Stephanie says

A constant in my life, 12 years older than me, Helene's youngest brother, who has been right there for me through thick and thin.  Great guy.  At one point I had nine uncles.  Howard is the last one standing, always steadfast.  The kind of man who loves his sister and buys frilly stuff just for her, things I've inherited like French clocks and pearl handled manicure sets.  I'm thinking my brothers have been remiss in the gift department.  Hmmm.  You boys need to pony up for your wonderful sister.  Pearls are good. This is the uncle who thought he might be balding in his college days and came to our dinner table wearing weird green holistic cure stuff on his head.  To much ridicule.  Same uncle who bought seven or nine or whatever cashmere sweaters for some college girls.  Hmmm.  He's this exuberant man who brought his many, many girlfriends home to our house to make fudge.  Not good fudge for the record.  And when h...

My girl requested a Christmas goody package as she won't be home for the holiday this year. I made some pretzels dipped in white chocolate then dusted with crushed peppermint candy - they have a nice sweet-salty flavor.  And so easy! White Chocolate Dipped Pretzels 6 oz. white baking chocolate, broken into chunks 1 1/2 tbsp. light corn syrup 1 1/2 tbsp. butter 2 tsp. water About 50 miniature, bow-shaped pretzels or 25 lg. bow shaped pretzels In 1 quart microwave casserole, combine chocolate, syrup, butter and water. Microwave at medium (50% power) 2-4 minutes just until mixture can be stirred smooth. Dip pretzels into chocolate. Arrange on wire racks placed on waxed paper lined trays. Cool or refrigerate until set. Rewarm chocolate mixture if it becomes too stiff to dip.  Dust with  crushed peppermint hard candy . Last year SIL’s favorite was a variation of the following.   I was loathe to over-blend the dough which resulted in a cookie ...

Teresa phoned saying she was closing up early and stopping by my office in a few minutes to deliver my Christmas presents. Christmas Eve today.  Card in-hand, a photo of my holiday fireplace mantle decorated in sparkling red and warm yellow tones with a darling photo of sweet Henry on the reverse.  That was the extent of my preparation, (I deserve kudos for that really cool card.) My intent to bake and take a plate of spectacularly delicious cookies to her remained just that, an intention.  There was however, a beautiful variegated poinsettia plant sitting on my desk, a gift from a client.  A flash of inspiration:  re-gift!   I've got one at home, this is a short week, give this one to Teresa. Great idea. Teresa arrived and I gave her the card and plant.  As I opened my gifts, I noticed the forgotten gift card "Thank you Stephanie, United Methodist Church" just sticking out there, under a leaf, on a florist card display rod.  So annoyed ...

My big dog died.   Suddenly.   Out of nowhere.   Fit as a fiddle until he wasn’t.   Off his food Wednesday, dead on Friday.   I don’t know why.   That dog had a sense of humor.   He’d do anything for a laugh.   Pick up errant socks, glasses, newspaper, whatever -   make eye contact then take off chortling “catch me if you can,” all the while listening for my chuckle at which point his cropped tail wagging and rear section wiggling, he’d be doing his dog flirt.      He snored horribly, his cheeks filling with a breath then a slow “phhp, phhp, phhp,” of escaping air, cheeks moving in and out.   Big suck in of fresh air.   Repeat.   I’d laugh watching him sleep. A major personality, sweet and loving boy, total pain in the ass when I got on the phone talking and pacing, he'd herd me to the box of dog biscuits.  He had me well trained. It's awfully quiet around here without him. ...

Terry popped in yesterday saying his sister had invited the two of us for Christmas with their extended family.   That was a kind gesture on a couple levels:   sisterly solidarity toward her brother and a welcoming acceptance of me.   I was touched.   So today I get a phone call from his mother, (I do some work for her, it is a family business after all,) asking how my recent visit with baby Henry went.   I mentioned receiving new photos today and she asked if they were on Facebook.   No, in Dropbox, but it occurred to me (I am a bit dense) that she was making a friendly overture and is likely curious about the fat and much older woman who has her son’s heart.     There is just no accounting for taste. That makes me chuckle.

I've got total recall, (and if I can't actually remember it, I can make it up; a little humor...  For the most part, I remember it.)  My former husband and my daughter don't have this ability.  My husband once lost an entire day.  We were mid 20s then, in the peak of health, and he just flat out lost a day.  We had a rare and beautiful Austin Healy 3000 Mark 1, worth its weight in gold, built with British style, but typically the engineering sucked.  We were waiting for a part with great anticipation, delivered on that forgotten day.  Next night me and the hubby dined with his parents and hubby had no recollection of the car part being delivered.  It was just another day for him screwing in screws at his short lived job at the Terry Trailer Plant in LaGrande Oregon.  It was disconcerting to realize that he honestly had no recollection of a day in his life.  On the next day... Fast forward ten years and we've got a little girl, for whom...

My daughter cooked this for me on my recent trip to Flagstaff .  It was so good that I made it when I got home.  It is delicious.   Garbanzo Beans and Greens Substitute escarole or another hearty green like collards if you don't like kale . Serve with torn baguette bread to soak up all the tasty juices. Cooking Light JANUARY 2011 Yield: 4 servings Total: 45 Minutes Ingredients 2 center-cut bacon slices 1 cup chopped carrot 1/2 cup chopped onion 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 teaspoon paprika 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper 2 1/2 cups fat-free, lower-sodium chicken broth 1 cup water 2 (15-ounce) cans organic chickpeas (garbanzo beans), rinsed and drained 4 cups chopped fresh kale 1/2 cup plain 2% reduced-fat Greek yogurt 4 lemon wedges (optional) Preparation 1. Coo...