Winter . . . again

I must be getting old.  The years are just flying past me at the speed of a Republican voting to repeal the ACA.  I haven't yet recovered from Spring of 2013, when it snowed into MAY, then the miserable Winter of 2014 and the polar vortex of torture.  Summer seems to last about a week in my world.  And now Winter is back, with snow and cold and it's not even Thanksgiving yet!  Today might top out at 21degrees - as cold as Joni Ernst's heart on her better days.

This week I'll make chili, ham & white beans, and beef stew to ease my shivering bones.

I truly love Minnesota, and MOST of winter.  But only between December 15th and February 28th.  Outside of that winter can bite me..... which it does . . often.

Mia Famiglia - when we won the 5K costume contest after Thanksgiving, by dressing as a blizzrd.

REAL Wedding Vows

After nearly 24 years of marriage, I've learned a lot.  

I've learned this is what people should be promising at their weddings . . 

I promise first of all to fully commit to this new family we are creating.  I promise to keep my vows and to view this promise as sacred.  I promise to look past all this fluff, flowers, and window dressing to realize I am promising that the rest of life will occur at your side.

I promise to watch out for the little problems, for they are what can wear us down.  I vow to watch for the magic of making you laugh.  I will marvel at the fact that you come home to me every night.  And when I find myself wallowing in the bills, the weather, the home repair, the groceries, I will take you into my arms and be thrilled that you are alive, and here to share this life.

I promise to realize that sadness, loneliness, anger, frustration and disillusion are a completely normal part of any adult life, and to not immediately assume it means our marriage is wrong.  I promise to look at my own behavior and attitudes for change, and not to blame all my negative feelings on you.  I also promise to remember that life changes frequently, and that our marriage can survive any storm if we decide it will.

I promise that our marriage will always be a priority - above my hobbies, my job, the car, and the house.  It will be more important than any material thing we own.  I will remember that keeping our marriage alive is the best gift we could give to any kids.

I promise to balance that priority with outside interests, because I also promise to HAVE outside interests.  I will keep my friendships strong and will work to cultivate my own world apart from you.  Because I will not expect you to fill my every need for companionship and entertainment.

I promise to defend you against my family, your family, or even our own kids.  I will tell the world that if you mess with one of us, you mess with both of us.  And when I can't defend you, I promise to let you know and why.  And together we will work it out.

I promise that when I'm ready to walk away, or have an affair, I will use that signal to enter counseling and take it seriously.  I will give our marriage every effort in world.  I promise to never destroy your dignity with infidelity.

As we age, I promise to watch our decline with loving eyes.  To remember that every winkle, every pound, every gray hair, is a symbol of our lives lived in the sun, raising children, laughing, smiling, and loving.

I promise to remember, day in-day out, all my life, that you have agreed to be my partner.  That you have put aside your freedom to stand at my side.  That you have chosen me.

Red beans and rice in the crock pot

"Oh Lordy, she's givin us another recipe.  Doesn't that woman have any actual THOUGHTS in her head anymore?"

Yes I do.  I think of all kinds of great posts while I'm in the shower or trying to get to sleep.  Don't judge me.

While you wait for my lazy butt to blog something of substance, how about eating something of substance?  And how about it's something easy to make in the crock pot? Even better, right?  Don't say I never give you anything.  This recipe was found on pinterest which led me here, because we should all give credit where credit is due.  My alterations are in red.

CROCK POT RED BEANS AND RICE
1 pound red beans - or more if you are going vegetarian.
7 cups water
1 green bell pepper, chopped - I used two because I'm a rebel.  And one of them was red.  I like to stick it to the man.
1 medium onion, chopped
3 celery stalks, chopped - I didn't have any.  We don't need no stinkin celery!
3 garlic cloves, chopped or minced - I used 5 because 3 is nothing in my world.
2 cans Campbell's chicken broth - I used Better Than Bouillon and 2 cups of water.  Bouillon is one of those words I always have to spell check.
1-1/2 pounds sausage  - I used Turkey sausage in the ring, cut in 1" slices.  You could totally skip this and make it vegetarian.  I would add more beans.
2 tablespoons Creole Seasoning - this packs some wonderful heat. So take it to 1 tablespoon if you don't like spicy things
Hot cooked rice - for later.  I used brown rice.

Rinse the beans and pick out any stones.  And by the way, I've never ever found stones in my dried beans. Have any of you? Put them in the crock pot
Add everything else EXCEPT the rice.  Give it a good stir.  Cook all day on low.
Serve it in bowls, and let eaters add as much rice as they want.
TIME SAVER HINT - I cut up everything the night before and put it in a bowl in the frig.  Also the night before, I put all the water, seasoning, and Better Than Bouillon in the crock pot.  In the morning I gave the liquids a good stir, rinsed & added the beans, and added all the cut-up ingredients.

Microwave Polenta

Winter of 2014 has been one for the records.  Brutal cold, piles of snow, thick ice.  We need easy comfort food here in the Northwoods.  So tonight I made polenta, aka corn meal mush.   EASY polenta. Not the kind that has you standing at the stove stirring until your arm falls off.  Start warming up!

MICROWAVE POLENTA
4 cups water
1 1/4 cups corn meal
2t. kosher salt
3 T. butter
Pepper

In a 2 qt microwave safe bowl, stir the water, corn meal and salt.  Microwave on full power for 12 minutes, stirring well at the 6 minute mark.  When it's done, add the butter & pepper and stir.  You can eat it right away, or spoon it into a loaf pan, let it cool, slice it, let it dry a bit, then fry in butter or olive oil.

We like it mushy, right away, covered with a bit of marinara and parmesan cheese.
It would be great with any savory topping - chili, pesto, cheese alone, salsa, etc
It's also great fried as slices, then covered with maple syrup.  mmmmmmmmmmmmm

Freedom is a rather messy thing

All Americans have the constitutional guarantee to freedom of speech.  This allows the KKK to march on public streets.  It allows that dreadful woman from Alaska to publish her inane ramblings in books.  It guarantees my right to any bumper sticker I want on my car and to say anything I please on my own blog or facebook page.  It allows that kook pastor in Florida to burn any Koran he owns.  And yes it allows creepy stars on reality TV to express their views.

BUT . . . . .

That reality show is a privately owned company.  And capitalism working the way it does, that company has every right to tell said star that they won't tolerate such words on their channel.    No one said he can't state his views, no one is accusing him of a crime.  Nobody says he can't write a book, or a blog, or letters to the editor.  But the folks that own A&E feel his words will hurt their bottom line, so out he goes, and THAT my friends is free speech and capitalism, all rolled up in one.  And sometimes that sandwich ain't tasty.

If I'm a waiter and I tell some customers they're fat and lazy for eating out, and really shouldn't be ordering the french fries, I'd probably be fired, agreed?  I exercised my right to free speech, meaning I did not commit a crime, but I will most definitely lose my job.  The firing is NOT an infringement of my free speech.

Remember how the right wing media and conservative voters were ready to tar and feather the Dixie Chicks for speaking THEIR views at their very own concert???  And how some country radio stations refused to play their music??  Where was their outrage over the Dixie Chicks' rights to free speech?  The Dixie Chicks suffered public backlash and a loss of commercial revenue because of their words.  And that is the very same capitalism/free speech shit sandwich.

Have your views, state them loud, but be a grown up and face the commercial consequences.  Freedom isn't always neat and pretty.

 

No Calorie Christmas Cookies

Did you seriously believe I'd make cookies without calories??  

It's just not the Holiday Season for me if I don't make an obscene pile of cookies.  Or as my daughter's call a large amount - a SHIT TON of cookies.  Last year I told you about Mocha Chewies - those I'm making later this week.

Today I made Chocolate Crinkles, those lovely dark chocolate sweets you roll in powdered sugar before the oven.  I may make spicy gingersnaps later.  But first was my absolute new favorite; Peppermint Sugar Kisses!  Make these - your cookie plate will be the hit of the year.

1.5 cups of powdered sugar
1 1/4 cups butter, at room temp
1 tsp peppermint extract - this is TOTALLY optional.  I don't add it and I think it would kill the cookie.
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 large egg
3 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup finely chopped Hershey's Candy Cane Kisses
Regular sugar
About 30-40 unwrapped Hershey's Candy Cane Kisses

Preheat the oven to 350.  Make flat space in your frig or freezer for ALL the cookies to cool.  The freezer really is best, or if you live in a very cold climate and have a table in your screened porch, even better.  I had to use the frig - the kisses melt a bit but they are still yummy.

In a large mixer bowl, combine powdered sugar, butter, extract(s) and egg.  Beat at medium speed, scraping the bowl often, until creamy.  In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.  Add that to the wet mixture and beat, scraping sides as needed.  Dough will be a bit crumbly.  Stir in the chopped kisses.

Shape dough into 1" balls, roll in regular sugar, and place 1 inch apart on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper*.  Bake for 10-12 minutes or until set - in my oven that takes 15 minutes.  As soon as they com out of the oven, press a Kiss in the center of each cookie.  Put them in the freezer/frig/porch immediately so the Kiss will set.

*If you do not use parchment paper, just start.  Seriously.  It's a must for cookies, but also for tuna melts, frozen pizza, etc.  Makes clean up so much easier.  And you don't need to buy the fancy-schmacy stuff at gourmet stores.  Get plain old Reynolds brand or store brand at the grocery store.  You'll thank me.

An Agnostic Holiday Season

Many of you know I have a very conflicted spirituality.

Now I love the whole holiday season, well except New Year's Eve which I've covered here.  I love the lights, the presents, the food, the music (OH! the MUSIC!), the sweaters, church services, the baking, the festivals, just all of it.  Except Rudolph, I hate Rudolph.

What I'm not fond of the constant screeching from the Christian Right about this so-called "War on Christmas".   There is absolutely no war on Christmas - it's a pathetic excuse to get their panties in a twist.  If they would review basic history, Christ-Mass was invented by the church as a means to displace pagan solstice celebrations.  All biblical scholars agree that the story of Jesus's birth was set in the Middle Eastern spring, not mid-winter.  So you people, get over it already.  If anyone should be claiming a repression of their religion, it's the Druids.

At our house we celebrate a rather secular Christmas, with a heavy emphasis on my Methodist upbringing.  Thrown in is a good portion of Johnny C's Italian Catholic heritage.  Mixed within is my new-agey-neo-pagan spirituality.  But I can't go full-on heathen.  I just can't start collecting that horrible art full of sexy female elvish creatures.  Plus I like sports and hot wings too much.  But I COULD huddle 'round a campfire on December the 21st with some hot grog and take turns leaping the fire to celebrate the return of the light.  If it's over 20 degrees that is.  Now, who wants cookies???