mama – Peaceful Reader

Two weekends ago I stayed with my mom while her husband traveled out of town. My goal is always to get her out and about which for her can be as simple as a drive thru coffee shop. On Saturday morning we did just that. She’s fallen in love with her local Scooters and it’s about the only choice in her small town. We picked up pumpkin spice lattes and two cinnamon rolls and sat on her patio to bask in the sun. Because the day was so gorgeous we were able to stay out there for about two hours! We have to hold on to days like that as cold weather approaches.

The next day our adventure was an Apples on the Avenue about 20 minutes north of her. Another day filled with sunshine but very windy. We were happy to enjoy the weather from inside the car. We picked up two bags of apples and headed home. I used some of those apples to make a delicious dessert to serve at two different events. I would make this again. And eat it again and again. I went to a small pre-Halloween party on Saturday night and we shared this with Grandmother’s Sauce (recipe below) and then I served it again on Sunday when I made a birthday lunch for Kristin and Travis. I did give my mother some of the bread pudding as well to celebrate our Sunday outing.

Here is the Honey Apple Bread Pudding recipe by Melissa Clark on New York Times Recipes. Hopefully you are able to click the link and look at the recipe. I know the whole subscription thing prevents this sometimes so I made a Google copy for you. I used a chunky French loaf instead of the Challah bread. I served delicious “Grandmother’s Sauce” over the top and it took this recipe next level. Also sometimes the sauce is perfect dipped on your finger straight out of the jar!

Grandmother’s Sauce (from The Cottage; Casual Cuisine from Old La Jolla’s Favorite Beachside Bungalow by Jane & Michael Stern)

2 cups whipping cream
1 egg
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 tsp vanilla extract

Whip the cream in a large mixing bowl. In a medium bowl beat the egg with an electric mixer until thick and lemony colored. Gradually add the sugar, beating until thickened, about 2-3 minutes. Stir in the melted butter and vanilla. Gently fold in the whipped cream. Chill at least 1-2 hours so the sugar is fully dissolved. Makes 5 cups.

I think you could substitute any fruit for the apples but at this time of the year the apples I picked up were tart and perfect in this dessert. Enjoy!

and this is what I’ve accomplished:

1. Watched my Netflix movie, The Holiday, which has been sitting around my DVD player for about 2 weeks. The movie was okay but the highlight was Jude Law-he is seriously handsome albeit a bit of a cad. Now I can send it back. Our turnaround on Netflix movies is slow!

2. Took my son for a short summer haircut. He will be fishing and camping from late June through July and needed one good cut to get him through. He’ll still come back with his long curly locks framing his face.

3. Got up early to do the mom thing with my daughter. Generally, she is still sleeping when I leave for my school and her and dad struggle through breakfast, hair brushing, etc. on their own. I feel extra special when I get to help. This morning my husband and I biked her to school. She still fits on the tandem bike so it takes only about 4 minutes to get to her school by bike! (it’s mostly downhill) Today is her last day of school so I’m also going to have lunch with her for the last time as a second grader. (tears dripping just a little)

4. I’ve done tons of loads of laundry and after daughter left for school I putzed in her room, putting laundry away, making her bed, picking up a few toys-doing all the gentle things I imagine most stay-at-home moms do (but I’m sure they don’t really as I know they have full agendas as well).

5. Here’s the grossiest thing I did so far on my quest for a cleaner house-I cleaned out the bottom drawer of our freezer, which has had a fozen blueberry melty stuff all over it for quite a while-I don’t want to get into specifics but it has been a year ago that the big storm knocked out our electrictity for 3 days and I’m just saying maybe…) I know it makes me shudder to think I did not take the 10 minutes to get it up months ago but it wasn’t hurting anyone:)

6. My plan is also to write every day, not necessarily blogging but actually writing. I did that yesterday and plan to do it today also.

7. I have two books to finish and three posts to write and I’m participating this weekend in Mawbooks Bloggiesta festival to do some clean-up blog stuff! I’m thrilled to participate in this event for the very first time.

8. I made brownies for son’s soccer banquet this evening. The recipe is from my King Arthur cookbook.

Hurrah to summer for giving me the time to catch-up on my own life!!!
Now if I could manage to get up just a little earlier so I could start my early morning yoga routine again I would be completely happy!

and you…how’s your day shaping up?

Tag: mama

Fall Cooking