Mini Mariner and Masala

Oh,Nana, she looks so sad....could it be she wanted to be drafted by the  Atlanta Braves  instead?  ;-)

It's pretty common knowledge among family and readers of this blog...I love curries.  Indian, Thai,....you name it.  Last week I made Thai Shrimp Yellow Curry, Today, I made Chicken Tikka Masala, Naan, and Kheer.  (I love creamy rice puddings like Kheer too).  I've made this same Tikka masala recipe before, but I think it turned out extra yummy tonight.  The naan turned out really well too...first time I'd ever made it.  It made a lot, so slipped extras into the freezer.  Costco sells it in their freezer coolers, so figure they should be ok.

Barista & Biscotti

Yesterday was foggy, so "foglifter" in the french press would've been more seemly then; but we had it this rainy, wet, morning, instead.  Jim had cereal, but I accompanied my coffee, with a piece of biscotti that I made last week.  I usually make two "ropes" but this time used the rehrucken pan.  The sectional lines make it nice for slicing, but I should've done it in two batches.  It was too "deep".  This time, I made cranberry almond w/ white chocolate chips.  It's ok, but I didn't have enough almond extract..(on the grocery list for next time).

Dandelions for Martha

Jim found a little scanner on sale, that I can hook up to my computer and scan slides to be burned to DVD's.  It will do 4 slides at a time.  We have alot of slides of when the girls were little and all of my grandpa's "zillions."  So....I've been scanning away. 

Cousins.  My cousin Martha is the one in the red sweater.  We've been separated by miles and national borders for years, so I haven't been able to spend a lot of time with her.  Thanks to facebook and pinterest, and this little blog...we've been able to be a little more in the loop and "the know" about each other.

I know that she's grown up, into a generous, caring woman, who has opened her home and heart to children who needed that.  I know that she has done a wonderful job raising her own girls to be loving,  responsible, mothers as well. We've all been scattered like dandelion dust in the wind, but also like dandelions; our tap roots run deep.  I love you Martha.

Laughing Cow Biscuits

Today, there were little snow flurries outside, and cleaning flurries in the house.  I made this soup I made last year..... with some adaptations.  I also made Joy the Baker's goat cheese biscuits, with some.... adaptations. The freezer didn't yield the cleaned chopped leeks I thought were in there, so the soup just got more sweet onions, no whole garlic, so sauteed minced garlic with onions.  No ginger in the freezer or fridge, so some ground ginger added with the other curry type spices.  The biscuits called for goat cheese.....don't have......buttermilk.....don't have.  But we did have little French onion Laughing Cow Cheese wedges, and milk soured with vinegar.  The biscuits turned out great.  We don't live close to a grocery store, so "making do" substitutions are VERY common for us. That's just the way we fly around here.

Date Night Downtown

For several weeks now; we had been looking forward to Ari & Mia coming to town.  They were absolutely delightful.  Mia won the 2011 John Lennon Songwriting Contest in the Fok division, for her song; "Across the Water."  It was about her grandmother coming from Poland, across the ocean to join her grandfather, who was already here. I loved the chorus, especially the line "I'm deep in sea-sick love" and the cute lilt of  "I wanna be in a warm house with you." Ari and Mia were accompanied by the fun and crazy, talented, Owen Marshall.  Each of them have such a cute sense of humor, and are such accomplished musicians in classical, folk, and funky alternative.

We finished off the evening with Thai curry. Great time.

Strawberry Fields Forever

It's crisp and cool out, but the skies are clear, and the sun is shining.  It doesn't seem like a January day. I don't know if it was subliminal messaging, or what, but over a breakfast of toast slathered in freezer strawberry jam, I ordered this fabric to make into a new robe for myself.  I need something light-weight, and liked this cute print....so cheery and fresh.  The fact that it was on a clearance sale, didn't hurt my feelings any, either.

Dear Tooth Fairy....

I received one of my favorite phone calls on New Year's Eve.  When each of our grandchildren have lost their first tooth, they have called to tell us.  It's always so sweet and cute, and yet a little bittersweet too...they are no longer babies.  This time it was the Little Farmgirl.

Black Beans, Batter Bread, and Bernie Lee

When we used to live  in Savannah and spent the holidays in Atlanta with Jim's family, we always had New Year's dinner with his brother Buddy's family.  There was always a roast beef, and traditional collard greens and black eyed peas, which are a southern tradition on New Years.  This year, we broke with tradition and had a black bean soup instead.  I made a batter bread to go with it.  The aroma of it, brought back memories of when we lived in Silver Lake.  Mama led a small group of 4-H cooking for girls who were older than me.  I was involved in another 4-H cooking group of girls my age.  When I would come home from my group meeting, our house would smell so good, from Mama's group making batter rolls.  We had those rolls often during that time.  I remember one day at school, when one of the older girls in her group said to me in front of the other girls: "Your Mom is so pretty."  I could tell she admired my Mama, and I was sooooo proud.

New Year's Eve 2011

Dinner in.  We had an early supper of yakisoba and Chinese barbecued pork, and watched Netflix movies with Bella.  Our imbibing consisted of egg nog milkshakes; mid evening.  When we got tired from all of the excitement, we retired to our bedroom to  big stacks of library books we had picked up earlier in the day.  At midnight, I was immersed in reading Pearl in the Sand,  about the Israelites circling Jericho, blowing their horns, as our neighbors were outside, shooting off guns and fireworks.  Yep, we are party animals alright. (Seriously, really like the book by the way.)  Last year, studying the Bible,  I was fascinated by the idea that Rahab's inn was in the wall, that the Hebrew Spies promised her and her family safety if they were in her home when the battle occurred, that the walls came down, but that would mean....one little section would have been remaining....Rahab's home in the wall.  I find that comforting.  Evidently so did Tessa Afshar, because she emphasizes it in this novel.  Happy New Year Everyone.  No matter the uncertainties of 2012, we have safety and hope, if we trust in the Lord.