Spoke to Mr Blockbuster, accepted the offer of employment. I go in tomorrow for paperwork, and to talk moola. I have orientation and schedule discussions on Sat from 9-1.
*bounces*
Gainfully employed once more, and able to be out in the PUBLIC *shock*
Heeee!!
Here is a cookie that I’ve been making since I was wee. Its from my Great Grandma on my Mother’s side of my family.
Great on a cold night with a big glass of milk. You MUST try dunking these in milk when warm. Dan and I call them Crack Cookies…you CANNOT eat just one.
Cream:
3/4 cup Butter flavored Crisco (You can substitue butter, but they will flatten out more, I prefer Crisco)
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
1/4 C. Molassas *I use Grandma’s brand, regular, not light or extra dark*
Sift Together:
2 cup all purpose flour
1 tsp cinnamon
3/4 tsp ground cloves
3/4 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking soda
Combine wet and dry mixtures until blended. Chill dough for atleast 1 hour, best if 4 hours - overnight. Use a 1 oz cookie dough scooper (looks like a mini ice cream scooper) to scoop dough into even size balls and then roll in granulated sugar before baking.
For best results, bake on parchament or silicon pads *sugar makes them stick to the pan a bit* at 350 degrees for 7 minutes or so. I look for them to have flattened out nearly all the way, and be a golden brown color (about the color of brown sugar).
They should be crispy on the outside, chewy inside if taken out at the right time. Might take a few test trays to determine the exact amount of minutes to accomplish this. I slide the cookies off the pan by pulling the parchment paper onto a cool counter top or rack to cool as opposed to leaving on the pan *as they will continue to cook if you do*.
You can cook till crispy through and through as well. They are similar to a ginger snap this way and great for making crumb pie crusts *as opposed to graham cracker crusts* if baked till crispy.
When I was growing up, cooking was a big part of my life. I think that is why I enjoy it still today, its just part of who I am. I started with cookies and simple things when I was around 10 or so I guess. Then as I got better and older, Mom had me do side dishes and then eventually main courses.
Thanksgiving to me is about Family and Food. Like most people, I have recipes that remind me of those happy memories. Often I fail to make these comfort foods throughout the rest of the year. Its a shame really, because they are so yummy, and given that my family is big on “simple but tasty” cooking, its not like they are very difficult.
I have started a new category in this blog to be able to record and share with you all, some of my favorite dishes :) I hope you will enjoy them as much as I do! They are best stirred with patience and peacefullness and served with an ample amount of love and family.
.::Happy Holidays!::.
This is one of the first Thanksgiving/Christmas dishes I was taught/allowed to make. Its not really done with precise measurements. Its best done by “eyeballing”. It can be served as a side dish, thats what my family does *we don’t “do” the Marshmellow Yammy thing, EW”. But can also be served as a slightly savory dessert. I’ve been told its quite good warm with a scoop of French Vanilla Ice Cream ontop. This is also a dish that can be made the day before and then reheated, its very good the second, third…fourth day….IF it lasts that long ;)
4-5 Medium size Yams (sweet potatos can be substituted use a bit more B. Sugar if so)
6-7 Large Granny Smith Apples (Fugi are ok to, but I prefer the Grannys)
Brown Sugar (NOT packed)
Cinnamon
**Nutmeg**
One Stick Butter, Softened (or Tub Margarine)
Thin slice the raw Yams into 1/4 in slices or so. You can use a mandalin, or just a sharp knife, does NOT have to be exact, but aim to get them around the same thickness so they cook evenly. Core and slice the Apples into rounds. (you can do wedges, but rounds are easier to layer and bake more evenly) They should be a bit thicker of a slice, as they will cook down further due to their higher water content.
In a lightly buttered 13 x 9 baking dish, lay down a single layer of the Yams. Dot liberally with butter and sprinkle amply with Brown Sugar (perhaps around 4-5 Tablespoons or so). Then, lay down a single layer of Apples and sprinkle with cinammon (around 1-2 teaspoons). Repeat layers, ending with Apples. *You can arrange the last layer artistically if desired and even use wedged slices for this last layer which is what I often will do*
Dot the last layer of Apples with butter as well as a bit of brown sugar and cinammon. Cover with tin foild and back on 350 20-30 minutes. Uncover and bake and addition 10-15 minutes or until Yams are fork tender.
**You can also sprinkle the Apple Layers with a TOUCH of Nutmeg in addition to the Cinnamon, its a bit more of a *kick* if you do this.**
Lucky: *sad*
Lucky: the death of a kitchen great has occured
Lucky: *hangs head*
Dan: what died?
Lucky: LOL your RUBBER SPATULA
Lucky: otherwise known as “scraper” (this is what hubby calles Rubber Spatula’s)
Dan: how did it happen?
Lucky: I was scraping three batches of crack cookie (otherwise known as Molasses Cookies, but they are rather addicting, hence the nick name) dough into a smaller bowl to put in the fridge.
Lucky: *sniff* it could not take the pressure
Lucky: *sob*
Dan: oh well…give it a proper burial
Lucky: I did
Lucky: I licked it clean and tossed it in the can.
Its not closing, but it is moving. Why? Because I need to let go of it. I’m tired, I’m fried, I’m burnt out. As long as its under the LL username, I just can’t see myself letting go. I suppose its a mental block of somesort.
I’ve got the template up for the new home, and we’ve started deleting the inactives. It will prolly take the full 6 weeks I’ve “planned” to finish the transition, unless we can find a Neo Mod that will delete the Guild out of my account for me. *crosses fingers*
It’s amazing what a relief this is. I seriously felt a tremendous weight get a hell of a lot lighter last night, and I think I needed that in a big way. Its not that I hate LEF, far from it. But honestly, I do not have the time anymore, and what little time I DO have, I’m more and more spending on other hobbies and projects. Its a good thing, and LEF will be just fine without me.
*yawns* Ish Tired. Not sure why, but I feel like I got smacked with a Mack Truck today. Blah.
Well a week has passed. I was quite suprised to see how much I got done on my to do list. I will be posting an updated version and a fresh place to post my accomplishments later on this evening.
I had a total breakdown last night.
See, in our relationship *dan and I*, I’m the “strong” one. I’m the one that bitches out utility companies for over billing, or a waitress for screwing up an order. I’m the one that deals with the bank account and bills. And, as I had been on my own for a good long time, I’ve got “head of house” syndrome. Even though I’m not currently working, I fee its on my shoulders to make things work, to get bills paid, and to freak out about it every second of my rather dismal life.
Last night I reached my limit.
As many of you know, we had a slight catastrophe occur back in October with our rent that sent us plummeting into debt faster than we could bail out. This infuriated me to the point of exhaustion. I had worked so hard to get our limited budget tweaked to perfection. I had everything covered, and a slight bit of wiggle room….until THAT happened. We are still reeling from the after affects, and the stress of it plagues me constantly. We are broke. We are broker than broke. It sucks. I’ve got an application and appointment to get WIC. I will be going in to see if we qualify for foodstamps *shudder*. I hate this. I hate that I feel so powerless over my life right now. I guess to a certain extent I’m a control freak. And the fact that I cannot easily make things better is driving me insane. Slowly. We are getting help from our families, and I’m grateful. Its a total knock in the teeth, and there is nothing like a steady diet of humble pie….but what else are we going to do?
*sigh*
Anyway.
If I seem distant, quiet or short, that is why. I just need us to get back on track and on top again. Christmas is looking pretty dismal. I wanted to send cards out to everyone. I don’t see that happening. I think I will have to resort to making something in photoshop and emailing it. That could still be considered a decent thing to receive, yes? As for presents fo Family, If I can find the ability/drive/time to make something, I might do that. Hell, I don’t even know if we will be able to get anything/much for the kids at this rate. Grr.
Anyway, I posted a bunch of Claire pics in my LJ if you all havnt checked yet. At somepoint I will migrate and post them just here, I just dont have the ability to deal with it right now, like alot of other things I “ought” to be doing. My god. Its amazing how being so depressed can inhibit you from be productive. Shit.
I will sign off for now. I promised Dan to do some Ebay work today. *nod* Perhaps that will make me feel better.
Well, the weekend started well…but didn’t ever really get up to speed. I got nothing accomplished on my ever growing, way to long, to do list. Kinda matched the week….poo.
I did however have a really good interview at Blockbuster, and touched base regarding the application I turned in for Babies R Us. I picked up applications for Bed Bath and Beyond as well as for Barnes and Noble and Old Navy. So, I hope by end of the week to have something…if not a good strong lead or three :)
This week I’m going to attempt something a bit different. I’ve been struggling internally with feeling like I’m not getting anything done. Often times I’m feeling more like I’m running in circles trying to figure out what to do first. So, I’m going to make a list. And, to help keep me accountable, and as a visual reminder, I’m going to place it here and do strike throughs as I accomplish them :) We will see if/how it works. LOL. I figure its something I’ve not done before, therefore worth a shot!
These are not in any particular order of importance, just listed as I think of them. As a personal reward, if I accomplish 100% of my list, I will give my self the reward of two Gaia donation letters. If I accomplish atleast 50%, 1 Gaia donation letter. Anything less, a swift kick in the arse.
I think I will also keep a list of things I get done that were not part of the above list, to help bolster myself, and remind myself that even when it seems like NOTHING gets done….something usually does, I just might not have recognized it to be important/impactful.
As much as Claire can be complex and tiring….she can also be wonderfully sweet and loving. This was most recently displayed by the fact that she slept from aprox 11pm last night straight through till 9am and is happily playing in her bouncer after a nice breakfast and diaper change.
Ah.
What a good start to the weekend :)
Ever have a week that came, destroyed and went before you realized what the hell hit you?
That has been my week. It started with Claire being a bit snuffly. Then progressed to what I’ve read is called breast strike. She would NOT nurse. No way, no how for nearly 48 hours. She would take breast milk in a bottle, and forumula in a bottle. However, no matter WHAT position I put her in to nurse, wailing ensued. I still do not know if it was some mexican I had, or the congestion, or…..*shrugs* Early EARLY this morning she latched on with not so much as a whimper, and has been fine ever since. Goddess bless, I think the child is as complex as her mother.
Poor Dan.
I’ve gotten photos of her for Month Three in Ofoto….and have yet to post any in LJ. Bwah. Could be because ever since my M.F. website got DELETED last week, I’ve been trying to play cleanup/catchup and have been generally dis-interested in many things, such as long hours at the keyboard mucking with things that I should not have had to muck with. But anyhow….I digress.
Its just been one of those weeks where all of a sudden you look at the clock, and its 6pm. You realize that nothing you have started has gotten done. Nothing you set out to attack is even in your range of scope to tackle ANYtime soon, and you have no idea what preoccupied the last 6 hours of your life. I cannot even blame it on Neo or LJ or whatever. I’ve actually not spent too much time really sitting here. Bizzare.
The kids are on a retarded school schedule the rest of the month. It would be easier to tell you when they ARE in school as they are not in school much the next few weeks. They have these “mini” days that mean they are home *and quarraling* by 1pm instead of 4pm. They had the first of these lovely days yesterday. It was yucky outside, and Claire was still fussy, so yesterday was notsomuchfun. I was exhausted by the time Dan got home. Today they are off for Vet’s day….and its yucky out….and Claire is ok, when they are not waking her up during nap time every FIVE minutes. *sigh*. Tomorrow they are in school like normal. All next week they have mini days. *whine* then the week following they are home ALL week for Thanksgiving break. *bawl*
If the place didnt already feel like a cracker box because I am in it 90% of my life, it would be one thing, but given the fact that its so crappy outside and they aren’t exactly getting on wonderfully which each other, and Haley is a hormonal nightmare……BWAH.
In other news.
*thinks*
Is there any?
I really should go fire up photoshop and crop those pictures.
I also should really get around to finishing the links for this blog.
I would really like to get around to pricing my Neo shop.
I would really like to go surf around Gaia and do some shopping *seeing a trend?*
I really SHOULD do some listings on Ebay.
I really should take some calls and try to make some money.
Yeah. I am teh original suck.
Anyone got any bonbons?