The Cookbook Junkies

Bandaids

February 10, 2014 by Jenny Hartin 11 Comments

As most of the blogging world knows Elle of Elle’s Kitchen passed away a few weeks ago and many bloggers picked recipes from her blog to recreate in her memory.

I had intended to do so as well. Life got in the way.

I ended up doing what Elle always did – put family first — doesn’t mean I love her or miss her any less than anyone else – I had to do what I needed to do. I still cooked for my family last week – but I didn’t have it in my heart to do a specific recipe and write a post.

Andrew had a few great weeks. I try to keep quiet when he does well because inevitably something comes to knock me off my happy, high horse. It’s like telling people you are pregnant as soon as the stick turns positive.

Last week – Andrew was in school for about a day and a half. Delayed starts due to wind chills of -25, he felt sick on Tuesday at lunch and came home at noon. He looked pale and I kept him home the next day. Thursday comes and another late start but he feels fine and goes in. I get a call at 1:00. “Mrs. ______ I really really hate to call you and tell you this….” He went after some kids and made contact. Again, I asked after making sure the kids were okay and stating that I know the responsibility for this is 100 percent on Andrew “where was the adult, aid, teacher?” They know he has issues and until this magical IEP gets put into place — an adult needs to be on him during transition periods. “Oh, that’s a good idea.”

He was suspended on Friday. He got exactly what he wanted – he wanted to avoid school and they gave him what he wanted. Whatever happened to detention?

Seems in Colorado – there are so MANY days off, so many weeks off – far more than in New York. Seems to me that Andrew can’t even get into a rhythm. This coming week — he is off Friday and Monday for President’s weekend. He needs routine. He isn’t getting it here. Then the icing on the cake is when he does something — he gets sent home. He wants to come home – of course, he is going to do what he needs to do to get sent home.

Now he is back in school and every day I have to pick him up from 11:55 to 12:40 because the school won’t take the responsibility of making sure Andrew is near an adult during recess/lunch transitions. All the outbursts, going after kids…all the problems occur during that time frame….so I need to give my child what he needs because the school system can’t.

I feel defeated and empty. I feel like we take two steps forward and then get bitch slapped all the way back to behind the start line.

Please understand none of the inconvenience bothers me. It is the fear that one day he is going to hurt someone. That paralyzes me.

Elle would be the one to private message me after reading this to tell me – she wished we were closer, hang in there, sending me love. She always knew when I needed a bandaid. Elle, I miss you. I know you understand.

Bananas Foster Pancake

February 4, 2014 by Jenny Hartin 1 Comment

Breakfast — the most important meal of the day. Right? Tell that to Andrew.
He has been having a hard time eating due to his medications. He is wasting away. Before I give him his a.m. medications (while he is screaming, pacing and out of control) I try to get a hot breakfast into him. It’s like being front row center at a Gallagher concert – remember him? (at 4:49 you’ll see what I’m talking about).

Yesterday, I decided to do a Bananas Foster Pancake. Something different to intrigue him. I was prepared for “this is not delicious” what I got was “this is the best pancake ever”.

It was a hit.

If you want to hear this is the best pancake ever – do the following. Note: if you don’t like bananas….don’t make this. (Sadly, I feel like I have to put a disclaimer on everything these days. My batter was too runny. Add more flour. My batter was too thick. Add more milk…but really just go to IHOP and save yourself the trouble and me the headache.)

Ingredients:

1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 large egg, slightly beaten
2 tablespoons melted butter
milk, just enough to make pourable batter – about the consistency of pudding
1/2 tsp of rum extract (optional) or 1/2 tsp of vanilla
Topping:
Brown sugar for dusting
Banana slices (not overly ripe)

Preparation:

Combine dry ingredients. Stir in the beaten egg, melted butter, and enough milk for batter to pour easily — about the consistency of pudding mix (before it sets up….oy) Mix lightly to blend. Pour pancakes onto hot, buttered (or greased) griddle or pan.

While the pancake is cooking on the plain side arrange banana slices (about five on each pancake–depending on how big the pancakes are). Then top with a sprinkle of brown sugar. When the bubbles are coming through – flip the pancake carefully and allow to cook and caramelize on the other side.

This recipe for pancakes makes 2 to 3 servings, and can be easily doubled for a family. For Andrew I drizzle with a little maple syrup but when I have adults over for breakfast – I will warm some maple syrup with a little rum for these incredible pancakes.

Note: I think the integrity of the pancake would suffer if you placed some bananas in the pan with brown sugar poured the batter – and then proceeded to banana and brown sugar the top…Andrew would think it was too mushy and so would I…but go for it. (I just used banana as a verb…go me!)

Last week, was a tough week with Elle’s passing so I’m not going to do a full post on the Classic Chicken and Wild Rice Hot Dish from Amy Thielen‘s wonderful book, The New Midwestern Table. This Classic Chicken and Wild Rice Hot Dish was great. We all loved it. The recipe can be found here. If you want to join us as we cook along – come join us here.

Elle

January 30, 2014 by Jenny Hartin 7 Comments

My heart is heavy. I woke up yesterday and had two messages from friends about another friend, Elle. “Did you hear about Elle?” My first thought was ‘oh Lord she let someone have it over a New England Patriots comment – she’s banned from Facebook’. Then panic crept in and I knew it had to be bad – someone in her family – something bad. I hurried to her page and saw post after post and I started to cry.

On Tuesday, Elle collapsed and passed away. Forty five years old, a mom, a wife, a friend….it doesn’t seem possible. She was just posting about the Grammy’s being boring…she can’t be gone.

Elle’s blog was one of the first blogs I started to read. Years ago we became friends. She made me laugh. When Andrew was having a hard time and I was falling apart – she would send a kind message or a virtual hug. Four kids of her own and always had time for others.

Her back and forth with Dawn and Lisa always made me smile. Her willingness to help anyone at any time was inspiring. She also had a quick wit and a sharp tongue.

It’s a heartbreaking wake up call. Yesterday morning, I was more patient with Andrew. Last night, I sat with him as he sobbed and sobbed because he wasn’t learning a foreign language fast enough. He had decided yesterday that he wanted to learn French. He started with French for an hour and just fell apart. We then tried Spanish – and for two hours I sat there patiently while he cried and practiced bueno noches and other Spanish phrases. He cried because he thought he could be fluent in an evening. Those were his words. “I want to be fluent.” My nine year old little genius. Because of Elle – I was more patient, I didn’t take the iPad away – instead I sat there and enjoyed every moment with him.

Jim and I were talking yesterday even before the horrible news hit my heart that life is too short. We decided that we would travel more – and not let the reality of how difficult it is to travel with Andrew deter us. Life should be lived. We would be kinder and more patient. As humans, it is hard to keep up with our commitments and our promises especially to ourselves. But I promise to do better.

We have started a Facebook page – Friends of Elle to honor our sweet friend. There will be a tribute weekend February 8th and 9th and there has been a fund set up for her family. Please think about contributing here.

Elle, I will miss you so. My prayers and thoughts are with her beautiful family. Please send up a prayer or two for her husband and children.