Kitchen Fail: Whole Wheat Dumplings

I have a great family who will eat almost anything.  Over the 11 years HandyMan and I have been married there haven't been too many complaints at the dinner table.  Last night, however, will be noted!

I had turkey and turkey stock in the freezer and it was a rainy, slushy day so I decided soup was in order.  Wanting to do something different I decided turkey dumpling soup would be a nice deviation from the normal pasta or rice soups.  The soup base was great.  I should have just left it there.

But the cook in me had the kitchen to myself and wanted to play.  So it was on to the dumplings. I've made dumplings successfully before.  I've substituted half whole wheat flour in tons of recipes that turned out great.  So, I thought I'd try making whole wheat dumplings.  I made them, and as HandyMan tactfully put it: "You can not make those again." 

They were not good.  They were heavy and rubbery.  Not tender and light.  I have more soup base that went to the freezer.  I'll go back to my Alton Brown dumpling recipe when it's time for Turkey Soup Round 2.

So, friends, that is my kitchen fail for this week.  What have you messed up in the kitchen lately?

Life Skills

Some life skills should be learned early and while the are still fun.  Proper equipment is always necessary and encouraging coaches help to bring about the most success.

Mama's Blissful Day

Yesterday was just chaotic around here.  By the time my head hit the pillow I was absolutely beat, and feeling behind going into today.

Then today crept in quietly.  Children woke up calm and relatively happy.  GGirl happily took on projects I sent her way.  MMan took a good morning nap and woke up ready to go explore the living room again.  The day was good.

Then came afternoon nap time.  MMan was conked out and I put GGirl in her new nap place and went to do some work. Usually at this point the struggle begins as she fights sleep, no matter how tired she is.  She squirms, makes excuses to get up, yada, yada, yada. 

Not today. This, my friends is a red- letter, grace filled, stars aligned, blessed day.  And this is the picture proof.  If I could add sound effects you would hear the snoring of a trucker-in-training!

And then!  Just when it couldn't get any better, both kids went right to bed tonight and I was caught up on work and got to catch a couple shows that I've not had time to watch in weeks.  A blissful day for Mama!

Arts & Crafts

Today GGirl found a small photo album and she wanted to make something to put in it.  So I pulled out the construction paper and dusted off a pile of cutting implements from my scrap-booking days.  Add glue and some imagination and a four-year-old can be kept busy for a very ling time.  I think she was occupied for almost 2 hours after I spent 15 minutes getting her going.

I started her off with shapes cut out to glue on a paper to make a flower, grass and sun, and beach and water.  Her imagination took her from there.  Moons, stars and mountains were among her creations.  She was quite proud of her work.  Good stuff!