Snow Day

Snow Day: Big, fluffy, winter-movie-scene flakes are falling down from a bright white sky. The kitchen is in a disarray of pots, pans, jars, bottles, utensils, coffee mugs and breakfast dishes. There's a chicken roasting in the oven and my greatest hits are playing on a loop. The kiddles are still in PJ's, and thankfully there are some moments of quiet activity that break up their steady shtick of bickering and tears.

My plans for a hair cut and color were chucked out with my regular schedule. It's a Snow Day.

One of the best things about living in the East and other wintery climates is the snow day. A snow day is an excuse to just lounge around the house and is permission to make a mess, it's an unexpected day off, and sometimes a bit of a reprieve. Snow days are long, and often start off with the best intentions but end up in marathon TV sessions and junk food wrappers. When Samwich and Girlette were pre-schoolers snow days were the perfect excuse for an all-day Mommy 'n Kiddie playdate with Eustacia and her boy and girl- the house would be trashed, but time went by easily, and a sweet coziness filled the space.

I wish I had a snowglobe for each of our snow day scenes, I'd keep them on the bookshelf in the den. First one would be of newborn Samwich in his hospital bassinette. There'd be another of a me with a couple of toddlers at my feet, tugging my hair in frustration. Today's would show a chaotic kitchen and a pan of roasted chicken emerging from the oven. The kiddles would be at the kitchen table absorbed in their own interests, as the white flakes swirl around. Will I see only the comfy homespun scene in a few years, or will it trigger memories that makes their way to a sink overflowing with stained dishes and pots and me wishing I used paper and stuck to microwave popcorn?

Hoisin Chicken

2 cut-up chickens

2/3 c. hoisin sauce

5 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp. fresh grated ginger

1 tsp. sesame oil

1 tbsp. soy sauce

2 tbsp. rice vinegar

1/2 tsp. chili flakes

1 tbsp. sesame seeds (optional)

Preheat oven to 450F. Lay chicken pieces out in a single layer in a roasting pan. Combine the rest of the ingredients, except sesame seeds, in a small bowl- mix well. With a brush cover chicken pieces in hoisin mixture. Place in top third of oven for 25-30 minutes until juices run clear and sauce looks shiny and lacquered on the chicken pieces. If desired: sprinkle toasted sesame seeds across chicken before serving.