Mirabelle plums

I've lived in this location for almost 3 years now.  Each summer I've noticed some yellow fruits on the neighbour's tree.  While I wondered what kind of fruit it was, I didn't really pay much attention, even though many of the branches hang into our garden and the fruits end up on the ground.

That is, until Charlotte decided she wanted to eat them.  That gave me the push I needed to look them up, and I discovered that they're Mirabelle plums.  I never knew there were yellow plums before.  I did some more digging and found out that they're traditionally harvested by shaking the branches, because the ripe fruit will fall down, so that's what I did.  I gathered enough to make a tart, with plenty left over.  I've been wanting to try out the jam setting on my bread machine and I figured the glut of plums provided a good excuse for that.  I came out with two jars of jam, so I gave one jar to our priests and kept the other.  There are plenty more plums on the branches overhanging our garddeen, so I might have to make more jam.  Can't let them go to waste. ;-)

Kids in the Kitchen

I'm learning more and more how to include my kids when I'm working in the kitchen.  Kieran loves to help (provided I'm not using the electric mixer or blender, in which case he runs away) and is always asking to bring a chair in so he can help.  This is forcing me to give up some control and to allow for more messes.  I do enjoy working with him, though.  Right now Charlotte is content to be given a bowl and a spoon and play on the floor.

I've also found that this is providing him with valuable skills and information.  He's learnt how to stir mixes, and he's in charge of the spices sometimes (he's especially fond of rosemary and garlic).  He insists on helping to roll out pizza dough and grind up pepper or crush garlic with the mortar and pestle.   He loves to stir sauces and put noodles in the pot and help me with the pasta maker.  I'm having to learn to be more patient and allow more time for cooking, though I really do love watching him in the kitchen with me.

Of course, his favourite part of helping is when he gets to eat the food being prepared.

Catholic Cuisine

H/T to Sister Mary Martha for posting the link for this blog.  I think I'll have to try out some of their recipes.  I like the idea of being more liturgically minded and choosing recipes according to the liturgical calendar.

Cooking Experiments

I've been keen to try out this new pan that B got me for Christmas.  It can be used on the stove and go in the oven.  So last night when I looked at the menu and realised I didn't have much veg to go with the bolognese tortellini I'd planned on fixing, I started thinking of what else I could use.  I decided to pull out some minced beef and make some meatballs and cook them on the stove in this new pan.  Meanwhile I'd cook the tortellini, then drizzle it with olive oil.  Then I'd throw that in the pan with the meatballs, put some mozzarella on top, and throw it in the oven until the mozzarella had melted over everything.  And it worked out great.  B took a picture as proof.  Isn't it beautiful?  It was easy to make and tasted great, and at least one kid liked it.  Of course, C pretty much likes all food except for green beans and Brussels sprouts.