I have not cooked in a long time. I miss it.
Unfortunately work consumes the day. Lots of line drawing in revit and autocad. This leads to lots of clicks in photoshop and illustrator. Then somehow I forget which program I am using and try to use autocad commands in photoshop. Just FYI that doesn’t work, and makes things go where you do not want them to. Oh so frustrating. Then I just turn on happy music on my ipod and life gets happier. (Erika-why can they not be like you, and we play “happy music” out-loud”?) Yes, those clicks and frustration lead to really creative projects. I Agree. It is a good not great fix for the need to express creativity, but there is just something about the word computer that doesn’t cut it for me. You get where I am going with this?? It is just so much more satisfying to be hands-on; cutting, tearing; making, and experiencing texture. The haptic quality, sense of touch, is just plain goodness. Really for me, design is about communication, and I love to communicate. One of many ways to convey “something”. It is like a silent way of talking. We need that sometimes!
So, where I was going with the whole cooking thing at the beginning. I think it is somewhat therapeutic to me. Weird? I dunno? Mixing things to make really yummy things is just plain FUN! Then when it turns out really pretty and tasty (people really like it), it makes the whole act even better. It is like a “fast-pace” design project, with a relatively quick completion. No waiting around for subs, samples, painters, backordered materials, or questions.
For now, I have work to do on my computer. But I will be back soon with some new recipes I want to share.
Sorry for the lack of posts recently, but things got busy. Christmas was so much fun. Lots of food, family, presents, and celebrating of our Savior. The weather was a little gloomy over Christmas in Auburn, but that just made for our arrival in the snow white land of Colorado even more glorious. There is nothing better than waking up to this beautiful landscape out your bedroom window.
and upon walking in the lobby of the hotel, we were welcomed with warm glasses of hot cider and a GI-normous gingerbread house that took over 30 hours to construct.
But the best part was when I heard that this man was in his restaurant Spago. Yeap that is Wolfgang Puck himself. I swiftly turned around on one foot and directed myself to meet him. I walked in, headed toward the booth where he sat with his cookbooks, and chatted with him for a few. He was a delightful man. Those of you who know me, know what I am a cooking affetionado, but not a celebrity stalker. I really could care less. But getting to meet Mr. Puck was crazy awesome in my book, especially since I was not setting out to meet him. It was a total surprise, and a good one at that.
So as Mr. Puck would say, “Happy Cooking”. I will be back soon with lots of snowy white pictures!
the tables are set.
even for the kids.
and embellished with a little crafty decor, which I informed my aunt that I MADE. She responded, “When?”. I reply, “two weeks ago”. She says, “Oh, I thought you were going to say grade school.” I would…make a rather “elementary” craft, and find it rather FUN! Yeap, all 30 of these darn little things I meticulously punched out and stuck together! Those googlie eyes had me sold at first sight!
Now back on track…the utensils are tied together with bows (the only plastic part of our Thanksgiving).
the grocery shopping is done.
and ready to be baked, chopped, sautéed, mixed, etc.
recipe #1: missisippi mud (my cousin John’s favorite…made just for him!)
layer 1: butter.
chopped pecans
mixed together with flour in a big bowl.
then spread with care in a 9×13 casserole
baked, and transformed into a lovely crust like this:
Layer 2: the goodness! cool whip + powder sugar + vanilla extract + cream cheese
Layer 3: a big size box of instant chocolate pudding, made according to package directions
NOW assemble Layer 1 + 2 + 3 and top with the rest of the CoolWhip
and made pretty with Hershey chocolate shavings on TOP!
recipe # 2 & #3: pumpkin pie & buttermilk pie
recipe #4: pumpkin cookies
with brown butter frosting, appropriately colored for the season! The frosting consists of evaporated milk, powder sugar, and MORE butter!! Imagine that!!
recipe #5: not really made for taste, but for FUN :::::: PILGRIM HATS!! I cannot claim this idea as a product of my own creativity, so I will appropriately direct all creative credit HERE.
Oh AND just FYI, we are NOT just having a Thanksgiving of sweets. Some healthy things too; like these potatoes made like this. And this just might be one of my all time favorite recipes.
and of course: turkey, dressing, squash casserole, green beans, sweet potatoes (ewww..not a fan!), and LOTS of homemade yeast courtesy of SAMs Club rolls!
