Friday Things
1. Ahhh my little crew! I love this picture :) Joseph loves laying next to Isabelle and “helping” her with tummy time, and Dominic just loves to be in the mix any way he can. Now that Isabelle can stay awake a little while longer between naps the boys can spend more time with her, and we can all three go on little neighborhood walks together. Loving this life with my babies :)
2. I loved reading about the experiences of a childcare worker in Austria. Love the approach!
3. We’re still in July, but I’m already working on my fall and holiday recipes, so I’d love to know if there’s anything you’re hoping to see or would like to request. Leave them in the comments below!
4. A new Ina Garten book is coming out this fall! I can’t get enough of her, ever.
5. I saw a story on the news yesterday about what the “perfect day” would look like… what is yours?! Mine would totally include sleeping in (these days, that would mean like 7:30am), loads of snuggles and fun with the kids and my husband, ice cream cones, sleeping with the windows open and hearing a constant, gentle rain.
6. A local bakery has been advertising “Paczki in July”… and coincidentally, the here on the site has been going berserk, so maybe this is a thing?
7. How about the woman who found a mountain lion in her house taking a nap? Like goldilocks in reverse… I would die!
8. I haven’t talked much about sports because we haven’t been watching a whole lot (caught Wimbledon and some golf tournaments, though!), but the one new thing we started watching this year is Formula One racing. Joseph LOVES cars so my husband thought he might enjoy seeing the fancy race cars, and boy does he. He can name every single team just by looking at the car. I never thought I would get into auto racing of any sort, but we all enjoy watching together on Sunday mornings!
9. In case you missed it, there is a Pepperidge Farm recall for Goldfish crackers. Check your packages!
10. TGIF! These sweet pups are freshly groomed and looking fancy!
I’d just like to say what gorgeous photos and as always thank you for your recipes
Hi Michelle! I would love to have a good recipe for Italian rum cake, for the holidays. Growing up we would get one from an Italian bakery in South Jersey, DiBartolos bakery. It was wonderful. I would like to make one for Christmas this year. Also any Italian cookies!
Thank you!
I love cranberry recipes in the winter–especially in cookies! And recipes for treats that are impressive for gifting but not too labor intensive. Ooh, and meal ideas for the slow cooker are always appreciated– they are just so comforting in the winter. It stinks that it’s already dark out when I get home from work, but it’s soooo nice when dinner is already (or almost) done!
Hi Michelle,
Your kids are so adorable! The pups fur looks so soft that it makes you want to cuddle with them. They remind me of my golden that I miss.Â
I see the request line is open…I listen to the radio too much. Hahaha!Â
I’m always looking for different and tried and true quick breads to bake. Also bundt and pound cakes are fun. I also enjoy reading about and seeing the recipes that your readers send you too.Â
I love your recipes and pictures of your kids and the pups! It’s amazing how fast your kids are growing up! Your doing great keeping up with your blog, plus taking care of 3 kids and 2 pups!Â
Doggie spa days are exhausting! It’s not easy being this cute.
I would live to have a homemade moist pound cake …for the holidays. Please add on for me this year.
Thanks
Angela
Your children are precious! It makes me smile to see how much your family (including your dogs) mean to you!
A perfect day for me would definitely be sleeping late (I’m a night owl) then spending the rest of that day with my three darling grandsons. (ages 10, 8, and 5) We’d probably be eating pizza at some point.
(I also love the sound of a gentle rain!) Hope you have a fantastic weekend!
I love the Austria approach! I have done many of these things over the last 25 years. The most important one, imo, is the sharing. I always babysat in the summer when my older two were little. Anyone who wanted a toy someone else was playing with had to ask, “May I have a turn when you are done?” The other had to reply with a yes. The person playing with the toy never took longer than 10-15 mins, tops, to be done. That way neither one had power over the other. It is so much better than fighting over a toy or giving one child power of the other – or a chance to manipulate.
For the holidays, I would love a game plan for a completely make-ahead lovely Christmas dinner. Time feels so short in December and it would be wonderful to enjoy the holiday and have the meal completely under control!
The article linked to your #2 made me weep with joy. This is EXACTLY how I parent my kids and I get so many judgmental stares in public when I don’t rush to pick up a kid when they fall. I get so many gasps of horror when I casually mention that my boys were playing in the work room with real saws and hammers. Other moms can’t believe that I don’t spend al Saturday carefully crafting activities for my boys and, instead, let them work on whatever activity they like.
And yet I get so many compliments on how smart and independent my boys are (4 & 5) and how people can’t believe they know so much about so many things….
Did you see this? https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/27/opinion/sunday/motherhood-in-the-age-of-fear.html?action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=opinion-c-col-right-region®ion=opinion-c-col-right-region&WT.nav=opinion-c-col-right-region
Hi Michelle,
I cannot believe how big and strong Isabelle is already! Your little crew look like 3 peas in a pod, they all resemble each other so much. What a lovely little family you have, including Duke and Judith. Have a good weekend.
Michelle…
Your children…..precious!
Your pups……so calm and lovable!!
Enjoy your weekend….;-)
Just yesterday I was making for the upteenth time a recipe on the King Arthur Flour website and I confronted again a question that I always have and thought I wish I could ask BEB, so here goes. The recipe is for pulled pork and it’s the best pulled pork I’ve ever had/made. When I serve it to guests, someone always asks for the recipe. The recipe calls for the pork to be patted down with kosher salt, followed by brown sugar and then put in a slow cooker and have liquid drizzled over it before cooking. The drizzling washes off what was just patted on so I’m always wondering how this is supposed to be done. Also, would it be better if the salt and brown sugar were patted on and the pork left to rest in the fridge for a while? I have my own little fix for defatting this dish, which I think improves the texture on serving. I remove the pork from the liquid once cooked and cool completely in the fridge. Then I skim the solidified fat off of the liquid and shred the cold meat, pulling off any fat. Recombine and heat when needed. It tastes better too if it’s made a day ahead, cooled and reheated. I would love to know your take on this recipe and any improvements. Also, the coleslaw recipe that’s on the same KA webpage, is very good, very simple and also should be made a day ahead. I have never tackled the rolls. Here’s the link: https://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/sams-pulled-pork-sandwich-with-coleslaw-recipe Finally, I know KA has a blogpost about the recipe, but it really doesn’t help with the drizzling, washing off issue. What’s the point of patting the pork down with sugar and salt, only to wash it off minutes later? I feel like I’m missing something.
Hi Linda! I haven’t tried this particular recipe (but now I feel like I need to try it!). I usually pour liquid around the meat, I think it would have the same effect.
Hello BEB!
I grew up in a small country town in Georgia and one of my favorite memories is Mrs. Douglas caramel cakes. The caramel icing was a shiny glaze that was poured over the cake and once set oh my goodness. Total cake heaven. I have made several failed attempts to make this Southern Classic. Can’t wait to see what you come up with!
Have a great weekend. Heather Huddleston
I’m already working on my fall and holiday recipes, so I’d love to know if there’s anything you’re hoping to see or would like to request.
The kiddos are so adorable – so glad they are enjoying each other! I love holiday cakes, cookies and breads….I have been watching The Handmaids’s Tale this summer, well acted but very annoying in some ways…lol. Doggies looking great!
I would love a recipe for a whole beef tenderloin. We cook a large one every year for Christmas Eve and have yet to find a great recipe/cooking method.Â