Sunday, June 1, 2014

Blueberry Pie




So, just how hard is it to bake a pie with a three year old? Harder than I anticipated, but not impossible . . . even with more help than I could ever hope for!


Perfect Pie Crust                                      

  • 2 Cups Flour                             
  • 1 tsp salt                                       
  • 3 TBLS Butter                                  
  • 2/3 Cup Shortening                          
  • 2 tsp Oil
  • 1/3 Cup Buttermilk
  • 1 Egg beaten

Preheat oven to 475*

Blueberry Filling

  • 3 Cups blueberries
  • 1 Cup sugar
  • 2 tsps vanilla
  • 2tsps cinnamon
  • 1/2 Cup flour



   
Mix the shortening and butter. Add salt to flour and mix well.
Pour flour and salt mixture into the shortening, cut in with a pastry cutter (you can use two knives if you do not have a pastry cutter) until you get a coarse crumbly result. Add Buttermilk to this mixture. I stir with a fork until a ball starts to form then switch over to my hands to pull the last of the mix together.



HINT: I never have need for a whole container of buttermilk and it kills me to waste. Here is a trick my mother in law showed me years ago. Simply add 1 tsp of vinegar to each 1/2 cup of milk and let sit for 5 minutes. Instant "buttermilk" without waste! The 5 minute sitting time is important to allow the milk to thicken and for the tangy taste of buttermilk to develop. 


Generously flour your surface, form a patty, place on floured surface. Sprinkle flour lightly over the dough. Roll out from the center of dough to form a circle about 3" larger than your pie plate.


This tool at the top of the shot is actually a frosting spatula from the cake department but I love it for releasing the dough from the counter.


Poke holes with a fork on the bottom and sides of lower crust. I pop this crust in the frig while I mix the filling.

Mix all ingredients for the blueberry filling in a bowl. Set aside. Pop the lower crust into the 475* oven for 10 minutes. After removing crust lower temperature to 375*.


While lower crust is pre-baking roll out top crust about 2" larger than pie plate. Take lower crust from oven and let cool for 5 minutes. Put berries into lower crust and top with the rolled out upper crust. Pinch upper crust to lower crust, trimming any excess. Cut a few slots into the crust then smear beaten egg on crust and lightly sprinkle with sugar to give a glazed finish.


Bake pie at 375* for 1 hour until golden brown. 

The things I forgot!
1. The spatula thing for lifting the crust away from the counter
2. The tin crust protector. These are about 3 for $4 at most grocery stores. They are disposable, but I use mine over several time. I have a solid metal one but I find that it often dose not fit my older pie plates.
3. Flour!! I was so busy trying to keep up with my helper that I forgot to put the flour into the berries. This resulted in a very soupy pie. By day two the issue resolved itself, but it would have been better to have the flour.


My very insistent assistant!




Friday, May 30, 2014

Ginger Water


On a trip to Belize we happened upon this local "fruit water". While technically ginger in not a fruit, it gets thrown in with other waters such as Jamica, Watermelon, and Lime.
We have developed a love of these different water drinks. They are particularly appealing in that they are all natural. No dye, no flavors, no artificial flavors. 
My husband is extremely fond of ginger in any and all forms, so when the waitress said that one of the drinks specials was ginger water he could not wait to try it. Once we did we had to ask how to make it ourselves. Turns out it is super easy.
There are many health benefits attributed to ginger, here are a few:
1. Ginger clears the ‘microcirculatory channels’ of the body, including the pesky sinuses that tend to flare up from time to time.
2. Feeling airsick or nauseous? Chew on ginger, preferably tossed in a little honey.
3. Tummy moaning and groaning under cramps? Munch on ginger.
4. Reeling under joint pain? Ginger, with its anti-inflammatory properties—can bring relief. Float some ginger essential oil in your bath to help aching muscles and joints.
5.Stir up some ginger tea to get rid of throat and nose congestion. And when there’s a nip in the air, the warming benefits of this tasty tea are even greater!
Our family has been using ginger for years to control car sickness, it works like a charm!

For all of you that like a natural drink with a clean and refreshing taste here is how to make it at home.


Start with about 3 or 4 good size pieces of fresh ginger.


Peel and chop into small pieces.


Place in a pan with the sweetener of your choice and about 4 cups of water. We use raw or turbinado sugar. You can use agave, stevia, honey, or processed sugar. Be cautious of using artificial sweeteners as they have a tendency to become bitter when heated. Bring this to a boil and cook until the water is reduced by at least 50%. We usually go down to about 25% to make a ginger flavored simple syrup. Stir occasionally to avoid burning the syrup.

Once your water has reduced, remove from heat and let sit for a while to cool. Pour through a strainer and store syrup in a container in the refrigerator. We usually make a couple of batches and put the first batch right into a half gallon pitcher with cold water. For us, we use about 1 cup of syrup to 3 cups of cold water. Give it a taste and adjust accordingly. I add a bit more water for mine, Todd likes his with more "bite" from the ginger. I also like to add a splash of the syrup to my iced tea for a more exotic tasting tea.



50% OFF Silicone Necklaces!


Mon Petit Mardi round bead silicone necklaces are on sale for 50% off 05/30/14 - 06/03/14. Available in 19 colors, these necklaces are safe for baby to teethe on and stylish for mom to wear. You can find the sale here.


Features

  • Mommy chic, baby safe
  • Approximately 30'
  • 100% silicone beads
  • Soft on babies gums and emerging teeth
  • No BPA, phthalates, cadmium, lead, metals
  • Easily cleaned with dish soap and water, also dishwasher safe
  • Necklaces have a breakaway clasp for added safety
  • Necklaces are a great sensory tool to help babies focus while nursing


Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Quotes I Love





I am Barbara, the Grandma (or “Munga” as Tuesday calls me) of Mon Petit Mardi.
I grew up in Boston (not Boston, Massachusetts just Boston, I have always laughed at how arrogant we Bostonians are that we just know that there is no other possible Boston!) My grandmother was a Liberian so that is probably where my great love of books started. I can remember being so excited when she would come with a box or two of discarded books from the library for me. The subject matter ranged from fantasy to history. There was never any rhyme or reason to what she would include. As I got older I wondered if it was her intention to expose me to all genres or if she chose books by how pretty they looked all lined up together. I suspect it was the latter as there was never any type of order that I could tell on her bookshelves, but they sure looked attractive and all of her books were well used and loved.
I married a fellow book lover and I think even he was surprised at the number of books I brought with me to my new home.
As we grew our family it was important to me to pass along my love of books. From pregnancy forward I read to my kids, and like my grandmother I included every type of book I could. I am happy to say that love of literature has stuck with both of my girls and it looks as if Tuesday is on the same path. We go through a daily routine where she selects books to be read to her and then manages to convince my husband (aka PaPa) to read “just one more”. I am not sure if he gives in because she is irresistibly cute in her begging or because he is an avid reader too. Whichever the case may be, she usually manages to get several books a day into her busy 3 year olds schedule.
As I was reading some passages out to Todd and it occurred to me that book quotes might work as a blog subject, so here it is. Some of my favorite literary quotes on motherhood follow:

"A good mother loves fiercely but ultimately brings up her children to thrive without her. They must be the most important thing in her life, but if she is the most important thing in theirs, she has failed." ― Erin Kelly - The Burning

"Gilbert put his arm about them. 'Oh, you mothers!' he said. 'You mothers! God knew what He was about when He made you." — L. M. Montgomery - Anne's House of Dreams (Anne of Green Gables Series)

 “I think this power of living in our children is one of the sweetest things in the world…” ― Louisa May Alcott - Jo's Boys

"A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts." — Washington Irving

“Motherhood is a choice you make everyday, to put someone else's happiness and well-being ahead of your own, to teach the hard lessons, to do the right thing even when you're not sure what the right thing is...and to forgive yourself, over and over again, for doing everything wrong.” ― Donna Ball - At Home on Ladybug Farm

“When your mother asks, "Do you want a piece of advice?" it's a mere formality. It doesn't matter if you answer yes or no. You're going to get it anyway.” - Erma Bombeck

“Think for a minute, darling: in fairy tales it's always the children who have the fine adventures. The mothers have to stay at home and wait for the children to fly in the window.” ― Audrey Niffenegger - The Time Traveler's Wife

“Does your ma know you're this silly?" she demanded tartly.

He nodded, comically sad. "The few gray hairs she has on her head are my doing. But" — with an exaggerated change of mood — "I send her plenty of money, so she can pay to have them dyed!"
"I hope she beat you as a child," Onua grumbled.” ― Tamora Pierce - Wild Magic


“I will look after you and I will look after anybody you say needs to be looked after, any way you say. I am here. I brought my whole self to you. I am your mother.” ― Maya Angelou - Mom & Me & Mom

“Just as there is no warning for childbirth, there is no preparation for the sight of a first child... There should be a song for women to sing at this moment, or a prayer to recite. But perhaps there is none because there are no words strong enough to name the moment.” ― Anita Diamant - The Red Tent

“I don't remember who said this, but there really are places in the heart you don't even know exist until you love a child.” ― Anne LamottOperating Instructions: A Journal of My Son's First Year

Did any of these quotes make you smile or touch a spot in your mind or heart?  There are so many more that I could include, but I would love to read some of your favorites. Please feel free to join the conversation by leaving your comments below.


Friday, May 23, 2014

Slime!

Homemade slime is an all time favorite around here. This recipe is a fun activity to do with your kids and will keep them occupied for hours!




Supplies:
- 4 oz white school glue (you can use white or clear for different looks)
- 1 teaspoon Borax (find this in the laundry aisle)
- 1 1/2 cups water
- food coloring if you want colored slime (red, in this case)
- something to mix in & stir with



Start by dissolving 1 teaspoon of Borax into 1 cup of water. 
(don't worry if all the powder dissolves)


Next pour the white school glue (or clear if you want) into a bowl. Next time I'll try glitter glue.



Next add 1/2 cup of water and a few drops of food coloring. I filled the empty glue bottle, gave it a good shake and dumped it in. You can use the glue bottle one more time as a 'spoon' for stirring. No need for extra dishes, right?



Now the fun part! Pour your Borax solution into the bowl and stir. Almost immediately you'll see the slime start to form. 


You'll need to drain the excess water now. It will still feel like it's too wet and slippery at this point, but it will firm up. Just knead it, stretch it, repeat. After a few minutes of this it'll be perfect. 



Here's the finished product.



When you're finished plying with your slime, put it in a zippy and keep in the fridge. If it seems to get a little dry, add a few drops of water to the baggy.



I probably don't need to say this but, please don't eat the slime. Although it may not be especially toxic, it can't be good for you either!