Slacker

I was stuck in traffic today behind a car who's bumper sticker read "Be The Change."   I felt this was a little hypocritical and should rather read "Be The Shame" if they're going to insist on putting it on a car.  It applies to blogging, too.  I'd apologize for the sporadic blog posts, but that's both self-centered and implied.  So I'll skip that part, and move ahead.

Happy belated holidays, everyone.  I have loads of pictures, but instead of continuing to procrastinate until I get around to uploading, I'm going to give verbal descriptions.

We were in Sweden for Christmas.  It was beautiful and cold.  With so many people to see in different parts of the country, we attempted to pack light.  I'm not that good at paring down with a three week long trip, but I tried.  I had the rockabilly theme to keep up of course.  My staple outfit was turned up jeans paired with button-ups and cardigans.  When I knew I wouldn't be outside quite as much, or when it warmed up to 14 degrees Fahrenheit,.I would wear long johns under my cycling tights and flirt a mini skirt.  Before we left, I had shopped a few new items for the trip, all of which turned out to be lifesavers.  I got new long johns, top and bottom, from Icebreaker, and a pair of North Face super warm boots..  Stylish, sleek, and snuggly.  My hair styling was minimal, mostly because I was wearing two hats all the time, so I stuck with a ponytail.  Before we left I had some bangs cut in, and that helped my hair look better, but not particularly rockabilly.  My attention to detail with the make-up slipped quite a bit, it being vacation and all.  I stayed consistent with the eye-liner.  I'm not sure that I totally conveyed the message all the time, so I decided to extend the six months out to seven, just to be sure.

Usually when we go to Sweden I feel giant and unstylish, but this time I only felt giant!  Everyone was in black tights and mini skirts, so at least I got that one outfit correct.  It's nice not to feel like I stick out like a sore thumb.  I blame it on living in the Northwest.  I look fine here, but against the lanky, fashion-conscious Swedes... not so much.  But this year was better than years past, and that felt good.  I shopped a few items when we were there, as usual.  I found a stretchy black mini skirt (can't have too many of those).  This one rocked because it was about $7 and it has pockets!

I have a car.

Goin' dress shopping!  It's been a while since I've put anything up, and I know this isn't the most fabulous, hair wise, but I felt like posting.  One might note the splotch next on my right cheek.  No, I didn't miss-apply the lipstick.  I did, however, push myself too hard a week ago and get a monster cold sore.  Auto-immune diseases are weird.  I'd have thought my super-powered system would have squished that pesky herpes virus on its route from my spinal column to my face.  I have so much left to learn about human anatomy.  It's fascinating.

Nose to the Grindstone

I'm four and a half months in!  I can't believe it!  I also can't believe how slack I've been as of late; no new photos, no regular styling of my hair.  It will be sad if I lose now.  I have decided that I don't have enough on my plate with a three week trip to Sweden coming up, the flooded basement project, and Christmas looming around the corner.  So to pass the time, I've joined some Falcon discussion forums.  I hope someone takes pity on me and takes me under their wing (hint hint to anyone who knows about cars!!!!).  E-bay has some Falcons for sale, and I can look at the pretty pictures, and scan the text to see if it runs or now, and that's about it.  I feel hopelessly uneducated.  Each one is lovelier than the last, but that's no way to make a financial decision!  It's nice to finally start the ball rolling, though, albeit very slowly.

Thanksgiving Review

I don't know why, but we failed to take any pictures at this year's Thanksgiving gathering.  I and my cake were both lovely, I can assure you.  The Millennium Cookbook's pumpkin cake recipe was a hit, at least for Per and I.  It was a bit much for my family, with all the chocolate and sugar.  If I was making it for just five people again, I'd half the recipe.  It's so rich and fabulous that when it says "10 servings," they actually mean it.  Gluten-free baking can tend to be a little bit dry, so the coffee sauce was a perfect addition.  I made it a day ahead of time.  Overnight it congealed a little bit. In the past I've been irritated at cinnamon for causing a mucousy consistency, but in the case of this sauce, it worked perfectly to the cake's advantage.  And the cake itself would make a great informal addition to a coffee date.  The batter was very quick and easy to make.  The flavor is interesting enough to stand alone without the need for frosting.  I highly recommend!

In the manner of a good housewife, the christmas decorations are up and the stockings are hung.  We're going to Sweden this year, but we still have two and a half weeks to enjoy our home being all christmas-y.

That's all the updates I've got for now!  Happy December everyone!

Thanksgiving Eve (Also Birthday Eve Eve)

My dear friend, Katrina, sent me this cartoon.  I can't paste it here, but it's worth checking out.  My family, immortalized.  Per and I are vegan, I'm off sugar, Per doesn't view pumpkins as a dessert meal, Dad's off nightshades, Mom and Sister are off gluten, Mom and Dad are off alcohol and caffeine, and Dad can't have chocolate after 6pm.  Soooo... Root mash instead of mashed potatoes (yams, turnips, carrots; it's actually really good), tofurkey for Per and I, vegan mock shephard's pie for the others, agave chocolate cake for breakfast on my birthday because we can't have it for dinner, gluten-free biscuits for dinner.  I feel like that covers it.  The two things everyone agrees on are roasted brussels sprouts and cranberry sauce.


And here's my Thanksgiving fashion inspiration.  The hair, at least.  The outfit's a tiny bit inappropriate for the weather.

Mushroom Gravy

I'm posting this partly to share, because it's great, and partly so I can access this recipe from any computer.  I could make a google doc, but if I'm typing it anyway, why not put it here!  I feel like a true American cook should be able to make a gravy without a recipe, but I didn't have biscuits and gravy until I was 17, and it's only made a sporadic appearance since then.  I hope you enjoy, and I hope not sporadically (Clueless reference).


Mushroom Gravy
From Vegan Brunch, by Isa Chandra Moskowitz

2 cups vegetable broth
1/4 cup flour
2 T olive oil
1 medium onion, thinly sliced into 1/2 inch long pieces
10 ounces cremini mushrooms, thinly sliced (4 cups)
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 t thyme
1/2 t sage
1/4 salt
sever dashes of fresh black pepper
1/4 cup white cooking wine

Mix the flour into the broth until dissolved and set aside.

Preheat a large nonstick pan over medium heat.  Saute the onion in the oil for about five minutes, unitl translucent.  Add the mushrooms and saute for five more minutes, until the mushrooms are tender.

Add the garlic, thyme, sage, salt and pepper.  Saute for another minute.  Add the wine and turn the heat up to bring to a simmer.  Let simmer for about a minute, then lower the heat and add the broth mixture.  Stir constantly until thickened, about five minutes.