Spinach Shocker

Once every week or two, I make a stupidly easy recipe for spinach croquettes...don't normally use processed foods like this but it's one of only two ways I can get my kids to eat spinach.

Steam one 10 oz. box of frozen chopped spinach. Drain. Add one stick of butter or margarine and stir 'til it melts. Beat in four eggs. Add a handful of onion flakes, some garlic powder, and half a cup of grated Parmesan (or Locatelli or a mixture). Crush the contents of one box of Stove Top stuffing (any flavor you like) and mix well. Shape into croquettes (I use a cookie scoop) and bake at 350 'til outsides get crispy.

Well, this week was Passover so I substituted some matzo meal for the stuffing mix, thinking that it would be passable but not great. I added plenty of extra spices to compensate for the dullness of the matzo and the flavor that the stuffing contains. The croquettes came out more densely packed than they normally would, which was natural. However...what I did not expect was that two of the three kids liked them BETTER! Why? Because the spinach was not loosely hanging out the sides of the croquettes, and it was so tightly wound up with the matzo meal that it was actually hard to discern that there were actual leaves of spinach in there. Go figure.

Maybe next time I'll try half a box of stuffing mix with some matzo meal. Good thing I have always thought that it is possible to teach old dogs new tricks. Oy vey...

Being Mama Bear

Last night I was doing a bit of work in the bedroom with the laptop, and hubby was in the shower. It was after 9:30pm and the three amigos were in the living room (other end of the house) playing "slap ball" which is supposed to be rolling a small rubber ball around among them. What it really turns into after a few minutes is the ball ricocheting off walls and furniture and the three of them screaming like banshees.

At 9:50 with hubby finishing his shower and about to hear the level of noise that had been ratcheted up up up, I tweeted in desperation about how I was not looking forward to going out there and being Mama Bear to enforce the kids' 10pm bedtime (not a school night since spring break is still in full swing). It was really just a small shout out to other parents who would understand, who'd been there themselves. However, my friend Bob replied on Facebook that he applauded me because not all parents understand that "parenting is sometimes about being a parent, NOT a best friend!"

That's very true and, after almost 15 years of being a parent, it has become weirdly automatic. I don't often point it out or specifically consider it. On Wednesday afternoon, when the boys and I were enjoying a leisurely stroll through the nature preserve, we were best friends. When Son #2 and I went ice skating on Tuesday, we were best friends. When we played Rummikub the other day, and the winners were razzing the unlucky, we were all the best of friends. When I tuck them in at night, and we do hugs and kisses and talk about the day, sometimes we're best friends and sometimes I'm a parent...but I don't think about it -- it just happens.

Is It Soup Yet?

This week is Passover week, when the world's Jews remember and celebrate the exodus from slavery to freedom. As a matter of principle it's wonderful to look back to a worse place and reflect on how things are better. One unfortunate consequence of the tradition is that the week is filled with a little too much matzoh!

A bright spot is matzo ball soup, which seems to have many fans among Gentiles as well. This shiksa makes a kick-ass brew, or so I'm told. My 76 year old mother, with her Sicilian taste buds, schleps to my house for her annual "Jewish penicillin" without fail. One of her co-workers asked for the recipe this year, and I'll share.

Matzo ball batter:

Melt 1/2 cup shortening. Whisk in 1/2 cup seltzer and 4 large eggs. Add a few dashes of black pepper. I also add a few dashes of other spices. Season as you like. Stir in 1 cup of matzo meal. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for a few hours. All day, or overnight, is fine too. Make-ahead portions of meals hold great value for me.

Turning it into soup:

Pre-mince one yellow onion and a few cloves of garlic (or more garlic if that's your preference). Pre-shred one small carrot or several baby carrots. Brown veggies in a few tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat in large pot. Add two quarts of chicken broth (or chicken stock) and bring to a boil. Drop teaspoon sized balls of matzo batter into the soup (I use a small scoop) until the entire bowl is used. By then, they'll have all floated to the top and you can serve. If you used broth instead of stock, I recommend roasting chicken that night too, so you can siphon off about half a cup of the pan drippings and add them to the soup.

Enjoy! And happy Easter to all those who are getting ready to celebrate this weekend.

Yeah. And...?

Yesterday my nine-year-old couldn't find his shoes. I was in the kitchen chopping food and couldn't help him look. So we had a conversation across the house.

"I can't find my brown flip flops. Have you seen them?"

"No."

"I really want to wear them."

(Mom then makes an educated guess.)

"Try looking under the couch."

(Paydirt.)

"Thanks for the advice, Mom! Are you psycho or something?"

Of course I am. But I have never been known for my telepathic abilities.

Make the Most of It

Years ago I saw a pin-on button which said SHOWING UP IS 88% OF LIFE. Amusing, but it's black humor because an astounding number of people actually drift around on auto pilot.

While in Dallas on business a couple of weeks ago, I got caught up on puzzles as I often do on trips. Here's a Cryptoquote which I believe expresses it better:

Because of indifference, one dies before one actually dies. -- Elie Wiesel

Why not live a little? Pursue a passion for something. Or someone.