My sister-in-law and I some fun cooking together while she was here — these are mushroom-leek ravioli we made for a meatless Friday dinner. We used a pasta dough recipe from Smitten Kitchen and decided that we could make up the filling, despite our inexperience in the ravioli-making department. As far as I can remember, we caramelized the leeks and mushrooms with some fresh herbs, deglazed with some white wine before adding a little cream, ricotta, and parmesan, and then we broke it down using the immersion blender to make it easier to fill the pasta. They were delicious.
I don't have much to add to my mother's excellent advice regarding dinnertime — our family is still very young and besides, what tips and tricks I have, I get from her!
I will say that with the Lt gone (and when we don't have company around, which I admit hasn't been often lately) it is very tempting to let dinner slide. One adult plus a squirmy fourteen-month-old does not always make for a very rewarding family dinner! I've been trying to maintain my standards, though, and do my best to have a real meal ready for myself when I feed Pippo so that we can eat as relaxing a meal together as possible.
(At first I thought that I didn't have to start making dinner during his naptime, because I didn't have the husband-coming-home dinner deadline anymore. On the contrary, hungry babies are less understanding than hungry husbands. I quickly learned that naptime prep is still a good idea!)
While getting burgers for lunch, the two babies sat next to each other in matching red and white high chairs and entertained the adults by happily but methodically eating as many french fries as we would allow within their collective arm's reach.
Pippo kept stealing fries from MaryRose's place whenever she got distracted by something going on at the next table, and she would help herself to his whenever they looked more appetizing than the ones she already had. Neither of them seemed to mind the intrusions.
It doesn't matter how many beautiful sights there are to see: the toddlers have eyes only for the pile of gravel.
Mistu says
Those two littles are so cute together. What a special age. I am glad to hear that you have had a lot of company. Keeping you and yours in our prayers.
Lindsey says
I love pasta, but I've never made it before! It's always seemed so mysterious to me…I'll have to try it one of these days! The kids are so cute. We had another little girl come for a visit recently that was almost the same age as my 22 month old daughter, and it was funny to watch them playing together as “equals!”
Lori @ IMK,IML says
I just finished a book about French-style parenting in which mealtime figures heavily. I blogged about here: http://inmykitcheninmylife.blogspot.com/2012/03/u…
My children are grown and nearly grown, but I found this author's experience so interesting and thought-provoking.
Debbie says
Love the pictures, Rosie! And MaryRose is every bit as beautiful as I'd expect a child of MaryBeth and Brandon's to be….No doubt you already have a future date picked out for the wedding some two decades down the road. Hugs to MaryBeth for me.
Love,
Debbie
Kate says
Those ravioli sound amazing! Making me very hungry 🙂
Laura Jeanne says
Rosie, it is wrong of me but I admit I feel jealous when I hear you talk of all your friends. And you have a sister in law too! My husband's family is highly dysfunctional (to the point of being actual criminals) and I haven't talked to my sister in law in many years. I am not close to my own sisters, and I have had troubles finding “nice” women to be friends with…I know this has little to do with your post, but I wanted to let you know that you are so blessed to have women in your life with whom you can enjoy fellowship. 🙂
_Rosie says
Laura, I truly am blessed with wonderful women in my life, both friends and family (I actually have five sisters-in-law!).
It can certainly be hard to find like-minded folks, and there are times when I've had to look for new friends like it was my job! I have met some of my closest friends at daily Mass – I've learned not to be shy about introducing myself afterwards to anyone who looks like a kindred spirit. My college friends and I called this “pouncing.” (I have literally walked up to women and said aggressively friendly things like, “Hi, I'm Rosie! I keep seeing you here with your cute little girl — we should be friends!”) Also, pray for good friends!
Lisa G. says
I have to say that my dear friend, Debra used a milder approach with me, but along this line. She always was curious about me. Now, she says she's inspired by me, but I am certainly inspired by her! I'm very grateful for the friendship. It could only originate from God.
Laura Jeanne says
Thanks Rosie! I have always been shy – painfully so when I was young, but I'm getting better. Perhaps I should get up the courage to try “pouncing!” I'm laughing typing that, it sounds so silly. 🙂
Lisa G. says
Aren't they cute!! And french fries are an important food during St. Patrick's week!
PNG says
Pippo is just such a cutie! I'm glad he had a fun time and a new little playmate.:) Homemade pasta….it's handy too have an immersion blender. I've thought about getting one. This sounds a bit like the spring rolls I made last week. I had to get the pork filling more manageable for wrapping in the rice paper so I ran it through my food processor to break down the larger pieces of pork. That worked so great!
Colette says
Love this blog, I just found it recently and have been industriously mining the archives since. Thanks for all the inspiration:)
Anne Marie says
Aaah! Is that In & Out burgers? I miss CA. Stuck in NE.
_Rosie says
Anne Marie, it's not… but Pippo and I took our guests there, too! (not the same day…)
Charlotte says
I would love to have you and your sweet mama come over and help me with my dining dilemma. With three big kids at that puberty point your mom mentioned and a 6 month old in a high chair, we have officially outgrown our dining nook and need to figure out how to reclaim our school room as our dining room while still allowing for school work to be done in there during the day. Nothing too formal, please. Help!
Erika says
Your ravioli sound delicious and I bet they were! I just finished reading a really good book called The Lost Ravioli Recipes of Hoboken by Laura Schenone that you might find interesting, or at least, timely!
Shannon says
Those babies are sure cute together! My little one has two big sisters but is still shy of other babies, it is funny at Christmas with my nephew that is only 3 months older, she was very territorial
Suzette says
Beautiful post! We have a 14 month old too! And dinner as well as grocery shopping are crazy tasks!
I just had a huge epiphany -actually it is such an obvious conclusion I'm nearly embarressed it took me so long to come to it. You even mentioned my epiphany (from two days ago), which is naptime = get ready for supper. Wow! Everything makes so much more sense if I can prep supper and THEN do a couple of chores/laundry work. Thanks for affirming my epiphany 🙂
KathiBailey says
It's so encouraging to see your spirits so high while hubby is away. I pray I am able to do that for my family during the next deployment.
The babies always go for the stuff we think is boring … you know, rocks – not waves! Goes with that whole “un-toy” craze sweeping the momma blogosphere away
I was going to pass along some meal time tips, but alas, little 3.5 week old Zach did not cooperate last night. Instead y'all get to see pics of my boys and nephews who visited from Cincy last weekend.
Jessica says
Ohh, yum!! That ravioli looks and sounds amazing!
_Leila says
I love seeing those two babies together!
Anne says
Oh, what great pictures of those two! They do look this they are getting on so well. How sweet!
MamabearJD says
I love it, so cute! The mealtime series has been great. This might be the longest I've ever gone before checking out the week's {PHFR}. We were birthday-ing for my youngest.
Philip-mustache dad says
Oh my goodness, Rosie! Those pictures are so so cute. I am so sorry I missed it all. Give Pippo a kiss from me, and then steal one of his french fries!