Dancing through life...

Things!

~Puck, the thirteen week old kitten, came home last night. There had been a mix-up at the vet, so he didn't get fixed until this past Tuesday. He also still needs his rabies vaccine, which the rescue will be covering, because he doesn't weigh four pounds yet. He explored most of the house last night, and is terribly adorable.

~Oberon is not entirely pleased to have a little brother. They had dinner together last night, and there has been some hissing/growling, and a small amount of no-claws head bopping. There was also much whining on Obi's part. He did do a poo on the floor at some point last night, but we're pretty sure he'll settle down in a couple of days. If not, Feliway!

~My parents are coming over to meet the fuzzballs on Saturday. I'm fixing on making grilled pizzas: one with garlic and veggies on, one "lasagna" pizza. Should be noms. I'm excited.

~I've been going for bike rides, doing yoga, and playing Wii Fit pretty regulary. I don't know if my waist is actually starting to return to normal-size yet, but I'm certainly starting to feel better, so I'll count that as a win so far.

~At some point before July, I want to make it down to Ikea. I'd like to pick up another Billy, stuff to put up shelves next to my desk, and decking tiles for the area in front of our hot tub. I have no idea WHEN this might happen, but I will make it happen!

~Um. That's about it. My life is kind of boring right now. How are you?

Prune juice really IS as disgusting as everyone says it is.

This is the first time in a long, long time that I haven't been excited for Halloween. I didn't have the time and resources to get my costume made. Our Funkin* is sitting on the dining table, un-carved. Rich is going to be working most of the day and into the night on Saturday; I don't feel like traveling terribly far on my own, so I probably won't go to any of the parties to which I have been invited.

We don't get any trick-or-treaters, so there's no candy in my house. I shall have to pilfer from my parents before they run out. (Translation: before Dad finishes it all.)

Maybe I'll go take some photos in the cemetery if it's nice enough out. I haven't done that in a few months, and it's appropriate for the holiday, no?

The post-Halloween holidays, on the other hand, I am stupid-excited about. Even though Thanksgiving in my family is traditionally held at my parents' house, and our apartment is way too teeny to host the event, I'm looking at festive table linens rather wistfully. (Hm. The one that would fit my table is only fifteen dollars. I just got a five dollar coupon, too...)

I have Plans for the biscuits this year, even though my mother nixed my bacon-biscuit idea. (Perhaps I shall do half plain and half bacon? I think this may be an excuse to perform some experiments. Delicious, delicious experiments!) I'll get to break out my super-nifty potato peeling device, as well.

Then there's Christmas. Cannot. Wait. I've already got a pretty decent wishlist going, (I like to put a lot of stuff on my wishlist, so that I may still be surprised when gift-opening occurs. If there were only one or two things on it I would know what I was getting before I opened any of the packages, and that would not be fun!) and have been harassing my family members to provide me with theirs. Mom wants a TV; Dad is usually the most difficult, but I have a bit of a plan for him. That leaves Steve. He tends to buy himself a lot of stuff, which limits my gift-giving options.

I'm going to pull out our decorations the minute Thanksgiving is over, and start getting the apartment in holiday-mode. (Unless, of course, we end up moving. Or something.) The lights, the garland, the scented candles, the festive table linens, the holiday movies...

I guess Halloween just seems sort of inconsequential when compared to the feelings that the other holidays elicit. Not that it's not fun, but I'm just more in the mood for that homey feeling these days.

This may have a lot to do with my desire to start shopping for a house to buy. To me, and I think to many people, the holidays mean home. We already know that our little apartment won't be "home" for too much longer. If we can get a mortgage, we'll be buying a house, most likely on the other side of the Hudson. If that doesn't happen, we'll probably move anyway when our landlord raises our rent. For what we'd be paying if that happened, we could get a much nicer, bigger place. (Preferably with a dishwasher and laundry facilities. A girl can hope!)

Part of the problem is that I get bored at work, and start looking at real estate listings online. I keep seeing adorable little houses that we could totally afford! In fact, according to the little calculators on the real estate websites, (which may or may not be accurate,) the mortgage payments on some of those homes would be less than what we are paying in rent right now!

Methinks I must learn some patience. It will happen soon, just not necessarily as soon as I would like.

Also, I really really REALLY want a LensBaby. They just released a fisheye optic! How freaking cool is that??

In short: I'm really sort of "meh" when it comes to Halloween this year, but I want the rest of the holidays to get here, darn it!

*A Funkin is a carvable fake pumpkin. We got it for two reasons: 1. I kept hearing about pumpkin shortages due to fungus, and 2. we don't have an appropriate porch to store a Jack O'Lantern on, so last year we put it on our table. It went moldy and gooed all over the place. It was gross.

Ingredients:
1 boneless skinless chicken breast
1/2 cup plain breadcrumbs
1/3 cup Parmesan cheese
Salt, pepper, Italian seasoning to taste
2 tbsp plus 1-2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
6 + cloves garlic
2 tbsp AP flour
2 cups milk
1/4 cup freshly grated sharp white cheddar
Secret ingredient
8 oz short cut pasta

Cut the chicken breast into slices, or filet it. Combine the breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning on a plate. Mix in 1-2 tsp EVOO, just to barely moisten the mixture. Coat the chicken pieces and put them in an oven safe pan. Bake at 375 for 10-15 minutes, until done through.

Meanwhile, cook the pasta. While pasta is cooking, chop the garlic. When the chicken is done, remove it from the pan and place it under foil to keep warm. Heat the remaining two tbsp of oil in the pan, add the garlic and cook over low heat until garlic starts to sizzle. Add the flour, mix well and cook until the roux turns golden and smells nutty.

While stirring, add the milk. Raise heat and bring to a boil. Then lower heat and add cheddar slowly, while stirring. Add secret ingredient, taste sauce and season with salt and pepper.

Once sauce is finished, add cooked pasta and chicken to the pan. Stir until everything is heated through, serve and enjoy!

I made myself some rice and black beans for dinner. It's simple, delicious, and clean up is easy.

Instead of using olive oil to cook the garlic for the beans, I used just a leeeeetle bit of bacon fat.

I'm in heaven! This is the tastiest batch of rice 'n' beans I have ever made, for sure.

OMG. So good.

...for there is not a Joe's Crab Shack within fifty miles of where I live.

::sigh::

Ok, so that's not the exact quote, but I did find the clip!

Embedding is disabled on this one for some reason, so...link!

I just ordered my KitchenAid Artisan Stand mixer from Le Gourmet Chef!

Ever since Rich and I started talking about moving in together, I've had my heart set on getting one of those. We moved in November, and I hadn't been able to justify spending the money.

Until now!

My mother, who is the most AWESOME shopper I have ever met, discovered that Le Gourmet Chef sells refurbished KitchenAid mixers on their website. I looked in to it, and it has the same exact warranty as a brand new model, but for HALF the price. Plus, right now they're having free shipping on orders of fifty dollars or more.

I was planning on (eventually) spending about two hundred forty dollars on the mixer at Bed, Bath, and Beyond, but for about one hundred eighty dollars I got the mixer, and a SilPat that will fit in my oven!

The e-mail I just got says it will be here before next Tuesday!

SQUEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

Now I just need some better cookie cutters, and I'll be set!

Suddenly, I have an intense urge to get me some IHOP.

Quick! Somebody open a franchise in Rockland! Please?

Big pot of 100% home-made (no boxed stock here, folks!) turkey soup keeping warm on the stove? Check.

Thyme'd rice to put in said soup on it's way to being done? Check.

Big bowl of salad? Check.

More spare veggies than I know what to do with? Check.

Oh yeah, babe!