My Hair Isn't Grey Enough Yet

The day before Mother's Day I was told I'm going to be a Grandma and I wanted to share an insight I gained in the past few weeks... I'm sure I'll share others as the months go by; the baby's due in January.

• Be very specific what you ask God for because he'll grant what you are asking on HIS terms & timing NOT yours:
• When Maddie was born I said I wanted a daughter who was strong and spoke her mind. I made the mistake of not clarifying that I wanted a daughter that was strong and spoke her mind to everyone EXCEPT me.... I got exactly what I wished for...
• I've ALWAYS said I wanted to skip right over motherhood straight to being a Grandma so I could spoil the grandkids rotten and send them home. I forgot to clarify that I wanted my children to zoom up in age also so that when they became parents they would be 100% prepared to have their  own child (if that's even possible.)... Anyway, I got exactly what I wished for...
• My hair isn't grey enough yet to be called "Grandma" so I'm announcing to all the other Grandmother's (Great etc) that I am claiming the title of "Nana Jamie" right now. Pick something else for yourself ....sorry!
• For the soon to be Grandfather's... FYI the kids already call their Grandfather's "Papa"... Papa John, Papa Earl & Papa Harry so if you have that in mind for yourself, you'll need to pick something else because that title's already designated for the "Great Grandfather's"...

For Hunter & Skye, although I can't claim I'm overjoyed at the thought of getting a grandchild before my hair is white enough to get the title of "Grandparent" I do know I will be an awesome "Nana" and I'll love your child more than I can express here...

Also, here's some helpful tips I found on the internet last night for you both (Sorry I'm having trouble getting it bigger on here...  To see a bigger image CLICK HERE)

Memories of Grandma Lela - Mamoul, Maamoul (Syrian Date Cookies)

Some of the things that remind me of my Grandma Lela are her sewing, crocheted slippers, embroidery and her Syrian Date Cookies (aka Mamoul or Maamoul). She would always make them, put them in a tin and bring with her on the airplane when she came to see us.

Grandma Lela (Wasn't she beautiful?)

Today I decided to make some so I thought I would share "how to" with everyone. They are nummy.

There are many versions of the receipe out there on the web. Some use semonila flour and yeast. I use a simpler version using white flour.

First you will want to gather the ingredients:

1 3/4 Cups of Flour
1 1/2 Sticks Unsalted Butter cut into small pieces
3 tsp Orange Flower Water or Rose Water - (or 1/2 & 1/2 of each.. that's what I did)
2 TBSP Milk
Filling:
1/2 pound pitted dates (or I found baking dates in the Middle Eastern Store. It's already a jam/paste consistency so you can skip the step below to make the filling.)
3 TBSP Water

Directions:
1. Heat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

To prepare the filling if you can't find the baking dates:
1. Put pitted dates and water in a saucepan over low heat. Bring to a simmer, reduce and stir often until the consistency is thick and jam-like. Spread the filling on a plate or shallow bowl to cool.

To make the dough:
1. Put the flour in a mixing bowl

2. Cut up the unsalted butter into small pieces (mine was frozen so it broke up nicely.)

4. Add the butter to the flour and use a pastry cutter to blend w/ flour until a crumbly consistency (or use a food processor.)

5. Sprinkle Orange and/or Rose Water & milk over flour/butter and blend just until the dough forms a ball.

To prepare the cookies:
1. Break off a piece of the dough and make a ball (you will want to make yours smaller than the one pictured below.)

2. Use your thumb or index finger to make an indentation in the ball of dough.

3. Expand the indentation to make the dough a small cup shape.

4. Put a small teaspoon full of filling inside and pinch the dough closed.

5. Now with this step if you do not have a mold you would place the cookie seam side down on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Leave about 1 inch between each and use a fork to flatten a little & make decorative edges. If you have a mold see the directions continued below.

To shape the cookie in the mold:
1. Dust the mold with flour.

2. Place the dough ball into the mold and press firmly. Try to keep it as flat on the bottom & even with the top of mold (I had too much in the one that was photographed. I got better as I went along guessing how much to use for each cookie.) When done tap firmly on counter to expel the cookie and place on the baking sheet about 1 inch apart.

To Bake & Finish:
1. Bake for 20 minutes in a 350 degree oven. Do NOT let them brown. They should remain very white. Since there is no sugar added to the dough there should be very little carmelization. (The photo below is them heading INTO the oven.)

2. Remove from oven and cool on the pan placed on a wire rack. Once cooled dust with powdered sugar.

Eat & enjoy.... Grandma's comfort food at its finest. 

1-28-10 - Dinner & a Photo Session

Earlier this day I called Jeannie and Earl to please come over and take some photos for me for my one year anniversary of my weight loss journey. I made a post here for anyone who hasn't read it yet: A Year Ago Today I...

Grandma Jeannie generously volunteered to throw together dinner so I could totally focus on not looking like a complete dork in the photos and she quickly had dinner on the table where we sat down to eat. Yeah, Grandma to the rescue again because this day in all honesty probably would have ended up in the "needs to be made up" category.

It only took two shots to get something workable this time. Papa Earl always has this "I have no idea what the hell she's doing and why" look on his face but at least he humors me.

1/5/10- Grandma & Grandpa to the Rescue

Grandma Jeannie calls me about 4:30 or 5:00 pm and asks me what's for dinner. My answer was "Whatever my children find to fend for themselves." They were on their way back from Spokane and had a meeting in town that evening. Instead of driving all the way out to their house just to turn around and come back into town they wanted to come visit with us... Dang good thing, I say, or this day would have been a fail for the score...

The Grandparents come over and Grandma Jeannie threw together a pasta dinner with the kids (and one rented neighbor child) help as I jumped into the shower to warm up...

All I have to say is you just gotta love grandparents!!!

Test run #2 (Christmas Morning) - Breakfast & a Trip to Canada

Our test run number two was Christmas breakfast with Grandma & Grandpa. Dakota & Maddie set the table and got it right this time. We had scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage patties & waffles.

Here's a photo Grandma just posted up on Facebook:


(In photo viewing left to right as seen in the picture- Hunter, Dakota, Jamie, Grandma Jeannie, Madeleine, Papa Earl)

After we ate we opened presents and ate candy from the stockings while two of the three cats were lounging around.

(Miss Molly)

(Kasey Kahne)

And here's more photos that Grandma took with her remote controlled camera:

(Hunter & Dakota)
(Hunter, Dakota & Grandma Jeannie)
(Dakota & Grandma Jeannie)
(Dakota & his Aircraft Carrier)
(Group Shot)
(Another Group Shot)
(Maddie & Grandma Jeannie)
(Another shot of Maddie & Grandma Jeannie)
(Maddie & Papa Earl)

Now my favorite picture... Grandma Jeannie & Papa Earl gave me the Red Lantern lights for my birthday... SO VERY COOL!!! Can you tell I really like them?

Here's a better shot of one:

After Grandma & Grandpa left I got a bug up my rear and decided that I wanted to drive to Canada so I could say I was in another country for Christmas. Hunter drove with me on a nice & sunny (but colder) Idaho afternoon. I dropped him off at the Porthill Mercantile to wait for me since he doesn't have a passport.

The Canadian border patrol agent thought it was humorous. When she asked what the purpose of my visit was and how long I would be in Canada, I said "I'll be here for no more than 15 mintues. I want to go up and turn around so I can post on Facebook that I was in another country for Christmas."



The U.S. agent didn't find it as funny coming back. It's not like the border was busy, there was only one car in front of me and no one behind me. They were so slow that she asked me to turn off my motor and pop my hood so the two guys standing outside of the little booth could check under my hood. Isn't it sweet & nice that they check your oil for you? They did the same thing for the car in front of me... but this lady was kinda grumpy. Maybe I was interupting a good book she was reading or do you think they train them not to smile or something?



On the drive up and drive back home we saw some amazing views. Isn't North Idaho just beautiful? Just in case I haven't mentioned it lately... I LOVE IT HERE!










Once we got home I started two batches of the No-Knead Bread recipe below. Here's a photo of the dough mixed up and ready to sit around for 12-18 hours. I'll be actually baking them tomorrow for us to have with dinner.



So far it has been a nice & relaxing Christmas Day which is exactly what I wanted. Tonight's dinner will be Ribs but I'm not sure if we are going to do a sit down dinner or just a free for all... It may, or may not be, test run #3 but if it is I'll post up later.

Here's some shots of Hunter helping me make the ribs.



Merry Christmas everyone. I hope you all have a blessed day.

~Jamie