Producing a Pretzel Precedent

Today was Chinese pretzel day #2 for Daniel and Nathan. Their first pretzel day was scheduled so that Jacob and Marissa (one of Nathan’s neighbors) could participate. But Tawni had to work that day, which necessitated a second pretzel day. Today’s pretzel making allowed Tawni, Charlotte, and Cami (two of Tawni’s sisters) to experience their first ever pretzel day. The boys have gotten their production line pretty fine-tuned and with five sets of hands working together, I suspect the whole process went much faster than it does around here. Nathan told me that the first timers were certain the end product needed some powdered sugar or even some Nutella, but once convinced to try them, they determined that the pretzels don’t need any adornments. Because they really don’t. 😉

I suspect that by feeding pretzels to their friends and new in-laws and associated extended family, Daniel and Nathan are setting a precedent. Before they know it, everyone will want to enjoy some pretzels every year. But as the boys seem to enjoy the whole process, maybe that’s a good thing. There is something to be said for handing down family traditions and knowledge to future generations. And honestly, I’m glad they are enjoying cooking their heritage. And eating it!

Speaking of eating, after Daniel and Nathan headed up the pretzel making committee, Tawni took over and became the entire dinner cooking committee. Tawni likes to cook. And she isn’t a follow-a-recipe kind of cook. She is a feel-the-vibe kind of a cook which basically means she is creative and cooks and seasons according to taste. My little Logan crew and their cronies have started giving Tawni a challenge to use a specific ingredient or two and then giving her free reign to cook whatever she wants for dinner. Nathan calls it the “choose your own adventure” kind of dinner.

Earlier this week the challenge was to make chili using a specific citrus spice blend Nathan had. The result was a white chicken chili well-seasoned and spiked with lime juice. Tonight, the instruction was to use some Cory cow. Sirloin ramen was the result. It looked delicious. And it makes me wonder if I could step up my cooking game with a bit of experimentation. I sometimes get bored with our menu and boredom leads to dissatisfaction after dinner which leads to a desire to nibble on other things not because I’m still hungry, but because the meal I ate was not satisfying for my tongue. Malia has become a super picky eater of late, and that is definitely not helping matters. I’ve tried to choose dinners that I know she will eat, but that way leads to boredom as previously mentioned. So maybe I need to just break out of the routine and try something different. Maybe I need to try a “choose your own adventure” kind of meal once in awhile…

Priorities

With finals over, Daniel and Nathan have turned their focus to far more important things-Chinese pretzels. They scheduled a day that was soon enough after finals that Jacob and Marissa, one of Nathan’s friends, would still be in town as both of them wanted to participate in the making of the pretzels. Because those who help make them have part ownership and eating rights pertaining to the finished product. And anyone who is addicted to these crunchy little wonders knows that one or two is just never enough! Nathan has picked up a few more tips since last year’s inaugural pretzel day, and this time he knew exactly how to adjust the batter to get optimal results. They turned out perfect!

As a side note, Nathan Facetimed me to see if their early pretzels looked right and it just so happened that I was at my mom’s house today helping her make pretzels, so he got the Chinese Grandma’s stamp of approval! And I guess if you look at it the right way, this whole process is about learning and passing on cultural and family traditions, so if we call it family history maybe that is a good way to rationalize the importance of the event. Or maybe I’m just trying to justify eating my own body weight in Chinese pretzels. 😂

Cooking Their Heritage

Although Daniel and Nathan have both gone home to their apartment in Logan, they are still on Christmas break. Nathan has culinary endeavors on his want to do list that he doesn’t have time for during school, so he and Daniel set aside today to make Chinese pretzels. Now for those of you who don’t know, this is a long, involved process. These little pieces of Chinese heaven are time consuming to create. They are also a little tricky to make if you don’t know all the best tips and tricks, so the boys have spent the past few weeks asking questions aplenty. Nathan also had a few last-minute queries, so he Facetimed me this morning as they were getting things set up. My mom provided them with a pretzel iron and my cousin Shirlene loaned them an electric skillet so armed with the appropriate tools and knowledge, they were ready to jump right in this morning. 

All their questions and prep work worked to their advantage, as they did a great job and ended up with what they thought was loads of pretzels. And technically, it really was a lot since a single batch makes about 12 dozen pretzels. But these crispy little treats are so addictive that honestly, I don’t think they will last long. Especially since they are feeding them to their friends and neighbors. I suspect they will just end up creating more Chinese pretzel junkies. 😂

I am so glad that my kids are embracing their heritage and are working to learn how to create the foods that we all love. I have realized in the past few months that my mom and I have a lot of information in our heads that will be lost if we don’t pass it on to the next generation. To that end, I’ve really been trying to add all those little tidbits to my recipes so that when my kids cook, they have the benefit of my years of experience. And I’ve been picking my mom’s brain and adding her tidbits to the knowledge base as well. Because honestly, she has a ton of information in her head that she doesn’t think about sharing unless specifically asked.

I’m just pleased as punch that my kids value their heritage and are working to preserve it. At only ¼ Chinese their blood is getting a little thin, but that doesn’t matter. Although it is funny to see people’s initial reactions when Nathan tells them he is part Chinese. 😜 

Seasonal Eats-Part III

Today held two separate holiday foods. I spent a good portion of the day making Chinese pretzels with my mom and my sister Rachael. Pretzels only happen once, maybe twice, a year. They are a bit labor intensive, but they are a treat looked forward to all year by many of my parents’ friends and neighbors. And the family, of course.

I actually haven’t made pretzels for years because they are too much work for a treat that Matthew can’t eat. But my mom has become a food allergy Rockstar and last year she figured out how to make egg free pretzels that are Matthew friendly. I’m so grateful! And Matthew loves them! He gets his own separate bucket of pretzels, something no one else gets. The rest of us have to share. 😉 Matthew needs to label his so that no one else dips in and he is deadly serious about the whole thing.

Our second festive food today was garlic bread made into a fancy Christmas star. I’m totally proud of myself. It looks amazing and is tasty too! It shouldn’t necessarily taste better because it looks amazing, but I kind of think it does!

So merry eating to all, and to all a good meal!

The Spirit of Christmas

As a parent, it seems like I’m perpetually exhausted on Christmas. While the kiddos wake up smiling and full of excitement and energy, I feel like the traditional cartoon character who needs toothpicks to prop up his eyelids. In spite of that, it is always such fun to see all the reactions to the presents we have all carefully selected and the enthusiasm that goes into the giving. I love that part. Here are a few of this year’s highlights.

Santa brought Malia a beanbag chair. It turned out to be perfect because Kevin and I bought her a new bed-a big girl loft bed. It has built in bookshelves and a perfect space underneath for a cozy reading nook. She was super duper excited about it and spent the afternoon helping Kevin build the bed.

She also got Barbies-one from Daniel and one from Kevin’s mom. She was thrilled to have an assortment of clothes and accessories as well. I dug through one of my boxes in the basement and pulled out the Barbie bag that my mom made for me when I was young. After a run through the washer, it was good as new. It is fun to have some things to pass down to Malia. None of my boy children had any sort of caring for many of my childhood treasures. 😉

Matthew got an iPod Nano from Santa and we felt very lucky since everything below the iPod Touch has been discontinued. He loves music and is thrilled to be able to listen to whatever he wants whenever (almost) he wants.

He also got a ukulele. Our elementary school has a full-time music specialist (whom we totally love) and he teaches the fifth graders to play ukulele. Matthew has been wanting one of his own so when my parents went to Hawaii last month, we asked them to pick one up for him. Before they could even shop for one, my Mom’s cousin, Audrey, offered them one that she had been given. It had been meant for her grandkids, but none of them had any interest. Matthew, on the other hand, was ecstatic. And the fact that is was a hand-me-down from family made it even better.

Nathan got a Fitbit Blaze. Over the summer he discovered that he feels better when he is more active and I let him have one of my older Fitbits. Like me, seeing the number of steps go up and reaching a daily goal is very motivating for him and he has been wanting a device that would show more than just a light so he would know exactly where he was. He also got a mini tripod and a set of camera lenses that work with his phone. He has developed a passion for photography so he was super excited about those as well.

Nathan has always been a fan of board games and card games, so it was not a surprise that several of his siblings selected card games. What was unexpected was the cat theme that emerged. Daniel bought him a game called Exploding Kittens and Malia chose one called Cat Stax. It seemed totally random to him, and it probably was, but both are actually very fun.

Daniel got a set of Doctor Who mini figures. They aren’t actual Lego, but they are similar and combined with the Lego set he got a year or so ago, he now has mini figures of all the doctors except for the newest lady doctor.  He also got a mini drone which he was excited about. They are just super fun!

And of course, there was Lego all around. (Nathan got some as well, but he was too engrossed with getting his Fitbit set up and we didn’t get a picture.)

There was a nap midmorning for me, much Lego and bed building and a tasty traditional ham for dinner. To top it all off, we ate Chinese pretzels. These are a traditional Christmas delight for my family, but I haven’t made any for years because Matthew can’t eat them. We’ve snitched a few at my mom’s house, but we don’t make a big deal of it so that Matthew doesn’t feel deprived. But my wonderful mother totally rocked the pretzels this year and figured out how to make them without eggs. She filled an entire tin just for Matthew before she made the eggy version for everyone else. Watching his eyes light up as he crunched into his first ever pretzel made me cry. Yes, I’m a huge bawl baby. It’s a proven fact. It’s also a proven fact that my family totally rocks the allergen accommodations. They go out of their way for Matthew time and time again and I’m enormously grateful for their efforts. It helps him feel included and loved. And really, isn’t that the definition of Christmas spirit? Making everyone feel included, loved, and special is really what it’s all about. It's an integral part of being Christlike.