tonight is all about me, grant, and miss emma woodhouse. i'm such a luckie to have a husband who watches jane austen with me. i consider him all the more gallant and sophisticated for it.

does pbs masterpiece classic suddenly seem cooler than ever? i will be tuning in all winter long for their jane austen miniseries. and if you missed the first episode of emma from last week, you can watch the whole thing here.

just got done watching the video about the new 'magical' item from apple. we haven't made up our minds about it yet. it sure is eye candyish with its dazzling screen and super-thin size. but we still want to know if you can run normal computer applications on it like iwork and photoshop. also, personally, it would be hard to get over the lack of anything mouselike for my fingers. but they talk like this is going to revolutionize everything, so if the iPad is what's next, maybe i just need to get with the times.

Tomato Soup 

adapted from 30-minute recipes

roughly 1 to 2 T. olive oil

1/4 c. finely chopped onion

pinch oregano, red pepper flakes, and cayenne pepper

1 tsp. chopped garlic

2 (14 oz.) cans chicken broth

4 oz. cream cheese at room temperature

1 cup crushed tomatoes or tomato puree

hearty croutons (homemade would be awesome)

1. drizzle olive oil in large saucepan over medium high heat. add onion and cook for 5 minutes.

2. add spices and chopped garlic, remove from heat and stir.

3. add broth and return to heat. bring broth to a boil.

5. in a bowl, whisk 1/3 c. of the hot broth into the cream cheese and blend until smooth.

6. return all to saucepan. add crushed tomatoes; heat through. ladle into bowls and give a generous sprinkle of croutons just before serving.

please take note.. the croutons seriously make this soup. i just mound my bowl with croutons to soak up the yummy broth.

i finished my fling with julia this week. how sad that it had to end. it was fascination.

but now i have a glowing review to give.

the book was nothing short of a smash. sprinkled with french phrases and dripping with details, it was an absolute delight. sensational, in the truest form of the word. my mouth-watered and my eyes feasted on her beautiful words. (yes, i am a total word nerd. i even took the pioneer woman's word nerd quiz last night while grant was at class.)

there was a popular cookbook in circulation during julia's prime called the joy of cooking, but i feel like this book is the real embodiment of that title. she positively flourished under the influence of french food; cooking was pure joy to her. and don't let the near-400 pages intimidate you, julia will have you so enchanted that you won't even realize you've been swept off your feet and into the heart of la belle france. granted, it probably helps that i share her love for making and eating food and her delight in all things french, but as one of the critics on the book jacket praised, 'her elegant, but unfussy prose pulls the reader into her stories.' i couldn't agree more. i was captivated.

not only did i come away from this book feeling like i've had a refresher course in my schoolgirl french (oh it made me want to break out my french 4 textbook again), but a few cooking lessons to boot. and here's what i will take with me into the kitchen from now on, '.. nothing is too much trouble if it turns out the way it should.' julia child. well said. bravo, julia.

we'll call this the classic movie of the month, and we'll see if another one pops up next month. there's a good chance of that happening now that i'm keeping tabs on the turner classic movies schedule and dvr'ing everything that intrigues me. have i told you? old movies are my fetish.

don't miss seeing our man jimmy stewart in this earliest you've got mail story. tomorrow. 3 pm. the shop around the corner. record it and save for valentine's day. or watch this weekend while your husband is at class.

ps. and if you're in the mood for a cutesy cary grant, you can catch operation petticoat on saturday. a goodie. and bonus.. co-starring tony curtis.

isn't this dress swell?

i'd like to wear an apron over it. go barefoot with it. and live forever in it.

via anthropologie, spotted by mandi.

my first jar of jam. a milestone. and believe it or not, it actually came out right. i kid you not. it's just like the gelatinous, fruity, spreadable stuff you can buy at the store! it really worked! and man, if it isn't good. i like to pair it with this peanut butter, in case you're into finding the perfect pb + j duo. and no matter that it was a cinch to make; it felt like a real achievement. as i held up my jar for grant to see what i had produced, my heart was beating high with domestic bliss. truly, boiling down fruit makes you feel like you did something really good for the day. so tie on your apron and grab your wooden spoon, girls. you have to get in on this.

strawberry rhubarb raspberry jam

adapted from the camp shetek golden anniversary cookbook

4 cups chopped rhubarb (i used garden rhubarb stashed in my freezer from last june)

1 cup strawberries (i used whole frozen strawberries)

2 cups sugar

1 (3 oz.) box of raspberry jello (i've always preferred raspberry, but you can go with any kind of berry)

0. because i was using frozen fruit, i let mine thaw a bit before starting.

1. bring rhubarb, strawberries, and sugar to a boil.

2. boil for 5 minutes, skimming off the foam as it forms.

3. reduce heat and let simmer for 15 minutes more, stirring often.

4. remove from heat. add jello and stir until completely dissolved.

5. let cool, stirring occasionally. when completely cool, pour into jars and store in fridge or freezer.

note. if possible, when you get to the jello step, use a utensil that is already stained and you don't care if it gets a deeper splotch of red.

what better way to get over the devastating loss last night than another snow day?

at the moment grant is having himself a much-deserved nap on the couch and i'm tapping away at the computer whilst surveying dipping tree branches and whirly tornados of snow in the yard. and talk about apropos for the current snowglobe status.. today i have a soup recipe to to rave about.

from the looks of our latest menu, you wouldn't know that grant and i are not big soup eaters. last week, in the spirit of winter and the cold that wracked my sinuses, we tried two new blends and happily found them to be bowl-finishers. before i could even ask, grant gave a solid 'yes' to my customary 'would you have this again?' question. definitely a good sign. the first of the two soups was a traditional chicken noodle that i revamped with rice and sour cream. mm. hope you love. ps. it's even yummier with some saltines + monterey jack.

super easy chicken and rice soup adapted from hannah's recipe

1 T. butter

light drizzle of olive oil

1/4 to 1/2 c. chopped onion

1 clove garlic, finely minced

1 cup finely chopped carrots

2 cans chicken broth

2 cans (from the broth), filled with water

2 cups cooked chicken breast, cubed

1/4 teaspoon basil

1/4 teaspoon oregano

salt, pepper, and mrs. dash to taste

desired amount of hot, cooked rice

dollop of sour cream (just enough for a hint of creaminess, without making it thick)

1. in a large pot over medium heat, melt butter and drizzle in olive oil. add onion and cook until translucent and tender, about 5 minutes. add garlic and stir around for about 30 seconds.

2. stir in carrots, chicken, chicken broth, water, and seasonings.

3. bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes. before serving, add rice and spoonful of sour cream. stir until blended and heated-through.

*note the lack of celery in this recipe. feel free to add it if you like. no celery fans live in this house.

two very heartbroken vikings fans here tonight.

goodbye, superbowl dreams.

that game hurt.

back from a break. i snowday'ed, lost my internet connection, made jam, took a bunch of notes on the subject of love, helped preschoolers write the number 7, wore my new anthro apron- thanks mom!- found two soups that we both like, and watched a cool documentary with grant.

fun, fun.

coming up next week.. a real report on jam-making and soup-making, recipes included. but for the time being, i have a subject to address. hello, homemade croutons. they are the thing at our house right now. better by a mile than the store-bought, salad bar type. the main attraction for me is texture; homemades have a little give when you bite into them, as opposed to the concrete cubes that make your head rattle when you try chomp through. use them in breakfast strata or tomato soup or as the new stand-in for a bowl of popcorn. honestly, they are that snacky.

homemade croutons (probably too easy to even warrant a recipe, but i wouldn't have known if i hadn't seen my mother-in-law do it, so why not.)

desired amount of bread, preferably something thick and yummy like a loaf of homemade french.

olive oil

garlic salt

mrs. dash original seasoning blend, or any favorite spices

1. preheat oven to 400 degrees

2. cut bread into 1 inch cubes and spread flat on a baking sheet

3. drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with garlic salt and other seasoning

4. bake for 10-12 minutes, or until reaching desired crustiness

5. optional broil for 1 or 2 minutes more for extra crunch and color

why today is awesome:

surprise snow day.

surprise snow day with my husband.

who is lots of fun.

raspberry rhubarb jam on the agenda.

tomato tortellini soup on the menu.

dvr.

grocery store date.

knitting lesson?

guys, this is the best. i was expecting a super-long 16-hour stretch away from grant today. i thought the storm of the century rumors were coming untrue. but lo and behold.. a bit of snow and ice. bam. school let out at 8:45 am. and now i get to hang out with him all day. minnesota rocks. more soon. happy wednesday!

how the vikings are one game away from superbowldom. how sidney rice and brett farve are the best combo since pb and j. how we finally put the christmas stuff away over the weekend. how today's cookie of the day looks like a keeper. how i'm on day 4 of a lousy cold. how jack bauer is back. how my february issue of martha is especially dog-eared and bursting with yummy recipes like chicken parmigiana, classic white bread four ways, broccoli and pasta casseroles, croque-monsieurs, and chocolate truffles. how much i'm enjoying julia child in france. how in the dead of winter, there are still flies buzzing around my house. how all manner of clever things are stirring in blog..

yes, i collect children's books and i have no kids in the home or on the way. let's just call it being prepared. or maybe being obsessed. however you want to say it, i am kid book rich. they are currently lining one of the downstairs closets, and i'm finding i have a good little hoard going. the past few months brought in a nice stack of inventory for the book closet. this page (see photo) is from the little old woman who lived in a shoe, which i picked up from preschool. i nabbed a handful more from the november book sale at the library, scored some for christmas, and grant brought me a couple from the scholastic book order at school. (remember those flimsy order forms?)

yep. the books are stockpiling around here. but don't get me wrong, i don't take just any old story. i like to be picky about whether or not they are worthy. good lessons, familiar characters, classics, and vintage illustrations will usually win me over with a look-through. and as long as they keep coming in at about 25 cents a pop, i don't see any reason to slow my stockpiling. one more thing. have you seen inchmark's library book category? every once in awhile, she'll share some fabulous book from the library shelf. i eat it up. then i put a star on it so i can remember what to look for someday. truly, she always has fantastic picks. it inspires me to keep collecting. if you guys have any big shot books for me to watch for, please do share.

these days i

1. bake like mad. and at the same time, am accomplishing goals. like 'put something homemade in grant's lunch' and 'make a cake from scratch'. a chocolate orange marble cake, to be precise. must be in a fruit + chocolate phase right now. (see yesterday's recipe for proof.)

2. wonder which olympic names will soon become media buzz words.

4. can't always feel my toes. extra-thick socks have been my boon companion for weeks now.

6. am planning the bible study that we're doing over here. we just kicked off. woohoo.

7. wonder, will i be hopelessly devoted to this season of american idol? or will i fade away when we get to hollywood week? so far my favorite is the greg brady lookalike.

8. am shamelessly addicted to a new brand of peanut butter. bring on the toast.

9. get in bed early, read a bit of my life in france (so far, so lovely), and stay up late figuring out silly things with grant. like the words to the growing pains theme song. and the seaver family names.

10. listen to battle studies. am coming around about this melancholy mix. straightaway after christmas, it was too much of a downer. the heartache theme was bringing me down, but am now rallying to find remnants of the happier john in some catchy lines and melodies.

so when i went to take these out of the oven, i thought it my fate was already sealed: failure. they were brown. all brown. but, at least they were puffy. then i sat them out on the cooling rack, where they proceeded to sink into oblivion. great. over-done, thin cookies. but, silly me, i should've known never to doubt martha.

they're amazing! and they're not burnt to a crisp at all. i had a moment of revelation when i tasted these: this is what a chewy cookie is (and should always be). now i understand. they are soft and still sink-your-teeth, without having any of the weight or gooeyness of a 'soft cookie'. i am mystified by this. so, these are the new sensation at our house. we're loving the little wafer of banana bread goodness crossed with the traditional oatmeal chocolate chip. mm. you're going to love it too. i just know.

banana chocolate chip cookies adapted from martha stewart

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 c. whole wheat flour

1 tsp. coarse salt

1/2 tsp. baking soda

3/4 cup softened butter

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1 large egg

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

1/2 cup mashed ripe banana (about 1 large)

1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats

8 ounces semisweet chocolate chips

1. preheat oven to 375 degrees. whisk together flour, salt, and baking soda in a small bowl; set aside.

2. put butter and sugars in mixer bowl and mix on medium speed until pale and fluffy. add egg and vanilla; mix until combined. mix in banana. add flour mixture; mix until just combined.

3. stir in oats and chocolate chips.

4. drop dough by 1 1/2 inch spoonfuls, leaving about 2 inches in between, onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. (this is important! i did one tray without any lining and it was super hard to get the cookies off. i'm sure wax paper would work too. just throw something on there and save yourself the trouble of digging.)

5. bake cookies, rotating sheets halfway through, for 12 or 13 minutes, or until golden brown (yes, brown) and just set. let cool on sheets on wire racks for 5 minutes, then transfer cookies to wire racks and let cool completely.

makes about 3 dozen. cookies can be stored in airtight containers up to 2 days.

yesterday was also an impromptu baking day, prompted by a few over-ripe bananas on the counter. i started with the customary banana bread, and had enough bananamash leftover for banana cookies; a first. more on this little adventure tomorrow. then i got bundled up, took the driver's seat (a rare occurrence), turned on some john mayer and watched the snow fly from the farm fields and swish past my tires. i drove back to grant's school, where i met him on the bus and wished him a good game. by the time we got home, we had missed american idol (but it's okay. we have dvr now. we'll survive.) and my crockpot dinner had gotten a little dry, but we shoveled it into our empty stomachs with gusto. and as we demolished a bowl of buttered white rice (i know. so healthy, right?), we gushed over how good it tasted and why was it so perfect tonight and how awesome butter is.

ever open up iphoto and see 34 photos that could be 'nothing' or could have a blog post buried inside them? yeah, that's me right now. i'm staring at a window of random pictures from the past 11 days of january and wondering if i should just drag them over to the trash. or should i fish for the right words to say and send them up for posting? hmm. i guess i'll hold on to them for now. perhaps i'll have a li'l stray photos slideshow sometime.

on a different note, this morning i decided to do another one of those posts where i simply write about what life is like lately|what i'm doing today. they make me feel like 'real life' is being recorded here. and i think 'future summer' will enjoy reading what she used to do. surprisingly, sometimes i actually do go back and skim posts from the past, occasionally we even use the blog as a historical reference when we can't remember something. like, when did the 'for sale' sign go up in front of our apartment? anyway, i wonder if those 'day in the life' posts might be the ones i will be most glad that i wrote someday.

at the moment, i'm headed to the kitchen to whip up some banana chocolate chip cookies; i'll be back later to write about my day, as right now is my least favorite time to be on the computer. there's a horrible glare on the screen at this hour- but i'm not complaining! a glare means sunlight, and i will never begrudge a little sunshine, especially in the dead of winter.

these days everyone's pulling out all the stops for assignment: get back on track|make a turn around. you know, i'm not a stickler about resolutions, i never used to give them a glance, but as i grow up i begin to see the wisdom behind this custom. 'tis the season to self-examine and evaluate what's up; definitely a wise idea. to set your mind on something, to work toward something, that's just smart. in my opinion, being complacent is far more dicey than setting a few far-reaching goals.

so i took inventory. i tried to keep it plain and simple while pinpointing where i was getting lax, and, in true new year's fashion, came up with some healthy/beneficial things to pursue. not so sure these are honest-to-goodness resolutions, as i'm super aware of our tendency to be almost never constant. i'm sure i will not be 'resolute.' my self-control will waver. peaks + slumps. continual change. that's how it goes. and that's where, once again, i figure out that i can't do anything without the Holy Spirit.

okay. i can't not talk about this. in the last couple of weeks, during the holidays and blizzarding and beyond, grant and i have seen a constant stream of blessings come pouring into our life. some little, some big, but all wonderful, unexpected things. it's incredible. wherever we turn, we are finding God's grace falling in our lap. His omnipotent hand, providing over and above the needed help, via the mailbox, inbox, phone calls, family, and even the budget. i need to record this time, both to give Him praise and so that i can look back and remember His faithfulness, and maybe also to encourage anyone who might read this. one of my favorite people to quote, mr. charles spurgeon, says, 'what a serene and quiet life might you lead if you would leave providing to the God of providence!' in other words, stop worrying. hope on, hope ever. there is Someone who cares, who knows what you need even before you ask for it.

thank you, Lord, for scattering awesome things throughout our life. lately i feel like they are coming at us from all directions. i know we've done nothing to deserve them, but they are case in point of your goodness and grace. and i praise You.

ps. am especially grateful today for a good friend. happy birthday, sarah!

we're on day three of being 'snowed in,' which translates to day three of no school, and has nothing at all to do with staying in the house. this morning grant was out clearing a path for the mail man, then he was off to the hardware store and i to the gym. who cares if highway 59 is still closed? we're getting along just fine in our 4 block radius of town. and we're even more convinced that this was the best year ever to buy a snowblower. at one point grant entertained thoughts of roughing it through one winter, just him and the shovel. whew. so glad that thought was fleeting and thankful for a black friday sale on winter equipment. the snowblower is our new best pal.

and here's my other new fling, fresh from the christmas haul.. you don't know jacques! by o.p.i. courtesy of my stylish twin sis. c'est tres chic. thanks, haley! as i'm sure you all know, a nail session is only natural during this many snowdays. this shade of polish almost matches the walls of my living room, which i find totally fitting because i'm hung up on this color right now. somewhere between slate grey and chocolate milk. rather elegant and mysterious, i think. what shade are you wearing these days?

i'm a little later than normal in my posting today because i've been so busy with snowday stuff. sleeping in, reese's puffs, an experiment with my hair, making a 'real' lunch instead of turkey sandwiches, you know how it goes. the day flies so much faster and fun when you've got a husband home to hang out with.

but back to the real reason i'm here: soup. forget the fact that this photo looks like bacon pizza at first glance, this post is about soup, and it goes out to my cousin-in-law, brea. is that a real term? cousin-in-law? anyway, brea, i'm sorry this is so long in coming, but here's my favorite baked potato soup recipe. i hope it's slurp-worthy for you. (also, i hope that we can hang out sometime this year.. did i hear something about a fall trip to MN? also, i still owe you a list of camera tips & tricks. i have not forgotten. also, i would like to take style lessons from you. have i told you this yet?)

this recipe comes from the kitchen of one of my favorite ladies, grandma vi. vi isn't actually my grandma, but she is a grandma figure to practically everyone back at my home church. grandma vi once made a batch of her zweiback rolls, toted them to church, and hand-delivered them to me, for no other reason than she knew how much i loved them. i'm telling you, this lady is a true delight. just like her famous soup.

4 large baking potatoes

2/3 c. butter

1/3 c. flour

6 c. milk

3/4 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

4 green onions, chopped and divided

12 slices bacon, cooked, crumbled and divided

1 1/4 c. shredded cheddar cheese, divided

8 oz. sour cream

1. bake potatoes, let cool, peel and dice as finely as preferred; set aside.

2. melt butter in a heavy saucepan over low heat, add flour; stirring until smooth.

3. cook 1 minute, stirring constantly.

4. gradually add milk, cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is thickened and bubbly.

5. add diced potato, salt, pepper, 2 T. green onions, 1/2 c. bacon, and 1 c. cheese. cook until thoroughly heated; stir in sour cream.

6. add extra milk, if necessary, for desired consistency. serve with remaining onion, bacon, and cheese sprinkled on top.

nevermind. no grad school student here, yet. grant's first class, along with almost every other activity since noon yesterday, was cancelled due to the snowstorm that rolled in. i wonder, are you guys as blizzarded as we are? it's awfully white and windy 'round these parts. i've never felt so encased in snow before; the blanket has risen up to where it is level with our windows the whole way around our house. cool. literally.

the first class was rescheduled for saturday morning, so we'll have to wait to celebrate student re-entry then. for the time being, let me say a thousand thanks to all of you who left us mini pep talks and congrats and go get 'ems yesterday. the fact that you care enough to read about my life blows me away, but then to hear back from you too.. that's one happy surprise. thank you, friends. you made me that much more excited to enter a new phase of life.

from my snow cocoon, summer

today my husband becomes a student again, and i hope he knows how proud i am. not only for making the commitment, but for dreaming up the idea in the first place. for thinking about our future, doing the research, and jumping through the hoops. i so admire this man i married. on top of being a full time teacher and coach, now he's buying his own textbooks and driving to the city for classes. i hope he knows that i'm looking forward to going through this with him. and i hope i can find ways to be helpful to him all along the way. i'm excited that this era will push me to develop my talents as grant's helper. as he commits to doing homework, i commit to putting extra effort into being supportive, selfless, and encouraging.

i've already got it in my head that there will be late nights, less cash, and hours of being apart. and (at the moment) i'm totally up for it. a challenge! yes. cool. just what every young married couple needs. it's what grant has always told me; he has taught me to value a trial. he welcomes those grin and bear it times as opportunities to rely completely on our Savior and to grow closer to each other. which leads me to say, most importantly, that i hope what grant takes away from this intense time in his life is a full-on experience of God's faithfulness. i hope and pray that he will do his work as unto the Lord, not men. that when he feels tired or unmotivated he will turn to His strength instead of his own. and that through it all, he'll carry a sense of peace in knowing he doesn't have to shoulder anything on his own.

i love you, grant. let the adventure begin.

already in the throes of boiling down spinach leaves for quiche last night, i realized my pie plate had gone missing. but no matter, necessity is the mother of invention. introducing: quiche, squared.

'tis the season for piping hot dinners. when the forecast gives a high of -3 degrees for the day, nothing seems more appropriate. yesterday we took the quiche route to beat the cold, and it's gone now, but i remember it being impeccably stiff with cheesy richness and hot yummy eggs. mmm. be sure to stop by later this week for another winter dish. i'm turning the spotlight on a favorite lady and answering a special recipe request. fun, fun.

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/4 onion, chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

1 (10 oz.) bag fresh spinach leaves or 1 (10 oz.) pkg. frozen chopped spinach

6 eggs, beaten

3 cups shredded cheese (i used 1 cup each of colby jack, mozz, & cheddar)

1/8 tsp. black pepper

1. preheat oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease a 9 inch pie plate (or 8x 11 inch dish).

2. prepare spinach. if using fresh, add spinach to a large pot of boiling water and cook just until wilted, about 1 minute. drain in a colander, rinse with cold water until cool. squeeze spinach to remove as much liquid as possible; coarsely chop and set aside.

if using frozen, thaw and drain spinach. set aside.

3. heat oil in a skillet over med-high heat. add onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are soft. add garlic to onions and cook 1 minute more, then stir in spinach and continue cooking until excess moisture has evaporated.

4. in a large bowl, combine beaten eggs, cheese, salt, and pepper. add spinach mixture and stir to blend. scoop into prepared pie pan.

5. bake about 30 minutes, or until eggs have set. let cool 10 minutes before serving.

hello, double digits. happy to see you. i still haven't decided how to say your name. my guess is that twenty ten will stick, but grant is rooting for oh-ten. we'll see.

we are home from nebraska now, and nearly ready for the plunge back into normalcy. as usual, christmas vacation has been a giant pause in our regular life. a pause that has spoiled me with the luxury of spending every waking moment alongside my husband. we're getting up all our guts to press play tomorrow morning, but i've a feeling i'll be homesick for grant by 8 am.

so far in 2010, i've done a few things in my life.

i said yes to being haley's maid of honor. woohoo!

i played the wii, for the first time ever.

i scored a 245 in wii bowling, which is better than i will ever do in real life.

i wore pearls.

i downloaded the newest john mayer album.

i bought some organic things at the grocery store and felt cool.

i listened to maroon 5 while sharing the bathroom with my sisters.

i signed up to bring something sweet to sunday school.

i learned about the nfl playoffs.

i read the pioneer woman cookbook. that sounds weird, but you really can read this cookbook.

i watched the movie that won best picture in 1934. it's a favorite.

i made a list of more books and movies to take in during 2010. tune in tomorrow to see.

well, here i go. off to get back into the swing of things. it's a school night, you know. i need to trim grant's neckline and make his lunch and set out my laundry baskets for the morning. see you soon.