Thursday, January 28, 2010

Party Cupcakes!

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Here's the cupcakes I made for my son's class birthday celebration.  I added gel paste coloring to make the frosting bright blue (food coloring drops just don't do it.)  I then put the frosting in a zip-lock bag, cut the tip and used it to ice the cupcakes.  The dinosaurs I bought by the bag at the grocery store. 

Monday, January 11, 2010

A Return to Cranford


The fog has has not lifted, and I am once again tempted to curl up on the sofa with an afghan and a nice cup of English tea. Fortunately for me, PBS (Masterpeice Theater) has a new series starting Sunday the 10th - Return to Cranford. Based on the works of Elizabeth Gaskell, a contemporary and friend of Charles Dickens, Cranford features a group of spinsters and widows in a quaint English town during the 19th century. The production is full of charming historic detail, and you can almost feel yourself carefully making your way down muddy horse-trodden streets, smelling the scent of fresh bread baking and the coming mist of rain.
If you missed it last night, PBS often replays in during the week, so check your listings. Part 2 will air next Sunday, 9pm (Western time).

Thursday, January 07, 2010

Something To Watch


Rent Wuthering Heights on a windy storming night and you won't be dissapointed. If only for the line delivered by Merle Oberon (playing Cathy), "And yet, he's more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same... Ellen, I AM Heathcliff. [thunderbolt]" Perfect.

Wednesday, January 06, 2010

Halloween Photobook


I just found a Halloween photobook I made several years ago (prior to my second baby, when I had time!) I have made it my goal to fill it with pictures from Halloweens past. Little holiday themed photo books like this make a great decoration to leave out during those special times. People love purusing through them during parties and family get-togethers. They also make wonderful gifts.

Rustic Pear Gorgonzola Pizza


I make this pizza about three times a month. It's easy, and everyone loves it. If you have never grown rosemary, it is simple to grow in most climates. It even remains green throughout winter, so you can harvest year-round. Rosemary can be bought in grocery stores, but it is far more economical to grow your own. For this pizza, you can use a pre-made crust like Boboli, but I prefer to make my own. It is less salty and makes a bigger pizza.

Olive oil
Fresh rosemary, chopped
1 Bosc pear, sliced
1 yellow onion, sliced thin and carmelized
1 tub of crumbled Gorgonzola cheese
balsamic vinegar
one pizza crust

Brush crust with a little olive oil and sprinkle with rosemary. Cover with three-fourths of the gorgonzola cheese. Add pear slices and onions, and then top with remaining cheese. Sprinkle with balsamic vinegar.
Bake at 350 degrees until topping is hot and crust is browned, about 15 minutes or so.

Tuesday, January 05, 2010

The Spiritual Side of Food

I know that I say this every year, but this year I resolve to become more aware of what I eat. Not to necessarily lose weight (although I wouldn't mind), or to buy all my food items at Whole Foods (can't afford to), but to simply be more mindful of what I prepare for my family and myself.
I read somewhere that all the food that we put in our mouths contains the energy that was used to prepare it. Therefore, if food is lovingly prepared, with care and positive intention, that food transmits this loving energy to those who consume it. Although I don't think that that we will immediately be filled with negative feelings each time we eat a McDonald's hamburger (I've been known to enjoy a Big Mac or two), we can strive to make food preparation an act of positive intention. An example of this is when your mother made you homemade chicken noodle soup when you were sick. Not only did the chicken broth and the vegetables feed you body with nutrients, there was a certain amount of mental comfort within that soup that helped you to heal. Think of the last time you prepared food with love. It may when you whipped up a bubbling hot lasagna for your friends, or added just a pinch of chili powder to a mug of steaming hot cocoa for you husband. It not only gave your loved ones a good feeling, it gave you a good feeling as well.
So I put forward this challenge; prepare at least one meal a week with positive intention. Think what you can cook from scratch with healthful ingredients that are raised and harvested in organic and humane ways. Dust off that old cookbook your grandmother left you, and attempt to bake a loaf of bread from scratch. Knead some raw honey into the dough and add a sprinkle of love. You and your family will thrive from it.

Little House is back on!

After a "brief" hiatus of a couple of years, I have decided to resume my blog. Although I cannot promise consistenly entertaining and informative posts, I will strive for my best. In realtiy, I'm quite aware that this blog is probably only read by my husband, maybe my sister-in-law, and some guy who mistakenly thought this was a porn blog. I don't even doubt that my mother doesn't even read this anymore, especially since her battery ran out on her laptop and she doesn't know how to charge it back up again.
I shall continue to blog, not for the multitudes that read my posts, but for the mental "clean-out" it provides. I can ramble aimlessly about topics that I may find of great interest, and not be faced with the glazed-over expressions that frequent my ramblings in person.
And so dear reader, if you find a dull hazy feeling coming over you while reading my blog, you have my permission to log-off, and you will not hurt my feelings. In the meantime, I shall continue....