inspiration

What inspires me? Coffee and Security Alarms starting my day right!

I have been asking myself this question for some time now. I have created a list of people and things that make me want to create, help someone, improve myself or simply do a great job on what ever it is I am working on.

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We interrupt this blog to tell how Rachel is a moron and whose husband will likely strangle her today.

So, we have an security system in our home. It provides D with a measure of peace that is extremely necessary due to some step children that regularly abused his trust … we’ll leave it at that. As soon as the climate warms above 65 I open all the windows in the house, what with me being the spring lover and non-allergy person that I am (believe me I know how blessed I am to say that last statement).

Anyway … this morning I start to blog about what inspires me and think … “Well open windows in spring”, so I put down my cup of coffee (which is working it’s magic on schedule ;), I scoot behind the chair to the living room window to let in that beautiful fresh air  only to hear the screeching wail of the alarm go off. S#%*T!  FOR LIKE THE FIFTH TIME THIS SPRING!  As I bolted to the alarm panel and enter the code to turn it off my stomach cries out … release the Drakken! Which causes me to think … well great, now I have to call my husband (who is teaching a class) and call ADT while I’m setting “on the pot” as my mother so delicately puts it. It’s that or create a  mess on our new floors, eeeewwww! So, I call D, apologize profusely to tell him it was just me again, then call ADT who has already disrupted D’s class now for the second time.

And then I washed my hands.

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Okay, so now you know that open windows in spring time inspires me …  what else? In no particular order …

  • Coffee in the mornings!
  • My husband (and I’m not just saying that to appease him) He really does make me want to be a better person. He is a perfectionist and I am not. I am hopeful that after a few years I may become more of one though.
  • My cats. It’s true that pets provide comfort and calm.
  • Long drives down a winding road. There are a lot of amazing ones in Kentucky.OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
  • My mother because half the time whenever I cook I think, “How would Mama do it?”
  • Jesus, for all the obvious reasons. (Technically, I’m pretty sure his name should be first on this list.)
  • My friend LeAnne. She is the kindest and most sincere person I have ever met.
  • Planting and growing things. I’d like to think I get this from Mama and Granny but … since I mostly ignored them when they would try to get to help in the garden as a child. I suppose really it comes from a lot of places.
    My great grandmother, Helen. My granny Mary, and my beautiful mama, Marthella.

    My great grandmother, Helen. My granny Mary, and my beautiful mama, Marthella.

    Mama’s influence, certainly but also my friend Doug. He taught me so much about nutrition and health. I want to grow my own food because it’s good for me. I grow my own herbs because I love to cook and I’ve been poor much of my life and it’s cheaper to grow them than to buy them. There is great satisfaction in growing, cooking and eating food from your own hands. Anyone can go to the store to buy them.

  • Birds. I love waking to hear the Mourning Doves cooing.
Heavy sigh. Ah, Amalfi.

Heavy sigh. Ah, Amalfi.

  • Large bodies of water. Lakes, oceans, rivers even my new tub. Nothing fills me with more peace or calm than being in or near water. I don’t know now or why but it does.

That’s my list. I could probably add a to it but for now, it will do. What inspires you?

Is it sacrilegious . . .

. . . to not serve Green Bean Casserole on Thanksgiving? It is the perennial side dish for the holidays. You don’t eat it any other time of the year and yet it’s kind of old and boring isn’t it? Don’t get me wrong, I love me some green bean casserole, but admit it, what we really love are the French Fried Onions, yum. Green beans don’t get that kind of love on their own. The rest of the year you eat them steamed or sautéed but never swimming in soup and onions.  Green bean casserole, cranberry sauce and sweet potato smothered in marshmallows (eewww… who invented that mess?) those are the dishes that are only served between November and December, I’m not wanting to have them now. I might like to re-invent the soupy mixture from scratch. The thought of buying a can of Cream of Mushroom soup  is gross. It’s so easy to make béchamel sauce and healthier too. Perhaps I’ll tackle that challenge, hmmm . . . perhaps. 

I’ve been searching my Cook’s Illustrated back issues, cookbooks and websites for new and interesting ideas to serve on Thanksgiving. Mine will be small and intimate with just three of us to feed. Since Thanksgiving is an “event” and deserves special attention directed to it. I’m excited about putting together a concerted effort and meal for the day. The question is … what?

The sweet potato has had a renaissance over the last few years. I eat them regularly in a lot of different ways: mashed, french fried, hashed, baked and chips. They’re so healthy and naturally sweet it’s like a tasty treat you don’t have to feel guilty about eating. I found a recipe on Pinterest for Hasselback Sweet Potatoes. Doesn’t this look amazing? Clicking on the picture will take you to the blogger with the recipe for this amazing treat!

Maybe not Thanksgiving but soon!

What I’m wanting to do is make something memorable. My family has never been one with long-standing traditions. Growing up Thanksgiving was always at Granny’s. Now that she’s gone, I’ve moved away and my sister is now single we have to start new traditions. I’m sad not to see my parents and it’s hard to make it feel like a holiday when all the things I’m used to are no where to be found. It’s a new day though and D and I must forge new family traditions. Thankfully, my sister will be here and we can share time down our mutually changed lives. We are blessed.

There are a few things that will happen. My birthday is November 21, the day before Thanksgiving. I want cake. Red Velvet Cake to be exact. I haven’t made one in years and think it will be the dessert of the weekend. Derek wants Lemon Meringue Pie so that will be on the menu too. Sweets are easy.

D loves onion rolls so I’ll make those. The recipe I use was found in an issue of Real Simple magazine a year or so ago. I’ve made them several times and they are light, airy, packed with flavor and simply . . . DELICIOUS! Click on the picture for the recipe.

So, we have the unhealthy choices nailed down. The big question is what’s for dinner? I’m thinking Gumbo sounds good. It’s hearty, earthy and packed with goodies and flavor. If not gumbo then perhaps Surf and Turf. I kind of think a Chicken Pot Pie with phyllo pastry crust sounds pretty amazing too. There are so many choices and ways to go. That’s what I love about cooking and food. A thousand variations and combinations to meet all culinary dreams. What will you serve?