The Miracle on 34th Street

I've been having a hard time getting motivated for Christmas decorating this year. We still have pumpkins on the window sills and I'm still putting stuff away from Thanksgiving. We are still turned upside down in the shed-soon-to-be-office and we are both slammed with work stuff. Even so, how could we be delayed when we have The Miracle on 34th Street just blocks away from us in Hampden?

The street is strung with lights.

And all the neighbors participate.

Just a cruise down this block is sure to get anyone out of the worst of funks and winter blues.

There is even a Peace House.

Some of the neighbors even open their homes for tours. I LOVE this town! This block honestly makes me tear up it is such a happy place. I've heard the city even gives them a break in electricity bills for the month of December.

There are vendors selling terrible hot chocolate, but it's worth it to help support the folks. Someone should create a hot chocolate "food truck" with whipped lattes, coco, Peppermint or Egg Nog shots. The staff could be dressed up as Sugar Plum Fairies and give you a gingerbread cookie with purchase. Dude, who is in?!

I need to become more aware, as our advent newsletter from Memorial reminds us. Aware of God's presence in the littlest of things. Not just worried about the checklist that needs to be ticked off, but of the more important things. Like why we celebrate Christmas. 

Maybe we won't get a tree this year. We'll just take continuous walks down The Miracle on 34th Street to enjoy the fellowship of families, neighbors and visitors from far and wide and celebrate Christmas in our messy, turned upside down home.

Thank you neighbors! Every year you put forth such joy that is contagious. I believe you are the spirit of Christmas. And thank you Memorial Episcopal for the wonderful Advent reminder of Awareness events.

Potato Leek Soup

E. hit the Baltimore, under-the-JFX, Farmer's Market while I was at Memorial on Sunday. The weather has become chilly in Baltimore so I suggested we make Potato Leek Soup for lunch. 

Leeks are mad sandy. You have to really, really rinse them off. Look at the sand in the sink.

I used one onion, and half of the potatoes in this photo. Start with three tablespoons of butter in a dutch oven cast iron, enameled pot. I worship my Le Creuset . I bought it so long ago. The first or second year out of college from Bed Bath and Beyond and I use it sometimes twice a week. 

Cut off the spiky ends of the leeks.

Again, three tablespoons of butter and one medium onion. Cook until translucent.

Cut the green ends off of the leeks. But, slice them like you were using your chef's knife like a sword against the leek. This way you get to keep the tender green center of the leek, see below. 

See how the green part is all weird? You don't want to just cut the tops off but you want to light saber your leeks. Look at the sand. Seriously, there is so much sand, especially from Farmer's Market leeks.

Cut the leeks in a long slice down the middle, not going all the way through the top. Then turn over and cut long wise again.

Then run the water over the leeks, using your thumb to press down and separate the leek. THIS...should get all the sand out. 

Chop those squeaky clean leeks up and add them to your favorite pot.

Peel and chop your potatoes. 

Add everything and cook for 5 minutes.

I used 3/4 of a box of chicken stock. The yellow box kind.

Let me introduce you to the food mill. If you haven't met, he's a fabulous little fella. There are three graters and I used the largest grate for this soup. I love our food mill. He's great for mashed potatoes, soups and even baby food. We gave one to a friend for her baby shower with a how-to-make-baby-food-with-a-food-mill cookbook. Our friend Heather, who actually started Mom Made Foods, loved that I gave this as a baby shower gift. I remember the day she told me her brother was a chef and they had this great idea for a company. She had been making baby food with a food mill before starting her Oprah worthy organic baby food company. She was so brave and is an incredible inspiration to all women. Her husband is also a rock star supporter. I'm one of their biggest fans. Follow Heather on Twitter @MomMadeFoods.

Cook for thirty to 40 minutes or until the potatoes are soft.

Get out a second pot and put the Food Mill on top of it. Make sure you release the tripod thingys for balance. Ladle the contents of the Le Creuset, in small batches, into the food mill and start cranking.

It smooths everything out without getting gummy or too, well baby-foodish.

Add pepper and sea salt to taste. You can add light cream, but it really doesn't need it.

We put a dollop of sour cream and authentic Stone Hill Farm chives as a garnish. We made little grilled cheese paninis on Arnold Bread thins. Super bad idea. The bread was way too thin so the cheese just melted all over the joint. 

Thank you JFX Farmer's Market farmers for your gorgeous leeks and taters. And thank you BOPA for making the underside of a highway so beautiful. Each pillar that holds up the tonnage is painted by different local artists. A must see when you come to town. Open every Sunday, May 2, 2010 - December 19, 2010 7:00AM - 12:00PM

And thank you Guy and Pam, our dear neighbors, who have fall blooming crocus. You were away when they bloomed and they kept us company.

Bolton Hill

Baltimore is made up of tons of little villages. Bolton Hill is one of the most charming in my opinion. Others would fight for this title saying Fells Point, Mt. Vernon or Federal Hill should win, and rightly so. It's a tough call. But Bolton Hill has an old world elegance and is also tucked away off the beaten path. Whereas, Mt. Vernon shines in its glory on Charles Street, this fact makes it busy with traffic and street noise. Bolton Hill is quiet and reserved from what I can tell.

Memorial Episcopal, our church, has been around for 150 years. The stones look like the same ones at Stone Hill. So has Druid Hill Park which is just up the street from Bolton Hill. F. Scott Fitzgerald, the Cone sisters and even Woodrow Wilson lived here.

There is a great video at the BMA that shows the Cone Sister's apartments. Scroll down to the bottom of this link.

Francis Scott Key Memorial

Don't you love the Greek Key on the left knob? 

The streets are made up of row houses. Large, large row houses compaired to the skinny kids down in Georgetown.

Some of our best friends live in Bolton Hill. James and John went to Christ Church, Georgetown. The first Sunday I went to Memorial I saw John in the choir and burst into tears. I said, "You all are supposed to be in London." And he looked at me like, "What are YOU doing in Baltimore?" Our Stone Hill neighbor who shares our wall invited us to this church. It was so amazing, of all the churches in Baltimore, to see people we actually knew who went to the first one we visited. Small world, smaller Baltimore. Aren't their kids beautiful?!!!

When we stepped into James and John's home for the first time we were overcome by how wide it was and how tall the ceilings were. Back in the day you were taxed on the width of the street side of your home in Washington, DC. Literally, it was measured by the front of the house on the street. No wonder there are so many teeny, skinny houses down there. And Georgetown was built around the 1790's. Bolton Hill was a few years later from about 1850 to 1900. You can get a lot more house for your dollar up north y'all. So come and join us DC pals!!! 

There is a Light Rail Station down the street for UMBC and MICA students to get downtown and out of town easily. I adore this painted bridge on Howard Street.

The Brown Center

There is a charming bistro called b. down the street from our church.

I'm hoping to use the restaurant for a special event in November.

I love the simple b. logo.

We've never eaten here but the brunch looked delicious when I stopped by to introduce myself to the manager.

These are salted Cod Balls. I'm looking forward to going back.

The Festival on the Hill is Saturday, October 9th and is filled with food and music. It's a fun opportunity to see this section of town in all of its glory.

We are so thankful to Guy and Pam, our Stone Hill neighbors, who invited us to Memorial Episcopal when we first arrived in 2008. What an incredibly welcoming place with diversity, charm and a great outreach program. E. is really involved in the Samaratin Community and I have just dipped my toe back into the youth ministry bucket. Looking forward to meeting more parishioners as we get involved. Mother Martha even has a great blog! And each year the church puts on a musical in the spring.