Who's In There?

I need a container to store left-over soup -- I am cleaning up the kitchen after dinner. So I go to open the tupperware drawer, but it's stuck, and I can't get it open. Papa comes to help and what do we find?


Pluto and Batman in the tupperware drawer, along with several legos.

Darling Julia

This sweet little girl was born today. She's 7 hours old at the time of this posting. Imagine -- 7 hours old!

She snuggles right up to her grandpa.

She is as beautiful as her mommy.

Tortilla Española

Spanish tortilla, a potato omelet, is a delicious mixture of fried potatoes and fried onions with eggs.

Martha Stewart actually has a very good traditional-style recipe on her site: http://www.marthastewart.com/tortilla-espanola?autonomy_kw=spanish%20tortilla

My mother-in-law makes it just the way Martha describes, but that requires flipping the tortilla out of the skillet onto a plate, and turning it over to cook the other side. I can't do this. I ALWAYS drop it. So I do it like a frittata in the oven. We made one last night and here are the pictures.

Preheat the oven to 375.

Spray a pyrex pie dish with a little bit of cooking spray.

Chop 1 medium yellow or white onion.
Chop 2 tablespoons fresh parsley.
Peel 2 medium-large russet potatoes and slice into thin rounds.

Heat 1/4 olive oil in a skillet and fry the onions and potatoes, but don't brown them. You will be baking this in the oven for 20 minutes or so, so the potatoes don't have to be 100% ready. After a few minutes, add the chopped parsley. When the potates are soft enough to eat but not yet golden, take them out of the oil with a slotted spoon and place them in the pie dish. Let them cool down for 7-10 minutes or so, so that the eggs don't cook unevenly when you add them to the dish.



Beat 8 eggs together very well, and add a tablespoon or so of cold water. I was very fortunate that Spiderman stopped by at the right time and helped me beat the eggs.



When the eggs are well-beaten and the potatoes and onions are cooled a little, pour the eggs over the top of the potatoes. Now it looks like a frittata.



Bake it in the oven for 20 minutes or so or until the eggs are set. I usually check at about 18 minutes, and sometimes it goes as long as 22. You don't want the eggs to brown too much, but you don't want them runny either. Sometimes there will be olive oil rising to the surface from the potatoes, and that looks like the eggs are runny, but it's just the extra oil, which you can blot with a paper towel.



Enjoy hot, or at room temperature, which is what we like best!

A Week of Firsts

Another important first happened today. My, but we're growing up fast!

Don't miss the dizzying array of toys on the kitchen table. The kitchen was clean last night when I went to bed, I swear.

Next up, Spanish Potato Omelet for all those fabulous chefs at Evil Chef Mom who know a good idea when they see one!

Albert's Cocktail

Anna Schaeffer lived with her brother, Albert, but nobody remembers exactly why.

Anna was a widow who collected hummel figurines, and Albert was a bachelor who made very fine cocktails.

This is Albert's famous recipe. Follow the instructions to the letter. And don't dare drive anywhere - this stuff is potent.

Albert's Cocktail -- 18 servings
4 oz lemon juice
14 oz vodka
10 oz orange juice
6 oz grenadine

Shake well in shaker and serve very cold. Albert's note: DO NOT ICE.

St. Cecilia's

A lot of people who are very important in my life have gotten married at St. Cecilia's.

Auntie Pat and Uncle Dudley in 1963


Grandma and Grandpa in 1936


Sean and Michelle in 2000

When my grandparents got married, they gave this book to my grandmother. It is filled with tips on being a charming and delicate wife and housekeeper. No kidding.

Walk Like a Man

Click here for music.

Then come back and click here to watch the video.

Baby, Baby, Sweet Baby

I met this sweet little baby last week.



All sweetness and softness and milk and peach fuzz, he looks like his daddy until he smiles, and then he looks just like his mommy!

Rafa's Pictures

Rafa wants to add a couple of his pictures, so here they are.

BEN 10



10 BEN


If you don't kow who Ben 10 is, go here.

Confraternities

confraternity

1. A brotherhood; an association of men united for some purpose or in some common profession; a guild; esp. a brotherhood devoted to some particular service religious or charitable.

c1475 Partenay Prol. 39 He was of hys confraternite. 1601 HOLLAND Pliny II. 553 Numa ordained at Rome a seuenth confraternitie of potters. 1654 H. L'ESTRANGE Chas. I (1655) 110 The Lord Maior with his confraternity of Aldermen. 1688 H. WHARTON Enthus. Ch. Rome 87 We may hope to see erected an holy Confraternity of Catholick Chimney-sweepers. 1854 CARD. WISEMAN Fabiola II. i. 132 Diogenes was the head and director of that confraternity. 1882 B. D. W. RAMSAY Recoll. Mil. Serv. II. xix. 196 First came military; then various confraternities of monks and friars, with lighted tapers, chanting. (OED, 1989)


Papa, and el abuelo, and Rafa and Louis, and el tito are all members of the confraternity El Silencio, founded in 1340 in Seville.

Mama is studying the Misericordia confraternity, founded in 1244 in Florence.