1.
Just so much going on in this past week . . . so much I haven't fully processed and am not ready to talk about here. I'm gonna fall back on one of my favorite things to talk/learn about: food! Cooking and baking are hobbies I've aquired by necessity in the past few years, and though I am nowhere near possessing the kitchen prowess my writing parter/mind twin Laura displays, I am always willing to learn more.
2.
A year or so ago, I came across Hillbilly Housewife. The link that first led me there was her $70 low cost menu, and from there I discovered a wealth of frugal recipes. Most all of her recipes are of the "from scratch" variety and are worth the effort. Her homemade breadsticks are a quick and YUMMY favorite. The cheese enchiladas get made a lot around here - far better than any I've had out-to-eat. (Better - dare I say it? - than Joe T's!)
3.
I'll be honest - all that cooking from scratch leaves behind a mountain of dishes to wash. I'm reminded of Brennan Manning's thoughts from Ruthless Trust, the chapter on "The Geography of Nowhere" in which he relates an exchange between Vietnamese Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh and Christian leader Jim Forest (as told in The Miracle of Mindfulness):
So they finished dinner and Nhat Hanh said he would wash the dishes before getting the tea. Jim offered to do the dishes, while Nhat Hahn was preparing the tea; but Nhat Hahn said, "I am not sure you know how to wash dishes." Jim laughed at him and said, "Of course I know how to wash dishes, I've been doing it all my life." "No," the monk said, "you would be washing the dishes in order to have your tea and dessert. That is not the way to wash dishes. You must wash dishes to wash dishes." (bolding mine)
Manning follows with
Washing the dishes is not a mindless interlude before the banana creme pie. Rather, at its best - done with alertness and attention to the washing - it is excellent preparation for prayer (p. 157).
Indeed. In my least grateful posture, a countertop and sink that spill over with dirty dishes invites resentment, bitterness, and exhaustion. If I accept the invitation as a preparation to prayer, then standing at my kitchen sink places me in a posture to be so grateful for an abundance of food, the beloved tummies that are now full, hot and clean water with which to wash, a kitchen in which to stand, and so on and so on.
And again, I digress.
4. So, I'm a bit fixated on granola right now. After I mentioned this in a previous 7QT, my blogging friend and reader Jeana emailed me to suggest another great granola recipe she has come across: Gluten-Free granola from the Ordering Disorder blog at Work It, Mom (which seems to be a great resource for working moms!). I look forward to trying this granola recipe (steel cut oats - yes!) and it looks like there are many family-friendly recipe finds at Ordering Disorder to try out with my four year old sous-chef.
5.
So everyone knows Cake Wrecks and Bakerella stand out in the land of baking blogs. One I bet you haven't read that is every bit as clever, visually appealing, and drool-worthy is Velvet Lava. Go. Enjoy. (Introduced to me by Laura. She never disappoints in her recommendations.)
6.
Another great recommendation came from my friend Karen who showed me the way to My Kitchen Cafe (totally unintentional rhyme there). Karen suggests the Vanilla Pudding Cinammon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting which I have not dared to try yet. I have, however, tried the Bourbon Chicken (we had it on Mardi Gras - seemed appropriate), the Sweet and Spicy Slow Cooker Chicken, and the Best Sloppy Joes and all were delish.
7.
Finally, as the weather turns warmer, you know you are going to be firing up your grills. May I tell you again that my husband makes the best burgers ever ever ever in the history of mankind? He whipped up a slew of them last weekend - the grape jelly and BBQ sauce kind - and oh my. Just unbelievable. The sugar in the grape jelly gets all dark and burnt-ish on the outside (carmelizes? it's over my head) and the inside is so moist and full of flavor. I could eat one now, at 9 in the morning. Yes I could.
(Sidenote - we can't find ground brisket around here, so we are back to plain ol' ground beef. Still just as yummy as ever though.)
Happy 7QT on this Friday the 13th! Have a delicious weekend!
Comments closed during Lent 09
granola picture courtesy of moria
