A Thanksgiving Meme

Since Thanksgiving prep is underway and there is much housecleaning to be done, I’m afraid I haven’t been cooking anything noteworthy of late. So instead, here’s a little Thanksgiving Meme fun. And to do this, I’m tagging:

- Lulu

- Joy

- Mary

There are only two rules:

1. Post these rules when you participate in this meme.
2. Link to the people you tag as well as the person who tagged you.

Now onto the fun:

1. Which do you like better: hosting Thanksgiving at your home, or going elsewhere?
   
   I prefer to host Thanksgiving; I like having a certain measure of control over what is being served. Call me a control freak!
   
   
2. Do you buy a fresh or frozen turkey? Organic? Free-range?
   
   I usually buy/get a frozen turkey due to availability and finances; occasionally I’ve gotten a fresh bird but that’s unusual.
   
   
3. Do you make stuffing or dressing? What kind?
   
   It’s been a mix over the years; while I prefer to stuff the bird itself, I agree that it’s so much easier just to make dressing in a separate pan. My favorite recipe that I rely on year after year (with a few variations here and there) contains pork sausage and dried fruit. Yum!
   
   
4. Sweet potato pie or Pumpkin pie?
   
   I’m a pumpkin pie gal!
   
   
5. Are leftovers a blessing or a curse?
   
   I think a little bit of both; the tastiest leftovers go quickly, while the ho-hum items seem to hang around forever. I hate to waste, so coming up with things to do with the not-so-noteworthy items is a challenge.
   
   
6. What side dishes are a must-have in your family?
   
   Cranberry jelly is a must. And Mr.W absolutely needs to have macaroni & cheese. It wouldn’t be Thanksgiving for him otherwise.
   
   
7. What do you wish you had that might make Thanksgiving easier?
   
   A chest freezer would be nice; so would a kitchen bigger than the closet I currently have.
   
   
8. If/when you go to someone else’s house for the holiday, do you usually bring a dish? If so, what is it?
   
   When Mr.W and I lived in GA, his family invited us to Thanksgiving every year. Although I always cooked our own meal at home earlier in the day (because I have to be in control, remember), I would bring some kind of dessert to the family gathering. Most of the time it was Mr.W’s banana pudding.
   
   
9. What do you wish one of your guests would bring to your house?
   
   Anything that meets my dietary restrictions is fine with me.
   
   
10. What do you wish one of your guests would NOT bring to your house?
    
    Popcorn. I hate popcorn.
    
    
11. Do you stick with a particular menu from year to year, or do you mix it up?
    
    I like to mix it up; of course there’s always the mains: turkey, gravy, something cran, something potato, something sweet taters, mac & cheese, veg and pie. But from year to year what I do is alter the way they’re prepared. For example, last year I stuffed the a hubbard squash instead of the bird, and the turkey had an orange glaze. This year it’ll be dressing and an apple-glazed turkey.
    
    
12. Is Thanksgiving a religious or secular holiday in your home?
    
    Thanksgiving is a religious holiday for us, in that we recognize God during the event.
    
    
13. Share one Thanksgiving tradition.
    
    I’m not really a tradition kind of gal. That probably sounds odd, but my family growing up was highly dysfunctional and the chaos that invaded the holidays was the polar opposite of happy family celebration. As a military wife, I often lived far away from family… no kids… that also requires that certain standards & ideas become flexible. I guess the only traditions I can identify are (a) invite a guest that has nowhere else to go for Thanksgiving, (b) enjoy a lovely meal and (c) attempt normalcy as much as possible.
    
    
14. Share one Thanksgiving memory.
    
    My favorite Thanksgiving memory was my first one in Key West. I was having a hard time getting into the holiday spirit because of the warm weather/lack of seasonal weather change, and we decided to just embrace what we did have. We strung white Christmas lights to form a canopy over our patio and dragged the dining table outside. The meal was enjoyed with several neighbors outside, under our twinkling lights—lots of laughter.
    
    
15. Name five things you’re thankful for.
    
    (1) Living close to home.
    
    (2) My wonderful husband.
    
    (3) My Sunday School class--what an impressive group of young people. They're so easy to teach, and they, in turn, teach me valuable lessons as well.
    
    (4) Good friends.
    
    (5) My faith.

Join in the fun! If I didn’t tag you, please feel free to participate anyway! Add a link to your replies in the comments below.

Meme: Six More Random Things About Me

My blogging-buddy, Sam, tagged me for a meme so, without further ado, here are six personal tidbits previously unstated (I think) here at Mrs.W's Kitchen:

- I am a crafter. I knit scarves and hats and various other small wearables. I occasionally sew. I've been known to cross-stitch, bead and make all sorts of other bits & baubles. I make holiday wreaths. The best part of my week is doing some kind of craft with my Sunday School class. I'm now playing with felting--just today I purposely shrank a thrift-store wool sweater that I plan to make, well, something with.

- Somehow Mr.W and I have made it to almost ten years of marriage without owning a dresser. Okay, that's a little bit of a lie. I do have a small youth-sized chest of drawers that I rescued from the curb; it's currently in my garage, waiting to be sanded and painted for use. However, that will be put to use in my kitchen, not to hold clothes.

- Which brings me to my next random thing: I'm a trash-picker. But only if an item appears to be usable/refinishable. This is a fact that I generally don't let out--but I trust y'all.

- I love, love, love shopping at the Salvation Army store. Maybe I've mentioned that here, I don't know. I'm like a kid in a candy store there--dishes, strange bits of furniture, clothes--you name it. I love to pick up the odd dish, or serving piece.

- This year I'm disappointing my family and NOT doing Thanksgiving at my house. I feel a little guilty about it. Well, maybe a lot guilty.

- I'm rather upset that Mr.W recently lost 35 lbs. Sure, it's great for him, he looks better, and there's no doubt it's better for his health. It's my vanity that's been affected--I'm afraid of being that fat chick married to that skinny guy. He has been banned from losing any more weight.


There were some rules for this tag:

1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write six random things about yourself.
4. Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them.
5. Let each person know they’ve been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

Since I'm a ritual nonconformist, I'm going against the rules per se. If you want to play along, consider yourself tagged and please do link to me (I'll add a link to you if you let me know). Those of you doing NaBloPoMo 2008 I'm sure will enjoy adding a meme or two!

Want to learn more about me? See the other memes I've answered.

12 Hours in...

Adam Roberts, The Amateur Gourmet, started this new and very clever meme--what would you do with only 12 hours in your city, never to return?

I've had the experience of living away from the city where I grew up, so I know what it's like to only visit, and try to cram in those "must haves" before leaving again. Here's what I would do with only 12 Hours in...



10am
I'd start my day with an early lunch at Big Daddy's. This is THE sub shop for me. The one I dreamed about everywhere else I've lived, and the one I visited every time I came home. And not just for any sandwich--their lovely, delicious, mysterious Reuben. I don't know exactly what they do to their sauerkraut to make it so darned delicious--but whatever it is, it's had me captivated for 30 years.

11am
Take a drive to the Erie Canal Village. It's a far cry from what it once was, but this is more of a nostalgia visit for me. You see, I worked there as the village violinist and house interpreter as a teenager. Many fond memories there for me.

12pm
Time for a 2nd lunch (have to make all the stops, you know) at Tony's Pizza. The one on Jay Street, not the Boulevard. My favorite pizza with mushrooms and peppers--the vegetables are mouth-watering served atop a tender crust. This is the pizza I craved in South Korea; the pizza I searched for in Key West; the pie I longed for in Atlanta.

1pm
I'd spend some time strolling the streets of my childhood. This could be any time of year, but I'm imagining a lovely autumn day, like today. The playground where I first dug in a sandbox. The deaf school, where friends and I would climb the fence just to ride the merry-go-round. You remember that ride, don't you? The one that push, running, running, running... and then jump on and hold for dear life. The site of the old high school, which is being torn down now. My elementary school. The old military base where... oh, dear. Let's just leave that a mystery, shall we?

3pm
I'd make an appointment with the Mayor. After all, if I'm going to leave the city and never return, I might as well pass along all of my opinions to someone who's in charge, right?

4pm
Time for shopping. I'd head over to pick up a generous supply of Turkey Joints, and to the new high school to pick up some logo clothing. I might run by some local restaurants for a few batches of really good pizza dough and cannoli filling to freeze. If I REALLY had a dream opportunity, I'd get a lesson in making pustis and good cannoli cream from a local pro.

6pm
On to dinner The Franklin Hotel for Greens, Beans and Sausage. The same soup that I started eating at 16 is just as delicious today. I'd follow that with one perfect cannoli. And maybe a chocolate pusti. And a slice of chocolate cannoli cake. Who cares if I look like a pig? I'll never see these people again, right?

8pm
Meeting friends for coffee at our local coffee shop. We don't have Starbucks here, and the only coffee lounge that we have offers a limited variety of sugar-free treats. So while I do like to go there, I can only enjoy limited drinks & snacks. Perhaps I would have some SF cookies and mini-cheesecakes to give them, with recipes, to offer other patrons like me.


Most importantly, however, I'd spend my final 12 hours with my family and friends wherever I went. There's something so special about living close and sharing day-to-day life with the people most important in your life. I'll admit that I'm not fond of snow, or the cold weather, or even the politics in the state where I live. It's the people--my biological family, as well as my chosen family--that drew me back, and keeps me here.

How would you spend a final 12 hours in your home city?

The Omnivore's Hundred

I found this delightful survey over at Sam's Antics of a Cycling Cook and just had to participate.

A Very Good Taste started this list as a way for foodbloggers everywhere to interact--and it's been hugely successful so far!

This list includes all sorts of various foods--some exotic, some not. Here are the rules if you want to participate:

- Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
- Bold all the items you've eaten.
- Cross out any items that you would never consider eating
- Optional extra: post a comment at http://www.verygoodtaste.co.uk/ linking to your results.

So here are Mrs.W's Omnivore's Hundred:

1. Venison
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart
16. Epoisses
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie gras
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn, or head cheese
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Salted lassi - I've had unsalted mango lassi, does that count? I guess not...
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar - I've had cognac, and I've had a fat cigar, only not together...
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects
43. Phaal
44. Goat’s milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more
46. Fugu
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine - I had a non-cheese version of poutine in Canada once...
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores
62. Sweetbreads
63. Kaolin - I have no idea what this is and the link provided at VGT didn't give me a clue; link has been removed
64. Currywurst
65. Durian
66. Frogs’ legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake - all of these!
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette - is andouille sausage the same?
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill
76. Baijiu - I have, however, had russian vodka and korean soju, which are evidently similar but not the same
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant.
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake

I must say that there isn't anything on this list that I absolutely would not try (except maybe the roadkill--I think I would have to be in quite dire circumstances for that). I consider myself a fairly adventurous eater.

Results: 56/100. Not bad...

Tagged!

Sam the Cycling Cook tagged me for a meme. Here we go:

1.Last Movie I Saw In A Movie Theater?

Step Brothers with Will Farrell and John C. Reilly. It was an okay movie--entertaining enough. I much preferred the recent super-hero movies, such as The Hulk, the newest Batman, and of course Iron Man! Hey, call me a girl-geek if you must!


2. What Book Are You Reading?

I just finished Playing for Pizza by John Grisham. Nice story, easy read, and pleasant, though I was a bit undwhelmed by the ending.


3. Favorite Board Game?

We haven't been playing too many board games lately. Carcassone is one that I would think to reach for first, though Mr.W got a fun new game for his birthday called Zombies that I'm looking forward to playing. (More evidence of my girl-geekishness here.) Yahtzee, though it's not a board game but a dice game (heck, none of these are really board games--the previous two are actually tile games), is an all-time favorite and one that Mr.W and I played often while we were dating. Oh, wait, that was like 10 years ago...


4. Favorite Magazine?

There are so many magazines I enjoy I could not pick just one. Real Simple is nice, though I'm beginning to think it's really all just a list of "buy these products." Better Homes & Gardens is good, and I have a subscription, but often put it aside and don't read it--however, I do tend to purchase (or at least read at the store... *blush*) BHG special interest publications--the one I bought last is their 2008 Grilling issue, which has a bunch of really good recipes. I also like Cooking Light, Food & Wine, Gourmet, and a host of others. And while Cooks Illustrated has been a favorite, this recent matter has caused me to think twice about buying or reading it in the future.


5. Favorite Smells?

Again--I find so many smells appealing that I can't choose only one.

Citrus scents, spicy/pumkiny smells are wonderful in the cold months; I love the aroma of coconut, and cucumbers; vanilla, roasting chicken, my grandmother's beef roast recipe, BACON, garlic & onions sauteeing... the list goes on and on!


6. Favorite Sounds?

So, so many... I suppose the sounds I love the most bring up a sweet memory. Ocean waves make me think of the many walks I took around Key West when living there; children at play remind me of a sunny afternoon playing ball with the neighbor kids and my uncle, who played with us and made it that much more fun; that certain song on the radio from the early 90s that remind me of a particular boyfriend...


7. Worst Feeling In The World?

Rejection.


8. First Thing You Think of When You Wake?

How will I get that cat to stop bothering me?


9. Favorite Fast Food Place?

Mmm... McDonald's...


10. Future Child's Name?

At one time I thought I had this all figured out. However, after dealing with infertility I find it's best not to dwell on such things.


11. Finish This Statement—“If I Had a Lot of Money, I’d…

Feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, and clothe the naked. Oh, and international adoption, definitely.


12. Do You Drive Fast?

No. After commuting in Atlanta for five years I like to take it slow nowadays.


13. Do You Sleep With a Stuffed Animal?

I sleep with live animals.


14. Storms—Cool or Scary?

Cool.


15. What Was Your First Car?

A 1970s-era Plymouth Horizon Hatchback, light blue. *sigh* I loved that car--particularly the direct-air vent that allowed you to have the heat on while still getting some fresh outdoor air without having the windows open.


16. Favourite Drink?

Hot--masala chai, definitely; Cold--I'm loving crystal light peach tea right now, and of course diet coke is a favorite.


17. Finish This Statement—“If I Had the Time, I Would…

I actually have lots of time, so I can't really answer this one.


18. Do You Eat the Stems on Broccoli?

Yes.


19. If You could Dye your Hair Any Other Colour, What Would It Be?

I already color my hair... if I didn't, it would be grey.


20. Name All the Different Cities In Which You Have Lived.

My city of birth
North Syracuse, NY
Songtan City, South Korea
Key West, FL
Hiram, GA
My city of birth


21. Favorite Sport to Watch?

I do enjoy a live hockey game (ice).


22. One Nice Thing About The Person Who Sent This To You

Sam is a clever blogger and always has interesting posts.


23. What’s Under Your Bed?

Dust bunnies, an errant sock, and Thundercat.


24. Would You Like to Be Born As Yourself Again?

I'm already born again!


25. Morning Person or Night Owl?

Well, I used to be a morning person. Since insomnia set in, it's difficult to say--I tend to stay up late so that I'll sleep through the night as much as possible. That said, I'm usually up by 6am.


26. Over Easy or Sunny Side Up?

Over medium. I like the whites cooked.


27. Favorite Place to Relax?

In bed?


28. Favorite Ice Cream Flavour?

Coconut is a current favorite.


29. Of All the People You Have Tagged, Who Is the Most Likely to Respond First?

Well, I'm not going to tag anyone, so I guess this is a moo point. You know, like a cow's opinion.

Another Tag

I've been tagged again by Marta to answer some questions about myself:

1. Last movie you saw in a theater?
   
   What Happens in Vegas -- we really liked it! And can I say that we were the only people in the theater who had senses of humor? No one else was laughing! *Wierd*
   
   
2. What book are you reading?
   
   I'm currently reading three books: The Dummies Guide to Business Plans, The Dummies Plan to Marketing, and The Dummies Plan to Raising Capital.
   
   
3. Favorite board game?
   
   Oh, geez... let's see... I like so many... Yahtzee is an all-time favorite (does that qualify as a board game?), though more lately I reach for Carcassone, which is a clever tile game. *Love it!*
   
   
4. Favorite magazine?
   
   There are so many magazines I enjoy I could not pick just one. Real Simple is nice, though I'm beginning to think it's really all just a list of "buy these products." Better Homes & Gardens is good, and I have a subscription, but often put it aside and don't read it--however, I do tend to purchase (or at least read at the store... *blush*) BHG special interest publications--the one I bought last is their 2008 Grilling issue, which has a bunch of really good recipes. I also like Cooking Light, Food & Wine, Gourmet, and a host of others. Oh, and Cooks Illustrated is FANTASTIC. By far the magazine with the most helpful & useful information for home cooks.
   
   
5. Favorite smells?
   
   Another question I find impossible to answer because there are too many to choose from.
   
   When I select an air freshener for my home, I usually reach for a citrus-y smell in the warmer months and a pumpkin-spice type scent for the wintertime. They both seem fresh and homey to me.
   
   For myself, I reach for a 'Exotic Coconut' scented lotion and other Bath & Body Works products--and, of course, it's the scent they've just discontinued. (That always happens to me! I find a fragrance I love and they discontinue it! Boo!) I'm also recently enjoying Fresh Cucumber scented hand soap--very refreshing.
   
   Cooking smells, of course, are favorites--vanilla, roasting chicken (or any other meat, for that matter), bananas, berries, garlic, bacon, baking cookies or pies, pizza...
   
   Then there are those man-smells. Certain colognes evoke particular sweet memories--Drakkar, Polo, even Aqua Velva and Old Spice! All yummy in their own way.
   
   
6. Favorite sounds?
   
   A babbling brook, frying onions, child's play.
   
   
7. Worst feeling in the world?
   
   Rejection by the person you trust most. I have to say that is the very worst I've ever experienced. That said, that particular experience taught me to rely more on myself and not put all of my sense of self into another person.
   
   
8. What is the first thing you think of when you wake up?
   
   Usually it's "Doggone Cat!" Here's why:
   
   
   (Sorry, I don't know why YouTube videos are cut off at the right here!)
   
   
9. Favorite fast food place?
   
   McDonald's. I love it, and I hate it because I love it. So if I'm going to do fast food, I usually head for Wendy's, because it's not as addictive to me, and I can hold back more easily.
   
   
10. Future child’s name?
    
    This is a difficult question to address. In my 20s, I had it all figured out & planned. Then I got divorced and things changed... then things changed further after remarriage and discovering fertility problems. I guess if & when it happens, we'll figure out a name then.
    
    
11. Finish this statement. “If I had lot of money I’d….?
    
    (a) Donate 10%
    (b) Pay off some debt
    (c) Travel and visit some friends I've been missing
    (d) Travel and experience some new places, or revisit some old places with my husband
    
    
12. Do you sleep with a stuffed animal?
    
    Does my husband count? Thundercat? And occasionally I sleep with one iPod-playing stuffed elephant named Harry Elephante.
    
    
13. Storms - cool or scary?
    
    Well that depends on the storm. I do enjoy a good thunderstorm; snowstorms, not so much. Other storms, such as hurricanes--definitely not.
    
    
14. Favorite drinks?
    
    Vanilla soymilk, anything with Hazelnut coffee creamer (mmm... vanilla soymilk with hazelnut creamer...), diet coke (with lime is good, but I prefer to add a slice of lemon or lime fresh), and diet A&W cream soda--heck yeah!
    
    
15. Finish this statement, “If I had the time I would….”?
    
    I don't really know how to answer this one, because I have all sorts of time at my disposal; lack of funding is really the only hindrance to doing quite what I'd like to do.
    
    
16. Do you eat the stems on broccoli?
    
    Of course.
    
    
17. If you could dye your hair any color, what would be your choice?
    
    Well, first, I do color my hair regularly. I select a color that is close to my [original] natural color, only with added red tones.
    
    
18. Name all the different cities/towns you’ve lived in?
    
    My city of birth
    North Syracuse, NY
    Songtan City, South Korea
    Key West, FL
    Hiram, GA
    My city of birth
    
    
19. Favorite sports to watch?
    
    I love a live ice hockey game!
    
    
20. One nice thing about the person who sent this to you?
    
    Marta is a sweet & clever foodblogger who comes across as very natural and sincere. Her writing is straightforward and passionate, without a hint of pretense.
    
    
21. What’s under your bed?
    
    A sock or three, dust bunnies and often a cat.
    
    
22. Would you like to be born as yourself again?
    
    I'm already born again. :)
    
    
23. Morning person, or night owl?
    
    I don't really know anymore.
    
    
24. Over easy, or sunny side up?
    
    Over easy, baby!
    
    
25. Favorite places to relax?
    
    In bed.
    
    
26. Favorite pie?
    
    Coconut custard, hands down.
    
    
27. Favorite ice cream flavor?
    
    I'm loving sugar free butter pecan right now. Vanilla is, of course, the most versatile. I wish Ben & Jerry's made a sugar free Pistachio! Pistachio!
    
    
28. Who are the people you'll tag for this meme?
    
    I'm leaving this one open for whomever would like to play!

6 Random Things

Marta of An Italian in the US has tagged me for a meme... so here we go:



(1) I believe that a woman should never, ever, EVER wear flip-flops or sandals until she's had a pedicure. Sadly, most woman don't know about that rule in the city where I live. Hooves are not pretty, people. Get your dogs groomed before taking them for a walk.

(2) I saw Iron Man for the second time last night. The first time was Friday--opening day. This movie is definitely going into the collection when it comes out on dvd.

(3) Today my brother and I are taking our mother out for a quiet Mother's Day lunch.

(4) My friend K once called me a 'fount of knowledge.' That's because I seem to recall loads of random information that is seemingly useless, but tends to come in handy now and then.

(5) I am a coordinated bargain shopper. I don't go shopping willy-nilly--no, I like to find deals. I combine my shopping trips and tend to do the bulk of my grocery-buying on the same day, starting with the farthest store and working my way back towards home. I bring a cooler bag to keep cold items cold. Meat is purchased last.

(6) I recently discovered sugar-free salt water taffy. Yay!



I'll leave this tag open for whomever would like to participate.

Six-Word Memoir

Joy, the clever author of Joy of Desserts--a great blog that will satisfy any sweet tooth--has tagged me for a six-word memoir meme. The challenge is to describe myself in six words. That IS hard! But I'll give it a try:

Smart

Creative

Christian

Friendly

Frizzy

Wife

Here are my tags, followed by the rules:

- Mary of Shazaam in the Kitchen, who is tremendously talented with a wit that entertains me to no end.

- Gloria, of Canela's Kitchen; Gloria is a blogger from Chile, with gorgeous photos, awesome recipes and a sweet personality that comes through in her writing. Plus she's recovering from knee surgery, so go on over and give her some bloggy love.

- Andy, The New Cook, who is ever-so-cleverly learning his way around the kitchen. He has a great blog that offers kitchen newbies step-by-step instructions.

- Coffee and Vanilla's brilliant author, Margot, who just celebrated 1 year of foodblogging with European and Caribbean flair.

- Green Gourmet Giraffe's Johanna of Melbourne, Australia. Her blog is always entertaining and inspiring, with lots of great recipes!


Rules for this meme:

- Write your own six-word memoir;

- Post it on your blog and include a visual illustration if you’d like;

- Link to the person who tagged you in your post;

- Tag five more blogs with links;

- Remember to leave a comment on the tagged blogs with an invitation to play.

Various, Sundry & Crazy

Just a few tidbits...

I recently discovered and subsequently subscribed to Google Analytics. What a handy blogging tool!

In the last few days, Mrs.W's Kitchen has had visitors from Turkey, the Philippines, Israel, India and Australia, in addition to various locations within the United States. Some of you I already knew about--but others were a big suprise!

And to all my readers, please accept a big Thank You from me. It's nice to know that someone out there likes to read what I have to say. What a blessing.

I also just discovered this handy-dandy--and FREE--banner creator tool. It's called MyBannerMaker and is pretty easy to use. In fact, that's what I used to create the banner above. How fun is that?

Finally, Mrs. Mecomber of New York Traveler tagged me for a meme and, in an effort to keep up with blogging obligations, I'm answering the tag below. Enjoy!


Crazy 8's Meme

8 Things I’m Passionate About

• the gospel
• good food
• good friends
• family
• the truth
• my marriage
• cooking
• spelling

8 Things I Want to Do Before I Die

• have, or adopt, a child (or both)
• get another pedicure (cause my dogs is nasty)
• lead a particular family member to Christ
• open a business
• write a cookbook
• have a clean house
• have an organized house
• overcome diabetes

8 Things I Say Often

• "Jiminy Crickets!"
• "Crappadoodle-doo."
• "Holy Smokes!"
• "Go lay down!" (to the dogs)
• "I'm hungry." (because I usually am)
• "Wanna go outside?" (again, to the dogs)
• "Frickin' A!"
• "Know what I'm saying?" Ugh. I cringe every time I hear myself say that one.

8 Books I’ve Read Recently

• The Bible
• The Orphan's Tales: In the Night Garden
• The Orphan's Tales: In the Cities of Coin and Spice
• Jacques Pepin's Complete Techniques
• The Soul of a New Cuisine: A Discovery of the Foods and Flavors of Africa by Marcus Samuelsson
• My South: A People, A Place, A World of It's Own by Robert St.John and Bryan Curtis
• No, David! by David Shannon
• Eating Stella Style by George Stella

8 Songs I Could Listen to Over and Over
This is a really difficult choice for me--I love all sorts of music and have literally TONS of favorites. Here are just a few.

• Oh Jah by Paul Wilbur
• Anything on the album Glory Revealed: The Word of God in Worship
• Anything from Hillsong's You Shine album
• Long Black Train by Josh Turner
• Mighty is the Power of the Cross by Chris Tomlin
• The Potter's Hand by Darlene Zschech
• Come Away with Me by Norah Jones
• At the Cross by Hillsong - this is a wonderful one for Easter. LOVE IT.

8 Things That Attract Me to My Best Friends
This is another difficult one, because I have a number of friends from the various places I've lived and of course, made during different periods of my life.

• common history
• common interests
• common faith
• being genuine and open
• great sense of humor
• appreciating differences in each other
• learning about the history behind the exterior
• cleverness

8 People I Think Should Do Crazy 8s

• someone who needs something to blog about
• a dog-lover
• a cat-lover
• a brother
• a Dilbert-lover
• a mother
• someone who travels frequently
• someone who wants to travel frequently

Tag--You're It!

Sylvie from SoulFusion Kitchen tagged me for a meme. Here are the rules:


Rules:


1. Link to your tagger and post these rules.
2. Share 5 facts about yourself
3. Tag 5 people at the end of your post and list their names (linking to them).
4. Let them know they've been tagged by leaving a comment at their blogs.


So, without further ado, I present...

Five Foodie Facts About Me

• I taught myself how to cook, and began as a young child. At about age 7, I received The Mickey Mouse Cookbook as a gift, and from that I started making pancakes and some delicious little peanut butter candies independently.
  
  
• At about age 14, I became responsible for nightly meals in our home. The Officer's Wife's Cookbook helped me learn how NOT to cook; and The Fanny Farmer Cookbook, which was a much better resource for procedures and time-tested classic recipes while I was living at home.
  
  
• After leaving home and travelling into the great, big world, I learned from other men and women I met, enjoyed regional foods in the various places I lived and visited, inspiring many new dishes from my own kitchen.
  
  
• I don't use many cookbooks anymore; at this point in my culinary life, I research the dishes I want to try on the internet, compile a few of the best-looking among them, and pick the parts of the recipes that I like and create something that I think will taste the best. I also love trying recipes from the many talented cooks who share their wealth of knowledge on their blogs.
  
  
• I have too many favorites to pick only a few, but some of my favorites include Ethiopian Doro Wat with Injera, Vietnamese Pho, the many and varied hispanic and caribbean flavors, the popular Korean Bulgoki and Kalbi, and delightful Peri Peri from South Africa.
  

I'm afraid I'm not much of a tagger, so if you're interested in doing this one, please do.

100th Post

This is my 100th post. I want to thank those of you who do read and comment... it keeps me going with this project. And thanks to all those other bloggers out there, who entertain me immensely, give me kitchen inspiration and tons of great recipes, awesome financial advice, poignant life reminders and a tangible connection to people all around the globe.

Keeping with tradition, here are 100 Random Things About Me: Everything You Wanted to Know about Mrs.W but Were Afraid to Ask.

1. I am 5 feet 4-1/2 inches tall. I need that half-inch.
   
2. I was born in 1971 in the same town where I currently live, however I've traveled and lived elsewhere over the course of my adult years.
   
3. All of my grandparents are still alive.
   
4. I used to be a military wife.
   
5. I played the violin in school, and was concert master my senior year of high school. Haven't played since.
   
6. I was the tallest girl in my kindergarten class.
   
7. I find the bible fascinating and a blueprint for life.
   
8. Not only am I a Christian, but an evangelical one.
   
9. I have been to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) dividing North and South Korea.
   
10. My last job was in the area of international public health—specifically the global polio eradication effort. It was THE BEST job I have ever had.
    
11. I have been to Cape Point at the Cape of Good Hope. It was breathtaking... too beautiful to describe. The baboons were scary, though. (And one of my favorite blog readers was there with me.)
    
12. I love to travel but dislike flying. I much prefer the train.
    
13. My favorite color is green. Any green. Or a combination of greens. But I hate the color of my house, which is mint green. My furniture is not green, and the paint inside my house is not green.
    
14. I have no piercings on my body whatsoever.
    
15. Or tattos. Nope.
    
16. I have broken both pinky toes several times each.
    
17. I have never done any illegal drugs... or even seen them. Really! The first time I was offered a joint was when I was 27 years old--and even then I didn't actually see the thing.
    
18. My biggest fear is that I will never have any children.
    
19. I once missed a flight because I was so engrossed in the book I was reading I missed the boarding announcements. I was sitting right at the gate.
    
20. I can recite So I Married An Axe Murderer from memory because I've seen it so many times.
    
21. I have been saved by a lifeguard before.
    
22. My husband is my best friend.
    
23. I still know and regularly spend time with my childhood best friend.
    
24. I had an unfortunate failed first marriage when I was very young.
    
25. I get motion-sick in a car, train, plane or on a boat. But not in the tub, or if I'm driving. I have to be very careful while traveling to avoid actually getting sick--my method is to (a) drink lots of fluids, (b) don't read, (c) nibble on snacks, especially ginger, and (d) face forward at all times, or as much as possible.
    
26. I never finished college. I still don't know what I want to do when I grow up.
    
27. I love getting pedicures. I would get one every week if I could afford the $25 bucks a pop.
    
28. However I bite my nails, so I never bother with a manicure. I would just chew it off anyway.
    
29. Housework is my least favorite thing to do. I will do just about anything to avoid doing housework. I actually host a weekly gathering in my house so that I'm forced to clean.
    
30. I love to sing but only in private, where no one else can hear me.
    
31. My first cookbook was Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse Cookbook, circa 1975. I learned how to cook from that book, starting with pancakes.
    
32. I like smoking cigars on occasion. Especially those sweet little cigarillos.
    
33. My husband and I were married for 3 years before he ever heard me whistle.
    
34. I met my husband in his own living room while dating his roommate. Note: I am NOT “that” girl. The roomie and I were only starting to see each other... barely out of the friends stage, really.
    
35. I have more clothes than I know what to do with.
    
36. I collect handbags.
    
37. And pretty aprons. Well, sorta. It's a new collection, currently totalling two aprons.
    
38. I have over 30 pairs of shoes and covet many more. Just call me Imelda.
    
39. I lose sunglasses and umbrellas and, because of this, I refuse to buy expensive ones, because I will just lose them.
    
40. I used to love to drive until I became an Atlanta-area commuter. If you have not heard about it, Atlanta is one of the busiest commuting cities in the United States. It took me 60 minutes to drive 35 miles each way to work, and that was on a good day when traffic was moving. On a bad day it might take 2 hours or longer.
    
41. I am named after my maternal great-grandmother, who was originally from Nancy, France. Her father was the mayor of that same city.
    
42. I have a strange fascination of sharks--if there's a tv show about sharks, I have to watch it.
    
43. Ditto with tornadoes. I was once driving from Atlanta to the Chattanooga area during a tornado watch and constantly watched all around me hoping I would see one, and afraid I would. I didn't.
    
44. I am afraid of the ocean. I mean, I'll swim in the shallows, and I've even been snorkelling a time or three. But the entire time I know I'm acutely aware that as long as I'm in the ocean, I am no longer at the top of the food chain.
    
45. The house I live in was once owned by my paternal grandparents. I didn't know that until after we bought it.
    
46. I love liverwurst. On white bread. With mayo.
    
47. I used to collect elephants--until everyone found out. Then people started giving me elephants. I have a huge number of elephant statues that currently reside in boxes in my basement.
    
48. When I wind up our pendelum clock I only wind the side that allows the clock to function. I don't wind the side that makes the chimes ring. Because that makes me a little crazy.
    
49. I make piles. Magazine piles, clothes piles, newspaper piles, mail piles. Mr.W is also a piler. See #29.
    
50. My hair is naturally curly and more-than-50%-grey, and I color & highlight every 6-8 weeks to hide that fact.
    
51. My husband highlights my hair for me. Every time. He does a wonderful job.
    
52. I can't stand it when paper towels don't tear correctly on the perforations.
    
53. My favorite car was a blue '95 Nissan Altima I bought new in Pennsylvania.
    
54. I speak a smattering of French, and not well. Just enough to blend if needed. I can read French pretty well, though.
    
55. If I won or otherwise received $50 million USD, I would keep $1M and give the rest away.
    
56. I cry when I hear the national anthem.
    
57. I don't wear a wedding band. I just don't like to wear jewelry—I know I'm married, and I'm not going to misbehave.
    
58. In my previous house, I was "that lady" in the neighbordhood. You know the one--who yells at your kids for roller-skating in her driveway. The one you don't really see very much because she's either gone or in the house with the blinds closed.
    
59. I don't like raw onions. Or radishes. Or water chestnuts. Especially water chestnuts. I'll eat raw onion out of politeness if it happens to be in something I'm eating at someone's house, but I'll spit a water chestnut right out in front of God and everyone.
    
60. I could watch the food network all the time... but I police my daytime television-watching quite carefully. Most of the time I keep the television off during the day, but I do indulge in some television in the evenings.
    
61. For me, retail therapy is shoe shopping at DSW with my old boss and friend VS. Or browsing around World Market with VS and EB. Or exploring the Valley Exchange with MW. Or Target, alone, anywhere.
    
62. My proudest professional accomplishment is that I have contributed towards the global eradication of polio. And even if polio is never eradicated, I can know that my work has saved children from a crippling disease.
    
63. The most unusual gift I ever gave to someone is a civil-war era relic confederate infantry smoking pipe that was unearthed from a POW camp in Elmira, New York.
    
64. The most unusual gift I ever received was a wooden-shoe-sailboat given by someone visiting from the Netherlands.
    
65. I have given up bread for a period yet to be determined. I don't eat bread, or cake, or biscuits of any kind. That includes traditionally-made pizza. However I do occasionally induge in my own creations which use such ingredients such as oat or soy flour, flax meal and rice flour.
    
66. I have a... problem... with goats. They hate me. Goats will do to me whatever their wee diabolical minds can dream up. I have been (a) tied up by a goat, (b) butted by a zooful of baby goats, and (c) urinated on by a nasty, hairy billy goat, to name a just few. After all that, the feeling is mutual.
    
67. Researching and testing recipes for people with dietary restrictions is my idea of a fun Saturday.
    
68. I love going to “chick flick” movies—especially weekday matinees when I can sit alone.
    
69. For many years of my life, I drank lots of Coca-Cola. And I mean lots—probably about a 2-liter bottle a day. But in 2004 I decided to give it up, along with all caffeine-laden beverages, which resulted in 6 weeks of constant headache and a whole year of cravings. Now I'm able to have the occasional diet cola or other caffeinated beverage without any ill effects.
    
70. My favorite male actor is Chow Yun-Fat. He's my kung-fu eye candy.
    
71. I am left-handed.
    
72. I have trouble using scissors. I think it's because of #71.
    
73. I like tape. Especially duct tape. I once had a pair of shoes that were so old and frayed that I taped them together with duct tape (on the insides) so I could wear them a little bit longer.
    
74. I shave my big toes. TMI, I know. Coming up with 100 things is a challenge.
    
75. My favorite ethnic cuisine is Ethiopian national food. Or Thai. Or Lebanese. Or Japanese. Or Italian. Okay, I guess I don't have a favorite. Suffice it to say that I like ethnic foods.
    
76. I thought I decorated my house pretty well—until I looked at photos. Then I decided my house looks like a “before” shot on an HGTV program.
    
77. I secretly like to watch American Chopper. Shh... don't tell Mr.W.
    
78. I don't like sushi. Or sashimi. Or raw fish or their unhatched offspring in any form whatsoever. I never want it in my mouth. Ever.
    
79. One of my major pet peeves is misspellings on billboards or menus.
    
80. I can kill houseplants of all kinds.
    
81. I like kung-fu movies. See #70.
    
82. I can perform very realistic impressions of a purring cat and a grunting pig. It's a great talent to have when babysitting.
    
83. I hate that the mysterious “they” have added the incorrect spelling of canceled to the dictionary as an alternate spelling. “Cancelled” is not correct. It only has one L. Or at least it did—until the dumbing down spread like a cancer through the dictionary of the English language.
    
84. Heroes is one of my favorite television programs.
    
85. I have watched all of the Friends and Seinfeld reruns possible. All of them.
    
86. I detest the feel of polyester blankets. I don't want them touching me. When staying in hotels, I MUST have them safely ensconced between flat sheets, or removed entirely. I refer to these blankets as being “Mrs.W-proof blankets.”
    
87. If I go to sleep with my hair wet, I awake to a frightening version of the super-jeri-curl-white-fro from H-E-double hockey sticks.
    
88. I hate the drop by. Please call before you visit.
    
89. I like that Mr.W has ghetto-booty.
    
90. Much to my shame, I love disco music. Listening. Dancing. Watching the dancing. Especially watching the dancing. When the first dollar store opened up in Key West while we lived there, Mr.W and I were often found bee-bopping up and down the aisles, because they always played disco.
    
91. I kick butt at Pictionary.
    
92. I hate that Mr.W has an ever-growing gigantic “funny t-shirt” collection. Our friends and relatives aren't helping the situation, either, because every birthday and Christmas brings more funny t-shirts into my life. His driver's license photo even shows him in his “I eat glue” shirt. Ugh.
    
93. I am oddly fascinated by Target and Old Navy commercials. They just entertain me so much.
    
94. I need to wear eyeglasses, and I have them, but I don't wear them. When I do wear them, they end up on my head like a headband. I never remember putting them there, they just gravitate to the top of my head. That doesn't really help my eyesight any.
    
95. I'm freaked out by anything relating to eyes. Mr.W and I were once at a party where another guest was explaining the procedure of his recent lasik surgery and I had to leave the room I was so disgusted. Even thinking about it now... oh... I think I just threw up in my mouth a little.
    
96. I foolishly tried contact lenses a couple of years ago. I had to have the technician remove them for me. See #95.
    
97. It is my shame to admit that I am not a Proverbs 31 wife. When Mr.W makes me angry I tell him I'm going to put pins in his ears while he's sleeping. He has an ear thing like I have an eye thing.
    
98. My husband and I wear the same size pants.
    
99. I have trouble with the directions "left" and "right." I can be driving along, and my navigator will say, "Turn right at the next light." I'll probably turn left. I don't know why that happens, although I talk to other left-handed people who have the same trouble. It's not that I don't know my left from my right... it just... happens in the moment. Go figure.
    
100. My high school nickname was, unfortunately, “Fluffernutter.” This horrible little boy named me that because my hair was brown like peanut butter and my neck was white like marshmallow fluff. I recently saw that little boy at a restaurant, and was thrilled to see he has not aged well.
     

Well, there you have it. Aren't you glad you just read all that? As a reward, click here for a fun little Christmas ditty.

Meme: 7 Random Things About Me

I've been tagged by Lulu's Laundry! Here we go...

1. I can not eat M&Ms without sorting them. It's not possible. I pour out the whole bag, and sort them into color piles. Then I make all the piles into the same number of pieces by taking away from other piles. Then those 'discards' go into another pile for the same sorting process. Thank God they don't make sugar-free M&Ms. (Mind you this particular handicap does not apply to Skittles or any other similar candy. Which makes it that much wierder.)

2. I have trouble sleeping.

3. I detest putting up the Christmas Tree. I put it off every year. I don't want to do it. I don't want to do it. I don't want to do it. Then, about two weeks before Christmas, I want to do it. It goes up. It's so pretty. Look at the pretty lights! The rest of the season whizzes by as I stare at the dazzling tree. Too soon it's all over and needs to come down, and I regret having not put it up earlier. I vow to put it up the day after Thanksgiving next year.

4. Ditto with all other holiday decorations.

5. Every time I go up or down stairs I count them. I know the number of stairs in every place I've lived. There are 12 stair-steps up or down in my current home. But that isn't the end, folks. I count stairs everywhere.

6. The toilet paper has to be facing the right way. The paper should come up and over the roll. The other way is wrong. I have been known to change the direction of toilet tissue at friends' and family's homes, as well as in the homes of acquaintences, various offices and public restrooms. Because they do it wrong. Wrong, I tell you!

7. I often confuse right from left. Yeah. How old am I?

Now this is utterly outside of my habit, but I'm going to go ahead and tag people to continue this one.

Coffee and Vanilla
Ms. Kitten
New York Traveler
Random Acts
Redacted Recipes
Wired in the Floribbean
Watch Woman

Here are the rules:

-Link to the person that tagged you, and post the rules on your blog.
-Share 7 facts about yourself.
-Tag 7 random people at the end of your post, and include links to their blogs.
-Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Now go forth and meme.

The Great International City Swap, Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and a Meme

I've signed up to be a participant in the 2nd Annual Great International City Swap hosted by At Home in Rome. The premise is that you send a package to your assigned person that best represents you and the city in which you live. I have been assigned Ms. Kitten, and Lulu's Laundry will be sending a package to me. This should be fun!

This weekend I got my hands on an absolutely gigantic bag of brussels sprouts from another farmer's market stand. $2 for the whole bag! I couldn't resist. I've never, ever made them from fresh before... in fact, I've only ever steamed them from the frozen bag/box and tossed with butter and salt before eating. Truth be told, I don't like them all that well. I mean, they're okay... and I choose to eat them for the health benefits.

I decided to combine my brussels sprouts with my favorite kind of grease--bacon! Yes, indeed!


Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
serves 8

three pounds fresh brussels sprouts, washed, trimmed and sliced
1 pound bacon
1 large onion, peeled and sliced
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup milk or cream
salt and pepper, to taste

In a very large saucepan, cook bacon over a medium flame; set aside, reserving rendered grease. (Okay, if you really want to make this less horrible-for-you, pour off most of the grease and replace with a good three tablespoons olive oil.)

Fry onion in bacon grease until starting to brown, then add prepared brussels sprouts. Every few minutes turn your sprouts. When they look like they're starting to wilt, add chicken stock and cover with a lid or foil. Let cook for about 30 minutes, checking and turning every 10 minutes or so. Remove lid/foil and add milk and finish braising carefully, until sprouts are really well done. I had almost no liquid left when mine were finished cooking. Remove from heat and top with crumbled reserved bacon.

Well they still taste like brussels sprouts, but much better than the frozen ones, and of course the addition of bacon helped them tremendously. Braising in cream also helped to balance the bitterness of the sprout with a little sweetness. So now I have this mountain of sprouts that I've been eating, little by little, for meals while Mr.W is away. It's actually quite good re-fried in a little oil and topped with a soft-cooked egg, for breakfast, lunch, or supper! (Or, in my case, all three.)


To finish today's post, I'm in the mood for another random-ish meme... self-inflicted, of course:

1. What picture is featured on your computer's wallpaper? It's a pic from Shrek 3, showing just the very top of Shrek's head wearing a wee little crown.

2. Name some of the cities you've lived:
- currently in Central NY... in the city where I was born
- South Korea
- Atlanta, GA
- Key West, FL

3. Name some of the places you've travelled:
- Seaside Heights, NJ
- Tampa, FL
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Washington, DC
- Baton Rouge, LA
- Cape Town, South Africa
- Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Geneva, Switzerland

4. What is your top pet peeve? Misspellings on public billboards/restaurant menus/store signs.

5. What are your three top favorite stores? Cost Plus World Market in Atlanta's Buckhead district, Target anywhere, and the street markets at South Gate in South Korea.

6. Favorite pizza toppings? I love a pizza topped only with sauce, cheese, mushrooms and green/red bell peppers. Mmm...

7. How many computers do you have in your home? Three working computers: one desktop in the office, one laptop that moves around usually between the living and dining rooms, and another desktop that is in a box in a closet. There are more computer bits & pieces in the basement Mr.W has been collecting for some future project to be determined...

8. If you could eat at any restaurant right now, where would it be? Mmm, right now I would enjoy lunch at Queen of Sheba in Atlanta... or a boxed take-out lunch from a delish little Jamaican shop in Hiram, GA. Yum, yum, yum!

9. What one household item do you keep in multiple rooms of the house? Scissors. I must have scissors. In the bathroom, in the office, in the kitchen. If I can't find scissors, I freak out just a little bit.

10. Do you prefer listening to the radio, cds, or mp3s? Hmm... interesting. Well, I keep a christian radio station on all the time either very softly or turned up, depending on my mood and what I'm doing. I have a pretty large collection of music loaded onto itunes on my laptop, and often listen directly from the laptop instead of getting out my ipod. I only listen to the ipod when I'm out-and-about.


Well... I'm sure you all really wanted to know all of that.

Four Things

I found a lovely little meme that I couldn't resist. However know that I am not a tagger, so copy & post in your own blog only if you so desire.

'Four Things'

Four jobs you've had in your life:

1. teacher's aid in an american school overseas
2. secretary
3. violinist at a 19th-century reenactment tourist attraction
4. housekeeper

Four movies you could watch over and over:

1. So I Married an Axe Murderer
2. Ever After
3. 13 Going on 30
4. The Passion of the Christ

Four places you've lived:

1. Songtan City, South Korea
2. Key West, Florida, USA
3. Atlanta, Georgia, USA
4. Central New York, USA

Four websites you visit daily:

1. MySpace.com
2. HisHolySpace.com
3. MarthaStewart.com
4. Yahoo.com

Four tv shows you love to watch:

1. Lost
2. Ugly Betty
3. Heroes
4. Anything on the Food Network

Four of your favorite foods:

1. Central NY Pizza & Buffalo Wings with celery & blue cheese dressing (they go together!)
2. Cuban Roast Pork with Yellow Rice, Black Beans and Plantains
3. Doro Wat!
4. Cannoli

Four albums you can't live without:

1. Glory Revealed: The Word of God in Worship by Various Artists

2. The Glory of His Presence (or any of his fabulous cds) by Terry MacAlmon
3. Above All Worship by Various Artists

4. iWorship: A Total Worship Experience by Various Artists

Four places you'd rather be:

1. Anywhere in Key West
2. Queen of Sheba Restaurant
3. Cape Town, South Africa
4. Geneva, Switzerland

So... now you know some trivia about me. Have a wonderful day!

Mrs.W