I was nominated for something other than World's Worst Mother! Vote for me!? What'll I win? I wonder. Maybe I won't win anything. Maybe just being nominated is winning?
Leaving now to vote for Claudia.
And the Award for Biggest Jackass goes to...
I was nominated for something other than World's Worst Mother! Vote for me!? What'll I win? I wonder. Maybe I won't win anything. Maybe just being nominated is winning?
Leaving now to vote for Claudia.
You Can Make Injera- Really.
Meghan has helped produce an incredible new cookbook. It is a resource that is invaluable to adoptive families with children from Ethiopia. You will easily be able to make your kids one of their favorite things- Injera.
I was quite intimidated by the idea. I knew there was some fermenting involved, and special pans, and days upon days of preparations. Not so much. Easy, Peasy. Yummy, Delicious. Steven was the main chef, I was the sous chef. It was so easy, I'd be surprised if Meazi isn't making it by herself by the end of the school year.
Last Thursday night, after the kids and I fell asleep, Steven prepared the batter.
He used the Maskal brand teff, just the brown kind. I believe the recipe calls for a mixture, but he just used the brown. (Remarkably this teff flour belonged to Chris. He took it from her home after she died).
We tucked it in an open space on our very cluttered counter.
It is supposed to ferment for up to 48 hours, but ours worked longer. I was worried that if we waited too long it would turn into beer or something. Not all would be lost, but still, it was a concern.
On Memorial Day, Steven added the hot water, which you have to do six to eight hours before you want to start making the bread.
Our dear friends came over with their brand new Injera pan around 4:00 pm. Steven treated the pan with salt.
Doesn't it look yummy?
This pan was fantastic, but Meghan assures me that you absolutely do not need it. A simple frying pan, without a large lip, dedicated solely to Injera making, will work just as well. (But if you were desperately trying to find me the perfect gift for, well, uhm, Father's Day? This Bethany pan would suffice). We didn't have a lid, so we just used one from another one of Heather's frying pans.
Here we go...
I made Shiro from some powder I had, and the yellow split pea recipe from the Injera cookbook. I did not realize that in addition to easy, detailed, instructions on how to make Injera, the book contained tons of yummy recipes for many of our favorite Ethiopian dishes.
The Injera was great. It was the real deal. The dark teff gives it a richer, stronger, taste in my opinion, and next time we will try a mixture of the light and dark teffs.
It kept comin'. We kept eating. The kids loved it.
There is something incredibly satisfying about making injera for our kids. Meazi kept raving, "I can't believe you made injera!" She'd run out of the kitchen, and then run right back in to rip off another piece. She took the injera with some leftover Shiro in her lunchbox today. Earlier on Monday, she had told me how her family made injera in Ethiopia. She gave me some pointers. We live 15 miles from Little Ethiopia. We are incredibly lucky to have access to injera and other products, but now we know that no matter where we are, we can recreate this incredible gift of food, culture, family- living and departed- and friends.
Here is a lovely article about Meghan, Mulu, and their book. All proceeds go to building and improving health clinics in Ethiopia. Great idea. Invaluable resource. Delicious injera. Here's the link again.
Happy Fermenting.
I was quite intimidated by the idea. I knew there was some fermenting involved, and special pans, and days upon days of preparations. Not so much. Easy, Peasy. Yummy, Delicious. Steven was the main chef, I was the sous chef. It was so easy, I'd be surprised if Meazi isn't making it by herself by the end of the school year.
Last Thursday night, after the kids and I fell asleep, Steven prepared the batter.
We tucked it in an open space on our very cluttered counter.
On Memorial Day, Steven added the hot water, which you have to do six to eight hours before you want to start making the bread.
Here we go...
The Injera was great. It was the real deal. The dark teff gives it a richer, stronger, taste in my opinion, and next time we will try a mixture of the light and dark teffs.
Here is a lovely article about Meghan, Mulu, and their book. All proceeds go to building and improving health clinics in Ethiopia. Great idea. Invaluable resource. Delicious injera. Here's the link again.
Happy Fermenting.
Suzeday Tuesday: Vignettes
Hope everyone had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend! I thought for this Suzeday Tuesday, I'd do something a little different. You see, every time I come home The Suze has rearranged the furniture and created new little vignettes. So I thought I'd share a few. Enjoy!
Who's watching Million Dollar Decorators tonight??? I can't wait!!
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| The Suze would like to know if anyone wants to play antiques roadshow and tell her what these little German people are called |
Who's watching Million Dollar Decorators tonight??? I can't wait!!
MFG!
I would like to go, but I'm not sure Melese will let me.
Have you read the book yet?
Maybe you'll catch her in your city.
And it's Just too Bright...
So I guess I'm not ready to give up the blog just yet. I will just have to figure out what to share. I have a feeling Meazi will help me with that. I hope that she doesn't mind that I share the following.
Today was the two year anniversary of our referral for Meazi and Melese. I had mentioned that fact to Meazi early on in the week. I asked her if she remembered what had happened on May 27th. She didn't. I showed her this video again. Then she remembered. Last night, for the first time in months, we talked extensively about Ethiopia. Meazi told me a couple of happy stories that I had never heard before. Then she asked me why her new friend Aster needed a family. I told her that I wasn't sure. We agreed that she must feel really scared, being here in Los Angeles for only a couple of weeks.
This morning Meazi slept in. We had talked about playing Pippi Longstocking again in the morning. I am always Pippi, Meazi is Annicka, and Melese is Tommy. We play this a lot. I lift our rocking horse over my head repeatedly, and we eat a lot of pancakes. This morning we made a huge stack with a slab of butter in the center, doused in syrup, and smothered in whipped cream. While I was cooking I asked Meazi to choose a not so loud cd for us to listen to. We have a messy collection of about 30 miscellaneous cds in our living room. Amazingly enough she chose a cd I made for myself and my waiting friends while we waited, and waited, for children. The songs are about waiting, and At Last is at the end. Cue ugly happy cry number one. Meazi asked me again to describe what happened on May 27th, 2009. I got to the part about "A 2 1/2 year old girl and her baby brother" and completely lost it- big, heaving, sobs. She just smiled at me, knowing that I was crying because I was happy and grateful. She has been especially sweet to me, and to her baby brother all day.
I was thinking that we might not pay much attention to this date in our family. Really, probably not a happy day to mark for M&m. But, now, as with many things, this date has a new significance for all of us. Meazi, the perceptive wonder that she is, realizes fully that this day was a REALLY big day around here. As we sit together in the same room where all our friends came to celebrate, I think we will definitely use a sharpie marker to mark this day on our family's calendar.
This has been a day so full of happiness that I feel like I may actually burst. Yes, there are problems. Yes, there is sadness. Yes, there is loss.
But not today.
Today is pancakes and Pippi, libraries and parks, picnics and playdates. Today I am overwhelmed with gratitude. Today I am sure that I must be the luckiest mom on the planet.
The very luckiest.
For Bridget. Hold. On.
French Blue Friday: Happy Baby Edition
And now for a happy post to send you off on your weekend. What's happier than this guy!
Seriously. I can't be sad for even five minutes around him. He's just happy 24/7, especially with his best friend Reagan. Edward had a big week this week! He turned 8 months (I can't believe it!), started crawling and pulling himself up to standing (oy vey), and discovered the dog is more fun than any of his toys. I'm convinced his crawling was solely motivated by his need to bother the dog.
But enough about Edward (never!), let's talk about his outfit. It's real fancy. Too fancy to let him wear for any period of time, but I love it. It was a gift from a very close family friend and I hang it outside of his closet so I can look at it everyday. It's from a line called Baby Bespoke by Kathryn Beach, which features classic heirloom styles in luxurious 100% cashmere, as well as a few other fabulous sussies for the fancy baby. Here are some of my favorites:
Seriously. I can't be sad for even five minutes around him. He's just happy 24/7, especially with his best friend Reagan. Edward had a big week this week! He turned 8 months (I can't believe it!), started crawling and pulling himself up to standing (oy vey), and discovered the dog is more fun than any of his toys. I'm convinced his crawling was solely motivated by his need to bother the dog.
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| This picture took 45 minutes to take. Sitting is for losers, he said. |
But enough about Edward (never!), let's talk about his outfit. It's real fancy. Too fancy to let him wear for any period of time, but I love it. It was a gift from a very close family friend and I hang it outside of his closet so I can look at it everyday. It's from a line called Baby Bespoke by Kathryn Beach, which features classic heirloom styles in luxurious 100% cashmere, as well as a few other fabulous sussies for the fancy baby. Here are some of my favorites:
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| Baby Susie Hand Smocked Dress with Bonnet and Bloomers |
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| Benjamin Day Suit |
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| Bennet Day Suit |
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| Cashmere Coverall |
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| Gossamer Socks |
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| Cashmere Onepiece |
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| Victoria Hand Smocked Bubble |
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| Silver Cup |
I mean, really? Soo adorable! I love dressing babies up in classic smocked bubbles and such. These would make great gifts for the special baby in your life. They're the kind of thing you can pass down for generations.
Have a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend!! Stay safe everyone!
Have a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend!! Stay safe everyone!
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