July 11, 2007 | Mama Smith

more summer snippets

waiting

The past few days we’ve sat inside with the shades drawn, drenched in sweat, with the poor little window a/c unit coughing out the coolest air it could muster, which was a little less than the draft you get from opening the fridge door. We have all been cranky and irritable as a result. This afternoon, Brighton and I sat outside splitting an ice cream sandwich, watching the thunderclouds gather, and waiting for the much-longed-for rain to fall. When it finally came, I thought for a moment about heading indoors, but instead we opted for running around beneath the cool drops. With Brighton simply diapered and rainbooted up, it was by far the best part of our day.

tofu

With mention of the co-op tofu, many of you have asked about the latest tofu endeavors in our kitchen. We have so far stuck to the once-a-week plan to try a new dish with the spongy white block. At $1.50/lb, as a protein source, it’s hard to beat. Tonight was tofu enchiladas and they were actually pretty dang good. Tofu has come a long way in the Smith house. From the easy, finger food for Brighton, to now gracing our table in a variety of fashions. Some crucial tips we’ve learned include: (1) always pat dry or slice and let dry between two paper towels, (2) always pan fry for at least 5 minutes or longer if you’re going to use it in a dish where it requires a firmer consistency…any less and it’ll still be a spongy, crumbly mess, (3) always marinate it for 30 minutes or longer, (4) get a good cookbook…DON’T TRUST INTERNET RECIPES! Usually they are bland, boring and will turn you off to tofu indefinitely. Our favorites so far are Tofu Cookery and The Enchanted Broccoli Forest
Leave a comment if you have any other tofu tips pass on.

grilling

Marcy put it well the other day. Having neighbor/friends is like a small taste of being back in college. Being able to casually hang out and be apart of each others lives without having the nuisance of arranging schedules, playing phone tag and hiring babysitters.

The other night we enjoyed a feast from the grill, while Brighton was able to have Olivia to himself for the whole evening. I think this must be his first crush. He wakes up in the morning and wants to go see “Oliya”. Throughout the day as we’re coloring he wants me to draw pictures of “Oliya”. Every time we go outside he anxiously runs to the hill and cries out for “Oliya” hoping she comes to the door. He’s going to miss his first little love.

The night ended with Olivia strumming the makeshift guitar and Brighton dancing around Village Man style, topless with a “cigar” in his mouth and his firefighter hat gracing his head. They had definitely reached the nacho zone.

multi-tasking

My new favorite secret for those moments when both Levi and Brighton are awake and fussing for my attention involves…

Picking out a stack of B’s favorite books that I know by heart. Plopping Levi in front of us on the floor, B in my lap, and reciting those annoyingly familiar lines with all the enthusiasm I can work up over B’s head at Levi. Levi thinks I’m all his, cooing at him with great delight. While B thinks I’m all his, reading his favorite books with devoted gusto. Everyone’s a happy camper.

Brighton’s multi-tasking includes fueling his body and finding opportunities for play at the same time. Today he created a tunnel out of his watermelon blocks for his hot dog “train” to chug through. This is better than the imitation milk fountain he’d tried to recreate yesterday, spewing milk across the dining room floor.