Because I seem to be in the habit of posting in twos, here are a few pictures of what I like to think are my "Culinary Masterpieces." They all relate to bread baking as my most recent hobby but so as not to neglect other points of cooking, I'll just mention I've been making lots of soups, pasta sauces, and pizzas recently. Cold weather inspired, of course. Next on the list, however, is coq au vin. I am embarrassed to admit to never having made this classic before, so its appearance on my dinner table is long overdue. Also, not depicted (and for good reasons) is my less than successful crumpet attempt. Apparently one needs "crumpet rings" to pull this one off.
This is the first of many future batches of bialys. I had never heard of them before now, and rue the wasted time I spent not devouring these beauties.
Here is the aerial view of the "Cheddar Loaf." It makes a mean grilled cheese sandwich (or, as I used to say, a "girl cheese sandwich")
Warning: the more you look at this, the more disturbing it becomes (and may not be appropriate for younger audiences...). I recreated the Apple-Ginger-Cranberry Pie for New Years here in Arlington and used this bake sheet to catch the pie's drippings. Needless to say, I was shocked to discover this image burned to the sheet's surface after washing. The Virgin Mary appears to some, but I get explicit images of monsters.
I plead guilty to all accusations of negligence.I have not made the blog a priority (for which I don’t exactly feel pangs of guilt) but writing down ones thoughts is still a valuable exercise.Since all plans have been canceled for the day due to the flurry of crisp, cold snow that has seen fit to cover the ground, I have an unexpected window of time to curl up with a mug of mulled wine, listen to some Hootie and the Blowfish, and compose this long overdue post.Keeping in mind the month (ish) long lapse in posting, I’m opting to forgo all former aspirations of catching up to the present and touch on a few highlights.
The current state of my back yard.
First, and probably most exciting is that I have been offered a job with the National Archives.The position is uniquely designed for students in that I work a part-time schedule, earn a decent pay check, and have the flexibility to determine when I work to best accommodate my schedule.It is by no means glamorous work, but it is a way to gain experience and get my foot in the door as a Federal Employee (which, as I’ve learned, is no easy feat).The issue to be addressed is now whether or not I will remain in all three classes I am now taking.I’m currently enrolled in The History of the Book, Archive Administration, and France’s First Empire.I’m enjoying all these classes and feel conflicted about dropping one, but at this point I should own up to the fact that I’m not super-woman and cannot do everything I would like.As KP put it, “as much as I’d like to see you in a cape, sometimes you have to keep the glasses on and stay out of phone booths.”I think she may have a point, and really, Clark Kent has many admirable qualities.
Second, I went home for Christmas and received what ranks among the most treasured Christmas gifts of all time.Both of my father’s parents were avid book collectors, such that their books seemed to consume every available inch of the house.Several years after the death of their parents, my uncle and father donated much of the collection to the University of Texas in a desperate effort to reclaim some living space.Of the books that were not donated some were sold, among which was my grandmother’s complete Oxford English Dictionary printed in 1933 and sold to our neighbor for a measly $200.Due to the alignment of the planets and a fluke of fate, last year my mother reconnected to this neighbor who then offered to give the dictionary to me.Nothing seemed to come of it until December, when my mom and brother eagerly ushered me into the car with the promise of a surprise.I began to suspect something when we turned down this former neighbor’s new street and pulled inside her large front gate.
My thirteen volume set of the OED.
Collecting the dictionary was one thing, but getting the thirteen volume collection to Virginia was another challenge all together.This brings me to my third and final event of this post.KP, whom I’ve mentioned on several occasions, received a transfer notice from her company relocating her to where else but Arlington, VA!She moved early January and offered to include the two boxes containing the precious dictionary among her things.Needless to say, it has been a wonderful blessing to have her here.I have made some wonderful friends since moving, but there is something uniquely special about being near someone who has known you for years, seen the good and the bad in you, witnessed you grow and change, and still chooses to remain your friend.
And so, there you have it: a reasonably brief update on life since December.
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