I needed comfort food today. I also needed to use up some cheese. Fondue is a great way to pool a variety of cheeses, but I wanted something more casserole-like. Additionally, I wanted to be able to pack it for lunch tomorrow.

This recipe is from Southern Living’s 2002 Annual Recipes book.

My variations on the recipe include:

• I used the cheese I had on hand – mild cheddar and smoked gouda.
• Rather than layering noodles, cheese, and crackers as directed – I put all of the noodles in the baking dish, tossed them with cheese, salt, and pepper and half of the cracker crumbs. I then topped the casserole with the remaining crumbs before putting it into the oven.
• I replaced one cup of milk with a cup of half and half.
• I also used only 5 eggs. I didn’t want a custard.
• I used 20 saltines. Some were crushed finely, others were not.

The outcome: Yummy, creamy, cheesy noodles that were not dry.

Here is the original recipe. Modify as you like.

• 1 (8-ounce) package of large elbow macaroni, cooked
• 16 saltine crackers, finely crushed
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon seasoned pepper
• 1 (10-ounce) block sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1 (10-ounce) block extra-sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
• 6 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 4 cups of milk

Layer one-third each of macaroni, crackers, salt, pepper, and cheeses into a lightly greased 13×9-inch baking dish. Repeat layers twice. Whisk together eggs and milk; pour over pasta mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 55-60 minutes or until golden and set. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

I’ve whipped up a few fleece beanies to give as Christmas gifts. I used a pattern from The Green Pepper (Polar Beanies).

Beanies that I plan to give the gals in the family, I’ve decorated with fancy buttons (like that above). I did add extra length to the bottom of all of the beanies because I wanted a clean interior edge (the extra length allowed me to create a hem). The pattern is for all sizes. I created copies of each size by recycling large paper grocery bags. The nice thing about paper bags is they’re more durable than pattern paper. This beanie is snuggy and warm and can be completed in two hours or less. I have a few more cut out, but I’m pretty tired of making things, so those who will be missed this year, may get beanies next year.

Here’s a helpful tip when buying fleece for small projects like hats, scarfs, and mittens. Watch for fleece sales – lots of remnants are created during these sales. There is plenty of variety and you get the added remnant discount on top of the sales price. Picking up discounted fleece remnants is the way to go!

Ellen showed this video on her show today.

I contributed a couple of pies to our recent Thanksgiving feast. This pie recipe was a first for me and I wasn’t sure of what to expect. I was very pleased with the end result.

This happens to be the easiest pie in the world to make. If you like pie and custard, but hate fuss, you’ll want to try out this recipe.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups milk
• 4 eggs
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup flaked coconut
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 stick room temperature butter
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Place all ingredients into a blender. Blend until well mixed (this won’t take long – don’t over blend). Pour into a 9″ deep dish pie pan. During the baking process, the flour drops to form the crust and the other ingredients form the filling. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. You can test the pie’s readiness by slightly jiggling it. If it’s firm it’s ready. You can also insert a knife in the middle and if it comes out clean, it’s ready. Serve with sweetened whipped cream.

[from: Gooseberry Patch Christmas Pantry]

The pie is good at room temperature, but I preferred it cool. The pie will have to be kept in the refrigerator, as it is a custard.

Enjoy!

I have been carefully watching this rose come to full bloom in my garden. The cool fall weather has created a beauty. Texas summer heat has a tendency to dwarf blooms. This pink blossom draws one outside to appreciate its loveliness.

My mother will get this soft spiral of Lion Brand Moonlight Mohair (Coral Reef #510-207) for Christmas.

You can find the free pattern for this scarf at the Lion Brand website. Download it here (#50193-1K).

The pattern actually calls for two yarns, the less expensive Homespun and the more costly Moonlight Mohair. I purchased the Moonlight Mohair at the end of the holiday season last year. If you really like this yarn, wait until after the new year to pick it up. You’ll likely find it on sale at your local crafts store.

Moonlight Mohair is a very beautiful yarn. Unfortunately, pictures don’t adequately capture fiber color, texture, and quality.

I picked up the pattern for this hat at Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Store. It was a freebie sitting in front of the Sensations Soles & More sock yarn.

I had sock yarn in my stash, Deborah Norville Collection: Serenity to be exact, and decided to use it. This hat is made with one skein of Thyme DN104-01. I used number 2 needles (circular and double-pointed). I altered the pattern for the decreases at the top. The pattern suggested a knit row between every decrease row. I did that only half way through the reduction process. Additionally, I changed up the pattern on the ear flaps. After 4 rows of seed stitch, I moved to straight knit stitch for the decrease rows.

I think this is a very fun hat. I have another skein of this yarn and I think I’ll make a skinny scarf to match. There is a pattern for a scarf along with the hat pattern, but I’ll likely change it up, like I do everything else.

I doubt I’ll ever knit another hat with sock yarn as it takes a long time to knit, but I do like the patterning that the yarn provides.

One more thing, “It ain’t easy being the model and the photographer.” One can’t do it without feeling like a complete nerd.

Yeah...BayyyBeee!

When I saw this picture of Archie, I immediately thought of the song I’m too Sexy by Right Said Fred. Cat blogging every Friday, learn more at The Modulator.

Frequently, I spend my lunch hour at the bookstore browsing magazines and books. Today was one of those days, and as a consequence I happened on the book, The Financial Lives of Poets by Jess Walter. The title is an attention-grabber and that’s why I picked up the book. I read the jacket and skimmed the first few pages, my habit for determining if a book merits further reading. Within those pages, I discovered a quote attributed to author Saul Bellow, “Poets have to dream, and dreaming in America is no cinch.”

BAM! (nod to Emeril) It’s a staggering bit of verbiage. I filed the quote in my cerebral database and later deposited it on a piece of scrap paper littering my car. I deemed it worthy of exploration, and that’s what I intend to do here.

First, what is a poet? Well, you’d be surprised (or maybe not) at the answers I found searching the World Wide Web. How does this answer suit you? A poet is a person who writes poetry. I hope you sighed, cursed, or blew a raspberry. One should never define a thing by using the thing to define it. How’s this? A poet is a person who writes verse. Okay, but so what? This is also a poor definition, but at least I have a basic understanding of what a poet does; however, I still do not know what a poet is. There is a difference!

A poet is a:

• Crusader (e.g., Lucy Terry, John Trudell, Ron Silliman)
• Mystic  (e.g., Walt Whitman, Jesse Ball)
• Activist (e.g., Andrea Gibson, Nikki Giovanni, Allen Ginsburg)
• Revolutionary (e.g., Philip Freneau, Phyllis Wheatley)
• Philosopher (e.g., Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau)

A poet gazes on her culture and critically assesses it in her verse. She affirms and strengthens cultural platforms that empower everyone. A poet is not an imitator, a trend setter, an embellisher, nor a poser. A poet is not aloof, disengaged, entitled, nor apolitical. A poet supports change for a free, just, and sustainable society. It’s with this understanding that we can appreciate “Poets have to dream,” as it’s our poets who most frequently dream of better tomorrows (life without war, poverty, abuse, discrimination, etc.).

Why is dreaming in America so difficult? I think dreaming implies change, and change is not something everyone is willing to embrace. Struggles with change are illustrated by recent US news headlines on the topics of healthcare reform, finance reform, immigration reform, education reform, etc. Opposition to reform is strong. This is not a bad thing; it just is. One should study Hegelian Dialectic to know that there will always be a series of philosophical conflicts before there is an evolution of some sort. In this world, patience is the ultimate virtue and without patience dreaming is no cinch.

Thanks Juls for pointing me to this. It’s great fun! I’m always in a room wondering why I’m there!