Kevin vs. Celery root and fennel

Fennel and celery root.  What the hell?  It was in our CSA box and we are determined to use everything in the box, no matter how weird.  It turned out freakin fabulous peeps!

Roasted Fennel with Parmesan and Thyme:
Cut the fennel (2 bulbs) into slices and throw it into boiling water for about 10 minutes
Drain it and toss it with about 2 tablespoons butter, salt, pepper and about a tablespoon of fresh chopped thyme.
Spread it out on a baking sheet, and sprinkle it with about 1/3 cup shredded parmesan cheese.
Bake at 350 for 10 minutes, then check.  Pull it out when it is golden brown.

Potato and Celery Root Gratin:
Peel and cut celery root into slices.
Slice about 4 medium sized red potatoes.
Throw these into boiling water till tender.
Start about 1 1/2 cups milk in a pan on the stove.  When it starts to simmer, whisk in about 2 cups cheese (we used cheddar and parmesan, but you could use whatever.  Except maybe pepper jack.:)
Make a roux by melting one half cup butter and whisking in same amount of flour.
Whisk this into the now boiling milk/cheese.
Pile your potato and celery root mixture into an 8x8 pan, and pour a generous amount of the cheese sauce on top.  (It will melt down into the dish).
Put foil over the top, cook at 350 for 35-45 minutes, then add breadcrumbs and drizzle a little olive oil on top.
Sprinkle with freshly cracked pepper and cook another 15-20 minutes, till golden brown.

I didnt really plan on putting recipes in this blog, but yeah, we are loving this CSA box thing, and these were so good and unusual I really just couldnt help myself.  So, thinking about how this applies to my "situation"...ie: Double income, no kids...I was going to write about how someone feeding kiddos could not really make these dishes because they are not the kind of stuff kids like....blah blah blah.  Then it hit me.  I really could feed my kids any fucking way I want.  Picky kids who only eat things like chicken nuggets and Lunchables are not born that way.  They are created.  And just as easily could I create a child who eats things like fennel and celery root gratin.  I COULD take my kids to sushi and thai and teach them to enjoy it instead of forcing myself to spend my entire life eating at places like Applebees and McDonalds!

Taking care of someone, and other mom-like behaviors

Right now I am sitting, literally doing nothing but waiting for the laundry to be done in the dryer.  See, KT's ( K and KT are Kevin, who is the love of my life, btw), anyway KT's best friend was in a bad accident and is finally coming home from ICU today.  Yes!  This is my thing!  I get to clean, and laundry, and cook, and get him all set up and comfortable!  I get to spring into action getting things done to help out, which is honestly what I am best at.  I will spend the day running around making sure he has food and water and other neccessary items during his healing time.  Today was a day with nothing planned, just a rainy kind of lazy day and now, I HAVE A MISSION!
Sometimes I think that this sort of behavior is actually not all that healthy.  It puts me in that same role I play everyday at school with the kiddos, and that my mommy friends play (not really play, is it?) everyday as THEIR LIFE!  This sort of needing to always be caring for someone else sure makes it easy to forget to care for, ahem, myself.  Yes, I have a headache today.  And yeah my stiff back could really use a good yoga session.  Plus I have this ginormous box of veggies from the CSA that could really make me a nice healthy dinner.  And my own laundry is sitting in 6 divided piles, patiently waiting for my attention.  And....I could go on.  I often set my weekends up filled with chores, because ok, I will admit I am a neat freak,,, but also because I honestly dont really know what else to do with myself.  I am better at working then playing, I guess.  Hmph.

You might be old

Right now, as I sit with my laptop in my lap, beer in my hand, and my man sits on the opposite loveseat, computer and beer in hand also, I wonder if we are old.  Last night we sat in bed side by side, braced in pillows, with our laptops on, headphones plugged in, watching TV.  He watches King of the Hill, I watch Brothers and Sisters.  Usually about 10:00 mine goes off and he watches till about 11:00 or 11:30 while I sleep, with my noisemaker on fake rain sound.  Does this sound pathetic?  I think so.
We did go out and have a lovely sushi dinner to celebrate my "positive attitude"...I swear thats what he said, and I know, it really doesnt make me look so great on a regular basis, but whatever.  Tomorrow I pick up our "box o veggies" from the CSA and try to figure out what to make with what is available this time of year...yeah there are not a ton of options for celery root and kohlrabi.  But we like this life.  It feels a little quiet, especially after losing my 11 year old golden retriever a few weeks back.  And its kinda sucky having mass quantities of leftovers everytime we cook, which is often.  It feels too easy, which is something that this drama queen has a difficult time with.  I like being busy.  I like running errands and pushing myself to see if I can get everything done on my list...
Kevin on the other hand...takes a week to wash the pot in the sink from the amazing soup he made last weekend (K is a bombin chef, BTW, lucky me!)...talks about doing laundry and mowing the lawn, but....well maybe my time frame is a little impatient, but usually I end up doing it before he does.
God I sound just like a wife and mom, minus the husband and kids.  Crap.

I am obssessed!

Oh and by the way...I am obsessed with mommy blogs.  I always have been interested in how people live, especially ones so far on the other side of the spectrum from me...but this has taken on an almost eerie sort of obssession.  I mean, how in the world do these women do this "mommy" job, and so well??  Ok, let me throw in a little disclaimer, because I feel its really only fair.  I am a teacher.  Kindergarten.  Of kids who have autism.  So....its not like I don't know how to take care of kids, because I do, and I do it on a daily basis for a teeny amount of money.  So, in a way, I should get it, I do get it actually.  But at the end of the day, when every nerve is shot, I send them home.  Could I do it, beyond that?  I just dont know.

The toughest thing to say of all

I don't have kids and probably never will, at least biologically.  There.  I said it.  This was not by choice, by the way.  I did everything "right".  Waited until I was 27 to get married.  Found out my husband was sterile, but stuck by him anyway for 5 years, until things went south, in the middle of adoption proceedings.  Now I am 35, and am faced with the notion that although more than anything, I always wanted a family, its probably not in the cards for me.  Am I sad?  Yes.  Am I relieved?  Yes.  I shy away from baby showers, birthday parties, etc., because honestly, its just too painful.  But do I enjoy that my boyfriend and I eat out more than in, can sleep in on weekends, and that I can pack up and vacation at any given moment?  Yes!  Emphatically.  Do I take full advantage of all of these things being childless affords me?  Not really.  Well jeez.  Where does that leave me?  Still negotiating to make the final choice, before life and age makes it for me.  Whew.  Time to step up girlfriend.  Thats what this blog is about.