Archive for December, 2003
Having to get up and go to work when your friends are all off sucks. That’s my statement for the day.
Last night was Christmas with the kids – wonderful. We had food from around the world, including curry, latkes, fondue, and Danish cabbage – food enough for an army. The stockings were hung by the piano with care, and filled with all sorts of goodies. The cats went crazy with all the new toys – they didn’t know what to play with first (or next). Shawn got me Pirates of the Caribbean, some pirate gold, and The Morning Star – pretty pretty. I gave him Six String Samurai, which he has been looking for this fall, and his scarf, which isn’t finished. I gave him the remaining skein of yarn, then took out the actual scarf when he was done opening. There were lots of Lord of the Rings goodies – Trivial Pursuit for me, chess for him, a puzzle for everyone. Sarah and Hannah got random books, food, and yogurt makers (H). We put the puzzle together until late, a wine glass broke spectacularly, and I crashed pretty hard as soon as I got home. A really nice night.
So tonight we’re heading to Carlinville to party LOTR-style at Matt’s place. It’ll be interesting – no one knows we’re coming other than Matt. The only other people I know at this party are two of Sarah’s exes, so we’ll see how that goes. I’m hoping for food, champagne, and a sweet kiss at midnight.
Cats seem to be doing OK. I devised a campaign to keep my bedroom door closed, and it seems to be working, though it means there’s no circulation and my room is cold. Right now the cats are pouncing on each other from the couch to the floor, jingling all the while.
Tomorrow maybe I’ll post my resolutions and my top reads for the year. Tonight I’m just going to celebrate. Happy 2004, kids.
December 31st, 2003
Heard this weekend:
Coo: “What’s a ho-bag?”
Mark: “Don’t worry, Eric. A ho-bag is a character in a Jane Austen novel.”
I love my brothers.
December 29th, 2003
A busy-busy holiday weekend home. Two church services with celebration and drinking in between Christmas Eve – a lovely laid back Christmas with the family with big surprises at the end (LAPTOP!!!!!) – lots of running around and Beef-a-Roo and old friends yesterday. I stopped in to see my old coworkers for what I thought would be a few minutes but ended up being an hour and a half. Amanda and I met Dan and Sarah at the Carlyle Brewing Co. – saw Nicki and Cory by surprise – then walked down to the Office. That’s one thing I do miss about Rockford – going out downtown, drinking at Bacchus or the Rose and then ending up at the Office or Kryptonite. Today breakfast with Kevin, a whirlwind trip to Grandma’s, then hanging out with Ria-fub tonight. Tomorrow I collect the cats and head back to Champaign.
It’s strange being back here because even after such a short period away this doesn’t feel like home.
December 27th, 2003
I’m going home for Christmas tomorrow and so am not sure how much blogging time will be alotted to me. I just wanted to say to all and sundry that it has been a remarkable year – difficult and wonderful with each turn – and I’m glad you’ve been along for the ride (or read, for that matter). May Christmas (or Chanukah or Diwali or Eid or Kwanzaa or whatever holiday you do/don’t celebrate) be a time of wonderful joy and remembrance for each of you. My love to all.
On a more practical note, today has been hectic (since I got off work) and I’ve accomplished little of what I wanted to accomplish. I bought a vacuum (MUCH NEEDED) and finished my Christmas shopping (for real this time) – I checked on the cats – I wrapped presents and did my dishes. I wanted to vacuum (too late) and finish cleaning the apartment (maybe?) – but now I’m settling for finishing the important things (like wrapping and packing) and just dealing with the mess when I get home.
Sweet. There are going to be some awesome stamps next year. I’m really looking forward to the Year of the Monkey and Candy Hearts and Dr. Seuss and Cloudscapes. I digress.
Anyway, I should go. Work and wrapping call, along with the ever-alluring Cran-Strawberry juice. Much love.
December 23rd, 2003
I don’t love you as if you were the salt-rose, topaz
or arrow of carnations that propagate fire:
I love you as certain dark things are loved,
secretly, between the shadow and the soul.
I love you as the plant that doesn’t bloom and carries
hidden within itself the light of those flowers,
and thanks to your love, darkly in my body
lives the dense fragrance that rises from the earth.
I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where,
I love you simply, without problems or pride:
I love you in this way because I don’t know any other way of loving
but this, in which there is no I or you,
so intimate that your hand upon my chest is my hand,
so intimate that when I fall asleep it is your eyes that close.
—Pablo Neruda, Sonnet XVII
December 11th, 2003
2 T olive oil
1 small onion, diced
1 clove garlic, minced
3 sprigs fresh thyme – may substitute dried
1-2 T basil (or dill)
28 oz crushed tomatoes
1 1/2 C chicken broth
3 T honey
1 1/2 t salt
1/4 t ground pepper
1/3 c heavy cream
In a medium pot, heat the oil. Add the onion and cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until tender – about 7 minutes. Add the garlic, thyme, and basil and stir until fragrant. Add the tomatoes, broth, honey, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring frequently, until reduced by a quarter – approx. 15-20 minutes. Puree in blender – BE CAREFUL as soup will be extremely hot and has a tendency to go everywhere if you’re not looking. Return to pot and add cream. Heat gently and adjust seasonings. Good with soft French bread or grilled cheese sandwiches.
I love this recipe. I love homemade soup on a cold and dreary day. Yum.
Recipe from Fine Cooking
December 9th, 2003
First I was Elizabeth Marie.
I am Elizabeth by my father’s choice – and Marie for my mother’s best friend.
As a child I was E.
Briefly I was Beth.
Then, in junior high and high school, I was Liz.
Then, in college, I was Elizabeth.
And now I am Elizabeth and E – the ‘Liz’ has been nearly eliminated and ‘Beth’ not even a distant memory.
So strange the ways names change – and the way they change us. E was my name as a child when my brother couldn’t pronounce Elizabeth – and it stuck. I am E to my closest friends – to those as intimate as family. To the rest of the world (and one special other) I am Elizabeth. I always thought that if I moved away to start an entirely new life I would go by my middle name – Marie. Not sure why that didn’t happen. I think I really like the idea of a private name – a secret name – and then the name known by all. Maybe it’s the intimacy and possession that sharing such a name suggests. All I know is that this name carries weight – that when I am Elizabeth instead of E it means something – it sets me apart – it pulls at the secret, hidden parts of me.
December 8th, 2003
Hey, guess what? I started another blog. Well, it won’t be a real blog – but since I got rid of vinny’s site, I don’t have anywhere to put my recipes online. This didn’t seem the right place – so, voila! Why devil sauce? When I was in London, we were served something by that same name in the refectory. When asked what devil sauce entailed:
Cook: You know brown sauce?
me: Yeah. It’s brown.
Cook: Well, it’s kind of like that.
me: Oooook. Thanks.
So it seemed an apt title. :)
December 6th, 2003
1 lb caramels, unwrapped
1/2 C evaporated milk
Melt caramels in evaporated milk, then set aside. Do not melt on stove if you can help it – microwaving seems to keep the mixture from burning.
2 C flour
2 C oatmeal
1/2 C brown sugar
1 t baking soda
1 1/4 – 1 1/2 C butter or margarine
Preheat the oven to 350F. Mix together flour, oats, sugar, soda, and butter. Divide mixture in half, then press half into a 9 by 13 pan, greased at your discretion. Bake 10 minutes.
Sprinkle baked bars with 6 oz package of chocolate chips. Spread on caramel mixture, then add the remaining half of the batter. Bake 25 minutes.
***
Sarah and I embarked on the Christmas cookie madness – we have a long list, but only got a few things done. More baking tomorrow – and consequently more recipes.
Why the heck do I need another blog? I used to have a foodie site which I loved but never updated – and consequently no one read it. I thought maybe the convenience of blogger would make popping favorite recipes online a little easier. So watch this space for more recipe goodness as the tasty meals are prepared. :)
December 6th, 2003
1 C cold butter cut in 1/2 inch pieces
1/2 C sugar
1/2 t salt
2 1/4 C flour
2 T espresso (or instant coffee)
Combine butter, salt, and sugar. Add flour and espresso; mix slowly, about 4 minutes. Roll out until 1/4 inch thick, then cut with cookie cutters. Bake on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper for 30-60 minutes at 300 or until dry and golden.
9 oz chocolate chips
1 T shortening
Melt chocolate and shortening in a double boiler. Dip half of each cookie in chocolate, then allow to cool on parchment paper at least 2 minutes.
December 6th, 2003
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