Er, Ah

I'm still alive. I'm just SO behind.

In brief: Went out of town, that was exhausting. Came home to a To Do list with conservatively 80 bajillion items on it. Stocking up on school supplies, getting kids haircuts, getting back to karate, organizing my house, stressing out, and wrapping jewelry. My dishwasher is broken, my windows haven't been replaced, I think the hot water heater is struggling and the basement is starting to grow mold. Charming.

I want to move to New Hampshire.

I got a new cellphone.

I left my eight year old, best-friend of the shoe world Birkenstocks in New Jersey.

On tap for this week: a playdate, preschool open house, kindergarten open house, block party, a kid belt testing (I think we'll skip that until next month, this is insane), oh, and my birthday. Technically, I should also be getting my kid an MMR shot for school but I haven't been called on it and I'm wondering if I should just ... keep my mouth shut and see if we can fly under the radar with that. She JUST had one in May, it's not like she's a walking Measles Mary or something. I object, but New York State doesn't allow me to object unless I have a documented religious objection. So, having a philosophy or opinion is only okay unless it has the stamp of organized religion on it. Hm.

Blah blah blah.

So, I suck at blogging lately. I am more in a Twittering mode at present, which is perfect since I'm totally strapped for time. Wheeee.

August!

I love August. Not because it's my birthday month, but because it's the start of the harvest season. I mean, what could be better? It's still warm, still sunny, and so many awesome things are now ready to eat. We got our first corn from the CSA last week, and blueberries, and peaches, and these things make me happy. Once the tomatoes ripen, I will be out of my mind with agricultural glee.

Because of the whole CSA thing, and the whole "almost vegan" thing, I've had to be more scrupulous about meal planning. So I'll do Menu Monday!

Monday: Falafel with tahini sauce and mint salsa, tabbouleh
Tuesday: Enchilada Casserole, greens
Wednesday: Ethiopian Wat with Injera Bread
Thursday: Spinach Lasagne, salad
Friday: Takeout Night
Saturday (past): Barbequed Seitan Ribz, corn on the cob
Sunday (past): Green Thai Curried Vegetables, Jasmine Rice, Tofu Apple Spring Rolls with Peanut Sauce

(I do my actual planning from Sat-Fri, so that's why it's listed like this.)

I wanted to like the seitan ribz, and I want to like seitan on principle, but so far, I haven't been able to. I don't know if it's my inexpertise in making it, or what, but the ones I've made just aren't ... al dente enough, if you can use that expression for a non-pasta. Hubby seems to like seitan, though. The kids weren't enthused, but they ate a ton of corn.

They ate the curry, if only because it had baby corn in it, and they'll eat anything if it has baby corn in it. I loved the spring rolls, and I think Hubby did, too.

The kids haven't liked the falafel I've made recently, but they were mixes and I thought they tasted a little like cardboard. Trying one last mix before I give up on boxed falafel.

Last but not least, though I planned for Injera bread, I couldn't find teff flour. I'm not sure I want to make a trip to the NHFS just for teff, so maybe I'll just make it with regular flour. Who cares.

I don't usually make this many baked casseroley type of dishes, especially in the summer, but I have an ulterior motive. We're going out of town next week, so I'm planning on doubling the recipes for the Enchilada Bake and the lasagne and freezing them to bring.

I've also made Chocolate Chip Cookies this week (recipe also from Vegan Lunch Box) that the kids loved, and I have a big baggie of shredded zucchini in the fridge, just waiting to be tucked into some quick bread.

Yum.