Midnight Wake-Ups and Pumpkin Spice Coffee

 

Dave was gone for a week.  He was out at moose camp with my brother, his brother, our oldest boy and two other friends.  He left on Friday after work and was spending the week.  I was home, holding down the fort and watching the dogs...or the dogs were watching out for me.

When Dave is gone, the dogs are on high alert.  They bark at all the falling leaves, the neighbors leaving for work, the same neighbors getting home from work, the mailman and the garbage crew.  It is a good thing they protect me from all that, and it works because not one mailman or neighbor leaving for work has murdered me and none of the falling leaves have broken in. I'm so glad those dogs take such good care of me.

Well, while Dave is gone, the dogs sleep in my room, I don't sleep very easy when I'm in the house alone.  Hershey has his little bed next to the baseboard heater and the big dogs each have a bed on either side of our bed. Tek is on Dave's side and Mooree is on my side.  I have to climb into bed from the bottom and crawl up to my pillow, but it all works.  

So, we were all settled down in bed after we got the text from Dave that he had made it into camp (I wait up to make sure he makes it so I can call for help if he doesn't) and we were sound asleep.  Suddenly both big dogs jump up, run to the top of the stairs and start barking.  This, of course, wakes me up.  I jump out of bed and then have this dilemma: do I put on sweat pants first or grab my gun first?  If I grab my gun and have to shoot an intruder, then I'm stuck there without pants.  I'll have to call 911, the paramedics will come, the police will come and when is a good time to put on pants after you shoot someone?  But, if I put on pants first and someone comes up the stairs, I'll be putting on my pants mid-leg and won't have my gun or be able to run into the closet to get it. What was I going to do?

So I grabbed the gun first.  Nobody wants to see me without pants on, not even an intruder, but I figured shoot first, get dressed later.  

And the dogs were still barking.

I finally peeked around the corner and down the stairs and didn't see anything.  The dogs did not run down the stairs, just sat at the top barking down.  I figured the dogs had been barking long enough that an intruder would have heard them and left.  I turned on the hall light, the dogs ran down the stairs, and I followed them, gun in hand.  Nothing.  I checked that the doors were all locked, the windows all closed, nothing.  I let the dogs outside and they took care of business and came back inside calm.  We went back to bed. In no time at all the dogs were all asleep, Hershey was snoring, but I was wide awake.  The adrenaline coursing through my veins made sleep pretty hard that night, even with my gun on my nightstand.

The next morning Later that morning, at 5:30 when Hershey gets me up (no, he didn't sleep any later after his midnight rampage) I was moving pretty slow.  There was no way I was going to make it through the morning without some help.  I made up a batch of this pumpkin spice cream mix and had a couple pumpkin spice lattes.  This make a big batch so I can enjoy it all fall.  Hopefully tomorrow I can enjoy a cup without falling asleep in the middle of it.

And lesson learned: When the husband is gone, sleep with sweatpants on.

This makes a nice little gift for your pumpkin spice
latte loving friends.

Pumpkin Spice Latte Mix

1 cup butter, softened

1/2 - 1 cup brown sugar substitute, depending on how sweet you want your coffee. I like Sukrin Gold

1/4 cup sugar free maple syrup, I like Choc Zero

1 Tbsp. vanilla extract

1 Tbsp. pumpkin pie spice

1 cup heavy cream, room temperature

In a medium bowl cream together butter, brown sugar substitute, maple syrup substitute, vanilla and pumpkin pie spice.  With blender running on low, slowly pour in heavy cream and mix until completely incorporated. Makes about 2 1/2 cups of creamer.

To make Pumpkin Spice Coffee

Add 1-2 tbsp. PSL mix to each hot cup of coffee. Blend with a handheld milk frother or blend in your mixer.

• 1 year ago:    Cake Thieves and Black Forest Cake    
• 7 years ago:   Polling Tables at the Coffee House and Chocolate Zucchini Cake

September 28, 2020  Sunrise 7:53 am  Sunset 7:57 pm  Temp H 46/ L 38°F

Fall, Spiders and Keto Lemon Mug Cake

There is a giant spider in the employee bathroom.  I've been going upstairs to my bedroom to use the bathroom up there since I can't get the janitor to clean that spider away.  And, it's a real problem because today is the day I'm the janitor is supposed clean the bathrooms, according to the cleaning schedule.

Well, this morning I forgot a bit about the spider and waited too long to head to the employee bathroom so there wasn't time to go upstairs.  And, just as I'm pulling down my pants I see the spider hanging from the night light right behind the toilet.  I decided I could be brave, and my old lady bladder wouldn't let me wait anymore, so I went...leaning way forward away from that giant spider, as quickly as I could.

When I was done, I looked at that spider hanging there, it did't move.  Is it dead?  It had been in the bathroom a while.  So, I  blew on it.  Nothing.  I blew on it harder.  Still nothing.  I decided it must be dead and I could be brave and get a piece of tissue and throw it away.  So, I took a deep breath, grabbed a handful little piece of tissue and swiped at it.

AND IT MOVED.

It dropped down on its web to the floor. I screeched and jumped back  calmly left the employee bathroom as the spider disappeared behind the toilet.  I am never going back in there again.

I needed to calm my nerves, and when I'm anxious I bake.  So I headed into the kitchen to make myself this lemon mug cake.  I guess using the upstairs bathroom during the work day will help me get my steps in and work off all the mug cakes I've been making and eating.

UPDATE: I noticed the spider hanging from the night light again, so I called maintenance and had him re-home the spider to outside.  Bathroom breaks, in the employee bathroom, are safe again.

Lemon Mug Cake

1 egg

1/4 cup almond flour

1 1/2 Tbsp. powdered Swerve, or sweetener of choice

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. lemon zest

1/8 tsp. lemon extract, optional

juice from 1/2 lemon, about 2 Tbsp.

Spray a large microwave safe mug or small bowl with cooking spray.  Crack egg into mug and whisk with a fork. Add all the other ingredients and mix well.  Cook in microwave for 90 seconds.  Cake will rise over double in size and then shrink back down, make sure you use a large enough mug.

top with sweetened whipped cream, yogurt or fruit.

To make cake as shown above, microwave in a bowl, after cooking, let cool 2 minutes and turn out onto a cutting board.  Let cake cool for 5 minutes.  Split cake horizontally into two evenish halves.  Place one half on plate, top with swerve sweetened whipped cream and sliced strawberries.  Top with second halt and top with more whipped cream, sliced strawberries and blackberries.  

Serves 1 or 2

1 year ago:    Mushroom Cookies

3 years ago:   Double Chocolate Keto Cookies and Cleaning Up the Yard

5 years ago:   The Hip Shot and Peach Comfort Drink of the Week

7 years ago:   Raspberry Lemon Drop and Missing My Alone Time

September 14, 2020  Sunrise 7:18 am  Sunset 8:10 pm  Temp. H 55/ L 42°F

Chocolate Mug Cake and the Last Camping Trip

I think I just had my last camping trip for the season.  Dave will be in Moose Camp starting next weekend until the end of September, and come October, it may be too cold.  So, I enjoyed the morning and evening campfires, went on a couple 4 wheeler rides, soaked in the view, and batted away the gnats that were everywhere!

It was also the weekend for 4-wheeler accidents.  Dave and I went out to get some firewood.  Mooree was running with Dave and I was a couple minutes behind.  I was about to turn off the trail to where the wood was and Mooree ran right in front of me.  I turned and hit a big hole, and the 4-wheeler went over.  I pushed off the wheeler, so it wouldn't land on me, and landed hard.  Dave had to turn my wheeler over by himself and drive me back to camp.  I took some good anti-inflammatory and had a nap, thinking I had messed up my fake hip.  Luckily, the meds worked and I limped around the rest of the day but no real damage.  I was thanking my lucky stars it wasn't worse. I did have a sore hip the rest of the weekend but Motrin and a couple dirty martinis helped.

And now that I'm home, chocolate cake helps.  I'm trying to keep that leg stretched, but not get it sore and a trip to the microwave to bake this little puppy up is just the medicine I need!  Chocolate helps everything.

Chocolate Mug Cake

2 Tbsp. butter
2 Tbsp. Almond Flour
2 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 Tsp. Erythritol
5-6 drops stevia, depending on sweetness desired
2 tsp. cocoa flour
1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 large egg

Optional stir-ins:
mini chocolate chips
walnuts
almonds

Optional toppings:
sugar free chocolate syrup
whipped cream
heavy whipping cream
sugar free caramel
sugar free frosting

In a large mug or a microwave safe bowl, melt the butter.  Ads all the other ingredients and mix will.  Microwave for 60-70 seconds (start with 60 and then check, add 10 seconds until cake is completely baked).  Let cool slightly, top with sugar free chocolate syrup, heavy cream or whipped cream.
Enjoy

1 year ago:    Easy Cordon Bleu and the Toe Issue
3 years ago:   Zucchini Tots
7 years ago:   Happy Homemaker - Drink of the Week

August 24, 20202  Sunrise 6:08 am  Sunset 9:35 pm  Temp. H 64/ L 48°F

Visit with the Grandboys and Strawberry Cinnamon Rolls

I know it's been quiet on the blog, but life has been anything but quiet!  My two grandson's came for a visit.  They brought their parents too.  And while Fairbanks was really wet, cool and rainy the whole time they were here, we did have some moments of sun and fun in the rain.

Gman was a trooper wearing his mask to travel.

EZ loved the fresh bread I made every day.

Grandpa's sidekick!

Loving the good weather at "Summer Camp"

Then they left and I went to Montana to help my mom.  I spent a couple weeks there working remotely, helping her clean house and taking trips to the dump and the donation center.  My brother stepped in after I left and he is there now helping her.

Our usual summer plans have changed a bit due to "the COVID" as we call it at home, and things look a little different with what we are doing.  I am tired of the phrases "new normal" and "unprecedented times" because every day is a new normal.  Nothing stays the same and we just need to keep on keeping on.

So, here are a few pictures from our visit with the boys, and a few things we made special for the grandkids.  I hope to be home and back to a "normal" COVID routine soon.

Ice Cream Sandwich cake for Gman.

He loved it!

Way too soon they were headed back home.

Strawberry Cinnamon Rolls

4 cups strawberries

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup water to prevent scorching

Your favorite cinnamon roll recipe - I use this

In a medium saucepan cook strawberries, sugar and water over medium heat until strawberries are reduced, slightly thick and syrupy.  Pour into bottom of 9 X 13 pan.

Make your cinnamon rolls and place in pan over strawberries.  Bake and serve.  Enjoy!

July 8, 2020  Sunset 12:23 am  Sunrise 3:32 am  Temp. H 67/ L 53°F

I'm feeling very busy, like I have a lot to do. Work is busier than ever, the co-workers are always needing out or in or water, the house still gets dirty (I tried to make the rule 'No shedding in the house, but it didn't work. My coworkers are so inconsiderate) and needs to be cleaned, the yard always needs water or weeding or feeding...it just goes on and on, and most of the evenings are spent working on the truck (exciting update soon).

So, one of the things I do because I'm lazy to save time, is to step over the small gate we have in the back that is usually closed to keep the dogs off the grass. A couple weeks ago my pant leg got caught on one of the top posts, my hands were full and I fell, tearing my pants. I was lucky I wasn't really hurt (except my pride) and the neighbors were not on their deck so no one saw me. I vowed to myself to be more careful. 

Well, yesterday I was at it again. My hands were full and instead of unlatching the fence, I stepped over it, the leg of my capri pants caught and I fell. Again, I was lucky and nothing was really hurt, except my pride, and the neighbors were not on their deck so no one saw me. But, a couple days later Dave looks down at my leg and sees the giant purple bruise and says, "When did you fall over the fence again?"

So now my vow to myself is to unlatch the fence and not step over it any more, even if my hands are full. I will simply put down what I am holding and unlatch it. I figure I am pushing my luck with no injuries from these falls. (I have a good friend who fell walking her new puppy, broke her wrist and had to get a plate put in it. I don't want to do that.)

Well, to sooth myself, I made one of my favorite dinners, meatloaf. I do it a little differently every time. This time I spread the meatloaf mixture out into a rectangle, spread some garlic herb soft cheese all over it and rolled it up. Then I topped it with bacon and baked it.  Meatloaf will always cure what ales you.

Rolled Bacon Meatloaf

1 lb. ground beef

1 egg

1/2 cup ground pork rinds

salt and pepper

1/4 tsp. garlic powder

1/4 tsp. onion salt

2 oz. (about 1/2 container) garlic-herb goat cheese, softened

6-8 strips bacon

Mix beef, egg, ground pork rinds,salt and pepper, garlic and onion salt.  Spread into rectangle (about 9x12), being careful not to press the meat too much.  Spread cheese over the top, leaving about 1/2 inch edge free of cheese so press roll closed.  Starting on the long end, roll the meat into a gentle-but-tight roll.  Pinch edges closed so cheese doesn't leak out during baking.  Lay bacon strips, side by side, on a cutting board.  Carefully move meatloaf onto bacon and wrap bacon around the loaf.  Transfer to a loaf pan, seam side down, and bake at 350°F for 45-55 minutes. Remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes, remove from pan and cut along edge of each slice of bacon.

June 18, 2020  Sunset 12:46 am  Sunrise 2:58 am  Temp. H 73/ L 55°F

Zoom lunch

I had lunch with a friend the other day.  I think she read my blog and was feeling sorry for me, so she scheduled a lunch meeting.  She sat in her house in Colorado and I sat in mine in Alaska and we ate our lunch and visited.  And I realized that I really need a haircut!

She caught me up on their house projects, the girls and the pups.  I whined  told her about not leaving the house for 5 weeks, work and caught her up with all my kids.  It was such a nice break and made me really miss when they were our backyard neighbors and the summer evenings on our deck when we would share a bottle of wine and laugh into the night.

It's the little things like this lunch date and Facetime with Gman, Donna and my parents that are keeping us going.  That and jail breaks the fact that I snuck out of the house last week and went on an adventure to JoAnn's.

Dave was busy in a zoom meeting for work and I had to go to the parking lot of my work to get on the wifi and download some forms from our server.  I also needed some supplies for mask making I was doing for the kids.  The California kids need masks to go out of the house or face fines, and the Seattle kids needed a couple extra each so I planned on making masks over the weekend. 

I told Dave I was going to head over to the parking lot to download the forms I needed and he logged on to his zoom meeting. 

I grabbed my laptop, my mask and I was out the door.  I went to work and got what I needed without leaving the car and then I drove over to Joann's.  I donned my mask and headed into the store for a few things.  I was home in about 45 minutes total and Dave asked what took me so long.  I explained about the mask making items and how I wore my mask and I went straight to the sink to wash my hands. 

I'm grounded now. 

April 21, 2020  Sunrise 5:51am  Sunset 5:49pm  Temp. H 40/ L 34°F

Keeping a Positive Attitude, Week 5

I'm finishing up week 5 of working from home.  I want to complain but I also understand how very fortunate I am that I can work from home, I have a warm home to shelter in place in, I have a wonderful husband, my children are all safe and healthy and sheltering in place in their own homes around the country, I have enough to eat, and I have toilet paper, with a few rolls to spare (no, I didn't hoard tp, I just bought a case at Costco, like I always do, in early February and we haven't used it all yet). So, I am getting a little tired of only my company during work hours, Dave winning 3 out of 4 games of cribbage after dinner, the terms "the new normal" and "unprecedented times" and snow, because we still have a butt-load of it.

I need to work on my attitude, even by gratitude journal is getting a little monotonous.  I'm trying to keep things in a routine (I do better with that), eating healthily, walking outside when possible, and touching base with family and friends, but I am over this.  I want everything to go back to how it was, I want to drive down to the fabric store and just wander around and shop, I want to meet a friend for coffee, I want to throw a tantrum....

I guess we all have those moments, and I'm having mine.  So I need to pull my big girl panties up and soldier on with a more positive attitude.  And when I need a more positive attitude, I make myself treats.  So this week for breakfast, I made myself some pumpkin spice toaster waffles (my little dash waffle maker makes the perfect size for the toaster) from All Day I Dream About Food.  I am eating them with some sugar free maple syrup and toasted pecans.  Add a couple of sausage links and the day is off to a better start.

Find the Pumpkin Waffles here.

For lunch, I've been craving salad.  So I made a lovely salad and eat them with these crackers from Sugar Free Mom.  I like to toast them in my air fryer so they are warm and crunchy. I used the recipe for her Quick Keto Toast and just cut them into smaller cracker size pieces.

And I've reinstated the daily drink, but with no alcohol.  I've been enjoying the Lava Flow from Maria Mind Body Health.  I made a whole batch but only mix the ice in with a single serving each evening.  Sometimes I add the  strawberry on top, sometimes I don't and sometimes I just mix the strawberry into the whole thing.  Any way it is a delicious way to end the day.

So I am working on my attitude, one meal at a time.  I'm walking outside more, riding my stationary bike, and still writing in my gratitude journal and meditating. What do you do to help you get through the hard days?

April 16, 2020  Sunrise 6:09 am  Sunset 9:33 pm  Temp H 42/ L 30°F 

Crush on a co-worker

I have a confession.  I have a crush on a co-worker.  I know office romances are not usually a good idea, but the heart wants what the heart wants.  This is new, it is a new crush and I don't think I can fight it anymore.  Ever since I've been working from home, the guy who works right next to the employee kitchen has caught my eye and I'm smitten!

So, I decided to take a snack to work, one that I could share, and see if my new co-worker would like some and maybe we could sit down together and visit, this grain free granola is perfect for that.  They say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach.  This is the perfect little snack to share.  I think he likes me too because he brought me a cup of tea when I was in a zoom meeting.  Who knows where this office romance might take us!

I will say my three other new co-workers are kind of jerks.  If they aren't whining to get into my office, they are wrestling, yelling at anyone who walks by the windows, and threatening the mailman.  I would complain, but I don't want to be THAT co-worker.

All in all, week three working from home is going o.k.  We are healthy and safe and have a lot to be grateful for, so I won't complain about those three rowdy co-workers, but I'm not sharing my granola with them.

Blueberry, Maple Granola

1 1/2 cups pecans

1/2 cup walnuts

1/2 cup almonds

1/2 cup shelled pumpkin seeds, pepitas

1/2 cup sunflower seeds

1/2 cup sugar-free dried blueberries

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 cup butter, melted

1/3 cup granular monk fruit sweetener, or sweetener of choice

2 tsp. maple extract

1 egg white

Preheat oven to 300°F.  Line a large sheet pan with parchment paper.

In the bowl of a food processor, add 1 cup of the pecans, pulse about 5 times.  Add almonds and pulse 5 times, add walnuts and pulse about 5 times, add remaining pecans and pulse about 5 times.  Remove blade from food processor bowl, or pour nut mixture into large mixing bowl. Add pepitas and sunflower seeds.  Set aside.

In a small saucepan mix butter, salt and sweetener.  Heat, stirring constantly, until butter is melted and granulated sweetener is completely dissolved.  Remove from heat  and stir in maple extract.  Stir butter mixture into nut mixture, add egg white and mix thoroughly. 

Pour granola onto prepared pan.  Bake for 15-20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes.  Remove from oven and let cool completely.  Sprinkle dried blueberries over the top and gently mix, breaking up big clumps but leaving small clumps intact.  

Store in air tight containers in the refrigerator or freezer.

March 31, 2020  Sunrise 7:08 am  Sunset 8:43 pm  Temp. H 24/ L 0°F

Vacation

Hello friends!  I've been on a little vacation for the last couple of weeks.  We what we called the "West Coast Tour" for a little sun in the middle of our record breaking cold winter.  We started in Arizona with my dad and mom.  We spent two days with them.  My brother and his wife come over and we had a great visit.  We also met some friends from Fairbanks for lunch (they live in Arizona for most of the winter now).

Then we drove to San Diego to see the blond kids.  We had a fun day watching the blond boy play soccer and win their championship, then we went to the beach for a great hike and long walk along the water. I love the ocean there so much, and the ocean smells right.  The next day we went to the Safari Park and fed the giraffe and rhino.  Another great day in the sun.

Then we drove up to the San Francisco area to spend some time with the baby boy and his wife.  One day we sat outside by the pool, played cards and visited.  We laughed and had such a good time.  For dinner we went to a Korean Barbecue place and ate all the meat...an easy keto dinner.

After that, we flew to see the babies.  Gman was a bundle of energy as usual and EZ was so snuggly.  We had to take Gman to preschool so we could get some baby snuggles.  Otherwise he kept saying "Grandma, can you play with me?"  And who can say no to that?

Dave and EZ are making friends at the coffee house
we went to while Gman was at preschool

Swimming on Sunday.

And then a nap.

EZ is starting to smile

It was a whirlwind, and there were other friends and family we wanted to see but just didn't get to.  They will have to wait for the next trip.  We flew home so we could rest and go back to work!  The dogs were very happy to see us and they are just a little clingy right now!

So, we are back home and back into our regular routine.  Work is crazy busy as this is our event season and my travel season starts in a couple of weeks.

One very nice thing we noticed is that while we are having our coffee in the morning the sun is coming up and we are not driving to work or home in the evening in the dark anymore.  It was still -30 but at least with sun in the morning I feel like spring is really around the corner.

1 year ago:    Loss of the Favorite Chapstick and Air Fryer Shrimp
5 years ago:  The Grumpy Husband and Sausage and Quinoa Skillet
7 years ago:  Oatmeal Cookie Bars With Fudge Filling and an Answer to Prayers

February 26, 2020  Sunrise 8:11am  Sunset 5:57 pm  Temp. H -1/L -27°F

Lemon Bars

The Good News:
A friend of mine gifted me 5 Meyer lemons.  I love lemons and especially this time of year I just crave citrus.  So with this wonderful gift I made keto lemon bars. I reduced the amount of sweetener I usually use because Meyer lemons are sweeter than regular lemons so you may need to adjust your sweetener if you are using regular lemons. They were tart and sweet and lemony and delicious.

The Bad News:
I'm still not loving this year.  I don't want to name it yet because I am hoping things will turn around but so far this year has pretty much sucked.  This weekend was no exception (well, for Dave because I stayed inside and he did all the outside work).

We have been having really cold weather, like -40, and the air quality in Fairbanks is really bad because of the cold air conversion that keeps all the pollutants down in our valley.  So, when we get really cold there is a no burn alert that is sent out and we can't have a fire in our wood stove.

Well, on Saturday about 2:00pm, I woke up from a nap on the sofa and was under two blankets and I told Dave I was Freezing!  He said he was a little cold too, and went to check the thermostat.  It was 52°F in the house.  He checked the boiler and it was cold and then went to check the fuel level in our fuel tank and we were out of fuel.

Now, I won't name any names, but our fuel company let us run out of fuel.  We are on automatic fill so this never should have happened.  Dave called and left a message on their answering machine, waited an hour and called again.  No call back.  Then he had to go and buy three 5 gallon diesel containers and fill them up and pour them into our tank.  He added about 45 gallons so we could make it through the weekend.  We called again on Sunday morning and never did get a call back.

Monday morning he was at their door when they opened at 8:00 am.  They delivered fuel on Monday.

Well, because the house was cold, I baked.  I made these lemon squares, I made bread for company we had over on Sunday, I baked some cookies for the neighbor, and I made granola to eat with my yogurt this week. The oven always makes the house feel warmer and cozy.

Keto Lemon Bars

Crust:

1.5 cups almond flour

1/4 cup butter, softened

pinch of salt

1/4 cup powdered Swerve

Lemon Filling:

3 large eggs

2 egg yolks

1/4 cup Boca Sweet, or sweetener of choice

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp lemon zest

1/2 cup lemon juice

2 Tbsp coconut flour

Preheat oven to 325°F.  Line an 8x8" pan with parchment paper, leaving the sides overhanging to help remove bars after they have baked.

for crust:

mix almond flour, butter, sweetener and salt until mixture is fully mixed and crumbly.  Press into the bottom of the pan.  Bake for 10-12 minutes.  Remove and set aside.

for Lemon Filling:

in a large bowl, whisk eggs, egg yolks, sweeteners, and salt until eggs become light yellow and fluffy, about 2 minutes.  Add lemon juice and lemon zest and mix until well combined.  Add coconut flour and mix until just completely combined.  

Pour filling over crust and bake for 25-30 minutes, until mixture is set and just starting to brown.  

Cool in pan.  Once cool, remove from pan with parchment paper.  Set on cutting board and cut into squares.  Makes 12 bars

1 year ago:    Grandpa's Truck Update #1

5 years ago:  Salty Dog, Drink of the Week

7 years ago:  Sundried Tomato and Blue Cheese Layered Torte

January 15, 2020  Sunrise 10:27 am  Sunset 3:33pm  Temp H -9/ L -21°F

Oxtails

It is cold and dark this time of year.  I struggle a little with this.  I go to work, come home and try to stay warm by the fire.  It just seems like everything is a little harder this time of year.  So I try to do things to make life easier, like have dinner in the crock pot when I get home.

When you use your crock pot, you walk in the door and the end of the day and the house smells warm and inviting. I can do most of the prep in the morning before I go to work and when I have just a tiny bit of energy.

Well I browned the oxtails...

Sautéd some onions and garlic..

Reduced some beef broth with a little brandy and poured it all into the crock pot.  I turned it on high and went upstairs to shower.

On my way out the door I checked the crock pot and it was hot and steamy.  I turned it on low and left for work.

When I got home I was excited to open the door and be met with the warm, delicious aroma.  I walked in the house...and nothing.  Hmmm, I must really have a stuffy nose.  I walked straight to the crock pot and lifted the lid - nothing.  I hadn't plugged the damn thing in.

We went out for dinner.

December 27, 2019  Sunrise 10:58 am  Sunset 2:45 pm  Temp. H -16/ l -20