Why I'm taking hiatus from posting Recipes

When I look up recipes via my blog, I find errors. Typos, ingredients left out...

• It's becoming a chore instead of fun. "Oh, no, what will I post this Tuesday?"
• I've found myself repeating recipes too often.
• My recipes are becoming boring - to me. And if I'm bored, you're probably bored.
• Change is good.

On the other hand:

• I'll still post seasonal recipes while the Farmers' Market is running.
• My garden will inspire more; I'm sure of it.
• I like to play in the kitchen; I'll share some of those experiments with my readers.
• If there's a story behind a recipe, it'll make an interesting post.
• I'm working toward incorporating more meatless meals into the family diet. Those may be worth sharing.

So, dear readers, I'll still share kitchen stories and kitchen fun and maybe even join in a foodie blog hop or two. But for now, The "kitchen stories" label will have a well earned rest.

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Random Thoughts and Lobbying

The roads were still slick, so I had to drive carefully.

The van near the old bus depot had a logo on the side. It was the shuttle for the Warming Center, an overnight shelter. One thought: I'm glad there is a safe and warm place to go. Second thought: it's sad that people are in such dire straits that this service is a necessity.

Pulling up to a parking space, I dropped in enough change for an hour and a half. If I got a parking ticket, that would probably be a sign that I should give up on politics. Right? Nah.

The event had, as always, a good buffet of munchies and a cash bar. We nibbled, we caught up with friends who were there, and then started pointing out the important people, those we were there to meet.

Meet, greet, work the room. Teachers really don't train for situations like this. Business people do, and politicians excel in the atmosphere. We're learning. More teachers are getting active than ever before. We must. There is no option.

Soon-to-be-former Gov. Walker didn't show. He didn't send a staff member, either. At least my congressman sent a staffer - someone who turned out to be familiar to me because his child was in my class a few years ago. Ah, my chance! I can do this; make small talk (I was sincerely interested in hearing about his son's progress), and ease the way for the more direct of my colleagues who would bring up the legislation that mattered to us.

I met and talked to or listened to my state assembly rep, another state assembly member from a nearby district (great guy - why have I not met him before?), & our county executive. I waved a greeting to my state senator (he doesn't know me, but I keep writing him letters) and signed all the attendance sheets for those elected officials who didn't see this event as necessary.

Now the real work begins. I've said it before, and you'll hear me say it again. Those with whom I spoke tonight won't remember me, my profession, or my concerns. Now it's time to write follow up letters.

Dear Lawmaker;

Thank you for attending/ sending a staff member/ ignoring the Meet Your Legislators event in downtown Happy Valley. I attended as part of WEAC- FV.... that'll scare the Governor; maybe I shouldn't mention my sponsor. At least I didn't introduce myself as a Recall Volunteer. Okay, start over.

Dear Lawmaker;

Thank you for attending/ sending a staffer/ ignoring the Meet Your Legislators event in downtown Happy Valley. I'm glad I had the chance to talk with you/ meet you/ wave to you/ leave my name on your calling card. I am deeply concerned about the negative politcal climate in our fair state.

The divisiveness, the bullying, the battles. The poorly written legislation, rough drafted in a hurry to be pushed through as quickly as possible while the Powers That Be are still in Power. As slick as a winter street.... oh, no, that's not even relevant. Revise, edit, slice, dice, and rewrite.

This kind of lawmaking creates problems, not solutions. Please take the time to consider and think of those who are affected by your decisions. We are real people, with real families, real jobs (yes! we work! hard!), and real challenges. These politically charged knee-jerk reactions to non-existent issues.... oh, here I go again. This needs to be redone, too.

Well, at least I have a rough draft. I will now pretend I'm a role model for those who read the letters, and I will take the time to read, reread, revise, and edit. After all, I am a leader in the community - a public school teacher, a public employee: a public school teacher.

How should I sign off? Suggestions, readers?

Sincerely

Not-so-sincerely

Respectfully (or not)

I know one thing - I'm sure not signing it "Love."

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Bad things come in threes - we're done now, right?

La Petite has been having major tummy troubles. She had tests done last week. They took two biopsies of inflamed areas and noted bile in the colon, too. She needs to add an ulcer medication and a second antacid to her daily routine. She's 25, for heaven's sake.

Chuck fell on the ice last weekend. He hit his elbow pretty hard. He took care of it with ice and anti-inflammatory meds, but it got worse instead of better. The results? See below. I suggested renaming him Chip, but he didn't like the idea.

Amigo had it easiest: he came home with an ear plugged with wax. No infection, thank goodness, but on the advice of his school nurses, he went in to have the ear flushed out. He's blind; we don't take chances with his ears.

Wondering about Chip, er, Chuck's photo opportunity? Here it is. Now remember, we're done. Bad things come in threes.

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Flu shots: there's still time!

Amigo visited our family doctor last week to get his ear checked out and flushed out. The nurse asked him if he'd had a flu shot. He replied in the affirmative, that he'd got it at school, from the school nurses that serve the residential school for the blind. We didn't have an exact date, but we estimated late October.

Amigo is wise beyond his 20 years when it comes to flu. He knows how miserable a case of influenza can be. He's always been one who doesn't get sick often, but when he does, he gets really, really sick. He signed up for the flu shot at school registration, got our signatures on the approval sheet (even though he's old enough that he didn't need them), and willingly got his flu shot. He knows what the Center for Disease Control (CDC) says: The flu vaccine is your best protection against the flu.

Timing of influenza outbreaks is unpredictable. I will always remember the impact of H1N1 on my fourth grade students. My class had at least five and as many as ten students out each day for a time period of three to four weeks. That outbreak came in October, but outbreaks can occur as late as May.

Flu vaccines are usually available in early autumn and remain available for several months. Last year, the flu peaked in February. A January flu shot isn't too late.

Not all families have good coverage and a family doctor, and not everyone has access to a school nurse, either. If you'd like to find a location near you, look here.

Information and web links from the Center for Disease Control: I received no monetary compensation for writing this post. I wrote it to bring valuable information to my readers.

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BBQ Beans and Salsa

Simple, meatless, inexpensive, and delicious - I made this with cans, but I think it might be even better with dried beans soaked overnight and cooked in the crock pot. The original, on Dr. Oz' website, was lacking a few details such as amount of barbecue sauce. I was generous with mine. The original recipe also called for enchilada sauce or salsa. I stuck with the BBQ theme in my flavors. It worked.

1/2 lb. pasta - I used spaghetti.

1 can yellow corn - of course, I used frozen corn from last summer's Farmers' Market.

1 can pinto beans

1 can black beans

BBQ sauce to taste

Cook pasta. Add beans and corn. Stir in BBQ Sauce of your choice. Serve warm.

Now the fun part:

You know me. I'm not going to let a simple recipe stay simple. I added peppers in three colors, all from the freezer. A little onion, diced, made it tastier still. Then there's garlic - or did I add garlic? I was playing by ear by this time. Maybe I left the garlic out and stuck to the barbecue theme.

This was delicious. I had some left over for lunch the next day, too. I love a recipe that leaves room to improvise, and this one qualifies.

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The ground is white, and I'm still green.

Alternate title: I am Daisy,the Compostermom, and I won't let snow stop me!

I sold a crate of cookbooks to a Used Book store for $20.

I walked to work during a snowstorm. It was fun, to tell you the truth.

Compost continues, despite the cold. We have a bin within reach of the garage.

Chuck used pieces of the Christmas wreath to provide bramble, a little bit of shelter, for the neighborhood rabbits.

My lunchbag is re-usable, and I usually bring a cloth napkin along.

On Soup Day at work, most of us bring our own bowls instead of using plastic.

Litter box remnants (to put it delicately) still end up outside on what will be a berm next spring.

We're pulling out frozen vegetables from last summer to make a delicious beef stew.

Is that only eight? Our lives are infused with eco-conscious behaviors. I'm sure there's more. Let's see:

- shopped at consignment store recently for a new jacket and purse

- donated another box to Goodwill

- taught Amigo to use anti-static dryer balls when he does laundry

- gave Amigo a crank-powered radio for his birthday. No batteries to change!

Yep. I think we're still green, even though the ground is covered with white. Or ice.

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Recall! Recall! Now the real work begins.

More than one million signatures on recall petitions.

Petitions weighing over 3,000 lbs.

Soon-to-be-former Governor Walker was booed and hissed at MLK Jr. Day event.

It's a beautiful day in the Progressive Voters' Neighborhood. If that's not the name of an organization yet, it should be.

Now: the real work begins. It's time to educate the public. It's time to let the voters know about the damage Scott Walker has done and continues to do to our state. It's time to inform voters that the slick, highly produced ads contain inaccuracies and skirt the issues. It's time to expose Walker's puppeteers, show where his campaign money originates, and why that's bad for the average Wisconsinite.

One step at a time. I helped collect signatures, and now I'll help educate the public. It's who I am. It's what I do.

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Quick Beef Burrito Skillet

Amigo and I visited our favorite diner for lunch yesterday. For the first time, we ordered almost exactly the same thing: the Mexican skillet. Both of us had hash browns & wheat toast. The only difference - he had his eggs scrambled, and mine were over easy.

That got me thinking. We must be able to make a similar brunch dish at home. I dug into my recipe files, and sure enough, I found one. I haven't made this yet, but it looks easy and delicious. Home made salsa will add an extra homey touch.

Quick Beef Burrito Skillet

1 lb. ground beef

1 package taco seasoning mix

1 can (19 oz.) kidney beans, drained, rinsed

1 cup salsa

1 cup water

4 flour tortillas 6 inch size), cut into 1 1/2 inch squares

1 cup cheese - Mexican style, if you have it

1/3 cup sour cream

1/3 cup chopped green onions

Brown and drain beef.

Add seasoning mix, salsa, water, and beans. Bring to a boil. Simmer for five minutes.

Stir in tortillas. Top with cheese. Cover. Let stand 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Top with sour cream and onions.

Other ideas? Readers, what else could I add - or subtract? I do like things simple, especially on school nights.

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I dreamed a dream

In recognition of Dr. King's Dream, below is a re-post.

I dream that differences will be valued, not disdained.
Eye color, hair color, body shapes, and skin shades will be appreciated for their beauty and variety.
Cultural traditions will not disappear, but will thrive and grow together into a rich and fascinating sharing of knowledge and beliefs.

I dream that blindness will be merely a different way of seeing, and deafness impair only the quantity, not the quality of the language 'heard'.

Children will matter because they own the future. Their education, academic and social, will become and remain of utmost importance.

Questions will come from curiosity, not ignorance, and the answers will breed respect.

Knowing each other, knowing ourselves, will lead to recognizing that fights and conflicts, wars of all kinds, have little value.

The mediators and the peacemakers will be recognized as the strongest leaders.

Together, cooperation will lead, and collaboration will be the norm.

Together, we'll dream the dream into reality. Together.

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Eating the Opponent - planning ahead

My Green Bay Packers had a bye the first week of postseason. Depending on the results of two other games (or three?), they knew they would either play the New York Giants, the Detroit Lions, or the Atlanta Falcons. Or was it - Giants, Lions, or Saints? No, I think the Saints are elsewhere in the seeding order. Is that redundant - seeding order?

Meanwhile, back at the O.K. Chorale, we had no opponent last week. We had no definitive direction in which to point our spatulas and whisks. Instead of a menu, I give you The NFL Postseason According to Chuck.

Remember, Chuck is not a football fan. He's been forced to learn the game because 1. he married me and 2. he works for a television station in Green Bay and 3. his kids bleed green and gold like their mother. Despite being uncaring and outnumbered, he has a theory on this year's postseason action and potential results. Here goes:

Chuck believes that marketing drives all. The game that would attract the most viewers and have the most action would be an NFC Championship Game featuring two of the best quarterbacks: Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees. To get that far, New Orleans has to win again, and Green Bay has to beat the Giants on Sunday afternoon.

That's basically it. New Orleans vs. Green Bay at Lambeau Field on January 22. Are you in, fellow fans? I'll bring the jambalaya.

But first, I'll bring home Jersey bagels for breakfast and grill New York Strip Steak for dinner. Take that, Giants.

As for the AFC, Chuck predicts the Denver Broncos. In his twisted television logic, he reminded me that the networks have groomed us to want the most drama before, during, and after the game. If Chuck's predictions come to pass (no pun intended, and don't you dare say none noticed), we'll see MVP Aaron Rodgers and his entourage up against the God-loving rookie kneeling on the sidelines.

Well, Tebow may be posing for a new version of The Thinker, but he shouldn't forget that Reggie White was evangelizing on the field when little Timmy was still a bobble-headed Pop Warner kid. And Reggie earned his wings, I mean his Super Bowl ring, with the green and gold.

Any questions?

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Politics; out of the mouths of youngsters

Fifth graders, that is. Eleven year-olds. They've been learning about the Articles of Confederation and the events and debates and compromises leading up to the writing and ratification of the United States Constitution. I've been correcting their tests lately, and the essay questions and their thoughtful or not-so-much answers have kept me thinking.

I can't post the specific question, but I'll just tell you that they were discussing the creation of the Constitution and interpreting George Washington's warning against the destructive nature of political parties.

Actual student answers:

-"To watch out for political parties."

This kid has a point.

-"I think Washington wanted people to be happy and to work as a team."

Can this student run for office some day? Please?

-"They would disagree on things because they would have different opinions and they would argue a lot."

Run-on sentence aside, she was predicting the future with amazing accuracy. Maybe her family has been following the presidential primaries.

-"It creates tensions and the good that could be done is lost in the arguments of each party's plans."

Another candidate for office someday - governor, perhaps.

"Washington knew that if the country split into political parties, then the country would be more split up and there would be too many disagreements."

Politicians, stand warned. This student and others like him will be voting before you know it.

It's time, it's well past time, to start cooperating. Bipartisan collaboration would be a good start, but in all honesty, nonpartisan cooperation would be even better.

I'm sure George would agree.

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Ah, that caffeinated aroma of a kitchen floor

At least my vacuum cleaner will smell good for a while.

Let me back up. I just vacuumed the kitchen floor. Vacuumed. Not washed, not mopped, not swept, not Swiffer wet-jetted. Vacuumed. I was out of fluid for the Wet-Jet, and I wasn't ready to get down on my knees and scrub. Besides, all the good rags were in the wash.

Let me back up a little more. I just vacuumed up a pile of coffee grounds. Freshly ground, organic coffee grounds. The floor smelled great. So did my pants. If I'd been wearing brown, maybe I wouldn't have thrown them right in the laundry. But anyway, back to the story. My tiny kitchen was half covered by, no, maybe... Okay. I'll back up again.

It was a typical weekday evening. I made my lunch, got my clothes ready for morning, made sure my Kindle was charged. Of course I charged my Kindle to get ready for bed; doesn't everyone? As a final step, I usually set up the coffeemaker for morning. The filtered water was ready, the coffee filter in place, but before I could measure my life in coffee spoons, I needed one more ingredient. As chief groundskeeper of Chez OkayByMe, I gathered my materials: coffee grinder, container, and cleaning brush.

It all began well. The grinder was working well, sending the organically grown, fair trade processed, deliciously blended beans through the blades to become my refreshing beverage of choice. I inhaled with pleasure. When the container filled almost to the top, I applied the small wooden brush to dust the remaining grounds from the grinder. An important step to prepare the grinder for storage, this was also my undoing.

You guessed it, readers. I spilled. Not all of the coffee grounds fell to their death, but at least one third of what I'd just ground hit the, well, ground. With some on my pants and some on my shoes and more, much more, on the floor, I called out to Chuck. "Is the vacuum still downstairs?" He brought it to me and cautiously backed out of the kitchen without daring to say a word.

So there you have it. At least my vacuum will smell good for a while. It'll smell of freshly ground organic coffee.

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Eating the Opponent for the Playoffs

I baked pumpkin bread in the bread machine a few days ago and thought, "Ooh! I should post this." Duh. I posted it just before Christmas. By the way, it's delicious with pecans.

As for Eating the Opponent, we're thinking New York Strip Steak and Jersey bagels. Then again, New York pizza has its own style and Lombardi's of Manhattan is reputed to have been the first pizzeria in the U.S. Related to the trophy namesake? My research in that direction has had no results.

On the other hand, there are the famous New York black and white cookies, made from cake, not cookies. They look delicious, but I don't have time to bake a high-maintenance recipe that includes small cakes and two kinds of frosting. I wonder if any local bakeries make them? It might be worth checking. This native New York dish has a roundabout connection to the upcoming game, almost a 6 Degrees type of thing. Here goes.

The last time the New York Giants came to Lambeau Field, there was a big to-do about Eli Manning's favorite TV show being Seinfeld. Not wanting to give comfort to the enemy, our local affiliate refused to run its Seinfeld reruns at the usual time on that Saturday night. Seinfeld has incorporated the black and white cookie into at least one or two episodes. Is that enough for a connection? Well, if I had time to bake, maybe.

My research also turned up New York chili dogs, a.k.a. Coney dogs, but we used those as a tribute to the Detroit Lions. Let's hear it, readers. Can you name a uniquely New York food suitable for Eating the Opponent this weekend?

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Back in the Saddle Again

It took a little more than I expected. Going back after break wasn't as smooth as I thought it might be. Then I remembered.

I didn't teach a full year last year. Coming back after break is a new skill - or one I need to remember from two years ago. I ran into unexpected responses as 2012 Back to School began.

Sleep.

My sleep routine was completely mixed up. I had trouble getting to sleep at night, staying asleep at night, and getting up in the morning. I tried a variety of solutions with a variety of results.

One night of Ambien. One night should be okay. My dependence on the drug developed after several months' use, but one night - well, it wasn't okay. I slept well that night, but the following night felt like withdrawal all over again. Deep sigh. I guess I can't chance taking this again.

After a sleepless night filled with symptoms of withdrawal, I thought I'd be exhausted enough to collapse into dreamland. Not so. Around midnight I gave in and took six mg of melatonin. It helped me get to sleep; getting up in the morning was still difficult.

Melatonin may be my temporary solution. By taking it every night, on Friday I felt awake and energized. If this week's sleep goes better, I can start walking to work again. The walk in itself will help me sleep at night, and the fresh air will help wake me in the morning. Look out, walking shoes, here I come!

Sleep is precious. After the past year's experiences, I'll never take sleep for granted again. Monday, here I come: hopefully with a full night's deposit in the sleep bank.

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Dear World; you're kidding, right?

Dear Clinic That Shall Not be Named;

If the best advice you can offer is, "Talk to a person next time," your system might be broken. Just sayin'.

Dear Pharmacy with Recorded Messages;

If the best advice you can offer is, "Talk to a person next time," your system might be broken. Yeah. Uh-huh.

Dear Forrest;

Those boxes of designer chocolates often have a map inside the top cover. Look for it.

Dear Clinic That Shall Not be Named;

Your online messaging system has major glaring weaknesses. After its failure, I suffered through listening to a recorded message while on hold - a recorded message telling me how I could "take control of my own health care" by using the online messaging system. Ahem.

Dear Pharmacy Tech;

If your recorded message tells me I have no refills left, why would I call to see if my refill is ready?

Dear Clinic:

Do you really, honestly, truly have no way of recording a concern? No way to prevent this kind of mistake from recurring?

Dear Chuck;

Can we please order take-out for supper tonight? I have no brainpower or energy left.

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The Opposite of a Boycott

What's the opposite of a boycott? In the 1970s and 1980s, Ms. magazine might have called it a Girl-cott or a Woman-cott. The premise is simple; instead of boycotting, or refusing to buy from certain companies, make a commitment to spend money where it counts. Support the companies that support the causes that you support.

Confused? Here's an example.

Since our state legislature became fiercely divided along partisan lines, voices are emerging on the side of public workers. These voices are not necessary anti-Gov. Walker, but they sing the praises of those who earn their living by working in the public sector.

Penzey's Spices, a Milwaukee-based company, has been outspoken in their support of teachers. Bill Penzey said, "To be pro-business is to be pro-education." He understands that an educated workforce doesn't cost, it pays. With that in mind, he set out to recognize teachers in the state.

He began by dedicating a spice to the kindness and dedication that teachers show - a spice named for the Wisconsin State Motto, Forward. Then he created a gift box including a bottle of the new spice, a small bottle of cinnamon, a book of teacher-supplied recipes, a teacher pin and a bumper sticker stating, "Teachers Care." He gave a box to each and every teacher in the Milwaukee Public Schools.

This is more than a token appreciation gift. By donating a valuable product to a large number of public employees, he reminds the citizens and voters and yes, business owners, that public employees are not public enemies, but dedicated public servants.

Now - the opposite of a boycott. Whether this strategy has a name or not, the process is simple. Buy from companies like Penzey's Spices. Whenever you get a chance, let them know why you chose to buy from their company as opposed to others. Speak with your dollars and with your words.

ow if you'll excuse me, I need move forward and experiment with my new spice - right after I set out my red Teacher pin to wear to work tomorrow.

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Dutch Babies, updated

I made the basic Dutch Baby, an egg and flour pancake, a year or two ago. I saw two recipes for Dutch Babies plus in our Sunday paper, so Amigo and I hit the kitchen during break and made them for brunch. We made the orange-cranberry variation; the ham and cheese option looks good, too.

Dutch Baby with Cranberry Orange Syrup

1 cup milk

4 large eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup orange marmalade

1/4 cup dried cranberries

2 Tablespoons butter

1 Tablespoon sugar

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. I don't always preheat; this time, it's important.

Whisk milk, eggs, vanilla, and salt in a medium bowl. Vigorously whick in flour until smooth. Bring marmalade, cranberries, and 1/4 cup water to a simmer over medium heat. Continue to simmer to the consistency of light syrup. Cover; keep warm.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, heat butter in a heavy bottom 10 inch skillet (cast iron suggested; I used my stainless steel). Heat until light golden brown. Pour milk mixture into skillet. Transfer to the oven and bake until puffed and golden, about 15 minutes. Without removing pan from oven, sprinkle with sugar. Turn oven to broil; broil until very puffy and golden brown, a few minutes longer.

Serve immediately from the skillet, drizzled with orange-cranberry sauce.

This recipe serves four. Amigo and I had our share and had extra left over. Next time I make this, it'll be on a weekend when we have at least three people at home for brunch. Or maybe I'll cut the recipe in half.

The cheddar & ham option uses the same basic Dutch Baby (eggs, milk, flour, salt, butter) and then adds 1/2 cup green onions and 1/2 cup diced ham to the melted butter. When the onions are soft and the ham heated through, add the egg/milk mixture to the pan and continue.

After 15 minutes in the oven, sprinkle with 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese. Continue with broiler as above.

Sound good? I thought so. Enjoy!

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The Year in Review: the firsts

What a year it's been! More than that, what a difference a year makes. 2011 saw me at my lowest and then climbing slowly, slowly out of the pit of despair called Depression. Every day there are small victories, victories that have eventually added up to the sum I might call a recovery.

Outside of my own little insular world, the Badgers lost the Rose Bowl, the Packers won the Super Bowl, and the Brewers made it into the playoffs but not the World Series. Wisconsin sports fans had a big, big year.

Meanwhile, back in my own little world, Compost Happens chronicled the ups and downs of 2011. Here you go, readers: the year in firsts - the first post of each month.

January -- In which we look back: the annual New Year's Day post, a retrospective

February --In which we cook Super Burgers for the Super Bowl! Oh, the memories.

March -- Potluck with the Geeks! In which Chuck creates the perfect dishes for his train club

April -- In which we look back on not just any Monday - a Monday with history

May -- In which La Petite's shoe collection decorates the fireplace mantel

June --In which we sample a Product review for Sargento Cheese - delicious

July -- In which I provide a heartfelt guest post on Women on the Fence

August -- In which I get my hands dirty with Signs of a True Gardener

September -- In which I get my hands on my new workspace

October -- In which I struggle with wardrobe and team loyalty

November -- In which Chuck and Amigo cook Racing Sausage Kabobs

December -- In which the family helps me taste and review a Hickory Farms Gift Basket

2012 promises to be an active and eventful year politically, if not more. Follow along as I live it! Compost Happens will continue to bring you real life as it happens from Daisy, your groundskeeper, taking care of home, garden, family, and coffee.

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