Last week was a blur. As I recall though, it seemed very tame compared to the week before. While there were no major goings-on, there was an awful lot of exceedingly busy.
Had this been a typical year I would have been in England last week. And still there this week. It’s my nephew’s 4th birthday, and I am normally there to bake him a cake. This will be my first Thanksgiving stateside in 4 years. Here’s what happened this time last year while I was visiting my homeland. Not surprisingly, it involved some really, really old stuff; and bacon.
Since I’m not currently in England, if you’re wondering what my Thanksgiving plans are where food is concerned, I’ll have you know I did buy turkey. No, not a whole one, just parts of one. Because the sandwiches will never know the difference. Yes. I said sandwiches. Sandwiches that I’ll make with bread. Bread made from wheat. Yes! I’ll be eating Turkey and Cranberry Sauce sandwiches on Thursday of this week. I’ll be lolling on the couch with 5 cats, a pile of great movies and a bigger pile of Turkey and Cranberry Sauce Sandwiches. It’s just how we roll on Turkey Day at the Brown House. And if you need someone to give you permission to just enjoy Thanksgiving in all of its unhealthy food craziness – go for it. It’s one day. A day to be thankful, not a day to be worrying about every gram of inSANEity that passes your lips. Relax, enjoy. I will be. And then, once the mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, candied yams and pecan pie have all been gobbled up – or in my case turkey sandwiches – we’ll head back to SANEity and all will be well.
Happy Thanksgiving, America!
Here’s stuff I made and ate and wrote about last week, in case you missed them. It’s a good job I do this round-up post every Monday because I can’t even remember what I made you all yesterday, let alone 8 days ago.
Green Smoothie – Orange Creamsicle – you never knew green could taste so good.
Hazelnut Nutmeg Granola – add some crunch to your breakfast!
Cinnamon Raisin Rice Pudding – it’s amazing what a touch of spice can do.
There was no Art Show Opening Reception, no crushing deadlines, and no demolition going down at Marmalade HQ. The Crew are still in-and-out of your favorite *SANE test kitchen – but now they’re putting things back together and making it all pretty. It’ll be finished in a couple of days. Wheeeeeeeeee!
In the meantime, my entire house is covered in a fine layer of plaster dust, and earlier today I thought my contractor was trying to kill me. Or get me high. I couldn’t quite put my finger on what those fumes were before I started slurring and saying, “Hey, dude.”
Last week also involved a stooopid headache, mud – lots of mud, trying to decide whether to turkey or not to turkey, planning a rug-shopping adventure, deciding not to put in a bigger window, and wondering if it is time for kitty #6. It included way too much thinking. Sometimes I really wish I could switch my brain off. My friend, Lorrie, suggested whisky. I think I’d have more luck watching an episode of Desperate Housewives.
I was reminded why I only use microwaves in a National Emergency when I ate {home-made SANE} lasagna that was cold in the middle and molten round the edges. I discovered that cheese that has reached the temperature of the Earth’s core is *really* hard to clean off glassware. Then I did something wildly uncharacteristic early on in the week, but I can’t tell you what it was because I am still in denial that it even happened. What was I thinking?? I also realized that this is last Sunday that I’ll be blogging from the West Wing. Can I tell you how excited I am about that? I. AM. SO. EXCITED.
Earlier in the week, in an effort to prove that I cannot type, I typed a status update on Facebook with a towel over my hands so I couldn’t see them. As it turns out I can type just as well when I am not looking as when I am. I am still totally weirded out over this state of affairs.
On Friday I spent $221.56 at Trader Joe’s. I know!!!!! So either: a) I haven’t been grocery shopping in a very long time OR b) TJ’s did a really outstanding job of their new store. I don’t think I’ve even managed $100 in one hit at a TJ’s before. I needed a nap when I got home.
At one point I couldn’t decide whether it was alarming or hysterical that someone typed “don’t tell my mom xxx gallery” into a search engine and ended up here at Marmalade and Mileposts. There was also something not quite right, somehow, about inventing green smoothie recipes while doing laundry at 10:38 on a Friday night.
On Saturday I decided it just wouldn’t be nearly as much fun moving those 7 foot high glass-doored cabinets filled with china and glassware if I emptied them first. So I didn’t. I did discover some new muscles that even Bailor’s eccentricity hadn’t made me aware of. Saturday also saw a big, fat FAIL on the coconut flour front. Because coconut flour and almond flour are not the same. AT ALL. I blame Bailor on all counts. Especially with regard to the coconut flour. But that’s a whole other post for a different day.
From around the web I got some first rate loving from the lovely Lipomachia who chronicles her battle-with-the-bulge, type-2 diabetes and pregnancy. Meanwhile, it turns out that Bailor translated The Smarter Science of Slim into Chimpanzee. Who knew? Plus, America mourned the demise of The Twinkie. Well, not quite ALL of America.
And The Bailinator and I podcasted. And then we had a huge technology FAIL and discovered we had recorded exactly nothing. Sigh. Here’s one we did earlier.
EPISODE 21: More Protein, Less Body Fat – The Simple Science of SANE Protein
You can listen to all the podcast episodes right here, or if you have an iTunes account you can head here.
All iTunes, Facebook and Amazon love is very gratefully received!
COMING ATTRACTIONS!!!
Stuff I made and ate and will write about in the coming couple weeks. You mentioned that you like a preview to the movie. I aim to please.
Green Smoothie – Lemon Blueberry Cream
Caramel Orange Spice Cashews
Beet and Tarragon Soup
Broccoli and Red Pepper Quiche Cups
Creamy Peanut Butter Mousse
Orange Cranberry Scones
Lasagna
Smoked Salmon Baked Eggs
Leek and Pear Soup
Brussel Sprouts with Leek and Poppy Seeds
Cheesy Pea Shoot Scramble
“Don’t wait until everything is just right. It will never be perfect. There will always be challenges, obstacles and less than perfect conditions. So what. Get started now. With each step you take, you will grow stronger and stronger, more and more skilled, more and more self-confident and more and more successful.” – Mark Victor Hansen
