Best Puff Pastry Recipe Yet! Barefoot Contessa Easy Sticky Buns

After a delayed start and a snow day with no snow, we finally have a snow day with lots of snow.  The perfect day for a leisurely breakfast.

So, I used my last sheet of puff pastry to make Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics' Easy Sticky Buns.  The recipe is very simple.  No need to rolling, crimping or fussing with the puff pastry.  You unfold it, brush it with butter, sprinkle on brown sugar, raisins and cinnamon.  30 minutes later you have ooey, gooey sticky buns that melt in your mouth.

The family voted this recipe the best of the puff pastry experiments.  Little S asked if we could have it for dinner too.  I'm hoping for something at least slightly more nutritious.

Seriously, do they know it's Christmas time?: time and dates in Ethiopia

One of the more interesting tidbits I learned from my Ethiopia guidebook related to telling time.

  

According to the Bradt guide, Ethiopians measure time in 12-hour cycles starting at 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.  So what I would consider 7 Seattle time, Ethiopians would consider 1.  Also, Ethiopians only worry about gradations of five minutes - so four minutes past five become five minutes past five.  

The calendar in Ethiopia is different too.  Again the Bradt guide explains, in 1582 the Christian world dropped the Julian calendar in favor of the Gregorian calendar.  Ethiopia never made the switch.  As a result, Ethiopia is seven years and eight months "behind" the rest of the world.  (Right now it's 2001 in Ethiopia.)

Ethiopians celebrate Christmas on January 7 and New Years on September 11.  Looks like I'll be arriving in Ethiopia right in time for the after-Christmas sales!

Cookies and Connections

At Chez Sherrilynn, I've been busy making cookies and connection.  

A friend told me that the Gourmet Magazine website is featuring the best cookie recipe for each year from the 1940's to the present.  My favorite is the mocha cookie from 1990.  The cookie is shaped like a thin cookie, but tastes like a brownie.  In fact, the recipe is strikingly similar to Barefoot Contessa's Outrageous Chocolate Brownies.  I also made the chocolate chip cookies from the cookbook of Macrina Bakery.  The recipe is very similar to the chocolate chip cookie recipe discussed in the New York Times this summer, but much less fussy.

Over the last couple weeks, I've spent a lot of time networking and learning more about legal academia.   I've meet some great people and received some very helpful advice.  It all boils down to this: if you want to be a law professor, you need to write a lot and it needs to be good.  If you want to write good articles, you need to spend a lot of time researching and writing.  "Don't wait for a lightening bolt," advised one mentor.  "Get into the library and read everything you can."  And so, that's what I've been doing.

Puff Pastry, Barefoot Style

In her new book, Back to Basics, Ina Garten frequently calls for puff pastry.  

I'll admit it.  I've always been afraid of puff pastry.  Maybe it's the admonitions to keep it cold, not to overwork it.  Maybe it reminds me too much of some of the sketchy pie doughs I've made. 

When I found puff pastry available through Amazon Fresh, I decided that this week I would conquer my fear.  Over the last two days, we've had three Barefoot Contessa puff pastry recipes.

Day 1:  Lamb Sausage in Puff Pastry & Apple Dried Cherry Turnovers

The pastry was delivered in the morning and I put it in the refrigerator.  By dinner time, the pastry was still semi-frozen.  This meant that instead of unfolding into one large piece, the pastry broke into three rectangular pieces.    The turnover recipe (from Back to Basics) suggested  cutting the large sheet into four square pieces and making each square into a turnover.  I tried to stick the three rectangular pieces together with minimal success.  Instead, I ended up cutting the rectangles in half, making some small turnovers and using some of the smaller squares to make sandwiches instead of turnovers.

The turnover filing is very reminiscent of the Apple Crisp filling from Barefoot Contessa Parties, but with cherries instead of lemons.  Here, as there, the filling is delicious.  The apples break down into gooey goodness and the cherries add a nice tang.  Overall, the recipe was a big hit with the family.

The sausage in puff pastry recipe (from Barefoot Contessa) was good, but not as well received.  The recipe called for a 1/2 inch thick sausage and the only one I could find was a chicken breakfast sausage.  This sausage was a little too bland and didn't add enough zing to the puff pastry.

On the positive side, this recipe was incredibly easy to make.  Even with the pastry rectangles, I just cooked the sausage, spread some mustard and rolled the pastry around the sausage.  There is a lot of room for improvisation here.  Different sausages, mustards, even cheese could add a lot.

Day 2:  Spinach in Puff Pastry

Having properly thawed my puff pastry, I felt ready to conquer the spinach in puff pastry recipe from Barefoot in Paris.  Truth be told, I'm not a French food fan and never really loved Barefoot in Paris.  That said, this recipe was delicious.  It involves a little more prep work: toasting pine nuts, sweating onions, grating cheese.  But, the effort pays off.  The flavorful spinach filling adds a nice contrast to the puff pastry.  When the pastry is thawed, it is much easier to unfold and roll.

Day 3:  Something Else

Today at dinner, Mr. S. looked at me with sad eyes and said, "Are we having puff pastry for dinner again tomorrow?"  There are more Barefoot Contessa puff pastry recipes I would like to try, but maybe we should take a break.

Some recipes I look forward to making:

Easy Sticky Buns (Back to Basics)

Tomato & Goat Cheese Tarts (Back to Basics)

Savory Palmiers (Back to Basics)

Cheese Straws (Barefoot in Paris)

Elephant Ears (Barefoot in Paris)

What's in Little S's CD Player, Dec. 08 edition

We went to the neighborhood library to raid the kids' music section.  We found some great CDs (and a couple clunkers).  Here's what's playing in Little S's CD player this month:

1.  Princess Katie & Racer Steve, Songs for the Coolest Kids.  One of the few kids' CDs that our entire family enjoys.  Princess Katie has a mellow voice and sounds a lot like Natalie Merchant, without the angst.  I checked the CD label twice to make sure she wasn't Natalie Merchant.  The songs work in positive messages, but not at the expense of the music.  Little S and I agree that the three skits on the CD are a little random. 

2.  Baby Loves Jazz, Go Baby Go.  Little S's first introduction to jazz.  The songs are geared for younger kids: jazzy interpretations of Happy and You Know It, ABC, and Old MacDonald.  Yet, Little S enjoyed the music, especially the songs that emphasize particular instruments (trumpet, piano, saxophone).  

3.  School House Rock! Rocks.  On this CD from the mid-90's, popular bands like Blind Mellon and Better Than Ezra reinterpret School House Rock!  classics.  Little S had no idea why I kept singing "Lolly, Lolly, Lolly, get your adverbs here" until she heard this CD.  Little S likes to play this before she goes to bed, but it is not a lullaby album.  

4.  Recess Monkey, Aminal House.  Recess Monkey classics like Aquarium, Zoo zoo zoo, and Pet Shark along with some entertaining chit chat by Mayor Monkey and Mischievous Monkey.

5.  BNL, Snacktime.  As a long time fan of BNL, I'm happy to see that Little S is a fan too.  Vegetable Town is a particular favorite.

6.  Reserved.  This spot is being held for (in the near future) the Johnny Bregar album, Dragonfly, that's in the Hanukah present pile and (in the more distant future) the Recess Monkey CD that is being recorded now.

Lucy

One of the highlights of the Water 1st trip to Ethiopia is visiting the National Museum of Ethiopia.  At this museum, visitors can see a replica of Lucy, a 3.2 million-year-old fossil found in Ethiopia that proves our ancestors were walking 2.5 million years earlier than previously thought.

Few visitors to Ethiopia are allowed to see the actual fossil.  Happily, Lucy is touring American museums and is featured in a fantastic exhibit at Seattle's Pacific Science Center through March 2009.  We went to see the exhibit last night.

The exhibit begins with an explanation of Ethiopian history and culture.  Many people of my generation (myself included) associate Ethiopia with famine and "Do They Know It's Christmas."  The exhibit reminded me that Ethiopia is famous for so much more.

According to legend, Ethiopia was the home of the Queen of Sheeba ,who visited King Solomon for diplomacy and, some say, romance; possibly one of the lost tribes of Israel ; and the Ark of the Covenant.  The final Emperor of Ethiopia, Haile Selassie, aka Ras Tefari, inspired the Rastafari movement.

The second part explains Lucy's role in evolution: she provided conclusive evidence that bipedalism came before big brains.  And how scientists can deduce bipedalism and other characteristics from a very partial skeleton.

Lucy, by the way, got her informal name from the fact that the scientists who discovered her listened to the Beatles' song "Lucy in the Sky with Diamond" over and over again on the night of the discovery.

Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics - The Missing Review

When I heard that Ina Garten was coming out with a new cookbook this fall, I rushed to preorder the book, I scoured the Internet for advance recipes and I tried to figure out a way to attend a book tour event.  In a previous post, I discussed the butternut squash salad recipe that was released before the book.  The recipe dazzled my dinner guests and I couldn't wait to see what other wonders Ina had created.

Then Back to Basics arrived.  I flipped through the pages.  The photos are gorgeous, but I found very few recipes that I would make.  Many recipes call for bacon, prosciutto or red meat, ingredients I don't eat.  Others, like Garlic Ciabatta Bread and Mache with Warm Brie & Apples, seem too basic to be called recipes.  Most disappointing, many of the recipes seem derivative of previously published recipes.  For example, Indonesian Grilled Swordfish is like Indonesian Ginger Chicken (BC).  Maple-roasted Butternut Squash is like Caramelized Butternut Squash (BC).  And, Confetti Corn is very reminiscent of Sauteed Fresh Corn (BC Parties).

To be honest, I haven't made enough of the recipes to pan the entire book.  I look forward to trying Roasted Pears with Blue Cheese, Chicken Bouillabaisse, and the Celery Root & Apple Puree.  Still, if you don't have Barefoot Contessa Parties, buy that book instead.  Or, if you're looking for an easier approach, try Barefoot Contessa At Home.

I love you, Ina.  This book is not your best work.

An Effective Way to Ensure Parental Supervision

I'm Going to Ethiopia!

In January, I'll be spending a week in Ethiopia with Water 1st.  Water 1st helps some of the poorest communities in the world implement community-managed projects that integrate water supply, sanitation, and health education.

My parents think I'm a little crazy for going on this trip and offered to send me to a Marriott timeshare instead.  A friend suggested I might be happier going to a spa for a week.  I'm looking forward to the adventure, the chance to gain perspective on and appreciate the stability and comfort of my life in Seattle, and the opportunity to help others.

Hopefully, you'll enjoy learning more about Ethiopia with me, hearing about my preparations and reading about my journey.  

Lonely Planet describes travel in Ethiopia as "testing, awe-inspiring, and heartbreaking."  I can't wait!

For the geographically challenged, here's a link to a map of Africa.

A Source for Missing Kitchen Appliance Thingamajigs and Doodads

A friend from high school sent us a great blender for our wedding.  We thought we'd use it a lot to make margaritas and other festive drinks.  In reality, we used it mostly for pesto, protein shakes and the like.  Still, it worked well and always reminded me of my friend.

Then, one day, I turned on the garbage disposal and heard a terrible sound.  Whirl, whirl.  Clunk, clunk.  Sc-r-ape.

The knob on the blender cover (you know, the piece that allows you to slowly add olive oil, but keeps the blueberry smoothie from spraying all over your kitchen) popped out of the blender top and into the garbage disposal.  In a few fateful seconds, it was mangled beyond recognition.  

I stashed the blender on a high shelf.  Sayonara, fruity drinks, I thought.

Then, the good folks at Williams-Sonoma introduced me to The Gourmet Depot.  The Gourmet Depot sells every random piece and doodad that you would ever need to keep your kitchen operating.  With a few clicks, I found a replacement for my "knob," actually called a fill cap. 

One week and a few dollars later, my blender was whole again.  We still haven't made fruity drinks.  But we could.  

The antitrust angle:  The Gourmet Depot recently merged with their #1 competitor, Culinary Parts Unlimited.  Pretty sure David Boies sat this one out.

We're Hannukah and we're proud

For the first two years of preschool, Little S attended an Orthodox school.  None of her classmates had a Christmas tree, talked about Santa Claus or brought candy canes to school.  Sure, we saw Christmas decorations and ate gingerbread cookies, but it was easy to say, Our family doesn't celebrate Christmas, and leave it at that.

Last year, everything changed.  Maybe it's because Little S was older, maybe it's because she was at a new school, maybe it's because she had a new appreciation for twinkle lights.  Whatever the cause, Little S wanted a Christmas tree in the intense way that three-year olds WANT things.  She even threw a temper tantrum during school pickup: on the floor, kicking and screaming, sobbing "I want a Christmas tree!"

When she calmed down, I reminded her that our family doesn't celebrate Christmas.  Why not, she asked.  Why not get her a Christmas tree if she really wants one?, my friends asked.  Even my parents said, at least take her to see Santa.  We don't celebrate Christmas, I repeated again and again.  It made me want to scream.

Then, a friend recommended the book, The Latke Who Couldn't Stop Screaming by Lemony Snicket.  The book, in an entertaining almost subversive way, reminds parents and kids that it's OK to not celebrate Christmas, even if it would be a lot easier to do what everyone else is doing. 

The latke lives in a town where nearly everyone celebrates Christmas and people give the latke a hard time for not celebrating Christmas.  "So you're basically hash browns," the latke is told.  "Someone should write a Christmas carol about you," another person says.  "Different things can blend together.  Let me tell you a funny story about pagan rituals," says someone else.  

Lemony Snicket explains the latke's frustration this way, "It is VERY frustrating not to be understood in this world.  If you say one thing and keep being told that you mean something else, it can make you want to scream."

I can relate.

Best Kids' Music of 2008: The Fids and Kamily Awards

(SherriLynn and Jack from Recess Monkey)

Looking to expand your library of family music but unsure where to start? Check out The Fids and Kamily Awards. For these awards, kids' music writers, radio programmers, and others in the industry determined the 10 best kids' albums of 2008.

The list is filled with Sherri Lynn and Little S favorites: Justin Roberts, Pop Fly (#1); Secret Agent #23 Skidoo, Easy (#3); BNL, Snacktime (#6) and Recess Monkey, Tabby Road (#7).

Here's to music that parents and kids can enjoy together!

Vacaciones

Sorry for the inactivity. Mr. S and I were relaxing in Mexico.

Michelle is the new Hillary. And I mean that in the nicest way possible.

I cringed when Bill Clinton declared that Hillary and he would be a two-for-one deal.

Maybe it's my place in life, my experience or my desire to see a mother of young children in the White House, but I'm thrilled that the election of Barack means that we also get Michelle Obama.

It will be fascinating to watch a smart and powerful woman struggle with many of the issues we all face: where to send her kids to school, what to wear, what kind of dog to buy.  More important, she has the opportunity  to use her experience and position to improve the lives of other mothers and children.

That's a two-for-one deal I'll take.

Check out Newsweek's profile of Michelle.

Role Models Matter

Here's a link to a post by Sonja West on PrawfsBlawg that echoes my feelings why I'm still looking forward to the day when a woman will occupy the Oval office.

Voting is its own reward. Cupcakes are nice.

Here are some of the election babycakes handed out by Cupcake Royale.  In our very Blue neighborhood, only the McCain cupcake toppers were left.

Now stop reading and go vote!

Free Food for Voters

Growing up, we were taught to like democracy and to love free food.  On November 4, many establishments are offering free treats to voters.  Here are the offers I've found: (If you know of others, please post a comment)

Ben & Jerry's:  Free scoop of ice cream between 5 and 8 p.m.

Chick-fil-A:  Free chicken sandwich.

Cupcake Royale: (Madrona, Ballard & West Seattle):  Free babycake.

Krispy Kreme: Free star-shaped donut with patriotic sprinkles.

Starbucks:  Free tall cup of brewed coffee.

Hopefully the lines for these treats won't be as long as the lines at the polling places.

Halloween Vocabulary

The stylistas at Daily Candy are brilliant at picking the latest trends and informing the not-so-hip masses.  They've also created a new lexicon.  For example:

Costomb n. The overcoat you inevitably have to wear every year, which totally kills your costume.

Veepie Crawler n.  One of the hundreds of Sarah Palin/Tina Fey costumes you'll spot this year.

Wee-atch n.  That ho who copied your witch costume.

For more visit the Daily Candy site.

Happy Halloween!

Multitasking Reconsidered

As a person who likes to juggle many projects, hobbies, and activities at once, I always assumed that multitasking was essential to keeping all the balls in the air.  Recent news reports have shaken my world view on multitasking.  

For example, a recent New York Times article states, "while multitasking may seem to be saving time, psychologists, neuroscientists and others are finding that it can put us under a great deal of stress and actually make us less efficient."  

An NPR story cites research showing that "people don't do lots of things simultaneously, instead we switch our attention from task to task extremely quickly."  This switching makes your brain work harder and can reduce your ability to learn and retain information.

Everyone's A Critic: Rock Daddy Rock by Chris Bihuniak

Recently, I received an e-mail from Chris Bihuniak asking me to listen to his new CD for kids, Rock Daddy Rock, and to review it.  Excited to have a new blog reader, I quickly agreed.

Then I looked at his promotional material more carefully.  Chris describes his CD as "comedy-rock songs about the silly, gross and wonderful behaviors of kids."  Gross behavior?  What did I agree to?

The CD arrived a couple days later.  I looked at the song list before popping the CD in the player.  Track 1: Boogers; Track 3: Wart; Track 9: Don't Pass The Gas.  Ew!  

Now, I'm not totally anti-potty words in music for kids.  One of my favorite songs is The Poopsmith Song, by Over the Rhine.  But about 30 second into "Boogers" I started wondering whether I should send the CD back to Chris.  Around that time, Mr. S. walked in the room, exclaimed, "What are you listening to?" and walked out.

I kept listening.  Some of the songs, like the Beastie Boys-esque "Don't Hit, Don't Spit," really rock.  "When You Grow Up" and "Biter" made me want to dance and reminded me of Little S favorite The Sippy Cups.   Songs like "Gun (Peace Sign)" and "Turn It Off" provided good messages without preaching.  (I especially enjoyed hearing Bihuniak's kids sing,  "I'll clean my room and do it with no pay and do my very best to keep it clean that way" in "Your Room's A Mess.") 

I was about to write the CD off as a decent effort, highly unlikely to appeal to moms, when Little S walked into the room.  She stared the CD over and listened carefully.  Then, she put on her ballet shoes and tutu, replayed the CD, and danced for the entire CD.  "It really makes me want to move, Mom," she said.  "We should listen to it every morning to get us going."  She played it five times in a row.

Two days later, she hasn't stopped listening to Rock Daddy Rock.  Part of the appeal is listening to songs like "Don't Pass the Gas" without getting into trouble for using potty words.  But the real delight comes from Bihuniak's hard rocking and danceable music.

I can only hope that Little S's teacher won't call asking why she's suddenly talking about boogers, warts and gas.

You can find samples of Rock Daddy Rock songs here.

Bag Lunch Blues: A Taste of my own Medicine

This week I went on the pumpkin patch field trip with Little S and her classmates.  I enjoyed every minute of the trip.  Well, every minute except the time I spent eating my bag lunch.

On school mornings, I throw together lunches for Little S.  I try to hit all the food groups, limit the amount of sugar and plastic waste, and include some favorites.  But, especially by the end of the week, the lunches are a little random.

As I ate my soggy pb&j sandwich, my past-its-prime apple and a handful of trail mix at the pumpkin patch, I vowed to put a little more effort into making healthy, attractive and delicious lunches.  

Here are some lunch tips I found from WebMD, Food Network, and Parents Magazine.

OMFGG:So that's what the kids are listening to these days

During the worst of my writers-strike-induced T.V. withdrawal last year, our babysitter recommended that I watch The O.C. on DVD.  The first season was captivating:  the lush Southern California setting, the teen angst and romance, the Cohen family comic relief.  I decided to watch the entire series.  

The quality of the series was, to be polite, uneven.  Despite the ups (Chrismukkah) and downs (that hippy guy at Brown?  Kaitlyn's reappearance?) of the plot line, the music selected for the show was consistently good.

The theme song, California by Phantom Planet, is a great example.  Its haunting longing embodies the unease of the main character, Ryan, and the opening is instantly recognizable.  Jem's version of Maybe I'm Amazed is beautiful and well matched to the wedding scene.  Jeff Buckley's version of Hallelujah and Youth Group's version of Forever Young -- amazing.

When The O.C. creators, Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, announced that they were creating a new show, Gossip Girl, I ran to set my DVR.  Gossip Girl is much lighter on the teen angst.  It focuses on the lush Manhattan lifestyle of the characters and is the TV equivalent of cotton candy (in the best escapist fantasy sort of way).

Once again, Schwartz and Savage have found incredible indie music to orchestrate their show.  Next week, the Gossip Girl CD, OMFGG (Original Music Featured on Gossip Girl), will be released.  I can't wait.  

Truth be told my music selection is anything but hip these days.  NPR and songs about backpacks and loose teeth have taken over my car stereo.  I can't wait to put OMFGG in the CD player, listen to what the kids are listening to these days, and spend a moment in the alternate universe without home repairs, carpools and juice boxes.

Or maybe I'll download the iTunes version right now.  This version features two bonus tracks: Glamorous by the Constance Billard A Capella Choir and Everytime by Lincoln Hawk.

xoxo,

SherriLynn

Smart Sisterhood: Women's Forum for the Economy and Society

Today's New York Times has an article on Women's Forum for the Economy and Society.  The Forum is described as a female-friendly alternative to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.  In addition to discussing timely public policy issues, the assembled women considered the challenges facing women in the workplace and elsewhere.

The number of female leaders at the highest levels in politics and business are very small.  And the conversation  continues to whether this problem is caused by individual choices or structural societal problems.

Meanwhile, the Forum participants interviewed in the story were energized by the networking, support and role models.  Seems like a step in the right direction. 

Barefoot Contessa BtB: Roasted Butternut Squash Salad with Warm Cider Vinaigrette

Rarely, in our house at least, is salad the highlight of the meal.  This salad, from Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics, stole the show at dinner tonight.

The salad provides a combination of flavors, textures and temperatures that meld together well.  Roasted butternut squash and a warm vinaigrette wilt the arugula and melt the parmesan cheese just the right amount.  

Preparing the salad requires more dishes than Mr. S would like to wash: a skillet for toasting the walnuts, a saucepan for warming the vinaigrette, a sheet pan for the squash.  But the result is worth the effort.

Note:  Kitchen novices might want to learn more about cutting a butternut squash before tackling this recipe.  I hacked mine apart.  You might opt for a more graceful approach.

Can't wait to see the full cookbook on October 28.  In the meantime, I'll be stockpiling butter.

The Effect of the Economic Downturn on Non-Profits

I serve on the board of a local non-profits and am involved with many others.  One question a lot of folks involved with non-profits are pondering these days is, how will the grim economic news impact non-profit fundraising?

Experts argue that the impact will be limited, especially in historical context.  Yet, stories are circulating about non-profits struggling to raise money and feeling pessimistic about fundraising efforts.

Next week I need to motivate my fellow board members to keep working on our largest fundraising campaign of the year.  It's hard when every time I turn on the radio or open the paper I seem to learn more depressing economic news.  My usual motivational tools, cupcakes and tokens gifts, are only so effective.

I plan on looking deeper into the advice, tips and suggestions that seem to be everywhere.  A number of sources agree that continuing to ask, cultivate and acquire new donors is essential.  

Has the economic news changed your giving? What does effective solicitation look like to you in this economy?

What's in Little S's CD Player, Oct. 08 edition

If you've seen my post on Lecia's delightful blog,  A Day That is Dessert, then you'll know that Little S and I are big fans of the Seattle band, Recess Monkey.  We listen to them all the time, attend their concerts and even appear (briefly) in their video.  But, as Jack from Recess Monkey told us, if you don't rotate your CDs, you'll get bored of even the best music.  

Here's what's in our 6-disc changer:

1.  Central Services Board of Education.  We have a pre-release version of their upcoming self-titled CD.  With songs questioning whether a tomato is a fruit or a vegetable, sharing fun facts about the number eight and imagining a post-global warming world where lobsters live in Space Mountain, the music makes me smile and I often learn something new - like the story behind the inventor of pavement.  Don't miss their CD release party, Nov. 15 at Town Hall in Seattle.

2.  John Vanderslice, Pixel Revolt.  Recess Monkey loves John Vanderslice and includes "shout outs" to him in nearly every album ergo . . . Warning: this is not kid's music!

3.  Recess Monkey, Wonderstuff (Disc 1).

4.  Justin Roberts, Way Out.  Justin Roberts was my first introduction to cool kids music.  He is a great musician and storyteller.  We play his Picture Day song every Picture Day.  It makes the hair brushing just a little easier.  Justin will be in Seattle, Nov. 14.

5.  Recess Monkey, Tabby Road.  Did I hear the voice of Little S's friend during Under My Bed?

6.  Justin Roberts, Pop Fly.  Pop Fly will stick in your head for days.  So will Stay At Home Dad, just ask Mr. S.

Happy listening!  Sherri"Just Say No to Purple Dinosaurs"Lynn

Farewell to Lisa Belkin's print column, Life's Work

I love the New York Times: the insightful Supreme Court and legal reporting, the economic and political analysis, the in-depth international articles.  My "must reads," however, are a little lighter: the Sunday Styles section starting with the wedding announcements, Mark Bittman's recipes, and, until now, Lisa Belkin's Life's Work column.

Lisa Belkin is well know for writing a 2003 article on the Opt-Out Revolution.  This article described the phenomenon of female high-achievers who opt-ed out of the working world to raise their children.  The article evoked a lot of strong reactions.  To me, it rang true.  Many of my friends with Stanford, Yale and other fancy degrees decided to opt-out from the working world. For a while, at least.  

Lisa's weekly column dealt with many work/life balance issues.  In announcing the end of her regular column, Lisa said "[W]hen I was first asked to take on this column, I thought it would be about answers.  I figured I would call smart people and ask them the secrets to balanced working life, and then I would put that in the newspaper and be a hero.  It didn't take me long to realize there were no answers -- just endless and penetrating questions."

Lisa will continue writing for the New York Times magazine and in the blogosphere.  Best of luck with your new endeavors, Lisa.  I'll miss your column! 

Kindergarten Admissions Season

Yes.  It's that time of year when concerned parents are frantically visiting independent schools, writing essays about their darling children, and wondering whether they can justify paying five-figure tuition for kindergarten.

Little S is at an independent school and we love it!  If you're considering applying to an independent school, I highly recommend reading Kindergarten Wars by Alan Eisenstock.  Eisenstock interviewed admissions directors, educational consultants, teachers and parents, and then wrote a compelling narrative following a number of families through the admissions process.  He addresses many of the bigger questions (Does elite kindergarten start your child on a path to an elite college?) and offers admissions tips (Be nice to each other and the school staff.) You can read the first chapter here.

If you're really into "Admissions Lit," check out The Ivy Chronicles and Admissions too. 

Countdown to the New Barefoot Contessa Cookbook

When I was in college and law school, I thought it was un-feminist to cook.  At some point, I got tired of take-out burritos, moved into a house with a real kitchen, and started buying kitchen gadgets.  It was time for me to learn to cook.  

I asked one of my fabulous-cook friends her secret.  "Ina Garten," she whispered.  I promptly went out and bought Ina's Barefoot Contessa cookbook.  

I worked my way through that book and through nearly all of her following books: Barefoot Contessa Parties, Barefoot Contessa Family Style, Barefoot in Paris, and Barefoot Contessa at Home.  Some of the recipes challenged my nascent skills (see the marshmallow disaster of 2003), but I learned a lot about making simple food delicious (roasting) and embracing butter (see any Barefoot Contessa dessert).  

Ina's latest book, Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics, comes out on October 28th.  For those of you, who can't wait to try the new recipes, here are a few: butternut squash salad and mustard roasted fish, easy sticky buns, roasted turkey roulade and baked sweet potato fries. You can find more new recipes by watching Ina's show on the Food Network, starting Saturday, October 18.  

Music To Your Ears

While I'm atoning and traveling, why don't you mosey over to Lecia's blog, A Day That Is Dessert, and check out our joint post on kids music that will be music to your ears too.  And while you're there, check out the amazing pictures of Lecia's family, adventures and Seattle. 

SherriLynn. Floral Designer?

In line with my desire to try things out of my comfort zone, I agreed to take a floral design class at Fiori Floral Design.  One cut finger, several chocolate cookies, and 3 1/2 hours later, I now understand why seemingly "small" bouquets cost more than $100.

Check out the arrangements we made:

Why Twittering is Good Practice for my Upcoming Reunion

My 15th college reunion is this weekend.  I went to my 5th and 10th reunions and had a blast.  It wasn't at all like Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion.

This time, I have dinner plans with some of my dearest friends and genuinely look forward to catching up with classmates I haven't seen since the last reunion.

Many reunion encounters, however, come with the obligation to summarize the last 5, 10 or 15 years of your life in 60 seconds or less.  At the 5th reunion it was easy: federal law clerk enjoying the Seattle scene.  The 10th too: traveling with husband to exotic locales after working at DOJ and appellate litigation boutique.  Accurate summaries that appeal to the competitive, achievement-oriented alum.

The life summary for this go-around isn't as easy.  There are the boring, obvious options: Mom, community volunteer, legal researcher.   The cliche: Soccer Mom (even though Little S doesn't play soccer).  The self-aggrandizing: CEO of my family, Vice President of WW Enterprises.  The humorous: recovering attorney making up for the bad things she did in private practice.  The slightly obscure: Recess Monkey super fan.

Maybe, 15 years out, we all realize that our lives are a lot more than titles or flashy adventures.  Maybe we've been through enough ups and downs in our personal, work and community lives to look beyond a classmate's elevator speech for the real experience.

Or maybe not.  In which case, I'm open to suggestions.

UPDATE:  I'm back from my reunion.  Many classmates are struggling with the same issue and are trying to find the right balance between work and family, overachievement and sanity.  One slightly drunk friend, when told I wasn't currently employed yelled, SherriLynn isn't working?!  Sigh.

Mark Madsen Was Almost my 200th Friend on Facebook

I get way too much e-mail from Facebook.  Usually, I flip through it and delete it without much thought.   A message I received today stopped me cold:  Mark Madsen accepted my friend request and became my 199th friend.

I normally don't try to friend celebrities and athletes.  But Mark (sigh), Mark is different.  

In law school, my days consisted of going to class and the library, eating burritos and watching Stanford basketball.  My first year, I was all about the women's team: Kate Starbird, Jamila Wideman.  Then something happened.  The men's team started playing well.  And, in 1996, Mark started playing for Stanford.

He was a tough competitor for the Cardinal.  He lived up to his Mad Dog nickname.  He turned in highlight reel performances during the NCAA tournament.

And, he was a gentleman off the court.  One day, he noticed my friend, Ginger, buying Stanford Basketball t-shirts at the bookstore.   He offered to autograph the shirts.  I still have the one she gave me.  (see above)  I've never worn it. 

After Stanford, Mark went on to the NBA to play for the Lakers and the Timberwolves.  While with the Lakers, he became friends with Shaq and, unfortunately, showed the world his dance moves.  

I watched Mark play as a Laker once.  We had front row, center court seats, right next to Tim Russert.  Tim noticed my enthusiasm for Mark and started teasing me by yelling, Go White Guy!  By the end of the game, he was cheering for Mark too.

Thanks for accepting my friend request, Mark.  And, good luck with your blog.

What Should I Be When I Grow Up - Part 1

"Go to law school," my dad said to me.  "I'll pay for it."  

And so I did.  

I met some great people in law school, and had some cool experiences during my legal career.  But I never aspired to be an attorney in private practice.  So, when we moved back to Seattle, I didn't look for another job.  "I'll figure it out when Little S is in school full time," I told myself. 

Maybe I've been waiting to be struck by a bolt of lightening.  Hoping I'd wake up one morning and shout, "Eureka!  I have the answer."  It hasn't happened.

In his book, What Should I Do with My Life?, Po Bronson offers the following advice for those waiting for the loud clang of inspiration:

"usually, all we get is a glimmer.  A story we read or someone we briefly met.  A curiosity.  A meek voice inside, whispering.  It's up to us to hammer out the rest.  The rewards of pursuing it are only for those who are willing to listen attentively, only for those people who really care. . . . It won't be easy, and it won't be quick.  Finding what we should do is one of life's great dramas.  It can be an endless process of discovery, one to be appreciated and respected for its difficulty."

I intend to spend some time following those glimmers.  I'll keep you posted.

Open Letter to Dorie Greenspan

Dear Dorie,

I love your Midnight Crackle cookies.  When you met my friend, Leora, in Paris, you couldn't have been nicer.  You're friends with my culinary hero, Ina Garten.

So, when you wrote on p. 184 of Baking that I'd be "struck by the urge to pin a big blue ribbon" on your Double Apple Bundt Cake because it "looks, smells and tastes as though it would take first prize in a county fair," I knew that this cake was the one that would transform my Rosh Hashanah dinner from good to great.

Dorie, I regret to say that I feel completely bamboozled!  The cake might be delicious.  My guests will never know.  I followed your directions: buttering the pan, peeling apples, buying apple butter, making sure the butter was room temperature.  And then, after allowing the pan to cool for 5 minutes (as recommended), I flipped the bundt pan for the moment of truth.  And . . . only half the cake come out of the pan.

Maybe it was me.  Maybe I should have let the cake cool for longer.  Maybe I shouldn't have floured the bundt pan.  Maybe my apples were large, not medium.

After all, this is the season of forgiveness.  I will try to ice the cake and salvage the dessert.  I will head to Whole Foods and buy another dessert.  I will realize it was folly to try to impress a Paris-trained pastry chef.  

And next year, I will make a Barefoot Contessa dessert or maybe something from the Beth El cookbook.

L'shana tova,

SherriLynn

Worldwide Day of Play

As part of our never-ending quest to find weekend activities interesting to parents and Little S., I like to troll Parent Map, Red Tricycle and the local paper for ideas.  The RT blurb on the Worldwide Day of Play caught my attention.

Day of Play?  How cool is that?  I decided to dig a little deeper.  Turns out the Worldwide Day of Play is sponsored by Nickelodeon.  The network (along with The N, Noggin and Nicktoons) goes dark for three hours and encourages kids to turn off the TV, go outside, and play.

Great idea.  The media is full of articles suggesting that kids don't have enough unstructured play time or opportunities for exercise.  And, I often feel like I'm living Recess Monkey's Busy Bees song.

But, I imagined that I would arrive at the Day of Play event and be overwhelmed by Nickelodeon advertising and product placement.  Sponge Bob square dancing?  Dora and Diego dunk tanks?  Maybe a Backyardigans bouncy house?

To my relief, the event was entirely commercial free.  I didn't see a single mention of TV stations, characters or shows.  Instead, the staff set out all sorts of play equipment (a tug-of-war rope, soccer balls, croquet, sidewalk chalk, a small bouncy house, jump ropes, even a kid-size badminton court), a big container of lemonade, and let the kids play.  

And the kids played.  Sampling all sorts of games and activities, organizing themselves into tug-of-war teams, and taking breaks to rest in the shade when needed.  

A great way to spend an unusually sunny September afternoon.

Oh, and it turns out that some researchers dispute the idea that American kids are over-scheduled.  

Opening Lines of Successful Admissions Essays

As someone who has applied to college, graduate schools, various scholarships and programs, and, perhaps most the greatest challenge, preschool for Little S., I understand the need for a killer personal essay.  

The Stanford admissions office recently released the best opening lines from this year's successful applications.  Enjoy the article.  

Luckily, I have a while before the application process for middle school begins.

The Great Schlep

I received an e-mail from an NPR reporter today.  She was looking for people from Seattle who are participating in The Great Schlep and willing to talk about it.

Most mornings I feel like I'm undertaking a great schlep as I lug my gym bag, Little S's backpack and lunch box, my computer, and assorted other tote bags down three flights of stairs to the garage.  The Great Schlep, however, is not about parents struggling to get their families to and fro.  It's about getting Jewish grandparents to vote for Obama.

The idea is brilliant.  According to an article in the New York Times, elderly Jewish voters in Florida (and elsewhere) are very concerned with Obama's positions on Israel, the Middle East, and anti-Semitism.  The Great Schlep encourages Jewish grandchildren to visit their grandparents and, using talking points that address these issues, dispel the misinformation that surrounds the candidate.  For example, explain that Obama is not a muslim, he is a friend of Israel, and he has spoken out against anti-Semitism.

When I first read the New York Times article, I wondered, "Who are these crazy people who think Obama is a closet muslim?"  Then I spoke with my sister.  Turns out our dear mother, a Hillary supporter and solidly Democratic voter, was considering voting for McCain.  The Reverend Wright controversy had her concerned that Obama would not be a friend to Israel or the Jewish people.  

Is there a chance that this concern is thinly veiled racism?  It's possible.  But I'm hoping that cross-generational discussions of these issues will eliminate the confusion and misinformation.

If you're interested in learning more, check out The Great Schlep website.  I've heard they're introducing some funny training videos tomorrow.

Welcome to the SherriLynn blog

After thinking and talking about blogging for way too long, I decided to take the plunge.

You are probably wondering what this blog will be about.  Honestly, I'm not sure yet.  It will be a mix of parenting, politics, my quest to "figure out what I'm going to be when I grow up," and some foodie thoughts and recommendations.  I hope it turns out to be more than a vanity, my-kid's-so-smart-and-cute blog.  We'll see how it evolves.

What's with the name?  Growing up, my mom insisted on calling me SherriLynn.  Friends would call and ask for "Sherri."  "There is no Sherri here," my mom would answer.  "Sherri is so ordinary," my mom would tell me later.  So, I grew up believing that SherriLynn was very unique.  

According to blogger and Google, Mom was wrong.  There is already a SherriLynn blog on blogspot (seems to be abandoned, but the few posts are about Girl's State and Debate camp). And, there are many professionals and products available under the SherriLynn name.  Lots of lawyers, a few doctors,  a photographer or two, and psychic.  There is also a SherriLynn bridal tiara, SherriLynn Farms, and SherriLynn's Gourmet Food and Candles in Minnesota.

Day one of blogging and I've already learned something new.  Hope you'll keep reading and see what else comes up.