Stuffed Bell Peppers

Why is it that a weekend away throws such a wrench into normal life?  We came back from cyclocross craziness last weekend and suffered through a week of chaos–no groceries, not much in the way of clean clothes, the smell of smokey campfires in my hair for three days and everything topsy turvy at home.  Mini vacation . . . great!  Return from mini vacation . . . ugh!

Have you Yurted?

Yurt at Fort Stevens State Park

I had a crazy weekend, how about you?

The crazy-ness of my weekend was not so much about Halloween, but more about getting out of town, staying in my first yurt, and watching the spectacle of cyclocross for two full days in a row.

Did I just lose you?

Front porch

Filled Sugar Cookies

When I was 20, I took a break from college and ended up moving around a bit.  A bit, meaning I went from Boulder, Colorado, where I was in school, to Illinois to visit family, to Bucharest, Romania, where I lived with my dad and stepmom for nine months (which was originally supposed to be a visit of 6 weeks or so), and then on to Blackfoot, Idaho, where I lived with my mom for about a year, before finally landing in Portland, Oregon, where I live now.  A strange and interesting time in my life, and one that brings up all kinds of feelings of anxiety.  Which also may explain why, out of all those places and all the memories I could tell from that time in my life, I’m choosing this one to tell . . .

Banana Bourbon Bread Pudding

So this is what you do with that stale loaf of challah bread.  Whaaat, you don’t have a stale loaf?  Because you ate it all? I know, I know, it’s good stuff.  I had to hide our second loaf, my husband and I polished off the first one in a space of an evening.  Okay, maybe it was half gone when he got home, whatever.  So, go make some more challah, and let’s get on with the show.  The Bread Pudding show.

Holla for Challah

For me, there is a direct correlation between how many items are on my to-do list, and how much I want to bake bread.  The more stuff I really should be doing, the more I find myself thinking about diving into the long, meditative process of mixing, kneading, rising, shaping, rising, and baking bread.  It’s wrong.  Very wrong.  Bread isn’t difficult to make, don’t get me wrong–but you do have to schedule yourself around it, be attentive to it, and certainly at some point set everything aside for it, because when it’s ready, it’s ready! It’s not the thing you make when you are

Turkey Pesto Meatballs

I don’t know what happened, but it seems like we went from 90 degrees, sunny and gorgeous (and a bit ridiculous in late September in Portland, Oregon) to BRRRR, where is my winter jacket?  Suddenly the cat stopped clawing at the door to go outside, and instead wants only to be ON ME at all times, or if not on me, then on the heating vent nearest to me.

Roasted Beet and Chevre Salad

I love the colors of fall . . . the yellows and greens and burnt umbers of fall leaves, the still (sometimes) blue sky, everything earthy and gorgeous, and somehow more humble and subdued . . . or maybe more mature, yeah, that’s it, mature, than the bright boldness of summer.  And the produce!  Oh, the produce is the best–apples in every hue, rainbow colors of beets and potatoes, and the beginning of all things squash.  The changing of seasons, and even better, a reminder of the approaching holiday season, the best time of all!

Tomatoes–the Last Blast

Did you notice–it’s October, people!  October!  I can hardly believe it.  I might not even notice, if it weren’t for the slight chill in the air.  We’ve had unusually nice (i.e. dry) weather in Portland, temps around 70 this week and no rain to be seen.  Unheard of.  Where are the drenching downpours, the endless days of nothing but gray?  They are coming, I know they are.  But for now, cool, crisp, sunny Fall!

Thanks to the lack of downpours, my tomato plants have survived my neglect, and I was able to harvest another 30+ romas yesterday.  Yay, garden tomatoes!  So, a bit later than expected, but apparently on time with my local seasonal weather, here is my “last blast” tomato post, with two recipes for that bounty of gems you may have sitting on your kitchen countertop . . .

Chocolate Rum Cake

I married into this recipe, how great is that?  I don’t know when it started, but the Liefeld family was making this cake for every birthday when I met them.  I love my family-in-law.

Besides being quick and easy (my two favorite things in a recipe, generally), this cake is also (a) delicious, (b) doesn’t need frosting, and (c) tastes even better on day two, if there is any left.  Oh, and versatile, I almost left out versatile!  The original recipe calls for rum, but I have also swapped out the rum for chocolate liqueur and cassis (black currant liqueur), left out the nuts, and tossed in some white chocolate chips with the semisweet.  I can also imagine it with a nice dark porter in place of the rum, some toasted walnuts and big chocolate chunks . . . or if you want something less alcohol-y, maybe some chai tea in place of the rum/liqueur.  Or, if you want something with a deeper chocolate flavor, use a chocolate cake mix instead of yellow cake.  Oh, so many yummy options.

Darn it, now I wish I hadn’t given away that last piece . . .

Almond Shortbread Bars

You know what I really need?  I need a Brain Recorder.  Why can’t somebody invent that?  Seriously.

I have to tell you, when I’m laying in bed at night, verging on unconsciousness, I write the most amazing blog posts in my head.  You know, the kind that are smart and funny and interesting, and full of witty observations and all that.  Oh, and I come up with the greatest business ideas, too!  Unbelievable recipes, can’t-miss marketing schemes, you name it.

And then I wake up in the morning.  Poof.  Gone.

I need a Brain Recorder.