Jet Set

Great "new" blog: The Jet Set

(New as in I just found her today. I'm a little slow to catch on)

Things I just read there (in no particular order):

"Pretty soon the cops came knocking at her door. Are you keeping a cow in your yard? You have to get rid of it..."

"I've laughed more at episodes of Law and Order: SVU."

"He tried to fix the deck all by himself with Elmer's Glue today. Yup."

Check it out

Memories of Opa

"I don’t know what to call it, that thing that they remember. I don’t know what it is or where it lives. But I know that its existence is proof that those hours we spent caring about whether they felt safe, loved, sheltered, provided-for despite all our ineptitudes – it came to something." DaMomma

The toddler spent 2 full days a week with Bad Cohen's father, every week, for his entire first year. After we got him into daycare, and then preschool, that shifted to 2 afternoons a week for another 2 and a half years.

Opa was the calming grandpa, the one who could induce instant naps in my sleep-resistant child. The one who was firm with discipline, more than indulgent. Who had an entire basement room dedicated to play space for his two grandsons.

More than us, the toddler seems to completely understand what he has lost. He goes about playing happily with his trains and blocks, then circles back, laying his head on my shoulder, and says, "we are sad because Opa is dead and we will never see him again."

We talk about it for a few minutes, then go back to whatever catches his interest.

Yesterday, family friends came over with their 18 month old twins. The toddler was unusually huggy with them - gently putting his arms around their little shoulders and laying his head on top of theirs, while they stood there trying to figure out what was happening.

This morning I was complimenting him on how nice he had been to the babies.

"I was giving them Opa's hugs," he said.

"Because Opa is not alive anymore, and he gave me lots of hugs, so now I'm giving them to the babies."

Somewhere in his little self, those hundreds of hours of love and caring and protection and encouragement will stay with him, forever. Opa would be so proud.

Please send prayers

Bad Cohen's dad is dying. He and his siblings will be orphans tomorrow.

Please send up some prayers for Reuven ben Avraham. Thanks.

So, two things about mud

1. It really is easier to dig into a giant mound of clay-dirt if it's been raining non-stop for a week. Much harder to lift the shovel back up, but a lot easier to get it in.

2. If your toddler has only one pair of clean/dry shoes left, do NOT let him go with you to "help" plant seeds. Especially if it's been raining non-stop for a week.

Best New Pesach Recipe

This one is a keeper. Thanks for the suggestion, sweetawreet!

Passover Veggie Bites
2 leeks, white parts chopped about 1/4" thick
1 small package frozen spinach, thawed and drained
handful of fresh basil, chopped
handful of parsley, chopped
any other greens you have on hand (chard, kale, etc), washed, dried, and chopped
Cup of frozen peas (if you do kitniot)
garlic powder, onion powder, dried ground mustard, salt and pepper
KFP white wine
Grated parmesan cheese (to taste - I probably used about 1 cup)
matzah meal
1 egg
Seasoned matzah meal (I added onion powder, garlic powder, salt, dried oregano, and more parmesan)

Sautee the chopped leeks in butter on medium for about 3-5 minutes, til they start to get nice and soft. Toss in the thawed spinach, greens, herbs, peas (if using), and a splash of the wine. Add the spices, stir, and let it all cook until the greens are cooked through. Let it cool.

When cool, line a baking sheet with foil, oil it, and preheat oven to 375.

Add an egg (or two, if your mixture is dry), the parmesan, and a sprinkle of matzah meal, and mix until you can form little balls about 1" thick. Squish them into flat patties, then coat them in the seasoned matzoh meal and place on the lined baking sheet. Spray the tops, and cook for 10 minutes. Turn them over, and cook for another 10-15 minutes, until the coating is nice and golden.

You can let them cool, store in the fridge, and then reheat later.

They're good on their own, or with any number of dips. (I ate mine with a super-garlicky aioli) - YUM!)

Best Pesach Moments

1. The toddler singing "Mah Nishtana" (ok, the first two verses only and with mama singing along) at the family seder
2. The toddler seeing the play pyramid for the first time
3. The toddler yelling "Go! GO! GO!!" at the other children as he played Pharaoh/God (he seems to have them confused) during the play-acted Maggid during our family/friend 1st night seder
4. A nice cold glass of post-Pesach porter with aged cheddar cheese, whole wheat matzoh, and sweet mini-pickles, after the sun went down. Yum. (thanks for the idea, BoTH)

What were your best Pesach moments?

Moses was a slacker

The toddler, Bad Cohen and I found 'Prince of Egypt' on On Demand yesterday. The toddler asked to watch it again today, and halfway through finally formulated his review:

"Moses was the guy in Egypt who didn't do any work."

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