There is not a hex on my kitchen. I’m not sure I believe in hexes. If I did, I would tell you that without a doubt there is some hexing going on. It all started last Sunday when I mistakenly brought a feta cheese and Greek yogurt mixture instead of whipped cream over to a friend’s house. Strawberry shortcake needs whipped cream, people. Things have gone downhill from there. I have misplaced valuable pieces of kitchen equipment, broken things, had simple things not turn out. It’s been a week.
When I started to think, maybe there really is a such thing as a hex, I stepped back and realized that what is happening is that I have taken on too much. Here is what my cooking week will have looked like once Sunday is over:
Sunday – Baked strawberry shortcake and made strawberry ice cream for dinner with friends.
Monday – Made a green salad, chocolate swirl pound cakes, and tiramisu ice cream for dinner with the neighbors.
Tuesday – Made spinach and shallot flan, spring vegetable salad, and feta/yogurt spread for clients.
Wednesday – Made an Indian dinner feast for a friend’s 40th birthday dinner.
Thursday – Made salted caramel filling and chocolate ganache.
Friday – Grilled vegetables for a salsa, made black beans for dip, filled and frosted cake for same friend’s 40th b-day party, made custard for ice cream for Father’s Day at my brothers’ house.
Saturday – Away for the night for friend’s party. Husband goes off to Cannes (yes, Cannes, as in France) for a week.
Sunday – Will come home around 2pm and frantically make raspberry cake and strawberry ice cream for Father’s Day.
In the midst of all this, I am also a stay at home mom which means I am changing diapers, feeding and clothing my children and making sure they don’t do things like jump off the kitchen counter or destroy our entire DVD system (was not successful with the latter).
This is a lot – even for me who usually does a lot. I think it’s too much. Oh, and did I mention that my insomnia is back? I’m averaging about 5 hours of sleep a night. Maybe this is why I am misplacing things and things aren’t turning out. When I realized today that I had misplaced one of my 9″ cake pans (where exactly would I have put that?) I was at my wits end. I improvised and made the cake in 3 – 8″ pans. When I started to frost the cake and the filling started oozing out the sides, I almost cried. I don’t have time for something to not turn out at this point.
All this is the long way of saying that I’m not sure when the next recipe is going to appear here. I’d like to think that I will remember my camera tomorrow and will be able to tell you that the cake, salsa, and bean dip are amazing and give you the recipes complete with gorgeous photos. Actually, at this point, I will be happy if I remember all the pieces of things that I need to bring including a sleeping bag and a flashlight. I would like to think that my brain will start working again and the hex will lift. I would like to think I will be back in the saddle Monday or so. If not, you will know why.
In the meantime, for the moms out there who work and/or multi-task like crazy…any tips?
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Somethings gotta give! I’m not a Mom but that’s my tip.
and its very insightful for you to see through the “hex” to the real issue. Thank you for sharing it with us because we all do it and its an good reminder to slow down!
Love you! and the pound cake and tiramisu ice cream were SO dreamy!
Neighbor
Comment by Julie — June 20, 2009 @ 12:23 am
When I get like that, I call my best girlfriend and have her bring her two amazing boys over so we can feed the kids quesadillas and avocado while we enjoy baked potatoes and salad while polishing off at least one bottle of wine and letting the kids run amuck! Monday?
Comment by Deb — June 20, 2009 @ 12:24 am
When I get those symptoms I look at my calendar and realize all will be back to normal in 3 to 6 days.
It took me until my children were teenagers to realize what the deal was.
Trust me you will be back to normal before long.
Get some extra sleep while your husband is in Cannes.
Comment by Mary — June 20, 2009 @ 4:37 am
I’m just wondering about the cake…because I made a salted caramel filling and chocolate ganache cake today too. Usually my filling oozes out the sides too so I tweaked it today and it all sunk into the middle. I hope you post the cake recipe! (I’ve been using something from Martha Stewart’s website.) By the way, I just found your website, I love it and I’ve made lots of things from it already. We live up in Bellingham so I love all the local stuff too…I want to go to that bakery on Lopez you talk about!
Comment by Michael-Ann — June 20, 2009 @ 6:14 am
I agree, it’s probably the lack of sleep that’s making you a bit forgetful and distracted! But I TOTALLY believe in hexes! They happen to me quite frequently and spook me out a little ;)
I’m very multi-tasky (making that into an adjective, why not?)and making lists of things is my way to keep sane and organized. But maybe that’s just because I’m a bit of a control freak!
Get some rest :)
Comment by Marta — June 20, 2009 @ 5:12 pm
I got distracted when I read salted caramel filling, but back to the point. I think I’m a busy person and then I remember I don’t have kids.
Comment by lisaiscooking — June 20, 2009 @ 6:22 pm
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Pingback by There is Not a Hex On My Kitchen « Dana Treat - Treat Yourself | Home Improvement Center — June 20, 2009 @ 7:47 pm
You are amazing! That week makes my head spin. Sorry to hear about your “hex”, but if you really could pull all that off, and keep up with this beautiful blog, I would feel that much more like a slacker. Thanks for sharing and hope that sleep thing improves.
P.S. I recommend “Knock Out” melatonin supplement. Does wonders.
Comment by Mara — June 20, 2009 @ 10:24 pm
So the hubs is off to Cannes for Father’s Day while you are at home changing diapers. That’s a REALLY good gift he’s getting!
The raspberry cake must be for your own dad. I hope you catch up on sleep tonight.
Comment by Teresa — June 21, 2009 @ 6:03 am
Aw I’m sure the “hex” will lift soon. Things are bound to go out of whack a bit when you have so much going on. If it makes you feel any better, I have an uncanny ability to chip every dish/glass/container in our kitchen possible!
Comment by Ashley — June 21, 2009 @ 4:27 pm
As Ashley stated, I hope things return back to normal in the kitchen. I hate when I have those weeks where everything in the kitchen goes wrong. Its the one place where I feel confident in my skills so its such a downer when I screw something up in the kitchen.
As for a working mommy tip, take time for yourself. Even if its just a half hour. Leave the dirty dishes, forget the vacuming, go into your room do some deep breathing, pick up a favorite magazine read an article something. We as mothers have to take care of ourselves if we’re going to be good wives and mothers.
I work a full-time job, freelance, I have a 3 year old who’s on the Autism Spectrum and a 1 year old. So multi-tasking is my middle name.
Comment by Heather — June 22, 2009 @ 3:19 pm
The only hex that I can see is that YOU ARE NOT IN CANNES!
Comment by Stacey Snacks — June 23, 2009 @ 5:22 pm
Give yourself a break. Just because you’re a personal chef and caterer you don’t always have to volunteer to bake a cake/cook something for family and friends events. You could even bring something you bought at the store, like ice cream or graham crackers, chocolate and marshmallows! While your husband’s away take the kids to a drive-thru. Schedule a vacation from your clients.
Comment by Lynn D. — June 23, 2009 @ 11:43 pm