I have put away my childish things

 

Hello from "colorful Colorado!" We've been slow to update the blog because vacation season is upon us. However, as I sit in my parents' house, relaxing and enjoying the lovely CO summer weather (a pleasant change from my usual summer digs in AZ), my mind has taken an additional trip...down "Memory Lane."

The weekend before vacation, a movie was released that I (and probably many of you) had been looking forward to for months--Pixar's latest great film, "Toy Story 3." I was already a teenager when the first "Toy Story" came out in theaters, but I wasn't ashamed to fall in love with it (and with its sequel, a few years later). The "Toy Story" movies have amazing animation, true, but their true appeal lay in their story -- a simultaneously hilarious and compassionate meditation on toys and their love for the children who play with them and give their lives meaning.

Well, long story short, it was an interesting coincidence to see the 3rd Toy Story film (in which our toy heroes must deal with the fact that Andy, their beloved owner, has grown up and is moving away from home & out of their lives forever) just before traveling to my OWN childhood home, and seeing all the books, toys, & games that made up such a huge part of my youth.

Did anybody else ever have this Sesame Street clubhouse? It's pretty old & ratty now, but it was the site of many fabulous adventures when I was small.

In my daydreams, I couldn't help but compare my parent's basement to Andy's attic--a place where our old toys have languished, largely forgotten. If "Toy Story" turns out to be a documentary (if toys actually DO come to life & have feelings), what must these toys be thinking? I hope that the occasional visit by grandchildren is enough to sustain their feelings of self-worth...

 

At least, I hope that's the case for this messy display of old Cabbage Patch dolls; they certainly look like they could use a little love!! I especially hope they haven't become like Losto in the 3rd film (or to a lesser extent, Jesse in the 2nd film), and grown embittered and cynical (or even despotic) in the absence of a child who plays with them. I hope my parents' basement hasn't become like Sunnyside Daycare--a "prison camp" for beat-up toys!

Okay, enough silly speculating...

I saw several other toys which took me back several years; remember the Popples?

 

I used to have lots more of them, but perhaps the others have moved on (to another kids' house, a daycare, a fiery incinerator at the dump--who knows??). All I know is that these two are all that remain--and a little the worse for wear. They look like they could use a good wash, but my girls still loved them.

**Secret Shame Time!!***I was a bit of a tomboy growing up, and I thought Mom had thrown away most of my action figures. Then, what should we discover but a mother lode of our old Masters of the Universe toys:

Here, of course, is the Castle Greyskull set; kind of creepy! If I remember correctly, isn't the the home base of the HERO? If so, it's a little grim...the facade is definitely more terrifying than inspiring.

And here's the box of old He-Man action figures, mostly missing their parts & accessories (they've been lost/chewed on to death over the years). The ridiculous musculature of these toys...it made me laugh out loud!! It looks like He-Man & Skeletor have been "juicing," if ya know what I mean...

And here's Teela, He-Man's girlfriend/cousin/token female warrior teammate/et al. She had a pretty cool snake mask, but I seem to have misplaced it...

Oh, and each action figure of course came with its own comic book, which is so weird and hilarious it was the icing on my nostalgia cake...

"Feel the force of my fist, frozen fiend!!" *snicker*

Then, however, I hit the "He-Man" jackpot--apparently, my mom bought us another He-Man toy and another separate weapons pack, but never ended up giving them to us. They're still in the original boxes--complete with original price tags...wow. I've found our family's "Stinky Pete the Prospector" (see: Toy Story 2).

Wow...look at all the other Masters of the Universe toys I can buy! Oh wait a minute...

I wonder how this "original packaging" toy has passed the years--up on my parents' freezer, far removed from all the other toys, year after lonely year. Does this He-Man, like Stinky Pete, crave recognition and fame? Or does he just want to be opened & played with? I encouraged Mom to sell these packages on eBay, or at one of the conventions she attends. I wonder what this toy's ultimate fate will be...

Okay, time to wrap up this self-indulgent post....and time to go play with my family and enjoy my vacation! I leave you with a picture (pre-vacation) of Lorelai & Celeste with a bunch of their favorite toys (including, ironically, Woody & Buzz). Continuing the "Toy Story" theme...I wonder how long these toys have before my girls outgrow them? However much time is left to them, I hope they find as much joy in my daughters as my daughters find in them!

More vacation nitty-gritty at a later time. Happy Fourth of July, everyone!

My Home-canned Salsa, In Pictures

Salsa is one of my favorite things to can at home. Not only am I addicted to chips and salsa (probably my favorite snack), but I use salsa in lots of other recipes as well. Homemade salsa is very time- and labor-intensive, but also fun because you can change the recipe to your satisfaction.

I have been doing home canning for 5 years now, and I've tweaked my salsa recipe almost every year. I started with the recipe in my trusty Better Homes & Gardens cookbook, and have since modified it enough that I feel comfortable calling it my own. I really enjoy the results, so I decided to record my salsa-making this year, in case anybody else wants to try the recipe. Here goes...

First, obviously, you'll need your raw ingredients (NOTE: I did a triple batch of salsa, so the quantity of ingredients may look quite large in some pictures):

About 7 lbs of tomatoes (preferably vine-ripened; they're more acidic and will thus can better).

Then you'll need peppers--3 different kinds, to be exact:

12-14 Anaheim (green) chiles (or to taste);

4-6 jalapeno peppers, or to taste; and

3 serrano chile peppers, also to taste. Notice that in this picture I'm halving and seeding all the chile peppers; that's an essential step for ALL the chile peppers listed above. Also, WEAR GLOVES when cutting and seeding the peppers, as I'm doing here; otherwise, the capsaicin in the chiles will burn your hands and whatever else you touch (in fact, if you handle as many chiles at once as I do, you may feel a burn even through the gloves; this will wear off after a few hours and a few good hand-washings).

Now we get to an important step, but one that adds a GREAT flavor to your salsa--grilling the peppers!! Grilling peppers will mellow their sharp taste, but will also loosen up the capsaicin, which will leach into your salsa and actually give it more of a "kick." If you don't like your salsa too hot, you may want to skip this step, but the additional smoked flavor is worth it for me!!

These days, I grill the peppers (and the garlic; see below) a day or two before actually canning the salsa. There's two reasons for that; it gives the flavor more time to mellow out, and--more importantly--it saves time on the day of canning.

I use my handy-dandy George Forman family-size grill; I do this because I don't have a full-sized, outdoor grill. If you've got one, use it! It will probably go faster and the grilled flavor will be even more pronounced. This device works pretty well too, though. After heating it up...

Just put the pepper halves on the grill, then close it up and let them roast for about 5-7 minutes, until their skins start to burn and bubble, like so:

Yum ... and while the peppers are all grilling, you can prepare the garlic,

 You'll need about 5-10 cloves of garlic per batch (I tend to err on the high side, 'cause I love me the garlic!) Just be sure to peel the cloves completely. Then, when the peppers are all grilled, you can grill the garlic too...

Mmmmm...tasty! Can you tell my poor grill has been getting a workout by looking at this picture? It's kinda grimy (sorry!). Anyway, grilled garlic, like the peppers, will have a much more mellow, richer flavor, and it makes the salsa quite tasty.

Once I'm finished grilling, I like to put my ingredients into sealable Ziploc bags, and then to refrigerate them until needed (usually, a day or two later). That way, they don't spoil, and the flavor stays locked in:

First steps completed! Then in a day or two, the REAL work begins...


First, you'll need to dice the tomatoes, and then let them drain in a colander for about 25-30 minutes, to let a little of the extra juices out. Each batch will require about 14 cups of diced tomatoes, give or take a cup.

After you've drained them a bit, it's time to stew the tomatoes. Place them in a large pot (stainless steel, if available), and bring the mixture to a boil. Once it's boiling, reduce the heat and let them simmer for just over 1 hour, until the whole mixture is thickened:

While the tomatoes are simmering (be sure to stir them occasionally!), you can prepare your other ingredients:

You'll need 2 cups of chopped onions per batch. Before chopping...

After chopping! Boy, I had some weepy eyes, let me tell you. You'll also need (per batch):

1 teaspoon each of salt & pepper;
2/3 can (or 6 ounces) of tomato paste; and
1 cup of lime juice (the original recipe I used called for vinegar, and you can use that if you're on a budget--lime juice costs quite a bit more than vinegar. However, if you can, I strongly recommend the lime juice; it adds a much fresher, more natural flavor than the vinegar, and still has the same preservative properties). You'll also need:

1/2 cup fresh (NOT DRIED) cilantro per batch. You'll have to chop it up; this picture was taken fresh out of the bag, before I snipped it.

Once the tomatoes have stewed long enough, and the other ingredients are ready to add, it'll be time to mix them all together. Probably the easiest way to add the halved peppers (and the onions, if you so choose) is to puree them in a blender or food processor (I used my blender). Here's how:

First, I put a few cups of stewed tomatoes in the blender;

Then, I add the peppers and garlic;

Then, blend away!! The mixture will turn a weird greenish color, but that's expected. Then, you pour the blended mixture back into the remainder of the stewed tomatoes in the large pot:

Then, stir it all together! If you want to puree the onions as well, just repeat the last 4 steps above, using the salsa from the big pot. Or, if you want, you can just add the chopped onions to the salsa as is; it depends on how chunky you like your salsa.

At this point, you'll also want to add the lime juice, tomato paste, salt, pepper, and cilantro. Then, return the mixture to a boil and let it simmer for about 10 more minutes before removing it from the heat. This would be a good time to sterilize your canning lids;

prepare your canner (I use a non-immersive steam canner; it can't hold as many jars as a hot-water-bath canner, but it heats up MUCH faster and saves a lot of time!); and last but not least,

feed your hungry baby. Oh, wait...I guess I'm just using any excuse to show what a cute little girl I've got. Seriously, though, keep in mind that canning salsa (ESPECIALLY multiple batches of it) is a time-consuming process that will take several hours. If you have small children, be prepared for interruptions, and schedule meal-times during "simmering" sessions, so you can work efficiently!

Once your salsa is removed from the heat, it's time to ladle it into warm, clean jars:

I usually use pint jars, since the recipe yields about 5-6 pints of salsa, but sometimes quart jars will be necessary, as was the case this time, when my batches turned out bigger than I thought. Once the jars are filled about 1/2" from the top, make sure the top rim is clean, then screw on the lid and ring tightly. Once all the jars are filled, it's processing time!

Once your canner is fully heated (i.e., at a full boil), set your timer and process the jars for 15 minutes (that's for pints; if you're processing quarts, increase the time to 20 minutes). Obviously, the lid for my canner hasn't been put on yet in this picture (it's just off to the left); during processing, the lid will be on tight and the salsa jars won't be visible.

After they're done processing, carefully remove the jars from the canner & place them in a safe place (translation: away from your kids!) to cool. Make sure the jars aren't touching each other. As you can see in this picture, I like to invert the jars, just to keep the heat on the lid a little longer and insure that it seals properly. It's probably an unnecessary step, but I like to be overcautious.

Let the jars completely cool (this will probably take several hours or overnight). And Voila!! You've done it!

Behold the fruits of my labors! I got 15 pint jars, 3 quart jars, and a bunch left over in the Tupperware on the left--quite a good haul. And how did it taste?

Not bad, in my opinion. It was still a little warm when I first sampled it, and the true flavor won't be known for a little while (it takes a few weeks for the chile juices to completely saturate and "heat up" the salsa, and all that happens in the jar after it's been canned). However, I think it turned out well. Not quite as spicy as my batch the year before, but less tomato-ey than the year before that.

Now, I'm not pretending to be an expert on making salsa OR canning. But this is the method that I've found works best for me, based on a few years' worth of attempts. I'm very happy with the results. If you'd like, try it out and see if it's best for you too! Good luck!

I'm a huge Jimmy Stewart fangirl

This weekend, by happy accident, Nathan and I had not one, but TWO movies on our Netflix queue featuring one of the greatest actors in the history of forever, one James Maitland Stewart ... aka Jimmy Stewart to most of you. I'd like to highlight both of them briefly, in the hopes that more people check out these two enjoyable films.

First, though, a confession...I think I'm in love with Jimmy Stewart (shhh...don't tell Nate!). Funny, because he doesn't have typical "Hollywood heartthrob" looks. But there's just something about him. Maybe it's that famous drawl, which seems so idiosyncratic but is also quite endearing. Then there's those twinkling, expressive eyes, and that impish yet winning smile...

Uhhh, where was I? Oh, yeah, Jimmy Stewart--great actor, gentleman, war veteran, friend of the LDS Church, & all-around great guy. So, on to the films:


Harvey (1950)

A quirky, sweet-hearted comedy, Stewart stars as Elwood P. Dowd, an eccentric (crazy?) guy who's inherited lots of money and a huge society house, yet who prefers to spend most of his time hanging out in bars, befriending the people he meets there. But there's one more problem--Elwood is constantly introducing everyone to his "very best friend," a 6-foot-tall, talking white rabbit named Harvey, whom only Elwood can see and hear. Understandably, this worries and annoys lots of people, particularly his high-strung sister Veta Louise and her daughter Myrtle Mae, who live (squat?) in Elwood's home. Wanting a less strained social life (and maybe freer access to Elwood's riches), Veta Louise arranges to have Elwood committed to a local mental institution. Things go awry, hijinks ensue, yada yada...

This isn't a perfect film; it's adapted from a stage play and really feels like it at times, with the static sets & camerawork, and the excessively broad performances from several actors. Yet it's Stewart (surprise!) who carries the film and almost single-handedly sells the concept. He plays Elwood in a completely straight-faced, understated manner, in stark contrast to the "bigger" performances surrounding him--you're drawn in by his calm, friendly, always sincere manner. Playing a "crazy" person can be a tough job; Stewart makes it look easy. He plays Elwood as a slightly feather-brained, yet persistently optimistic, kind person who is happy to put the interest of others above his own. By so doing, he draws together all the characters in the story, enabling them to see not only Elwood's goodness, but the goodness within themselves and within their loved ones. At the same time, he persuades both the audience & his fellow characters to start believing his story; it becomes easier & easier throughout the movie to believe there really is a 6-foot rabbit named Harvey following Elwood around everywhere.

So is Harvey a fantasy? A tragicomedy? I'm still not sure, but I really liked it. I first saw this many years ago when I lived with my parents; even though I'd seen other Jimmy Stewart films, this is the first one I saw that showed his impressive range of acting abilities.


The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)

Holy cow, I loved this movie. I'm ashamed to admit, though, that I didn't even KNOW that Jimmy Stewart was in it when we sat down to watch it! I'd heard of it before, but knew it as primarily a John Wayne picture. When the truth became known, I squealed something like, "WHAT?!?!? JOHN WAYNE and JIMMY STEWART in the SAME MOVIE??? WHY haven't I seen this film yet?!?!??"

Okay, on to the recap. Stewart is the first of the two leads we see; he plays Senator Ransom Stoddard. At the beginning of the film, he's returning to the dingy Old West town of Shinbone, a place he lived in for a time many years before. With him is his wife Hallie, a Shinbone native. The purpose for his visit, after so many years away? He's come to pay his respects to one Tom Doniphon (Wayne), who died recently. As the local reporters pester him for more information, Stoddard begins to tell his story--the majority of the film consists of a flashback to Stoddard's time in Shinbone, his interactions with Hallie and Doniphon, and his encounter with the titular Liberty Valance, a particularly greasy rascal played by Lee Marvin.

As Westerns go, this one doesn't look as epic as others--it's largely shot on soundstages & small sets. There's a distinct lack of panoramic vistas that are common in other Westerns of the time (The Searchers and even Stagecoach, another picture--like Liberty Valance--directed by John Ford). However, the drama in this film is of the psychological, ethical variety. The conflict is not man vs. nature, or white man vs. Indian--it deals with man vs. his darkest desires and his strongest impulses. Ransom Stoddard & Tom Doniphon are intriguing opposites. Stoddard is a highly educated, passionate, hot-headed lawyer from back east; Doniphon is a taciturn, emotionally distant, uneducated (yet "street-smart") cattleman. It's fascinating to watch the movie contrast their different approaches to a variety of issues--education, romance, and vengeance.

Although Liberty Valance doesn't have a ton of scenes in the film, his presence looms large both before & after he's shot. He exists primarily as a problem to be solved; the interest lies in seeing how this particular "problem" will be dealt with, and by whom. Both Ransom and Tom have their reasons for wanting Liberty Valance dead; both have different ideas of how to get the job done, and both have different sets of qualms that restrain their actions. The viewer is left wondering throughout much of the film, "So which of these men DOES shoot Liberty Valance?" The answer may surprise you.

A strong supporting cast and a frenetic energy in the script and direction keep the film visually exciting, even though its visual scope is small. I won't lie--the film raises some tough issues, but does pull its punches a bit in resolving them. However, this WAS the 60s, when moral ambiguity in cinema was somewhat frowned upon. Nevertheless, the film does raise lots of questions: Is violence an appropriate way to solve some problems? What happens when guilt battles with ambition in a man's soul? Are there some debts that can never be paid off? And, what's the price of success and renown?

Anyway, it's well worth seeing; both Wayne and Stewart give great performances; they both do a good job conveying men who are alternately enslaved by their present circumstances & haunted by their pasts. If you yourself have Netflix I strongly suggest you try it out!!

Adventures with solid foods

Hello all! ("See, Nate, I WAS planning on adding to the blog sooner or later.") I've got lots of ideas kicking around in the old noggin, involving Jimmy Stewart, homemade canned salsa, and Breaking Dawn, among other things. But since I'm a newbie in the blogosphere, I'm going the "safe" route first and posting some harmless baby news.

Despite the pediatrician's advice to not feed babies solid foods until they're 6 (!) months old, I decided to take the plunge with Aurora--for 2 big reasons:

1) She is STILL not sleeping through the night (most nights). I realize I've been spoiled with my other 2 girls, but I hope that adding solids to Aurora's diet at this point might help her sleep more soundly; and
2) We are going on a (somewhat lengthy) vacation soon, and I want her to be comfortable with solid foods already when vacation started, rather than overwhelm her with change and introduce them while we're out of town.

So, anyway, on to the rice cereal! (we started the new regimen over Memorial Day weekend, BTW)

Doesn't she look SO thrilled? We do have a snap-on high chair that we will assemble eventually (ie, when Aurora can hold her head up more steadily), but for now she's lounging in her detachable swing seat.



She appeared perplexed by the rice cereal but game to try more. After a week of rice cereal, though, she seemed a bit bored. At that point, I realized it was time to dive into the veggies...

So far, green beans have been met with some resistance, squash was a little more exciting, and sweet potatoes and corn is quite tasty. The winner so far? Peas--ALL of my girls have loved them. Plus, look what a pretty face-mask they make:

We'll be moving on to fruits soon; I wanted to start Aurora on veggies so that she wouldn't reject them out of hand later for not being "sweet" enough.





Okay, this seems like an okay first blog post (*breathing slowing down, hands unclenching*). I'll just wrap it up w/one more cute picture of my princess Aurora:

Until next time folks!!

I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts

This morning, Adrianne picked up her order from Bountiful Baskets, which included not one, not two, but three (!) coconuts. We weren't sure what we could do with so many coconuts, but I had an idea!

I juggled the coconuts.



















I had to do it on the concrete porch in the back since Adrianne wouldn't let me do it in the kitchen. I got a good two or three revolutions before coconut A hit coconut B and both of them hit the ground. One cracked open immediately, spilling coconut milk on the patio. The other one was only slightly cracked, but leaking milk enough for the whole family to take a a few sloppy sips.

But then, tired of the slow sips required for drinking from a slightly cracked coconut, I pounded it on the ground (this time on purpose), and cracked it open. We took a couple more drinks each, and now we still have the same problem as before. What do we do with three coconuts?