Halloween in the Harbor

I'm so happy it's Halloween!  Most people's favorite holiday is Christmas, but mine is Halloween.  I think it is because my mom used to make such a big deal about it.  The sky was the limit and she would create whatever I wanted to be.

I used to get so excited to go trick or treating that I couldn't eat my dinner and all I wanted to do was get dressed and go out in the neighborhood.

ET and the Witch

I loved this costume. Don't I look the like the Wicked Witch from the Wizard of Oz?  My green skin was a mud mask that hardened and tightened on my face as time progressed.  By the time I got home, my face looked wrinkly.  As I remember it was very hard to get it off.

When I was little I idolized Michael Jackson.  It was the time of Thriller and we used to pretend we were the King of Pop or we were marrying him in the neighborhood.  I'm actually glad I ended up with Luke and not him, but I guess that is another story.

The King of Pop!

I told all my friends that I was going to have the jacket Michael wore in Beat It!  You know, the red leather one with all the zippers.  My mom had spent so much time on my costume and I clearly remember her pulling out the old navy blue blazer that she'd hand-embroidered with sequins and thinking, "But, that's not the Beat It jacket!"  At least, I had the glove and the silver socks.

I think my kids get just as excited about Halloween as I do and we've had so much fun.  On Halloween, Front Street is closed off and Scituate harbor merchants open their doors for the kids to trick or treat.  It is so sweet to see ghosts and goblins, witches, Harry Potters, dinosaurs, dragons and a whole host of other characters take to the streets.

John (with Luke) as a dragon (2008)

It is hard not to get in the Halloween spirit down on Front Street!  Even the police are into it.  One year they let my adorable dragon check out the cruiser.  John loved it.

One of my absolute favorite costumes was John as Superman (our favorite superhero):

Is it a bird?  Is it a plane?  No, it's Super John!

He just really looked the part with his dark curl and the wind beneath his cape.

Last year John was a cowboy and Conor a chicken.  I thought the two kind of went together.  Here they are in the harbor by Joye.  It was very cold and windy last year:

A cowboy, a little chick and a proud mom! (2010)

We finished up in the Dogwatch and met up with some more little friends.  John, as ever, being the protective big brother, to little C.

Hope you all have a Happy (and safe) Halloween!  Can't wait to share this year's photos with you tomorrow!

To Carve or Not to Carve

Two Pumpkins - John as a baby

Ever wonder why we carve pumpkins?  I just learned via the internet that carving of vegetables has been going on since the Celts in Ireland many centuries ago.  They carved glowing jack-o-lanterns, from turnips, or gourds, to welcome deceased loved ones and also act as protection against evil spirits. These jack-o-lanterns were illuminated by lumps of coal and then candles.

When Europeans arrived in America they adopted the pumpkin to carve - it was much larger and easier to shape.  Halloween didn't really catch on big in this country until the late 1800's and has been celebrated in so many ways ever since!  Isn't it funny how pagan traditions are the origins of our current holiday traditions (also the Christmas tree)?

To this day, I still remember the first time I carved a pumpkin with my mom.  She cut the top off and told me to scoop out the seeds.  I put my hand inside the pumpkin and really didn't like how the seeds and slimy strings felt.  If I'm honest, I still don't really like how the insides feel, but neither do my kids so I have to scoop it out.  If you get the seeds out you might want to roast them.  Think of it as kind of a reward for all the hard work.  They are delicious.  I love them seasoned with just salt or with cumin. Check out the Food Network for some great ideas for roasting.

John scooping the seeds - yuck!

Each year I look forward to carving our pumpkins.  John loves coming up with some funny ideas.  I've seen some great inspiration online, too.

Look at this hamburger pumpkin:

Isn't that hilarious?  Or maybe you are more into scary things for Halloween, like this vampire pumpkin from Martha Stewart:

From Martha Stewart

Or perhaps, you like something a bit prettier?

From Martha Stewart

Isn't that beautiful?  I love the little fairy light effect.  We still have to carve our pumpkins this year and I think we'll do it this weekend.  The squirrels have been quite ravenous this year and have eaten two pumpkins so far.  So I've been a bit hesitant.  I'm sure you can imagine how upset the kids will be if a squirrel attacks one of our carved pumpkins.

We often use a carving kit.  The kids like to look through the templates for ideas and they really are so easy to use.  Here is what we've done in the passed:

2007

2009

Last year we tried two different things.  One carved and one not.  We carved the first pumpkin and gave it twig hair:

2010

The second was our little pirate Mr. Potato Head; had great little lumps and warts.  The kids loved him.  It was quicker and easier than carving, especially if you use a drill (like we did).  I think I found the pieces at Target last year for something like $5:

2010

I can't wait to share what we come up with this year!  Happy carving!

Smashing Pumpkins

John (age 3) Photo by Katina Bentley

I love pumpkins!  I love their orange skins, their round and pleasing shape and, most of all, I love how they taste.  I've been enjoying pumpkin spiced coffee from Trader Joe's most mornings this month and also love their pumpkin bread.  So easy and fun with the kids.

Trader Joe's Pumpkin Bread.

If you're looking for more yummy scrummy pumpkin recipes, you've come to the right place.  Have you ever had chocolate and pumpkin together?  I know.  It sounds a little weird.  But it is so delicious.  Shortly after Conor was born a friend brought us Martha's Stewart's Pumpkin - Chocolate-Chip Squares.  The sweetness of the chocolate chip was amazing when paired with the smooth pumpkin and the pie spices.  The squares were very moist.  Simply delicious and very more-ish.  We couldn't help eating more.  I'm not sure they lasted a day in the house.

The other pumpkin recipe I love is my Aunt's Pumpkin Sausage Soup.

Ruthie's Pumpkin Sausage Soup

3 good quality pork sausage links (casings removed) – I like fennel

1 T oil

3 cloves chopped garlic

4 C can chicken broth

1 purple onion – diced

1 C chopped celery

1 can of pumpkin*

½ C marsala wine

½ t thyme

½ t sage

salt & pepper to taste

1 C small pasta – cooked (Orecchietta)

parmesan cheese

Brown sausage meat. Put off to the side. In pot you are cooking your soup
in, add 1 T oil, celery, garlic, onion. Cook until soft. Add thyme, sage,
marsala wine, salt & pepper. Reduce liquid (2/3 minutes). Add chicken broth,
pumpkin and sausage to pot. Bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer for 1
hour.

To serve, place pasta in bowl and ladle soup. Sprinkle with generous amount
of parmesan cheese.

The soup is really hearty and warming after being out in the yard raking.

Hope you enjoy the recipes as much as I do!  What do you like to make with pumpkins?  I love hearing your comments and ideas.

*If you live in an area where canned pumpkin isn't available (like the UK), you can buy a whole pumpkin.  Roast and mash it - a can is equivalent to 16 ounces.  

Last year at the ASP Pumpkin Patch in Cohasset

To the Lighthouse

View of Scituate Lighthouse at sunset

Last night our family shared some wonderful moments at Museum Beach.  Museum Beach is the one that overlooks the harbor and Scituate Lighthouse.  This part of Scituate holds so many memories for us.

My parents owned a house on Lighthouse Road, my dad's Danny Buoy sign still hangs on the side of the house, and I always get such warm memories when I walk passed.  Seven years ago, Luke and I took many a stroll searching for sea glass on this beach while we were also searching for jobs.  We kayaked in the harbor and enjoyed many great moments on my parents' back deck.  This beach was the first one John visited, it also happened to be the day we found our home.  To this day, I love to go to Museum Beach to watch the boats and to search for sea glass with my boys.

John (16 mos), his first time at the beach.

That is why we selected this location for our family photos.  It just holds so many special memories for us.   Katina Bentley met us there to take our pictures. Katina is a wonderful photographer and such a great person.  Our last photo session was when Conor was only a week old:

Photo by Katina Bentley

That was then.  Look how little Conor was and look at his dark hair!  So much has changed in two years and we've been blessed with so much happiness.  I can't wait to see Katina's photos from last night.  After she left, I  snapped some candids of my own.  The boys had loads of fun on the beach.

Conor sloshed and splashed in the water (fully clothed):

They found snails in the tidal pools:

They ran around and hid amongst the rocks.  Then contemplated the setting sun.

Over the years, I really feel like Scituate Lighthouse has been a beacon for us.  Shining its light and rays of hope while we found our way; guiding us here to Scituate.  I really am so lucky to have my 'silver pennies' and a home by the sea!

Boo to You!

Have you been Boo-ed yet?

On Thursday night we were about to get the kids ready for bed and heard a loud knock on the front door.  When we opened it there was no one there, but a little bag filled with treats and this note.  We had been boo-ed.  John and Conor were so excited and we tried to figure out who boo-ed us while eating the candy. The note said:

"The phantom ghost has come to town.  To leave some goodies...I see you've found.  If you wish to make this a happier fall.  Continue this greeting, this phantom call..."

We had one night to boo two friends and needed to do it in the dark.  We were instructed to "ring the doorbell and run, and stay out of sight."  We piled into the car with our boo bags, our two dragons and the boo sheets.

In the dark we crept up to friends' doors and whispered with glee hoping no one would see us.  Then we placed the bag on the front steps, rang the bell  and ran as fast as we could!

We celebrated our triumphant boo-ing with a boo sundae from Wilbur's in North Scituate. 

What is a boo sundae, you ask?  Soft serve ice cream topped with crushed oreos, studded with candy corns and topped with a whipped cream ghost.

What are you waiting for?  Go boo a friend and get a sundae.  Time is running out!  Halloween is next week!  Boo to you!  

A Taste of Rome

Liquid Gold - tantalizing oils and vinegars at the Roman Table

I don't know about you, but my all time favorite cuisine is Italian.  Perhaps, it is because I grew up eating Nonni's meatballs and cutlets.  I love steaming dishes of Bolognese sauce covered with freshly grated parmesan cheese.  I find comfort in crusty bread dipped in golden EVOO and and aged balsamic.  Give me pasta tossed with torn basil, chopped tomatoes and fresh mozzarella and my heart beats a little faster.

The Roman Table in Scituate Harbor offers a little taste of Italy on the Irish Riviera!   When you walk in to the shop, which was the original Scituate post office, you will feel like you are in Italy.  The walls have an aged patina, the floor is terracotta in color with paint splatters and the shop is filled with Italian goodies.  There are beautiful table linens, authentic Italian pottery, terracotta cookware and a whole section of aromatic oils and balsamic vinegars that you can taste.

On Saturday night a few friends got together for a relaxing and fun evening at The Roman Table.  Calamity struck before the evening started with three couples getting way-laid.  One couple almost had to take their daughter to the ER, but was helped by a doctor in the neighborhood.  Another couple's babysitter wasn't feeling well.  The third couple, spotted their neighbor's cat dead in the road and had to bring the body and sad news to said neighbor's door.  Well, the evening got off to a rough start, but everyone got there.  We enjoyed each others company and a wonderful evening at the Roman Table with owner, Cynthia Gallo-Casey.

Selection of wines, crusty bread, stuffed olives and goats cheese.

We started the evening with some wine (that we brought), some very delicious stuffed olives and the most amazing goats cheese (pictured below):

Are you hungry yet?  Look at that goats cheese.  Cynthia took her peach balsamic and reduced it until it was the consistency of a thick honey.  The cheese coated in the balsamic glaze was a joy to eat.  We went through two loaves of bread between us!

The great thing about having a private cooking class at the Roman Table is it feels very much like a home, much more intimate than going to a restaurant, and you are learning some fantastic tips from Cindy.  Her exuberance and joy for Italian cooking is contagious.

Cynthia teach us.

She said we were welcome to wash our hands and put aprons on, and we did:

Our friend, Dave, looking like quite the chef and here I am chopping sprouts:

I love sprouts.  I know sometimes they get a bad rap, but really they are so delicious and you will fall in love with them if you roast them in the oven.  We tossed our's with Meyer Lemon EVOO (to die for) and Black Current Balsamic (also to die for) and roasted them for 20 minutes.  They were so delicious.  We are going to make these for Thanksgiving this year!

Black Current Roasted Brussel Sprouts

We then mixed together a tangy arugula salad with roasted red peppers.  I've made Cynthia's salad a number of times at home and every time people love it.  There is just something about the mix of the peppery arugula, creamy feta cheese, white canellini beans and the rich Fig Balsamic.

Abbie and Tom watching the demonstration.

While the sprouts roasted in the oven and the Bolognese sauce simmered on the hob, we enjoyed more crusty bread dipped in oil and drank more vino (of course).

The main course was Pappardelle all Bolognese and words can not express how delicious this dish is. Cynthia introduced the dish saying, "It is not for the faint of heart and not for people on Weight Watchers."  It is a rich dish because it uses not only pork, beef, bacon, Italian sausage meat, but also wine and heavy cream.   At home, I usually use tomato sauce as a base but this recipe only uses one tablespoon of tomato paste relying more on chicken stock and wine.  Cynthia learned this dish in Rome and this is the authentic Roman way.  When in Rome.... Right?!?

We sat down in the middle of the shop on rustic benches to a long table and we were served this amazing meal family-style.  The wine flowed, as did the conversation.  We talked and talked about the delicious food, haunted houses and the Kardashians.  Dessert was vanilla ice cream with a dark chocolate balsamic that had been reduced.  Vinegar and chocolate don't sound like they would go together, but it was amazing.  Everything was delicious.  A huge thank you to Cindy for having us in 'her home' and sharing all these incredible dishes with us.

If you haven't been to the Roman Table yet, I think you'll love it.  Get a group together and head on down for some great food.  I couldn't resist stocking up on more oils and vinegars and also this sweet little dish.  Thought it would be the perfect place to rest my wooden spoons between stirring the pot.

Ciao!

The Apple of my Eye

Each day, John brings an apple to school with him.  Not so much to keep the doctor away, but because he LOVES them and they are a healthy snack (nature's toothbrush and all).

I've been giving him the apples we picked at Honey Pot Hill Orchards.

You may remember that we picked them the other week .  I've kept them in the fridge and they still taste so crisp and sweet.  Very delicious.  John loves picking apples, but I think he loves eating them even more.  My husband loves apples so much he even eats the core!

So, each day I give John an apple for lunch or snack and each day he comes home with a present for me. The seeds.  They are always wrapped in tissue paper with care to protect them on their way home.  John wants me to plant them to grow an apple tree.

But with this many apple seeds I'd have enough to grow a small orchard thanks to my very own  'Johnny Appleseed'!

Crazy For Kale!

Delicious Kale from Sweet Georgia P's

When we were thinking about signing up for a CSA, I'd heard horror stories from a friend about all this kale that they got and didn't know what to do with!  But we thought, well, we can't plant our raised bed this year because of Poppy's digging and we thought it would be a fun way to try some new vegetables.

We have loved doing our CSA with Sweet Georgia P's and have found some great new vegetables - like tomatillos, husk cherries and different squash varieties.  Their organic eggs are also amazing - they are so fluffy and flavorful.  We've found that we actually love kale and have some great recipes for you to try at home!


Our CSA with Sweet Georgia P's ends in two weeks and I'm very sad about this.  There was a great variety of vegetables (not just kale) and the produce is so fresh.  We learned so many new recipes and Conor discovered so many vegetables he LOVES- small sweet peppers (he eats right out of the carton), husk cherries and all tomatoes are consumed by the fistful.  We are definitely signing up for another share next year.  If you're local, I hope you think about it as well.  I know they are going to start signing up for next season soon.

My very crafty neighbor has an amazing Sausage and Kale Soup recipe.  Here it is below:

Sausage and Kale soup simmering on the hob.

Hearty Sausage and Kale Soup


Saute:
- any sausage (sliced into 1"  or so size) that you like -  I usually use Kielbasa
- sliced/chopped onions
- garlic

     
-  Then add Kale,  chopped (it will cook  WAY down   -  like spinach does)  and canned tomatoes

Bring to a boil and then simmer until Kale is tender, this could take quite a while (strip the Kale from the stems using just the green leafy part).  If you need more liquid you can add more tomatoes, or stock/broth, or water.

When the Kale is edible .....   you can add:

- canned beans (I like to add kidney beans, but you could also do cannellini beans).    
-  hot sauce to taste, Frank's is the best. (optional)

You can also add potatoes and carrots.   The kale is a little bitter so my friend likes to add a little brown sugar and cider vinegar.

Ladle into bowls and top with grated cheese. Serve with warm hearty bread.

Dinner is served!

The soup offers a kind of sweet and sour taste and it is delicious.  Our whole family loves it!

Great to sop up the soup with bread

Another great recipe is from Sweet Georgia P's. Kale Chips!  Conor loves them as do Luke and I.  John, my picky 5 year old, can't get passed the green color.

Sweet Georgia P's Kale Chips
Ingredients:

1 big bunch of kale, stems discarded and leaves torn into 11/2 inch pieces

2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Coarse salt

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Toss the kale with olive oil and spread out on two baking sheets. Sprinkle with coarse salt and roast for 12-15 minutes, or until lightly browned and crispy. Eat like potato chips! Serves 4 and takes a total of 15 minutes. Enjoy!!

My kids love to help place the Kale on the baking sheets and sprinkle on the salt.  

Hope you all enjoy these tasty and nutritious recipes.   Happy Fall!

You'd Think They Were Giving Stuff Away...

Conor with his 'new' friend Bob the Builder

Well, actually they are!  Yes, you heard that right.  On Freecycle people are actually giving stuff away.  I thought it was something local.  I belong to the South Shore - Hingham branch, but just found out it is all over the world!  So friends and family in Canada, Oz and the UK you are in luck!  Readers in Germany, Indonesia, Malaysia, Poland, Greece - it is your lucky day, too!

According to Freecycle, "The Freecycle Network™ is made up of 4,987 groups with 8,759,268 members around the world. It's a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (and getting) stuff for free in their own towns. It's all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills. Each local group is moderated by local volunteers (them's good people). Membership is free. To sign up, find your community by entering it into the search box (on their site)."

Do you need a copper onion light like this?

Need some books or toys for your kids?

What about a full dining room set similar to this one on Miss Mustard Seeds' website?

Or, are you looking for a fireplace screen with brass handles?

Well, we got all of those 'gifts' on Freecycle.  The fireplace screen is in perfect condition and is a great addition to our living room.  The dining room set needs some paint and probably needs some new seat covers, but you know how much I love projects!  We received clothes, boxes of books, a toy vaccuum cleaner, the Joy of Cooking etc.  Oh, and Bob the Builder (Conor's current obsession) was our latest gift from a freecycle member, a grandmother who's grandchildren had gotten older, who was looking to give Bob a new home!

The great thing about Freecycle is you can find some wonderful things that would have been thrown away and you can also give away stuff you no longer need.  We've freecycled a water cooler, baby items, a lawn mower, shovels, bird feeders / seed, and cleaning products among other things.

Posting 'offered' and 'wanted' items is all done through the internet and you can leave items you are gifting to freecycle friends on your doorstep with their names on them.  It really is a wonderful site and I've met so many really nice people.  I'm always happy that my 'trash' is another person's 'treasure' and vice versa.  Right, what are you waiting for?!?  Check out freecycle today.