Winter Wonderland

Tutoots is convinced that snow means Christmas so when it snows she says "Merry Christmas" 

 We woke up today to some HUGE white fluffy flakes coming down.  I had all intentions of following our regular routine and then heading to school, but you know what they say about intentions. Everyone was up, dressed and bundled up so we headed out to take the dog out, one of the not fun aspects of city living, which is about three blocks away. When we left it was just starting to come down pretty good. By the time we got back we had about an inch on the ground! I decided I was not walking a mile to school to be told they were closing school. Instead we are all bundled up in warm jammies and have decided today is a movie, hot chocolate and art project day!

I think his winter has lost its wonder

I need warm jammies. I need cookies. I need a movie! Mama can we just go home?

Even the dog was excited for a bit, and then decided he had enough.

This girl knows how to do comfy!

It sure is pretty from inside though.

Winter in Ravenna
Basilica San Vitale

Gotta run, my hot chocolate is ready!

Happy Day!

Erin

Fabulous Friday

Foil Lady!

Does it get any better than haircut and color day? I swear it is my favorite day and I look forward to the next one the second I leave the salon! And this time it was much needed I had roots so long I looked like I had ombré hair. After a few hits and misses I found me an amazing guy who is willing to put up with my hair craziness! And he isn't afraid of my highlights-something Italian ladies don't do often.

And you know what else made this Friday fabulous? Aperitifs with friends! Aperitifs are the Italian version of happy hour and since a wonderful friend was willing to watch my kiddos tonight I got to go! I usually only get to go in the summer time when we can gather at the outside tables and let the kids play in a nearby piazza. And after the craziness of this week I enjoyed every minute of hanging out! We had such a good time I forgot to snap a pic.

Happy Day!
Erin

A visit from the Paci Fairy

In our house once you blow out two candles on your birthday cake it is time for you and the pacifier to go your separate ways. Since we were leaving for the States a few weeks after the Wildman's birthday he got a short reprieve, but no more. Now with Tutoots ( who is all into pageantry) we excitedly skipped around the house with a basket finding all of the pacis and left them on the front porch for the fairy to come pick up with a nice note. She snuggled with Mama for a few extra minutes and after she got her new "pink pawoo pajamas" the next morning we never heard another peep about a paci.

She even brought big sister some slipper shoes for helping her brother adjust!

I'm sure you can guess I did not get so lucky with the Wildman. Forget pageantry- he wanted nothing to do with finding all of the pacis, he just kept re hiding them. Once I got all of them in a tray and on the table he was just plain mad and kept screaming "No Note! Ciuccio Back!" Being the wonderful wife that I am I proceeded to sneak out the door to have dinner with friends and left my husband to deal with the aftermath! If I am being truly honest he has way more patience than I do so it was probably better that I was gone.

How cute are these dinosaurs pants? 

Well a few days later he is still screaming, throwing toys and leaving bruises on all of us. In fact he is so mad at the Paci Fairy that he refuses to wear the dinosaur pajamas she left as a big boy gift and heaven forbid you try to put the slipper shoes on his precious feet. Mimi (my mother) keeps saying it will only take a few days and he will be over it, but I think she is under the assumption he is going to live those few days. One more train to my head and the Paci Fairy is not the only gal he will have issues with!

Happy Day!
Erin

Tasty Tuesday: Ratatouille

Let's be clear I am no chef. I would at best categorize myself as a good "nap time" cook. Meaning I whip up dinner as much as I can while the kiddos nap. The Wildman is just too wild and curious for me to be wielding  a chopping knife while he is awake! Today's recipe fits the bill perfectly, I complete the chopping and dicing during nap time and am ready to go. For full disclosure this is not my recipe I got it from my mama and I'm not sure what cookbook it came from- but it sure is yummy!

With all of this goodness how could it be bad?

Ratatouille

2 zucchini cut lengthwise and diced into 1/2-inch pieces
1 small eggplant cut into 1/2-inch pieces (peeling is optional and and I opt not to- why do the extra work?)
2 red peppers cut into 1/2-inch pieces seeds removed
2 medium onions peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 (15 ounce) can organic diced tomatoes
4 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon of fresh thyme, finely diced
1/4 cup of parsley, chopped
4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 cup of vegetable stock (possibly)
salt and pepper

• Sprinkle the eggplant lightly with 1 teaspoon sea salt and place in a strainer. Set aside for 10 minutes. After eggplant has rested, rinse off with water.
• In an 8-inch sauce pan heat 2 tablespoons olive oil. Add eggplant to the pan when oil is hot. Slightly brown eggplant and remove from pan and set aside. 
• Add the zucchini and let brown slightly, remove from pan and set aside.
• Add the red peppers until they soften. Remove from pan and set aside.
• Add 1 tablespoon olive oil and saute the onions until soft, and then add garlic. Cook for 2 minutes.
• Add the tomatoes. Cook another 5 minutes. 
• Add the eggplant, zucchini and peppers and simmer for 20 minutes. If necessary, add 1 cup of vegetable stock. Finally add your herbs and season with cracked pepper and pinch of sea salt. Simmer for another 10 minutes. 

From beginning to end dinner is on the table in about 45 minutes, with pre-chopping only about 35 minutes. I'm not a huge fan of leftovers but since we are a small family they are pretty much inevitable. So I love it when a dish is just as good the next day and this one is. It still has all of the color and flavor so all I have to do is add fresh parsley to it and dinner is re-served!

I meant to take pictures of it completed but everyone was so hungry it was on the table and we were digging in before I even thought about it!

Happy Day!
Erin

Reset

Whew! I made it through the past year, visited 3 countries, saw the family quite a bit and welcomed an adorable nephew. But that was last year and now it is time for a New Year. I know it started 12 days ago, but for me it doesn't start until we arrive home and recover from the jet lag. And I swear this trip the jet lag was the worst it has been. So today is the day I reset. Back to better eating, working out and back on schedule! Well the laundry is done, clothes are ironed, shoes are polished and the kitchen is clean- I'm ready to take on the week and reset this year!


How about you?


Happy Day!
Erin

Out of the mouth of E-rie

This gal just cracks me up, but as she gets older it is scary to hear my words come out of her mouth. This week she has been home sick all week so I've been able to catch even more of her funny quips- Enjoy!

Rocking her costume from when she was only 17 months old!

While snuggling in the chair...

"Mama I'll make you a deal. I'll play clean up in my room if you make muffins!"

And later...

"This is not a good deal. The mess is making me sick" 

I think she was trying to say she was sick of the mess ;)

She has recently started calling me Mom and I don't like it- it just sounds so whiney and big girl. So whenever she does it I correct her by saying "what is my name?" So while putting her hair up this went down...

"Mom yous is killin my piggie!"

"What's my name?"

"If I say mommy will you stop killin me?"

On the way to the doctor for a follow up...

"Mama I'm not going to the doctor."

"E-rie we need to go so he can listen to your lungs and you can feel better. Daddy is going with us won't that be fun?"

"No mama, daddy is going to get pejato (gelato) because that is fun!"

What a silly gal...

Tasty Tuesdays: Butternut Squash and Apple Soup

We are committed to a healthy, preservative free, whole food way of life. That means we cook every meal and every snack for every single day! Since I spend so much time in the kitchen I have a ton of recipes and tricks to make it easier. Thus we begin- Tasty Tuesdays! Where I share a good recipe I found or a tip that makes cooking with two kids under my feet a happier, smoother experience.

For me , and I'm pretty sure everyone else, Fall=Soup and Butternut Squash and Apple Harvest Soup is one of my favorites. It goes together quickly and is great leftover too!

Add caption

I originally found the recipe on my All Recipes app but have made a few changes to make it fit our whole foods lifestyle and dietary needs- omitting the wine and light cream and use a homemade stock. Even without the cream the soup is still smooth and creamy, however with the homemade stock I find it needs more salt. Since I chop up the leeks, onion and carrots at the beginning of the week I can have this dinner on the table in about 30 minutes. If you find yourself with extra time definitely try roasting the squash- it really makes for a completely different but still amazing flavor!

Ingredients

2 tablespoons of butter

2 large leeks (white and pale green parts only)- chopped

1 large onion- diced

1 large potato- cut into 1/4 inch cubes

2 cups of cubed butternut squash ( I can find frozen cubed raw squash)

1 cup carrots-diced

1 Granny Smith Apple 

I quart of stock

1/4 cup of dry white wine

1/2 c light cream

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

salt and pepper to taste

chopped chives for garnish

Directions

1.  Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat. Stir in leeks and onions, and cook until onion softens and turns translucent, about 5 minutes. Add potato, squash, carrots, apple and stock. Bring to boil, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover and simmer until vegetables are soft, about 20 minutes. 

2.  Carefully puree the soup in batches in a blender, or use a stick blender to puree the soup right in the pot. Once the soup has been pureed, return it to the pot and stir in wine and cream. Season with nutmeg, salt and pepper, simmer gently for 5 minutes. Ladle into bowls and garnish with chopped chives. 

Buon Appetito!

Erin