Oy. Various family members keep volunteering to do stuff to help with Rosh Hashanah prep, and my mom keeps saying that she'll do it herself, because "I don't want to make you do that." She asked my sister if she'd mind buying the wine and going to the bakery to pick up the desserts the day before, and my sister said sure -- the wine place and the bakery are nearby, and desserts and wine are among my sister's favorite things, anyway. Then Mom called her back and said not to bother, Mom could pick up that stuff herself, she doesn't want my sister to have to do all that.

I just remembered that the prepared foods section of Whole Foods usually has a few vegan main dish options to pick from, so I could just go there and pick out one of those. I'm sure Mom will say no.

Happy b-day, P-C!

Yay for your mom getting better, Hil!

In my head there is a professional consult going on between Cesar Milan and Victoria Stillwell about how best to handle a viscous chihuahua.

bonny, do you mind terribly if I pick your professional dog-behaviorist brain for a moment? When confronted with a little dog whose owner thinks jumping all over people is cute, I tend to steadfastly ignore/turn away from the dog. I say in a calm voice, not particularly directed at the dog, that I only give attention to dogs who are calm and not jumping on me. Do you have any further recommendations for how to react to the dogs? And even better, what would be a tactful way to communicate to the dog owner that, "No, it's not that I don't like dogs, or even that I do not like your dog, but that I do not reward bad behavior with attention. I want to admire and fuss over and pet your cute little dog and as soon as you have a tiny modicum of control over him/her, I'll be all over 'em like white on rice"?

Well, we seem to have convinced my mom that most of Rosh Hashanah dinner should be bought prepared. At least, she's convinced for now. First night is Friday night, I'm getting home Thursday afternoon, Dad's working from home Friday, and my sister is getting in sometime early Friday afternoon, so we'll try to not let her do too much.

I made cinnamon bread today that no one is allowed to touch despite the awesome smell because it is going to be french toast tomorrow for breakfast. Yes, I am going to be a popular mom in the morning.

Happy birthday to PC and yay for Hil's Mom feeling better (and at least temporarily seeing some sense.)

I found some walnuts in the cupboard and made some nummy pesto with fresh basil, garlic, sea salt, walnuts, olive oil and nutritional yeast. I used too much garlic and not quite enough oil, but it still tasted great (and i shall be tasting this garlic for at least another day!). Bonus: the omission of cheese and addition of walnuts actually made it pretty danged healthy. Especially over pasta with lots of steamed broccoli and tomatoes from a workmate's garden. Woot.

Hil, you have inspired me to actually cook something off recipe AIFG.

Hil, you can definitely make pesto without nuts.

Happy Birthday, P-C!

vw is a fantastic cook. I'm so full.

That sounds yum, erin.

Hil, you can definitely make pesto without nuts.

Really? Neat! I've never tried that. Next time I have basil, I'll give it a shot.

I do love pesto, but too much raw garlic is a problem.

Oh em gee, I feel like I've been up forever. I'm just waiting till I can go to bed.

KBD is still playing Uno on his phone. He's obsessed and I'm jealous b/c he got it for free and I would have to pay five bucks on iPhone. Getcher first world problems right here!

The bag of free stuff from VegFest included a little bag of Tings. [link] They taste just like Cheetos. I so did not need to know about these.

I do love pesto, but too much raw garlic is a problem.

Roast it. Or even just cook it a little to take the edge off. You can put cloves in a pan with their skins on and take them out when the skins start getting brown spots.