Countdown to Easter

Thursday:
Sis stayed home because the doctor Thursday afternoon said she had probably had the flu and was only just getting over it (strep test negative.)  We lolled around, watching "Glee," our new show (yes, there are a lot of adolescent situations but it gives us a chance to talk--about sex, pleasure, responsibility, feminism, sexism, body issues, bullying, homophobia, acceptance, etc etc etc.)

Bud came home midday (it was just a half day) and we hung out for a bit before running off to an appointment, picking up some dinner, and having some frozen yogurt.

That evening, I was gone for three hours on a night shoot for a new promotional video for the historic house.  I was very self-conscious but eventually settled into my role as narrator and costumed interpreter.  In fact, though it was in no way like a movie, I had some insight into several things--waiting waiting waiting around while lighting, set, props, etc were set up; trying to keep the same lines fresh over and over again without tripping on any words; taking direction to turn my head this way, modulate my voice that way, move a prop another way, and emote half the sentence like I did in the first take and half like the second; getting the giggles when I flubbed a line (cursing, too); becoming super self-conscious of how I looked, sounded, and moved.  But I had a great time and the video turned out pretty well.  (If I know you personally IRL and you want to see a copy of it, I'll send it to you; just email me.)


Friday:
We were kinda dull on Friday, with Sis still recovering and Bud tired after a long week at school (he was probably fighting the virus Sis had without actually developing the flu.)  We had pizza and watched Beetlejuice, which holds up pretty well some thirty years later.  The kids didn't quite get it, but nobody was scared of the ghosts or sad about the deceased.

I finished crocheting a blanket for an old high school buddy with whom I've reconnected and sent it on its way; she's having surgery and I wanted her to know I was thinking of her.  It's my usual Giant Granny Square but with a new edging called the Crab Stitch (mainly reverse single crochet around a row of double crochet.)  The colors in the photo are a little muted because it was overcast--it's actually a lovely lavender, some deeper  light green, and blue.

I did manage some shopping for the last of our Easter grocery needs.  Our final menu includes deviled eggs, pimento cheese, ham, macaroni and cheese, green bean casserole, cheddar cheese rolls, green peas, and Shaker Lemon pie, with Zinger Sherbet Punch.   And I got some hyacinths and hydrangeas for Ma and for me.


Saturday:
The Easter Penguin came!    There weren't any wet footprints because we don't have carpet anymore, but he did leave the kids a set of Minecraft blocks.  We had asked Bud if he thought the Easter Penguin would come and Bud reiterated that the Easter Penguin was very reliable.

The kids skipped their morning activities, both because they weren't feeling great and because Ma and Gong arrived . . . . so we went to the movies instead!  Yep, went to see Zootopia, which was funny but also a good teachable moment on race, biological determinism, stereotypes, prejudice, free will, the role of police in society--it even had a plot to incriminate the "predators" by poisoning them with toxic flowers (see recent interview excerpts with Nixon lacky Ehrlichman who said the war on drugs was exaggerated to criminalize and oppress African Americans and hippies/war protestors.)  All it needed was #PredatorsLivesMatter.

We had lunch at a new traditional Mexican restaurant which serves fresh tableside-made guacamole, lots of grilled foods (including cactus!),  lots of authentic-seeming dishes, and fresh tortillas (I know, Texans, none of that sounds special but this is Connecticut.)  Some of it was even too spicy for Ma and Gong!

The afternoon was a hodgepodge of "It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown," eating apple pie, Bud trying out Gong's tai chi sword, building an Easter nest (there were flowers in bloom this year!!), making origami bunnies and frogs, and eventually saying goodbye to Ma and Gong.

We planted a hydrangea to mark the almost-one-year anniversary of the death of beloved Aunt Sis (today, btw, was the first anniversary since my emergency surgery.)  We had planted two other hydrangeas this spring in her memory, but I think only one survived the winter (and my gardening!)

Then the "work" started!  We pulled out the Easter decorations and purged some of the books and things.  We always find extra egg decorating kits--and so Sis chose plain tab Pas dye and Bud did tie dye.  I drew on a few eggs with a Sharpie and a wax crayon--see my bunny, Bay Max, and Totoro.  Lots of fun.  Then I prepped some dishes while Mama made the traditional last-minute run to the store.  And the kids and I hid some eggs and left a basket for the little girl and boy across the street.

Whew!

And it's not even Easter yet.

Easter Weekend

One of the reasons we were so excited that Gommie could come up was so that she could help us celebrate Easter this weekend.  And celebrate we did!

The day started with our traditional visit from our non-traditional Easter Penguin, who left a treat near the fairy-door entrance to our house.  I can't even recall what he left--there were so many treats and gifts this weekend (the bunny and penguin must have felt for us.)

Then we decorated Easter eggs.  We had about 3 dozen boiled white-shelled eggs, so one for Bud and Sis separately, and one for me and Gommie to split.  Except then a few cracked in the boiling process so it was about 7 for Gommie and me.  I always read such fantastic and inventive ways to decorate eggs online, but we went with the really straightforward:  Pas colorful tab dyes in vinegar.  Sis likes to play with the colors and takes her dyeing very seriously.  I tried a food-coloring-in-rice technique that I just discovered and that looked easy, except my food colorings are gel not liquid and so it didn't quite work, but it has great promise.  And it got hard sticky rice everywhere!  And finally, we did some doodle, or Zentangle, eggs.  Bud, Gommie, and I really got into this with our colorful Sharpie collection--grids, Cadent, swirls, roses, "Zendala" flowers, spirals, starbursts, etc.  We had such fun.  Though, each of us discovered separately how hard it is to make a grid on an elliptical egg!  Luckily, we're over being egg perfectionists so that it didn't matter that the grids didn't meet well.  And they looked beautiful altogether.

Sis also made the delicious apple crumb cake, while Gommie and Mama threw together the pimiento cheese recipe to set overnight.

Otherwise, we relaxed.  I sat on the couch--I'm mobile enough to be downstairs all day (pain-wise, this is much easier than my back injury; mentally and physically, I know it is really much more serious)--with walking, sitting, and some napping in the afternoon.  We watched Penguins of Madagascar.  Sis went to ice skating.  Bud practiced kung fu.  Gommie put together her very first Lego set all by herself!!! (Really, I'm very impressed--I've never tried to make one.  And Bud was thrilled that she was interested.)  I did a little walking outside, to admire the beginning crocus, daffodil, and hyacinth blossoms. Sis even constructed Easter nests outside, with branches from the boxwood and pine tree, the only green in the yard, and put one of her yard ornament rabbits next to them. And dear Lambeth called to check in--it was great to talk to you!!!  (Then I went to the surgeon, not relaxing, but that was another post.)

At bedtime, Sis put out carrots and apparently left a survey for the Easter Bunny to complete--with questions about what the bunny's name was, what she looked like, how many there are, and if our cats were nice to her!  (Oh, and if she were a boy or girl bunny.)

Sis was up early the next morning, so ready for what she says is her favorite holiday.  They tried not to wake us up before 7, but we could hear their giggling through the walls, especially because the bunny had answered the survey and left them treats in their plastic collecting baskets (vs. their wicker gift baskets.)  We were up and downstairs looking for eggs in no time.

BTW:  Her name is Scamper Cottontail.  She is a girl bunny, specifically a white Angorra bunny, normal-sized but she has magic to manage things.  There are lots of Easter Bunnies, divided by county to get the job down.  She likes to deliver eggs, "glitter pink" being her favorite color.  And our cats were very nice to her.  She even petted Patron's tummy and Mojito purred at her.  Albus followed her about and Hermione is just so sweet!

Okay, there were dozens of plastic eggs all over the downstairs living rooms and the kids made rather short work of finding them all, mostly without fighting with each other over who found which egg (no calling, "I see it, that's mine!").  They were filled with trinkets (post its, little plastic figures) and coins.

And then we retrieved our gift baskets off the front porch.  So many wonderful gifts from the bunny!  At our house, even adults get things.  Gommie got a Zentangle book and Mama got some DS games (and a 3DS player), plus candy (caramels and jelly beans for Gommie) and salty things (something from Trader Joe's like Corn Nuts--yes, Scamper apparently shops at Trader Joe's!), plus Mojito mix!  The kids got pajamas, small Legos, lots of chocolate (the Autism Speaks-supporting Lindt bunnies only!), other treats, figurines for Infinity and Smash Brothers games, and some DVDs (Into the Woods, Hobbit: Battle of Five Armies) and a game (Just Dance 2014.)  I got scarves (one b&w infinity scarf and one pastel Easter egg-colored scarf), a little figurine of a woman holding a bunny, Speculoos cookies and chocolate bar, Prismacolor pencils, and a new sketchbook.  I think Scamper felt bad for all of us!  We were spoiled to the hilt.

By 8 a.m., we let the kids run around outside looking for the dyed eggs, which the bunny always hides outside (can't have cats eating boiled eggs . . . or have us not find one!)  They missed all the really obvious ones (on my windshield and bumper, in the pot next to the front door!) and found the more tricky ones, which was funny to watch.  Apparently, there are two missing eggs still.  I'm guessing our raccoons had a special treat.  And there was yet one more treat in their outdoor nests!  That bunny!  It was a beautiful morning and I enjoyed walking the driveway and front walk (the ground is sometimes too uneven when I don't feel sure-footed.)

Whew.  8:30 a.m. and we felt like we'd had a full day already (or at least, I did!)  We spent the whole day playing with said treats--Gommie and the kids danced "YMCA" on Just Dance.  We all watched Into the Woods, which was good even if they cut some good songs and shortened the second act too much.  It's a very nice show.  Gommie doodled with her new supplies.  Mama had the longest nap she's had in ages.

And we ate.  There was a bit of smoked ham from Nodine's, which we'd saved in the freezer.  Plus roasted potatoes, asparagus, green beans, and carrots. Plus pimiento cheese salad with crackers and dinner rolls.  There was also delicious leftover butternut squash soup, from a friend's delivery on Saturday (we've been getting awesome meals!)  And the apple cake.  It wasn't formal--we huddled around our small kitchen table without even formally setting it.  But we were all their together, which was a treat in itself.

I didn't reflect too closely on Easter themes this year--death, rebirth, renewal, etc hit a little to close to home, between my emergency surgery and Aunt Sis's death.  So we embraced family and fun and creativity and food, life-sustaining, life-affirming activities.  And we were rewarded with a wonderful day!

Early Easter

As per our usual Hungry Family tradition, we had our Easter celebration today, starting when the Easter Penguin delivered a small present--a stone figurine of the Easter Penguin itself!--leaving behind wet footprints.  Then my in-laws--Ma, Gong, and Goo--came up for a big Easter lunch and some egg decorating, after kung fu and ice skating that is.  

We had considered going out for lunch, still feeling some of the effects of jet lag and not having gone shopping yet, but decided yesterday that we'd rather just make a ham.  Easy enough.  It's the fixin's that are all the work.  And Bud wanted Eton Mess, his favorite dessert from our trip, and he repeatedly told me that he just knew that homemade meringues were going to make it the best ever.

And so, we had baked ham, macaroni and cheese, "wrinkled" green beans, salad, baked potatoes (oiled, salted, and pierced, for 60-90 minutes@ 350F), drop biscuits, and Eton Mess with lots of different berries.  And homemade meringues.

Afterwards, we experimented with rubber-cement decorating of eggs, with the cement blocking color and allowing us to make different patterns.  Sis and Bud each peeled an egg and decorated its wobbly insides!  And Bud drew a TARDIS on one blue egg and covered another in foil to make a Cyberman.

Now all the eggs are outside in Easter nests, not made of the grass and wildflowers of my childhood because NOTHING is growing up here in cold Connecticut, but made from leftover seashells and some boxwood branches and just a few hearty purple flowers.

Let's just hope it's warm enough to hunt for eggs in the morning without coats!

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Ham
Always ham for Easter and we’d pick off the chewy dark bits as soon as it was out of the oven. Very good the next day cut up into macaroni and cheese.
To make red eye gravy, merely boil ham drippings and add water.  Some people add coffee.

Bake uncovered at 325°F for 1 1/2-2 hours.
Gommie Hungry

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Whole Foods Macaroni and Cheese
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour
2 cups milk
1 cup shredded mild cheddar cheese
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Dash hot sauce (optional)
grated nutmeg to taste
cooked pasta and/or vegetables

In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat.  Add flour and whisk thoroughly to incorporate into a roux.  Cook roux briefly till it is bubbling,then slowly add the milk, whisking constantly till all the ingredients are incorporated.  Add remaining ingredients and cook a few minutes til sauce is thickened and all ingredients are incorporated.  Taste and adjust seasonings as necessary (salt and nutmeg.)  Serve with  your favorite pasta or vegetables.


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"Wrinkled" Green Beans

green beans, washed and trimmed and cut into preferred size
garlic, minced--as much as you like (garlic powder suffices)
olive oil
soy sauce
Maggi

If green beans are tough or old, steam or blanch first.  I steamed ours in a covered dish in the microwave for 5 minutes.

Heat oil and saute minced garlic.  Add green beans and cook on medium high until green beans begin to wrinkle.  Add soy sauce and Maggi to taste, along with about 1/2 cup water.  Cover and cook until desired tenderness.  Serve immediately.

Mama Hungry
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Drop Biscuits
2 cups flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter
1 cup milk

Preheat to 450F.

Combine dry ingredients.  But in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.  Add milk and stir just until dough clings together.  Drop by tablespoon onto baking sheet.  Bake until golden, approximately 10-12 minutes.

Makes 10-12 biscuits.

Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook

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Eton Mess
meringues
whipped cream
berries and/or jam

Crumble meringue cookies into whipped cream and layer with berries and/or jam.  Serve immediately.

Meringues:
• 3 large egg whites
• pinch of salt
• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice

1) Preheat the oven to 200°F. Prepare a sheet of parchment paper by tracing a 9" round cake pan with a pencil to create a circle. Flip the paper pencil-side down and place on a baking sheet. You should still be able to see the circle outline through the paper.
2) In a large bowl, beat the egg whites with a pinch of salt on medium-high speed until soft peaks form.
3) Combine the Baker's Special sugar and cornstarch and slowly add it to the whites, as you continue to beat. The mixture will thicken and turn glossy. Beat for about 1 more minute. Remove from the mixer and stir the lemon juice in by hand.
4) Spread the meringue on the parchment, staying within the circle. Use about 1 1/4 cups meringue to pipe a tall border around the edge of the meringue in the circle. When baked, this will form a ring to keep the cream and fruit from spilling over.
5) Bake for 1 hour. Turn off the oven and leave the door closed. Cool the meringue in the oven for at least another hour, or up to overnight. The pavlova will color slightly from white to light tan. Small cracks are normal.

from the Pavlova recipe of King Arthur Flour

Easter Penguin!!

The Easter Penguin came!

And the kids were up early in anticipation.

The first thing they noticed--after the little Stitch figures and the two new Lonely Planet books--was how small the Easter Penguin's footprints were.  Now, they were the same size they always were.

But the kids are older and wiser.

So I said, "Maybe the Easter Penguin is a Fairy Blue!"

That was enough.  And makes sense, since he comes through our fairy door!

Spring Break: A Colorful Day

Saturday started early, with a surprise visit from the Easter Penguin:

The Easter Penguin visits the night before Easter eve, bringing small treats.  And also wet footprints!

Then we got ready:

Making "Easter-bread" houses,

making natural dyes with turmeric, blueberries, and beets,

dyeing eggs,

mixing the dyes to create new colors,

and building Easter Nests, which is a tradition from Gommie's side of the family and my childhood.  There are rarely enough flowers and grasses in CT at Easter but we managed.  And it was wonderful to share this tradition with the kiddos.  We filled the nests with some of our dyed eggs, as well as carrots for the bunny.