2010: I LOVE January

2010 has been good to me so far.

My new year’s resolutions have stuck.

I spent January with the positive affirmation of “I LOVE January. I LOVE January.” Repeated over and over until it was April, nearly.

No potato chips, not hard at this time of year but porch season will be the true test.


No McDonald’s which is only an issue on long car trips to the cabin or Milwaukee, I shall be tested on that this week.

Exercise and housework before knitting. I am happy to report that while I am down five pounds I am also down five pairs of felted mittens.

No alcohol for Lent may become no alcohol for then next many years as the oldests social life if ramping up and I need to have my wits about me for late night parent pick ups.


A new beginning running program has me skipping in public, much to my children’s embarrassment, but running without the knee pain and twisted ankle of last year’s thwarted attempt.

In other news

My new best friend is my prescription strength Vitamin D. After a few weeks the lethargy that has been plaguing me since I became a mother nearly 15 years ago is abating.

My netflix life has enjoyed the series Doc Martin, William and Mary and Mad Men.

My ipod life has loved listening to The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, Everybody Ona Move by Michael Franti and Spearhead and Start the Commotion byt the Wise Guys.

Since I last posted a have put on a baby shower, Thompson cousin gathering, baked potato bar Lenten supper for a hundred (Lutherans love crack), a birthday party for the low fat, no meat, no shellfish, no chocolate, not too rich, newest 42 year old in the neighborhood, Palm Sunday for 200 and I have made a host of new recipes that are good enough to share, in link form.

Ancho Pork and Hominy Stew from Cooking Light. My sister was the first to try this and it has been in heavy rotation ever since. Not a very spring like dish but bookmark it for next fall.

Pasta with Asparagus, Pancetta and Pine Nuts also from Cooking Light but I made it a la Cooking right by using 8 ounces of bacon instead of 2 ounces of pancetta, a mix of whole wheat and regular pasta and 1 1/2 recipe of the lemon and olive oil dressing. I cannot wait to make this again.

Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas My parents are the proud owners of a functioning computer and my mother discovered this recipe on allrecipes.com. It is great. I prepare my chicken in the crockpot using this recipe, and use La Victoria Salsa Jalapena which is labeled Extra Hot and a green chile enchilada sauce. My sister used a canned jalapena salsa the first time she made it and it was red so she reported that the sour cream mixture had a very unpleasing pink tinge. I have adapted the recipe to reflect G and F's sensitivity to spiciness by whirling together the sour cream, cilantro and green enchilada sauce reserving some of it an then whirling in the jalapena salsa. I have prepared it with flour and corn tortillas and it is good either way.

Chickpea and Spinach Salad with Yogurt Dressing This is from Food Network's Elie Krieger and I made it for the aforementioned birthday party. The yogurt dressing is good but not an obligation.

Beet Hummus Very pretty, very good, if you like beets. I am now the proud owner of a very large jar of tahini so if you are going to make this let me spot you the tahini. From the wonderful food blog Simply Recipes. I love her caramel sauce.

Fudgy, Chewy, Cakey Brownies by my food heroine Pam Anderson. My new go to brownie recipe. My only complaint she suggest letting them cool for 3 hours. Are you kidding me?