Let’s talk about lemon curd. I think the name is unfortunate, because curd doesn’t sound like something you’d want to eat. THIS, however, is the perfect condiment. A bright yellow, silky-smooth combination of tart + sweet. You can of course partake of this delicious topping on scones, biscuits, or toast, but I bet it would also be amazing mixed into yogurt, spread between the layers of a cake, folded into whipped cream (instant lemon mousse), as a filling for tarts or crepes, or atop blueberry pancakes or waffles.

I bought a jar once at a specialty grocery store (although they probably have it at regular stores as well), but hadn’t considered making my own until this past weekend. I was making scones to take to a brunch and wanted to dress them up a little. After a quick internet search I discovered I had all the ingredients for this recipe from Gourmet. The bad news is, Gourmet magazine is still canceled. :( The good news is, the recipe turned out beautifully.

Lemon Curd

1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons finely grated lemon zest
1/2 cup sugar
3 large eggs
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into bits

Whisk together juice, zest, sugar, and eggs in a 2-quart heavy saucepan. Stir in butter and cook slowly over low heat, whisking frequently, until curd is thick enough to hold marks of whisk and first bubble appears on surface, about 10-15 minutes (or maybe more). It may seem like it’ll never thicken up, but just keeping whisking and waiting. You don’t want to cook it too quickly or the eggs will scramble.

Transfer lemon curd to a jar (or a bowl covered with plastic wrap), and chill for at least 1 hour. Mine thickened up a LOT more once I put it in the fridge. You can keep it for about a week in the refrigerator.

I found this recipe in the New York Times and modified it based on what I had on hand. I loved the way it turned out and ate it for 3 days straight. I’m glad I got my fill, because I’m pretty sure Nathan wouldn’t put up with me making this for his dinner.

3 beets, roasted ((an easy way to roast beets))
1 cup farro, soaked for one hour in water to cover and drained
Salt, preferably kosher salt, to taste
2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
1 small garlic clove, minced or pureed
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
2-4 cups fresh spinach, washed
1/2 cup broken walnut pieces
2 ounces goat cheese, crumbled
1/4 cup chopped fresh herbs, such as parsley, tarragon, marjoram, chives, mint

1. Bring 2 quarts water to a boil in a medium saucepan and add the farro. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer 45 minutes, stirring from time to time, or until the farro is tender. Remove from the heat and allow the grains to swell in the cooking water for 10 minutes, then drain.

2. While the farro is cooking, make the vinaigrette. Whisk together the vinegars, salt, garlic and mustard in a large bowl. Whisk in the oil. Throw the spinach in with the vinaigrette. After draining the farro, immediately transfer it to the bowl and cover for a few minutes so the heat of the farro wilts the spinach.

3. . Peel and dice the beets and add to the farro along with the goat cheese, herbs and walnuts. Toss together, and serve warm, room temperature, or cold.

Yield: Serves eight

I doubt anyone wants to read a daily series of potty training posts, so I’ll just give a bit of an epilogue to our blow-by-blow from the other day. Things definitely got better (although that first day was honestly more comical than frustrating, even at the time). Eli has caught on really quickly and is already down to just 1 or 2 accidents a day. We are not even going to attempt evenings without diapers at this point. I need my sleep.

Sophia, on the other hand, has made it clear that she isn’t ready or interested in being potty trained without a fight. After daily repeat performances, we discovered that it is she who was the mystery-floor-pooper from day 1. I’m sure if I worked really diligently with her we could make some progress, but the process has been so easy with Eli that I’ve decided to hold off on Sophia.

While I’ve certainly been frustrated a few times, overall it’s actually been kind of a fun experience and I’m proud of my babies. (Although whenever I call them that Eli reminds me, “I’m not a baby, Mama, I’m just a BOY.”) It’s fun to see them growing up and tackling new challenges.

(And if the idea of reading a whole post about potty training seems daunting, may I recommend you just catch the highlights? 0925, 1030, and 1135 will give you a good idea of how our morning went.)

0700 — I crank up the heat (for my soon-to-be-pantsless children) and gather all necessary potty-training supplies*. I re-read the email of tips + advice from my sister.

0730 — I get the kids up and change their diapers. Sophia’s already done what I was hoping she’d do on the potty. Why do my children poop so early in the morning?

0745 — Kids are sitting on their potties in the kitchen and drinking large cups of grape juice. I have the baby gate up so no one can escape.

0800 — Both kids are still happily sitting on their potties and eating bagels while they watch a movie on my computer. I’m reading a book and thinking this isn’t so bad.

0851 — Sophia’s first success. She gets a jelly bean and is now allowed to roam the kitchen in her underwear.

0916 — Sophia’s first accident. She seems confused.

0925 — Sophia’s second accident. She has squatted over and peed directly on the puzzle she was doing.

0927 — Sophia’s third accident. She is unfazed.

0930 — Eli’s first victory. A green jelly bean and approval for potty-chair probation.

0940 — Eli’s first accident. Again, confusion. I guess it feels weird to pee in your underwear after three years of wearing diapers.

1000 — Eli’s second accident. This time, he cries. I decide (/need?) to call that progress.

1030 — Sophia’s fourth accident. As I rush her over to her potty and clean her off, Eli runs through her puddle, slips + falls on his back in the pee. Both children are now wailing and very wet. I eat half of the chocolate that was supposed to last me this whole week.

1100 — Both kids pee in their potties again. Jelly beans.

1113 — I am reading a book as they play in the kitchen and I look up to find a piece of poop on the floor. Both children happily admit to doing it.

1120 — Eli spends 15 minutes pooping on his potty. I light a candle.

1135 — I throw up while trying to clean out Eli’s potty and question my decision to do this while pregnant.

1145 — Kids eat lunch and we decide to end today’s training with the kids’ most recent successes. One more jelly bean for everyone and then it’s rest time.

1200 — …rest time for the kids, that is. I clean the potties, mop the kitchen, wash the kids’ clothes and towels from this morning, and get everything ready for tomorrow. Can’t wait!

I don’t often post book reviews here on my blog … but then, I don’t often post much of anything here on my blog. (Buh-dum-bum-ching!) I’ve been reading several books a week lately and figured I’d highlight some of my favorites here.

I read The Man Who Was Thursday: A Nightmare earlier this year and while I enjoyed it, at the end I was left scratching my head. The plot centers on a Scotland Yard detective who acts as a double agent in a secret anarchist society bent on destroying the world. It sounds straight-forward enough, but the story progresses from somewhat typical mystery (although much better written) to straight-up bizarre. Upon my last reading, I surmised that it had gone over my head and I’d need to re-read it.

Enter: The Southern Pines Literary Society. I convinced (/commanded) my book club to read it for our November meeting in hopes that a second read-through and some scintillating discussion would enlighten me to the true meaning of this book. I’m happy to say that after both of the above, I am changing my review to five stars (from four) and GLOWING PRAISE (from bewildered admiration).

You don’t need me to tell you Chesterton was a genius — but I’m going to anyway. I’ve dog-eared practically every other page of my copy, because peppered throughout the story (which is intriguing and often hilarious) are poignant observations on life and human character.

One of my favorite quotes (from when a certain character discovers he is not as alone as he supposed himself to be): “But two is not twice one; two is two thousand times one.”

And perhaps even better: “‘Listen to me,’ cried Syme with extraordinary emphasis, ‘Shall I tell you the secret of the whole world? It is that we have only known the back of the world. We see everything from behind, and it looks brutal. That is not a tree, but the back of a tree. That is not a cloud, but the back of a cloud. Cannot you see that everything is stooping and hiding a face? If we could only get round in front–’”

The Man Who Was Thursday changed the way I see the world — and is there anything more we can ask from a book? I’ll be re-reading it often.

This blog is a lot like the fish we bought for Eli a few months ago. No matter how much I neglect it, it’s still alive when I come back to check on it. Looks like we’re stuck with each other — my blog, Fish, and me. (Eli isn’t very creative with naming things. Just ask his favorite stuffed animal, “Friend.”)

Things have been — surprise! — busy around here. It probably has something to do with Eli being in the throes of two-year-oldism, Sophia trying to do everything Eli does (despite his “loving” violence toward her), my pregnancy (18 weeks and counting), and my little nannying charge, Rory (11 hours a day, 5 days a week).

My life has gotten significantly easier (and more fun) since the arrival of Molly, my sister and current favorite person in the whole world. She’s staying with me for a few weeks and is a tremendous help. The idea that a dish left on the counter might be washed by someone else … it’s a wonderful feeling.

I’m going to try to update more regularly, although I’ve said that before (and the holidays aren’t a great time to start). Stay tuned for pictures of our Christmas decorating (and our sad little tree)…