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My friend, Katie, started this one, and I’d love to hear anyone’s memories (if we even have readers anymore :)

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn’t matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!
2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It’s actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I’ll assume you’re playing the game and I’ll come to your blog and leave one about you! reminisce away…

For weeks I’ve been talking to Ava about her school, her friends there, and what she does during the day.  Most of the time I just get her reciting off every child’s name, with water table added into the list somehow. 

But tonight was different.  It’s been a week since she’s been at school since we’ve been on vacation.  Here’s the dialogue:

Mom: So Ava why do you keep saying, “Dean don’t?” What did Dean do?

Ava: Dean took the ball. I like ball. (more…)

Ava’s become such a little lady so quickly that now she’s trying to do it all alone.  Today we took a walk to the swing-slide with her riding in her stroller on the way there, but on the way home she insisted on pushing the stroller herself. 

Even more amazing was her insistence on preparing herself to go potty.  After weeks of refusing to sit on the potty, she started having Elmo sit on her Dora potty.  Then today she decided it was time for her to use it herself.  WHOOOOOHOOOO!

Swing-slide = going to the playground.  She’s even treading carefully and getting into the sprinkler–somewhat.  Until she runs away like a scared little girl.

Soc-the-ball = playing catch and kicking the ball to either Mama or Dada across the living room.  Yes, we are insane. 

Choo choo trains = playing with her Thomas and Friends wooden train set.  This could take hours as she sets up the track, takes them around the track, the carpet and everywhere else she can think of.  Then it’s later, rinse, repeat. 

Connect Four = She has no idea how to play the real game, but she thinks it’s awesome to put the pieces in and release the lever at the bottom so they all drop. 

Ice cream– anytime of day. Anytime of night.  She thinks this can take the place of a meal.  (No, Mother, I do not allow her to do this!)

Stroller!= she loves to sit in her stroller.  She will play in it in the living room, or sit happily while we walk around the neighborhood.  Just be careful what she sees because if there is a swing-slide, she is bound to spot it and then you are stuck for a while!

Airplane! = We’re in the flight path to JFK, so we see a lot of these.  She can now recognize them by sound, without any visual.

Fire truck! = She’s learning how different the three sirens sound and which one is a fire truck, an ambulance and a police car.  She gets that fire trucks go in the fire house.  Beyond that, she has no idea. 

Eggs= her new favorite breakfast.  Forget sausage, potatoes or sometimes even cereal.  She wants the eggs.

Mac n’ cheese= she could eat this every meal, all day long.  Breakfast included (ick!)

Pixar has done a phenomenal job in making movies that both parents and children can love. The following is a list of my favorite Pixar movies. It’s the trend these days, with the release of WALL-E, their latest. Any such list, of course, runs into the bias of the new, and stories like Toy Story tend to be shoved lower because of such frequent viewing. Also, the newer ones have vastly improved graphics. I’ll try to be as objective as I can. (more…)

So, now that I’m on a week vacation, I have more time to experiment in the kitchen.  My whole goal lately has been to cook healthy, inexpensive, fresh food that tastes delicious.

Here’s my new favorite steak rub recipe:

1/4 cup coarse salt

1/4 cup packed light brown sugar

1/8 cup paprika

2 T cayenne

2 T cardamon

2 T ground black pepper

2 T tumeric

2 T garlic

2 T ground ginger

Mix well.  This is enough for 5-10 pounds of meat.  Rub on the steak, throw on the grill.  Store excess in airtight container.

I made this tonight with corn on the cob and roasted sweet potatoes dressed with butter, cinnamon and brown sugar.

So yummy!  Enjoy.

Last weekend, I was craving Polish food, especially Gramma’s piggies and mashed potatoes. After I made it, oh was it heaven!

Here’s the recipe. I wish I took pictures.

  • 1 1/2 pounds ground meat (we use a combination beef, pork and veal; but beef or turkey will work)
  • 1 cup uncooked rice
  • 1 egg
  • salt, pepper
  • 1/2 cup tomato sauce

Mix these ingredients together. They will be your mix for inside the vegetables.

  • 1 head green cabbage
  • 1-2 peppers (green, red or yellow)
  • 1 large tomato

Boil a large pot of water. Wilt the cabbage leaves in the water, and cut the large vein out of each leaf. Put aside.

Slice each pepper and tomato about 1/2 inch from the top to create a top and a bottom. Dig out all of the seeds and veins so each vegetable is just an empty vessel. Cut out the middle of the pepper top to remove stem.

Take the meat mixture and stuff each vegetable. Only fill the peppers or tomatoes about 2/3 of the way to the top to allow for expansion with the rice. Put about 1/4-1/3 cup of meat mixture in each cabbage leaf and roll up like an enchilada.

  • 2 large (28oz or larger) cans of tomato sauce
  • 2 T lemon or lime juice
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 T worcheshire sauce
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar (white is possible, but brown tastes a little better)

Mix sauce together. Cover the bottom of a crockpot, stockpot, dutch oven or baking dish with tomato sauce.

Place each vegetable roll in the sauce, layering tomato sauce between each layer. Ensure that the top has sufficient sauce on it, or else it will get crispy and possibly burn.

  • 1 gala, red or green apple

A Russian mom would peel and cut the apple into thick slivers. Place them around the top of the pot. This gives it a little sweeter taste. I’ve always done this and I love it.

Cooking times:

  • Baking dish in Oven–350 for 3-4 hours
  • Dutch oven– Boil first on the stove, then oven 350F for approx 2 hours
  • Crock pot– high for between 6-9 hours (mine takes about 8)

You will know it is done when the rice is cooked.

Serve with mashed potatoes. My favorite recipe for mashed potatoes with this is:

  • 3# red potatoes, cut and boiled
  • 1 stick I-Can’t-Believe-It’s-Not-Butter
  • 1/3 cup milk
  • Splash of salt and pepper

Whip with beaters and serve with a little of the tomato sauce on top. YUMMY!!

It was cold, but she loved it.

Ava is now two years old and a pure joy to have around. It’s been a while since I’ve posted here, and have put up pictures of her, and of us. Here are a few recent pictures of Ava. Enjoy.

Ava at Barnes and Noble

Ava loves books. She spends hours poring over them, and she loves the children’s section at Barnes and Noble.

For a long while, this was the morning routine on the subways.

She may be a good firewoman some day. :)

She had a bad fever. Totally out of it.

Yeah, she wants the BMW convertible. If she is good enough, she might just get one, though it has to be approved by Mommy. :)

It finally warmed up enough to go to the beach. But not enough. The wind took away any heat the sun gave out.

With her cousin Nathaniel.

They had lots of fun.

Her cousin Bella gives her a kiss.

Lookin’ hip.

Having lots of fun with Mamma.

Celebrating her 2nd birthday with Crumbs cupcakes.

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