At the risk of sounding political...

or offending anyone - but then who really reads my blog anyway - I cannot for the life of me imagine why people are so up in arms about the fact that Christine O'Donnell, Republican Senate candidate for the minute state of Delaware, has no job and no experience and yet has the - gasp! - audacity to run for public office.  Well, people, the facts are these:

Stupid people (also from Delaware) and

seemingly stupid people run for office all the time.

Some get elected as second banana but fortunately people realize the error of their ways when said candidate seeks even higher office.  And finally,

individuals with no job and no experience, to speak of, actually do get elected.  I'm still not sure why.

And that is all I have to say about that - I have put my soapbox away.

Holy headache, Batman!

I've been craving Chinese take-out since Thursday when Al & Tom were telling me about their weekly foray to the New China Garden by the Publix where they shop.  Of course, I was convinced it was Friday and that Aggie and I didn't need to cook.  Al reminded me that it was only Thursday.  Thanks a lot.  And so we didn't get take-out on Thursday - or Friday either, for that matter.  Tonight I couldn't stand it any longer.  We ordered steamed dumplings, crab rangoon and an order of sweet & sour chicken to share.  No egg foo yong - I'm getting adventurous in my old age.  Everything was excellent, as usual, and after having listened to her fortune and consumed her cookie, Aggie promptly went and stashed a piece of chicken she had been hiding between her paws in the sofa pillows for later.  She doesn't know that I know.  Silly dog.  I put the leftovers away, sat down to watch the latest episode of CSI:NY online and bam! - a suddenly stuffy head and a serious MSG headache.  That's the only thing it can be - I've already self-medicated with ibuprofen and Zyrtec this afternoon.  What is it with oriental chefs and MSG?  I don't use a lot of spices when I cook and I hardly ever use salt on anything - but when there is MSG on anything, it hits me like a mack truck.  I think the FDA should ban the stuff - it can't be good for you.  This from the woman who is pickled in artificial sweeteners from years of Diet Coke consumption - but at least it doesn't give me a killer headache.  On the upside, I probably won't need to be embalmed when I die.  So there.  And if this post seems slightly incoherent, well - it's the MSG.

One of the advantages of insomnia...

is getting to see the funny headlines before anyone else.

Here's two hilarious ones from my little corner of the world:

Man Arrested But Thanks Deputies for Finding Long Lost Bong

Maybe this guy is my sister's Canadian pothead friend!

Tampa Knife Fight Leads to Gunfire, Arrest

I guess nobody ever told this guy that you don't bring a knife to a gunfight.

If only I still had my Kitchen-Aid mixer...

I would make these wonderful Hoot Owl Cookies...

Instead, I'll share the recipe that the lady who first made them for me was kind enough to share with me.  Apparently these neat fall cookies were created by a young girl who was the youngest winner ever of the Pillsbury Bake-Off.

How cool is that?

Hoot Owl Cookies 

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 egg

3/4 cup butter

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 teaspoons baking powder

3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

1 cup white sugar

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

chocolate chips for eyes

cashews for beaks

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Add baking powder and salt. Beat well. Add flour and mix until blended. Remove 2/3 of dough. Roll or pat dough out to form two 10 x 4 inch rectangles.  Add cocoa to remaining 1/3 of dough. Mix until blended. Shape half of chocolate dough into a 10 inch long roll. Place on rectangle and roll plain dough to cover chocolate dough completely, not including ends. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill at least 2 hours. Repeat with other half of dough.  Cut dough into 1/8 inch slices with a sharp knife. Place two slices side by side on a cookie sheet to resemble an owl's face. Pinch upper "corners" to resemble ears. Put chocolate chips in each dark circle for eyes and a cashew in the center for the beak . Bake 8 to 12 minutes or until light golden brown.  Makes 2 dozen incredibly cool cookies.

It's not that pukey chartreuse color...

it's acid green.  I've discovered that acid green is the polite-sounding, fashion friendly name for the color I love.  And it's finally time to get out my two favorite fall shirts - one is purple and then there's this acid green one.  They're exactly alike, except for the color, and I am amazed that the one I'm wearing is actually a bit looser than last year.  They are covered with line drawings of acorns, owls, cats, pumpkins, leaves and stars.  Too cute!  They're Liz & Me from Catherine's and I've about worn them to death but they have held up so well.  I think I got them at least five or six years ago, back when their clothes were really cute and not so old-lady looking.  Uh-oh - I'm sounding like some sort of shopaholic fashionista, which I am not, but I do have a thing for holiday-ish clothes.  I also love holiday sweaters - a holdover from college winters in the frozen north - and I live for the days I can wear them in the south.  At this point, it doesn't look like I'm going to be able to wear the pumpkin sweater for Halloween, but there is still hope for Thanksgiving!  Speaking of silver linings, I was forced to get a newer pair of jeans out of the closet this morning when I unearthed my Halloween shirts.  It was a sad, sad day on Monday when I had to throw away my favorite pair of soft, comfortable, well-washed pair of jeans.  They were really too big anyway, so when the waistband, which was the only thing holding them up, actually came off, well - I didn't want to be known around here as the fat lady whose pants fell off on the way to her car.  The jeans I got out this morning are a size smaller, and actually fit, which is a change because I am inordinately fond of very loose clothing.  These pants are even the right length, which is a switch because clothing companies, for some unknown reason, think that that if you're fat, you're also tall and most pants are all too dang long.  I hate to hem jeans - but I have discovered that flood pants, as they are known, are just the right length for me.  And that is today's lesson on color, fashion, style and fit.  Thank you for tuning in and have a wonderful day!  Hee hee!

PS I hope I didn't offend anyone (Canadians or potheads) with yesterday's post.  What people do is their own business - I don't drink, have never smoked pot - heck, I've never even smoked a cigarette - but I don't judge.  I'm crazy enough on my own without chemical additives.

Mama and the Canadian Pothead...

Aggie & Don't-Call-Me-Grandma!

I know I’m a day late for the actual celebration of Thanksgiving in Canada, but yesterday did remind me of my mother and her quest to mark smoking pot off her bucket list… When my sister was in college, she had some interesting friends – one of which was a pothead from Ontario whose name was Ryan or Reed or something like that.  Anyhow, for one reason or another, she would regale us with tales of his adventures with smoking weed.  I didn’t care and to this day I don’t know why Mama was so interested.  My friend Kathy and I once took my mother to a Hall & Oates concert where the air had a decidedly sweet smell and all Mama did was shout “What is that smell?” over the music.  Kathy finally told her to just shut up, inhale and enjoy it.  Which might just be the reason why she was so interested in the unlawful exploits of my sister’s friend from north of the border…  Anyhow, one fall my mother embarked on a vacation to Michigan to visit my sister who was living off-campus at the time.  All Mama could talk about was meeting the pothead and “smoking a marijuana cigarette,” she’d say.  “I think they call it a joint, Mama,” I’d remind her.  My sister planned an evening get-together and Mama was beside herself with excitement.  “Well, have fun,” I encouraged her reluctantly.  I had horrifying visions of my mother’s mugshot and the headline “Hash-smoking Housewife Handcuffed” on the front page of the Grand Rapids Press.  I made sure I had enough money for bail.  About eleven the night of the big soiree, the phone rang.  It was my sister.  “Well?” I asked.  Apparently the evening went fairly well – or as well as a college party could go with Mama in its midst, constantly asking when they were all going to smoke pot.  I guess the Canadian finally got tired of her badgering and produced his stash.  “Not in my apartment!” my sister decreed and showed the bad influence and the would-be pothead to the laundry room in the basement.  My sister said the moment of truth had finally arrived when Mama made a face and said, “I’m not smoking that wet, nasty cigarette after you – that’s disgusting!  I want my own!”  I guess the pothead was not as well-connected as he had implied to his friends and he only had the one with him.  And so I don’t think Mama ever marked that particular item off her list of things to do before she died, but we always enjoyed retelling the story, laughing and teasing her over trying.


Oh, and Happy Thanksgiving, Canada.

ME Monday...

Yikes!  I almost completely forgot about ME Monday...  I've been busy with clients and getting their 2009 tax returns in before the Friday extension deadline.  Procrastinators!  Anyhow - here are my two Mary Engelbreit girls.  Aren't they cute?  They have yet to tell me their names - and they've lived with me for several years.

Easy Sunday Dinner...

I don't know what made me think of this dish, because I haven't made it in just about forever.  My mom discovered this recipe in her ancient Betty Crocker cookbook when I was in high school - eons ago.  We used to have it for dinner a lot - and I think I even made it for Tim a few times.  It's called Texas Hash - I'm not sure why - but here are the ingredients.  As you can see, I'm a Publix girl and buying the store brand of everything makes this dinner even more economical.  Depending on the number of people you are going to feed you will need ground beef (or turkey), long-grain white rice, canned diced tomatoes, yellow onions and chili powder.  No, I'm not feeding an army, but I decided to make a roaster full for Ariela to pick up and take home to bake.  I made a small roaster full for me and Aggie - and leftovers!

First, peel the onions, rinse and set aside.  This seems to cut down on the amount of onion tears.  I always use yellow onions because the flavor doesn't disappear when you bake them.  I love a good sweet onion, especially on a hot dog, but they are not so flavorful in a dish that bakes for a good hour.

Brown the ground meat with a little kosher salt, pepper and chili powder.

Once you've browned the meat, slice the onions.  See, not very many tears!  Then I start layering the ingredients into the roasting pan.  Onions, rice, ground meat, a can of tomatoes - you get the picture.  As long as you use twice as much liquid as rice, the recipe will turn out perfectly every time.  I also add more chili powder to the rice as I layer the ingredients in.

It really isn't going to be a layered dish - that just makes it easier to thoroughly combine all the ingredients for baking.  Sorry if I misled you...

Next you add the liquid - you can use water or broth - as long as there is twice as much liquid as rice.  I find that water works just fine, especially if you have used a little of the fat left from browning the meat.  Bake at 325 to 350 degrees for about an hour - or until the rice is done.

Voila!  The finished product - doesn't it look good?

I even remembered to take a photo of the plate this time.

Aggie is wagging her approval.

Another great movie...

I've always been a Robert Parker fan (the Spenser mysteries) and I was so glad when Tom Selleck started making the film adaptations of Parker's Jesse Stone series.  If you've never watched them, they are all CBS made-for-TV movies now available from Netflix.  Tom Selleck is the perfect Jesse Stone, just like Robert Urich was the perfect Spenser.  The latest, No Remorse, is excellent.  Jesse is on suspension from the Paradise Police Department and well, you have to watch it to find out what happens.  Great supporting cast with Kathy Baker, Kohl Sudduth, William DeVane and Saul Rubinek.

Aggie and I give it five out of five kernels of popcorn.

I'm so excited...

It's not hot outside today!

First, you take a leek...

Wait - aren't we making potato soup?  Hee hee!  Sorry, Julia - I mean Potage Parmentier.  I channeled the immortal Julia Child tonight, much to Aggie's chagrin, and made potato leek soup for dinner.  It was divine - but then, I am a connoisseur of potatoes.  I have been known, much as it pains me to admit it, to order the vegetable plate at the Cracker Barrel with a baked potato, french fries, mashed potatoes and hash-brown casserole.  Ugly and starch-filled, but true.  Aggie, on the other hand, is a card-carrying carnivore and doesn't often let me forget it.  This evening, she was forced to eat from her own bowl.  Oh well...

Ingredients
3-4 cups of diced peeled potatoes (about a pound)
3 cups thinly sliced leeks, including the tender greens

4 cups water

4 cups chicken broth

3 tablespoons softened butter
3 tablespoons minced chives or parsley

What to do next...
Simmer vegetables, water and chicken broth together, partially covered for 40-50 minutes in a 3-4 quart saucepan. Mash the vegetables into the broth with a fork or you can use a food mill - but what a screaming pain in the mess. Julia disdains the texture of soup pureed in a blender but have at it if you are determined to have smooth soup. Add salt and pepper to your own taste. Just before serving, bring soup back to simmering and then remove from the heat to stir in the butter.  Top with chopped chives or parsley. Easy and amazingly good! Makes 2 quarts of soup for six to eight servings.  You can serve it cold the next day and call it vichyssoise.  And probably charge double for the fancy-sounding name.

Seriously, Susan...

This is why I thought they created candy corn - for decorating with my Longaberger Candy Corn crock.

And my little candy corn jar with the cross-stitch jack-o-lantern lid.

I miss stitching!

This makes me want to dig through my cross stitch stuff and make some more...

Pumpkin Pie Muffins...

Pumpkin Pie Muffins

Ingredients

1 cup all purpose flour

¾ cup whole wheat pastry flour

1 ¼ cups granulated sugar

1 ¼ tsp baking soda

1 ¼ tsp ground cinnamon

½ tsp salt

½ tsp ground nutmeg

½ tsp ground cloves

½ cup raisins

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

1 cup pumpkin puree

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1/3 cup water

2 tbsp pumpkin seeds, raw and hulled

Directions

Preheat oven to 350F.  Spray 12-cup muffin pan with nonstick spray.  Sift dry ingredients into a large bowl.  Stir in raisins.  Beat eggs, pumpkin puree, oil and water together in another bowl.  Add pumpkin mixture to flour mixture and stir until just blended.  Spoon batter into muffin cups, filling each about two-thirds full.  Sprinkle with pumpkin seems.  Bake about 20 minutes.  Cool in pan on rack for 10 minutes; remove muffins from pan and serve warm.

ME Monday...

And I've been putting out the fall decorations - even though it's only slightly cooler here.  This is my only ME Halloween decoration - but I've made up for less ME with more pumpkins and baskets.

I put my candy corn garter on this plant - and I have more decorations with the candy corn theme but alas, I need to buy some candy corn.  More on this later...

My little wooden cat came out to join his own pumpkin.

Karma Bear has his own little pumpkin, too.

Aren't these pumpkin baskets just the cutest thing - I've had them forever and I look forward to getting them out every year.  They lose the jack-o-lantern liners and lids in time for Thanksgiving.

We even have a Halloween kitty to keep us company.

Check out more ME Monday over at CherryChick!

Headlines...

crack me up.  I think they hire comedians to write them.  

Here are a couple of today's tidbits that caught my eye:

Man Shoots Self in Face During Run-in With Skunk

Liberal Wingnuts March on DC

And my favorite: Man Says Cocaine in His Buttocks Isn't His.

I have a million comments but I will keep them to myself. 

Migraine from hell...

At this point I am wondering if it will ever go away...

Had to have one...

I admit it, I am weak.  I am sometimes powerless over pastry.  I went to Publix a little while ago for cat food and tortilla chips and while I was there I was sorely tempted by this beautiful cannoli.  I had to have it.  I ate it all and didn't even share with Aggie.  My sugar craving has been satisfied for another week or so...