Random Musings from a Commute

We live about an hour from where I work. Every morning I drive one hour to my office which, besides the fact that I wish the MBTA would extend the commuter train system to the town or even a close town, really isn't that much of a bother. I use the time to think about things going on in my life that require some reflection, plan my day at work, create a mental "to do" list for my evening, learn French, or sometimes to just empty my brain in preparation for my day.

Today was a day for random musings and thoughts...

A. Man, this is my last eggnog latte for the season.
B. It really is pretty along MA122 without the leaves on the trees, patches of snow and all.
C. I need to feed the sourdough starter tonight and did I remember to fix MBH something for lunch?
D. I wonder if Todd over at 1000 Movies got to 1000 last night?
E. What is my life's epic journey?

I want to believe we each have an epic journey to complete in our lives. I just wonder if we know when we are in the midst of that journey. Going to have to ponder that last one and get back to you.

While I think on that deep subject, time to spin the wheel on the Ipod to Shuffle and play "Friday Random 10" for the last time this year. I've looked back at my lists the past few months since I discovered this game on Andrea's blog and ironically, the lists all seem to have some deeper meaning. Maybe it is because I'm more reflective right now than usual or may not...

Anyways, let's see what we have today (links as usual for you listen along):

Friday Random 10:

1. A Kiss to Build a Dream On - Louis Armstrong
2. Seek Up - Dave Matthews Band
3.I'm Beginning to See the Light - Natalie Cole
4. My Oxygen - Richard Page
5. Bullet Proof Soul - Sade
6. Away from You - Supertones
7. Please Forgive Me - David Grey
8.We Are In Love - Harry Connick Jr.
9.Destination - The Church
10. Change - Tears for Fears

Hmm....very interesting.

Tagged: My First MeMe

My fellow blogger Andrea tagged me for this MeMe. I think she and I were separated at birth because I could have "Ctr C, Ctr V" her list in quite a few places.

Seven Things To Do Before I Die:
1. Live in Paris (also on Andrea's list)
2. Scuba dive in Palau
3. Be at the helm of a 1000ft Great Lakes Freighter while going under the Mackinaw Bridge at night
4. See the sun rise at Angor Wat
5. Celebrate Christmas Eve in Jerusalem
6. Read all of Shakespeare's plays in the original English
7. Canoe the Voyager Trail through the Boundary Waters

Seven Things I Can't Do:
1. Knit
2. Figure out raw HTML programming
3. Jump from an airplane
4. Discriminate against anyone for any reason
5. Tie a food bag up high enough to keep the bears out (have pictures to prove this!)
6. Make super flaky pie crust
7. Unscrew the tops of large mouth jars (I have super tiny hands)

Seven Things That Attract Me To Blogging:
1. I get to write!!
2. Sharing a small piece of myself with complete strangers
3. Learning I am not alone in my opinions, positions, likes and dislikes
4. Help in developing a healthy internet community
5. A little bit of vanity...
6. Stress relief
7. "Meeting" people I would not otherwise have

Seven Things I Say Most Often:
1. S#%t!!
2. That dog ain't gonna hunt
3. Yes..uh no.
4. I don't THINK so
5. Damn, that speaker is loud
6. I haven't had enough coffee
7. I love you

Seven Books That I Love:
(This was the hardest one)
1. Anthem - Ayn Rand
2. The Hobbit - J.R.R. Tolkien
3. Hamlet - Shakespeare
4. Colony - Anne Rivers Siddons
5. Afraid to Ride - C.W. Anderson
6. Farenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury
7. A Spinner in the Sun - Myrtle Reed

Seven Movies I Watch Again and Again:
(Can I have 8?)
1. The Women (My favourite movie with the best kiss off line of all time)
2. All About Eve (Bette Davis at her bitchiest)
3. Pride and Prejudice (BBC/A&E version, on Andrea's list)
4. People Will Talk (Cary Grant, enough said)
5. Persuasion (Ciaran Hinds/Amanda Root, a toss-up between P&P)
6. A Night at the Opera (Marx Brothers at their best)
7. Office Space ("Um...yea, I'm going to need you to come in on Saturday")

Note: I received the special edition of "Office Space" with extra flair from MBH this morning. Thanks Honey, I can't wait to use my Lumbergh coffee mug in my meetings with my staff!

Seven People I Want To Join In Too:
1. Imogene
2. Maikopunk
3. Lady Crumpet
4. Arcadia
5. MBH
6. Rivermomma
7. Jill over at WOT

Last Minute Gift Idea: Menu for Hope II

It is Christmas Eve. I'm sitting enjoying a cup of very hot and steaming cafe' au lait and watching Harvard Square come to life. People are popping in and out of Dammits; scurrying here and there with looks of resignation, determination and wonder on their faces. Funny, I can tell the people who are all done with their holiday shopping because they stay and linger to wish us all a "Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays". Our friend, Ned has come and gone off to pick up one last thing from Bob Slate Stationer. Another friend has come and sat down with a sigh of relief to "be out of the house before the madness begins". Even though there isn't a chill in the air this morning, you can tell the season.

I had intended to write about my wish for an all carol Christmas service at church tonight vs the hour and half mass where we will sing only three or four. I've often thought that I would enjoy a very special mass where, with the exception of the story of the manger, we all join in the community of singing the carols, including "Cantique de Noel (Oh Holy Night)". {Why is it that only the choir gets to sing this, the most moving and beautiful of the carols?} But, that will have to wait for next year because of a more pressing matter, The Menu of Hope II.

I've been meaning to post on this for the last few days but in the hustle and bustle of the days had forgotten until this morning when reading Chez Pim's posting, I remembered to not only give put to remind all you kind, good, and gentle readers to take a few seconds out of your busy day and give a small gift that will mean so much to so many. Menu of Hope II is supporting the Unicef drive for funds to help the children who are victims of the earthquake in North India and Pakistan. Chez Pim has organised a raffle for fine food related products offered by food bloggers where for a teeny, tiny donation of $5.00 you will be entered for a chance to win some really fabulous prizes (see her menu here). The fund drive ends tonight at midnight P.S.T.

Thanks and Merry Christmas.

Reflections on a Year

"You should blog. I really think you'd like it." That one gentle suggestion by MBH was the start of this blog. And so I did. One year ago tonight I posted my first, tentative entry in The Sour Dough. I just re-read that entry and realized that quite a bit has changed in this blog since then. I've grown into my voice. I've honed my writing and more importantly, I've enjoyed every minute of writing this blog.

When I started to keep an online journal, I figured I would use this page as the creative outlet I was lacking in my job. I would post about my hobby of baking breads and if the occasional grumbling about life and my sometime fustration with the injustices of this world spilled over that would be OK too. And, since I have always loved to write, I looked at this as just one more outlet for that often neglected passion. I really didn't think that anyone would ever read the ramblings and mumblings of a slightly high-strung, often scatterbrained, almost 40 year old in Cambridge, MA. let alone that I would develop online bonds with any of my fellow bloggers. Now, 365 days and dozens of posts later I have a circle of like minded blogging friends Lady Crumpet, Imogene, Maikopunk, Andrea, and Lauren who not only read here but always have good input on the comments page and ALWAYS make me think, laugh and yes, even cry when I read their posts on their respective blogs. I've added to my recipe collection via some fabulous fellow foodies. I've re-thought my position on several subjects and commiserated with fellow liberals. I like to think that the gals mentioned above have helped me grow as a person as well as some of the other bloggers I read. There are some really incredible writers out there and some very passionate people.

So, as The Sour Dough turns two, let me say thanks to each and every one of you who stop by for a minute to share a cup of tea, a slice of bread with butter and jam, and most importantly who share a bit of yourself with me. I'm not sure what the upcoming year will bring but I'm looking forward to sharing it with you all.

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice

Whew! The last package is mailed (sorry Bro...but hey, look at it like this, you get to really celebrate Boxing Day!) All that is left for MBH and I to do is sit back and enjoy the next few days of the Holiday Season. We don't have any pressing engagements but in case we have any last minute invites, all I have to do is pull out a little of this and a little of that and we will have a plate of Christmas Goodies like the one above to take to our hosts.

Last year I didn't bake. I missed it. I normally bake several different cookies and candies and this year's treat menu includes brownie bites, toffee bars with/without nuts, mini orange-cranberry bread, Grandma's spritz cookies (see previous post for the recipe), chocolate chip tea cookies, and chocolate crinkles.

The Chocolate Crinkle is a Midwestern favourite that when done right is like a soft, chewy cookie with brownie envy but when done poorly, they are hard and chalky tasting. It is a surprisingly difficult cookie considering how few ingredients there are. The trick is not baking them too long. I hadn't made them in a while. Well, truth is, I had forgotten about them but when I was doing my baking plan, I found the recipe in my card box and decided to dust it off. I'm glad I did because so far they are the hit of the plate. I've had to make two batches because they keep disappearing from the container as fast as I bake them. I think they will have to become one of our cookie jar staples.

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

3 oz unsweetened baking chocolate (1 ounce squares) note: use a really good chocolate
1 1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoon vanilla
3 large eggs
1/4 cup milk (2% or whole)
2 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoon baking powder
powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a double boiler, melt chocolate and let cool. Combine flour with baking powder and set aside. Combine sugar, oil, and vanilla. Add to cooled chocolate and mix well until blended. Add eggs one at a time, mixing each egg well. Stir in milk and then slowly add flour/baking powder mixture. Dough will be very soft and almost frosting consistency. Chill until firm enough to roll into balls. Shape into balls and roll in powdered sugar. Place on greased cookie sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes (cookie will be set but not browned). Let cool and redust with powdered sugar if desired.

Makes 3 dozen.

Weekend Cookbook Challenge: Grandmother's Spritz

I was reading My Adventures in the Breadbox and found out about the Weekend Cookbook Challenge over at Something So Clever. I think it is too late to enter my post but what the heck, I'll take a chance and post for this anyways.

Here is the Challenge (abridged version, see the full challenge at the link above): Cook/make something out of your oldest cookbook in your collection. The oldest cookbook in my collection is my Grandmother's copy of the "The Victory Binding of the American Woman's Cook Book: The Wartime Edition"(copyright 1942). I remember my grandmother cooking from this book when I was little and letting me help her stir cakes, cookies, and bring her ingredients from her pantry. I would sit at the table on a stool and look through this book for hours; reading how to set a table, what wines a good hostess would serve with fish and how the true sign of a good wife was the rise in her biscuits. She died when I was 15 and the only thing I wanted was this cookbook. Even today, it still has the little cut out recipes from various ladies magazines and newspapers my Grandmother clipped out and stuck in her favourite cookbook. I am still surprised from time to time when I look at the book and find another recipe with the word "tried" written in her small spiderlike script next to the title.

This edition of the cookbook has a beautiful front piece of petit fours in full colour that I always wanted to bake and a dedication to General MacArthur. My favourite part of the cookbook however is the special section in the back for the Wartime Kitchen with ideas and plans for the women on the homefront to use the most of their food (save every little bit of fat, use the juice from canned vegetables as a pre-dinner cocktail, etc.), recipes for cakes using the syrup from canned fruit for sweetening vs sugar, and a menu plan to feed a family of six on two ration books. I've never been brave enough to try that cake recipe. But, every Christmas, I make the Spritz Cookies from this book(not out of the Wartime section), just like my Grandmother did every Christmas and so, here is "our" recipe from the "Victory" Cookbook.

Spritz Cookies

2 1/2 Cups sifted flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 Cup butter
3/4 Cup sugar
Dash salt
1 egg, unbeaten
1 teaspoon vanilla

Sift flour with baking powder. Cream butter, sugar, and salt. Add egg and vanilla and mix well. Add sifted ingredients in small amounts. Mold with cookie press on cold ungreased baking sheet. Bake in 375 degree or Moderate oven 12 to 15 minutes. Makes 45.

Note: today's ovens cook more efficently. You want to keep an eye on these cookies and when they just start to brown remove them. I find 10 minutes in my oven is normally long enough.

Cookie Friday Random 10

We are having a good ole fashioned winter mess here in Cambridge today: sleet, slush, ice, snow, rain all accompanied by a brisk wind. So, instead of joining my fellow "fine" Boston drivers (you heard the sarcasm right?) out on the skating rink otherwise known as the Mass Turnpike, I am working at home today.

Actually, I won't be getting much work done as Tuesday was an official day off but I ended up working on a project that absolutely had to be finished. Basically meaning instead of getting that last batch of cookies baked to go into my family's packages and those packages mailed I had to do other things. So, today, I have already completed one batch of toffee bars and I'm getting ready to start on the butter spritz cookies to add to the chocolate crinkles, mini chocolate chip tea bites, cranberry-orange mini loafs and brownies. I was going to make fudge as well but decided against it as next to powdered sugar donuts, fudge is my number one weakness (oh, and cookie dough!).

While I'm between batches of cookies I thought I'd go ahead post my Friday Random 10. You know the game: Put Ipod on shuffle, record names of first 10 tunes, no cheating to look cool and all that. So, let me brush the cookie crumbs off the Ipod...and away we go!

Friday Random 10

1. My Bonnie Boy from English Folk Song Suite - Vaughn Williams/Fredrick Fennell conducting
2.Christmas Sweet: God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman - Mannheim Steamroller
3.Lady Lynda - Acoustic Alchemy
4.Full of Grace - Sarah McLachlan
5. Into the Dark - Melissa Etheridge
6.The Holly and the Ivy- Mannheim Steamroller
7.Kiss of Life - Sade
8.Dummy Song - Louis Armstrong
9Cast Your Fate to the Wind - George Winston
10.Change - Tears for Fears

A small nod to something that brought a tear to my eye. When I was a young lass, I spent two summers at Interlochen Music Camp in Michigan where I learned that I would never play first oboe for the Boston Symphony. It is ok. I've gotten over the disappointment even if I still fantasize every once in while about playing the famous oboe solo from the Tchaikovsky 4th Symphony at Symphony Hall. During both summers at Interlochen I had the very distinct pleasure of playing under the baton of Fredrick Fennell. About a year ago, Maestro Fennell passed away. He was the antithesis of the Tyrant Conductor most people who have never sat in an orchestra/wind ensemble associate with conductors (Toscanini, et al). He rarely had a harsh word but rather a firm correction and he never publicly dressed down a musician. He was a perfectionist and he expected you to come to rehearsals knowing your parts and to make excellent music. I had forgotten I had an Eastman Wind Ensemble recording on my ipod. It was good to hear Fennell again.

Making a difference any way you can

When I sat down tonight to enjoy my evening of singledom I had no intention of writing this blog. MBH is out for an evening of lecture and schmoozing at MIT. LB, our cat, is curled up out under the Christmas tree (no "holiday" tree for us) hoping that one of the presents for him contains a cat nip mouse. My only plan tonight was to enjoy the remaining enchiladas from a pan I made for our neighbors while sipping a glass of cheap red wine and watching an old Bette Davis movie that was sure to make me cry.

While waiting for the video tape to rewind, I was contemplating both Lauren over at Ardent Eden latest posts as well as Andrea's last few posts over SGTCC. I didn't notice I had paused my surfing on Channel 5 where Chronicle was showing. I am not sure if this show's format is something all the local affiliates of ABC use, but Chronicle is a local human interest television magazine. Most of the time it is interesting, light stories about back road New England towns, local events, or some other connected theme. And, every once in a while they have truly important shows like tonight's. The show tonight was called Youngbloods. It was all about young people in the greater Boston area who are somehow making a difference in our community and in some cases on a national, far reaching scale. Two young people in particular stood out: Michael Fertik and Katya Fels.

Michael Fertik is a student at the Harvard Law School who has taken it upon himself to help re-invent the Democratic Party; one state at a time. His group, the Campaign for a National Majority (CNM), is working to support people running for local offices and build a "farm team" of clear thinking, issue minded candidates for the Democratic party who can win national elections and not lose sight of the values I believe ALL Americans support. They research the candidates and instead of blanket supporting everyone running under the Democratic ticket they select a few who meet the clearly stated values of the CNM. So far, they have tested their model in Texas and Iowa and won two seats from Republicans.

Katya Fels is the founder and executive director of On the Rise. On the Rise is a local organisation that helps homeless women and women in crisis find solutions to their situations through growth, community, and self supporting structure. What really impressed me about the group was their mission to help these women help themselves through development of self worth and life skills. On the Rise doesn't take government funding because they don't want to be subjected to the rules and regulations that this type of government funding imposes on groups and that force women in these situations to give up privacy, dignity, and most importantly self control. In the last 10 years, they have grown from a small group of women helping women into a national recognized model of community service.

I encourage you to visit these to fine young people's organisations webpages. And, better yet, help them in their endeavors. Find similar groups in your community and volunteer or donate. If there aren't these types of programs in your community then help start one.

It isn't often that I get up on this podium. There are far better bloggers like Andrea, Lauren and Siel over at Green LA Girl who daily stand at this graphical microphone leading the charge. But every once in a while, I find myself looking up from the breadboard and realising I need to add my voice to the chorus. Even if my voice is a little out of tune and I've forget the words from time to time.

The Last One on the Block

You would think that as someone who has an advanced degree in a fairly technical field (acoustical engineering) and who works for a technology company (a loudspeaker manufacturer) that I would be on the bleeding edge of what is hot technology wise. You would be wrong...

MBH, now he is out there on the ragged edge. If it is new and still in alpha testing stages he will be the first person I know to have it loaded onto his computer, in his pocket, strapped to his backpack, or connected to something. He will then proceed to get to the bottom of what makes it whirl, whiz, and sometimes wheeze. Take podcasting. As you may remember, MBH recently became the proud owner of a new, shiny Ipod Nano. Within hours of owning his new toy, he had downloaded not only music but his first podcast. For weeks now, he has been listening to a biography of Alexander Hamilton, enjoying "NerdTV", and listening to Michael Feldman explain the latest headlines in a way only he can. All while walking to work and on the T! He has been after me to get "with the programme". What does he mean! I would still be running my Powerbook G3 on OS7.6 if I had my way! But, last night, at 10:30pm, I finally caved in and decided to see or rather hear what all the fuss was about. So, with our day settling down, I set about to download my first podcast, the NPR weekly food podcast.

One of the reasons I'm reluctant to be on the cutting edge with so many things is upgrading is always a hassle. Of course, this had to be no different. MBH directed me to find the "podcast tab" under advanced in my Itunes. "What podcast tab?", I asked. "The one right....What version of Itunes are you running pray tell?" "I don't know, what ever came with my Ipod", I replied. SIGH was all MBH could muster. He was ready to turn out the lights and I had decided that I couldn't wait until morning to leap forward not one, not two, but THREE versions of Itunes. After that little task and three restarts on my Dell laptop, I was ready to download my podcast. Or so I thought. I connected my trusty 20Gig Ipod to my laptop and up popped the window informing me a firmware upgrade was available for my Ipod. "Nothing is ever easy! You know, it will be my luck, that when I do this, all my music will be gone", I whined. "What type of voodoo do you practice woman. You sure you have an engineering degree because I have never met anyone who is so afraid of upgrading stuff as you are", MBH said with an exasperated tone. "Do you want me to do it?" he asked tentatively; half afraid I would say yes. "No, because you know if this upgrade DOES blow away all my music I'll be pissed and that wouldn't be fair. Besides, I need to know how to do this". About 15 minutes later, I had a nice new updated Itunes AND Ipod and I was all set to download my first podcast. MBH fell asleep as I happily searched npr.org, pbs.org, Itunes, and podcastalley.com looking for food and travel podcasts. I downloaded anything and everything that struck my fancy. I was out of control and loving it. At about 2am and I had over 6 hours of podcasts on my Ipod.

Only problem was, I was now too tired to listen to anything I had downloaded. I'll let you know how it all turns out as I'm planning on listening while I bake holiday cookies and candies later today. Typical me, last kid on the block...

Snowy Friday at Home

It is snowing outside. No, I take it that back it is SNOWING outside. The National Weather Service in Taunton, MA is saying it is coming down at over 2" an hour outside right now. It is snowing so hard MBH and I can't see the house across the street very well. Perfect day to stay snug and warm in our house where we both decided to work from this morning. Good thing too! I walked down to our neighborhood grocery store a bit ago and watched at least four people have minor fender benders. As I was walking, I could see people looking at me in their cars and imagined what they were thinking "Look at that crazy woman walking with her canvas bag. I'm glad that I'm all warm and dry inside my car". They would be wrong if they thought I was miserable. I love walking in the snow. Especially when it is snowing those big fluffy flakes. MBH thought I was crazy when I announced at 7am that I was walking to the grocery store. But I needed some more egg nog to mix with my coffee while I watch "Pride and Prejudice" and "It's a Wonderful Life" and wrap all the presents. What MBH doesn't know is that he is going to get to go for a walk in the snow in about 4 hours to help me take all the boxes to the post office ;-) "Dashing through the snow...."

Friday's Random 10

You all know the game by now. So let's get right down to business and see if any of the 65 Christmas songs I downloaded last weekend show up! (links provided for you to listen along of course).

1. Skin Trade - Duran Duran
2. Big Empty - Stone Temple Pilots
3. Black and White - Sarah McLachlan
4. Bring a Torch, Jeannette Isabella - Mannheim Steamroller
5. I will Know Your Love - Beth Nielsen Chapman
6. Red Rain - Peter Gabriel
7. Send Me On My Way - Rusted Root
8. Sailing to Philadelphia - Mark Knopfler(with James Taylor)
9. Spinning Wheel - Blood, Sweat & Tears
10.The Atheist Christmas Carol - Vienna Teng

Two of my favourite artists of all time are on this list: Beth Nielsen Chapman and Rusted Root. The Rusted Root song, "Send Me on My Way" is one of those songs that will bring a smile to your face and have you skipping down the sidewalk.

Shelves in the closet. Happy thought indeed.

You are Eliza Bennett from Pride and
Prejudice! Yay, you! Perhaps the
brightest and best character in all of English
literature, you are intelligent, lively,
lovely-- in short, you are the best of company.
Your only foibles are that you stick with your
first impressions... and your family is quite
intolerable.


Which Jane Austen Character Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

I know what I'm watching tomorrow during our first major snowstorm...



(special thanks maikopunk for finding this little gem)

Frantic Friday/Soothing Saturday

It has been a crazy few days around our household. About two days before Thanksgiving MBH and I decided to rearrange our house. I have no idea what possessed us but over Thanksgiving all we did was move furniture, clean from ceiling molding down to radiator ducts. Poor LB even received a bath from which he promptly crawled under the bed and stayed until he heard the tin of cat food opened several hours later. Most people do this in the Spring but we have decided that if we are going to be stuck in the house for the next long five months of the New England winter then by golly the house was going to be spotless.

So, after all that cleaning and back breaking, I decided we deserved an early family Christmas present. I treated us to a family membership at the MFA (Museum of Fine Arts) where a very large Ansel Adams exhibition is ongoing. MBH is an very fine amateur photographer and has been wanting to go see this exhibition culled from the largest privately held collections of Adams' work. Most of these prints have not been seen publically so we are excited to spend the day tomorrow wandering the galleries, enjoying the crisp December air and maybe a little window shopping down Newbury Street followed by hot chocolate in the Public Garden. One last relaxing weekend before all the pre-Christmas rounds of parties, baking, post-office-line-standing, deck the halling begins.

Friday's Random 10

If you are new to this game, several of my fellow bloggers including Andrea put our I-Pods on shuffle and then let you have a peek at our collective varied taste in music. OK, so some of us are closet progressive rock fans :-o No cheating is allowed, what ever the Great Ipod Shuffle God chooses goes on our lists.

Here is mine for this week(Links to listen along):

1. Non, Je ne Regrette Rein - Edith Piaf
2. La Vie En Rose - Edith Piaf
3. Sarabande for Katharine in April - Howard Hansen
4. The Way You Look Tonight - Frank Sinatra
5. Rusticano Intermezzo - Mascagni Cavaleria
6. When the Cookie Jar is Empty - Michael Franks
7. Adagio for Strings - Samuel Barber
8. Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours - Stevie Wonder
9. Let There Be Love - Natalie Cole
10. LOVE - Nat King Cole

Wow, how weird is this list? Half Classical and Half Dark Cocktail Bar with the master of Funk thrown in for good measure. And what is up with the father/daughter back to back at the bottom? Oh well, it was so much to listen to this grouping I am going to make a playlist out of it.

Happy Friday!