Summer Camp Bento: Day 17
Jul 02, 09
I skipped a couple of days. We're back with farmer's market freshness and some old favorites. N has been eating very well, a growth spurt perhaps. . .
Annual Mom's Dessert Night
Jul 01, 09
Annual Mom's Dessert Night has arrived and this year's restaurant pick was my favorite in all of Durham, Piedmont.
We ordered some drinks and appetizers, most people were drawn to the pomme frites or warm olives with lemon rind. Both were outstanding and a nice savory teaser for the sweets yet to come. One mom was interested in a bruschetta of grilled bread, topped with goats milk ricotta, and white peaches, fruity olive oil, fresh herbs (basil, chervil?) and cracked pepper. This was amazing and could have competed with any of the desserts on the menu.
Desserts were blackberry crostata with mint ice cream. A crostata is like a rustic tart, some of the crust folds over the top, but the fruit filling is still on display. The crust was tender and flakey and the blackberries were in the height of season. There was lemon/bay leaf granita, chocolate something or other that was like a good chocolate pudding, but the one that I was surprised by was the brown butter cake. It was rich and toasty, the brown butter giving the dense cake a deep flavor and the blueberries served along side was a nice compliment.
I've had some fantasies of this brown butter cake, then I came across the June 2009 issue of Vogue (Cameron Diaz on the cover) and Jeffrey Steingarten's article on Brown Butter.
Here is a copy of the Best Oatmeal Cookie (ever).
Brown Butter Oatmeal Cookies, from Best Oatmeal Cookies from Learning to Cook, by Marion Cunningham, as it appears in Steingarten’s article in the June 2009 issue of Vogue
1 cup brown butter, at room temperature
1 cup sugar
2 cups uncooked instant oatmeal
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
1 cup All Purpose Flour, of a low-protein brand such as Gold Medal
1 tsp. vanilla extract
In a large bowl, beat together the very soft, room-temperature brown butter and the sugar, using a wooden spoon and not a mixer.
In another bowl, combine the uncooked instant oatmeal, baking soda, salt, and flour.
With the wooden spoon, mix these dry ingredients into the sugar and butter mixture. Mix in the vanilla extract. The mixture should be crumbly but cohesive enough to come together into clumps.
Preheat the oven to 350 F.
Line a baking sheet with the parchment paper. With your fingers, shape the dough into 1-inch balls. Set the balls on the baking sheet, approximately 2 inches apart. Flatten with your fingers or the back of a fork, until the cookies are ¼ inch thick.
Bake for about 10 minutes, until the cookies take on a pale-golden color. Let cool for a few minutes; then remove to a rack with a thin metal spatula and leave to cool completely.
Stored in an air-tight container, the cookies will keep well for up to a week at room temperature.
Let Them Have Cake.
Jun 26, 09
me: (look how blue the sky is on your birthday party day)
N: "i guess the sky wanted to be that way cause it wanted to be beautiful for my birthday party"
Summer Camp Bento: Day 13
Jun 26, 09
N really likes the science museum camp. i think it's easy for him to be there. I'm surprised since he absolutely loved Schoolhouse of Wonder and didn't want to leave there at the end of last week!
On Wed. they went to visit the bears, yesterday they went on the mini train, N says he'll make sure to tell me if they do any special adventures today!
Summer Camp Birthday Bento: Day 11
Jun 25, 09
Birthday Bento!
Happy Birthday Noakai! You're the funnest, most big-hearted, wisest person I know! I love you.
Summer Camp Bento: Day 12
Jun 25, 09
Today is playdate day!
Chocolate. Butter. Cream.
Jun 24, 09
I have a thing about chocolate "flavored" things. I just don't think they are ever as good as the real thing. Chocolate that is. I like my chocolate dark and unadulterated. I don't believe in 'white' chocolate (something cooked up by the food industry and clever marketing). This means chocolate cake, chocolate ice cream, chocolate anything that is not just plain old
Summer Camp Bento: Day 10
Jun 23, 09
Day before birthday bento.
Summer Camp Bento: Day 9
Jun 23, 09
Two boys this morning after the first sleep over. Eggs on toast for breakie, then get ready for camp at the NC Museum of Life & Science.
Fall Favorites
Jun 22, 09
Secret to get your child to ride a bicycle without training wheels: Have your child learn on a balance bike, 2 months or so and he/she will be evil kninivel'ing up and down your street.
First Sleep Over
Jun 22, 09
Mochi Prince is having his first sleep over friend! Both boys spent a giddy evening together, like a playdate but more!
When they got teeth brushed and pajamas on and in bed, dad turned the lights out and the giggle fest commenced. E was all - that's the best part of sleepovers!
All 3 boys fell asleep, E reading to them in Mochi Prince's bed.
Sweet. Dreams.
Summer Camp Bento: Day 8
Jun 20, 09
Last day at the Eno River :-o
"mommy, after the last day of the eno, can I go to the eno again?"
Summer Camp Bento: Day 7
Jun 18, 09
Today, you get to ride in Elijah's car!
Summer Camp Bento: Day 6
Jun 17, 09
Noakai to Elijah: "the other day, in the back of this day, not in front of this day, but back back back back of this day, I went to the mountains with my friends Diego and Atticus.
Elijah: I think I know Atticus. He goes to my school.
Noakai: Do you know Diego?
Elijah: No.
Noakai: Oh.
Summer Camp Bento: Day 5
Jun 17, 09
Friday is Octo-dogs
Summer Camp Bento: Day 4
Jun 11, 09
Off I went, into the fog this morning, the heat abated temporarily by the rainstorm from last night, leaving a breath of cool air before the heat of the day set in, to attend an early morning yoga class, so it was just the boys getting the day started and ready for camp.
Summer Camp Bento: Day 3
Jun 10, 09
There was a big thunderin and a lightnin all night long. When we woke up, the morning was cool and calm. Off to West Point on the Eno for another day of camp.
Horses horses horses horses
Jun 10, 09
We were driving by a PF Changs yesterday and Noey said "Horses!" and I sang "Horses, Horses, Horses, Horses"
Summer Camp Bento: Day 2
Jun 09, 09
Today at camp I wanted my mommy and my Daddy but then I started having fun.
Summer Camp Bento: Day 1
Jun 08, 09
Schoolhouse of Wonder @ West Point on the Eno. This seems to be an idyllic summer camp for kids. Hiking and adventuring all morning, then after lunch playing and splashing in the river.
All this activity makes a kid hungry.