I am a Turkey...

10 pts. if anyone can name the movie....
Need more lines? I am a turkey...kill me (then burst into song "eat me---its thanksgiving day...")

Laina had her Thanksgiving Day program at school yesterday. Last week she came home and said she had to face the most embarrassing day ever because a girl at school wouldn't be one of the turkeys and so SHE had to be a turkey. The turkeys run across the stage and say "gobble gobble gobble" every time the narrator said the word turkey. It was cute and it made me laugh and I had awesome pictures (I brought the big daddy lens so I could get some awesome shots - sure parents probably thought I was a freak...the kids sure did - one kid standing by Laina said "woah! woah! that's a big lens :) made me feel happy...but now I'm sad since I just wiped my card out and thought I had saved them - so no images of the little turkey girl.
Back to the story...so when Laina informed the family of her role as turkey, Matt and I about freaked out (in a good way)...both of us were campaigning for her to break from the pack of turkeys, grab the mic, and say "I am a turkey....kill me." (Mom, don't freak...its from a movie...and its a favorite line in our house...so no CPS.) Then we promised her extra bonus points if she'd start singing the song. She refused. Flat. out. refused. Ugh...so not exciting. She informed us that the stunt would cost her big time busting at school...Mr. Kotter's office. We shot back that it would all be worth it (plus the unlimited playdates and cash money we were willing to throw in) - so totally worth it...what's one day in suspension for being able to pull of such a classic Thanksgiving moment???? Oh well...we tried.

Speaking of turkeys...is there a hotline/helpline or something for stressed cooks the day before Thanksgiving?

My sister needs it (we're at 6 calls and its only 1:30pm.)

NO more FLOUR.

We had a little roll making demo this morning (trying to channel susie homemaker) and the theme was "QUIT ADDING MORE FLOUR". That's it folks...that is the secret to making great rolls. Leave the dough sticky - have a little faith :) (I'm sure there's a lesson in there somewhere) and quit adding flour...you will end up with melt in your mouth rolls. This applies to any roll recipe you use. I documented (roughly, with flour on my hands and finally handed the camera to Sheri to finish :) for my sister. Now that I'm uploading the images I realize that I forgot to show you how to cut and fold. Oh well...use your imagination.

The dough is sticky - it will not completely pull away from the sides...just trust me. Follow the recipe exactly. Do not experiment here.



This is how gooey it will look after its mixed for 10 minutes.


Let it sit for 10minutes (yes that's all you need.) Cover the bowl with a towel. It should look like this.

NOW...you may add a little flour. I threw a bunch of flour on the table and covered my hands with it. I pulled half the dough out and worked the flour into it.

Watch out for these guys...they like to eat the dough...put dirt on the dough...and paint the table with melted butter.

Roll the dough out...thicker for big rolls...thinner if you have lots of little kids who will only eat half of their precious mouth-watering roll.

Here's the part I skipped. I use a circle biscuit-type cutter (you could use a cup). Cut a circle and fold one-half in and then the other...Lay the roll seam-side down. Here's how the look after sitting covered for 20 minutes.

And after 16minutes of baking, take a stick of butter and run it over the tops of 'em (the girls talked me into doing some cinnamon rolls...yes they were killer.)

Now...stick the Rhodes rolls back in the freezer - these babies take 2.5 hours from start to finish (that's less than the Rhodes ladies :)

Roll Recipe:

In small bowl put ½ cup of very warm water and 1 tsp. sugar. Mix water and sugar together. Sprinkle 2 Tablespoons of yeast (I prefer fast-acting). Get all the yeast wet.

Let Rise.

In mixer, Mix Together:

1 ½ cubes melted butter
1 1/3 cup hot water
½ cup sugar
2 tsp. salt
2 eggs
3 cups flour (this recipe uses 5 3/4 cups of flour – other cups added later)
Mix on low for a few minutes or knead. When the yeast has risen add it to mixture.
Add 2 ½ cups of flour.
Mix on low for 10 mins. (Wipe sides)

Let it raise for at least 10-20 minutes.

Sprinkle flour on counter and put flour on hands - grab 1/2 of the dough and Roll out. Cut with biscuit cutter or cup. Fold one side then another.
**Preheat oven to 350.

Place on large cookie sheet. Cover with cloth and let rise about 20 minutes.

Bake at 350 for 15-20 mins.

Please post your success stories!!

Aunt Meggy - please BLOG ME.

I rarely get asked to do this (normally it's the opposite - I think my friends live in fear of my camera :)...but my little niece Ellie (bo belly, fee fie felly) asked me if I would blog her when she was here last. (Who knew I had such young readers?! I must add that Ellie does not always like her picture to be taken so I was a bit shocked.) I wasted no time grabbed my camera and headed out to the front porch and started snapping. Ellie has an older sister who DOES like to have her picture taken, so she got in on the action as well...and of course little Laina - Ellie's homegirl couldn't be left out. Ellie, please do not fret...Laina would never play that funky music with anyone but YOU! We love & miss you girls - now let your mama enjoy her images and you go shake your groove' thang.

*Since I'm such a totally awesome aunt who got right on the ball and didn't let these images sit for 2 months on her computer causing her sweet little niece to do daily blog checks for the "hypothetical" 2 months - I made sure she got a lot*

And last but not least...these girls doin' their thang....

And poor little Grantina going along with their silliness as always.

Roll on over.

Failure in the kitchen? Feeling blue about the inability to master the blending of flour, eggs, butter, yeast and water? Failed attempts at drawing out the "susie homemaker" bringing you down? Well Bruce- don't be down!

ROLL ON OVER...to my house on Monday morning and I'll walk you through setp by step of the dreaded Thanksgiving ROLL.

Yes. I'm dead serious. After about a hundred failed attempts at making delicious rolls like my MIL (Lynda) makes...I forced myself to figure out what I was doing wrong. (It was that or be traded up for a 20 cow wife--I'm about 19.5) I conquered my enemy and feel pretty confident that I can now do it blindfolded (okay maybe I'd need just one eye out.)

Anyone and everyone is invited...just email me to let me know you'll be here. (Sheri you can take the notes back to Taylor :)

Monday morning, 8:45am. My house.

Bring yourself and a bit of an appetite to feast on homemade rolls...oh! you might want to bring some Christmas catalogs to browse during the short rising periods :)

Courtland.

Twilight Premiere, Woodland Hills, CA

Chicago Tribune Red Carpet photos...Court on #42...see if you can find him.

Court has a pretty cool job - at least everyone in the world but Court thinks so.

No. I will not ask him to get an autograph for your pre-teen daughter.




He tried to make me feel bad...texting me about his 81.5 hour work week during the "New Moon" and the "This is It" premiere.




Sure its hard traveling to Cannes and strolling down the quaint little streets. Its hard handling the "talent" at the 4 Seasons...and the PR for the international premieres of 2 of the biggest shows this year. Stress check. I'm sorry....I'm getting distracted...let's just get to the proof shall we? David always does a great job at playing "find court" in the paparrazi photos. Here is my fave (there were a total of 5). (Why so serious????? This is no JOKE here - its work....really really hard work.) And NO...I don't know who the dude front and center is.

3T.

Some helpful hints for the Toddler in your life:

1. NEVER give options for mealtime.
i.e. MOM: would you like mac 'n cheese?
TODDLER: NOOOOOOO!!!!! AGGGGHHHH!!!!! WAAAAAA!!! (toddler falls on the floor writhing)

2. NEVER cut, touch or handle toddlers food in front of them (this must be done secretly before setting the plate in front of them)
i.e. MOM: here, let me cut your sandwich
TODDLER: NOOOOOOO!!!!! AGGGGHHHH!!!!! WAAAAAA!!! (toddler acts as if he's just been impaled)

3. NEVER inform toddler of "nap time"
i.e. MOM: okay buddy, we're going to have "quiet time" in 5 minutes
TODDLER: NOOOOOOO!!!!! AGGGGHHHH!!!!! WAAAAAA!!! (toddler screams with huge tears streaming down face - confirmation that nap time should've begun 10 minutes earlier)

(image taken at back to school barbecue at Behn's...shaving cream fight - Mac did not think it was fun...not one bit fun.)

Sleep is TOTALLY overrated

My new mantra.

Just throwing this out there....why is that after hmmmm 4.5 months of not sleeping, the ONE night that your baby does sleep, your 3 year old walks the house screaming and wailing at 3am? You would think that story ends with....and wakes everyone, including the baby, up...right? WRONG - baby sleeps through it!! But, mom wakes up and then spends the next 2 hours waiting, wondering WHEN the baby WILL wake up.

She doesn't, until....(I'll let you know...it's 6:30am and she's still sleeping)