Says Me

My contribution to the meal

nobody@vox.com(Sooz) — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 10:35:54 -0600

Acornsquash

Acornsquashall

Salad

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Winter Fruit Pie

nobody@vox.com(Sooz) — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 21:15:56 -0600

Yum

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Why I'm not usually allowed to cook

nobody@vox.com(Sooz) — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 20:27:55 -0600

When the package says to prick the pie crust before baking, there's a real reason. And no, those bubbles don't just push back down, they break. Into lots of little pieces.

When you prick holes into the second set of pie crusts, you do not actually need to push the fork through the bottom of the tin.

Oh, and cherry pie filling is not a suitable substitute for pie cherries. Cherry + pie on the label should equal what I need, right?

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QotD: Favorite Thanksgiving Recipe

nobody@vox.com(Sooz) — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 15:25:44 -0600

Thanksgiving is only a few days away. What is your favorite Thanksgiving recipe? Will you be making it this year? Mind sharing?

This year I will be taking a salad, stuffed acorn squash and winter fruit pie as a contribution to our meal at Linda's. The stuffed acorn squash is a recipe I just saw last week and the winter fruit pie is a long-time favorite.

Stuffed Acorn Squash

You can easily increase the amounts in this recipe to fit the number of guests who'll be skipping the turkey. Makes 4 servings.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2 acorn squash, halved with the seeds removed

2 cups vegetable broth

1 cup wild rice

1/4 cup dried cranberries

1/2 cup walnuts

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

In a shallow baking dish, coat with olive oil and place the halved squash cut side down. Put in the oven and bake for about 15 minutes, or until just tender.

In a pot, bring the vegetable broth to a boil and add the rice. Cover, lower the heat and cook until the broth is absorbed, about 30 minutes. Remove from heat. In a bowl, mix the rice, cranberries, walnuts, salt and pepper. Spoon the rice mixture into the squash.

May be served warm or at room temperature.

Winter Fruit Pie
1 lg can crushed pineapple
1 sm box Orange Jello
1 can pie cherries, drained
1 cup pecans, chopped
1 c sugar
¼ c flour
5 bananas, sliced
2 baked pie shells

Bring pineapple, sugar, flour and Orange Jello to a boil. Fold in drained cherries. Let cool. When cool, add pecans and bananas. Pour into baked pie shells, chill until set. Serve with whipped cream or Cool Whip. Also good plain.

I have no idea why each recipe is spaced the way they are. They both came from single space Word docs. Ah, well.

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QotD: Guest vs. Host

nobody@vox.com(Sooz) — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 18:34:55 -0600

For a full sit-down dinner with several guests, would you rather be the one cooking or do you prefer to just show up and eat?

I'd be the one who is happy to just show up and eat. I'd be happy to bring a side dish or dessert too.
We had a lovely brunch at the Westin today. I was so stuffed when we left. More uncomfortable than I can remember being in ages. I had:

half a small mushroom and cheese omelet
half a waffle with strawberries, pecans and bananas
glass of OJ
salad (mixed greens, tomatoes, cukes, artichokes, black olives and candied pecans)
mashed potatoes
sweet potatoes
corn bread stuffing
mixed veggies
roll & butter
hot tea
chocolate dipped strawberries and pineapple

We went with Linda and Kelly, and had a really nice 2.5 hour meal. :-) It's nice to sit and chat between tastings. The hotel wasn't crowded at all, which made it nice. No screaming kids. Some odd outfits and hairdo's though.
The chocolate fountain was perfect, the right kind of chocolate that tastes good and actually sets.
I told mom on the way home that I am really pleased with how meat has become such a no-event for me. I had no second thoughts about "just a taste" of turkey or ham.
Then I came home, drank a ginger ale and took a nap. All-in-all, a day I am thankful for.

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Happy Thanksgiving

nobody@vox.com(Sooz) — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 08:06:52 -0600

‘Twas the night of Thanksgiving,
But I just couldn’t sleep
I tried counting backwards,
I tried counting sheep.

The leftovers beckoned --
The dark meat and white
But I fought the temptation
With all of my might.

Tossing and turning
With anticipation
The thought of a snack
Became infatuation.

So, I raced to the kitchen,
Flung open the door
And gazed at the fridge,
Full of goodies galore.

I gobbled up turkey
And buttered potatoes,
Pickles and carrots,
Beans and tomatoes.

I felt myself swelling
So plump and so round,
‘Til all of a sudden,
I rose off the ground.

I crashed through the ceiling,
Floating into the sky
With a mouthful of pudding
And a handful of pie.

But, I managed to yell
As I soared past the trees....
Happy eating to all --
Pass the cranberries, please.

May your stuffing be tasty,
May your turkey be plump.
May your potatoes ‘n gravy
Have nary a lump.

May your yams be delicious
May your pies take the prize,
May your Thanksgiving dinner
Stay off of your thighs.

May your Thanksgiving be blessed!!

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People are funny

nobody@vox.com(Sooz) — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 17:52:40 -0600

On Thursday, mom and I are going to have brunch at a local resort hotel. When I told people this at work, they looked at me bewildered. "What will you eat?" they ask.

I laugh because I have never been to a restaurant where they serve nothing but meat. Oh, I'm sure they're out there, I just haven't been to one.

Oh, I'm sure I'll find something to eat. There's an omelet bar, pasta bar, salad stuff and I'm sure lots of veggies (and dessert).

"Oh, yeah."

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Tofurkey

nobody@vox.com(Sooz) — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 18:54:38 -0600

The local Whole-Foods-like store has tofurkey on sale. My mom called and asked if she should pick one up for me.

Uh, no.

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Thanksgiving reminder

nobody@vox.com(Sooz) — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 18:52:21 -0600

We are none of us alone
even as we exhale it is inhaled by others
the light that shines upon me shines upon my neighbor as well
in this way everything is connected
everything is connected to everything else
In this way I am connected to my friend even as I am connected to my enemy
In this way there is no difference between me and my friend
In this way there is no difference between me and my enemy
We are none of us alone

Life, nbc.com

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Blather

nobody@vox.com(Sooz) — Sun, 03 Dec 2006 21:09:50 -0600

A Prairie Home Companion

Saw Stranger Than Fiction and A Prairie Home Companion today.

I liked Stranger Than Fiction. As an appreciator of writers, the subject really interested me. For once, I liked Will Farrell, the straight man. And, I guess if you really squint, you can see how I might look like Maggie Gyllenhaal if she was having an off day (thanks for that comparison Kinkish, I'm flattered).

PHC was good, but it had a weird angel sub-plot going on that was unnecessary. There's a possibility that I will attend a conference in Minneapolis/St. Paul in May and I will definitely check to see if Garrison Keillor is in town and get tickets for mom and I.

Yesterday I did some block walking for my neighborhood association. I am running for vice president and we were putting out flyers to let folks know the election is tomorrow night.

Yeah, I'm running, but I won't be there because I will be in Austin seeing the Dixie Chicks! Have I mentioned seeing Shut Up and Sing? It's an excellent documentary about the whole, "We're embarrassed the President is from Texas" debacle. Even if you disagreed with what they said, you should see the movie. It might just change your mind.

Whatever, the Chicks rock. As of tomorrow night, Jill and I will have seen all three tours together. I can hardly wait!

I somehow ended up with a ton of vacation days left this year, so I took Thanksgiving week, and will take the week between Christmas and New Year's, and in between I am taking off every Friday.

Last Friday mom and I went to IKEA in Round Rock. We had a great time, although I almost fell over when they rang up my basket at the end of our four-hour tour (no joke)(although we did eat lunch there too).

Poang chair

I've been wanting to create a little reading nook for myself. The couch just isn't right for it, my favorite chair now belongs to the girls and I need to not always be reading in bed. I bought this chair, except mine is red. I also got a little table to go with it and just need to move my floor lamp to pull it all together. I had to move a chair out of the living room area to make it work, and it does, but now I have to decide what to do with the other chair. Into the second bedroom with all the other things I don't know what to do with I guess.

My Uncle has a follow-up with the Detroit doctors on the 15th. I'd say he's doing better, but it really doesn't sound like it. He's walking well, but still unable to swallow. They were going to do a swallowing test last Friday, but the weather was too bad and the appointment is rescheduled for this Friday.

I haven't been back to see my Godmother. I need to, just so I can see where they have her now. Seems the hospice ladies are in every day and really stay on top of things. I am glad for that.

My Godfather told the boys on Thanksgiving what was going on. The older son understands, the younger is still in denial. He keeps thinking there is something they can do, some drug they can find that will make her all better again. I think he is not going to take this well when the time comes. It's sad.

Have I mentioned how Thanksgiving sucked? I started to post about it earlier, but man, I always complain about the holidays. I've disliked them for years. Jill has invited us over for Thanksgiving for years now and we decided this was the year to give it a try. Never again. I almost fell over when we got there and I saw the turkey still in the sink thawing. At noon. Ugh. We didn't eat until 7:50 pm. Needless to say, I was starving! It was just a weird mix of family and friends, we won't be back...

I hate that I have lost the holiday spirit. Years ago I dated a guy with two kids. When we broke up, Christmas was never the same. Then my Godmother started to falter. I know that's life and all, but I just want to find peace, joy and happiness in my heart this time of year. And it's not there.

Gee, guess I should post more often and not let it all build up into one big Ba-Humbug message, huh?

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