Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Christmas Musings...

Christmas is just days away. 

Lentils are steaming on my stovetop. The piles of receipts, utility bills and statements for the year 2011 have been sorted and put in their proper place. My huge piles of books have been re-sorted and placed in more appropriate piles/areas. My clothes are hung in my closet rather than draped upon the HUGE Mount Clothing that tends to accumulate. Actually, Mount Clothing is a triple peak behemoth. One truly dirty sheer-face, one gently worn mount, and one even more gently worn hill. Hey, It's a system. It works. It's not pretty like the Rockies, but I don't know anyone who'd take Christmas card pictures in anyone's closet, no matter how nice it is. So, there it is. 

My friend suggested taking in a little play tomorrow night. My answer was this. " If I didn’t have a houseful of people coming on Saturday and DID have dust bunnies corralled and Christmas decorations up, and food further along in the process than vain imaginings….I’d be oh, so tempted. Oh, so. If I experience a Christmas miracle tonight wherein dust bunnies are slain, decorations throw themselves on trees, in windows, on doors, and somehow three bubbly delicious soups merge ingredients in preparation for Friday night Crockpot saunas, I’ll let you know tomorrow. Somehow, I think this is just a sugar-plum-bashing-repeatedly-into-my-skull-kind of dream. But, hey! I’m an optimist."

So. Right now. At 7:18 p.m. I have yet to see a fairy with a wand, or any elves. (My Mom is going to feel guilty when she reads this. She keeps offering to help, sweet, sweet woman that she is. I considered it. But. As I pondered which insane, Martha cartoonish moment I might thrust her into, I came to my senses and I just thanked her for the offer to bring tomato soup and a few other goodies on Christmas Eve. I think she's paid her dues. There was the Christmas Eve that Toad-Boy tried to chop the tip of his finger off while making Christmas gifts after all.) Thanks, Mom. 

My life is crazy, but it's a familiar crazy. And. Good news. My closet is clean, and my paper is organized. And darn it. I've got lentils done, at least five other things partially done, a dozen more just a few steps away from done. And I do hear a kitchen floor elf sawing and pounding as I type this. I won't be hitting the play, but I'm pretty darn sure there's some fairy dust somewhere in one of the corners I haven't started decorating. 

If I don't get back to the blog before Christmas. Here's wishing you a Merry, Merry, Merry and stress free Christmas.

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ The Happy Husband Cookbook

The Happy Husband Cookbook

Nashville Kat

A note from Kat about her book, The Happy Husband Cookbook.

"My cookbook has 204 tried and true recipes, the things we eat at our home daily. It is filled with black and white drawings my husband did. I decided to start a cookbook when I got married a little over 4 years ago. The book came from this. My husband did the art work on the front. The picture hangs on our kitchen wall and one day while having lunch together I looked at it and said, 'there's my cover.' I had the title for the book first then it all came together at lunch that day."

And a note from me.

Kat introduced me to a whole lot of food adventures while she worked on The Happy Husband cookbook. I had the opportunity to join delicious parties where she'd assign recipes and a dozen cooks would get together to eat, rate and suggest.

Kat was the first truly diverse foodie I had the opportunity to cook and eat with. And I had never heard of Miso or considered raw food until she shared some of her experiences with those items and those she gained enjoying food from all over the United States as well as an European adventure. She collects recipes and techniques like others might collect shot glasses or refrigerator magnets from all the special places and moments in life. 

Though this cookbook is not Vegan, and my regular readers all know that's my current recipe book collection bent, it's a keeper. Her recipes, though occasionally heavy on ingredients, are ALL heavy on love of food and folks and chock full of taste. Many of her recipes have stories and helpful hints. Kat loves taste and mouth feel and will work until it's just right, while her husband is a meat and potatoes kind of guy. Her experiences and skills as a foodie all come together to make for some great recipes. Her midwest roots and country bent also guarantee that many of these recipes are comfort foods that will become some of your favorites. Her husband's art work adds the cherry-on-the-top charm.

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Donating Without Writing a Check.

This is pretty cool.


Send a Lego e-Greeting card. They donate a Lego toy to Toys for Tots.

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Peingle Bells...

Technology struck again. Tomorrow is the last chance for the current company to fix the problem. Of COURSE, since the major meltdown this morning that left me unable to even check email and drove me to complain yet again, it's been working like a dream. Now that I say that the internet will come to a sudden FREEZE mid-post. But. I'll have at least vented my spleen, I may be the only audience, but I'll have vented. 

I got my handmade gifts finished, complete and even beribboned. They will be the ONLY sort of Christmas decoration in the house until the weekend, too. Yikes. This is the least Christmas prepared I have ever felt.

There was quite a bit of crabby at my office today. I include myself in that description. I headed down the hall for a little R&R in the public restroom. I got settled in the stall, knowing that there is another person next door but not expecting anything out of the ordinary. I've vented about cell phone use in public restrooms before. You know I'm not a fan. So. All of a sudden this loud voice says. "Hi Blah, This is Blah! I'm just calling to double check and make sure you got my prescription because earlier, blah, blah, blah." My immediate dilemma? Should I just go ahead and pee, since I really have to, but, if I do, it's going to be background noise for my newly intimate stall neighbor. 

Awkward. 

Then I'm like. Really? Why would I be concerned about being polite? So. I did my business. The toilet is an auto flush. Had no control over that. At this point, the pharmacy or doctor's office on the other end knows for certain the call was taking place in a public restroom. 

Now. Here's the rest of the yuck. She was using the phone with those hands. Did she disinfect the phone? Heck, maybe she didn't even wash her hands. 

Maybe I'm being unkind. Maybe there was some sort of reason she had to make the call while on the toilet. Like I said, I felt a little cranky. But dang. There's a long hallway, an elevator, a stairwell and the great outdoors and all of those get pretty good reception, too. Who knows. If I was thinking a little clearer at the time, I could've tried to pee the Jingle Bells tune at least.

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ BBC

No, not the British Broadcasting Company. Bad Blogger Confessions.

I didn't blog yesterday. I thought about it. I could've found a YouTube video or some great sites to send you to. I could've typed up one of the many recipe scratchings on various assorted pieces of paper lying about on my table and counter. I could have posted a picture and an encouraging verse for the busy season in which we find ourselves. 

Instead, I ignored Blogger. 

While soup bubbled (it was a double batch made weeks ago and frozen for such a day) (and it was also lentil soup, so it double bubbled if you get my drift.) I sewed my little brains out. First, I had to buy thread. I've purchased 6 spools of thread since I started this project. When I post my pictures of my finished items you'll see why I've kept Hobby Lobby hopping to order new thread spools. In the meantime, I'm almost done. I took a four foot pile of fabric and condensed the leftovers into a neat 8 x 10 stack. (And about a dozen gifts.) I'm pretty happy with the outcome.

I think I'll get em done today. And then. Then I need to clear the clutter of crafting, and life, put my thinking cap on, plan the soups for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and prepare to have some festivities in my house. Oh, I still need to decorate. Hey, it's only the 14th. No problem. And here's an aside. It is currently pouring rain. So. No shoveling today. If it was colder there would be a lot of snow. :  ). Iowa is weird that way. One never knows what might be coming down the pike or out of the sky.

Tomorrow's post may be a picture of me curled up in the fetal position. But today. Today, right now, I feel totally in control.

Scraps and Snippets ~ Citrus Sesame Glaze

Delicious!!!

I had a few oranges that had seen better days. So I squeezed them, measured the juice, calculated a few combinations and put it all together.

Citrus Sesame Glaze

1/4 Cup rice vinegar

1/4 Cup sesame oil

3/4 Cup orange juice

1/3 Cup maple syrup

2 tsps sesame seeds

1 pinch of garlic powder

1 pinch of ground ginger

Heat orange juice and oil in saucepan. Add vinegar, maple syrup and sesame seeds. Let simmer approx 20 minutes until sauce thickens and reduces to a syrupy consistency. Stir frequently but not constantly. When it's the consistency you want add the pinch of garlic and ginger. Serve over veggies, meat subs or meat. We braised sliced seitan in it for 20 minutes and served over brown rice. Yummy.

It would work as a salad dressing, too.

Scraps and Snippets ~ "Hamburger" Crumbles

I did not post yesterday. I can't blame it on my internet connection, which may or may not be fixed as I had to reboot it this morning. (Happy thoughts, happy thoughts, butterflies and daisies, ah yes, I feel better.) 

I spent the evening crafting. Why? Because I'm making a few gifts this year. Oh, and because I'm INSANE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have a closet full of craft items that I just want to use up. And since I'll be having company in about two weeks and that will require massive cleaning, I decided it's time to HAUL 

everything out. That way my stress level can be OFF THE CHARTS 24/7 until Christmas Eve morning. Ha.Ha.Ha (add the deranged, twisty-eye look and a touch of desperation to the ha, ha, ha, and you've got it.) 

However, while I'm crafting Netflix is making sure I'm catching up on all sorts of stuff. In the meantime, still looking for those recipe ideas to incorporate into the family file. Here's a great one. Really. And inexpensive, too. And if my grand craft ideas turn out, I'll even share those pictures and success stories with you all. (After I gift them, of course.)

"Hamburger" Crumbles

2 Cups brown rice

2 Cups prepared lentils

1 Cup oatmeal

1/2 Cup TVP (textured Veggie Protein or more rice if you prefer)

3/4 Cup finely chopped mushrooms (not minced, but small) (or extra pecans or rice)

1/2 Cup chopped (small) pecans (Or use more rice or more mushrooms)

2 tsp black pepper

1 TBSP garlic powder

1/2 tsp tumeric

1/4 tsp cayenne

1/4 tsp cumin

1/8 Cup olive oil

1/8 Cup soy sauce

Mix this all together very well. Place in lightly greased 9 x 13 pan. Place in 300 degree oven for 1 hour and 15 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes or so.

You don't have to use TVP, it doesn't hold the recipe together but does give a little extra protein. I loved the texture and taste of this. I probably got 6 or 7 cups. Keeps in the fridge for a week or so. I froze cup sized bags for future use and it freezes well.

Here is the original recipe. 

My tweaks made it way easier. It did not require a trip to a store and helped use up some of the stuff I have on hand.