simchafisher

[simchafisher]

Gifts our 10 kids loved: The 2022 MONSTER LIST

Gifts our 10 kids loved: The 2022 MONSTER LIST

For the last eight years, I’ve been sharing a list of gifts my family actually purchased and enjoyed. We have ten kids and we buy a lot of presents, so I have a lot of recommendations.  This year: MONSTER LIST. I’m consolidating all the old lists into one, organized by category, and adding a bunch of new products. I made a feeble attempt to organize the categories by age, but the formatting…

[simchafisher]

What's for supper? Vol. 317: Little Bear food

What’s for supper? Vol. 317: Little Bear food

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Happy Friday! Another week of nippy weather, and I’m really settling into cozy fall cooking. I’m doing some planning for Thanksgiving, by which I mean I bought a second potato masher at the thrift store. I have always been a wiggly line potato masher kind of gal, but now I’m branching out into the grid-on-a-circle style, and I have high…

[simchafisher]

In some ways, the world is getting kinder

In some ways, the world is getting kinder

As I was writing this essay, I got a call from a blind man named Henry. He needed help finding the front door of his apartment, and then help making his way through the somewhat maze-like halls of his building, around several corners, through several sets of doors, down a ramp, and into the lobby where the stairs were. He walked holding his phone, and I guided him based on what I could see on the…

[simchafisher]

Signs of the times (and watermelons) for the 2022 election

Signs of the times (and watermelons) for the 2022 election

It’s almost election day. Time for a little sign round-up, and a look back to see how far we’ve come.  Back in 2019, I was stopped at a red light near the commons, where a group of earnest people were gathering to protest climate change. They carried signs saying things like “I speak for the trees,” and the rally leader started up a syncopated chant about striking because the waters are…

[simchafisher]

What's for supper? Vol. 316: All Fall

What’s for supper? Vol. 316: All Fall

We made it through Halloween and the Spooky Triduum! Plenty of cozy fall foods this week, although no applesauce as of yet. Here’s what we did have:  SATURDAY Vermonter sandwiches By popular request. Your choice of ciabatta rolls or sourdough bread, roast chicken breast, bacon, thick slices of sharp cheddar, slices of tart Granny Smith apples, and honey mustard dressing. Just an excellent…

[simchafisher]

I read the museum cards when I look at art!

I read the museum cards when I look at art!

Last week, we went to a museum without any kids, and so the last bit of museum pressure was off. I was absolutely free to look at whatever I wanted, for as long as I wanted, in whatever order I wanted. We even took a break for coffee and scones, because museums are exhausting. And if I wanted to read the card before looking at the painting, I did.  A crazy amount of intellectual guilt needed…

[simchafisher]

A little theology of the body from Lizzo

A little theology of the body from Lizzo

My kids were astonished to hear that I love Lizzo. But how could you not? The woman radiates joy. Generosity of spirit flows from all her limbs, and her face shines with happiness. Happiness! When’s the last time you saw someone on stage who looks happy? But I was kidding when I said, “How could you not love Lizzo?” The internet is flooded with people who find it very easy not to love her. The…

[simchafisher]

What's for supper? Vol. 315: When in doubt, add butter

What’s for supper? Vol. 315: When in doubt, add butter

Another week! Nobody told me that Halloween was Monday, so now I’m scurrying around like a DIY rat, scouring the local stores for yellow duct tape and a green knit hat and other things that ought to be easy to find but aren’t. And it just now occurred to me I could spray paint a hat the right color, couldn’t I? And so I shall. Anyway, despite the scurrying, we had some pretty spectacular food…

[simchafisher]

Twenty-five years calls for baked Alaska!

Twenty-five years calls for baked Alaska!

On Tuesday, Damien and I celebrated our twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. We did it in the way we know best: With a lot of food. Damien made a spectacular meal of Korean fried chicken, roast broccoli, and rice (more about that tomorrow!), and I was in charge of dessert.  Twenty five years ago, I baked our wedding cake at the last minute, because my mother got sick, or accidentally cut off her…

[simchafisher]

What's for supper? Vol. 314: The sound of stroganoff

What’s for supper? Vol. 314: The sound of stroganoff

Happy Friday! Before we go any further, I have to show you last Friday’s lo mein. I posted the WFS post before I made dinner, so there was no photo, but it turned out so good. I made the basic recipe but added shrimp, zucchini, yellow bell pepper, and matchstick ginger.  Fabulous. Here’s the recipe in case you need it. Very easy and fast. I usually use fettuccine for the noodles, and that makes…

[simchafisher]

Fall is so beautiful. I hate fall.

Fall is so beautiful. I hate fall.

The other day, we drove past the gas station and we all sniggered a little bit at a man taking pictures of a tree. He was just such a classic leaf peeper, a dude in a well-cut suit and a flashy car with out-of-state plates, beaming like a goon at a maple tree that wasn’t even that great. It’s a good week and a half past peak leaf season, and things have turned fairly brown and bare around…

[simchafisher]

What's for supper? Vol. 313: The eptimistic kitchen

What’s for supper? Vol. 313: The eptimistic kitchen

You did it! You made it to Friday! In lieu of a treat, here is a little food post. SATURDAY Grilled ham and cheese, chips I think people may be well and truly burnt out on grilled ham and cheese, even with the good sourdough bread. We had a good run. I’ll try again in May or so. Or next time I cannot think of literally any other kind of food that people eat for dinner.  SUNDAY Aldi pizza  We were…

[simchafisher]

What's for supper? Vol. 312: It's butternut squash season, martha martha

What’s for supper? Vol. 312: It’s butternut squash season, martha martha

Sometimes I can’t believe a whole week has passed. This time, I believe it.  Here’s what we had this week. Some very tasty food, that’s what! including some highly seasonally appropriate dishes. SATURDAY Pizza! and then lobster! Saturday was busy-busy-busy, so we decided to try out the new Domino’s in town and see how their pizza is. You might think that of course all Domino’s will be the same,…

[simchafisher]

What were you for Halloween?

What were you for Halloween?

Finally October, and that means no one can stop me from talking about Halloween costumes! This year, my wish is finally coming true: Benny is going to be Sarah from Sarah & Duck for Halloween, and Corrie is going to be Duck. Rarely have costumes been matched so well to personalities. I had to sweeten the deal by promising to be Yarn Lady, and I don’t really see that that’s especially apt, but the…

[simchafisher]

What's for supper? Vol. 311: In which I go astray with lemons

What’s for supper? Vol. 311: In which I go astray with lemons

Apparently it is Friday! I had no idea. Follow me for more organizational tips.  Like most of the country, we’re feeling a bit pinched financially, so I’m trying to pare things down a bit. I stuck to my usual method (looking up the supermarket flyers and basing the menu around the meat and produce that’s on sale), but I was a little more severe about it than usual, and managed to slice quite a…

[simchafisher]

When you sit behind that special needs family at church, here's what you should know

When you sit behind that special needs family at church, here’s what you should know

For many parents of kids with special needs, it’s hard to be at Mass. Just being there is hard. It is the one place they ought to be welcome and feel at home, but instead, it’s often stressful and exhausting, and they feel judged and misunderstood, burdensome, or just plain forgotten.  Some of that has to do with how adaptive the parish has become. Many parishes have made good accommodations,…

[simchafisher]

What's for supper? Vol. 310: Back on my biryani

What’s for supper? Vol. 310: Back on my biryani

GOOD MORN-ING GIRLS-AND-BOYS! {Good morn-ing, Miss El-lis!} Sweet, sweet Miss Ellis, our music teacher who seemed to have descended from another era and remained untouched by all the very small town 1980’s public schooliness that swirled around her modestly clad ankles. She died relatively young, and so she still remains in my mind as a tall, gentle, slightly stooped, slightly pained-looking…