Annika, sunshine and lemons

I have about 3 post topics running through my head so I think I will just make this post a potpourri of them. My blog is a potpourri of odd things anyway.

First of all I have to share the little comment Kanoba made just 5 min. ago when I was changing his diaper (yes, we are still in diapers thanks to me giving up with my last 2 illnesses and his unwillingness to poo in the toilet). So while I was changing his diaper he suddenly said "My tallywacker's name is Annika". Ahem. Ok......... I couldn't help but bust up laughing. Where does the kid get these things? By the way, Annika was a name we considered for the baby. Glad to know the name is useful elsewhere.

Today I realized I have neighbors! Real live ones. I saw some just today. I also realized that there is hope in this world. That I can get sweaty nowadays. That there is colorful stuff on the ground outside other than white. That I might return to the smiling-all-day kind of feelings. That SPRING IS COMING! All of these realizations because the sun is shining and warmth is in the air. It is such a nice feeling. I actually really like winter usually- I love the snow and the winter clothes and winter sports. This winter has been harder to weather (har har, punny) mostly because it has been a longer, darker winter than most and I have had some baby blues as well. I am looking forward to spring.


I also like to collect paper. Not just any paper (although I have plenty of random papers on my desk and in my "to be filed" drawer) but specifically papers with recipes on them. I like to find and try new recipes. I'm starting to get a nice collection of really good recipes. Funny how I NEVER know what to cook for dinner. Deciding what to make is the worst part about making dinner. I have been craving lemon for the last several months (after discovering lemon curd this last fall) and I have finally satisfied a little of that craving. I made a De-lish-ous sour cream lemon pie yesterday (recipe courtesy of a family member) and the filling almost didn't stay around enough to make it to the crust. I also made lemon ice cream last week that was really good. The problem is that lemon is not Koby's favorite flavor. That is bad, very bad. I end up with lots of lemon ice cream and pie around the house that needs to be eaten because, gosh darn it, it would be a travesty if it went to waste. A sin. It cannot be allowed. So I eat lemon and more lemon. Then I feel guilty like tonight and have just a green smoothie for dinner. In order to share my guilty pleasures, I will post my first-ever-on-this-blog recipe. If you ever feel like sharing a recipe with someone, pick me, ooo, pick me! In the mean time, go try this:

Rich Lemon Ice Cream

(From The Martha Stewart Living Cookbook)

1 1/4 cups white sugar
3/4 cup fresh lemon juice (about 4-5 lemons)
1 Tbsp. lemon zest
2 whole eggs
4 egg yolks
1 cup whole milk
1 1/2 cups heavy cream

In a medium saucepan, whisk together sugar, lemon juice, zest, whole eggs, and egg yolk. Cook over medium heat until thickened. Add milk and cream. Strain through a fine mesh sieve over a clean bowl.

Chill until cold--about 3 hours or overnight. Freeze in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer directions.

Let the frozen ice cream harden for a few hours before serving. Keeps about a week in an airtight container.
Makes about 1 1/2 quarts.

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I think I will try this next. Mmmmmm. It has coconut so Koby will probably be more willing to help eat it.