Kitchen Days

It’s one of those times when I wish there were a smell feature on our computer. This morning I started the bread machine so we’d have some bread for sandwiches at lunch. I halved a couple squash and dropped some butter on top and put them in the oven. I then started peeling apples for some applesauce. By mid morning my house smelled so good! I wish they could bottle that scent.

The kids played pretty well most of the time. This guy is still the current troublemaker. He’s into everything at all times. But he does it so cutely!

He likes to click his tongue a lot now, and buzz his lips. AND he says “mama!” Knut says he doesn’t say it yet in reference to me, but I think he does. It’s what he calls from his crib when he doesn’t want to take nap. Knut’s just upset that he said “mama” first because Silje and David both said “dada” first, and he had a perfect streak. It’s only fair that I get one kid who says “mama” first!

He now signs “more” and claps a lot.

He’s overall pretty silly.

I’m pretty happy about my progress to move food from the rough form it is in the garage, into a more proper place in the house. Last night I made a few apple pie fillings. I froze 2 of them, and baked a pie with a French crumb crust with the other one. I don’t mean to brag, but it might be the best pie I have ever made. We are all gobbling it up. We have had it for dessert in every meal. (Sorry, there was no time for a picture. I had to make sure I got my piece!)

Elias got a taste of the pie and has vigorously signed “more” every time he’s been carried past it today.

So as of now, there is only one large piece left. Don’t bother coming over, you’re not going to get it. I’m sure that after the kids go to bed tonight, there might be a conversation like this between Knut and I:

Knut: Do you mind if I have the last piece of pie?

Me: Yes.

Knut: Should we split it then?

Me: Well, I get the bigger piece.

Knut: Why do you get the bigger piece? I am bigger than you after all. I should really be getting 2 pieces for every one of yours.

Me: Yes, well, you’re not even supposed to have any pie on your South Beach Diet.

Knut: I’m in phase 3. That means everything in moderation.

Me: Um, would be like your 3rd or 4th piece in 24 hours. I’m not sure that’s exactly in moderation. I’m doing you a favor really…because I love you.

Knut: I am the head of the house.

Me: I made the pie, and I am the weaker one, who could benefit more from it.

This banter might go on for awhile, until we carefully cut the large piece into as equal of smaller pieces that we can.

I seriously need to make another one of those…and fast. I’ve also been hankering for some pumpkin pie, so we’ll see.

In other news, I got 4 large jars of applesauce done,

and 10 bags of baked squash all set to go in the freezer. When it comes to portions in the freezer, whether squash, tomato paste, chicken or beef broth, I always use 1 cup portions. It makes things so much easier when using food from the freezer. This afternoon for lunch we had grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato soup. I plopped a couple scoops of the squash that had just come out of the oven into the tomato soup from the can and it was so good! It added another vegetable for the kids (who don’t really care for the texture of squash, but don’t mind it in soup) and it gave it a more rounded flavor. You should really try it.

So there you go. I’m sure you all can’t wait for all these “I canned/froze food again today” posts to end. I can’t wait for winter when you can get sick of the “look what I sewed/knit/crocheted today” posts. (Crochet? you gasp? Yup, I’ve got a few crochet projects picked out for this winter. I think. I’m not totally decided yet.)