Ha! This gave me the giggles. Mostly because I was struck by the resemblance to one of my childhood favorites--The Love Boat!

And on that TV note, did you watch Eastwick last night? I love shows with witches (I must be able to relate on some level). Loved, loved, loved "Bewitched" as a kid, then "Sabrina, The Teenage Witch", and of course, who could forget "Charmed" (really, one of my all time favorites!). I watched the premiere of Eastwick last night. Didn't really love the movie--thought it was just ok. But I think the series has possibilities. Guess we will see!

Hiding in my room, safe within my womb,
I touch no one and no one touches me.
I am a rock,
I am an island.
And a rock feels no pain;
And an island never cries.

Paul Simon
From song I Am a Rock

Sigh...


I hate that this blog gets used so much as a place for me to whine and cry, but I can't help it. I don't really feel like I have another outlet to get out my frustrations, so they end up here. And I really do edit myself a lot...I don't share a lot, just when it gets to be so much that it bubbles over. And with that, obviously I am frustrated and it is bubbling over.

I am pretty sure that I need to do more to get work. I get so bogged down in the every day that constantly looking for writing jobs gets overwhelming, and I shut down and just do what I already have. But I need to really start contributing to the finances of my family. I need to do that so that when that person that I love that is living with me (not my hubby) starts in on me (which, honestly, is almost daily), I can just say--move out. We get along a LOT better when you don't live with me. I know that her life in the past several years hasn't been great. She is depressed. But, OMG!!! I am so tired of being the target of her anger. Or if she is mad at my hubby, well, she never tells him--she just tells me. And it's very passive-aggressive, which makes it really hard, because I never know what to expect when talking to her.

And I am pretty sure that this is part of the reason my daughter moved out. Not all of it--I realize that she's 20 and needs to be on her own, but I also know that she was the brunt of some of that anger.

I guess the bottom line is that my household is not a great place to be. It certainly isn't always a healthy and loving place. I try to extend my love, but something has to change here. I can't keep doing this and I don't want my son to grow up with all this negativity.

So, I need to really start working and contributing. I am a good writer. I know I can do it, I just get frustrated with trying to sell myself. But I need to do something because I am tired of hiding out in my room (which doesn't seem to matter--it seems to be ok for people to walk in and start in on me).

Sigh...

Mmm...Pepperoni Breadsticks

So, I am so enamored of my new baking mix that I am searching out recipes to use with it. And this one sounds good. Really good. Plus the fact that my darling son loves pepperoni. Pepperoni plain. Pepperoni sandwiches. Pepperoni pizza. We might as well add in these pepperoni breadsticks.

Pepperoni Breadsticks
Ingredients
  • 2 cups Quick Mix (or a baking mix such as Bisquick)
  • 1/2 cup cold water
  • 1/2 cup chopped pepperoni (about 2 oz)
  • 1/4 cup butter, melted
  • 1 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 cup pizza sauce
  1. Heat oven to 425°. Mix baking mix, cold water, and pepperoni until dough forms. Beat 20 strokes. Turn dough onto surface dusted with flour; gently roll to coat. Knead 5 times.
  2. Roll dough into 10-inch square. Cut in half. Cut each half crosswise into 14 strips. Twist ends of strips in opposite directions. Place on ungreased cookie sheet, pressing ends onto cookie sheet to fasten securely. Brush generously with melted butter. Sprinkle with cheese.
  3. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until light golden brown. Heat pizza sauce until hot. Dip breadsticks into pizza sauce.
Makes about 28 breadsticks.

It's a Mix, It's a Meal...It's a...Wait?

Did I ever tell you that I collect cookbooks? I really love to cook, and I really love to read, and I actually really love to read recipes. My poor family rarely eats the same thing twice for that reason. In my kitchen I have a floor to ceiling bookshelf that is filled with cookbooks, and I have run out of room. But, to be honest, I can't stop buying cookbooks. I love them that much.

In my new frugal lifestyle, I've started going through my cookbooks looking for ways to save money. I have two wonderful cookbooks, Make-A-Mix Cookery and More Make-A-Mix Cookery (circa 1978 & 1980, respectively) that really answer that money saving question.

In today's world we rely on convenience foods so much, even though most of us recognize that they really aren't that healthy for us. With all the added preservatives we are preserving our own bodies. Eugenia Bone, in her book Well-Preserved, states, "A serious canner friend of mine told a story about a mortician in her town. He said in the past morticians used to have to get a body into the earth real quick, but nowadays a human body will hold for two weeks due to all the commercial preservation he's eaten." Ummm....gross!

Anyway, I wanted to share a mix with you. This is the master mix Quick Mix. Use it as a substitute for any Bisquick recipe.

Quick Mix (makes about 13 cups)

  • 8 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tbsp baking powder
  • 1 tbsp salt
  • 2 tsps cream of tartar
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 1/2 cups instant nonfat dry milk
  • 2 1/4 cups vegetable shortening
In a large bowl, sift together all dry ingredients. Blend well. With pastry blender, cut in shortening until evenly distributed. Mixture will resemble cornmeal in texture. Put in a large airtight container. Label. Store in a cool, dry place. Use within 10 to 12 weeks.

Variation (and a much better one for you!):
Use 4-1/4 cups all-purpose flour and 4-1/4 cups whole-wheat flour. Increase baking powder to 2 tablespoons.



Light and Tender Biscuits

1-1/2 cups Quick Mix
1/3 cup milk or water

In a medium bowl, combine quick mix and milk or water. Stir with a fork to blend. Let dough rest 5 minutes. Preheat oven to 450°F. On a lightly floured board, knead dough about 15 times. Roll out to 1/2-inch thick (in a rectangle). Cut into 2-inch squares with a knife. Place biscuits about 2 inches apart on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake 10 to 12 minutes in a preheated oven until golden brown. Makes about 6 biscuits.

Wait...It's September???

I can't believe that it has been a whopping 2 weeks since I've posted. Well, I guess I can...it seems like it has been a long time. Since the last time I posted, I've submitted some stories to my local paper. My daughter blew up her car, came home to visit for her birthday, took my car back home. We finished installing the flooring upstairs. Hmmmm...I guess not too much else has happened.

I have some new recipes for you, but it is 11:30 pm and I have to finish writing a story for tomorrow's deadline. I will get the recipes posted this week...

Auf Weidersehen
(can you tell I'm channeling Heidi Klum?)