Looking Back, and Forward

2008 has been an amazingly good year for my family. So I don't forget, here's my list of highlights:

• My mother, my two sons, my husband and I all enjoy good health with the perks that come with this. We are able to travel to see one another and we all have active busy lives. I also think we all enjoy one another's company.
• David and Syvart are both leading interesting lives right now, and I am comfortable with their situations, and proud of them. David is in his first year of grad school at the Univeristy of California -Davis, and seems to be loving it. Syvart is living in Mexico City, teaching English. He's got a good group of friends and is happy with his situation.
• Taylor has a job that he loves. Not only does the job keep him happy, it allows me to lead a charmed life.
• I have a wonderful collection of friends who live throughout the country. I know I am lucky to have them, and to be able to see most of them throughout the year.
• I have been able to travel with Taylor, and by myself, to amazing places this year: Sanibel Island FL; Mohonk Mountain House - New Palz NY two times; Los Vegas NV and the Grand Canyon AZ; Mexico City, Queretaro, Puebla MX; New York City; Portland OR - 8 weeks spread out through the year!; Seattle WA.
• David graduated from Evergreen State College in June, and my mother was able to attend the ceremony with us.
• My mother and I spent 8 weeks together through out the year, including 3 weeks here in Blue Bell. This is the most time we've spent together since I left to go to college.

I'm actually looking forward to 2009, even though that means I'll eventually be a year older. I know that times seem to be uncertain for our country. I'm not making New Years resolutions but here is my hope: I hope that I will be able to handle whatever comes my way in the new year with grace.

7 Random Facts

I was tagged to provide a meme from Diana. I've copied the following instructions because this is all new to me, and I'll have to keep reviewing.
"A meme is a concept, usually involving a list of personal revelations, that passes from one person to another via a social network. The rules of this particular meme are as follows:
Link to your tagger and list these rules on your blog.
Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog - some random, some weird .
Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blog (or twitter page).
Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog. (or twitter account)
If you don’t have 7 blog friends, or if someone else already took dibs, then tag some unsuspecting strangers.''

1. I was born in Portland Oregon a zillion years ago. I couldn't wait to leave, when I turned 18, and now I can't wait to move back.
2. I taught kindergarten and first grade for 19 years and I can sing many ridiculous songs on most subjects. As a result of my years in the classroom I NEVER wear themed clothing or jewelry (example: pumpkin earrings or sweatshirts).
3. Foods I dislike: eggplant, cooked spinach, lamb, rabbit, game meats, creamed anything.
4. I love wild, undeveloped beaches and rugged mountains. I don't consider the "shore" of New Jersey to be a real beach, or the Poconos to be real mountains.
5. Worst moment in my entertaining life: A group of neighbors came to my house for the dessert part of a "progressive" Christmas dinner. We walked into the house out of the snow to see our cheerful Christmas decorations and everything looking cozy. While our neighbors took off their boots and made themselves comfortable I went to the kitchen to get the dessert served up. Hokan, one of the neighbor men, followed me into the kitchen and held out his hand to me. He had a handful of dog poop!!!!!!!!!!! The kids, who had been instructed to take the dog out, while we were gone, had forgotten, and the poor little dog had to go somewhere.
6. Proudest moment: My younger son was a junior or senior in high school and we went, along with a few friends, to the high school jazz concert where he played the piano. It happened to be my birthday. Unknownst to me, the band played a piece composed by him!!!! When the conductor announced the piece he said that after days of nagging he finally got Syvart to name the piece - "Ode to Jamar" in honor of his mother's birthday. The audience heaved a collective sigh. I was so thrilled tears came to my eyes. It didn't matter to me that "Ode to Jamar" served two puposes 1. he couldn't think of a name for the piece; 2. he had forgotten to get me a birthday present.
7. Things I love to do: knit, read, play mah jongg, play tennis, go to movies, travel, sit on the couch with my dog Bob.

I'm tagging: cheekyredhead, britknitter, karenknitstoo, beaucoupknits, gremmissina, sabrinab

Louise

June 18, 1947 - October 6, 2008

You started as my hair dresser in 1989 in Libertyville, Illinois

You became my friend

We were each 50% of our knitting circle - Saturday afternoons

I learned to drink tea with you and eat Madeleines

We went to the flea markets together

You searched for green depression glass and vintage table cloths

I learned about McCoy and added to my pink depression glass

We went to the garden centers together

You bought for your sunny garden

I bought for my shady garden

We each bought the perfect weeding tool at Smith and Hawkin

We took our knitting to the Chicago Botanic Garden

I watched you make wedding dresses for your girls and baby sweaters for the grandchildren

You watched me survive the teenage years with my two boys

In 2001 I moved to Connecticut

We were both sorry to loose 50% of our knitting circle

Now I miss more than the knitting circle

I miss you

Good bye

Recipe for Lefse

I can't believe that I actually have a request for the lefse recipe!!!! Here it is:

First of all, lefse is a Norwegian bread. It comes in a circular shape. It's usually stored in a folded up - half circle attitude. When eating, we usually tear it apart so each serving consists of a half circle piece of lefse.

Norske Nook says, "If you're not Scandinavian, you may have little trouble with the lefse. When you first see it, you may think it should be used for napkins, but you'd like it better if it were buttered and rolled up."

There are at least two schools of thought as far as eating. My family eats it by spreading it with butter and rolling it up like a tube. There are also people who spread it with butter, sprinkle it with sugar and then roll it up like a tube. Neither group of people understands the other. To me, and my family, the sugar part is totally disgusting. However, the sugar lovers think their method is tasty.

Lefse is eaten as bread with a meal, like meatballs or lutefisk, or by itself as a snack.

Here's my recipe, adapted from my grandmother, and the cookbook, Farm Recipes and Food Secrets from the Norske Nook by Helen Myhre with Mon Vold.

• 4 large russet potatoes
• 1/2 cup white flour (try flour with gluten next time), plus more for rolling
• butter

1. Peel and boil the potatoes in salted water until soft
2. Put through a potato ricer. Each time you fill the hopper of the ricer throw in a tablespoon of butter
3. Start by adding 1/2 cup flour and mix. If the dough is too sticky to roll, add more flour
4. Divide the dough into 12 balls. Use more flour on the rolling table to keep the dough from sticking. Roll each ball into a thin circle using a lefse rolling pin. If you can manage, roll the dough onto a lefse stick and carry it to your grill and unroll it. Cook on a dry griddle at 375 for several minutes per side. The lefse is supposed to bubble to tell you it's ready to be turned. Mine did not bubble on the first side, but it did bubble on the second side. Both sides should be lightly browned.
5. Fold lefse in half and transfer lefse to a cooling rack.
6. If there's any left by the end of the day, store in a cool place in a tin container.

Equipment that is helpful:

• Potato ricer (This makes a world of difference - when I originally tried to make lefse I just used mashed potatoes. The food mill was good, but I have since bought a ricer and it's the way to go!)
• Lefse rolling pin
• Lefse stick
• Lefse electric griddle (I don't have one, but found that my electric pancake griddle was good. My grandmother's recipe said to cook on a wood buring stove. Norske Nook says to avoid cheap aluminum pans.)

Lefse

When I was a little girl, my mother always made lefse for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. We all loved her lefse. I don't know why I never I never once helped her make it. Perhaps it's because it's such a messy, irritating process that having a little girl in the kitchen would have driven her over the edge, or at least out of the kitchen.

Yesterday, talking to mom, I learned that she and her brother, Uncle Gordon, are going to Sally's house today for a lefse party. As many family members as are available go to Sally's and work together to make the lefse. I don't know if it's a longing for lefse, or a longing for family, but I woke up this morning with the urge to make my own lefse.

I vaguely remember making lefse twice in my life. Once was when Taylor and I lived in Missoula, Montana. It was at that point that I actually bought a lefse rolling pin, and the stick one needs to turn the lefse. It was a horrible mess and the lefse wasn't too good.

I also made it when we lived in Olympia, Washingtion and the children were little. I think I only tried it once and found it so messy and irritating that it was much easier to have my mother make it and bring it to the house.

Now, at least 30 years later, living in the Philadelphia area and no family in sight, I'm craving lefse. Maybe I'm also craving the family. Since I can't join the family, I'll have to make lefse myself. So, first thing this morning I went to the grocery store and bought my supplies: 4 large russet potatoes and flour. I forgot the cream.

I got out my recipe book, Farm Recipes and Food Secrets from the Norske Nook, and my mom's typed up version of the recipe from her mother.

First, I boiled the potatoes. Then I immediately wondered if I should put them through the food mill hot or cold. Not having a clue I called my cousin Sally. Sally had gone to work, but her sister Rose was visiting from California and was there starting to boil potatoes for the lefse party. Rose informed me that I needed to mill the potatoes while they're warm, but it would be better if I had a ricer. Well, I don't have a ricer and wasn't about to run around town looking for one now so we both agreed I could use the food mill.

It was good I called her on many levels. The first reason is because it was great to catch up with her. The other reason is because her recipe was different from the Norkse Nook. She said, "Don't bother with the cream - you won't need it." She was right. She also mentioned a special lefse griddle, which I don't have. She did think that our pancake griddle would be fine. I had originally thought of using my cast iron griddle, but the electric pancake griddle did the job just fine.

Back to the recipe. I put the potatoes through the food mill, and with each batch I added a tablespoon of butter which melted into the potatoes. Then I let the potato mix sit until cool. Rose gave me this hint or I probably would have started rolling out the lefse right then and there and would have had an even messier mess. When the potatoes were cool, I added 1/2 cup flour and mixed it up with my hands. Then I put at least 1/2 cup flour on the counter, divided the dough into 12 balls and started rolling. In the meantime I turned our pancake griddle on to 375.

The first one I rolled stuck to the counter. More flour. The second time I rolled the first one, it broke on the way to the griddle which was inches away from the griddle. I decided to cook it anyway so I could do a taste test. It seemed to take forever to cook - Norske Nook said one minute per side, or until the lefse bubbled. Let me tell you, my lefse needed much more than one minute, and the first side never bubbled. The second side did do some bubbling however. At this point I tasted it. Not bad, but not as good as I remembered from childhood. Ah, I forgot to put butter on it. Butter improves things.

I soldiered on and sure enough, the lefse started looking better and better. After a while it didn't break when I put it on the griddle and I learned to leave it alone until the bottom was slightly browned. After the first turn, I learned to leave the lefse until it bubbled and the other side was slightly browned.

In the midst of all this lefse making, my sister-cousin Maren, from Napa, called. Speaker phone is a wonderful thing. We talked while I rolled and cooked. At one point, hearing the frustration in my voice, she suggested that I throw the whole mess out and start over, but that would require another trip to the store. I had too much committed to this particular batch of glop. So, I carried on and she and I had a great conversation.

I'm finally done. I've got 12 pieces of lefse, which considering I've got quite a bit in my stomach, is a respectable amount of the treasured stuff. This may not be the best lefse ever, but it will do for now. Perhaps if I make it on a yearly basis it will get easier and better.

Now, I wonder how things are going in Auburn at Sally's house. I'm sure their lefse is divine - what with all those experts working on it. I'm sure they are also having a great time just being together. Here in Philly, I made my lefse and I got to talk to two cousins, so I had my own version of a lefse party. A job well done.

Mexico

I've been back from Mexico for two full weeks now and feel like I really should file a little report about my experiences. However.............the trip was so amazing I don't know what to write. Plus, I'm now getting back into my normal life and it's not as vivid as it was 14 days ago.

I loved every minute of the trip, from the moment I landed and was greated by Syvart, and his friend Oswaldo, with chocolate skulls in celebration of Dia de Muertes, to my last glimpse of Syvart leaning against a post in the subway while our train took Taylor and me away to the aiport.

Mexico City was more than I ever dreamed. It has sky scrapers; and it has plastic tarps on the sidewalk serving as make-shift stores. It has beautiful public parks and squares; and it has men squatting in the back of garbage trucks sorting through the garbage. It has men and women, dressed for success, marching down the street talking on their cell phones; it has young and old women dressed in village skirts and shawls asking for money. Beautiful restaurants with wonderful food are everywhere, and so are stalls selling food made right there - without the benefit of running water. The architecture can be amazing - both the old and the new; but there are also cement block hovels where people are living. I guess I should say the country is filled with contrasts.

I never felt afraid, and people smiled back when I smiled. Everyone seemed to greet us and smiled when we responded. I got pretty good at "Buenos dias," "Buenos tardes," and "Buenos naches."

It seems that we were busy every minute in Mexico City. We first went to the Reforma area to view the altars to the dead and the huge papier maches monsters that were ready to go on parade for Dia de Muertes. We went to the Zocolo several times, saw the huge cathedral there and the government buildings, and more altars built to honor the dead. We walked through Zona Rosa. We spent a day at the Museo de Antropoligia and took the bus to the pyramids at Teotihuacan. We actually managed to climb the Pyramid of the Sun. That was plenty of stairs, and we just looked at the Pyramid of the Moon. Taylor went to the church where Syvart practices the organ (I was inconvenienced by my intestines and stayed home). We went to the Ballet Folklorica. In addition to all of this, we had multiple amazing meals and spent time with Syvart and his friends. We even managed to fit in an election evening party with tequilla, sushi and various other snacks. Syvart, Sara and Azania joined us for this event in our room at the Red Tree House.

In addition to Mexico City, we spent 4 days in Queretaro and 1 day in Puebla. Both cities (population over 1 million) are more manageable than Mexico City. We walked everywhere, while in Mexico City we also took cabs and the subway. Both cities seem to be organized around a series of squares where people meet one another, take a break from the hectic traffic and celebrate the holidays. Something seems to be going on in the squares pretty much all of the time. On one side of the square is usually a huge church and the other 4 sides will have shops fronted by sidewalk cafes. These squares seem to be the hub of the neighborhoods. Such a wonderful concept, I wish I could find a town in the U.S. that still used this plan. I suppose we are all too busy driving around in our cars to sit around in a public park or sidewalk cafe.

So this is a brief overview of the best trip we've taken in a long time. It doesn't do justice to the experiences we had. This goes to show what a difficult job it is to be a travel writer. After rereading this I feel like I've taken all the color right out of the trip. In any case, we look forward to exploring more of Mexico, and I hope I can learn a little Spanish in the meantime.

Soup's On

It's a perfect day for Mah Jongg. The ladies will be here shortly and I'm ready for them. I'm trying something new: soup!!! Yesterday I made a batch of the tomato soup I learned to make when we lived in Connecticut. And so we have a little something to go with it, I've made the ginger cookie recipe that I got from Liz as a party favor at her pre wedding brunch. Any minute now 11 ladies will desend. Will soup be too weird a snack, or will it be a success?