Fussy Elise is teething (worse than Althea) and the only thing that would get her mind off it was a plastic bowl of shallow water, a 1/4 cup measuring spoon, and a set of plastic measuring spoons. Althea insisted on trying also, and to avert the newly-discovered art of pulling things away from each other, gave her her own set of measuring appliances and shallow splashy pool.

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Althea makes “The Face” again.

The Childers Method Vidalia Onion

Jul 11th, 2009

by Chris.

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The Childers Vidalia

One of my favorite snacks when they’re in season, a properly prepared Vidalia onion can (and should) be eaten by itself as an appetizer or snack. It is less oniony than it is savory. You have to eat one for that to make any sense. This is the method taught to me by David Childers of Savannah, Georgia.

Obtain a medium sized Vidalia onion, roughly 6″ in diameter. Bigger works, as does smaller. This recipe assumes an average six incher.

Remove one layer of skin and lop off top and bottom, leaving a hocky-puck shape. Insert a knife diagonially at the edge of one end and rotate the onion while keeping the knife in place. This effects a cone, which is removed and set aside.

Put one beef bouillon cube in the crater. Place a cube of butter (more than a tablespoon, but less than two) inside the crater and place the cone of onion on top, but upside-down such that it becomes a pyramid. See photo.

Salt and pepper into a microwave-safe bowl and nuke it on high for 4 to 5 minutes, or until the onion is soft and translucent but not liquefied.

Remove after heating (careful, bowl will be hot) and slice/dice the onion, thoroughly mixing the melted butter and mostly-disintegrated bouillon.

Enjoy with a fork.

They’re Planning Something

Jul 10th, 2009

by Chris.

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Idoia had a night out with her “Mom’s Group” people a couple nights ago and my tasks, among other things like feeding and bouncing and bedtime book story time, was putting them down to sleep for the night. Within moments of laying down the second one (Althea, I think it was), they’d scooted close to one another in the adjacent cribs and began chattering and chirping and chuckling at one another. Reaching through the bars, it was plain to see they were playing with each other, and I realized that right then, another milestone was reached. These girls are amazing me. Althea’s feat of hoisting herself up onto things, landing on her knees and in one instance, her feet (yes, standing at 7 months), was equalled by Elise two days later.

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