Kindergartners Say the Darndest Things...

I absolutely love my job as an assistant kindergarten teacher. There are many reasons why I love it, but one of the best things is that there is never an afternoon when I come home without a funny story.

Last Week (on playground before our Thanksgiving feast):
Kid (pulling his ears up and down while wiggling shoulders and shaking hips): "Mrs. Edwards, my ears are itchin' to PAR-TAYY!"

This Morning:
*Kid: "Guess what Mrs. Edwards?"
Me: "What?"
Kid: "My mom drove into the hood this morning?"
Me: "What hood? Like the hood of a car?" (Not thinking that a child his age would know about the "hood")
Kid (giggling): "No, like the hood where the gangsters live."

*Note: This child decided to cut his cargo pants later on in the day during craft center. Perhaps his trip to the "hood" inspired him.

This Afternoon (making snakes in craft center):
Kid: "Snakes give my mother the willies. We have one under our house."
Other kid: "Is your mom a scaredy cat?"
Kid: "No. As a matter of fact, snakes are very frightening."

I then had to explain to the rest of the group what "the willies" were.

These Are A Few of My Favorite Things

In the spirit of that almost has-been of a talk show hostess whom we all admire and love, I have set out to make a list of my favorite things sans the audience giveaways. Sorry reader(s?), the blog hasn't made it that big yet. Perhaps my suggestions will come in handy when trying to come up with a gift for someone special, or for yours truly...

Tocca Candles ($16-$36)

Also a favorite of Jessica Simpson. These candles are sure to add a breath of fresh air to your apartment/house/condo/parent's house and maybe a little holiday "spice" too. The large size has a burn time of 60 hours. I recommend the "Havana" and "Grace" scents. Just add mistletoe and you are set. www.tocca.com

Harney & Sons Tea ($6-$12)

This tea will rock your world. Beware: Lipton, Stash, and even the higher-end Tazo brand of tea bag sold at Starbucks will never taste as good once you have tried Harney & Sons. I am now a tea snob. Twelve dollars for twenty sachets may seem steep, but they do come in a cute little tin that you can reuse! "Hot Cinnamon Spice" is perfectly invigorating on a chilly morning and my absolute favorite flavor. www.harney.com
Tory Burch flats ($295ish)

I have the best husband ever. He bought me a pair of these babies in black for my birthday and I never want to take them off. I would wear them every day of the week, the only thing stopping me is my fear that I will wear them out too quickly. It's quite a conundrum. They are excellent for fashion forward teachers... until a little one steps on the metal "T" emblem and pain shoots through your toenails... but that's a very very minor detail. www.toryburch.com
Hunter rain boots ($100-$125)

While we are on the topic of shoes, it's definitely a toss up as to whether I love my Tory's or my Hunter's the most. These boots have the power to transform even the gloomiest of days. They are simple and chic, and do a marvelous job keeping tootsies dry and warm. My kindergartners are confused by the notion of rainboots indoors, but I wear them proudly! www.zappos.com or www.hunter-boot.com.
Alecia's Tomato Chutney ($8)

Alecia's Tomato Chutney is made by Alecia in Leeds, Alabama. I first tasted its goodness on a pizza at Frank Stitt's Bottega Cafe in Birmingham. Apparently, it is one of Stitt's favorite products too. The flavor is savory, but with a sweetness that comes from raisins and sugar. I have used it on baked chicken, pizza, sandwiches, pasta, and with cheese and crackers. According to a man I met at Williams-Sonoma who also loves this product, the chutney is made in small batches in Alecia's kitchen. You only see it in Birmingham and can't order it online. If you are interested you can give Alecia herself a call at (205)352-4900.
McCarty's Pottery

Now that I am married and allowed to collect pottery, I have a full-blown obsession with the pieces produced by Lee and Pup McCarty in Marigold, MS. According to their website, the McCarty's started throwing pottery in 1954. "Lee and Pup have come a long way since William Faulkner showed them a clay deposit in a ravine on his property and told them they could have it." I received several pieces as wedding gifts and the soft brown, blue, and green glazes typical of McCarty work perfectly with my decor. My birds and candlesticks make me particularly happy. I hope to collect many more pieces and maybe even make a trip to the McCarty barn and restaurant in Marigold in the near future (Price)!?!?! www.mccartyspottery.com
Juliska

Thank you Rachel Walton Knowlton for introducing me to Juliska ceramics (pattern: "Berries and Thread.") I am big on pretty colors, so when I chose this for my everyday china I couldn't decide between the blue, green, or brown. Sooo... I got some of each and I couldn't be happier! I have SO much fun mixing and matching my pieces. And the colors of my plates etc. flow effortlessly with my (small) collection of McCarty serving pieces. These guys are sturdy and elegant. I think my next present to myself will definitely be the small blue Juliska pitcher that was featured in this months Lucky magazine! www.juliska.com
Labradoodles ($ "too expensive for me")

Back to Reality

Price and I took a brief vacation from our teensy apartment and got to live it up in one of the oldest houses in Memphis while the owners were out of town. Although our apartments are ancient (my parents lived there after they got married), they don't have the "charm" that a house with a plaque on the front door listing it on the National Historic Register does. Until this weekend, I thought babysitting was a pretty easy way to make a little extra cash. Now that I have experienced housesitting I have changed my mind. Don't get me wrong, I am so grateful for the life that we live but there are a few amenities that I enjoyed and will miss as we transition back to our place:

1. Heated Bathroom Floors- Makes it a little bit easier to wake up in the morning.
2. Picturesque views of the country club golf course- All we get to look at is the parking lot and the railroad tracks.
3. Laundry Laundry Laundry- For the first time in months our clothes feel clean and we didn't have to deplete our quarter collection.
4. High Thread Count Sheets- I really dropped the ball on that one. Bought the cheapest I could find and with each wash they get these little fuzz balls on them that won't come off and make them scratchy.
5. A controllable shower- I forgot that showering can be enjoyable when you aren't spending the whole time fiddling with the knobs to get that perfect balance of hot and cold without getting scalded.
6. A walkable neighborhood- I avoid walking in our neighborhood because of the combination of busy streets, angry Memphis drivers, and my paranoia. Also, the houses near us are not nearly as fun to drool over.

We had such a fun time playing house together and will certainly jump if the opportunity arises again. However, it is nice to be home and back in our routine!

Chez Price

In this post I would like to take a moment to spotlight the kitchen-savvy man I married. It probably won't come as a surprise that he is quite humble about his cooking abilities and becomes quite bashful when complimented. But I have no problem bragging for him.

Mr. Edwards is self-taught. He began his career making delicious omelettes for his adoring girlfriend on special occasions using the Furman dorm stove and an extremely scratched frying pan that he rented from our RA's office. Since then he has graduated from eggs and maintains quite a repertoire of delicious dishes. Some of my personal favorites include his chicken couscous with vegetables, fish tacos (haven't had those in awhile... hint hint), corn and black bean salsa, and even though I don't like avocados in the least his guacamole is fab. He dominates our baby Weber grill and uses our Wusthof knives like an Iron Chef. He also hones them to keep them sharp. Wow.

Two weeks ago he made a dish we named "Farmer's Market Pasta" out of a bunch of random ingredients and vegetables we had in our fridge. He spent less than $10 at the grocery. I kid you not we ate this meal at least 5 nights and also had some to take for lunch. If you are cool with leftovers it is a great dish. I don't exactly know how he made it and I don't think he does either but here is the gist of it:

Ingredients:
- 5 stalks of celery (chopped)
- 1 onion (chopped)
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 2 tomatoes (diced)
- 4-5 Japanese Eggplant (these are the long skinny ones, much easier to cook with)
- cooked chicken (however you want to cook it)
- 1 package of penne pasta
- 1 can tomato paste
- 1 can tomato sauce
- Salt
-Pepper
- Red pepper flakes
- fresh parsley

Start by sauteing the onion, garlic, and celery in a skillet using a little oil or cooking spray. Cook until translucent. Add chopped eggplant and tomatoes. Cook for a few minutes. Add tomato sauce and tomato paste. Add salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, and any other seasoning you like. Simmer about 15 minutes on low. Meanwhile, cook pasta noodles. After you have drained them, add the veggie sauce and chicken to the warm noodles. Mix in chopped parsley and perhaps a handful Mozzarella cheese. Hope you like it because you are stuck with it for about a week!

When it is all said and done. Mr. Edwards won't even let his wife lift a finger to help him clean up. He makes the kitchen sparkle. In the future, his wife hopes that he will venture into the world of baking :)

Getting Festive

This may surprise you, but I haven't decorated for Halloween in any way shape or form. I bought a pumpkin about 2 weeks ago and that is it. I like to think I am saving all of my efforts for Christmas. I finally decided to carve our lonely little pumpkin last night and had so much fun that I am thinking of carving another tonight. I can't wait to roast the seeds today just like my mom used to do when we were little.

E is for Edwards!

Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater

With the chill in the air, my favorite ingredient is taking center stage in recipes and eateries everywhere. If there's pumpkin in it, I'm sold. Pumpkin Spice Latte's from Starbucks are delightful, Pumpkin Spice Doughnuts from Gibson's are heavenly, but NOTHING beats Pumpkin frozen yogurt from TCBY.

I have been a TCBY fiend for quite some time now. I have the rewards card, I know all the locations in Memphis, I have memorized their hours. I lived without a close TCBY during my college years and have found that absence certainly does make the heart grow fonder. Ever since October 1st, I have actually taken up stalking our TCBY locations in an effort to obtain this holy grail of fall flavored froyo. I confess, I have the store numbers in my phone and call daily.

Well, this past weekend while I was at Homecoming I gathered a search party (my mother) to stay on the lookout for me. Well... she found it and had a pint waiting for me in her freezer. Though a yogurt this tasty needs no additional adornments, I decided to make ours extra special by topping it with cinnamon and marshmallows that I toasted in the oven. YUM-O!!!! Enjoying it cuddled up in a blanket with fall scented candles surrounding you takes the experience to an even higher level. It's only on the menu for a little while, so go out and buy some today!!!!

Feel free to share your favorite pumpkin recipes or menu items. I would love to have a reason to try them!

My Dutch Lover

I have a new best friend. It is big, blue, made of cast enamel, and too heavy for me to lift from its spot on the top shelf (enter, strong tall husband)… My LeCreuset Dutch Oven.

I received this mother of all pots as a graduation gift from my Aunt. I don’t think I knew what its function was when I registered for it at Williams-Sonoma. Just thought it was pretty. To be honest, until yesterday, it has been sitting in the same place in our kitchen for the past two months adding a splash of color and silently intimidating me. Well, this weekend I took that oven down and put it to work. The results were very encouraging.

The function of a dutch oven is kind of like a crock pot, without the cords etc. You can throw a bunch of random things in it, put the lid on, stick it in the oven for a few hours and let your meat and veggies cook to a tender goodness. You can use a dutch oven both on top of the stove and in the oven, which I did for this recipe. I didn’t really follow a recipe, so hopefully next time I will be able to recreate it. Our dinner last night was fantastic, but I can’t take any of the credit… magical things happened in my big blue pot.  

Pork Tenderloin With Fall Veggies

-       1 pork tenderloin

-       2 small sweet potatoes, cut into chunks

-       6 small red potatoes, quartered

-       3 large carrots, sliced into large pieces

-       1 onion, cut into chunks

-       olive oil

-       fresh rosemary

-       Worcestershire sauce

-       Salt

-       Pepper

Cut up all your veggies, and place them in a large sauté pot with 1 Tbsp. olive oil. Saute over medium heat until slightly browned on outside (about 5-10 min.) Meanwhile, heat 1 Tbsp. olive oil in dutch oven over the stovetop (medium heat.) Add pork tenderloin and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and rosemary. I also drizzled a bit of Worcestershire sauce at this point. Sear tenderloin about 8 min, turning every 2 minutes to make sure all sides are seared. Turn off heat, add veggies to dutch oven and pork, and season with salt, pepper, rosemary, and any other herbs or spices you fancy (I used a little cinnamon and nutmeg.) Cover Dutch Oven with lid and place in oven, preheated to 350 for about an hour or so. About halfway through I drizzled a little more Worcestershire. 

After I took the tenderloin and veggies out of the oven, I deglazed the pan (removed the brown bits) by adding ½ cup chicken broth, ¾ cup white wine, and 2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard to the pot over medium heat. Let the sauce come to a boil, turn down heat, and simmer for 5 minutes until it thickens a bit. Serve this sauce over the pork.

ENJOY!