Fern

Each Spring I have this odd obsession with ferns. I always try to take a picture of the cute little fiddle head unfurling. I've taken numerous pictures throughout the years but they never seem to capture what I see in my minds eye. This year I somehow did it! Of course, next year I will probably keep snapping more pictures of ferns.

Tuesday Tips - Baking Soda

 

Do you ever get a nasty brown ring around the drain of your sink? I scrub our sinks regularly but still get a tiny brown ring. I've tried Comet, Barkeepers Friend, Bleach,etc. Nothing got rid of the pesky ring. My mother-in-law recently read that Baking Soda would do the trick. I thought Baking Soda was just for baking, but there is a large list of cure-alls that this product can do!

 

For the sink or any similar stain, all you do is make a paste with water and cover the area for 30 minutes or so and wipe clean. Sounds too easy, right? Well, here is a nasty sink that hasn't been cleaned in who knows how long at the nursery.

 



 

Here is a picture of the drain up close. Pretty nasty, right?

 

 

After making the paste, letting it sit for 30 minutes, and wiping clean...no ring! There is a smudge on the plug still but I think that will take some serious elbow grease to remove. Baking Soda is my new go to for removing stains. The best part is that there are no harsh chemicals so it is safe around kids/pets. Awesome stuff!

Mama

Happy Mother's Day to all you Mamas out there! This handsome little guy is the first person to call me Mama. When I was pregnant I was petrified of having a boy...all the unknowns. Today I look back and think how silly I was. Nate has always been a constant source of laughter and joy.

This is the second person to call me Mama. Gabby is such a funny girl. Seriously funny. She has a zany sense of humor but also a stubborn streak that would give a mule a run for its money! Gabs is such a loving little girl and reminds us all to have a "family hug" every afternoon at lunch.

If you get to see your mom or kids today, be sure to give them a big squeeze.

Happy Mother's Day!
Rice Pot Mama

Hawaiian Ahi Poke

When we went to Hawaii last Autumn we ate a lot of poke, a raw fish salad. We decided to recreate this the other night.

We bought this beautiful Ahi tuna steak from Costco.

 

Then we did something that seemed almost sacrilegious and cubed it. Place in a bowl.

 

 Slice and dice all of the other ingredients and add to the fish. Toss together.

With the sesame seeds, place in a small frying pan and toast over medium heat.

Once they are evenly golden they are done. Set aside to cool. Once cool, sprinkle over the fish salad.

 

 

The poke was tasty but it lacked a little something...the Aloha spirit. I think things like this just taste better over there due to the fact that you are in paradise! We might make it again if we find nice grade fish that isn't so expensive!

 

Hawaiian Ahi Poke

 

Ingredients:

 

2 lbs. sashimi grade Ahi tuna steaks 

1 shallot, sliced
1/2 c. green onion, chopped
3 T. soy sauce
1 t. sesame oil
1 t. chili garlic sauce
1 T. sesame seeds

 

Directions:

 

Pat the Ahi dry, then neatly cut it into small 1/2 inch cubes. Place in a bowl. Add the shallots, green onion, soy sauce, sesame oil, chili garlic sauce, and sesame seeds. Gently toss. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate.



Tuesday Tips - Peeling Garlic

 

There are a million and one tools out there for peeling garlic. Don't waste your money. All you need is a knife and a cutting board.

 

Simply lay the knife on top of the garlic clove and pound your fist right on top of that.

 

The skin will loosen from the clove.

 

It will literally peel away.

 

The best part is the clove remains whole (though a little squished if you pound the knife really hard).

Feeling the Love

 

This week Nate's preschool had its Mother's Day celebration. It was so heartwarming and sweet. At school the kids made dessert. Then at the party they take their mamas' dessert orders and serve them (It takes a lot of self restraint to put someone else first at this age...especially when it comes to dessert!). After eating together the kiddos performed a few songs with their teachers. I think nearly every mom got a little teary eyed.

 

Then the kids gave us the gifts they made: Cute photos with flower "frames".

 

And these sweet little dishes. I'm going to use mine to hold rings. It was such a fun evening!

Kudos to the teachers!

Turkey

What do you do when three ugly turkeys decide to have a play date in your yard? I feel like it should be the start of a joke. This is what we woke to yesterday morning. If it weren't for Jim's warning call when he left for work I would have thought I was dreaming.

 

I've seen pictures of turkeys but I don't think I've seen one in person. I don't think you could forget once you have! These birds are not the most attractive. No wonder Ben Franklin's idea to make this the national bird got shot down! They may taste good but they aren't very majestic looking.

 

We aren't really sure where they came from but they left strolling down the sidewalk. It's definitely something we will be talking about for a while!