A Father's Feast

This morning at breakfast I reminded the kids it was Dirk's birthday.

"We have to make him a feast," Patrick screamed with urgency and arms in the air.

"Yeah, his cake and a special dinner. And balloons. Daddy loves balloons." Aidan added.

Birthdays are big doings for the boys. If food is love and love is Daddy, then food is Daddy. That's how our Socratic logic plays out here. The boys love to cook meals and "treats" for Dirk. For Father's Day, they bought him salt and pepper shakers shaped like chickens and organic cheddar popcorn seasoning for their movie nights.

Dirk made a special request for shrimp risotto and a chocolate cake tonight, but the boys have other plans for him. They insist he needs his cake paired with "Crock Pot Chili" to properly celebrate. So, Dirk will be eating twice tonight. Chili and cake with the kiddos, and risotto a little later after little ones are asleep.

I know our previous post highlighted our reduced sugar consumption so please excuse the cake today. Birthdays are exceptions, and we'll all eat moderately. Maybe.

Crock Pot Chili
This is a hodge podge recipe that includes whatever we have on hand at the moment. It's a great option for the "New American Frugality" way of family cooking.

1 lb organic ground beef

1 onion (diced)

2 garlic cloves (minced)

2 cans tomato sauce

2 cans pinto, kidney, navy or other beans
1 cup pumpkin puree
2 tsp cumin
2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp oregano
dashes of salt and pepper

1. Brown ground beef until cooked.

2. Add all ingredients in crock pot and mix.

3. Cook on high for four hours and serve.

HERSHEY'S "PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE"

2 cups sugar
1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup cocoa
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup boiling water

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round baking pans.
2. Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large bowl. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; beat on medium speed of mixer 2 minutes. Stir in boiling water (batter will be thin). Pour batter into prepared pans.
3. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely.

PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE" CHOCOLATE FROSTING
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine
2/3 cup cocoa
3 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Melt butter. Stir in cocoa. Alternately add powdered sugar and milk, beating to spreading consistency. Add small amount additional milk, if needed. Stir in vanilla. About 2 cups frosting.

Nugget o' the Moment: "With the cost of food rising and moms everywhere cringing over their grocery receipts, one mom has found a way to save her family thousands of dollars ... " -- from Oprah.com's "5 Ways to Save Money on Groceries."