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I Remember It Well

Posted in Captain Cavedweller, Entertaining at Home, Musings, tagged , , , , , on August 26, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Captain Cavedweller had a rare weekend off from work so we spent it driving all over the countryside, eating things we know we shouldn’t, moving some well loved “junk” to storage, and in general enjoying time well wasted.

Our weekend together also helped me remember a few important details about my husband.

The first jog in my memory occurred when he emerged from the bathroom the first morning of his weekend off sporting a goatee. He’s been sporting scruff on his face for a few weeks and from past experience, I’ve learned to not complain about it too much or too loudly because that just prolongs the suffering. The last thing I expected was to see his snappy goatee, which, by the way, I love.

CC is always game to go for a drive, as long as there is something interesting to see along the way. Apparently 207 miles of dirt, harvested wheat fields, rocks, more dirt, winding mountain roads with no guardrail, and one deceased porcupine did not qualify as interesting.

Also, after spending the better part of a day driving 207 miles round trip to the middle of nowhere so I can take photos of a town that no longer exists, CC just wants to be fed (and gas station food does not count.)

While he seems to have challenges remembering details like the wedding we are supposed to attend, the name of my cousin’s new baby, or what time we need to leave for an appointment, he recalled with startling detail the exact location of a new restaurant he was most interested in trying after I mentioned weeks ago it was opening.

When CC decides he is completely and totally done with a project (like moving well-loved junk), it means he is completely and totally done right now.  Not five minutes from now, not “wait, let’s just…”  – all done. Right. Now. Which turned out to be a good thing, because I was ready to be all done, too.

She Who Is Now Remembering Many Details…

 

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Baby Kitty

Posted in Captain Cavedweller, Musings, Pets, tagged , , on August 14, 2013| 2 Comments »

Dear Neighbor with the Herd of Cats,

I feel it only fair to write and give you ample warning you are in danger of losing one of your multitude of felines.

You see, it has not gone unnoticed that one of your cats recently increased the number of your herd.

The reason we know this is because one of the new additions has taken to wandering into our yard.

baby kittyHow are we supposed to ignore, let alone resist, this sweet little ball of friendly fur?

Even the non-cat person at our house has taken to cuddling this precious little pookie face, patting it on the head and calling it George – okay, Baby Kitty – but you get the idea.

The Heinous Cat has also been on his best behavior around the adorable baby. He even  let it get within sniffing distance without knocking it into next Tuesday.

Please, if you don’t want this fuzzy, wonderful little kitten to find a new home, I’m begging you to keep it home.

Otherwise, we can’t be held responsible for it taking up permanent residence at our house.

Sincerely,

Captain Cavedweller and She Who is Completely Loopy over Baby Kitty

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Pardon the Interruption

Posted in Captain Cavedweller, Entertaining at Home, Success Tips, Travels, tagged , , on August 12, 2013| 2 Comments »

You’ve probably noticed I’ve not had many blog posts the last few weeks.

Starting today, I’m getting back on track.

Starting today, I’m beginning a new adventure.

Starting today, I’m writing not just a new chapter in my life story, but opening a new book.

Starting today, I no longer have the “safety net” of a full-time “day job” and am committing myself 100 percent to my writing.

I knew once I was bitten by the writing bug it was what I wanted to do full-time. I dreamed of the day when I could stop living my life in black and white and pursue the beautiful array of colors the life of my dreams presented.

Due to some circumstances I would not have predicted, I’m able to do that sooner than I planned.

I can’t even begin to tell you how excited this makes me.

I’m also excited because I discovered some things in the last few weeks.

• I have a backbone and using it will not kill me.

• I have a funny bone and using it is therapeutic.

• I have a breaking point on my tolerance for unacceptable behavior and drawing the line strengthens the backbone.

• Self-respect is a highly valuable commodity.

• Sometimes we need a nudge off the cliff to take a leap of faith.

• Faith is both empowering and reassuring.

• More people care about you than you’ll probably ever know.

• Some people will not do what is right.

• Always, always take the high road, because it gives you the ability to carry on with dignity and self-respect.

• True friends are there to lift you up and encourage you onward.

• My husband would walk through fire for me.

Yeah, I’m feeling very, very blessed today and grateful beyond my ability to put into words.

The past few years, I’ve had a quote taped  to my desk at work:

Sunflowers and summer butterflies

I hope whatever it is you imagine, whatever it is you dream – you give yourself the opportunity to become.

She Who Is So Giddy About Today

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Zeppole

Posted in bread, Captain Cavedweller, Recipes, tagged , , , on July 26, 2013| 2 Comments »

Zeppole plated

In the midst of writing a historical romance about an Italian girl who loves to cook, I decided to try out a few Italian recipes, trying to stick to selections she would have made in 1900.

Lucky enough to stumble across a cookbook, Italian Cooking, written by Dorothy Daly in 1900, it really helped me know the types of ingredients Caterina would have used and had available as well as cooking methods.

Of my experiments, so far, Captain Cavedweller has liked Zeppole the most.  Zeppole are Italian pastries, deep-fried of various sizes (especially if I’m the one making them!). Typically, they are about four inches in diameter.

I almost had to beat CC away with my spatula when I was finishing making these the other day because he was eating them about as fast as I was cooking them.

Rich and yeasty, they were really simple to make and amazingly tasty.

Start with some very basic ingredients.

Start with some very basic ingredients.

 

Mix the flour and salt together and set aside.

Mix the flour, sugar, and salt together and set aside.

 

Mix yeast with warm water and let set about five minutes.

Mix yeast with warm water and let set about five minutes.

 

Lightly whip eggs into yeast.

Lightly whip eggs into yeast.

 

Then add the flour mixture. The dough will be really sticky - not like bread dough.

Then add the flour mixture. The dough will be really sticky – not like bread dough.

 

Set in a warm spot, cover with a dish towel and let rise for about 20 minutes. Stir it back down and repeat the process. Can't you almost smell the yest with those delicious looking bubbles in the dough?

Set in a warm spot, cover with a dish towel and let rise for about 20 minutes. Stir it back down and repeat the process. Can’t you almost smell the yest with those delicious looking bubbles in the dough?

 

Heat about four cups of oil in a heavy saucepan (you want a couple inches of oil in there) and heat over medium-high heat until a bit of dough dropped in sizzles. Drop a heaping spoon of dough (carefully!) into the oil and fry until golden brown. These sweet little babies turn themselves over so you don't have to, unless you want to, then by all means- go right ahead!

Heat about four cups of oil in a heavy saucepan (you want a couple inches of oil in there) and heat over medium-high heat until a bit of dough dropped in sizzles. Drop a heaping spoon of dough (carefully!) into the oil and fry until golden brown. These sweet little babies turn themselves over so you don’t have to, unless you want to, then by all means- go right ahead!

 

While the Zeppole cool enough to be handled, scoop some powdered sugar into a lunch bag. Drop in a piece of the fried dough and give it a good shake then be prepared to fight people off.

While the Zeppole cool enough to be handled, scoop some powdered sugar into a lunch bag. Drop in a piece of the fried dough and give it a good shake then be prepared to fight people off.

 

You can also mix up some cinnamon and sugar...

You can also mix up some cinnamon and sugar…

And roll them around in it.

And roll them around in it.

See wasn’t that easy?

Zeppole

2/3 cup sugar

3 cups flour

1 tsp. salt

1 pkg. instant yeast

1 cup warm water

3 eggs

Mix flour, sugar and salt then set aside.

Empty yeast into a large bowl with warm water. Stir until dissolved then let rest about five minutes.

Add in eggs and whip lightly then add flour and stir until well mixed.

Cover bowl with a dish towel and set in a warm place for 20 minutes. Stir down the dough and let rise again before frying.

Heat a heavy-duty pan of oil on medium-high heat until a drop of dough sizzles in the pan.

Drop a tablespoon full of the dough (think in terms of the size of a plum) into the oil, being carefully not to burn yourself on any splatters and cook until golden brown. The Zeppole turn themselves over when they are cooking, which is fun to watch.

Drain on paper towels or paper bags (to soak up the grease) then drench in sugar. I liked powdered sugar best and CC preferred cinnamon and sugar. Either is delicious.

You can also serve these with fruit or whipped cream, if you so desire. (Or stand over the bag with powdered sugar devouring these like a ravenous beast.)

She Who Loves Italian Food

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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