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Archive for August, 2010

Melon Spritzers

Posted in Recipes, tagged , , , , , , , on August 4, 2010| 2 Comments »

Fresh vine-ripened melons from the farmer’s market sit on my kitchen counter and stare at me. I’ve enjoyed their sweet deliciousness all summer long and can’t seem to get enough of them. My dilemma today involved finding a different way to showcase them, so here’s a recipe that is sure to quench your thirst on a hot day or be a big hit at your next summer brunch. If you prepare the fruit base ahead of time, it’s easy to have a melon spritzer any time of the day! This is the season when honeydews, cantaloupes, and watermelons shine, but make sure you don’t miss out on the sweet flavors of the Hannah, Ambrosia, and Galia melons! Don’t like melons? No problem – this recipe can be made with any kind of fresh fruit with only slight adjustments in the quantity of fruit.

Melon Spritzers
Adapted from a Martha Stewart recipe

Ingredients:
1/2 cup sugar or Splenda*
6-8 cups of cubed fresh melon
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
Pinch of coarse salt
Sparkling water or club soda

*Depending on the sweetness of your fruit, you may need to increase or decrease the amount of sugar.

Directions:
1. Cut melon into cubes. Measure out about 6 cups and put in blender. Lay remaining cubes flat in a single layer in a container and freeze.

2. Create a syrup by putting sugar/Splenda and 1 cup water in a medium saucepan and bring mixture to a simmer over medium heat. Stir to completely dissolve the sugar/Splenda. Remove pan from heat and let it cool slightly.

2. Puree fruit, syrup, lemon juice, and salt in a blender. Depending on the volume of fruit, you may need to do this step in two batches.

3. Pour blended mixture through a fine sieve into a bowl. Stir contents in sieve if fruit puree is thick. Refrigerate collected pureed juice until cold (30 minutes minimum or up to 2 days maximum).

4. To serve, fill glass with ice, pour 1/2 cup of pureed juice into glass and top off with sparkling water. Stir to combine. Stick a decorative pick into a frozen melon cube and place it in the glass. Serve immediately.

Serves 8.

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Apartment Set Up List

Posted in Kids, Organization, Parenting, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on August 3, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Moving children hither and yon seems to be this parent’s job. In and out of dormitories, in and out of apartments, and sometimes in and out of the country – there seems to be no end in sight. I’m happy to help my kids and I’m lucky I’m the organized-type, but I’d love it if they stayed in the same place two years in a row!

Years ago I came up with my Ultimate College Packing List to help organize my first child when he went off to college and then a few years later I created another list when he moved into an apartment. For the lack of a better title, this list became the Apartment Set Up List. Originally used to set up a college student’s first apartment, this list is also good for anyone setting up their first household, whatever abode it may be. If you lived in an apartment with roommates one year, but are now moving into a place of your own, check this list to see which items you may have shared before, but need to purchase now.

Like my Ultimate College Packing List, personalize the Apartment Set Up List and use it as a springboard for your own ideas. Cross off items you don’t need and add items as you are reminded of them. Because I made this list for my children and they like to cook, the list of food ingredients and cookware may be more extensive than normal. Also, this list calls for the “number” and “description” of items. These details come in handy if you and your roommates and are trying to sort things out at the end when you are no longer living together. Keep a copy of this completed form for that purpose.

This is a a very thorough list, but it’s not comprehensive because each person’s needs are different. It’s meant to give you a little head start in the process. If you think of items that you think should be on this list, let me know. If I think it’s appropriate, I’ll add it to the list!

Happy Moving!

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