Blueberry Hand Pies

Blueberry Hand Pies

So easy, even an 8 year old can make them.

First: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and line a cookie sheet with parchment,
but only if your sheets look like hell and you are taking photos.
Otherwise just make sure they are reasonably clean.

Then gather all the ingredients:

1 package refrigerated pie crusts
1 pint blueberries
juice and zest of half a lemon
1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 beaten egg
Sanding or granulated sugar

Start by rolling out one piece of crust to a circle approximately 12 inches in diameter.

Cut 12 circles out of the dough using a 4 inch round cutter.
If you can't find your giant bag of cookie cutters after 20 minutes of digging through the pantry, use a tart ring instead. Like so much of my life: weird but fine.

Gather the scraps and reroll the dough until you've made
twelve circles out of the first piece of crust.
Place them on the cookie sheet and
paint each circle with the beaten egg.

Toss the blueberries with the sugar, corn starch, zest and juice.
Spoon scant tablespoons of the blueberries onto the center of the circles.

Roll out the second piece of crust and make another 12 circles, re-rolling as needed.

Cover each open faced hand pie with a crust round.

Crimp the edges of the top and bottom crusts together to make a reasonably tight seal.

Brush the tops with beaten egg.

Sprinkle with sanding sugar, or granulated sugar.

Don't skimp.

Bake for about 18 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.

Pack in a plastic container to take to the beach,
or just eat over the sink with a big glass of milk.

We're not here to judge.

Camp Belknap

We worship at the altar of Camp Belknap. A general interest idyll on Lake Winnipesaukee that is the highlight of my boys' life and the two weeks that makes the other 50 with me bearable.

Just look at the place --
if Steven Spielberg is ever looking to make a movie about a summer camp,
Camp Belknap would be the perfect location --
for a movie set at any point in the last 50 years.

No cellphones, no game boys, no skate boards,
just two weeks of camp fires and archery and wooden cabins with plywood bunks;
a place where rituals and songs are old and lovely,
and life is governed by the Camp Motto:

God First
The Other Fellow Second
Myself Last

What kind of world would we have if that were the official motto of planet Earth?
if guns were only used to shoot at targets and food
and every game ended in a Belknap tie?

Here is Pierce, starting his ninth year of camp, begrudgingly agreeing to a photo.
Look past the snark and see a boy who can't wait to see our tail lights
head up the hill as we exit the Senior Division.

Here is Wyatt, a 3rd year camper, not the least bit nervous about two weeks away.
He had a rough first year, but we won't share the details.
What happens at Belknap stays at Belknap.

'Bye darling. Heading in to write your sainted mother?

Aren't we just the worst parents to expect them to survive for two weeks in a place like this?

We've learned a lot over the past nine years:
the boys will not shower,
they will certainly not brush their teeth
and
they do not need three quarters of the stuff on the packing list.
Collared shirts? 3 pairs of dungarees?
Puh-leeze.
They need some swim trunks and some flippy floppies.
Jammie pants are a must.
And maybe a couple of care packages stuffed with Mad-libs and temporary tatoos;
possibly some flags to wave on the 4th.

And what they need most of all:
two weeks without their overbearing mother and her constant nagging.
Where they can be boys.

Amen!

And so begins the fastest two weeks of the year.

A Fish Story

Peter's Blue Fish with Italian Flavors

Peter's Striped Bass with Cumin and Lime

In every marriage there is a division of labor.

If each partner simply embraces the things at which they excel, and both sides pull hard on the oars, the ship of marriage steams along, smoothly navigating through the river of life.

That is the true secret to the 22 years of wedded bliss being enjoyed daily over here at the Ellinwoods.

The events of last Thursday serve as a prime example of the true partnership that we share.

Peter left the house at 6:30 with the big boys to go get a giant diner breakfast, then board a chartered fishing boat. After a grueling morning, they were able to find a restaurant that not only cooked and served their catch, but had beer on tap.

They returned at 3; their checklist complete, filled with the satisfaction that comes from a job well done.

Meanwhile, I scrubbed and de-spidered our vacation home, hauled out trash and weeded through the old linens, while mothering and feeding and refereeing the daily parade of nonsense that comes with having three boys in elementary school.

I locked the door of the sparkling cottage and drove the 3 hours home through Boston traffic to arrive home to our regular pigsty. And I do mean pigsty.

The only good thing that I got out of Thursday (besides a clean cottage and a wicked case of lower back pain) was a Saturday lunch of Striped Bass and Blue Fish.

And like the partners we are and hopefully will remain: Peter cooked and I cleaned up.

Here are the recipes of our guest chef:

Striped Bass:

Take the fillets and put them on a cookie sheet. If you know what's good for you, put some foil on first so your wife doesn't have such a hard time with the clean up, and maybe you'll get some.

Sprinkle with cumin. Not too much because women think it kind of smells like dirty feet, and if she likes the fish, maybe you'll get some.

Sprinkle with lime juice. Use a lot because women like lime, and maybe you'll get some.

Smear with mayonnaise. Use a lot but don't get any fish parts into the mayo jar. Women REALLY hate that, and if the mayo jar is in good shape, maybe you'll get some.

Broil in the oven for about 10 minutes, until fish looks opaque but is not yet flaky, because flaky fish is overcooked fish, and women hate overcooked fish. Keep it moist and maybe you'll get some.

Serve with lime and a big smile, because maybe you'll get some.

Blue Fish with Italian Flavors.

Same as the other just spread with different stuff: petite diced tomatoes, kosher salt, pepper and tons of Italian bread crumbs.

This recipe makes bluefish that isn't oily or fishy at all, which means: maybe you'll get some.

What's for dinner MOM? Pot Roast!

This easy Pot Roast can start with frozen meat of course -- it's my method of choice because I forget to plan dinner almost every day.

The whole meal slow cooks in the oven in 3 to 4 hours and is moist and delicious every time.

The longer it cooks the better!

My Recipe:

1 or 2 large pot roasts (depending on your need for leftovers)

5 pounds red potatoes

3 medium onions, peeled

1 1/2 cans beef broth

a few springs of tarragon (or any herb of choice)

3 cloves garlic

1/4 cup cooking sherry or dry red wine

Salt and pepper to taste.

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees

No need to brown the meat-- just put all ingredients into a large roasting pan and cover with foil.

After the first 2 hours of cooking, remove the foil and baste the meat and potatoes with the juice in the bottom of the pan.

Put the pan back in the oven uncovered for another hour or so. The meat and potatoes will brown up nicely. This is done when the meat is tender.

The nice thing about this meal is if I have any leftovers (which I like to try to have when preparing this), I make Beef Stroganoff with the leftovers and that meal is always a smashing success!

Sweet Treats: Ice Cream Sandwiches

This sweet treat is easy, fun and inexpensive; the kids can do it and the crowd will go wild!

Muggy, rainy days start off our summer here In New Hampshire. Cash is tight and the ice cream truck seems like highway robbery.

Solution?

Ice cream sandwiches made by kids.

I grabbed a couple half gallons of store brand ice cream, which by the time I got home from the store were sufficiently melted for this great event.

A few packages of inexpensive cookies and it was party time; the kids jumped right in.

All broken cookies must be dumped right in the mixture--which enhances the experience for all participants.

This recipe is great fun, and it can be as fancy as you want or as simple as the one we did here.

We took the partially melted ice cream and placed it in a bowl.

We then opened up one package of cookies and crumbled them into the ice cream and stirred it together gently.

Work fast, the mixture works best if it is not too soft, just soft enough to mix without bending all your spoons.

Adding more cookies and such does make it easier to work with, so feel free to experiment.

Open up the rest of the cookies and place 2 to 3 tablespoons of the mixture between two cookies. Be gentle and do not press too firmly together.

Quickly place them in a plastic container or on a plate.

Refreeze them and treats are available for a snack,

uummmm,

soooo delicious, perfect after a long hot day of working the summer vacation...

A few Things I Have Learned

With many sons I will never have a razor and blades at the same time.

Sharing a toothbrush will not kill you. It may disgust you beyond belief, but going without using it would be much worse.

I will never, never catch up on all the photo albums and baby books.

Over preparing only leads to more lugging, the family can survive without 20 coloring books, extra sweatshirts, and a snack on the hour trip to the beach.

I have also resigned myself to the fact that until they have all gone, I will never have all the shoes neatly placed in the air lock closet.

I will never have enough shampoo and conditioner as long as I still have potions being made at bath time.

I will never be bored.

and for a very long time I will not be lonely.

But most definitely my family will never look as neat as the family in the photo above,

and I have learned that it is okay!!!!!!!!!!!

.

Jon and Kate Plus 8 Charmed LIfe Please!!!!!

Unfortunately for Jon and Kate and their 8 adorable children, they have come to realize even if you get to live your life on TLC..... real life is anything but charmed.

Oh Thank Heavens for Little Boys Part II

Little Boys that did not like Power Rangers (they were too violent) grow up to become the men

that defend our country, against the powers that be...
Making the Country Proud
Good Job Oliver

Oh Thank Heaven for Little Boys

Thank Heaven, that's right. For once in a while when the stars align just right, potty mouth little boys turn into fine young men and make the Moms proud.

Drinking Root Beer at their graduation party!!
Congratulations Ben and Gordon

My Summer To-Do List

1. Grill at least 20 pounds of the Teriyaki steak tips from Concord Beef and Seafood, even though Gordon complains that they are candy flavored, and can't we get some steak flavored steak?
   
2. Drink at least a couple gallons of ice cold Rose--the delicious one with the rooster on the label and the extra classy screw top
3. Order my own pint of fried clams, in one of those little cardboard boxes, and eat them with my fingers, and not share even one
   
4. Watch the people at Whoopie Twist and not worry about the number of calories in a large pumpkin spice
   
5. Hike at least two more of the 4,000 footers here in New Hampshire without caring that my weirdly brown hiking pants do not match any shirt I own or could ever want to own
   
6. Host a cocktail party by the pool while wearing a maxi dress, even though I am 47, and what isn't jiggly is wrinkly
   
7. Let my kids live in their bathing suits, chafing be damned
8. Plant my bottom in a sand chair at Corporation beach and polish off an entire sleeve of Pringles with my tuna sammie
9. Read A Confederacy of Dunces for the 25th time
10. Cherish the shortest season of the year because it is June 22nd and it could snow before Halloween, 4 short months from now
    

Sweet Treats: Balsamic Glazed Strawberry Parfaits

Strawberries are finally in season here in New Hampshire and we can't get enough of them.

Making a glaze out of equal parts balsamic vinegar and sugar is a quick and easy way to add a gloss of sophistication to a pint of berries. The balsamic vinegar adds a nice bite to the parfait without tasting like some sort of weird cole slaw.

To serve 6, use one pint of berries. Stir together 1/4 cup of balsamic vinegar and 1/4 cup of sugar until the sugar dissolves.

Pick 6 smaller berries and set aside as a garnish. Slice the rest, add the glaze and let sit on the counter for 20 minutes to muddle the flavors.

Spoon over vanilla ice cream. Martini glasses are nice, but really any clear dish will do.

Cheap and Easy Dinner Ideas: Asian Spiced Salmon on Spinach Puree

Two things contributed to the decision to make this dinner:

1. Salmon was on sale for $4.99 a pound and

B. Our CSA*** started this week and included a gigundo bag of spinach.

Here are the details:

To serve 6:

For the Salmon:

2 pounds salmon fillet
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
several grinds of black pepper

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Place the salmon in a shallow roasting pan in a single layer. Stir together the remaining ingredients in a small bowl to combine. Pour over the salmon.

Roast, uncovered for about 12 minutes, just until opaque. Remember: if fish flakes easily, it is overcooked.

Spinach Puree

Serves 6

8 handfuls of fresh spinach, about 8 ounces, really tough stems removed and discarded
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt


Pour 1/4 cup of water in the bottom of a large pasta or stock pot. Cram all the spinach into the pot and cover. Bring to a boil over medium heat and cook for about 3 minutes until the spinach is all wilted but still bright green.

Drain in a colander and put into the bowl of a food processor. Blitz for about 30 seconds until well pureed. Add the butter, cream and salt and blitz again for a few seconds. Taste and correct seasoning with a little more salt if needed.

To plate: Swirl a large spoonful of the spinach on a clean plate. Top with about 4 ounces of the salmon, and drizzle with a little of the salmon glaze in the dish.

*** I am planning a big post on our CSA, (which, in this case means Community Supported Agriculture, NOT Confederate States of America). Basically we paid up front to get a whole summer's worth of organic, local produce and a loaf of homemade bread every Wednesday. We get great stuff, and the local farmers get a living wage. CSAs are available everywhere in the country and really give our Giant Supermarket warped brains an idea of what actually grows in our own regions each week. So we have strawberries and a lotta greens, which I love. Them boys? Not so much....thus the puree to get them to AT LEAST eat the spinach that is stuck to the salmon.

Father's Day Menu: All the Essential B Vitamins: Bacon, Barbeque, Bleu Cheese and Brownies

Come celebrate all the reasons we love Dads.

Come celebrate all the reasons we love Dads.

Today,

Exclusively in The Concord Monitor

Cupcake Camouflage

Are these the perfect cupcakes for dessert when you've got plans for dinner and a movie OR WHAT?

Julie Moskins has her Julia , I'm going to bake my way through Hello Cupcake.

2 pages down, 137 to go.

What's For Dinner MOM?

Wow.... it is the One Pot Wonder

Thanks to Suzanne and the Picnik program it is a One Shot Wonder

Love it !!!!! This dinner is the life saver , easy with capital letters, It is simple, great on the budget and ready with little prep and one pan for clean.

If your family likes meat and potatoes this meal will save you in a pinch, as it saved me more times than I can say, and as we know I need saving

Here we go
this feeds 8-10
Preheat oven to 350
2 pkgs of chicken thighs
5lbs Potaotes cut in half
1 large bag frozen broccoli
1 can cream of chicken soup or cream of mushroom (8oz.)
2 large onions quartered
salt and pepper to taste

Gather all the ingredients
add 1/4 cup of water to large roasting pan
place chicken in pan
cut onions, potatoes, add to pan
add broccoli
pour soup over the top
salt and pepper
cover with foil or lid and place in oven cook for 1-11/2 hours
uncover and mix once during cooking
remove cover cook for 15 minutes
One Meal One pan little clean up and the it tastes great :)

Red Carpet in the Rain

We'll Once he figured out the the equipment
Prom was a huge success

Red Carpet Glittered with best of Concord High

The wind Howled and the Rain fell

The Band Played on

Prom Night

It's gonna be a long week of totally cliched snaps of my first born son.

Fasten your seat belts and pop an anti emetic or two.

There's only 6 days left until graduation and my arrival on the deck of an aircraft carrier for a photo op in front of a giant Mission Accomplished banner.

Sweet Treats: Blueberry Nectarine Crisp

Certain type of fruit just naturally go together: strawberries and bananas; blueberries and nectarines,
limes and tequilas....

I was in the market the other day and could not believe that

A. There were nectarines at a decent price, and

2. The nectarines were fairly ripe and delicious looking.

On the spur of the moment I thought we'd welcome spring (HA) and the weekend with a crisp.

No dessert is easier. Except maybe pudding cups.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

Slice 5-6 good sized ripe nectarines and put them into a shallow baking dish.

Add a pint of blueberries that have been rinsed and picked over for stems and leaves.

Stir together:

1 cup quick (not instant) oatmeal,
2/3 cup brown or white sugar
1/2 cup flour
1 stick soft butter

Until it all clumps together.

Drop on top of the fruit and bake for 45 minutes, until the top is crisp and the fruit is soft and bubbling.

If the topping is getting too dark, loosely cover with foil.

Use whatever fruit looks good at the market:

Raspberries are great with peaches.

Rhubarb is delicious with strawberries (add a half cup sugar to the fruit)

Use your imagination, no one is going to complain.

You can also doctor this up with a teaspoon of flavoring if you have the time and inclination: toss lemon zest (especially good with blueberries) with the fruit or mix cinnamon into the topping.

Serve warm with a scoop of ice cream and
go straight to the top of the Mother of the Year candidate list.