Daily Thoughts

Less about cooking and more about Thanksgiving …

If I had a lot of disposable income would I be more inclined to enjoy “Black Friday?” I hope not. I stand by my belief that there is nothing on this earth that I need so desperately that I’m willing to be at a department store at 4:30 a.m. (or earlier). I love people and being around them, so I don’t want to fight you for a $20 waffle maker. I’d rather pay more for it and not have to hassle with a throng of crazy people for it. Black Friday is an awful example of how the media has trained us to be a lover of THINGS and not each other. Even if you’re entire family goes to the store to buy these things … it’s less about being together than the “things”.  Maybe I’m bitter because rather than getting to spend the day with my family, I have to work at a place that encourages you to grow more debt and buy those things. Thanks Wall Street.

Okay, okay … I am so thankful that my parents are going to drive 16 hours round trip to spend one day with me. I’m thankful that I have a beautiful man who loves me beyond reason who has provided me with an amazing home. I have family who despite differences and the usual disagreements love one another. I have two lovely cats who bring me immense joy. I have a faith that is solid and has given me friends beyond numbering. I suppose I’m the one being greedy wanting to spend more time with them rather than a bunch of crazy shopping people.

I have employment. No, it doesn’t pay for much more than gas to and from the site. I have  to change my attitude and be thankful for that. No one else has been inclined to hire me so I at least am good for manual labor if not intellectual.

This Thanksgiving I will be preparing a traditional dinner for my darling fiance, his kids and my parents. I am so blessed to have the resources to do so. I am blessed to have these amazing people in my life. They have encouraged, supported and blessed me abundantly. It’s amazing to me that in a time of such blessing I have still found something to grumble about.

I hope that all those I love will have the same blessing. I hope that those who choose to shop will as well. All those “things” they buy can’t replace the blessing of home, family and a well cooked turkey.

Rainy Day and Nothing Cookin’

I have two days off and D is out of town. No cooking being done now. Instead, I’m kind of experiencing a diet/cooking rebellion. I’ve eaten fast food two days in a row. I know, I know … BAD. There are times though when I don’t feel like cooking. I managed to get to Louisville yesterday to shop at Trader Joe’s. I love their chocolate covered banana’s. So, I bought two boxes. I kind of hope D doesn’t enjoy them because he’ll have them devoured before I can blink. He is an eating machine! I also bought a case of their Three Buck Chuck. Now I can cook with it without worrying I’m using some of D’s expensive wines.

I also made my monthly pilgrimage to Aldi’s. I love their Costa Rican blend coffee. They also have their annual Stollen in stock. Yum. You may say it’s a fruit cake but it’s SO much more than that. I bought it for Thanksgiving, which you may say is too early but they’re designed to last a long time and it’s hidden away so that we’ll be less tempted to dive in until next week. I’m really hoping D won’t enjoy it.

It turns out Mom and Dad are coming here for Thanksgiving! Yippee! I was afraid I wouldn’t get to cook with her this year. Now I need to figure out what we’ll eat. I also need to buy a turkey. It can’t be too big because I don’t have a pan big enough to cook one in. Hmm … what to do, what to do. I’ve registered for one at BB&B but that’s not for another year. Perhaps Mom will bring hers.

I guess it’s time to get out the cookbooks.

A movie and a pizza …

I’m making a goat cheese/pesto, mushroom, spinach and chicken pizza on whole wheat crust for dinner. It’s the first time I’ve added whole wheat to my pizza crust. Let’s hope it’s not a failure. It smells divine. Add a glass of white wine, the latest Harry Potter movie on blue-ray, and you have the making of date night. Even on a Sunday that’s not so bad. I am blessed.

UPDATED

The pizza was fabulous. I can’t believe I made it. I’ve learned to preheat the oven and pizza stone to 500 degrees. I baked the pizza on the lowest rack which insured a crispy crust. Also, I blended the pesto into the goat cheese and let it rest for an hour before spreading over the dough. I love making my own crust and each time I do it comes out a little different every time. I think I could eat that every day. Yum-Mee!

Tonight … Lasagna!

So I made lasagna for the first time in many many years. I used a recipe from my favorite cookbook, Cook’s Illustrated. Of course I modified it just a bit. I sautéed mushrooms and black olives in red wine, butter, garlic and at the last moment threw in some lavender buds. Yum-Mee! All recipes should be adjusted for your tastes of course. It turned out pretty good. D says it was wonderful.

Greetings and Salutations!

I’m having a career crisis. I’ve been rejected again by the corporate world. Another interview gone wrong. I may be slow but I’m beginning to believe that the corporate world isn’t for me. So, what’s a gal supposed to do? I guess get out there and do what she knows she does well.

What do I do well? Hmmm … let’s see. Well, I’m a great cook and I’m a passable writer so how about starting a blog about cooking. I may even include some insights about domesticity. We’ll just have to see about that latter portion.

I have recently become engaged to the man of my dreams and we are living together. I have discovered that I truly love taking care of him and our home. It brings me a peace that I might have been ashamed to admit to a few years ago. I was so committed to portraying the “happy singleton” that I would have denied ever being able to live a simple domestic life. Perhaps it’s too soon to tell but thus far, I’m having a blast.

That doesn’t change the fact that I need to make some money. I’ve been working part-time in the retail world and there are things I enjoy about it but there are also things I don’t enjoy. Such as working really hard on my feet for $7.25 an hour. There must be a better way. What I do enjoy about my job is helping people with their kitchen decisions. I know kitchens and I know what to do in them. If a customer comes in with a question about what’s the best cookware to use for a roast chicken. I can tell them. I have experience with that.

So, I’m off. Off to create a new life for myself. D and I will embark on our life’s journey together and I will invent a path for myself as well. It’s been an adventure thus far. I’m sure the rest will be too.

MJ