Post Thanksgiving....

I am just now trying to catch up with my usual routine after having had my brother and his family staying here for a few days (they left for home in Pennsylvania this morning). So, it might take me a few days to write a proper blog entry. I'm still picking up stray Lego blocks and getting used to a quiet home again.

Right now, I have to get away from the computer and get going with the gingerbread house I mentioned wanting to make to my daughter yesterday. (she obviously did not forget!). Don't worry--it is one of those hard-as-rock already baked ones from a kit. Just need to use the Spackle icing (cement) to put it together and then we can decorate it. Actually, the plan is to make two--one for the husband's classroom and one for here at home. Let the Christmas decorating begin! (already dragged out the Christmas CD's and cassettes, and books yesterday)

Thanksgiving Day

Off in a few hours to Thanksgiving dinner at my parent's house.
I made the Greek-style green beans last night, and J bought the pies (one pumpkin, one Boston Creme) from the culinary arts department at the high school, so there is nothng to do until then but get dressed, walk the dog and read the newspaper. A little free time and peace and quiet--there's one thng to be thankful for.

This is is what was in a good size box on my door step today!!
A basket sent up from Pennsylvania, crammed with English muffins, crumpets, jams, tea, cinnamon rolls and cake! My brother and sister-in-law sent it. They'll be staying with us for the next few days (with my niece and nephew), and it looks like they are taking care of breakfast. How thoughtful of them...
I took everything out of the basket and put in the fridge to keep it all fresh.


Now I have another basket!! It seems I somehow always end up with more baskets than I can use. (although, this one is better than most, with sides made of wood and metal handles--a keeper.). They are good to have on hand for gifts, but somehow we always end up at square one, because whenever one is given away, we get one , too. It think this accumulation of baskets is common for everyone, since there are always plenty of them at yard sales.

On a completely unrelated tangent--I saw a very interesting sight today. I was coming back from my haircut and was stopped at a red light at a busy four-way intersection in town. Waiting to my right, was a mondo huge SUV with two people in the front seat, both speaking into their cell phones at the same time. Yes, sitting side by side, yet having separate conversations...
Another strange thing (to me, anyway) was that the driver looked to be about 12 years old and in the passenger seat was apparently the mother. I am sure the young-looking man must have been at least 16, but...he looked like a little boy.

A Nice (and easy) Indian Pudding Recipe

A Nice Indian Pudding

No. 1. 3 pints scalded mild, 7 spoons fine Indian meal, stir well together while hot, let stand till cooled; add 7 eggs, half pound raisins, 4 ounces butter, spice and sugar, and bake one and half hour.

No. 2. 3 pints scalded milk to one pint meal salted; cool, add 2 eggs, 4 ounces butter, sugar or molasses and spice q.s. it will require two and half hours baking.

No. 3. Salt a pint meal, wet with one quart milk, sweeten and put into a strong cloth, brass or bell metal vessel, stone or earthern pot secure from wet and boil 12 hours.
from Amelia Simmons, American Cookery (Hartford, 1796)

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I ended up making Indian Pudding for Saturday night's dinner and came home with an empty pudding bowl and have been thinking of making it again ever since. I was *almost* going to do it today since I had the day off, but got caught up with too many other things(guests staying here Thursday through Sunday, so have to get the house straightened first)

The following recipe is the one I eventually decided to use. It is an easy recipe adapted for the modern kitchen--no hours in the oven, no scalding of milk before adding the cornmeal...and it came out delectably delicious, so I don't think I would even ever try making it any other way. (there are other ways of making it with the longer cooking times, too, but I think they must come out about the same)

I got the following recipe out of Linda Beaulieu's The Providence And Rhode Island Cookbook. Don't be put off the by the odd combination of ingredients or the rather plain brownness of it--it is quite delicious (did I already write that?). I had not had Indian Pudding in some time, and now I can't get it off my mind. I think I am in love ! (might have to make it for my guests...my brother and his family who are all picky eaters, so I may end up having to eat most of it..heh..heh..)

Narragansett Indian Pudding

1/2 cup yellow cornmeal * I happened to have a bag of stone ground white cornmeal in the fridge--used for making R.I. jonnycakes (in R.I., there is never an "h" in Jonnycake!), and the taste is the same. White corn meal is made from a different strain of corn with light colored kernels instead of yellow.

2 Tablespoons sugar

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon baking soda

3 cups of milk, divided (I used whole milk)

2 Tablespoons butter, melted

1 egg, beaten

1/4 dark, unsulphered molasses (since I love the taste of molasses, I added a bit more..)

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon ground ginger

Whipped cream, Hard Sauce or Vanilla Ice Cream

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In a 2-quart saucepan, combine the cornmeal, sugar, salt, and baking soda. Stir in 1 1/2 cups milk and the melted butter. Cook over medium-high heat until thick and bubbly. Remove from heat. Set aside.

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

In a bowl, combine the beaten egg, molasses, cinnamon, ginger, and the remaining 1 1/2 cups of milk. Stir into the cornmeal mixture. Mix well. Pour into a 1 or 2 quart casserole.

Bake, uncovered, for about 1 hour ( I adjusted this because my oven gets too hot, so baked it at 275 for a little longer than an hour), or until a knife inserted into the pudding comes out clean. Serve warm with topping of choice.

Music for Monday

Amy MacDonald:

Cozy Evening In ~ Cold Night Out

Since it was so, so cold out last night (well below 20*F), it was a perfect night to spend indoors in front of the fire (even nicer with a Cosmopolitan or two) with friends and hearty Thanksgiving food.

I only remembered at the last minute to get a photo of my green beans, but by the end of the night, I completely forgot to take a picture of my beautiful (if I may say so myself) Indian Pudding. There was nothing left and I brought home an empty bowl. I am definitely making it again, though.

Friends, good food.......

....and husband drinking beer.

A "Just Because" blog...

..entry before I get myself to bed. I am very sleepy and who knows what drivel I'll write.

I just finished in the kitchen. Gawd, what a mess! I fixed a green bean dish (very pretty with sauteed mushrooms and those little pearl onions)for tomorrow's Alterna-Thanksgiving Dinner party (not here). And I also pre-measured all the ingredients for the Indian Pudding, so the daughter and husband can get started on it before I get home. Yes, I am working a Saturday tomorrow. I am hoping to sneak out early so I can be a little relaxed before going out . I hate rushing off to anything social without first coming home to get a little introvert "me" time. I hate rushing, in general.

Here's where I brag about my Wonder Girl (who is still battling that cold that started last weekend, poor thing). Yes, that's my daughter's report card above. I am ever so proud of my girl, who works hard and her grades are showing it. (besides her homework and studying, she has been involved in Cross-Country, Yearbook, Band, Chorus and The Madrigal Singers this fall.)

I just hope she will always be motivated to excel, and excited about school like she is now. I am thinking of treating her to either a movie ("Twilight"?) and Cafe Mocha afterwards, or a little mall shopping soon. (because "we NEVER go to the mall...", as she told me a few weeks ago)

My Flickr Mosaic

This took up quite a bit of my time this evening, but it is fun and well worth it! What you do is this:

You answer 12 questions, and then use those answers to search Flickr.

1. You have to type your answer to each of the 12 questions listed below into Flickr Search.

2. Then, using only the first page of search results, pick one image.

3. Copy & paste the URL for each image into this cool mosaic maker (after adjusting it to make sure there are 12 squares).

4. You then put the photos you get as search results into a mosaic, that while are not your images (I have the credits listed for the talented photographers in a list below, as well), but kind of describe you and your life in a visual feast of a photo collage (mosaic).

1. What is your first name? (Tina)

2. What is your favorite food? (nuts)

3. What high school did you go to? (North Kingstown High)

4. What is your favorite color? (orange)

5. Who is your celebrity crush? (Conan O'Brien)

6. Favorite drink? (wine)

7. Dream vacation? (Savannah, Georgia)

8. Favorite dessert? (Key Lime Pie)

9. What did you want to be when you grew up? (artist)

10. What do you love most in life? (curiousity)

11. One word to describe you. (sensitive)

12. Your own photo on Flikr. (I took a photo of these stone whippet statues in Charlestown, R.I. two summers ago)

1. Tina Fey, 2. Coffee Yoghurt Cashew Nuts Cake, 3. Wickford, RI, 4. Orange as any orange on a tree, 5. Conan Backstage, 6. wine pour, 7. springtime in savannah., 8. Key Limmmmmmmme, 9. impulse, 10. Curiousity, 11. A Caring Caress, 12. Lined up

Brussel Sprouts, a Cute Overload and Indian Pudding

I was jolted out of a dream by the obnoxious alarm this morning. Just as I was peering down into a giant tub of Brussel Sprouts, too....

If it hadn't been for the alarm, I might have had a more interesting blog for today. (where might those brussel sprouts have taken me?)

The picture up top has absolutely nothing to do with dreams, alarm clocks or brussel sprouts, of course. Audrey and Sam have both featured pictures of their current desktop , and the delectable Dachshund doggie in a bun (from Cute Overload) is my current desktop. Every day when I turn the computer on, I just melt when see that adorable wiener pup and just want

to b-i-t-e (in a good, kissing way, mind you) it's vulnerable little skull.

I am in a quandary today. I have to investigate and decide which Indian Pudding recipe I'll use for an alternative Thanksgiving Dinner (with friends-no family) we are invited to this Saturday. I've got about four different cook books out and various printed-out-from-the-web recipes scattered around. One even from Boston's legendary Durgin Park (since 1827) which has been serving it for years.

My mind is boggling at all the ways it can be made--cooked, baked (some recipes say one hour--some say three to five hours!), baked and steamed (traditional) and even in a slow-cooker!!

What to do, what to do.... I'm having Indian Pudding Recipe Overload!

I don't know why I make things so complicated for myself.

Just a Blogthang for today....

...because I have to pamper and take care of my sick little girl.

The Ultimate Color Test

When you are at peace, you are: Energized and innovative When you are moved to act, you are: Giving and warm When you are inspired, you are: Creative and productive When your life is perfectly balanced, you are: Connected to nature and the world Your life's purpose is: To change the world

The Ultimate Color Test

Um, that is a lot of pressure...my life's purpose! Just let me make some pancakes first, okay?

Friday Fill-in - TGIF version

Friday Fill-in......

1. Please feel free to _____________ give me a foot massage, bring me a good stiff drink (a vodka and tonic with lime would be ideal), and call the Thai place for take-out . And if you care to listen to me complain about my horrible day at work, that would be a bonus. (is that too much to ask for?)

2. When I _________ frame a freshly painted oil canvas for a customer, I can't help sniffing it occasionally. (I love the smell of oil paint and linseed oil--maybe not so good for the brain cells and the reason I am the way I am?)

3. My favorite thing to cook is __________ soups and stews--you can be creative and unrushed about it and there is really no way it won't turn out right.

4. Buying, swapping, holding, reading, re-reading and thinking about books_____________ is something I can't get enough of.

5. That's the thing I love most about ______________ my daughter. We are alike in so many ways, that I can understand her and feel in sync with her(most of the time), but she has that extra edge to her personality and that is perseverance and determination. (which I don't have).

6. When I see/hear someone talking into their cell phone--having a conversation, while buying something at the store and barely acknowledging the cashier________ it always makes me think to myself, what the heck? (so RUDE....ggrrrr...)

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _____ lying on the couch and not having to talk or think, tomorrow my plans include _____ going out to eat with the husband and Sunday, I want to _____make art! (but I'll probably end up having to rake leaves)

Bittersweet Days

Yesterday was when I noticed and felt it was truly November. After a few windy rainstorms, the last of the leaves have been blown off the trees and most branches are now bare. Maybe a few red sumac leaves hanging on, and the stubborn brown oak leaves. The oak leaves are all over the ground now, and I can't even see the street!
For the most part, the trees have been denuded and once again you notice the things that were hidden under the lush green vines and vegetation, like the stone walls and smaller bushes you didn't realise were there all along.

The sky, even when blue, is a pale, washed out blue. So it really has that "waning days of autumn, fading gently into winter" feeling. I am not sad, though. It feels right and even though by March I will be miserably sick of the wintery grey deadness and cold, I am looking forward to the first snow and even some really chilly weather.

I took a walk this morning with Jewel, up at the playground and ball fields. The weak sun almost warmed my face and I needed gloves only towards the end of the walk. I try to expose my skin to some good vitamin D rays as much as I can.
Usually, I pick a few flowers for a small wild flower bouquet when I go there. This time I only was able to bring back a few branches of berries--bittersweet and shadberry and a black colored berry I should know the name of, but don't. The only flowers left along the fence by the soccer field were clumps of this small, bright yellow type which I don't know the name of. It sort of looks like a cross between a dandelion (but with a tighter head) and an aster. I tried looking it up in my trusty 1912 edition Field Guide Of American Wild Flowers, but couldn't find it. I think if I take a little more time, I will eventually find the description in there.

I made the Obama chili recipe over the weekend, and I have to say, while I am proud, proud that man is now our president-elect, his chili is ...meh. I ended up having to add more spices and even hot sauce at the table because that is one wimpy chili!
My friend 4streegrrl suggested I find some vegetable protein as a meat substitute, and I bought some Smart Ground and used that instead of ground meat. At first, it tasted disappointing to me--all I could taste was a wheaty, tabouli-like flavor. But as the chili simmered and developed flavor it must have seeped into the Smart Ground and it really was almost meaty (definitely had the right texture) and very tasty! The family liked the chili (they didn't mind it not having as much of a spicy kick, unlike me). I will certainly try that Smart Ground stuff again--maybe in tacos.

To continue on in the domestic way (what is wrong with me, and how long will this domesticity last? ), I am thinking of making some brownies and some apple-cranberry muffins (in the Rhode Island And Providence Cookbook, my new favorite cookbook, even just to read in bed before turning out the light!)today. The recipe suggests using Rhode Island Greening apples (nice and tart and hold up well in baking), but I don't think I know if I will find any. You would think, living in Rhode Island, that wouldn't be a problem, right?

Hey, they even have their own Wikipedia entry.

Oh, and can I say I am oh so proud of myself for having finally figured how to load multiple photos in a blog entry??!! I know in the past, that Claudia and Samantha (thanks, you two!) have written me and told me how, but I never tried it until now. It works!!

The Muffin Oracle Has Spoken!

You Are a Lemon Poppy Seed Muffin

You are smart, sophisticated, and savvy. You love taking risks, and you are the first to know about new trends. You are curious about the world and tend to have many interests. You also are very talented. It sometimes seems like you are good at everything. You are very social and inclusive. You'll be friends with anyone. Even though you're very cultured, you're not a snob.

What Kind of Muffin Are You?

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This is just so perfect for a slow-starting, lazy Saturday morning (yes, I did end up going out to the book meeting last night...but it was okay because no one finished the book!) Thank you, Blogthings, once again.

How I love to imagine that I am *savvy*!

Now if only I did have a lemon poppy seed muffin. All I had with my coffee this morning was a somewhat burnt Thomas's English Muffin.

November's first Friday Fill-in!

'Bean-Bama' mosaic from a Craftster Challenge entry

Thanks, once again, to Janet for the fill-in prompts.

1. My blueprint for success includes _____________ just being my best 'self'. (but, where's the success? Might have to re-think my blueprint)

2. A Harry Potter 'Blood' Pop_________ was the last candy I ate.

3. The best facial moisturizer I've ever used is __________ Alpha Hydrox lotion (it's not really a moisturizer--more of an exfoliator that keeps my skin so soft. I have oily skin so don't want or need any greasy moisturizer on my face).

4. Organizing (and clearing out) your dresser drawers and clothes closet_____________ can be good therapy.

5. I'd like to tell you about ______________ my dog.


6. My inner strength ________ is my strongest characteristic.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _____ somehow ducking out of going to the book club "meeting" because I feel like an absolute schmuck that I completely forgot about the meeting and book,
tomorrow my plans include _____ making a big pot of Barack Obama's Chili (recipe below~ thanks, Duskie!) and possibly taking phone calls from book club friends asking me why I "didn't come last night",
and Sunday, I want to _____do the things I said I wanted to do last Sunday!

Obama Family Chili Recipe

1 large onion, chopped

1 green pepper, chopped

Several cloves of garlic, chopped

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 pound ground turkey or beef

1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

1/4 teaspoon ground oregano

1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric

1/4 teaspoon ground basil

1 tablespoon chili powder

3 tablespoons red wine vinegar

Several tomatoes, depending on size, chopped

1 can red kidney beans

Saute onions, green pepper and garlic in olive oil until soft.
Add ground meat and brown.
Combine spices together into a mixture, then add to ground meat.
Add red wine vinegar.
Add tomatoes and let simmer, until tomatoes cook down.
Add kidney beans and cook for a few more minutes.
Serve over white or brown rice. Garnish with grated cheddar cheese, onions and sour cream.

recipe from The Huffington Post:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/04/obamas-chili-recipe_n_89826.html

Yes We Did !

I can't remember a presidency which has filled me with this much hope and excitement. Despite the tremendous challenges facing Obama/Biden when they take the White House on January 20, 2009, I feel assured America has done the right thing (finally, after what seems like much more than eight depressing years) . I can't remember a time when I stayed up past midnight to watch the election results and can't remember when an election brought me actual tears of joy. Oh, and please watch and most of all, listen to the whole video..."There's no one as Irish as Barack O'Bama!" ;-)

Obama wins in earliest vote in tiny Dixville, NH

1920's postcard view of Dixville Notch, New Hampshire

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This is the headline I read first thing when I went online, just a few minutes ago.

DIXVILLE NOTCH, New Hampshire (CNN)

-- Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama emerged victorious in the first election returns of the 2008 presidential race, winning 15 of 21 votes cast in Dixville Notch, New Hampshire.
People in the village in New Hampshire's northeast corner voted just after midnight Tuesday.
It was the first time since 1968 that the village leaned Democratic in an election.
Obama's rival, Republican John McCain, won 6 votes.
A full 100 percent of registered voters in the village cast ballots. And the votes didn't take long to tally.
The town, home to around 75 residents, has opened its polls shortly after midnight each Election Day since 1960, drawing national media attention for being the first place in the country to make its presidential preferences known.

As Dixville, New Hampshire goes, so goes the rest of the nation?
Let's hope!! Actually, I am feeling really confident that Obama will get the majority of the votes(and the right amount of electoral votes) to win. I have been nervous and anxious up until today.
Sipping my first cup of coffee, then have to nudge the daughter out of bed for an early morning orthodondist's appointment, and then on to my local voting location. Meeting the husband there, and then off we go to a little diner for breakfast.