever!)
green beans,spinach,cabbage,zucchini,garbanzo beans,black beans etc. (canned beans for this recipe unless you've got a lot more time!!)

Simmer this uncovered for 2 hours so it boils down to a loverly concentrated stew.

Transfer to crock pot and add 2 more cups salted water or cans veggie broth for at least 4 hours...6-8 is better. (so you can leave the house!)

If this is too stew-like with all the green things floating around and your kids prefer it broth-ier, puree 1/3 of it and dump it back in...sneaky!

Eat Him Up!!...

ONE OBSESSION AT A TIME PLEASE!!...

Morgan innocently mentions that the school kitchen could use a paint job and some clean up and I am obsessively thinking about kitchens, including my own. Then Daleth and I talk a bit about the beauty of the colorful Mexican kitchen and ... I'm off. (discovered this great book at the library..."Mexicocina" Make sure you search inside the book for some really beautiful kitchen colors!) It's hard being me!