Green Trees

The craft bug bit pretty hard last week. It inspired me to visit my favorite Martha Stewart's  craft section of her website. When I saw a way to be green and crafty at the same time I was game.

What you will need for green trees:

• assortment of magazines in different sizes
• boning tool (otherwise known as a "boner" at Stone Hill)
• spray paint, white, gold, silver suggested
• glitter
• cellophane 

Start with an old magazine and begin by breaking the spine. I used a Baltimore Magazine and an Everyday Food to have two different sizes. I look forward to using a few Wine Spectators for taller trees.

Fold the pages down with your boner. I know, I'm hilarious. Is anyone reading or do you just look at the pictures? I caught myself saying, "Honey, have you seen my boner?" Died of laughter because I think I'm so funny. Moving on...

After the first fold to all the pages is done your tree will look like this.

Then fold the folded page one more time so it looks like a man's tie.

This final fold has to be completely flush so the tree will stand up straight. You tuck the little triangle into the pocket of the fold.

I spray painted this tree white and sprinkled hot pink glitter for a very special girl who lives in Hampden. Hot pink is our village's team color, if you will! I wrapped them in cellophane for our sweet friend's first birthday.

Happy Birthday Jemma! We love you. 

Thanks to Emily for meeting me at the Charm City Craft Mafia Holiday Heap for our first official meeting of the Charm City Craft Club. I saw so many fabulous gifts and have more photos to come. Susan and George, thank you for inviting us to celebrate Jemma's first birthday. She is such a precious girl and we are so lucky to live so close to you all and watch her grow up...so fast!

Spaghetti Pie and Paper Dolls

We went to Woodberry Kitchen for brunch on Sunday with E's parents while Dad was in town.

It was so fun introducing Spike to everyone. I refrained from taking photos but took mental notes about what we all ordered. Adam and I had the country fried chicken. E. and Charles had E's favorite sausage and biscuits. Daddy had grits and andouille sausage. Jean had chicken and waffles. We all had coffee. Smile.

Everyone came back to Stone Hill and I cooked a casserole for a special delivery. One of my pals from book club just had twins. Janelle and Ron also have two other precious children. These births definitely called for a spaghetti pie. Another recipe adapted from my wonderful Aunt Nina's cookbook.

Start with a box of whole wheat spaghetti, cooked and drained.

Add two tablespoons of butter.

1/4 a cup of Parmesan cheese.

Chopped fresh parsley, about 2 tablespoons.

Salt and pepper.

Add one egg.

Toss together.

Add the pasta mixture to the bottom of a 9 x 9 Pyrex and press down to create the "pie". You can make a million different mixtures for the next layer. I like to use cream cheese for new Momma's. You could also use Ricotta, or low fat cottage cheese. Add your choice of cheese mixture.

I made a very simple kid friendly sauce. 3/4 of Bob Evan's sage sausage. Cooked, drained.

Two carrots chopped.

Two tablespoons of oregano.

One jar of Mom's marinara.

If you want more flavor add 2 cloves of garlic sliced while browning the sausage and a fourth of a cup of dry white wine at the end.

I dropped by on Monday night and brought Milo and Willa a few sets of paper dolls to keep them entertained. 

I was given Gideon to hold when I arrived. Joy! It was so much fun holding such a tiny little being.

Zeke was wide awake and so, so adorable. He looks just like Milo when he was a baby. Gideon looks just like Willa. I know only from photos as this was the first time I met the big brother and sister too.

I couldn't get enough of all of them. 

This is such a dark photo but little Willa was looking out the window at her new, gray, Odyssey mini-van waiting for Daddy and Milo to come back. Ron had just gotten their new ride that day. Janelle is the most entertaining Facebook poster and has been telling the tales of the new van on The Book.

Janelle

Ohhh dear god I love this car!! Excuse me, this VAN!

She is one of the most wonderful, creative and funny people I've met in Baltimore. She's also the Lifestyle Editor for the Baltimore magazine. She did a photo shoot FIVE DAYS before she gave birth to the boys. Can you even fathom that?

Ron is also cool as a fan. I feel like we really got to know them at Susan and George's wedding. This is their whole precious family. When Janelle posted that she was having twins I immediately reached out to her. I was a nanny for two sets of twins one summer in college. There were five kids total! It was the most fun ever. The twins loved each other so much. They always had a play mate and were the best of friends.

It will be a crazy ride but so worth it. Speaking of rides...more van adventures.

Janelle

well, this morning we made it all the way to milo's school ... got everyone out of the van .. into school ...dropped off milo and got everyone back into the van. phew. and later today we go pick up milo and head to frederick. might just throw rocks at the school window until they send him out.

Nina 
seriously janelle- you truly make this look so easy. i have ONE child and a drinking problem now...if i had 4 i would be like Charlie Sheen without all of the sex.

I'm in love with Nina and haven't even met her. I am constantly entertained by these cute, funny Mommies and their banter on The Book.

Ron is a rock star juggling both fellas and Milo at the same time too.

So fun to see such a happy papa.

Being a good nanny and youth minister I pulled out my old bag of tricks and made some paper dolls for the kids. Milo got a cowboy with duster jacket. Willa got a little girl with puffy sleeved dress that looked remarkably like her princess dress. Zeke and Gideon got the twin love dolls. They are so easy to make and will give your little ones a few minutes of distracting fun.

Fold an 8 1/2 by 11 piece of paper three times. Fold it shorter side-wise, not the long and skinny way. Hope that makes sense.

Cut in half.

Draw out your gingerbread guy or cowboy. You will get the hang of if after a few tries. I've made paper dolls with braids, spurs for cowboy boots and just a made a king for Milo on the spot.

Cut out the outline.

I love how the hearts always form in the negative space.

This cowboy is a favorite of mine. I gave him curly hair for Milo.

Decorate and enjoy.

It was fun seeing the kids enjoy them after a long work day.

Janelle, I'm so glad I got to come and see you guys. I'm sorry it was so brief. Way to go rock star on getting all the kids in the car, out of the car and not loosing anyone. Serious snaps to you sister. Let me know when you want another meal. I'd be happy to hold babies ANY time. Ron it was fun seeing you after way too long. Your children are precious and you guys are the most awesome parents. Nina, I seriously can't wait to meet you. You make me howl with laughter. Susan, thanks for the intro via FB. Lots of love to you all.

A Matter of Taste

I was never a fan of casseroles when I was young and my Mom never cooked them for us when we were little. Maybe lasagna on occasion. But when my aunt published her cookbook, I became a fan as did Momma. A Matter of Taste is one of my most beloved cookbooks because my wonderful aunt, Nina Tayloe, wrote it. Her recipes are foolproof. She owned a great little cafe in Memphis with the same name. Being in the kitchen with Nina is always a treat, or anywhere with Nina for that matter! 

Nina graciously allowed me to print the recipe to share. There are only a few books for sale on Amazon.com as it is out of print. If you can find it, it is a gem and a wonderful cookbook for dinner parties. Mom gave this to me the summer I graduated college. I asked Nina to sign it when she was in DC for a shower before our wedding. She's such a love!

This is the best go-to Baby Momma meal. Meaning, I give this and another of Nina's classics, Spaghetti Pie, to all my baby Momma and Daddy's. It freezes beautifully and is easy and sinfully delicious.

Refer to the recipe above, but like every recipe I don't stick to it 100%. I used a stick of unsalted butter as I needed to double the recipe.

Saute two containers of fresh mushrooms.

Dust the mushrooms with flour, about a third of a cup to make a roux. Make sure you cook the flour through. You don't want raw flour taste in your roux.

Add one cup of half and half at a time, and allow the sauce to thicken.

For a double batch I used four cups of half an half total. Not six. 

Add two cups of freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese.

Boil two boxes of Angel Hair pasta or spaghetti. I like whole wheat pasta and cook it just two minutes shy of the box directions or al dente. Run cold water over it in the sink so it stops cooking.

Split the pasta between two aluminum pans. I think these were 9 x 9 inches.

Continue to cook on low until the sauce is thick.

It's done when it hugs a wooden spoon.

I bought a rotisserie chicken, breast only. Remove the skin and each breast and cut into pieces.

Use one breast per pan.

Divide the sauce between both pans.

And toss in the pan.

Making sure to mix all the noodles. Let cool and dust the top with Parmesan cheese.

Serve with salad and dust with a little nutmeg for kicks. I just realized what I need for Christmas! Recipe cards that say, From the kitchen of Stone Hill Farm...or some such nonesense with a golden fig seal! 

We dropped this Tetrazzini off for our buddies Susan and George, who had Jemma last week. She is adorable and I burst into tears when I met her! I give Susan such huge credit for a natural birth and no drugs. You are amazing!

After all of this heavy food and Thanksgiving, I am trying to cook healthier and made us sesame carrot ribbons

with snow peas

And Seared Sea Bass! It was perfection. 

Nina, thanks so much for letting me share your wonderful recipe. If you only knew how many children's mother's have eaten your Spaghetti Pie and Chicken Tetrazzini on the East Coast you would just crack up!  I made Nette this dish when we went down for her mother's funeral two years ago this week. It's one of those meals that just gets you through the roughest of times. Comfort food in every sense. Nicoletti, your tetrazzini is in the freezer waiting to be delivered. We can't wait to meet Connor. Macker and Lisey, St. Andrew will also get one at Christmas. Lot's of love to all the new babies and baby parents out there. We are so blessed to have so many of you in our life right now!