Sure bobbing for apples is an autumn tradition but it can be a fun way to beat the heat too.

How to Play:

Clean out an old-fashioned washtub or a plastic wastebasket (the wider the better), fill it with water and several apples, then bob away.

For an even greater challenge, use your plastic backyard pool.

I am in a big search…  At a little fruit stand when we were in vacataion in Indiana last year… I bought this mix.  It is from Herbs For Healthful Living, and is called “Ice Box Dill Pickles”  Essentially it is a mix to make dill pickles.  This is the BEST mix I have ever tasted and now I can’t find anymore… I have looked everywhere online.  Does anyone frequent a shop that might sell this?  If so I would be very grateful if you would let me know and I will send you money to purchase some for me (along with shipping).  Please?  Pretty Please? You can e-mail me at christine at dinewithoutwhine dot com.  Thanks! 

Christine

Have you heard of CSA? If not, don’t feel bad.. I hadn’t until this week either.  One of our awesome members of Menu Planning Central  posted about her involvement in one and I was intrigued to find out more.  It stands for Community Supported Agriculture. Basically you buy a “share” of a farm in the fall/winter, and then in the spring/summer each week you pick-up (or in some cases have delivered) a box of fresh produce. In most of the groups you have the added advantage that the fruits & veggies are organic. So what is the point? Well first off the goods are FRESH generally picked within a day of receiving it. (Opposed to the grocery store where sometimes things have been in transit and/or on the shelf for up to two weeks before you purchase them!) Next, like I said, a lot of it is organic and at a much lower price than organics at the grocery store. Finally, you are supporting a community farm. Here is a website: http://www.localharvest.org/csa/ where you can check to see if you have a CSA farm in your area. I thought it was a long shot for me since I live in such a small communty, but I found one within 20 minutes, so you just never know until you look! A lot of them will be sold-out at this time of year, but you just never know. Mine said it was sold-out on the website, but I sent in an e-mail just in case and they have agreed to “squeeze” me in! I am so excited to get started next week - we’ll see how it goes! I am a bit nervous about ending up with a bunch of vegetables I have never heard of, but they do provide storage tips and recipes each week, so hopefully that will help me out. Should be an adventure with lots of good organic produce! Let me know if you are already a member of one or if you find one in your area!

Christine

Hi there!  I apologize I haven’t kept this blog up to date.  I am pregnant and between that and the three kids I already have, I seem to have been zapped of all energy.  I did want to let you know that I have made some updates on the Dine Without Whine Blog that you can read if you’d like.  I hope to get this one up and going again as soon as morning sickness decides to give me a break! 

Christine

I’m still laughing about this, so I had to share…  First I have to give some background..  Our kids go to a small private school and there is not public transportation, so I drive back and forth each day.  On the back of my car is a big www.TheMenuMom.com in Vinyl letters.  So…. a lot of the moms and some of the kids know me as “The Menu Mom”.

So a couple days ago we had a big rainstorm with flooding in the basement and my husband is out of town, so the morning was a bit hectic.  I thought I had gotten the boys off to school without a hitch, and continued to think that throughout the day.  However…. when the boys got home I was informed otherwise.

Apparently I forgot to put the top slice of bread on my boys sandwiches.  My kinergartner says “Yeah mom, my whole class even made a song up about it during lunch!”  GREAT!  So there you have it - The Menu Mom can’t even make a proper sandwich for her children.  LOL

Someone asked me the other day if I really do let the boys help me in the kitchen.  The answer is yes!  I got a new Flip Video Camera for Christmas, so we tried it out today as the two little boys helped me try out our new Fairytale Cake Pan we got for Christmas.  So here they are!  Wait until you see the final creation.  LOL  Here’s the link to watch the video.  For some reason it wouldn’t let me paste the actual video in here.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqWTyE9O2Jo

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas!  We had a nice holiday and actually continue to relax as my husband is off from work this week.  My boys are starting to really look forward to New Year’s Eve - the one day they get to stay up until midnight each year.  They have been asking throughout the year - “when is that one day we get to stay up really really late?”  Last year they zonked about 11:15, so we’ll see if they actually make it this year. 

 I was trying to decide what to make for New Year’s Goodies, and I came across this recipe for Chocolate Fondue and Egg Nog Pound Cake.  I just might have to try it!  The boys actually want to try out a new cottage shaped bundt cake pan we received for Christmas, so we might end up with cake instead… we’ll see! 

 Anyway, I want to wish you a Happy New Year and I look forward to sharing recipes, cooking tips, and more with you in 2008!

Christine
“The Menu Mom”