“My stomach hurts.” — Sawyer, 7:36 pm, Valentine’s Day
Valentine's Day fondue
No doubt.
Now, Valentine’s Day is often accompanied with too-sugared-up tummies around here. But this year it’s even worse as we’re all doing the Kelly Challenge, a rock climbing team torture of no sugar, no fried foods, no alcohol (for Clyde and me), and no soda for the entire month. We got Valentine’s Day off and took full advantage: biscuits and gravy for breakfast, fried chicken and French fries for lunch, amazing cookies a la our friend Tracy from church (more on that shortly), and our traditional Valentine’s Day fondue for dinner.
Ouch. I’m actually looking forward to two weeks of Kelly torture after that.
We had a lovely Valentine’s Day. The boys stayed in their PJs the entire day. Sawyer changed only to go to bed because he had so much chocolate fondue on his t-shirt. I remember having many of those days when they were little. These were always Noah’s favorite days. I can’t recall the last one we had.
We began the festivities with our annual Valentine’s Day scavenger hunt, which we started when the boys were very young. They still love it, enduring the cheesy poems I leave as clues around the house. This year’s hiding places for their treats: Sawyer’s baseball bag, my old saxophone, my sock drawer, a box that holds Mythos beer, and the bathroom cabinet.
Perfect delivery from my temporary wife.
An unexpected treat arrived when our friend Tracy called, saying he was on his way with a special delivery. Now, I’ve had a culinary crush on Tracy for years. Don’t get me wrong — he has so much going for him in addition to his gourmet gifts. But when see his face or hear his voice, my stomach yearns. I can’t help it.
As background, in a post last week, I asked for a wife to help me out with the busiest week of my year. Today’s delivery was his answer to that call. His note: “Happy Valentine’s Day to Dawn (and family). Soup, I can do, but if you want clean kids, you should have had girls — Your wife!” He delivered Sunday Night Fireside Soup (plus a vegetarian version for Noah and a recipe) and an array of Valentine’s cookies that are more divine than they have a right to be. Wow. I knew a wife was just what I needed. Sadly, I suspect this is a limited-time offer, and I’ll be expected to go it alone sans wife in the future. But having one, even for just a short time, is a lovely thing, indeed.
Clyde got me a sweet card and a box of chocolate-covered cherries, one of the few low-rent foods I adore. (The others include six-packs of powdered-sugar donuts and those Swiss Rolls from the ’70s. Disgusting. I own it.) Just before going to bed, Sawyer crawled up in my lap and said, “Thank you for Valentine’s Day.” Somebody needs to find a way to bottle that up.
So, sugared up, well taken care of by my wife, and loved by my husband and boys, here’s our week, crazy as usual:
Sunday: Fondue! Our Valentine’s Day tradition in recent years, spurred by the boys getting me a fondue pot for Christmas several years ago. We’ve tried a few recipes and these seem to be the family favorites: garlic cheese fondue and chocolate fondue (we use chocolate chips sometimes and one tsp of vanilla). We broiled a steak (still out of propane), cut up a French baguette, and served roasted rosemary red potatoes for the cheese fondue; cream puffs, strawberries, bananas, and raspberries for the chocolate.
Monday: Our fifth day of no school (Mom-given snow day Thursday; actual snow day Friday; President’s Day today). We might cook some potatoes for the homeless — a good thing to do and a pro-active attempt to quell the brotherly bickering. And since my wife brought us dinner, I don’t have to cook! Sunday Night Fireside Soup (on Monday night) it is!
Tuesday: I’m out of town tonight for a quick trip to Chicago, so we’ll have breakfast together. I made some tasty raspberry cupcakes (made with agave nectar so Kelly Challenge approved) for dessert Saturday night. Think I’ll try them again (maybe with blueberries and without the frosting) with hot tea. Always a favorite. Clyde has a meeting tonight so not much time to feed everyone. Hoping for leftover soup so he doesn’t have to worry about it.
Is there anything better than chocolate fondue?
Wednesday: I don’t get back ’til late so the family will have to carry on without me. My guess? Tater tots with cheese and garlic powder. I choose just not to think about it.
Thursday: Hit the ground running after being out of town with deadlines and mom duties. I’m driving for rock climbing so Clyde will cook up some burgers. Supposed to be sunny and 60 degrees! Hey, almost spring. Bring out the barbie! Wonder how the asparagus is looking at Whole Foods…
Friday: Breakfast again as one of us has to work parents’ night out at the boys’ school with Noah (we’ll see who gets the short straw on that one). Otherwise, Fend For Yourself night for half of us; other half gets pizza with a roomful of parent-free children.
Saturday: Having dinner with friends who grow weary of trying to fit large groups around their dining room table, so we’ll likely have breakfast or lunch together. The beauty of Saturdays — so many options!
