Baked French Toast with Apricot Sauce

This is what we had for breakfast on Christmas morning.   It was delicious! 

 Sauce:

12 oz dried apricots (preferably unsulfered)

5 tablespoons sugar

juice of 1/2 lemon

2 cups water (more may be needed)

French Toast:

5 large or 8 small day-old butter croissants

1/2 cup milk

3 tablespoons rum

4 eggs

6 tablespoons unsalted butter; softened

3 tablespoons sugar

grated zest of 1/2 lemon

1. Make the sauce: Combine the apricots, sugar, lemon juice, and water in a saucepan and bring the mixture to a boil.  Reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 30 minutes.  Carefully transfer the mixture to a food processor and process until smooth.  You may want to thin the sauce with a little water to get the right consistency.  Chill until ready to serve.  *I made the sauce the night before.

2. Preheat the oven to 400°.  Make the French toast:  Cut the croissants into 1/2  thick slices.  In a large bowl, mix the milk with the rum and 2 of the eggs.  Add the croissants and mix well.  In another bowl, blend the butter, sugar, lemon zest, and the remaining 2 eggs.  Mix the butter mixture into the croissant mixture.

3.  Butter a long, shallow baking dish.  Pour the croissant mixture into the dish.  Bake on middle oven rack for 30 to 40 minutes, until golden brown.  Serve the cold sauce with the hot French toast.

Feeds 4-  Total Time: 55 minutes, 25 of those minutes are hands on.

It’s a wrap

Linda at All and Sundry posted this list of questions pertaining to 2008.  It seemed like a challenge and a good way to document what I have gone through at this age and my first full year as a Mom.   So here are my answers.  Feel free to cut and paste for your own blog, I would love to read about your year, too.

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?

I didn’t go to work and am still underpaid- HA!

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? 

I did.  It was to loose the baby weight.  2009 will focus on overall health, eating, exercising, vitamins, etc. Keeping the house organized (finish clean up your messy house) cook from new recipes more often.  Scrapbook a page per month about that month.  Work to keep digital files organized and backed up.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? 

Sort of, not bff’s but friends.  Baby Claire and Baby Liem.

4. Did anyone close to you die? NO!

5. What countries did you visit?  none…

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? 

 I would like a space to be creative, a corner with natural light where I can sit and dream, read, plan, look out a window.

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

I imagine that I will only remember Nate’s  first birthday, 10-6.  I struggle to come up with anything as great.  Oh well, the election.   I will remember that, too!

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? 

 Finding and keeping balance between being me and being a Mom. 

9. What was your biggest failure?    Time management.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? 

I suspect I had PPD until around March or April.   I will not list the number of times I fell down. 

11. What was the best thing you bought?   treadmill

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? 

Mike  finishing a huge project at work.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?  Mom

14. Where did most of your money go?   Food

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Taking Nate to Animal Kingdom.  That may have been the best day of the year.  Seeing my son with my Dad that day filled me with so much that I cannot find words.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?

Powder Blue- the lullaby I sing to Nate. 

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder?  Happier
b) thinner or fatter? Thinner
c) richer or poorer?  Richer

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?  

I wish I wrote down more of Nate’s developments.  I got the big stuff but I wish I had a running list of his words and other things like that.  I know I will want for such a thing when there is another kid in the house.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Complaining

20. How did you spend Christmas? 

The best part was the 3 of us at home.  It was a hard decision to stay home but it was the best one!  I made a great dinner, we used the crystal and china, drank wine and after putting Nate down watched Love Actually.  It was perfect.

21. Did you fall in love in 2008? 

 Not a new love but I love more now than I did in 2007.

22. What was your favorite TV program?  

I can’t choose just one.  Lost, Brothers & Sisters,  Lipstick Jungle.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? 

 Yes.  I am shocked and hurt by it though I should have seen it coming……

24. What was the best book you read? 

Sleep is for the weak. It was the perfect read for this stage of my life.    It and what to expect the first  & and Toddler year’s are all I actually took the time to read all year. 

25. What was your greatest musical discovery? 

I have come to love t he White Stripes- but, overall  I am still listening to the same music from 07 with a few things Mike has added but I haven’t made a single purchase for myself all year.

26. What did you want and get? 

I am spoiled so this list is long.  The biggest thing I “got” this year was a full and lovely living room.

27. What did you want and not get? 

A date with my husband.  Family pictures.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?

 I only saw 2 movies in the theater this year so my favorite was a rental.  p.s.  I love you.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? 

31, I think we went out to dinner but I can’t remember? 

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? 

More time as a family.  Mike’s work commitments this year were really intense.  I hope that in the coming year we can find a little more balance.  And a babysitter.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?  

 This changed over time, from if it zips wear it,  how to be fat without looking fat, to I will not dress like a Mom and you cant make me, Ohio!  But, mostly it was find a way to look cute and feel like myself while I learn to transition from work clothes to play clothes.  I’d say about half of the year was a success.

32. What kept you sane? 

Chai, hot baths, Mike.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? 

Who is the guy that plays Denny in Greys?  That guy!  I can’t say what it is about him but I love that character.

34. What political issue stirred you the most? 

I am really pissed about prop 8!  Just when I thought we were moving in the right direction- or my idea of the right direction.

35. Who did you miss? 

When you live so far away you miss everyone at different times.  Mostly I miss seeing my nieces and nephews right now.  Everyone is at such fantastic ages (1,2,4) that they fascinate you with every other thing that comes out of their mouths.  I hate that I cant be there with them all, I also hate that they are not growing up with Nathan.

36. Who was the best new person you met?  

I’m not naming names, but there is a fantastic new GF, she knows who she is.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008. 

 When people show you who they are, believe them.  Stop trying to make excuses for why they let you down, lie to you, stand you up.  Let it and them go.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

 ”Learn to be yourself and you’ll always be free.”  Another kid song  I have been singing all year long.  To Nathan but also to myself.  Isn’t this the message we want our kids to get?  Isn’t it also one that is perfect for ourselves no matter what our stage of life…. I think so!

If you do this let me know in the comments so I can come read about you, too!

After

Well it’s over.   All of the decorating, planning, shopping, cooking, eating, eating, and eating.   How was it, did you have a good time?

We did.  It was a fantastic Christmas.  Nathan is of course too young to really get it but that didn’t stop us from acting like he did.  We stuffed the stockings, put out the toys and sprung from bed at the first peep he made that morning.   He pulled on the wrapping paper a few times but didn’t ever dive right in.  Possibly from being told not to for two weeks prior.  We unwrapped everything very slowly, trying to allow him to play with things in between.  This also allowed Mike and I to open our gifts from each other while he was busy.  After a few hours of this we put him down for his nap and I made breakfast. 

Later in the afternoon we headed to “the co-workers” for dinner.  It was nice and the dinner was great.  I took all day Wednesday to make my dessert talking my time to get it perfect and what happened?   I didn’t realize how long it would take to eat and for it to be dessert time.  It was a good hour before we began the first course, and there were many (one including cheese, fruit, bread and wine!)  I didn’t ask that the cake be refrigerated.  It collapsed, to put it gently.   I made a cake called Chocolate Rhapsody.  The bottom is a white cake with a light layer of fudge on top, and on top of that is a white chocolate raspberry mousse with a thicker layer of fudge on the top.   It is in a spring formpan, when I removed the sides at the dinner table the mousse oozed out all over the place.  We cut the cake and scooped the fallen mousse on the top.  It still tasted great but it was visual disaster.  I was so embarrassed. 

The rest of our weekend has been so nice.  Lots of hanging out at home, organizing the new toys, and shopping.  Shopping for kid crap organization and for the new bed and bedding.  Also, the weather has been spastic.  Yesterday was 70°!  We were out shopping without coats or hats or gloves or scarfs.  This global warming business is sort of scary when it can be below zero one week and hit 70 the next.

Tell me, how was your holiday?

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This header/design is temporary.   Flickr is at the bottom of the page for now- you can find updated Christmas photos there.

Finished

Well dear Internets, we have arrived at the final post about my boobs!  YAY!  I know you’re excited.  Also, this is your chance to sneak out the back door before anyone sees you….

I don’t really need to go into how hard or rewarding nursing your child can be.  I am grateful that I was able to for as long as we both wanted.  That’s really what this is about, I guess.   Nate is 14 months 3 weeks and I just put him to bed for the first time without nursing.  He cried and reached out for me, I got choked up and rocked him for a few extra minutes and then I closed the door and turned down the monitor.  He got quite after 2 minutes and fell right to sleep.

As time went on he has become less and less into it.  For the past few weeks he has been sitting up or pulling away to talk to me.  The last couple of nights were a struggle to keep him in my lap and he didn’t eat much at all.   I knew it was time.

Actually, I have been ready.  I mentioned to Mike that I was  done after we got home from Florida but he encouraged me to go through the end of the month which was my “end date” and had been for a few months.   

Each night I would think about how many times I cried in that rocker.  How hard the past 15 months have been and how many thousands of times I just wanted to quit.    Even with all of that I wasn’t sure I would ever get to the place were I could say that I was over it.   But I am, and so is he.

I don’t think I will miss it.  I spent so much time agonizing over it.  Ohh meh bebbah,  I don’t get to hold you anymore, you are so busy, so big, so not my baby.   It is true,  but he comes up to me and hugs me, kisses me making a “mmmm” noise.  He pats my back and with that chubby little hand he pats my face.  I am getting plenty of special time with him that I no longer needed the few minutes at the end of the day.  And, neither did he.

I guess I am just happy that we were both ready at the same time.   I shouldn’t be surprised that all of the worrying I have done over the past 6 months over all of this was for nothing.  I wish I knew then that it would all work itself out and that none of this planning was necessary.   I wish I could have been more relaxed and known that it was fine to let it happen when we were ready.  That I didn’t have to force it. 

I don’t know how to wrap this up.  I didnt really plan on writing about it but I needed something to do while watching the monitor.  Even though I knew he was ready I never expected him to fall asleep so quickly.   Now if I dont go into some tailspin hormonally we will be all set.  Good move the week of Christmas… that too is probably a rookie mistake.

From the Ice Box

Because of the bitter temperature of the day (currently 6°) we are staying in.  I am up to here in my cookbooks planning our menu.

So far I have our breakfast and dinner planned but am stumped on the desserts.  I will ask for Mike’s help with that when he gets home later.

Breakfast

Baked french toast with apricot sauce, chicken sausage, fresh strawberries

Christmas Dinner

Pork tenderloin with blackberry mustard sauce, garlic green beans with pine nuts and twice baked potatoes. (Mike wants Ham- so the pork may get the boot- this could end up as our new year dinner dish)

I just can’t choose dessert!  I have way too many ideas and am sort of paralyzed by what to bring to the “Orphan X-Mas party”  what goes with a traditional Italian Stew (and what is that)  this is why I will let  Mike help.  Show him the ideas and let him choose.  I would ask you all to help but then I will get 10 different votes and freak out.  But Thanks, I know you would love to vote.  I will tell you which two win (one for home, one for the party) and if anything is pretty I may take pictures to share.   Though, it usually all tastes much better than it looks.

Hope you are all done shopping and can enjoy the excitement in the next few days without having to deal with parking lots and rude people and my word below 0 wind chills!

Foiled

I have been thinking of what our Christmas day will consist of this week.  A day in Pj’s playing in the living room with the boy and his new toys, great meals and treats, a bottle of wine by the fire after the boy goes to bed.

Last night Mike comes home and tells me we have been invited to a co-workers house.  Christmas Day!   Who does that?  Okay, nice people obviously.  Who wants to spend a holiday with coworkers?  4th of July okay but Christmas?   He tells me that I have meet them both but I can’t place either of them.  He promises it will be nice.  I don’t doubt that it will be.   It’s another couple who don’t have any family near them.   This is really a very nice gesture, which is exactly why Mike felt he had to accept*.

I know it’s just the 3 of us and that Nate won’t ever remember this day but it is our first Christmas as a family (alone) and this is not what I had in mind.  Add to it that I’m in charge of dessert. 

It could turn out to be a nice time but right now I’m a little bitter.  I don’t want to spend a holiday with strangers.  I want to spend it with my family, at home.

 

*He did ask me first and I said Okay-

Perfect!

Y’all,  Sock Monkey Gingerbread House Jammie’s.   I can’t wait for Christmas.

10 days!

Am I the only one who woke up this morning and noticed that Christmas is next week?  Next week!

We are staying home this year, only the second time I have been away from my family for Christmas/Hanukkah (we do both) and I’m a mixed bag over it all.    Since most of our siblings have kids now we are all pulling away from the Christmas Day gatherings.  So now we get to stay home and create our own traditions and find out what we want them to be.  This year will be a dry run of sorts.  So far Mike has a few things he wants, large Santa gift for Nate put together and in plain view on Christmas morning.  He also wants a big breakfast and a bigger dinner.     I want to open one gift on Christmas eve and I want that gift to be Christmas PJ’s.  He thinks that is lame but I don’t care.  I want the boy in cute jammies for pictures.  If I have to cook 2 large meals in one day the boy is getting jammies.

I have a load to do this week.  Its not even really because of Christmas either.  It’s mostly because I’m getting back into planning my days.  Writing down things that are must do’s.  I wasn’t really doing this for a few months but I am finding that nap time is getting away from me if I don’t have a plan.   Putting down everything I want to accomplish keeps me on task.  Writing down vacuum stairs,  workout 3 times,  2 new scrapbook pages, finish journaling on Month 4&5, finish Nate’s and Mike’s shopping, wrap gifts, start planning Christmas meals… it looks like a lot when its really not.  I just have to get used to seeing my day on paper again.  I know this is key in getting a shower on some days so I don’t just curl up on the couch with the TiVo.

What are you guys up to this week?  Are you all ready for the Holidays or are you running around like mad?  Also, I’d love to hear your family traditions if you’d like to share.

I win!

How many times have I said in a post, “Send Chocolate”

I found a box on my doorstep this afternoon addressed to the man we purchased this home from.  A nice big box, from Godiva.

I carry the box in the house sniffing it and call the number on the box.  After explaining the situation the customer service rep tells me to keep it! They will work out finding the correct address.  Sadly each item came with Nutrition Facts.  I am throwing the sheets away before I dig in, without reading them.

Chocolate at my place!

Suggestions?

I have two things I wanted to ask you all about.  One is about Nate, the other about Christmas.

Nate:  I have a motherhood dilemma on my hands.   I have turned on Jack’s Big Music Show at 9am for months now.  We play on the floor and the show is on playing music and we go on about stacking blocks.  Now he isn’t playing.  He is watching now, playing on and off and glued to the TV.  It’s 20 minutes and it’s on Noggin, do I turn it off or shake it off?  I know the rule is no TV until 2 but seriously? 

Mike/Christmas:  My dear husband has requested the most boring things for himself and left me room for some surprises.  When someone asks for something do you automatically get it for them or get what you want?  I mean this stuff is lame-o and we can afford for him to get this stuff any day of the week so why for Christmas?  I have a feeling he just doesn’t want to do the shopping for his own things so if they are gifts I do the shopping? 

………………………………………………………….

A very sad update on the bedroom makeover.  Since our dog required a blood transfusion, an emergency surgery and 3 days in the doggy hospital this is in a holding pattern for now.  We are live within our means people and this took a considerable chunk of money.  Right now we think we may go in stages.  Bed first, then dressers, nightstands, etc.  Spread it out a bit while we put back the money we used on the dog.   I will be sure to keep you posted as we move forward.   Saving your pets life is always the most important but damnit, I was really excited for our bedroom.