Rowan's Journal

This Saturday, December 11, at 8pm and Sunday, December 12, at 4pm will be the Holiday Concert for the Kansas City Women's Chorus. Our conductor, Dr. Joe, has selected a really great program of fun, beautiful, funny, and gorgeous songs (seriously, we crack up in rehearsals!) for this concert. You won't want to miss it!

Tickets are $15 for Adults, $10 for Seniors and Students and are available at the web-site and at the door. (I believe they are still looking for several ushers who then get in free to the concert, but I'd need to know about that today, if you're interested!)

It will be at Congregation Beth Torah in Overland Park, which is a gorgeous venue.

http://www.kcwomenschorus.org/

Please come and join us! We've worked really hard (all music is memorized *gulp*) and we'd love to share it with you.

Credit this brilliance to both apocalypticbob and to motherpockets, Mom for reminding us all yesterday that this is a wonderful way to give and not feel mopey about not having money this year to spend, and to ABob for making it so easy and explaining it so well.

I will be doing this because a) I'm going through all my stuff anyway and b) I also have WAY too much stuff. I'm also going to add an aspect to it which will help people to regift wisely; add what YOU WANT in the form of gifts; you never know what another person has in excess that you might be wanting more than anything else.

MOTHER BOB'S TOP FIVE REASONS TO REGIFT THIS HOLIDAY SEASON:

5) It costs nothing. - Look, the economy is crap, people are losing jobs right and left, jobs are cutting back hours, killing bonuses, and eliminating pay raises. No one has any money. If you are one of the few people who has money, I urge you to support local independent business and crafters, but if you have no money, look around your home and see what you might have that someone you love would enjoy. I love used books. I love used DVDs. What cooler gift for someone than to hand or mail them a book or DVD that you enjoyed with a note inside about what you thought of it? It allows them to share something personal, which is far more meaningful than a new copy.

4) It really is the thought that counts. - We all have that well meant gift that Aunt Edna gave us stashed in the back of our closet. Actually, for me, it was my Uncle Lamar, and it was a country styled duck. It was, honestly, hideous, but I kept it because he gave it to me, and it was "the thought that counted". Unfortunately, all those "thoughts" were filling my home with things that weren't me and that I didn't love. You know who did love the duck? My mom, when I gave it to her shortly after my uncle passed away. He was her only brother, and it meant something to her. I still have the "thought", without retaining the ugly duck. Everyone wins!

3) Your friends/ family shouldn't have to wait for you to die to get cool things. - We all have that mental list (and some are even smart enough to write it down!) of things we'd like certain people to have when we die. Take a hard look at those things. Are they things you use or wear often? Are they just cluttering up your house? If you aren't using them, maybe it is time to pass them on, now, while you are still alive to enjoy doing so! Arrange time to meet with the recipient, give them the gift, and tell them that you didn't want to wait to leave it in a will. Be prepared for strange looks and inquiries to your health. This way, you get to see the joy on their faces, receive their thanks, and maybe even stick around a few years to watch them enjoy it.

2) Empty out your clutter and keep you home up to date with your interests. - Now I'm not suggesting that you denude your home and lead a stark barren existence, although some people find that quite Zen. I'm just suggesting that if you have collected, say, elephant figurines, for 20 years, and your house is so full of elephant figurines that you can't finish dusting them all before you have to start back at the beginning, it might be time to let some go. Or maybe your tastes have changed, and you'd really rather collect moose. Maybe you have a friend who collects something that crosses over with your collection who would appreciate them. African art collector? Jade collector? Pass them on and watch them be loved.

1) It's the gift that keeps giving. - I used to feel a twinge of guilt passing on something that someone had given to me, but recently I've realized that it's actually like they are giving me a gift twice. Gift one is the joy of opening the gift, thanking them, and enjoying what they have given me and the thought behind it. Gift two is the joy I get from giving it to someone else, watching them enjoy it, and still retaining the memory of my opening it. It's double dipping, but in a good way!

I encourage you, now and throughout the year, to look around your home and see what might be the perfect gift for someone if buying a gift isn't in the cards for whatever reason, or even as an alternative to buying a gift. Giving feels awesome! Receiving maxed out credit card bills in January doesn't.


(Feel free to regift this post by linking or reposting...I just ask that you give credit to apocalypticbob if you do. Thanks!)

Rowan adds:

Please add in what you'd like to receive, you never know, right? Please DO post this and post what you'd like to have...be wild, whimsical; dream big, think outside of the box. You never know what somebody else might have that they don't want or need and would love to re-gift you!

What do I need? Well, since a few folk have been asking (and not right NOW, since I'm packing to move, but LATER, after I've moved into my own place...except for the camera; I could use that right now!) I've started to fill out an Amazon wish list oh-so-originally called, "Stuff needed for Move." Here: http://amzn.com/w/3EKJ15U6WN54Z

And I'll be asking advice on one thing on that list; the camera. I need a good camera, easy to use (but not stupid easy, I want to be able to make some adjustments) not TOO expensive, that takes good pictures indoors, as in products for my web-site and Etsy shop. I have two listed on the Amazon list but not sure either is exactly what I want.

Other than that and help when I move, I do NOT need more stuff, thanks!

( Ok, I'm sure everybody but me has already heard this true story. )

*sniff*

And I know damned well that there are many equally warm-hearted people on my flist and amongst my friends and family of choice.

Jethro Tull has put out a Christmas album!

It's awesome!

Take a listen...
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=420152450

WANT!!!!

( Yes, Rowan's somewhat opinionated about Christmas )

Real post later or tomorrow or something.

I'm back home and it was a GREAT trip.

Bruce's Candied Yams

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

3-4 sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced 2" thick
1/4 cup all purpose flour
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 cup dark brown sugar
1 tsp China cassia cinnamon (Penzey's, of course!)
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground mace
scant 1/4 cup water
1 stick butter
1 tsp grated lemon peel
1 lemon, sliced (grate the peel and then slice the lemon)
1 orange, sliced
1 tbsp flour
1 lg. bag miniature marshmallows

Spray oil on 9" x 16" baking dish. Arrange slices in one layer covering bottom of pan (cutting chunks into fairly similar sizes for even cooking.)
In a bowl, stir together the flour, sugars and spices. Sprinkle this over the potatoes. Slice thinly the stick of butter and distribute over the top of the sweet potato chunks. Sprinkle zest over top. Place orange and lemon slices over top. Add just enough water around the edge of the pan to barely cover bottom of dish, NO MORE than 1/4 cup. Cover with aluminum foil and bake about two hours, until potatoes are done.

Remove fruit slices, re-heat oven to 450 degrees. Top casserole solidly with marshmallows. Place cookie sheet under pan for drips. Put casserole back in hot oven CAREFULLY and watch consistently until marshmallows are puffed and golden brown. Note: it's only a scant seconds' difference between 'golden brown' and 'burned.'

Note: this is a recipe my beloved hubby invented a couple years ago based on Paul Prudhome's classic yam recipe and another recipe from an old cookbook from his mother's. It turned me into a yam lover; the citrus tang perfectly compliments the sweet potatoes and cuts into the sugary sweetness delightfully.


Bonus: Slightly less sweet Pecan Pie Recipe

Pecan Pie Recipe

2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 cup light corn syrup
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 Tbsp molasses
2 Tbsp melted butter
2 Tbsp flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/4 cups pecans, coarsely chopped
1 9-inch pie shell, chilled for an hour if freshly made, defrosted for 10 minutes if frozen.


Preheat oven to 375°F. Spread pecans along the bottom of the pie shell. Mix the remaining ingredients and pour over pecans. The pecans will rise to the surface of the pie.

Bake at 375°F for 45-50 minutes until the filling has set. About 20 minutes into the cooking you may want to use a pie crust protector, or tent the edges of the pie crust with aluminum foil to prevent the pie crust edges from burning. Remove from oven and let cool completely.


And a supposedly fool-proof Pie Crust....we'll see!

4 Cups all purpose flour
1 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt
1/2 Cup butter (not margarine)
1-1/4 Cup shortening
In a large bowl, using a pastry blender, blend above ingredients until it holds together
1 egg, slightly beaten
1/2 cup water
1 Tbsp vinegar
Mix last three ingredients together and add, mix well with fork
Place dough in plastic wrap and chill several hours. If needed, right away, place in freezer for a short time.

Note: You can use 1-3/4 cup of shortening and omit the butter, but the butter gives it a better flavor; if you do this use butter flavored shortening

Makes enough crust for 2 double crust pies

Here's a timely idea!

Leftover Halloween candy? Make a cake!

Posted Oct 31st 2006 7:54PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Dessert, Recipes, Candy, On the Blogs, Comfort Food

Halloween candyIf you're trick or treating with the kids tonight, chances are you're going to have either a.) your kids eating a ton of candy and getting sick or hyper, or b.) enough candy to last the next 38 days. Besides eating the candy bar by bar, piece by piece, what else can you do with it?

How about a Leftover Candy Cake? This recipe from CDKitchen takes all of your leftover candy, whether it's chocolate or hard candies and makes it into a bundt cake. Check out the ingredients and the instructions after the jump.

2 cups coarsely chopped candy
2 3/4 cups sifted flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla
8 oz unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 large eggs
1/4 tsp almond extract
1 cup sour cream

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Butter a bundt pan and dust with fine bread crumbs (wait...I don't even see bread crumbs on the ingredients list...hmmm). Shake out excess. In another bowl, sift together flour, salt, and baking soda. In another bowl, cream butter until soft, then alternate adding dry ingredients with sour cream. Place 1 1/2 cups of this mixture into pan. Add candies to the rest of the batter (folding in). Pour over plain batter. Bake for about an hour. Cool for 15 minutes. Cover pan with rack, flip over, and remove cake. Let it cool a little while longer. You can then add confectioner's sugar on top if you want.

Note: I bought WAAAY too much candy; I'm still accustomed to the number of houlligans, er kids, that I had come trick or treating in KC.

ganked from Brother William:

Ganked from a fine lady - Thanks, Nurianna;

"My Wish for You in 2008

May peace break into your house and may thieves come to steal your debts.
May the pockets of your jeans become a magnet of $100 bills.
May love stick to your face like Vaseline and may laughter assault your lips!
May your clothes smell of success like smoking tires,
may happiness slap you across the face,
and may your tears be that of joy.
May the problems you had forget your home address! In simple words ............

May 2008 be the best year of your life!!!"

From the party, the first entry in the "cute Christmas cat" contest.




Thanks to brotherwilliam! Yes, it has been uploated to the LOLCats site.

I know there are some other pics of it and there were some other great suggestions for slogans. I also took a couple of poor stupid Nell in the window behind the tree.

Great stuff...

This one is ganked from AmberBob:

Go to this link:

http://josevilla.bigfolioblog.com/weblog/post/23657

before December 31st 2007, and leave a comment. Preferably a nice one. Can be as simple as hello and thank you.

If the gentleman who owns the blog gets 500 comments from 500 different people by the end of December, he will donate $1000.00 to the Children's Cancer Research Fund.

Thank you for reading this and considering doing so, and please pass the link on to as many people as possible.

I did it, lovely if a lot of others would too...

And this one I ganked from the delightful Marrus, true story which is sure to make you grab for a henkie.

http://www.craigslist.org/about/best/tus/487665904.html

Happy Yule, indeed...