Meanwhile, recipes. I don't know what to say about these empanadas, except don't make them when you have people coming for dinner or you will have none left. There's my generous thought for the day.
This walnut-orange cake is delicious, and made with olive oil, which is an easy and wholesome way to bake a cake.
And this roast chicken is simply an excellent, basic roast chicken recipe. The skin becomes golden and crisp, and the meat is fragrant and juicy. Although I confess to being one of the only humans on the planet that likes dry chicken. I realize that it's more of a moral failing than a simple quirk.
I am thinking about Valentine's Day, which is a holiday that I love. Maybe because it's fun and pretty, with none of the make-good-memories-or-die pressure of the December holidays. Today I made Valentine's in Ben's classroom, and he was actually mildly embarrassed by my singing of Frank Sinatra songs to get the kids in a romantic mood. Only mildly, and only briefly, since he couldn't resist singing along. He was also mildly embarrassed by the giant book of stock art images I'd brought for the kids to cut up: acres of Renaissance-era nudity and medieval hell-type shenanigans. And, finally, he was mildly embarrassed when I spilled glue on my pants and said, "Oh, crappity crap." At least I didn't say "shit"! Until a minute later, when I *did* say it. Oh well. At least I didn't say "fuck"!
Indeed!
ReplyDeleteAnd I hear ya on the Valentine's day loveliness. Couldn't get into Christmas this year.
I would think "crappity crap" is quite acceptable then - given the other options. We worked on our Valentine's this weekend, I am amazed at how much easier it is for Rosebud to write her Valentine's this year...the difference between SK and Grade 1 is huge.
ReplyDeleteI laughed out loud at cocksucker! I'm a little bit sad Ben has reached the age of being embarrassed, but at least it was just mild embarrassment, right?
ReplyDeleteAnd though Catherine is obviously too modest to announce it, she has a wonderful article on mindfulness in the March issue of Ladies' Home Journal! Loved it!
ReplyDeleteI usually reserve cocksucker for misbehaving appliances or the computer. :)
ReplyDeleteI had a huge, and ridiculous, slip up once while I still taught preschool, and uttered the oh-so-classy phrase "fuck a duck" in front of a small group of toddlers. Awesome.
Your chicken sounds wonderful..I bought a couple of fryers today, may have to try that. We are FINALLY attempting your pot roast recipe tomorrow. :)
Oh my, I am laughing so hard my tummy hurts. Well.... it mainly hurts from doing those 50 sit-ups yesterday, the first that I have done in the last two years. But I really shouldn't be laughing in this state. My fault, I shouldn't have checked in on your blog! The cocksucker comments and the crappity-craps are killing me! Just killing me ;D And how appropriate - my word verification is "creep!"
ReplyDeleteyay! Dairy free cake! And the dairy allergic among us has a birthday in just a few weeks. (A sleepover for 5 7 year old boys. YIKES) Thank you, Catherine, at least the cake will be easy!
ReplyDeleteat least you didn't get a phone call from the 1st grader's teacher telling you that your son said poo-poo in the lunchroom! Good thing his dad took the call - i would have laughed at her all the while I was hanging up the phone.
ReplyDeleteYou have no idea how much it comforts me that a woman and mother I admire as much as you uses the word "fuck" LOL I try not to say it in front of my kids, but it crosses my mind more than it should (:D) The one good thing about my having to work is I can let the f-bomb fly as much as I want at the office!
ReplyDeleteJust recommended your Dalai Mama Dishes to a friend who reads cookbooks to relieve stress. I told her I rarely make your recipes, but I still love love love reading them! (I just am not an ambitious cook at all.)
ReplyDeleteAlso, I teared up over the empanada column. Shared it on facebook, then teared up a second time as I was rereading it. :)
I know I'm being naive if I think my kids don't know what I mean when I yell "Mother F'er!" Some day they'll probably be more embarrassed by my saying "F'er" than if I just said it. --Cathy K
ReplyDeleteShit! (being a potty mouth is kinda fun) I meant *scene*. I do know how to spell. The English major in me needed to confirm that. ahem.
ReplyDeleteOh, I always know that when in need of a laugh, I can count on this blog. Seriously, a week full of bad news and marital strife and it all seems good now! Cocksucker. That's fantastic.
ReplyDeleteHappy Valentine's day1 Can't wait to try your version of empanadas.
ReplyDeleteI like to say cum guzzler... ahhh the lovely words we have for when we're frustrated. :)
ReplyDeletesnort....I'm often told by my 3 yr old, "Momma we don't say that word". I know she doesn't get her properness from me b/c I also snort with laughter when her dry chicken falls on the floor during dinner and her response is to look at it with a forlorn expression and a plaintive, "Damnit"
ReplyDeleteAl Swearengen lives!
ReplyDeleteOr my favorite: "Oh, for fuck's sake..." What does that even mean? I don't know.
ReplyDeleteI'll keep it clean and say that I went into the preschool today to be the mystery reader, and they had a spread from the Open House the night before in the office. There were a few of the lemon bars I'd made there. The ladies in the office were raving about them (and I did tell them that's what I'd made). The director said they're almost like Chess Pie. So, my thanks to you for an excellent recipe!
ReplyDeleteI completely forgot to thank you SO much for the pork recipe last week. Our ribs were only sold in 1.5 lb packages and I bought only 3lbs worth and that mistake is not one I will make again. It was AWESOME from start to finish, between how great it smelled bubbling away in our snowstorm to how the three pounds was exactly one dinner and you know what, so would four pounds have been too. Unbelievably great. Thank you thank you thank you!
ReplyDeleteI'm rather partial to "jackass."
ReplyDeleteMy mom passed away 15 years ago. Until I read your post, I totally forgot that her favorite explitive was "Crappity dap dap!" So thanks for the heartwarming reminder.
And thanks to all your adoring fans for piling on. Lots of good humor here today.
my reading glasses fell in the toilet yesterday. for real. crappity crap, and all that other stuff I can't write because this is my work computer...no empanadas in the freezer. that kind of day.
ReplyDeleteFucking hilarious. And we keep telling our children not to use bad words. "At least wait until you're out of the house," I've actually told them. Gonna try one of those recipes. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to add that I made your empanadas yesterday, and they were delicious! I used turkey instead of ground beef. I also found that if you add some veggies in to the mix, you get enough filler for all of the shells (pockets? I don't know what they're called). I added some chard & parsley, and even my veggie-hating 2-year-old gobbled them up. But I had to threaten my husband with a fork so he wouldn't eat them - they're for school lunches.
ReplyDeleteI can't think of what to write, I just want you to know I'm laughing laughing laughing at "crappity crap"!
ReplyDeleteJust finished "Without a Map." Wow. Whomever recommended that via this blog, thank you!
ReplyDeleteRachel
Remember one time a long time ago (I think it was even before you were doing the receipe column) you pointed us to a receipe for caramel cake? Am I imagining this? I just finished "The Help" and love it (thank you all for the recommendation) and it is making me want a piece of caramel cake. Can you put this on your list of receipes you might consider for your weekly column? Oh, and I love your kids' Olympic commentary. I couldn't agree with them more! --Cathy K
ReplyDeleteI made the cake (without a blender or food processor, had to chop the walnuts by hand) and it was yummy. I did it gluten free as it has only 1 cup of flour and it turned out great and my celiac friend loved it.
ReplyDeleteAnon: I also made the caramel cake. It was ok but not sure I'd make it again.
Ooohhh... I love me some "crappity, crap!" The more annoyed I am the more "craps" I add onto the end!
ReplyDeleteHaha! Oh Catherine. I wish I knew you in person. I kind of adore you!
ReplyDeleteLoved the Roast chicken - easy and delicious. Thanks for the great recipes and hilarious commentary!
ReplyDeleteCatherine, I made your empanadas tonight for dinner! After substitute teaching a full day of preschool! And it wasn't that hard!
ReplyDeleteOf course, being me, I went ahead and rushed things right along. And i totally tweaked the filling, using up things and leftovers in the fridge. They were absolutely delicious, so thanks once again for inspiring me. My guys thank you too. (and there are leftovers for lunch! *squeeee*)
I once said "melonfarmer" - although not actually MELONFARMER - in front of a group of children. And where WAS this group of children and why was I there? Why, I was teaching SUNDAY SCHOOL. Oh yes I was.
ReplyDeleteWe made a gluten-free spice cake with cream cheese icing last night. It was tasty. (unrelated food update)
What is it about crafts that drive us to profanity?
ReplyDeleteI have triedto leave comment on the Disney page but it wouldn't remember me. Then finally after confirming I am me the page wont load; don't they they know my dad works as a security guard in the Magic Kingdom. Oh well.
ReplyDeleteanyway, what I wanted to say was that we made the pretzels today. I am going to link the pics for you b/c we are not so baker friendly around here (try as we might) but even though they didn't turn out exactly right they still tasted good.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2037908&id=1194076045&l=927fe48e4b
Oh, Caaatheriinnnne... We're ready for our new bloggg posttt...
ReplyDeleteI know I'm like over 2 years late in commenting... but I made the empanadas many moons ago, probably 2 years ago, and STILL remember the look on my neighbors face when he ate them. He looked as if he was in LOVE with me. His sweet wife is a vegetarian, which meant he ate no meat at home. When he ate these I swear he fell deeply in love with me.
ReplyDeleteI'm feeling the need to impress some different friends this weekend...and these emapanads will do the trick!