Mother-In-Law

In case you didn't know, my mother-in-law has opened up two diners in stix Indiana. They are both called Fat Tommy's, named after her boyfriend who is not thin and whose name is Tommy. It's all pretty cute and their menu is longer than a any Cliff's Notes I've read.



Artwork for Fat Tommy's done by Mperfect Design (of course)

UTNE

By the way, did ya'll see the Bejeezus love shown by UTNE magazine?! They seem to love the MPerfectly designed little zine. There are a lot of kids working really hard to make this zine take off. So, it helps to get a little love from a well-respected publication. It means we are heading in the right direction. Bravo!

Mperfect + Nike = Key to my Heart

Look at the new edition to our customized shoe collection! A completely different style than our 80's gym shoes, these low-top leather sleeksters are a smooth shoe to dress up or down. These are J's fourth MPerfect designed Nike's and they look pretty amazing on his pads. Personally, I'm more of a high-top queen but my custom, purple, MPerfect Air Force One's are probably landing on my feet come June.

See below for a quick shot of the whole MPerfect-Nike collaboration creations!

Black Bean Burgers

Although this isn't the best photo of these tasty burgers, I guarantee you it was the best batch of these babies I have ever made. I started experimenting with black bean burger recipes last summer and I don't think I've made any batch the same as the last. They hold up well on a bun, but I prefer to smear then with sweet relish and hot mustard and fork 'em in. Unfortunately, because I change it up so much I don't have a fool free recipe. So, here are some ingredients and some estimates. Enjoy!

Recipe:
1/2 red pepper
1/2 onion
clove garlic
2 tbsp cumin
1 1/2 tbsp red pepper flakes
can black beans (drained)
1/2 cup + salsa or catsup
1 1/2 - 2 cups whole wheat bread crumbs
hot sauce to taste

Saute pepper, onion and garlic with spices. Add catsup/salsa. Pour mixture into food processor with can of black beans. Puree until ingredients look like refried beans. Scrape out of processor into mixing bowl. Add bread crumbs and hot sauce (and corn if you want). Mix by hand. Make little patties and you're ready to go. Griddle them, fry them or pannini machine cook them. They don't' hold up on a grill. Enjoy!

Stink No More

So, I met the Aromoco deodorant bar on December 24th 2007. Knowing that I love LUSH products, Mom went on a aromatic spree for me while in the Chi. I gave up antiperspirant and deodorant over a year ago, I like my scent. With all the vain, pointless body products jammed in my bathroom I thought I would try to eliminate the ones made of unnatural ingredients and that are linked to cancer. Deodorant was first to go. Of course I tried a number of 'natural' products before I realized that all I was doing was throwing money away. But my oh my, this wonderful christmas present of a bar does work!

Wet it under hot water to let it melt a little, rub on the pits and smell great 'til dinner (a reapplication might be necessary if you have late night plans).

Sibling Telepathy

This is Helga!

Growing up with my brother Ryan, there are a few things we held sacred: Our genuine understanding of eachother, our supreme love and attraction to the water, "I don't see no penguins", and American Gladiators!

To slow down the weekend, J and I clicked on the television Sunday night only to see a little nostalgia before my eyes - A New and Improved season of American Gladiators. Ofcourse, I immeditely dialed my kin's home number, which is only called in compulsive desperation, in hopes of an answer.

It went a little like this:
Brooke " Are you watching American Gladiator?"
Ryan "Well, hell yes!"

Although we may live hours apart, we are forever linked by our sibling intuition. Ryan, I love you!

Corn Chowder

This is my favorite soup recipe. I can't believe I found sweet corn on the cob in January in Kentucky. I love Paul's Fruit Market! The recipe makes a lot but it never seems to last longer than 48 hours at our house. I wish I had a pot big enough to make a double batch. P.S. Erin, I have made this without the cream and it is just as delicious. Veganize it, please!

Recipe:
1 large vidalia/yellow onion (chopped)
2 large carrots, cut into 1/4 inch dice
1 celery rib, cut into 1/4 inch dice
1 red bell pepper, cut into a 1/4 inch dice
2 cups white wine for cooking
2 yukon gold potatoes, cubed to 1/4 inch cubes
1 small sweet potato, cubed to 1/4 inch cubes
6-8 cups low sodium vegetable broth (the more broth, the more chowder)
A few sprigs of fresh thyme
6-8 ears of corn (the more the better. i use white, sweet corn)
1 cup heavy cream
Sea salt and cracked black or white pepper to taste

Garnish with leftover thyme or chives

Cut corn off cobs. Boil empty cobs in the vegetable broth in large pot on the stove at least 10 minutes (this helps the broth thicken). While cobs are boiling, simmer onion, carrots, celery and pepper until onion is soft in saute pan. Remove cobs from broth and add the onion mixture, potatoes and sprigs of thyme. Cook until potatoes are soft (about 15+ minutes). Add corn, cream, salt and pepper. Simmer 10 minutes. With an immersion blender, blend the chowder to your desired consistency ( I like it smooth with some chunks of potatoes remaining). If you dont have an immersion blender, I have also put half of the chowder in a food processor/blender and then added it back to the remaining in the pot. Both yeild similar results. Enjoy!

Furniture Project

On December 29th, Ryan, Heather and I went to Midland Antique Mall in Indianapolis. J and I had been there a few days prior and I had found a dresser/changing station I liked for the beast in my belly. It needed a little clean-up, but was a good buy. Last night I took out all the drawers, cleaned them with soap and water and re-lined the drawers. I'm pretty excited to have another new, used antique. We've been great at buying recycled furniture for the past year.

First Baby Gift

Well, technically we got a miniature stuffed rottweiler with a santa hat and scarf, but Kennedy liked that too much to give to the baby! So, thanks to Dad and Kathryn for going out of their way to get us this handmade, 100% organic, hand-dyed stuffed bunny from Honeysuckle Dreams . We super appreciate their constant efforts to shop 'green' and help us sustain our lifestyle choices: organic, recycled, hand-made, vegetarian, chemical free, etc. They also bought us an aromatic, all organic bath mat that absorbs odors and releases a hemp-like smell when stepped on with wet feet.

Just Babies

So, I had all these old clothes that weren't in good enough shape to recycle. And I have this sewing machine laying around. This crazy sewer that I met in Nashville, Elise Tyler , makes these wonderful stuffed creatures that I adored and I was stuck for a birthday present for her so I made my first doll.



From there evolved Just Babies, my recycled doll project. All babies come with a unique (mostly eco-savvy) story and can be bought at The Makery on Bardstown Road in Louisville.

First Photo

So, this is our baby! I was around 11 weeks when they shot this photo on December 17th. We are due July 8-10th, but babies never arrive on their due dates. "Herkemer", the family fetus name given to all of us before a sex was known, is facing opposite the camera here. Head to the left in fetal position with arms and legs tucked in facing away from us. Holy Shit, I am growing a human!