Happy Birthday +1 day to Hannah

Thank you for not being a martyr. I love you and will post more tonight. I love you!

xoxo,
Ellen

Happy Birthday to MEEEE!

I have tried that martyr-y not-telling-people-it's-my-birthday-all-day-thing and have decided to go in another direction....

Dear Ellen,
I have so much more to tell/show you, but here are some photos for now! :)

Abooot the Hoouuse

A Walk In Someone Else's Mocassins

“Do not judge your neighbor until you walk two moons in his moccasins.”

Dear Ellen, this picture you took in Nashville caught my eye today. The sermon yesterday was on forgiveness. I think I told you that. I like how easily Sam takes a walk in my moccasins.....

PS I love the hypnotic cooking post! Keep up the good writing, too! Is writing about something you're passionate hypnotic, too? Just wondering.
Lovies,
Hannah

Hypnotic Cooking

Dear Hannah,

I've been in such a funk lately. TCAP, the Tennessee state achievement test is finally over! Both my students and I are maxed out. I've been coming home from school and plopping on the couch, falling asleep, and then crawling into bed. But, one thing that has helped me through this week are two recipes.

Going to the kitchen is my best therapy. When I start pulling ingredients out of the pantry, my mind races with endless possibilities. I immerse all my senses in the act of cooking. My brain aligns to one purpose and concentrates on this singular task. All the white noise of life is drowned out by sizzling butter on a hot skillet, the aroma of cracked cumin rubbed between my palms, a cold, perfectly proportioned, perfectly speckled, farm egg waiting to be released from its shell, orange fingers from grating fresh carrots, the scattering of mustard seeds, the burning tears of an onion... I'm hypnotized. Even just imagining it now, my heart rate slows, my breaths deepen, my mind is still. I hope you enjoy these concoctions, too.



Bavarian Bayou Potato Salad
Ingredients:
12 small new potatoes (I used a bag of mixed types: purple, yellow, and red)
1 package andouille sausage
1/2 package frozen peas
1 large handful of torn parsley
salt

dressing:
1 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp salt
1 heaping Tbs stone ground mustard
1 heaping Tbs white wine mustard
1/4 c cider vinegar
1/2 c or more extra virgin olive oil

directions:
1. Clean and halve potatoes
2. Boil potatoes in salted water until fork tender
3. Slice and saute sausage until brown
4. Steam peas until warmed through
5. Wash and rip parsley
6. Assemble dressing: add all ingredients together except the oil. Slowly whisk in oil to emulsify.
7. Drain and dress potatoes
8. Mix in sausage and peas
9. Let cool to warm or room temperature
10. Add parsley and mix right before serving

Keeps well and the flavors just keep getting better.


Trader Joes Artichoke Chicken Pasta
Ingredients:
1 lb pasta (penne, fusilli, or farfalle would all work well)
1 bottle TJ's artichoke antipasto
1 container cherry or grape tomatoes
1 c or more grated parmigiano reggiano
1 lb chicken tenders
olive oil
salt and pepper

directions:
1. saute chicken tenders in olive oil and season with salt and pepper to taste until cooked through and slightly browned
2. add pasta to salted boiling water and cook for 9-11 minutes (depending on shape)
3. Slice tomatoes and set aside
4. drain pasta, return to pot, and add a few tablespoons olive oil to coat
5. Add tomatoes and stir
6. slice chicken into bite-sized pieces
7. Add chicken, artichoke antipasto, and parmigiano reggiano to the pot
8. Stir until all is coated with the sauce
9. Serve garnished with more parmigiano reggiano

If you prefer your tomatoes cooked a bit more, add them to the pan with the chicken when chicken is almost done - this will release more juice.

Buon Appetito!
Ellen

I still heart label makers and the color white :)

Just tho't I'd share this...I can't get my camera to upload new photos so here's one I took before I left. :)

Oh my!

Dear Ellen, those photos are really something! I love them all; you knew I would go gaga over the jellybeans but I wonder if you know that I think the asparagus is the most artistic? I did a double-take!

Easter 2010 - Nashville

Dear Hannah,

Easter this year was a splendid affair that I think will be best explained by pictures more than words...







love,
Ellen

Easter 2009 - Nashville

Dear Hannah,

Can you believe this was a year ago? What a sweet boy. Remember how he carried the bunny around in his mouth?

love,
Ellen

Cara's wedding!

Dear Hannah,

This was my matron of honor bouquet - pink tea roses and lime green berries. Here are just a few pictures from Cara's wedding (follow the link). The photographers were incredible and so much fun to work with! I'm looking forward to seeing more!

xoxo,
Ellen

I can't move until Tuesday

But, strangely, I am OK with that. I'm OK even though my only coat is a dirty sweatshirt, my only shoes are flip flops and (now) wet ballet flats, and I can't find the book I was reading! Here are those promised photos of my adventures in Richland. :)
By the way, I hate the random layout of the photos I post. I really need a lesson!

Dear Ellen,
I am alive! Sorry I have been MIA--my mom has come to Richland and now we have traveled to Yakima to be with Paul and Amy for Easter. They are, needless to say, eating him with a spoon!
I am so stunned to hear about the fire and relieved to hear that everyone survived (humans, anyway). What are they going to do now? Where do you go after a fire? I am glad you were there with flip flops and a spirit of commiseration. I wonder if I know which neighbors these are?
Was that bunny cake picture taken of THIS year's bunny cake? Your pics were fabulous! Thank you for fixing the header! How did you do that? How did you post that grid of 8 pics? And I love that 'dozen things we love' idea. Also I have to say, nice work on actual quality of writing on your longer piece, especially. I think it is smart that you use the blog as a forum to practice your writing skills. Blue, gray, and pink--I can see the way you feel.