nyc_via_pdx's Profile

All of the Findus & Pettson books by Sven Nordqvist are fun for 5 and over. We also love Barbara Lehman's books. Especially Trainstop and Rainstorm. We enjoy Elsa Beskow books. Our six year old is enjoying Woody, Hazel & Little Pip and Ollie's Ski Trip. The tiptoes lightly series is divine for 6 year olds and we have just begun reading The Wonderful Adventures of Nils by Selma Lagerlof. The edition we have is from Floris books with beaurful illustrations by Lars Klinting. It is a fabulous first chapter book for the 6-7 year old child.

I made a dinner of Tamari Maple Glazed Salmon, Brown Rice and Steamed Green Beans for friends who were welcoming their second baby to the family. I cleared the menu first and had everything prepped and ready to go. I arrived at their home, cooked them dinner, cleaned everything up and then headed home. We enjoyed a little time together and they had a delicious dinner without any work. I made the same meal for my brother and his wife when their 3rd baby arrived and they loved it too!

Spaetzle is the best! Especially with chicken goulash. Yummm!

It always makes me a bit sad to see a beautifully designed home turned into a museum. It's great to see, but I'd rather it was filled with the life Aalto designed it to embrace.

Our family favorite pork dish is Kassler Rippchen (Smoked Pork Chops with Sauerkraut). Ideally we buy smoked chops from Flying Pig at the Union Square Farmers Market, but when they are unavailable we substitute healthy happy boneless chops from Whole Foods. The best sauerkraut is from Hawthorne Valley Farms. If we can't get that a store brand will do, but be sure to rinse it a bit as they can be a little too vinegary. If using raw pork just quickly brown in a hot sautee pan and remove. In the same pan cook chopped onions in a bit of olive oil and butter. Dump in the drained sauerkraut, add some chicken stock, a couple bay leaves and some peppercorns and let it simmer. Then nestle the pork in, cover and simmer either until the pork is cooked through (started raw) or warmed through (started smoked). This is too good served with some roasted potatoes.

With spicy thai food nothing is better than a German Gewurtraminer or Dry Riesling! Yum!