I love that new year smell

Thank goodness 2009 is here. It's just a relief to have 2008 behind me and the promise of a new year before me.

I've been thinking about resolutions -- I prefer to think of them as goals instead of resolutions. "Resolutions" sounds so absolute! One of the simplest goals this year will be for me to finally see Chuck Berry perform live. Although he is probably a pervert, he is a rock and roll legend who regularly performs live right here in St. Louis, so it would be a shame if I didn't see him.

Another goal I have is to get back into riding centuries this year (100-mile bike rides). I didn't do any centuries in 2008, but did 3 of them in 2007.

I will also continue working towards the home organization/cleanout efforts I started last year and continue keeping in touch with friends/family.

I've also been teaching myself new things in the kitchen. I have been moving into making yeast breads in 2008 so I want to expand on that this year. This week I made my first ever homemade pizza dough and baked it on the pizza stone I received for Christmas. Today we're expanding on those efforts and making calzones. The major baking goal for 2009 is to make my own pie crust instead of using the store-bought stuff.

Professionally speaking, of course the first priority in this economy is just to hang on to a job. Beyond that, I just hope to continue growing and always learning at my workplace.

Finally, I will continue to keep God at the center of my life.

May God bless you and have a happy and healthy new year.

The Joys of Home Ownership

We built our house and closed on it November 1, 2002. In that time, the house has behaved pretty well, though it's starting to show a little wear and tear.

So this year, we made a few improvements to the home. We took up all the carpet on the first floor and replaced it with laminate flooring. We also extended our patio in the back yard so that we have a very generous space for outdoor entertaining. Ultimately, we also plan to install a knee wall along the perimiter My brother-in-law also graciously put up chair rail in our dining room -- a project that had been languishing for about two years.

Well today we get the joy of having a plumbing issue that is somewhat frustrating. The soil stack (waste pipe) from the second floor bathroom has a leak in it some place. At first, we were hopeful the leak was somewhere in the basement, which isn't finished and would therefore provide easy access to the plumbing, but Murphy's law being what it is, unfortunately the leak is above the basement ceiling. So I am now listening to the plumber cut holes in our wall. I am hoping he at least can keep the holes in the hall closet instead of having to cut into the dining room side, which would then affect that fabulous chair rail!!!

We have had some wonderful times in this home and I am overall very pleased with it. There are a few things I would change about it, but it has been a place where we have loved, worried, prayed, laughed, cried, strengthened friendships and family ties, mourned the deaths of loved ones, and had wonderful parties and meals. God has truly blessed us with a good life in this home.

It's the Winter of Soup!

I really enjoy cooking and this Fall/Winter has so far been spent trying lots of different soup recipes; I try a new one at least every other week. I've tried chicken and wild rice soup, minestrone, lentil and sausage soup, vegetarian chili, turkey chili, and split pea soup. I also have made my old favorites zuppa toscana and good ol' regular chili.

Some of these soups, like minestrone, are just things I've wanted to try to make. Others, like the chicken and wild rice soup or the lentil and sausage soup, are efforts to re-create something I had elsewhere. The chicken and wild rice soup is based on a recipe I got when I bought some wild rice from a restaurant called the Northern Lights Roadhouse near Beaver Bay, Minnesota in September. The lentil and sausage soup is similar to one I had at a German restaurant in Minneapolis. Each time I prepare those soups, I am reminded of our wonderful trip.

Often the soup recipes make far more than I can eat, so it's a great opportunity to share my blessings with other people. My husband Joe's co-worker Jim, my co-worker Sara, and my friend Fr. Ron have all been recipients of soup care packages. Something about sharing of your food is very powerful. Of course, I am reminded of the Last Supper and of the many other occasions in the Gospels during which Jesus shares a meal. Somehow, there's an intimacy created when sharing a meal -- even if it's just in the form of a take-home container of homemade soup.

Quick Update

Gosh I can't believe it has been since last month since I've updated my blog. I think I'll just have to at least make a habit of updating it, if only in short posts, at least once a week or so.

Short version of what has happened in the last few weeks is we have been doing some work on the house in the last few weeks. The latest is we just had a patio extension poured this week and it looks pretty good. Next project will likely be installing some exterior lighting around the patio and doing a little backfilling around the patio since there is one corner in particular that has quite a step down to the lawn. Next Spring, we'll be doing some plantings at the edge of the back yard and some other beautification in the back yard.

Last weekend, we were a host house for our parish's version of the Amazing Race. There were 32 teams who competed in a number of mind-bending and physical challenges that all had to be completed within a certain time-frame. 16 of the teams went through our house -- it was a lot of fun hosting and the teams were put to test at our home.

I've also spent time getting ready for the holidays, coming quickly around the corner. I picked up the turkey last week and only have a couple more things to purchase for the Thanksgiving menu. Meanwhile, I've also been doing some Christmas gift shopping. I'm about 90% complete with my Christmas shopping, so I am well ahead of the game there.

Other than that, life is pretty good. I am very grateful for my home, my health, my hubby, my cats, and my employment. I am praying for those who are seeking employment and hopeful that the economy will recover in the next year or so.

Under the weather

A little under the weather today, so I am letting myself rest from cycling.

Thursday night I did a 24 mile ride with some friends and it was raining for the first 10 miles, so that might have helped whatever bug I had get a foothold. Anyway, the ride was fun and it was worth it.

I picked up a saddle for the commuter bike that is like the one I have on my road bike. The saddle on my commuter bike is comfortable for about 15 miles, so I need something that I can use for longer distances, so I can use the commuter bike for touring.

Looking forward to the Tour of Missouri coming up next month. Very exciting event!

Even more exciting is I'm also very much looking forward to doing my first ever MS150. I decided to have a little bake sale every Monday in August at work to fundraise for the event. People at work have been really supportive of it. There are two different items from which to choose each Monday. Our next items are cheesecake brownies and banana crumb muffins. Should go over well!

Weekend ride roundup

It was a great weekend for riding and cyclists in general. I had a great time participating in the first ever St. Louis World Naked Bike Ride (link is NSFW). No, I didn't go nude, but exposed as much as I was willing in public, which is to say, not much!

Especially when compared to other people:

One male rider was completely nude (there are pics of him in the album) except for a red hat, black socks, and black shoes. He had style, that's for sure.

It was a lot of fun and a creative way to protest oil dependency. Plus I just really love a nighttime group ride. Total mileage was around 22 by the time hubby and I rode from home, did the ride, and rode back home.

More photos are in the album. Many of the of the photos are NSFW . . .

From World Naked B...

After being out late Saturday night, it was rough hearing the alarm clock go off at 5 AM. I finally rolled out of bed, threw on the gear, and hit the road for what was going to be a 90-100 mile ride. Goal was to ride out to Chesterfield Valley to meet up with a group of fellow MS 150 riders, do a 31-40 mile training ride with the group, then ride back home. I got out to Clarkson on Baxter when I started to really worry about the gathering clouds in the distance. Around Wild Horse Creek Road I saw streak lightning. I was just looking for a spot to pull over and make a phone call when my team mate beat me to the punch.

So I turned around and was headed back on Baxter when it became obvious that I was not going to be able to outrun the storm. So, seeing the Monarch Fire Department fire station # 1 with its garage invitingly wide open, I ducked inside. The fragrance of a hot, homemade breakfast made its way temptingly from the kitchen into the garage. A couple of the firemen came into the garage a few minutes later and I let them know I was hanging there until the storm passed. They were very gracious and invited me to eat breakfast. I really would've loved to try their cooking, but I had 30 miles left to go on that ride and couldn't put anything substantial in my stomach. But I took them up on their offers to refill my water bottles and to hang out as long as I needed.

So, I hung out, watched the lightning and rain, then checked out one of the guys' new Harley, and chatted for a long time with a fireman named Shelby. I really enjoyed the conversation and really appreciated their hospitality and giving me a safe place to stay until I could get back on the road. Thanks, Monarch FD!

Bread of Life

Had a busy weekend last weekend, then a marathon this week, so I am just now getting a chance to post something substantive.

Last Sunday I attended the sixth annual Food and Wine Experience, which is a fundraiser for the Repertory Theatre. My main reason for going was to see Fr. Dominic Garramone, who hosted the PBS program Breaking Bread with Fr. Dominic and is author to five cookbooks.

I picked up one of his cookbooks while on a holiday shopping visit to the Hill and am delighted by the way in which he weaves baking instruction with faith lessons and tradition. I have been a baker of one thing or another for as long as I can remember, but only recently (2006) converted to Catholicism. So as a newbie Catholic -- newbie Christian for that matter as I was agnostic before I decided to convert -- but experienced baker, his book has been a fantastic way for me to add more depth and substance to the food traditions I have known all my life.

While I was there, I picked up another book of his, Bake and Be Blessed. I'm not yet done reading it, but its premise is to parallel the bread making process to how we must nurture and develop our faith life.

It was wonderful to meet him in person, and he was just brimming with joy, love, and grace.

From Food and Wine...

I have a neat story that vividly illustrates one of Fr. Dominic's points he makes throughout his work and writing -- sharing our blessings and our bread. As he was giving his talk, Fr. Dominic tossed samples of his breads to the audience.

From Food and Wine...

I caught one of the corn bread muffins (above) and asked the audience members around me if they would like to share. All three said yes so I broke off samples for each of them.

After Fr. Dominic's talk was over, I chatted with one of the women with whom I shared the muffin. Turns out she had a spare complimentary ticket to the "Reserved" area of the event, which offered access to other wines and food samples not available with the ticket I had purchased. She asked if I would like to have the spare ticket since her friend with whom she had planned to attend couldn't make it. I said yes and thanked her for her generosity.

All I did was share a little piece of a humble corn bread muffin with her -- one which Fr. Dominic had shared with me -- and she was so gracious in return. If only we could all take this same lesson -- to give and return freely -- into our daily lives, imagine how beautiful a world in which we would all live!

Whether is is the Bread of Life or a simple corn bread muffin you break and share with those around you, bread is made to be shared.

I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh. - John 6:51

Celebrating the Mother of God

Today was the feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God. You may know that the rose is a commonly used symbol for Mary. While out shopping before Christmas on the Hill at Viviano's market, I ran across one of Father Dominic's books, called Tis the Season to be Baking: Christmas Reflections and Bread Recipes. Always looking for interesting recipes to try, and since it was a signed copy, I picked it up on a whim.

It's a lovely little book filled with reflections on bread making/breaking, stories about Christmas traditions, and spiritual lessons. One of the items in the book is something called a rose roll, which is a dinner roll made to resemble a rose. Since Mary's feast began last evening, I decided to make this roll for a little dinner party last night.

Happily, they turned out very much resembling roses! It was a lovely addition to the table and a nice reminder of Mary.

Preparing for Christmas

Here's what I did today -- made a ton of cookies:

Here's what everyone else did:

Thanks!

What a nice Thanksgiving today. Started the day with Mass, which always puts me in a good mood -- or, on some days when things aren't going so well, at least it puts me in a better mood! Hosted the big shin-dig here at the house -- a couple of friends, my hubby's five sibs, their respective wives/significant others, and their children joined. A little smaller crowd than usual this year, but still a good crowd of about 20 people here.

Feeling pretty grateful that we have a nice size home where we can entertain a big crowd, as well as thankful for the means to be able to do that.

Winner dessert of the day was a pecan chocolate chip pie. That's a keeper.

Not sure we'll be doing much of that Black Friday shopping tomorrow. Just didn't see much that was compelling. We'll probably be pretty low-key this Christmas with just a few presents for my husband's kids, a couple of things for some select friends, and an exchange between me and the hubby. I'm trying to move to a less consumerist lifestyle in general, so this is in line with that effort.

Instead, we'll be bringing lunch to a friend who is homebound right now due to recent surgery. Might get in some pickup games of volleyball tomorrow night also.

Christmas Exchange

I asked hubby last night what he wanted for Christmas. Conversation went about like this:

He said he didn't want anything.

I said how about I make him a cheesecake a month for a year.

He said that the last thing he needed was more irresistably delicious calories (I added the irresistably delicious part myself -- artistic license you know).

I said then how about a once a month session with a personal trainer.

Excitedly he said, "oh yeah, I can get a hot female trainer so that I will be motivated to go to the personal trainer!!"

I thought about it a sec, then said, "sure, I'd be glad to be your personal trainer."

Problem solved. ;)

Thanksgiving planning

Oh boy! I looked at the calendar this morning and fully realized Thanksgiving just just a little over a week away. Hubby and I typically host, so there's a lot of prep work that has to happen between now and Thanksgiving.

One thing I have never managed to do is exceed in quality my mother's cloverleaf rolls she used to make at the major holidays. These rolls were melt in your mouth tender, flavorful, slightly sweet, looked beautiful, and smelled heavenly. She would brush the tops with butter when they came out of the oven. Just delightful and a wonderful holiday memory -- still can't bake anything with yeast in it to this day without thinking of those rolls.

Wiped!

Quick post this evening as I am just about wiped out for the day.

Last night was my parish's biennial fundraiser auction and it was quite the bash with well over 400 people there and lots of money raised. I snapped lots of pics, and when I get them posted on the web, I'll put the link here later (here it is!). I didn't leave until after midnight and didn't get to sleep until 2 AM. Got up at 6:30 to go to Saturday 8 AM Mass.

Mass today had Luke's gospel about a person who is trustworthy/dishonest in small matters, this person will likewise be trustworthy/dishonest in great matters. This gospel is a great lesson in how to conduct one's self with honor -- it really resonates with me since I work very hard to have good character and to me, honesty is essential to having good character. People don't mention this concept -- good character -- much anymore, but I have too much to say about it to get into it right now. I'll come back to it another day.

Came home and worked in the kitchen for a while this morning -- got a lot accomplished. Put together another no-knead bread that is rising as I write this, set a turkey breast to brining (to be baked tomorrow), baked some creme brulee brownies from a mix I won as part of one of the auction items from last night, baked some toffee bars, sauteed some chicken breast for use in salads.

This afternoon, I played paintball for the first time ever! That was a lot of fun and I'll definitely do it again. Buddy of mine I work with helped organize it. It's a good time. I ran through the woods and crawled through the grasses and even though it was my first time ever playing, I managed to take out a former Marine in one of the matches. I was pretty amazed that I did that.

Came home and shed my grungy paintballing clothes, grabbed a shower, and before you know it, I was ready for an evening with my husband at a romantic restaurant. From sweatpants and hiking boots covered with cockleburrs to a feminine cashmere sweater and 3" heels -- say what you want, but I am versatile!

Breadmaking

I love to eat and make food; especially love to bake things. You can't beat the wonderful smells of baking cookies, breads, scones, muffins, or rolls, not to mention during chilly weather, baking fills the house with warmth.


It's the time of year when I start baking quite a lot, partly because I really enjoy doing it and partly so I can try out new recipes in anticipation of the upcoming Thanksgiving/Christmas holidays. My mother used to make these soft and yeasty cloverleaf rolls at every major holiday. They were outstanding and so tender and light -- truly a melt in your mouth experience. While I loved those cloverleaf rolls, I have never mastered making them. I know I will try again in the future, but for now, I am trying other things.


One of the things I gave a shot last weekend was this no-knead bread. Being in the Midwest, I missed out on the big to-do that this bread made last year when an article about it was published in the New York Times. On the bright side, many people have written about their experiences with the recipe since then, so I was the beneficiary of some good advice and information from those early adopters.


This is undoubtedly the best loaf of bread I have ever made. It's a loaf that is eyes-roll-back-in-your-head good. The exterior is crunchy and substantial. The interior is creamy, but meaty. It produces a beautiful rustic-looking loaf. It's just lovely.


One of the most satisfying aspects of this, or any bread, is the process of breadmaking itself. Putting all the ingredients together is your own little act of creation. You become personally involved in the bread. You feel its texture in your hands. You smell its different aromas before, during, and after the baking. You see its transformation from a seemingly random collection of items that do not taste particularly good while on their own into a cohesive form that yields tasty and substantial sustenance. I even say little prayers while making the bread, giving thanks for these gifts.