Monday Nights Frog More Stew

Back in 2009, I became hooked on a new recipe from the Carolinas called "Frog More Stew" & have even got both of my daughters to like it too! B seems to enjoy it when we have it, as well.

Below is a photo of my latest making of this yummy seafood dish! 

Tonight, happened to be the 1st time having this dish for my friend, S, her husband, G as well as my dearest (and oldest) friend, J! The white haired man in the photos is S's father, R.

Frogmore Stew (technically, it's a seafood boil, not a stew!)  

serves 6

You'll need large stock pan or a soup pan to cook this dish in. I use a huge, deep stock pot so I can fit in the crab legs w/o any problem!

Have plenty of napkins on hand. No forks, knives or spoons are allowed!

This meal is meant to be served outdoors, on a newspaper covered picnic table w/o any dishes! You're supposed to just pour the entire pan out onto the table & have your guests, dig in!

Feel free to do so & let me know how it worked out! 

I use a colander to drain & a thanksgiving turkey platter to serve the meal... indoors.

I allow my guests to eat w/whatever is comfortable for them. Most choose their fingers.

What you need:

• 12 cups of water
• 1/4 cup plus 2T of Old Bay seasonings (or your favorite seafood boil seasonings)
• 2-3 onions, peeled & quartered (these are for flavor only, OPTIONAL)
• 1 lbs small red potatoes (I use 1-1/2 lbs)
• 1 lbs kielbasa, cut into 1" chunks (use 2 lbs, if you skip the chorizo)
• 1 lbs chorizo, cut into 1" chunks (it's a Portuguese spicy sausage & OPTIONAL)
• 6 ears of shucked corn, halved or quartered, your choice
• 2 lbs of raw, unpeeled, deveined shrimp 
• (or 1 lbs shrimp & 1-3 lbs crab legs. Use King crab for special friends/occasions. It's pricey. Dungess crab works fine.)

What to do:

• Bring water & seasonings to a rapid boil
• Add in the corn & potatoes & onions (if using)
• Cook for 15 minutes.
• Add in the kielbasa & chorizo
• Cook for 5 minutes
• Check the potatoes for doneness. (When the potatoes are "just cooked" continue to next step)
• If using crab legs, add them in (no need to thaw)
• Cook 5 minutes
• Add shrimp in last. (Frozen, unpeeled, RAW shrimp is fine)
• Cook about 5 more minutes. (Shrimp will turn from gray to pink when fully cooked)
• Drain in a colander
• Serve on a large platter with melted butter & cocktail sauce nearby, for dipping.

What Is It Worth?

I'm continuing to look for regular employment. I still have all of my previous Nanny Families using me sporadically, as needed so we're not totally wiped financially. I have a summer, full-time job offer I can accept which doesn't begin until June & has a slight chance of continuing into the school year.

What I'm discovering however, is how LITTLE people are willing to spend on quality childcare! 

According to the website, care.com, a quality, in-home childcare provider in my area should be charging & getting $12.14/hour. 

I am willing to do it for $10, up to 3 children per family (could do more if I were licensed or insane!)

The parents are hoping to find a caretaker who will:

• keep their kids safe... CHECK!
• engage w/them in games & play... CHECK!
• encourage/participate in outdoor activity time... CHECK!
• limit TV/video games... CHECK!
• have crafts to do (supplied by you)... CHECK!
• read to them... CHECK!
• pick up/drop-off their kids (using your own vehicle & gas)... CHECK!
• feed them... CHECK
• light housework (are they kidding?)... CHECK? 

They want all of the above & still BALK at my request of $10 an hour! Some parents have even requested to "share" my services w/another family! They want to split the $10 an hour between them ON TOP of giving me the extra kids! HUH?

So, I'll continue to search for the perfect match. I also thank & so appreciate the women who cared for my kids, giving them quality care & love. Trisha DiMaio Pride Clough @ Under the Rainbow in Georgetown, MA was an absolute godsend for my kids! She set the bar high for me to follow!

Daycare

Today, I got a call from the preschool/daycare that my Nanny Family #2 attended on the days they were not with me. The head teacher had an emergency & state regulations insist that there be 2 adults w/the kids. None of their alternates were available. So, they remembered me!

Working in a daycare is similar to the in-home care in that there are kids needing supervision & there will be tattle tales! 

I wasn't too keen on how many rules there were, many of which, the state mandates. Kids are not allowed to enter each others eating space @ the table. Food allergies seem to be the reason. Even if a child needs help w/opening a Ziploc bag, an older child IS NOT allowed to help! Only one of the grown-ups in charge can assist & only after the child raises their hand. No loud outbursts.

Tables & chairs are sprayed w/antibacterial cleansers after every use. Teeth are brushed w/toothbrushes & water after lunch. No running. Shoes or slippers must be worn at all times. No sitting on the tables. Books only in the reading garden! Stand in line. No talking during quiet time. No moving during quiet time because it disrupts every one's view of the quiet time movie. Megamind was today's movie, not one I would've chosen for kids under 4, but I was only there as support!! Wash & sanitize hands after using the bathroom for any reason.

Pick up your own mess (kids got around this rule by allowing a friend to play w/them then leaving for another activity before the friend which means only the friend was there to clean up!) Scissors only while in a seated position. If the playground (made of sand) is wet, no outside time... no matter how gorgeous the weather! Use the magic words, please, thank you, you're welcome & excuse me.

Hopefully, I won't be needed too often. But as long as I need the money...

A Bandaid Will Make Boo-Boos, Better!

My youngest sister was born a few months before my 14th birthday. She was so fun to be around & soon became my "shadow." If I was going out to do the chores in the barn, like milking goats, she was there. At night, if she woke up afraid during the night, she'd climb up the stairs & softly knock on my door until I opened it up & let her sleep in my bed. She never wanted me to leave for school & was at the front door to greet me when I got home from school!

When I was a senior, she took a spill on the driveway, just as I was getting home. I could hear her screaming, "No, I don't want you, Mommy! I want my J!" I turned into the driveway to see blood pouring down her face from a good sized gash on her forehead. My mom was trying to console & clean the injury but B would only allow me to help her.

At the emergency room, she was stitched up, with me right by her side! The doctor then went to put a bandage over the stitches to keep it clean. B began screaming & having a temper tantrum. After all, every time the doctor had touched her, it hurt! 

There was no way she was going to let him bandage her wound!

"Band Aids make boo-boos feel better," I told her. 

She allowed the bandage to go on only if I put it on her & we returned home.

Several weeks later I got home from school. B was not at the door to greet me! Mom said she had been complaining of a headache all day & was napping. As I entered the room to check on her, she was waking up & rolled over to see me. Her entire face was covered in Band Aids!

I asked her why she had so many bandages on her face. 

Her reply, "Because Band Aids make boo-boos feel better!"

Yesterday, 30 years later, I went to her house to be her "overnight nurse" as she recovered from surgery. As I walked up to her room, I asked, "Should I have brought a box of Band Aids?"

"Oh, shut it!" was her reply. I think she remembered! Hahaha!