Why Christian made Spinach fritters last night for dinner

posted on: Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Basically because our family does things in opposites.
Baby Maria for example never lets us feed her but she feeds us entire meals.

Normally I make dinner but on Monday nights I get home at 8:00pm. On Tuesday and Thursday nights I get home at 10:00pm. I guess I don't normally make dinner, what am I saying?! I'm o.k with that though and Christian is o.k with that but every so often we get family members who question our life style or other inquisitive stares from peeps around us and then I feel like we need to justify why I'm not a typical Mormon mommy who stays home, cooks, and cleans.

Last night Christian and I were talking about my blog and he said "you know you can offend a lot of people with our lifestyle."  And he's right, I can but is that really my problem? Traditionally the other members of our church have households where the dude works and the lady stays home with the kids. Traditionally the other people in our hippie Northern California town have households where both adults work (male+female, male+male, female+female) and they have one kid. We're a household where both of us work and we have more than one child AND we plan on having more and we both plan on working.  I don't really feel like we're so different because I find that there are more exceptions to the rule than there are strict rule abiders. People need to work, unexpected pregnancies happen, a million different factors come into play when organizing a lifestyle that works for each individual person or family. 

In the Santos-Palmer/Palmer household we have a pretty good division of labor that we're comfortable with. We both work. We both cook. We both take care of the kids. Christian cleans solo. I buy Christmas presents solo. He appreciates that I remember his family's birthday and I appreciate that he puts away my clothes. He appreciates that I work hard on Mondays and I appreciate that he makes spinach fritters for dinner.  


I also appreciate Enzo Santos Palmer (his actual name is Lorenzo, please don't tell him that) for eating the spinach fritters without a fuss and I appreciate Maria Aurea Santos Palmer for eating the leftovers that fall underneath her high chair. It makes Christian's cleaning job that much easier.

Spinach Fritters (gluten free)
  • 2 1/2 boiling potatoes (peeled)
  • 1 lb fresh spinach
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 cup cubed mozzarella
  • 1/2 cup corn meal
  • 1 1/2 cup oil, for frying
  1. Cook the potatoes in a pot of boiling water until they are soft. Drain and mash.
  2. Cook the spinach in a pot of salted boiling water until tender. Drain and squeeze the excess water and chop finely.
  3. Combine with the potatoes and mix well.
  4. Put the eggs in a large bowl and season with salt and pepper. Add potatoes, spinach, and parmesan and mix.
  5. Place a tablespoon of the mixture in the palm of your hand. Press a cube of cheese into the center and close the mixture around it to make a oblong croquette. The cheese needs to be completely covered.
  6. Roll in the corn meal.
  7. Heat the frying oil until hot.
  8. Fry the fritters a few at a time, turning them in the oil so that they are golden brown all over.


35 comments:

  1. Don't worry. You do not offend me. You inspire me.
    The fritters look so yummy!

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  2. Thanks Ju. You inspire me too you hard working woman/mommy/church goer do everything person.

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  3. We are so lucky to have such hands-on, helpful dads! Our church is pretty traditional in their thinking too, but I know God has to approve of the way we run our family. It means I say His name in vain far less.

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  4. Beautiful! You're living the dream of love. Keep doing it your way.

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  5. It sounds to me like you have found the perfect fit for your family. And I'm sure God would be happy with that! You don't offend me at all. I think you're quite inspirational. And those spinach fritters look deeeelicious!

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  6. generally I feel like I can do better but I could also be doing a lot worse. I think God gives me more credit than I do. I don't think he's particularly offended that i work and that christian does laundry.

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  7. Everyone finds the perfect balance for their own family, and I don't think that you need to justify it....sounds like you guys are super parents and doing a great job...gosh and a husband who puts your clothes away...AMAZING!! I may need you to post on a few husband training techniques ;)

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  8. Casal moderno, Dá!!! Assim é a vida, as coisas mudam e todos temos que encarar com naturalidade, pois a mudança vem da necessidade.
    Te amo e te admiro muito, desde sempre!!
    Um grande beijo pra todos e fala pro Enzo que quero ele em minha casa mais vezes pra brincarmos! Se cuidem.

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  9. you summed it all up so beautifully. who could argue with any of your choices? & if they do, so be it.

    Dream of love. Real life. Same thing! All to be thankful for.

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  10. These sound wonderful! And I'm all about going against the grain :)

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  11. Your family is very inspiring, Da. As long as your routine works for you then nothing else matters! xoxo emme

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  12. Those look delicious. I absolutely adore your photos, they are so beautiful. Truly a lovely and gorgeous blog.

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  13. Well I certainly don't see anything wrong with the arrangement you have, what ever works for you, right? ;-) I can only imagine how it would be with two little kids so I think each family is allowed to make their own arrangements :-)
    I love the look of these fritters too, by the way!

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  14. No offending being done here. I think we all do our best and find the right fit for our family. There is no right or wrong answers, there just is. You are doing great!

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  15. One more thing in common! We are mormon too. AND I LOVE your lifestyle, it's what makes you happy. You are awesome!

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  16. I wanted to respond to each of you individually but you beat me. Thanks for your kind words of support. I think we're doing our best and if it works for us, then it works! done.

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  17. Sounds as though you have the perfect plan that works beautifully for your family! And those fritters look delightful:)

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  18. There's no more typical Mormon family. Trust me. And, anyone who is offended is too sensitive and might I say, not following the gospel spirit. Live your life the best you know how and follow the gospel the best you can, too. God loves you and so do we!

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  19. I'm so glad you commented on my blog! I absolutely love yours! Your pictures are beautiful!

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  20. yep the key is to be happy and be yourselves

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  21. Whatever works for you both and makes you happy is what's important! These crispy little fritters look wonderful! Any crumbs left under the high chair for me?

    In response to your question the paprika should say Hungarian sweet paprika on it. But I bet the Spanish smoked kind would be good too - I'd like to try it with that.

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  22. i like your blog for this very reason, your honesty! don't change.
    I have tons of spinach so tell your husband I'm making his recipe and thanks for the inspiration!

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  23. Well I love your lifestyle. It looks beautiful and it works for you! No one wants to fit into a box :)

    And it cracks me up how kids like to fee adults. The boy I nanny for is constantly trying to shove his nook into my mouth (do I look like I need to be soothed? lol) and also pieces of his food that may or may not have already been in his mouth. Whatever! Gotta love that generosity starts young and is so natural :)

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  24. I love the way you write. I'm so drawn in even if it has no relativity to my life. Sounds like you and Christian have found the perfect balance. So lucky for Enzo and baby Maria.

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  25. Aww, no need to apologize for your lifestyle! If your family is happy then you're doing it right.

    I know I don't have to tell an amazing, beautiful, confident woman such as yourself this, but...don't worry what other people think! :)

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  26. I like your system! If I could get somebody to put away my laundry I would be one happy camper. And you get to do all the gift shopping? Cool!

    I think you guys are awesome. If people feel like pointing fingers or criticizing, it's only coming from their own insecurities and their own issues. Nothing to bother yourself about! :)

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  27. FOODalogue- we've had to find a balance. We were both doing graduate school at the same time with no babysitting and very little money. Now we're living an extension of that, still chaotic but often times balanced.

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  28. We're not very "traditional" either. I work and my husband stays home with the kids. We save a heck of a lot on child care which helps us with all the bills we have in Hawaii. Sometimes I wish we lived in a place that wasn't so expensive but then again, I wouldn't trade life here for the world!

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  29. those look super yummy! And they are gluten free! I am loving your blog....thanks for visiting mine :)

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  30. There is no perfect way to raise a family anymore! As long as everyone is happy and loved that is all that matters. You have a beautiful family and are very fortunate. I just love that popcorn turkey too! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
    -Gina-

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  31. You have such beautiful children and a beautiful blog which must mean you are a beautiful person!! Those fritters look lovely too...

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  32. i really love your blog, so glad i stopped by..thans for sharing.

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  33. I can totally relate. Ryan and I had a similar situation when I worked (way more than full time!). I worked until Jacob was 8, with no intention of stopping. But my mom (the 'caretaker of our children' while we worked) became sick (she's fine now), so I took my sabbatical, and decided that for our family, and for me, I needed to stay home. But I loved the fact that Ryan and I (in all of those years) were able to develop such a partnership in raising our children and managing the house. Although I stay home, that partnership still exists, and I know it always will. I do feel that people look at me differently now (like I don't really have anything to talk about anymore). I think that people do what they need to do... and make it work accordingly. NO NEED TO JUDGE!!! :)

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  34. I love to hear about other LDS women who work by choice and follow their intrests. There is no one right way to be and I think it is good for papis to stay home with the kids sometimes. I wondered what Enzo was short for :)

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  35. Liz, thank you so much for your comment. Seriously, thanks.

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