Pockets

My baby boy doesn't like to wear clothes. He runs around in his underwear 90% of the day. For weeks everything was fine and dandy, but then Izzy encountered a problem. What is a naked boy supposed to do with his cell phone?
Problem solved.

Staying busy

I recently came to the realization that I am an introvert. It is not that I am shy or self absorbed, I just like time to be alone with my thoughts. After a period of being outgoing and social, I often need time to decompress. I go off the radar for a few weeks. I won't call my family or friends (although I will talk to them if they call me). I find that I am happier if I have time to myself. Unstructured time to play with the kids or read a book or write a blog post or bake a batch of brownies. If I can't find time to do these simple things, I get cranky and mean.

When I feel the need to be alone, I often embark on crazy home improvement projects. Fixing up the house = peace and quiet. So, I have decided to paint our guest bedroom in anticipation of my mother's upcoming visit in April. I have been fretting endless about colors. To save money, I am also going to attempt to hand sew new curtains for the room. I would make them with my sewing machine, but I don't know how to use it. I am pathetic.

So, be expecting before and after pictures in the next few weeks!

Nom nom nom

As you know, I have a girl crush on Isa Chandra Moskowitz. What? You don't know who she is? Gasp! She is the author for my favorite cookbooks - like this one and this one and this one. Her recipes are amazingly awesome and best of all, she curses in her cookbook. How could you NOT love her?



This weekend I made her vegan lemon bar recipe. OH MY GOD! They were delicious. Everyone loved them - including the kids. I found her recipe listed online, so I thought I would post it for you. It calls for a few rare ingredients - like agar-agar and arrowroot. However, I found both items at Whole Foods. So, without further ado...

Vegan Lemon Bar Recipe

Crust:

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

2/3 cup powdered sugar

1/4 cup cornstarch

1 cup non-hydrogenated margarine



Filling:

1 1/3 cups water

3 tablespoons agar agar flakes

1 1/4 cups sugar

1/8 teaspoon tumeric

2/3 cup fresh lemon juice

3 tablespoons arrowroot powder

1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest (from two large lemons)

1/4 cup soymilk



Extra powdered or confectioners’ sugar to decorate finished bars



Preheat oven to 350 F. Lightly grease a 13 x 9 inch baking pan.



Pulse flour, powdered sugar and cornstarch in food processor. Add margarine in spoonfuls and blend, 8 to 10 seconds, and then pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal. Sprinkle mixture into prepared baking pan and press firmly into an even layer with slightly raised sides to hold in the filling. Refrigerate for about 30 minutes and then bake for 25 minutes; remove from oven and let cool. Meanwhile, prepare the filling.



In a sauce pot, soak the agar agar in the water for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, zest your lemons and squeeze your lemon juice. Mix the arrowroot into the lemon juice to dissolve.



When the agar has been soaking for 15 minutes, turn the heat up and bring to a boil. Boil for about 10 minutes, or until the agar is completely dissolved. Add the sugar and tumeric and boil until dissolved, about 3 minutes. Lower the heat to medium and add the arrow root and lemon juice mixture, then add the lemon zest and soy milk. Wisk constantly until the mixture thickens, about 5 minutes. It should not be rapidly boiling, but lowly bubbling is ok.



Pour the mixture into the prepared crust, let cool for 20 minutes and then refrigerate for at least 3 hours, until the filling is only slightly jiggly and set. Use a sifter or a fine mesh strainer for sprinkle the bars with powdered sugar. Slice into squares and serve.

You're welcome! Now get busy baking!