Meet Lydia May Maleski
I have a bunch of great ideas to write about, stay tuned and maybe I'll actually have time to share them...lol!
Monday, January 9, 2012
Alot Has Happened
So, true to form, it has been more than a year since the last time I posted. Well, alot has happened. For one thing, I've been really busy making this:
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
"I have a new job." To many, this statement seems pretty benign. To me, over the last few weeks, this change has made a PROFOUND difference in not only what I do each day, but in every aspect of my life and what goes on around me.
I have given up the 600-700 miles of driving each week, working as a sales consultant for a beauty supply company, that consumed me for 3 years. The scary part of that was that I really didn't realize how consumed I was. Now I work at the most beautiful spa that overlooks Lake Winnepesaukee. This is my view every day:
After I gave my notice, the first thing that changed was, I started to sleep. All night. No tossing, no turning, no waking up at 3:00 am panicking about whatever was going on with my job. My mood changed. I began to be able to hear myself think again. A few days later, driving my 11-year-old home from school, I was told, "Mom, you are WAY more chill now that you have your new job." Well, there it is.
My house got clean because I had energy and motivation again. Drawers and cabinets started getting organized because I wasn't totally overwhelmed when I opened them and saw the mess. I began to think creatively again. I pulled out my long-dormant sewing machine. The Peace Lily in my kitchen started to bloom. It must have sensed the change too.
And best of all, I started to cook. Well, I cooked before, but only because these people in my house HAD to eat SOMETHING. I'm trying new recipes, making up my own, and cooking for the enjoyment of it! My sister bought me a cookbook/scrapbook that I look forward to filling with all the things my family loves, so my kids can fight over it when they're grown.
Last Sunday, my sister and I were helping my mom clean out her flower gardens for the winter, cutting down the perennials, digging or pulling the annuals that the frost had already gotten to. As I was pulling out marigolds under the kitchen windows, my nose caught a whiff of sage. Sure enough, those frost-blackened marigolds had protected a beautiful sage plant. From which I promptly picked myself a lovely bouquet.
Later, in the garage, My mom asked us to move a basket full of squash picked from her garden. As is her way, she said "Why don't you take a couple of those home...it'll make the basket lighter to move." Standing there in the autumn chill, this vision filled my head. I went home and made this:
1 Medium Butternut Squash
Olive oil
Salt and Pepper
½ Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
5 eggs
3 ½ Cups Flour
Pinch of Salt
2 Sticks Butter
25-30 Sage Leaves, cut into ribbons
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Peel, halve, seed and cut squash into one inch cubes. Place in a 9 X 13” roasting pan. Drizzle squash generously with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast, uncovered, about 50 minutes, until squash is fork tender. Allow to cool to room temperature.
In a heavy duty stand mixer, place 2 cups of the flour and the eggs. Using a dough hook on low speed, mix until the 2 cups of flour are completely incorporated with the eggs. Add additional flour by half cupfuls until dough will accept no more flour (you likely will not use all 3 ½ cups). Turn onto a floured surface and knead until a fingerprint depressed into the dough springs back. Wrap with plastic, and let rest while you finish assembling the filling.
Transfer squash to a food processor, and add the parmesan cheese. Pulse together until smooth.
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Divide dough into six portions. Keeping the remaining portions covered, roll the first portion of dough in a pasta machine to a thickness of 5. Place rolled sheet on a floured countertop. Drop filling, by teaspoonful, onto dough sheet, leaving 2 inches in between each. Brush the edges and in between raviolis with a beaten egg. Roll a second sheet of pasta and place on top of first sheet and filling. Press down to seal in between each ravioli, and trying to remove any air bubbles, press edges together. Using a sharp knife, cut into individual ravioli. Place ravioli on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper and sprinkled with flour, to hold while you assemble the remaining ravioli. (At this point, you could place the cookie sheets in the freezer for several hours and then place ravioli into a resealable freezer bag for later consumption). Gently drop the ravioli into the boiling water. After the water returns to a boil, cook for 6 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a skillet, melt 2 sticks of butter over low heat. Add sage leaves and continue cooking over low heat until you see the butter begin to brown (Watch carefully, as burned butter is not pleasant!). When ravioli is done, remove to a large platter, and spoon sauce and crispy sage over the top. Serve with grated parmesan cheese, if desired. Makes about 30 ravioli.
Roasted Butternut Squash Ravioli with Sage Brown Butter Sauce
1 Medium Butternut Squash
Olive oil
Salt and Pepper
½ Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
5 eggs
3 ½ Cups Flour
Pinch of Salt
2 Sticks Butter
25-30 Sage Leaves, cut into ribbons
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Peel, halve, seed and cut squash into one inch cubes. Place in a 9 X 13” roasting pan. Drizzle squash generously with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast, uncovered, about 50 minutes, until squash is fork tender. Allow to cool to room temperature.
In a heavy duty stand mixer, place 2 cups of the flour and the eggs. Using a dough hook on low speed, mix until the 2 cups of flour are completely incorporated with the eggs. Add additional flour by half cupfuls until dough will accept no more flour (you likely will not use all 3 ½ cups). Turn onto a floured surface and knead until a fingerprint depressed into the dough springs back. Wrap with plastic, and let rest while you finish assembling the filling.
Transfer squash to a food processor, and add the parmesan cheese. Pulse together until smooth.
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Divide dough into six portions. Keeping the remaining portions covered, roll the first portion of dough in a pasta machine to a thickness of 5. Place rolled sheet on a floured countertop. Drop filling, by teaspoonful, onto dough sheet, leaving 2 inches in between each. Brush the edges and in between raviolis with a beaten egg. Roll a second sheet of pasta and place on top of first sheet and filling. Press down to seal in between each ravioli, and trying to remove any air bubbles, press edges together. Using a sharp knife, cut into individual ravioli. Place ravioli on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper and sprinkled with flour, to hold while you assemble the remaining ravioli. (At this point, you could place the cookie sheets in the freezer for several hours and then place ravioli into a resealable freezer bag for later consumption). Gently drop the ravioli into the boiling water. After the water returns to a boil, cook for 6 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a skillet, melt 2 sticks of butter over low heat. Add sage leaves and continue cooking over low heat until you see the butter begin to brown (Watch carefully, as burned butter is not pleasant!). When ravioli is done, remove to a large platter, and spoon sauce and crispy sage over the top. Serve with grated parmesan cheese, if desired. Makes about 30 ravioli.
Friday, November 27, 2009
No, I'm Not Lost in a Black Hole
I wish I could be one of those daily bloggers, or a weekly blogger. I'd settle for being a semi-regular-basis blogger! I began with good intentions, but have fallen into the swirling vortex that is life. I feel like a Catholic going to confession..."Forgive me, for my last blog was in July."
Today, though, is an anomaly in the vortex. Today is The Day After Thanksgiving. Some people celebrate a holiday today, called Black Friday. They celebrate by waking up before God to spend hours searching for parking spaces, standing in line, and relieving themselves of much cash. Myself, I do not subscribe to such nonsense. I prefer to save my early rising, parking space fighting and line standing for the 24th of December.
So today, the office is closed. As are a number of businesses that I would call on. The two major events that have been occupying my mind over the past week, namely a business trip to Montreal and Thanksgiving Day, have passed. These events coupled together have created, however brief, a slowing of the tailspin. Look! Time to write!
I don't MIND being busy. I have a fun-loving husband, who will, at a moments notice say something like, "Let's go meet Shawn and Cheryl at La Carreta," (which I can never pass up, and which we need to do again soon). I have two beautiful, busy daughters whom I would (and sometimes do) run to the ends of the earth for. And I have a job that I love, interacting with great people, yet driving 400-5oo miles per week for. I know that just by having these things I am incredibly blessed, and I try to be thankful for them everyday, not just Thanksgiving Day.
We went to my sister Amy's house for Thanksgiving dinner this year. After having arrived home from Montreal quite late on Wednesday night, I opted to sleep in and missed the traditional Thanksgiving breakfast of chicken pie. (Sounds strange, I know. But 7 generations of Maxfields can't be wrong!) I understand that there were thirty-five (!) guests for breakfast. Compared to that number, the group of fourteen that we were for dinner seems small!
The best part about Thanksgiving at Amy's is the fact that, all year long, she has the forethought to save and wash multitudes of plastic food containers, so that everyone can take home ample leftovers. Which I did. Unashamedly.
It took me until mid-afternoon today to get hungry, after all I ate at dinner yesterday. So, I said to my husband, John, "I'm going to do something with those leftovers, are you interested in joining me?" "No, thanks," he said, "I'm 'all set' with leftovers." Poor man. He was imagining a plate of rubbery microwaved turkey accompanied by dry mashed potatoes. What I actually created was very different, and I felt the need to share my newfound knowledge with you while you likely have an abundance of the same ingredients in your fridge. Keep in mind that I threw this together with what I had in my to-go box. Measurements are not exact and ingredients are only a suggestion. Feel free to toss in some sweet potatoes, carrots, or even some green-bean casserole!
Thanks for Giving Leftovers
Serves 2
Ingredients:
1 Cup mashed potatoes
1/2 cup prepared stuffing (ours uses Italian sausage-yummy)
1/2 cup finely chopped leftover turkey
1 egg
3/4 cup Panko breadcrumbs
2 Tbs olive oil, for frying
In a medium bowl, combine potatoes, stuffing, and turkey. Mash together well with a fork. Using hands, form mixture into patties, about the size you would for hamburgers. Set aside.
In a wide, shallow bowl, beat egg together with a couple tablespoons of water.
In another wide, shallow bowl, place bread crumbs.
Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Place patties into egg mixture, then bread crumbs. Place in pan, leaving room for turning. Brown on one side, turn and cook until brown on both sides and heated through. Place on serving plate and top with reheated leftover gravy.
Today, though, is an anomaly in the vortex. Today is The Day After Thanksgiving. Some people celebrate a holiday today, called Black Friday. They celebrate by waking up before God to spend hours searching for parking spaces, standing in line, and relieving themselves of much cash. Myself, I do not subscribe to such nonsense. I prefer to save my early rising, parking space fighting and line standing for the 24th of December.
So today, the office is closed. As are a number of businesses that I would call on. The two major events that have been occupying my mind over the past week, namely a business trip to Montreal and Thanksgiving Day, have passed. These events coupled together have created, however brief, a slowing of the tailspin. Look! Time to write!
I don't MIND being busy. I have a fun-loving husband, who will, at a moments notice say something like, "Let's go meet Shawn and Cheryl at La Carreta," (which I can never pass up, and which we need to do again soon). I have two beautiful, busy daughters whom I would (and sometimes do) run to the ends of the earth for. And I have a job that I love, interacting with great people, yet driving 400-5oo miles per week for. I know that just by having these things I am incredibly blessed, and I try to be thankful for them everyday, not just Thanksgiving Day.
We went to my sister Amy's house for Thanksgiving dinner this year. After having arrived home from Montreal quite late on Wednesday night, I opted to sleep in and missed the traditional Thanksgiving breakfast of chicken pie. (Sounds strange, I know. But 7 generations of Maxfields can't be wrong!) I understand that there were thirty-five (!) guests for breakfast. Compared to that number, the group of fourteen that we were for dinner seems small!
The best part about Thanksgiving at Amy's is the fact that, all year long, she has the forethought to save and wash multitudes of plastic food containers, so that everyone can take home ample leftovers. Which I did. Unashamedly.
It took me until mid-afternoon today to get hungry, after all I ate at dinner yesterday. So, I said to my husband, John, "I'm going to do something with those leftovers, are you interested in joining me?" "No, thanks," he said, "I'm 'all set' with leftovers." Poor man. He was imagining a plate of rubbery microwaved turkey accompanied by dry mashed potatoes. What I actually created was very different, and I felt the need to share my newfound knowledge with you while you likely have an abundance of the same ingredients in your fridge. Keep in mind that I threw this together with what I had in my to-go box. Measurements are not exact and ingredients are only a suggestion. Feel free to toss in some sweet potatoes, carrots, or even some green-bean casserole!
Thanks for Giving Leftovers
Serves 2
Ingredients:
1 Cup mashed potatoes
1/2 cup prepared stuffing (ours uses Italian sausage-yummy)
1/2 cup finely chopped leftover turkey
1 egg
3/4 cup Panko breadcrumbs
2 Tbs olive oil, for frying
In a medium bowl, combine potatoes, stuffing, and turkey. Mash together well with a fork. Using hands, form mixture into patties, about the size you would for hamburgers. Set aside.
In a wide, shallow bowl, beat egg together with a couple tablespoons of water.
In another wide, shallow bowl, place bread crumbs.
Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Place patties into egg mixture, then bread crumbs. Place in pan, leaving room for turning. Brown on one side, turn and cook until brown on both sides and heated through. Place on serving plate and top with reheated leftover gravy.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
From Good Stock
Today I had an older gentleman remark that I looked younger than my actual age. He thought that I looked like I should be in my early twenties. When I told him that I was actually on the downhill end of my thirties, he replied,"Well, you must come from good stock."
These photographs are, from top to bottom: My Mother, My Father and Mother, My Maternal Grandparents, and my Great Great Great Grandmother(!). I guess I do come from some pretty good stock, actually.
Which got me thinking about good stock. The definition of "stock" he was referring to is "the person from whom a given line of descent is derived." However there are many other definitions for the word "stock." For instance it can refer to the trunk of a tree or main stem of a plant, or the wooden piece to which the barrel and mechanism of a rifle are attached, or the raw material from which something is made (like cardstock), or even a broth that is a foundation for soups or sauces.
A-hah! Now that's something I can relate to. The stock can make or break a dish. With good stock you can make a hearty soup or a rich gravy, or even add flavor to simple things like rice or mashed potatoes. In a can, or the ever-so-handy resealable carton, I have my favorite brand. But it's so easy to make my own, that's often what I'll do.
Strip a roast chicken of all its meat and what's left, toss into a big pot. Add an onion, a carrot, a celery stick, and a clove or two of garlic, if you like. Cover and simmer over low heat for a couple hours. Strain out all of the solid stuff, and you're left with good stock. You would be surprised how much better something will taste when made with your own stock.
These photographs are, from top to bottom: My Mother, My Father and Mother, My Maternal Grandparents, and my Great Great Great Grandmother(!). I guess I do come from some pretty good stock, actually.Monday, July 13, 2009
The Start of Something
Growing up, my parents seemed extremely old-fashioned to me. It stands to reason, since she was forty two and he fifty eight when I was born. I was raised on a small farm in a small town where family ties and traditions ran (and still do run) deep.
Ours was the kind of family that sat down to dinner (meat, potatoes, and two vegetables) every night at the same time. I can remember fighting that tooth and nail...I wanted to eat in the living room, or stay at my friends house an extra half hour...but supper was at 5:30 and we ate together. I was expected to be there. And there was no leaving the table until we were all done. Dessert too.
At the time, all I wanted was to eat, fill my stomach, and be on my way to the next adventure. But looking back, a lot happened around that table. Stories were told, histories were passed on, and lessons were learned, even if we didn't know it then.
Now that I'm grown, I love family dinners. But with a busy family like mine, meals with everyone around the table are few and far between. My husband rides his bicycle with friends two to three nights a week. My girls go to their dads. My other girls live with their mom and are only here every other weekend, or sometimes less.
But no matter what table I'm sitting at, there are always stories to tell, news to share, jokes, recipes, and secrets to pass on. This is my reason for starting this blog, to share what I have learned around the table. Be it my mothers table, my friends table, the restaurant down the street, or my own kitchen table, I want to share it as though we were all sitting around the same table.
Ours was the kind of family that sat down to dinner (meat, potatoes, and two vegetables) every night at the same time. I can remember fighting that tooth and nail...I wanted to eat in the living room, or stay at my friends house an extra half hour...but supper was at 5:30 and we ate together. I was expected to be there. And there was no leaving the table until we were all done. Dessert too.
At the time, all I wanted was to eat, fill my stomach, and be on my way to the next adventure. But looking back, a lot happened around that table. Stories were told, histories were passed on, and lessons were learned, even if we didn't know it then.
Now that I'm grown, I love family dinners. But with a busy family like mine, meals with everyone around the table are few and far between. My husband rides his bicycle with friends two to three nights a week. My girls go to their dads. My other girls live with their mom and are only here every other weekend, or sometimes less.
But no matter what table I'm sitting at, there are always stories to tell, news to share, jokes, recipes, and secrets to pass on. This is my reason for starting this blog, to share what I have learned around the table. Be it my mothers table, my friends table, the restaurant down the street, or my own kitchen table, I want to share it as though we were all sitting around the same table.
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