What's Up

I'm just downloading my 1,044 vacation pictures and listening to Pete Yorn and Scarlett Johansson's song "Relator" over and over again. (This is why I don't tweet--you'd be bored to death.)

What are you doing?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRtydnIycCY&feature=channel

We're Back! What to do?

We got back home at about four o'clock this morning after a really nice trip. (Pictures are coming soon.) We fell into bed exhausted and woke up ravenous. Unfortunately, the fridge was empty: no milk, no eggs, no fruit, and only frozen bread. What to do?

I made us a quesadilla to share and some chicken nuggets that were in the freezer. Chuk ate while watching his beloved Steelers play football, all the while feeling like he was in a sports bar on account of the crappy snacks I was feeding him. He's satisfied, but I'm longing for some fresh fruits and vegetables; I don't think I can handle getting back in the car yet though. What to do?

I might hit up some canned pineapples or peaches. I know we've got carrots, but our hummus has got to be at least three weeks old, probably four. Is it worth the risk? Hmmm. I'm off to do some smell testing.

Quick Tip

I can assure you, keeping an umbrella in your car at all times will improve the quality of your life. Go run out there now and put one in your car before you forget. While you're at it, make sure it's a big golf umbrella because you know that when you need it no one else will have brought their umbrella and you'll have to share. I can't tell you how often having an emergency umbrella has saved me (and the forgetful people with me.)

While we're talking about umbrellas, this is my favorite. I have one and I think it is so cute. (For the record, I'm in no way affiliated with this company.) I want one of these and one of these, even though I mostly use a boring black compact umbrella that you can buy on the street for $5.

How do you keep dry on wet days? Raincoat? Umbrella? Folded newspaper held over the head?

Happy Hour at Home: Cider

When we have friends over, we don't usually make a huge deal out of it. (I don't make bellinis every Friday, in case you thought otherwise.) People come over; we talk; we play a game or grill something or watch football. However, I do like to make small changes to our normal routine every once in awhile to keep things fresh and make it feel special.

Have your friends over for happy hour (or just to hang out) and serve hard pear or apple cider instead of beer. I always prefer the taste of cider to beer, but at this time of year, it's especially good.

You could step things up a notch by offering mugs of hot (non-alcoholic) cider and a simple fondue in addition to the hard cider. Pour a gallon of cider into your crockpot with a couple of cinnamon sticks, cloves and citrus peel and let it simmer away on low or warm all day until your guests arrive. The smell will be as welcoming as the drink.

Make a simple Cheddar fondue and serve it with wedges of apples and chunks of bread. See, you are using that fondue pot you got for your wedding! (If you did not receive a fondue pot, you can use a second crock pot to make fondue.)

You're spreading the autumn cheer already.

Recycle It, Duh!

I've been recycling for more than twenty years. (I do realize that makes me sound older than I am.) I grew up in northern California and the trash collection service distributed home recycling bins in the late 80s, much earlier than most of the country. I thought I was a recycling pro.

Then like six months ago I realized I CAN RECYCLE EMPTY TOILET PAPER ROLLS. You may be saying "no duh" but it really opened my eyes. Even if we are being as environmentally friendly as we think we can be, there's always room for improvement.

What can you do today to be a little gentler to the earth? Do you recycle your spent TP rolls? Have you ever found a blind spot in your green ways?

Mississippi Mud

My mom handwrote this recipe in the back of a favorite family cookbook before giving it to me.

Growing up, my family’s other birthday tradition was to have Mississippi mud instead of birthday cake. Mississippi mud can best be described as a rich, rocky road brownie. We’d get home from El Perico and then dig into this. I’m opening up the vault to the secret family recipes, so enjoy!

Mississippi Mud

2 sticks of butter
2 cups sugar
1 ½ cups flour
1 ½ cups pecans
½ cup cocoa
4 slightly beaten eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
Pinch of salt
Mini-marshmallows
Chocolate frosting (recipe below)

Melt butter and cocoa together. Remove from heat and stir in beaten eggs. Mix well. Add flour, sugar, nuts, salt and vanilla. Mix well. Spoon batter into a greased 13 x 9 x 2 pan. Bake @ 350º F for 35-40 minutes. Top with mini-marshmallows.

Chocolate Frosting

1 box confectioners sugar
1/3 cup cocoa
½ cup milk
½ stick soft butter

Beat together until smooth. Pour over marshmallows.

You'll Have to Swallow Saliva

My mother’s husband buys himself a Spanish word-of-the-day calendar every year for Christmas. A couple of years ago, when I was visiting them for my birthday, I saw that the word for October 18 was “tragar” or “to swallow”. Helpfully, the calendar used the word in a sentence: “Tendrás que tragar saliva,” which translates literally to “You’ll have to swallow saliva,” or figuratively to “Grin and bear it.” I framed the calendar page and keep it on a bookshelf year-round.

October 18 is my birthday. I’m grinning and bearing it.

Actually I’m doing more than grinning and bearing it; I’m trying to get excited. The second half of my twenties was bad, really bad. I’m hoping that with a new decade in my life will come new opportunities and renewed happiness. I’m ready to turn the page.