This will be a quickie, because I just want to get this out there. Almost seven years after I published my original White Christmas cross stitch pattern, I finally finished my “Sisters” and “Misters” patterns!
One caveat: I have not stitched these (that will take another seven years), so these are untested. I’m hoping other people will make them and show me! Click here for the Sisters pdf and Sisters Excel, and click here for the Misters pdf and Misters Excel. Enjoy!
It’s been so long since I’ve posted here, you knew it had to be something big: today, Dame Angela Brigid Lansbury, star of Murder, She Wrote and countless other productions on the stage and screen, has died. Even though she lived a long and exciting life, it was still a shock to learn she had passed away in her sleep at the age of 96 (coincidentally, the same age as Queen Elizabeth, who also recently died).
I’m feeling sad and a little empty today, so I’m doing the thing I usually do when I’m down–surrounding myself with all things Murder, She Wrote. I thought some of you might need the same thing, so I decided to compile all my favorite Angela and MSW blogs, podcasts, videos, and more. I hope you enjoy them, and if I’ve forgotten something you love, feel free to post it below!
I’ve tried out dozens of Murder, She Wrote podcasts. They used to be hard to come by, but there’s been an explosion in the past couple of years! My top pick is Cabot Cove Confidential. Hosted by married couple Damien and Jennie, the show is lighthearted and can go on some hilarious tangents on, say, why Daniel is the real villain of The Karate Kid, but it’s rooted in a very clear love and respect for the show, Angela Lansbury, and each other! Honestly, it’s just a good hang (and the episode artwork Damien creates is top notch, see right). After a hiatus of several months, they’re back recapping on a bi-weekly basis and are currently in Season 6.
My other go-to MSW podcast is The Fletcher Files, hosted by Monty, who is not only hilarious, but who hosts it completely on her own! This weekly podcast is currently at the end of Season 4.
My entree into Murder, She Wrote blogs was Murder, She Blogged, featuring in-depth recaps, hilarious captions scrawled over the best screen caps of the show, and an unrelenting hatred of Grady, Jessica’s hapless nephew. This blog concluded a few years ago, so you can read about every episode!
My other favorite (albeit short-lived) MSW blog is Exploring Jessica Fletcher’s Closet, which was an in-depth look at the fashion of Jessica Fletcher and got as far as Season 1, Episode 11 (in which Jessica Fletcher served as a Congresswoman! This blog’s claim to fame is it popularized Jessica’s fish cardigan and inspired Mary Maxim to release the original knitting pattern! Thanks to this blog, you can get your own fish sweater on Etsy.
All 12 seasons of Murder, She Wrote are currently available on Peacock–unfortunately, it’s not on the free version any longer, but it is very convenient, and Peacock has a ton of great shows and movies.
You can also find the first five seasons (and all four movies) of Murder, She Wrote on Amazon Prime Video’s Freevee!
If you’re not comfortable with streaming, there are a few more options! COZI TV plays Murder, She Wrote six days a week, and Hallmark Mysteries & Movies plays a block of episodes every day (except when they’re playing back-to-back Christmas movies around the holiday season and in July.
Finally, you can always invest in tangible media and purchase the entire Murder, She Wrote series on Amazon.
These are especially precious right now. Angela was always a bright, witty and energetic interviewee, and her life story and her approach to her work was always interesting.
ETA: I learned today that Angela Lansbury did a “final” interview in 2010 with The New York Times with the understanding that the interview would be published only after her death. I’ve included it below. Excuse me, I have something in my eye . . .
Listen, you can make fun of Angela Lansbury’s ode to health and beauty, Positive Moves, all you want–but it’s legit! Not only is the low-impact mobility workout very soothing, but Angela’s balanced view of physical fitness and self love (and, er, self love) is like getting a pep talk from your loving and with-it grandmother.
YouTube’s PushingUpRoses lovingly skewers a lot of pop culture icons, but her coverage of Murder, She Wrote is especially good.
Of course there is the ongoing Murder, She Wrote mystery series, “written” by JB Fletcher with the help of other writers. The books are light and entertaining, but I find the tone and quality vary.
I’m far more interested in Peter S. Fischer’s Me and Murder, She Wrote, a behind-the-scenes account of Fischer’s writing career, which spanned from writing TV movies of the week to episodes of Columbo, and then to creating and helming Murder, She Wrote for six seasons. It’s a fascinating peek into network TV from the ’80s.
Another fave is Balancing Act: The Authorized Biography of Angela Lansbury, an in-depth look at the life and career of Dame Angela.
Whew! Are you still with me? Still hungry for more Angela Lansbury? I have a couple other gems to share.
After debuting in Gaslight at 18 (and earning an Oscar nomination) and playing significant roles in National Velvet and The Picture of Dorian Grey, Angela languished in character-actress limbo before revitalizing her career on Broadway, often playing older than her actual age–and villains! Two of these minor (but terribly entertaining) films noir are available on YouTube.
That’s what I have for you today, dear fans of Angela Lansbury and Murder, She Wrote. I hope you’re doing what I’m doing right now, hunkering down in a cozy sweater with a cup of tea, watching your favorite episode of MSW and reflecting on the hours of comfort and entertainment Angela Lansbury has left for us–as well as the community that has grown and thrived.
Hey everyone! It’s been forever since I’ve written—so long that WordPress looks completely different, yikes. My job as a writer at Bob’s Red Mill has been fantastic, but writing all day means I’m less inclined to write at night. However, I always love talking about capsule wardrobes, so when I made a packing list for our annual trip to Ipswich, Massachussetts, I couldn’t resist posting it!
I have to say that since I’ve returned to work full time, my wardrobe has exploded a little in my efforts to look professional. The “unofficial” dress code is jeans only on Fridays, so the first thing I did was order some non-jeans pants and look through the hand-me-downs my lovely mother has gifted me with through the years. But that meant I needed to change my mindset for this vacation: less workwear, more casual stuff!
I’m a big fan of the 10-Item Wardrobe concept from Jennifer L. Scott’s Daily Connoisseur and the capsule wardrobes created by Leanne Blackmon at Classy Yet Trendy, so I went into this with a clear goal: I wanted to pack a minimal number of pieces that would (mostly) go together and could be either casual or slightly dressy. I ended up with 14 pieces, including shoes and outerwear:
J. Crew Factory Studio Tee in Heather Graphite. This is a sturdy yet lightweight layer that goes with pretty much anything!
J. Crew Factory Artist T-Shirt in White. This shirt is a little thin, but I layer a nude camisole underneath.
J. Crew Slim Perfect Long-Sleeve Tee in Navy and Ivory. If you’ve ever read my previous “fashion” posts, you know I love my striped shirts. This is a new favorite—really flattering and pretty.
Gibson Cozy Twist Front Pullover in Heather Grey. Everyone and their mom (and my Mom!) has this shirt, and I love it. It feels like pajamas yet the twist gives it some oomph.
J. Crew Factory 8″ Anywhere Skinny Jean in Astoria Wash. These jeans are great—not too spendy, and all-purpose.
Paige Transcend – Hoxton High Waist Ankle Ultra Skinny Jeans in Hartmann. A birthday gift from my Mom, these are a little dressier and more forgiving with the stretch! Almost jeggings.
I brought some great stretch black pants that are styled like trousers from Cabi (a hand-me-down from my Mom), but they’re discontinued! These Halogen Ponte Skinny Pants are similar!
I admit, I love my basics, but I’ve felt like my wardrobe has gotten a little too blah lately! Enter this cute Lilah dress from Reformation. I really enjoy the comic book panels (anyone know where they’re from?). I was expecting this to be a stretch dress, but it’s actually a vicose/rayon crepe which drapes nicely.
My husband bought me this J. Crew Factory Denim Jacket for Mother’s Day a couple of years ago. Mine is a slightly lighter, more beat-up finish, but this one is similar!
This Leith Ribbed Shawl Cocoon Sweater is my very favorite layering cardigan, light and so soft, and it’s available at Nordstrom Rack for a very reasonable price!
Um, did I mention my job at Bob’s Red Mill is totally rad? One perk: every member of the marketing department gets an Original Westerley sweater from Pendleton! Look familiar? That’s right, it’s the Dude’s sweater from The Big Lebowski. It’s a wonderful, thick wool sweater that is incredibly warm, which is perfect for Massachusetts (it’s topping out around 40 degrees here).
Another present from my very fashionable mother are these ‘Valli’ Waterproof Booties from Blondo in Sand Suede. I’ve had them for over a year and they’re still in great shape—plus, they’re waterproof! I did also seal them with two layers of suede protector.
I tend to wear a lot of basics in neutral colors, so I love to add something like these Calf-Hair Penny Loafers in Leopard from J. Crew Factory. They’re comfy and stylish!
And finally . . . just one more thing! I realized it’s been years since I’ve purchased a new coat, so I realized a longtime dream and got this classic trench coat: the Midi Trench Coat from 1901 (a Nordstrom store brand I really like). It’s water resistant and—big plus!—makes me feel like Columbo. It’s fairly lightweight, but with the Pendleton sweater underneath it’s great for cold weather.
I’m midway through our vacation right now and I couldn’t be happier with this capsule wardrobe—it’s warm, flexible, and I feel quite stylish and put-together. I’m saving the dress for Scott and my annual date night, downtown Ipswich is quite the happening place, ha.
So what do you think? What are your must-have travel pieces? Post below!
The Portland Mercury‘s Portland Burger Week is August 13-18! Fifty local bars and restaurants have created 50 delectable burger specials and are offering them for just $5, for one week only. [UPDATE: Looks like we’re down to 49 restaurants–East Glisan Pizza Lounge dropped out.] But as far as I can tell, only 29 of these fair establishments allow minors (if you have corrections, please add your kind remarks to the comments).
If you’re the brave parent who wants to explore the luscious wonderland that is Portland Burger Week with your adorable kids in tow, please consider the below tips:
Without any further ado–the burgers:
Aji Tram Shaanxi Classic: Waygu ground beef patty with chopped pork belly, Chinese spices, cilantro aioli, lettuce, pickled chilies, and white cheddar on a grilled bun.
Alameda Brewing Co. Haole Burger: A seasoned and grilled hamburger patty, with teriyaki-marinated grilled SPAM. Topped with a grilled pineapple ring, American cheese, and lettuce, with Sriracha aioli.
Alberta Street Pub Can’t Banh Mi Love: Carlton Farms seasoned pork patty loaded with ginger, lemongrass, rose bean curd, cilantro, and Thai chilis. Served on a pub bun with fresh jalapeños, cilantro, pickled veggies, and sweet chili aioli.
Bar Bar (minors welcome until 8 p.m.) Over the Rainbow Burger: 100 percent grass-fed, local beef patty, with teriyaki sauce, fresh pineapple rings, melty provolone, Canadian bacon, and lettuce on our classic potato bun.
BRIX Tavern (minors welcome before 10 p.m. except on Wednesdays, when the cutoff is 9 p.m.) The Norm: Smoked Tillamook cheddar fondue, shredded lettuce, tomatoes, caramelized onions, and house sauce.
Burnside Brewing Co. (minors welcome until 10 pm) Cornholio Burger: A quarter-pound patty, roasted corn relish, smoked jalapeño cream cheese, garlic aioli, and chicharrones.
Church (minors welcome until 9 p.m.) New Black & Blue: Black and blue fondue, shaved iceberg, and carmelized mushroom.
danwei canting Spicy Tails & Trotters Pork Burger: Fermented cucumber, Napa cabbage, and Chinese mustard, dusted with a spicy blend of chilies and Sichuan peppercorn.
EastBurn (minors welcome upstairs only) Eastburn Big Mike: Local grass-fed beef, aged smoked gouda, housemade secret sauce, fried pickles, and shredded lettuce on a potato bun.
Foster Burger The Jimmy Pesto: A nut-free pesto and mozzarella-topped burger with dressed arugula and fresh tomato.
HopCity Tavern Sofia Burgara: Pretzel bun, roasted garlic aioli, third-pound all-beef patty, Tillamook smoked cheddar, grilled onions, pickled jalapeño, heirloom tomatoes, and arugula.
The Hostel Cafe Cuban Immigrant Burger: A grass-fed beef burger layered with Swiss cheese, smoked ham, and sliced dill pickle on a brioche bun with Cuban aioli.
Kells Brewery (minors welcome until 10 p.m.)Irish Breakfast: Irish soda bread, bangers, egg, bacon, baked beans, fried tomato, Kells Irish stout, beef, and zesty aioli.
Kim Jong’s Smokehouse Cheeseburger Steam Buns: Burger patty, American cheese, special sauce, sesame bun, and shedded iceberg.
Las Primas ¡Papa a la Huancaína Burger!: Our Peruvian-seasoned quarter-pound beef patty is grilled to perfection and topped with lettuce, fried potato, and pepperjack cheese, then slathered in huancaína (a creamy chili pepper and cheese sauce) and finished off with a botija spread.
Lightning Will Bar & Grill (minors welcome until 9 p.m.) The Bobby Boucher: Creole seasoned 1/4 lb. patty, served on bun with a New Orleans style remoulade, lettuce, tomato and cheddar.
Lompoc Tavern Umami Burger: A six-ounce patty of our custom blend, all-natural beef topped with an umami spice blend, ginger teriyaki sauce, and sesame slaw.
Loyal Legion It’s Nacho Problem: Nacho cheese sauce, pickled jalapeño, tortilla strips, shredded lettuce, and tomato.
Migration Brewing Co. (minors welcome until 10:00 p.m.) Taco ‘Bout It: Seasoned pork and beef patty, hatch chili aioli, southwest slaw, tortilla strips, and cotija.
New Seasons Market The Block Party: Carmen Ranch grass-fed patty, creamy Tillamook cheddar, sweet Walla Walla onions, Felton & Mary’s BBQ sauce, bacon, pickles, lettuce, and tomatoes stacked on a pFriem Wit Ale bun.
Next Level Burger Peachy Portland Burger: A Beyond Meat patty seasoned with Next Level Burger’s super-secret seasoning, topped with organic grilled peach, melted provolone, caramelized organic onion, organic red leaf lettuce, and smoked peach aioli. 100 percent plant-based.
Nick’s Famous Coney Island Sweet & Spicy Carnival Burger: A locally sourced, 100 percent ground-chuck patty with a spread of sweet and spicy jalapeño/bacon/brown sugar jam, with a layer of red onion, “Carnie” creole sauce, onion rings, pickles, fresh shredded lettuce, and topped with a mini corndog dashed with mustard and topped with a chipotle mayo dressing.
Noraneko DanDan Burger: Spicy, tingling hamburger patty with preserved vegetables and cold sesame noodle sauce.
Oaks Bottom Public House LSD BBQ Burger: LSD BBQ Sauce, quarter-pound seasoned beef patty, fryer onion straws, and slaw on a pub bun.
Portland Burger Simon Bar Sinister: Roasted poblano elixir of broken minds, charred sweet pepper slaw of delusion, pepperjack cheese of lunacy, crispy fried onions of agony, raw onions of eternal rage, and a Southern garlic butter baste of hysteria.
Smokehouse Tavern Pulled Pork Torta: Burger patty, pulled pork, chicharon, whipped avocado, and pickled onion, on a potato bun.
Stoopid Burger Crazy Carl: Onion rings, fries, honey mustard, and Swiss and American cheese.
Sunny’s Diner Demento Burger: Toasted housemade burger bun, Sunny’s demento cheese, half-pound all-beef patty, lettuce, and onions.
Tilt (East Burnside Bridge) Piggy Walls Burger: Tilt Sauce, chicharrones, egg, monterey “cheese bomb,” pork belly, beef patty.
Ya Hala Beef Falafel Burger: Fresh ground beef with cheese, garbanzo and fava beans, coriander, cumin, garlic, parsley, and cilantro on a brioche bun, with lettuce and topped with refreshing tzatziki.
Zoiglhaus Brewing Company How Do You Say Hamburger in German?: Frizzled sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, caraway aioli, and beef patty on brioche.
Finally: if you find a burger you love, come back and tell me about it in the comments!
Happy burger eating!
Hello folks! I’ve been super busy between working at Bob’s Red Mill (check me out on the blog), helping with GeekCraft Expo, and my other work with Pairings Portland and others. But I made a delicious pork fried cauliflower rice tonight and wanted to jot down the recipe before I forgot it!
I didn’t create this because I’m especially low carb–I just actually love cauliflower and like it better than rice. But it is lower in calories: I entered this recipe into MyFitnessPal (I’m obsessed) and a serving is about 200 calories (that’s four rather restrained servings, split this in two if you prefer). Anyway, I knew I had a head of cauliflower and half a pound of leftover roasted pork languishing in my fridge, so I adapted this recipe for regular pork fried rice and came up with this:
You need:
1 head cauliflower
1 shallot
1 tsp vegetable oil
1/2 lb roasted pork tenderloin, cut into bite-sized pieces
1 medium carrot, cut into dice
1/2 cup peas, fresh or frozen
2 green onions, chopped
2 eggs, beaten
2 Tbsp soy sauce
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp garlic powder
Core and grate the cauliflower, preferably in a food processor (mine came with two grating discs, I use the one with the larger holes). Then throw in the shallot and grate it as well.
In a large frying pan, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the cauliflower and shallot and saute, stirring occasionally, until beginning to brown. Then push it all to one side and add the pork, carrot, peas (I threw them in frozen), and green onions. Let cook for about five minutes, stirring occasionally, and then mix it all together and push it to one side again.
Add the beaten egg, stirring occasionally, until the egg is scrambled. Stir the egg into the rice and add the soy sauce, ground ginger, and garlic powder. Eat!
Makes 4 servings, or 2 big servings
Does anyone have a killer cauliflower rice recipe to share? Wanna be friend in MyFitnessPal? Post below!
So I hinted at this in my last post, but I’ve had a very drastic life change: after three and a half years at home with my daughter, Sarah, I’ve joined Bob’s Red Mill as a writer/researcher/proofreader. Which means I basically get to read (and write) about food all day long, in the employ of a stellar company that treats its employees very well. So yay!
This brought up two things: one, I needed to find full-time daycare for Sarah. It was a pretty emotional process. I really loved being home with her. But. At three and a half, it was becoming increasingly clear that Sarah needed more structure–as did I! We enrolled her in a place near my work, and although she gets frustrated at having to go “every day,” she’s been having a blast playing with other kids her own age every day.
So that’s a whole complex kettle of fish I won’t go into detail about here. But the second thing was, it turns out our corporate dress code is business casual, with jeans on Fridays. Which means jeans only on Fridays. And I love my jeans. I live in my jeans! I . . . did not own enough non-jeans pants to get me through a whole work week!
This led to a hurried online shopping spree at J Crew Factory (big shock, I know) to hastily put together a work wardrobe, right after I finally put together my Winter 10-Item Wardrobe! Fortunately, some pieces I already bought to wear around the house meshed well with my new workwear–check it out below!
While I generally follow Jennifer L Scott’s 10-item wardrobe guidelines, I also borrowed heavily from Leanne Blackmon’s Workwear Capsule Wardrobe ebook!
Cotton Caryn Cardigan in Navy
Lexie Pant in Navy. I also got these in Graphite (a dark gray), which is no longer available.
Sidewalk Skirt in Navy (sense a theme?)
Perfect Fit Chambray Shirt
Stretch Button-Down Shirt in White
J Crew New Perfect Fit T-Shirt in White
Studio T-Shirt in Heather Graphite
Open Drapey Fleece Cardigan in Heather Charcoal
Car-Coat Cardigan in Burgundy Black
Paige Skinny Jeans–a present from my Mom and Dad. Friday gear!
Edie Leather Loafers in Navy
These are close to the Calf’s Hair Ballet Flats I had previously purchased!
And finally, another birthday present from my Mom–Blondo waterproof boots in Mushroom!
Now this aren’t my only work clothes–I also have a couple pairs of corduroys, and of course, my favorite striped shirt. This feels very basic and easy to put together–I’m tempted to add some accessories, but really, I don’t feel like dropping a ton more money. Maybe when I hit six months at the job!
Whew! So what do you think? Do you have any favorite workwear stuff on tap?
Wow, this is super late for many reasons (details later), but I wanted to get started on my Winter 10-item Wardrobe by reviewing last years’ picks. Which will survive? What do I currently have in my closet awaiting their closeups? Stay tuned, true believers!
I’ve long been a fan of capsule wardrobes, thanks to Jennifer L. Scott‘s Madame Chic books: you pick about 10 “core items” like pants, dresses, sweaters, and round them out with extras like t-shirts, jackets, shoes, etc. I’ve also been enjoying Leanne Blackmon’s Classy Yet Trendy blog: she generally has way more than 10 items (although she includes things like shoes, bags, etc.), but her style (pants) more closely matches mine.
So let’s get started by checking out last year’s picks!
Plaid blouse by Rail.
I bought this last year and I still love it, although it’s starting to pill a little. This will likely be its last hurrah.
J. Crew Factory chambray shirt.
Ugh, after at least six years, I had to let this go—the underarms were, well, the pits. Unfortunately J Crew Factory no longer carries this shirt. I am bummed!
Citizens of Humanity “Sculpt – Rocket” high rise skinny jeans in Waverly.
These pants were a disappointment. I bought them last year, and they’re already out due to holes in the knees and crotch. I know it’s partly my fault because I wore them almost every day, but come on! I never put these things in the dryer, I barely washed them! I will try to remedy this situation this time around by buying more pants. Yes, I am revolutionary.
Citizens of Humanity “Rocket – Sculpt” high rise skinny jeans in black.
These are a maybe. The knees faded, and these are already past their prime. Luckily I wore them less than the pants above!
Kenneth Cole black leggings.
Ha ha ha ha! I don’t wear leggings. I never wore these. They were at least eight years old, so I don’t regret throwing them into the rotation. I will keep them as backup workout (HA) pants.
Spider-Man sweatshirt, Forever 21.
I love this sweatshirt! But because of other factors, this will be relegated to the weekend rotation.
Fisherman’s sweater, vintage.
Oh, I so wanted to love this 50-pound sweater. I got it off Etsy for a really good price, and it’s the real deal: a gorgeous wool sweater. It also was too warm and heavy and bulky for me, and it quickly developed a lot of moth holes. Bygones.
H&M black cardigan with lace detail.
Ehh, I’m glad I got this off ThredUp for $11, because I didn’t love it. Too thin, too tight, too cheap. Have fun at Goodwill.
Blue “chambray” dress, Twill.
I really like this, but it wrinkles while I wear it. Not in my regular rotation anymore.
Topshop Star Plissé wrap dress.
Um, why did I think a disco dress was going to be an everyday wardrobe staple?!? I barely wear dresses in the winter, certainly not one I have to keep an eye on to make sure I’m covered. I’m keeping this for special occasions and will wear it approximately three times a year until I die. You’re welcome.
On to the extras!
Madewell t-shirts, white and gray.
These developed the tiny lower abdomen holes of mystery. Later!
Splendid ringer t-shirt.
Too wrinkly, didn’t wear well. Next!
J. Crew Factory long-sleeved striped boatneck t-shirts.
Oh my goodness. It finally happened. J. Crew stopped freakin’ making these! Fortunately I replaced the navy-striped one last year, but . . . I’m going to need to track down another source. Why did you betray me J. Crew Factory?
Star Wars and Murder, She Wrote t-shirts.
These were awesome, but thanks to me wearing the heck out of them, they’re now relegated to weekend/workout gear.
So . . . I had one survivor from my core items and two from my extras?!? That is a crappy record. Hopefully this year’s 10-item wardrobe will fare better! Hopefully that post will be up by the end of the week!
So what do you think? Who has a capsule wardrobe to share? Do you have a striped shirt hookup you can tell me about? Post below!
Note: this is not pudding.
Happy Monday! I swear, I “write” this blog every day in my head, it’s just so hard to find actual time to type! I have so much to say, but I figure I’ll start out by sharing what I’ve been up to lately:
Geekery:
GeekCraft Expo, the handmade geeky craft fair I’m involved with, has been exploding all over the place. We announced the dates for our Portland show—
NOTE: I just have to say, almost as soon as I sat down to write this post, I was interrupted by my now-three-year-old daughter who told me she had to go to the bathroom. This is also why I can never write anymore! For those keeping potty training score at home: number one, 95%, number two, .01%. Pray for me.
Back to GeekCraft! Our Portland show will be Mother’s Day Weekend, May 12-13, and we’re moving to the Oregon Convention Center! This is a big move up for us that will allow us to grow the show (more geekiness!) and provide a world-class experience for exhibitors and attendees. Exhibitor applications are here!
I’ve also been doing some freelance PR for Dynamite Entertainment, publisher of such comics as The Boys, Nancy Drew, John Wick, Doc Savage, and more! If you’re a Doc Savage fan, Dynamite has a great “Build a Bundle” deal over at Groupees for the next couple of days: you can get 39 digital comics for $4.99, or 95% off the cover price, plus you can save 70% off rare Alex Ross variant comics!
Artist Alex Ross: still awesome.
Kids Stuff
We went to Great Wolf Lodge in Grand Mound, WA this weekend—courtesy of a book-in-advance coupon I used a year ago (I’m a planner). This was our third time there, and it is surprisingly fun for parents, although it helps that Sid and Sarah love it sooo much. I’ll go into detail in a separate, future post, but my three main tips to save money at Great Wolf Lodge are: 1) book in advance (they usually have a promo code on site to use if you book at least 60 days in advance), 2) book for one night, but get there early to enjoy the pool and lodge the day of and day after your stay, and 3) bring cereal and fruit to eat breakfast in your room. We splurged on the breakfast buffet last year (with two adults, our two kids, and Sid’s two friends) and it was expensive, and the boys were mostly excited about the sugar cereal anyway.
In other kid business, I need advice! We’re making our annual trek to Massachusetts in March, and I need ideas: what toys/activities/games can I bring to keep a three-year-old entertained on a six-hour flight?!? Help!
Cooking
But Elisabeth, the title of this blog post mentions pudding! Where’s the pudding?!? So I’ve been fascinated by this cookbook, Wildly Affordable Organic—so much so that I actually bought it after checking it out at the library. I’m pretty sure I’ve mentioned this book before. Although I don’t really do the organic part (I am cheap), and it’s a vegetarian cookbook (we do eat meat), I love that it has seasonal menu plans, a monthly shopping lists, and cooking plans where you do the heavy lifting—say, cook five pounds of beans, two loaves of bread, pasta sauce, dessert—on the weekend, so weekly cooking is easy. But also! The recipes are weirdly addictive, especially the chocolate and vanilla pudding recipes. Pudding, which I haven’t eaten since I was a kid, and almost never from scratch! Turns out pudding is stupid easy to make, and if you make it from scratch (and place parchment right on the surface to keep a skin from forming), it tastes just like the canned pudding I loved as a kid! Memories! But also: pudding is good.
Other recipes I’ve recently made (and loved):
Pork Loin Stuffed with Spinach and Goat Cheese: this is a lot of work (butterflying pork loin was so fun!), but definitely worth it. I roasted it instead of putting it in a Crock Pot because it was faster.
Panna Cotta: aka, Italian pudding. It’s my little joke (not really a joke) that I hate chewing, this is further evidence. It was delightful!
Cream Cheese Olive Roll-Ups: I made these to bring to Great Wolf Lodge because I had most of the ingredients on hand, although I substituted sundried tomatoes for green olives.
Basic Pancakes: Is this a glamorous recipe? No, it is not. Is it easy and damn delicious? Yes. Listen, Martha Stewart knows what she’s doing, and we eat these at least once a week.
Laura Ingalls Wilder Rabbit Hole
So, I read Alison Arngrim’s Confessions of a Prairie Bitch and it was fabulous. Alison is the actress who played Nellie Oleson on Little House on the Prairie. Her life was insane (in ways both good and bad) and now she’s an AIDS activist and standup comedian who defends survivors of incest. She’s hilarious and an amazing person and I wish we could be best friends. Read it!
However. This sent me down a nutty rabbit hole. Not only did I then get Melissa Gilbert’s Prairie Tale (juicy and scandalous, but it was kind of sad that she thought then-husband Bruce Boxleitner was a healthy choice when it was so clear he was not. I hope her new husband Timothy Busfield is better) and then discover the hilarious and fast-paced Little House on the Podcast show by Kim Reed, but I got a little obsessed with Michael Landon (?!?) which led to the discovery that Highway to Heaven is on Netflix. I started watching it thinking it would be hilarious to see Michael Landon cast himself as an actual agent of God and weirdly touching to see him and Victor French (Mr. Edwards!) team up again, but it is legitimately pretty terrible and Landon was lucky it was pre-peak TV. I am still going to watch it all.
So far Michael Landon, angel, has solved elder abuse/neglect, alcoholism, the grief of losing your husband and young son tragically, and racism!
Oh, and I’m re-reading The Wilder Life by Wendy McClure. When I commit to a rabbit hole, I go all the way. Don’t even get me started on road tripping to Missouri, because it. Is. Happening. Someday.
So. What’s up with you? Post your updates and comments below!
The Stuff on hamburger buns, because we’re classy like that!
Because it’s the holidays and I love you, I’m about to let you in on a horrifying family secret. One that if you are brave enough to attempt for yourself, you will thank me for. In secret!
Okay. When my brother and I were little, our Grandma Benge used to make us something she called “Mock Pizza,” and BJ and I dubbed “The Stuff.” It was cheesy and melty and meaty and indescribably delicious—we couldn’t get enough of it, and we begged our mother to make it. For a long time she denied knowing anything about it, but our will (and appetite) was strong, and we wore her down.
Now usually, when I get to this part of the story, the listeners lean forward, ready to hear about some charmingly rustic, vintage recipe. That’s when I say,
“You take a pound of hot dogs, a pound of Velveeta, half a red onion, and mayonnaise, and grind them into a paste.” Looks of betrayal, panic, and revulsion soon follow.
What? It’s delicious!
But trust me! Spread this, um, delightful concoction (a cousin to such delights as ham salad) on sliced French bread and put it under the broiler—or, to be super special, spread it on refrigerated crescent-roll dough, roll ’em up, and bake them according to package directions—and you will be rewarded with one of the most delicious treats you will ever be lucky enough to eat! It’s pure alchemy!
Okay, this photo is a little gross. Just trust me!
The red onion is my innovation (my Grandma Benge used pimentos), but you could make your own adjustments: I imagine pickles, olives, and other add-ins would be very tasty!
You need:
1 pound hot dogs (whatever your favorite is), cut into 1-inch chunks
1 pound Velveeta, cut into 1-inch chunks
1/2 medium red onion, diced
1/2-1 cup mayonnaise, to taste
Mix the first three ingredients in a bowl, then run it through the coarse setting of a meat grinder or pulse it in a food processor. You want it to be spreadable but not totally smooth. Stir in mayonnaise to taste!
The Stuff ready for action! And the apocalypse.
To use: Spread on baguette slices, hamburger buns, etc., and place under the broiler. Broil until the cheese melts and it gets a little browned. Delicious!
Alternately, you can spread refrigerated crescent roll dough with The Stuff, roll them up, and bake according to package directions. Warning: let them cool a little so you don’t burn off the top of your mouth with molten meat-cheese paste.
Add this to your next holiday get-together and delight your guests! Maybe just don’t tell them what they’re eating!
Do you have secret special holiday family recipes to share? Post them below!
Ho ho ho! As longtime readers know, I am a big fan of Christmas. The decorations! The family togetherness! The holiday china! Yes, I serve all of our meals on our Lenox Holiday china every day in December–otherwise it would just be silly to collect it, right?
But. There has been a bit of a shadow over this year. As someone who grew up in Portland in the late ’70s and early ’80s, there were some treasured, longstanding traditions that finally gave up the ghost in 2017: Meier & Frank’s (and later Macy’s) iconic Santaland, and the Meier & Frank (later My Macy’s) Holiday Parade.
Founded in 1857 right here in Portland, Meier & Frank was a titan, a chain of department stores whose expansion was inextricably entwined in the development of our very city. But, more importantly, Santaland was amazing. Situated on the 10th floor of the landmark downtown Meier & Frank building, Santaland was a winter wonderland filled with animatronic elves and reindeer, glittering Christmas trees, and gaily wrapped gifts leading to the real Santa (with a real beard) who “remembered” your name year after year. The whole thing was placed smack-dab in the middle of a huge selection of toys and ringed from above with a monorail that gave kids a birds’ eye view of the entire floor.
My brother and me at the Meier & Frank Santaland, 1980.
As the years went by, changes came: the toys thinned out (Toys R Us cornered the market), Meier & Frank was changed to Macy’s, and then when the building was remodeled, Santaland was relocated to the basement, requiring only one escalator instead of the 10 my brother and I scaled each year. The monorail was dismantled with the move, leaving only two stationary cars on the floor for kids to climb on.
But with sales slumping and real estate prices climbing, Macy’s parent company, the May Company, put the building up for sale last year, breaking up Santaland and ending the parade after nearly 20 years.
That was sad enough, but also, I had continued the tradition, bringing my kids there for pictures with Santa! So clearly, priority #1 this year was finding a new place to see Santa and rekindle the Christmas spirit! Here are my discoveries and experiences:
Christmas in Dairyville: First off, I don’t know how I lived my life to this point without ever going here. Um, did everyone else know that Alpenrose has an entire “Western town” called Dairyville that includes an incredible “Storyville Lane” that’s like the Christmas equivalent of the Enchanted Forest? Because I did not. This is where we started our journey to make Christmas memories.
Pros:
Cons:
My very patient children–especially my son, Sid, thank you–at the Oregon Historical Society.
Meier & Frank Santaland at the Oregon Historical Society: I was very excited when I heard that Macy’s had donated part of Santaland to the Oregon Historical Society. Yes! A place that would cherish and display Santaland and preserve this important piece of history! When I saw that Santa would be there, I bundled my husband and the kids into the car and drove there next.
Pros:
Cons:
Santaland at the Lloyd Center Macy’s: Soon after our trip to OHS, I learned that the Lloyd Center Macy’s also had a piece of Santaland! Recapturing my Christmas memories was starting to resemble a game of Pokemon–I now have to run around and catch them all. But I needed to return some clothes to Old Navy, so Sarah and I went for a visit.
Pros:
Cons:
Monorail Exhibit at Pioneer Place: Oh my goodness. I am tired just typing this. I then discovered that the monorail cars are on display at the Pioneer Place Mall downtown. I have not witnessed this myself, but I doubt I will be able to resist checking it out. Is it near Hipster Santa? (UGH.)
I’m left with so many questions. Where are the rest of Santa’s reindeer? Or Macy’s 12 Days of Christmas window displays? What will move into the old Meier & Frank building? Is it time to relinquish my death grip on my childhood Christmas memories? My very patient husband–and children–might appreciate it.
Other Christmas treasures I’ve enjoyed this year:
The Hollywood Theatre has been playing Christmas matinees on the weekend, so I got to see White Christmas on the big screen for the first time ever, which was awesome. They will be playing a series of animated Christmas shorts, including Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol, 12/23 at 2:00 pm.
Broadway Floral Home & Garden have some really beautiful wreaths for about $20. No bows, but I saved mine from years past.
We drove to three different Christmas tree lots in the bitter cold looking for a decent noble fir, but Fred Meyer ended up having the best option, at the best price ($41.99 for a 5-6 footer). They are extremely picked over, however.
Grocery Outlet Bargain Market has largish poinsettias for $6.99, a real bargain compared to $9.99 at Fred Meyer. Also, extremely cheap cheese, a must for any holiday gathering.
So what are your holiday musts and recommendations? Post them below!
Jeepers 