Little Drummer Boy Times Two

First off, my dad hates the song Little Drummer Boy (LDB).  Hates.  The only thing worse than LDB, of course, is children singing LDB!  How much does he hate LDB you ask? He hates LDB so much that he has his own version:


"This is a boring song barumpa bum bum
it just goes on and on barumpa bum bum
it has no melody barumpa bum bum"


Second, one year when I was in high school we went to a Baroque music holiday concert.  It was in a big beautiful church in Hyde Park Chicago, home of President Obama.  There was this huge man sitting on this little stool playing the snare drum through much of the concert.  Well, naturally, we named him the "Little Drummer Boy"!  We all had huge tears of laughter streaming down our faces the entire concert. Classic!


In somewhat related news, today I'm streaming Chicago's WXRT holiday station! Very exciting. It has to be the best holiday station out there! I actually heard a Canned Heat Christmas tune. Canned Heat!  Haven't heard LDB yet.



http://player.radio.com/player/RadioPlayer.php?version=1.0.0&station=19123

Live a Little Garlic Bread

Wednesday night.  Eating vegetarian.  In a hurry so figure spaghetti here we come. [missing meatballs sniff sniff]   Joy oh joy.  But wait... we have hoagie rolls!  I can make garlic bread.  drool.  Garlic Bread.  You know you love it.  How can anyone possibly pass on it?  Suddenly, lame meal has turned into eagerly anticipated meal.

Anyone can and should make garlic bread.  Don't buy that pre-buttered stuff at the store.  As Dad says, "Live a little!"  Get yourself some olive oil, a head of garlic, and some italian seasoning and become a gourmet.

Live a Little Garlic Bread

Extra Virgin Olive Oil (amounts will vary depending on how much you are making)
Crushed garlic (just wing it here - remember, live a little)
Italian seasoning
salt/pepper
Hoagie rolls sliced in half lengthwise

Preheat oven on broil.  If you have a toaster oven feel free to rock that instead!  Combine all ingredients but rolls in a bowl. Generously brush cut side of roll with oil mixture and arrange on cookie sheet.  Try not to drool on your bread please.

Pop in oven and stand-by cuz it'll be quick.  I actually had my top rack on the middle slot which bought me some time so they didn't burn.  Phew.  Take them out when they are browned to your liking.  Pretend to like the spaghetti as much as the bread.

Sunday Pizza: 12.5.2010

Is it already mid-week?!  What happens to the days man!  Remember the good ol' days when time would crawl by as you eagerly waited for winter break... Then how LONG and wonderful winter break was!?  Let's not even talk about summer break cuz that's just down right depressing to think I only have about 10 weekends of sun fun to fill.  My point?  It is Dec 2010 and I feel like I just got used to writing 2010.  I gotta keep up.

Sunday was a sweet contrast to last Sunday.  It was us and the little man hanging out and making pizza galore!  In fact, we still have leftovers in the fridge. Yikes!  We threw on garlic slivers which I really really dug. mmm garlic.  Get this, we actually added some cubed ham onto the pizza.  I am surprised to say that I liked it.  Doubt I'll insist it is on every pizza from here on out but still, pretty tasty.

Speaking of insisting... Zeke made sure he got his own ball of dough to make his pizza.  He's officially a pro.  He takes after his mom in that he wanted to load the pizza with ALL of the cheese!  Love it!  When he wasn't looking I skimmed some off the top so we had enough cheese for the last pizza C made.  [Sorry Bear - I would feel bad but Z ate like seriously 2 bites of pizza and was all into peas and carrots]

Holiday Groove

What are your favorite holiday CDs?

For me Elvis Christmas is the big winner!  Many fond memories of my brother, Jon, rockin' out to Elvis Christmas in our living room.  Good times!

Elvis Presley, Elvis ' Christmas Album LP
Next, there's Philidephia Brass Carols blah blah blah see the image :)  Instrumental and beautiful and reminds me of my dad.

A Festival Of Carols In Brass

Lately, I'm totally diggin the bluegrass Christmas music featuring some heavy hitters!  Check it out, you'll love it.

A Very Special Acoustic Christmas

Finally, there's A Very Special Christmas Volume ANY!  Reminds me of my sister who LOVES these albums with good reason.  Honorable mention: Elf:Soundtrack, Travis Tritt Christmas, The Chanukah Song song by Adam Sandler. :)

A Very Special Christmas

What are your favorites?  Share, don't be shy.  Happy holidays!

Weekend Craziness with an Ethiopian Kick

Phew!  It's Monday evening and I am beat!  The weekend was awesome but tiring and I am fighting my little heart out trying not to get a full blown cold.  I've been drinking tea like it's going out of style and well, ok maybe I'm not really fighting that hard cuz that's all I got.  Not even a little chicken noodle soup or taking vitamin C.  As usual, Lame.

We had one of those Saturdays where in the middle you tell yourself to remember to never overbook again.  First, we had soccer for Z at 10am.  He wanted to be held for the first 10 minutes poor little guy.  Plus, he was pretty much done with 10 minutes left and the class is only 50 minutes.  hmmm, nowhere to go but up!

Next, we headed home to meet Grandma and change. She watched Z for the afternoon and evening (Thanks Mom!).  We met my sis, B, at Key Arena and saw Illinois crush Gonzaga at basketball.  It was way fun to see so much orange and blue even though Gonzaga was definitely the home team.  ILL-INI!!!

From there we booked to meet friends at an Ethiopian restaurant.  They just learned they have been matched with a baby they will adopt in January!  We celebrated with some of their other friends.  Ethiopian food is pretty good.  C did not like the bread you pick up the food with, Injera.  It is pretty spongy but is so bland that it works well to not overpower the flavors.  He didn't care for the texture.  I get it for sure.  We had some really yummy kitfo (ground beef cooked not tartar) which was pretty spicy and this chicken with collards dish that was easily my fav.  The rest were vegetarian like lentils, and cabbage, and collards, all good too.  I'd go back.

We dragged ourselves home and as quickly as possible went to bed.  Z, of course, was bright eyed and bushy tailed at 5:30 am Sunday.  Groan.  I'll skip the boring Sunday stuff but know this - we made pizza, Z made pizza too, and it was divine!  If you're actually still reading I'll spare you that tale for another post.  Smoochy smooch, to bed I go!

Fun Video

Watch this totally impressive, fun video.  I saw it first on TheInsideStoop and had to share.  Thanks Lindsey!

  

Sunday Pizza: 11.28.2010 (Part 2)

Normally, when one of us cooks Z runs over to the cook, arms raised and yells "Up! Up! Up!..." until you figure out a way to cook one handed in order to pick him up.  Which is why whenever I am on my own with Z we make scrambled eggs.  Easy.

 Anyway, C made this lovely wide step with the idea that Z could watch us cook.  Then my friend, Emily, emailed and said she knows someone with a toddler that helps his parents make pizza.  Well, we gotta try this!

I'll let the pictures, again, do the talking. One quick thing - the boys knew exactly what to do!  "No warming up in the bullpen" as my dad always says.  I would have gotten big fat tears in my eyes if I weren't so busy laughing. Here's Z and Elliott's first pizzas!