Large family cooking, or rather, large-family cooking

Note the hyphen. Only one of us routinely cooks here in our large-family dwelling, and that would be yours truly.

Often I wish that I could find time to write the large-family cookbook, but one that did not require frozen breaded chicken patties (or patties of any kind, really), cream of mushroom/chicken/celery soup, refrigerated puff pastry, or industrial sized bags of frozen mixed vegetables ("vegetable medley").

However, being the mother of a large family, I don't have the time. It will be for some other crunchy Catholic mom to do it. When she's only got four at home and the oldest one does all the laundry, har har har.

Tonight I made Waffles for A Large Family, which is sort of like Music for Flag Day or Symphony for a Dead Princess; it's an undertaking and a very definite thing of its own. I post the recipe now, just as soon as I can waddle into the kitchen and get it, which gives me a chance to toss in those frozen gourmet onion rings that Superguy got me because he's the best ever.

This is the Joy of Cooking recipe, slightly adapted for those of us who refuse to separate eggs unless goaded, multiplied by three.

5 1/4 Cups flour

2 tablespoons baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

2 tablespoons sugar

9 eggs

6 tablespoons oil

4 1/2 cups milk

Yeah, melted butter would have tasted better. And yes, the eggs being separated would have added delectable lightness and airiness to the batter. But I'm not hauling out the old hand mixer just for Friday night dinner, no thank you very much.

Have I mentioned that we buy eggs four dozen at a time?

By the way, the photo is just for effect. That's not, obviously, what I used for the Waffles for a Large Family. I think this was a photo of a triple batch of Vindaloo. But I can't remember, since the lids are on. Let's just say it was Vindaloo.

A Fun Mommy Baby Day

Today has been a fun day for Mommy AMills and her little Baby IsaMills. We had a very early morning, because we got to drop daddy off at work at 7:30. Mommy felt entitled to wear sweat pants and baby slept the whole way there, and Mommy got to chat with Daddy before he headed into work, which was nice. Then Mommy took Baby to the big bad Commissary, which actually turned out to be not so bad at all, since it wasn't even 8am yet. Baby slept like a champ in the carseat which was jammed into the cart, and Mommy was able to get the few things she needed with no problems! (On the way home, Mommy may or may not have purchased a tasty, yet horrible breakfast sandwich from the local fast-food drive thru, but that only makes Mommy feel bad about her self and a little queasy, so let's not mention it..) Once home, Mommy and Baby started to go for a walk, but found that even in Florida sometimes you really need mittens and a hat, which Mommy was without, so the walk was aborted quickly. That's ok though, because instead we got home and laid down for a morning nap. Mommy and Baby really know how to nap, so they snuggled side by side in bed, wrapped in covers, occasionallly nursing. Baby would stir and mommy would look down at the little sweet bundle snuggled up next to her, and usually just hugging Baby a little closer, or lightly patting or stroking her back would lull baby back into peaceful dreamland. Well, obviously with such a good deal, you like to get your money's worth, so Baby and Mommy took their "nap" until noon. After noon, baby had a change, and graciously only pooped through onto the very edge of her onesie, and so did not need a totally new outfit. After Baby played a little on her blankie on the floor and Mommy had a yummy leftover pork chop, which brutally scorched her mouth since all the knives were in the dishwasher and she basically speared the whole thing and ate bites right off, baby was tired and so Mommy decided that it was dancetime. Mommy scooped up baby, put on the cuban music cd, and Baby and Mommy "busted a moove" with all the best Latin dance styles. Baby was very very snuggly. Now Baby is lying in Mommy's lap and, in a rare mood, is not sleeping but not fussing, and just chilling in Mommy's lap, occasionally smiling up at Mommy, which is a new and delightful skill. In about an hour, Mommy and Baby will go pick up Daddy from work. Dinner may not be made, laundry may not be done, the rug may not be vacuumed, and Mommy may still be in sweats, but it sure has been a fun day!!

Words for the homeschooling mother, and others

"The Beloved: My son, I am the Lord; no strength like his in the hour of distress (Nahum 1:7). when things are not going well with you, come to me. The chief hindrance to your receiving heavenly comfort is your slowness in turning to prayer; you do not come to me straightway and pray to me earnestly, but first you go seeking other things to comfort you, trying to find diversion in created things ....

"The trouble that now distresses you is my way of testing you; the fears which fill you with terror have no foundation. What use is it to worry about what the future will bring? It will only make you have sorrow upon sorrow. For today, today's troubles are enough (Matt 6:34). It is silly and useless to get worried or pleasantly excited about future events; quite likely they will never happen at all."

St. Thomas a Kempis, back when almost all schooling was homeschooling, and if you had six living children, you were unusually blessed. And if you had enough possessions to find it hard to keep them organized, you would be considered rich. And if you were weary with thinking about what to cook for your next meal that meant that you had food in the house, praise God.

Just keeping it real here.

Unbelievably cute? You decide

Look at the vast expanse of baby tum!
Joseph, Mary, and "Baby Jesus" -- this was a play they worked on in the basement. I had nothing to do with it, which is why they are so sweet!

Sorry --- fuzzy picture, but imagine that we're all travelling 500 miles an hour.

I'll bet you thought they never learned anything

Many people may be wondering: If you just had a new baby, and you felt so lousy and immobilized that you did basically nothing but complain, how is that you are "home schooling"? And what are they actually learning? Well, here is proof of something, anyway:

Here is Sweetums with her poster on the loon, which she did an oral report on for our homeschool co-op. She did all the work, trust me. However, I did manage to find the loon coloring page.

Truckster did his oral report -- and he is FIVE -- an oral report, I tell you -- on the Dakotas. He told me all the facts, and I handwrote them out on the white paper. He did the pasting of the various elements, and while he was doing his report I was not allowed to even help him hold the poster. His deal. Very proud.

We also, this fall, went to Mankato MN to visit the real life houses where Betsy and Tacy lived. Can you even believe this? It looks just like the Lois Lenski drawing! it was awesome!

Here is where Maud Hart Lovelace lived.

And here is where her friend "Bick" lived. Can't remember her real name. It is now a little gift-shop slash museum. We had a chance to see the armchair her dad sat in.

And here we are on the bench at the foot of the Hill Street Hill. It isn't the original, but in every other respect is much like we pictured. What a great day! We talked and talked about the books and how things change.

Of course, Fifi still can't spell very well, and Sweetums is just barely able to subtract 8 from 12.

Still.

Our new dog!

Well, since all the cool people (at least, those not living in MS, MA, or IA) have dogs, we followed suit and obtained Casper, the Bassett Hound. I know, I know, what are we doing with a dog, when we have such a stuffed house and it's too cold to walk him properly, especially since he has such short legs... This is a particular breed however -- one could even say the Guilt No More breed, since this type of Bassett Hound is invisible. And also doesn't smell. Much. Although from now on, whenever I smell something I don't like, i will know it is Casper.

Here he is on our bed.




Bad dog, Casper! Put down the ketchup.



Not the whipped cream too, Casper?



Here he is, guarding Honeybee. She's still a little shy around him.

I'm sure you all will want to meet him. More photos next time. I know you all are envious.

Finally, what you all were waiting for!

Hello to all our friends in the Diaspora, from the Land of Origin! We had experienced a slight mental difficulty relating to Messy Bessy's sleep deprived inability to navigate simple internet tasks. However, now that all seems to have been sorted out, internet-wise, although not sleep wise, we will proceed with some pictures. Below, behold this year's Christmas tree.
The children wanted me to take their picture with this particular arrangement.

A very handsome Truckster with Honeybee, who has filled out nicely and looks -- a little, wouldn't you say? -- like her daddy.

Here's Kewpie with Honeybee.

Ah, yes, and now to Halloween. We are the family that never allows our children to do anything FUN for this nasty holiday, but require them to maintain some semblance of a religious theme for their costumes. Thus, from left to right, Bernadette of Loures, St. Rose of Lima, a sweet angel, St. George, and Father Brown. (His was my favorite costume this year.)

Honeybee went as a fat baby, and I stayed at home and ate candy until I was reminded that gluttony is not a deadly sin for nothing.