Tall Tales from Kansas

I made a carrot/coconut cake

I wanted carrot cake for Easter.  I wanted coconut cake for Easter.   I could find no rationale for having both cakes in the house at once so I compromised.  I made a carrot/coconut cake.  It was the perfect solution.   It is my virtual Easter present to you. 












This cake is moist from the carrots, chewy from the coconut, crunchy from the nuts, and fruity from the raisins.  It is a perfect cake.  I used the Smitten Kitchen's carrot cake recipe and added a cup or so of shredded coconut to the cake batter.  I used the Pioneer Woman's cream cheese frosting because it is the only cream cheese frosting I make since I discovered it.  I added toasted coconut to the top for decoration. 

I have made a deal with myself not to make it more than twice a year.  How often you make it is strictly up to you. 

there's supposed to be an unknown in a story problem

If one part green and four parts blue make turquoise, and yellow and blue make green, and the only food colors you have are yellow and blue, how many drops of each do you use to get your desired shade of turquoise?

The correct response is you just keep going until it looks right and by the time it looks right you will have forgotten just how many drops you used because you might have squeezed the bottle and it squirted out insead of each drop being released in an orderly fashion.   I also forgot to mention the unknown part of the equation which is I was using farm fresh eggs that are all different shades of brown/tan.  There's supposed to be an unknown in a story problem isn't there?

These guys turned into deviled eggs pretty quickly after they got colored.    So I am not sure why I bothered, except it was fun.  And really that's the point.   

I love deviled eggs.  I think I am going to start making them every weekend for a snack/lunch.  In case you decide to do the same... they go very well with a cosmo. 

I used the cooks illustrated recipe again this year.  Mayo, dijon, worchestershire, apple cider vinegar, pepper.   I also chopped up some pickled jalapenos and threw those in too.  I recommend you do the same.  

do not tidy up after you make your first drink

Today I was rescued by an orange.  A blood orange.  A blood orange margarita.  It was just what I needed after a busy week at work. 

This is not one of those margaritas that makes you pucker up and close one eye when you taste it.  Nor does it need salt on the rim.  Sacrilegious I know.  I generally like my margaritas on the rocks with salt.  But not this one.  The tequila and orange/lime come through in this perfect balance that would only be disrupted by salt. 

You don't have to put on your oldest, softest, most comfortable jeans while you drink the blood orange margarita... but why wouldn't you? 

Do not tidy up after you make your first drink.  You will want another one.  Trust me.  If you are needing to be rescued by a blood orange this weekend go here for the recipe.  Thanks for calling this to my attention Cindy and bravo Smitten Kitchen you have outdone yourself. 

it hopped over to the bag and practically begged to go home with me

 Yesterday I ran into Amy on the Plaza.

She was looking longingly down the street towards this sign.   I told her I would wander by and get her something. 

Lemon macarons and almond melty somethings looked good to me so that's what I picked up. 

I had to get a bunny cookie too.   I mean it's almost Easter and it hopped over to the bag and practically begged to go home with me. 

Amy agreed, there is nothing NOT to like about a cute little frosted shortbread bunny with sprinkles on top.  

one can't have it both ways

I like a collection of short stories.   At their best they give you a glimpse into someone elses life just for a brief moment, leaving you to work out for yourself what happens in the end.  

This collection is loosely woven together by this theme of wanting to have things both ways.   I had to turn it off as each story concluded.  I needed a pause to let the details sink in and settle out in my mind before I moved on to the next cast of characters. 

Definatley recommended... if you like short stories, and even if you think you don't.   Thanks for the suggestion Dana.   

See that paper under my book?  That's Book Page, a nice little book review paper that comes out once a month.  It's complimentary at my library.  If your library doesn't have it you can always read it here on line.  I love going through it and tearing out possible future reads and taping them in my everyday journal. 

reality is over-rated

The snow was blowing when we woke up Sunday.  It was hard to see through the windows because the screens were so packed with snow.   It makes me cold just thinking about it.  We settled on pancakes and bacon for breakfast to warm our innards before we headed out for snow removal duties. 

Then I cut up leeks for soup and Chris made an orange cranberry sauce for a pork roast and we both pretended that it was already Spring.   Reality is over-rated. 

we were left to our own devices

Work on Angie's new pad progressed over the weekend.  While I am not one for re-arranging furniture, I have learned over the years how to properly hang a picture.  I was tutored by the best in the use of the hammer and the level. 

As the snowstorm raged outside we were left to our own devices indoors.  

When my Dad was stationed in Korea, he had this painting done from a High School photo of me.  I told my mom she should put it outside the front door of her apartment to scare away any would-be intruders.  She told me that was "very funny Carol", but wanted it hung in the bedroom.

I told her if she didn't want me to watch her when she was sleeping, there was a very simple solution. 

Moss girls should never be left to their own devices.

you can't be stressed while laughing

Sketchwars Wednesday took a back seat to moving this week.  I only had 10 minutes to spare tonight but here they are in all their glory.    

If this coming week proves to be stressful to you.  May I suggest you grab a nice black pen and do a drawing.   You can't be stressed while laughing. 

can you say heartbreaker?

This is Allie Moss in her Easter finery. She was born when we were in Norway last year.

As you can see, she comes by her good looks honestly.

Can you say heartbreaker?

Photo credit:  Liz Honeycutt

a genetic predispostion to re-arrange furniture

Despite the sprinkling of snow, and the fact that it is very hard to get on 84 year old with short legs into a Sports Utility Vehicle, Angie was successfully moved out of her old place and into her new apartment today. 

We were all dead, dog, tired at the end of it all.  Here is what I learned today.

1.  My 2 sisters have a genetic predisposition to re-arrange furniture into every conceivable  combination before finding the one that is just right. 
2.  I am not nearly as good at moving furniture as I once was.
3.  Angie has grown more cooperative in the last week.
4.  The perfect way to unwind after an exhausting day is to have left-over chili, 2 glasses of wine, mini saltine crackers with cheese,  and watch a couple of old episodes of Monk while you eat.

Tomorrow we hang pictures and practice using the new washing mashine and microwave. 

a balm on my jangled nerves

I would like to report the following:

1.  Errors have been detected in my MSN mailbox and I can't access my folders
2.  Photos have gone missing suddenly from my Picasa account
3.  Tomorrow is Angie's big moving day and it's supposed to snow

I have Chris working on all these problems despite his recent surgery.  I can't help it.  I am someone who needs to have people to fix problems.  I identify issues that need to be addressed.  That is my specialty.  I am not however, a fixer.  I fix things at work.  Major life and death things.  But at home I need calm, quiet, order, and someone who can take care of any obstacles that pop up. 

While he assesses, investigates, and formulates solutions I will focus on good things.  Like these tulips that are multiplying and won't be bothered by snow and sleet.

Or like these whoppers that come in large and small sizes and are like a balm on my jangled nerves.

she might get invited to a dance and need her dangly earrings

This is Angie's jewelry box.  I can't remember a time when it hasn't been on the dresser in her bedroom.  When I was a kid I used to sneak into my parents room to have a peak at all the special things in that box.   I might have tried on an earring or two, but I always put everything back exactly where it came from so she would not know I had been messing around in her stuff.  

When I look at this now I see not only my mom's jewerly box, but how throughout the years it has been this little piece of the person she was before she got married, had us kids, and started moving all over the world.  The one who used to like to dress up and go to parties with her  friends.  In the photo below (circa 1950) she's on the back row, in that one strap get-up, next to the end on the right.  Super glamorous. 

She is getting ready to move to a new apartment this week and was thinking she had no need for her jewelry box anymore.  She wanted me to take it, but I reminded her that she might get invited to a dance and need her dangly earrings.  

it would be great if no one would mention the word brownie around me

This is all Pat's fault.

Last week at knitting class she mentioned that she had made brownies.

She said they turned out a little grainy and I asked her what recipe she had used.

And that made me think of the cheesecake swirled brownies I made for Angie. 

When I think of brownies, I want brownies.  So I had to make brownies. 

It would be great if no one would mention the word brownie around me for the next 6 months.  Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

what happens between my eyes and my hands sometimes goes awry

Dear Allie:  You are a sweet and cute baby.  Much sweeter and way cuter than one would guess from this sketch.  I draw what I see.  What happens betweens my eyes and my hands sometimes goes awry.  

Dear John:  With a crazy beard like that you have to expect that people are going to have trouble drawing you.  A little trim would have made you look much more civilized, though that would not have solved all my problems with you. 

Another edition of sketchwars wednesday completed.   This coming week we are doing contour drawings.   My favorite!

I was not cut out for cooking AND cleaning

Chris had some surgery on his hand yesterday. 

I hope you're not squeamish.  I knew you would want to see what it looked like and I hope you appreciate that I included before and after photos.  He had a trigger finger and a dupuytren's contracture that needed fixing. 

Which means last night I had to figure out what we were having for dinner, go to the store for ingredients, cook the supper, AND do the dishes. 

I do not know how all you people who don't have a husband who cooks do it.   I had to go to bed early last night.  I was worn out. 

But the point of this post is that I made an old favorite.   Modern Macaroni and Cheese.  It's from a 1989 Bon Appetit and it's perfect for in-between season cooking.  When you are ready for things that say "spring is here", but the chill in the evening air still says "comfort food please".

It's vegetables and macaroni and cheese in one.  With a hint of dijon mustard and hot sauce it is sophisticated as well as being semi-good for you.  I enclose the recipe below because I know you will want to try it.  You know it's good if I have been making it since 1989.  

I am hoping that hand gets better ASAP.  I was not cut out for cooking AND cleaning.  It really cuts into my sketching time. 

be still my heart

 
photo credit:  Krissy Moss Watson

un francobollo per questa cartolino, per favore

From the first glass of wine at La Perla in Amalfi, to the white wine by the sea in Atrani, to the Campari and soda streetside in the late afternoon (with all the Italian men whose wives had chased them out of the house) to the espresso at Nettuno in Paestum...

..... I recall each and every one of the drinks of Italy in 2008.   Unfortunately, I find myself unable to remember what I did with the Italian language CD's.    I am searching madly for the spot where I put them when I got home.

Brushing up on my conversational skills before we take off for Spoletto is a must.   One of my favorite parts of the trip to the Amalfi coast was going into a little shop in Praiano where I asked in Italian (with my best accent of course) if I could buy some stamps for our post cards.  The octagenarian behind the counter smiled and responded with many words I had never heard before.   I had to back-peddle and explain in broken Italian that my repertoire of phrases was limited but he didn't seem to care and we had a nice "moment".   It's these connections that make me smile when I look back on trips ... and remembering the mediterraneo we sipped as we sat at a table near the end of a cliff in a fabulous garden at Villa Cimbrone in Ravello.


Who knows what delicious drinks and moments await us in Italy in 2013.   I am closing my eyes right this second, setting the scene in my mind.

if one of you is a colorist

I have officially completed square #7 of the Lizard Ridge afghan.   That means I HAVE to go and buy more Noro Kureyon yarn.  I am wondering if they have a colorway that is blacks and grays.  I was thinking maybe some dark areas might be nice to include in here.  Perhaps in a random pattern

A resting spot for the eyes amongst this riot of color.  If one of you is a colorist will you give my your opinion on this theory please.  

we arm wrestled over it

I see my Sister has spilled the beans about our next travel adventure, and shared a few photos with you.  BUT she forgot to show you the sleeping accomodations.    Guess who gets which bedroom?

 
Guess who thinks sleeping in a loft in a tower is the coolest thing ever?  You can sleep in a master bedroom with a double bed anywhere.  But a loft, in a tower, in a forest, overlooking a town in Umbria? 

We arm wrestled over it.  I won. 

I can't wait to put little candles on those shelves and watch the shadows bounce around. 

a study in green

As I look forward with eager anticipation to some GREEN.  I present a study in green from the archives of Tall Tales. 

I dotted all the i's and crossed all the t's

The hearts are still hanging over the dining room table.  I thought they would be good karma for all the tax stuff that was spread out underneath.

They were.  I got the forms filled out today.  I dotted all the i's and crossed all the t's and handed them off to Chris.  His job is to take them to the accountant tomorrow. 

I decided as a reward I should go get myself some tulips.  Only there weren't any to be found.  So instead I left the hearts up.  And got out some knitting.

In between rows I made a list of places I can check tomorrow to see if they have any tulips, and waited for Chris to tell me it was time to cut the chicken pot pie.  I guess if you can't have tulips, chicken pot pie for supper is a real good substitute reward. 

Holy Mother of Asparagus Batman!

Since I tasted the most delicious, creamy, asparagus soup several months ago I have been thinking I should make some.  Today, I decided, was the day to do it.  It rained all day.   What else was I going to do? 

I feel so virtuous when I make soup to take to lunch for the week.    Preservative free.  Lots of vegetables.  All that aside though, I just do it because it's GOOD.  And because I am on a soup making kick. 

Holy Mother of Asparagus Batman!   I put it in a little glass to taste it so I wouldn't dive head first into the pot and gobble up the whole thing.  It's creamy but with enough body that you want to try and chew it a little.   This is Molly Katzen's recipe from The Moosewood Cookbook.  Recipe is below.  I did not save the heads of the asparagus to steam and garnish the soup with.  I knew I would be packing it up for lunch so I just cooked the heads along with the stalks.  I used 3 bunches of asparagus which was about 3 pounds but I figured once all the stems were snapped off it would be perfect.  It was.  Perfectly perfect is just the description for this soup. 

where there is one there is usually at least 3 or 4

Look what I saw when I pulled into the driveway today!  I know they look a bit on the sad side, but so would you if you were buried under 12 inches of snow and then had another 8 piled on top of that. 

When I saw them I ran around back to check on the pots out back because I realized I hadn't checked on them at all.  Last year after seeing these.  I got the great idea that if they could do it in the pacific northwest, I could do it in Kansas.  So I bought a bunch of bulbs and stuck them in my pots after I dumped the annuals out.  I shoved the pots up close to the house and left them out there to fend for themselves all winter. 

Where there is one there is usually at least 3 or 4!    This blue pot is going to be closely scrutinized in the coming days and weeks.  I think if I look at it at least 3 times a day green shoots will begin to spring forth from that drab brown soil.   

And yes, I do intend to click my heels together 3 times while I am looking. 

I hope you wore your cowboy pajamas on your big day

Belated Happy Birthday brother.  I hope you wore your cowboy pajamas on your big day.  They were always your favorite as I remember. 

One thing I would like to point out here is that I believe you have more hair now than you did approximately 53 years ago.  At least in this picture. 

it was apparently taken from the abigail adams museum

It's another edition of Sketchwars Wednesday.  Each week there are a few questions about this escapade my sister and I have embarked upon.   One thing I do want to make perfectly clear is you should NOT expect to recognize the subjects from my renderings of them.  If you do, you have great vision. 

I would therefore like to recognize Dianne Throop who noted that the young woman from last week bore an amazing resemblence to Abigail Adams.   I was contacted by her great, great, great, nephew once removed who wanted to know where I had gotten the image the sketch was based on.  It was apparently taken from the  Abigail Adams museum in the early 1900's and they want it back.  More on that story another time. 

This week's work is all about men.  Men with hands on their faces.  Oh dear.  I might have to work on this awhile. 

Luckily I have a nice cup of tea at my side.  Stalwart and steady.  The perfect refreshment for what could be a few more hours of sketching. 

twiced baked potatoes ... for breakfast?

Saturday night as I was looking through flipboard I happened upon this.   Sunday morning I got up and put on my apron.  I mean really.  Can you blame me?  Did you click on the link and look at that picture?  Twice baked potatoes plus eggs.   What could be bad about that?

I made my potato the night before in the microwave.  Just to get a headstart on the whole production.  I used fontina cheese instead of cheddar because I love it and had some left over in the frig.  Any kind of cheese you have on hand will work.   

I think it's hard to judge the exact moment when the white of an egg will be done enough and the yolk will still be runny.  I guess I will have to make these a few more times to get it just perfect.  In the meantime, almost perfect was plenty good enough for us.  Can you say yum-ola?

jewels scarf

When we were in Taos, New Mexico  for our last family vacation a few years ago my sister-in-law  and I wandered into La Lana Wools.   I guess it would be more accurate to say we had planned months in advance to pay them a visit while we were there, but you get the idea.  We visited their store.   I was so attracted to the thickspun jewels I had to find something to make with it.  They had a pattern.  I was hooked. 

I had planned to make this for my sister.  Then I made her another scarf.  I am pretty sure that she doesn't like yellow.  So I will have to keep this for myself. 

It's just a plain garter stitch and you work in the thickspun on either end as you go along.   A very fast and very fun project. 

I was going to tell you that the people at La Lana Wools would be happy to ship you the supplies if you want to make one.   Then I went to include a link and I see that they closed last year.    I am so glad to have purchased these one of a kind fibers while we could.    Ann, this just reinforces our duty to support local yarn merchants wherever we go.  We better start looking now for places in Sturgis and Deadwood.  Any suggestions for shops in that general vicinity in South Dakota will be appreciated.  Especially by Chris and Dan who love to hang out while we "look". 

he knows his way around a tool box

Chris replaced the element in the oven Friday night.

If you are entertaining marriage proposals I am going to suggest that among the questions you ask of your potential mates you inquire about their ability to fix appliances.   Chris was gainfully employed at the Salina Appliance Center after school and summers during high school in the mid 70's.   Even though it was his story-telling and charming good looks that attracted me to him in the first place, I do so appreciate that he knows his way around a tool box.  Especially when I am out of granola.   

I put pistachios and cherries in my granola this weekend.  That is one combination that I have not used before that I will be repeating.   The salty nuts and the tart fruit are a killer combination.  

I used to have a serious addiction to pop-tarts

Each week I go to the store for Angie.  The list is usually pretty much the same.  Unsweetened soy milk - 64 oz, 100% whole wheat bread, 3 bananas, 2 hard avocados, 1 bag orange essence prunes, 1 dozen medium eggs... you get the idea.  Every once in a while though she throws in an unusual item to keep me on my toes.  A few weeks ago the mystery item was pop tarts.

Me:  Pop tarts?  Really?  What flavor?

Angie:  oh something good... how about strawberry?

Me:  you got it. 

This week when I dropped off some left-overs at her house she had put a package of the pop tarts and some pecans that Mary Ann had given her in the bag with last weeks containers. 

I used to have a serious addiction to pop tarts.  My favorite flavor was dutch-apple with frosting.  Just thinking about them makes me weak in the knees.   When we lived in Panama, I used to sneak down to the kitchen at 2am and get one out of the cabinet to eat in secret.  Since I kicked the habit in 1977 I haven't allowed them in the house. 

I don't know where this set-back will lead, but I did only eat one of the two that were in the packet this morning.     If I end up getting out of bed tonight to eat the other one I told Chris to send me to rehab. 

And to think, my own mother did this to me. 

it turned into something quite unrecognizable from the original

This is exactly half of this week's Sketchwars Wednesday  work.

 
The other half is not going to be posted.  I got a little carried away after I first drew it.  I kept trying to improve on it until it turned into something quite unrecognizable from the original. 

The only rule of Sketchwars Wednesday is there are no rules.  Which means you don't have to post your work if you don't want to.