The sky was incredible today. Grey. Winters seem long when it’s day after day of this, even though it’s beautiful.

Pot of beans on to soak overnight.

This was before we got any snow — it was all frost! The tree still had all its limbs.

This was taken after many of the branches broke off.

BBQ grill and picnic table.

Laundry. This works very well in the summer. Ha ha.

Do NOT stand underneath this—this is right before the avalanche.

Up the street

Trees down in the neighborhood

I thought this photo was interesting because it clearly shows snow falling and the sun shining at the same time. Crazy.

We started with this idea for a recipe but improvised by using chicken that was taken off the bones from last night’s roasted bird. I sautéed onion, celery, and bell pepper in a tsp. of fat from the roasting pan. Added sliced carrots, frozen peas and green beans to increase the veggies. A pint of dried tomatoes from the garden, soaked for a while, added the tomatoes and juice. 8 oz. of fresh mushrooms sliced and after it all cooks down a while I’ll add the chicken and a cup of flavor made last night by deglazing the roaster with white wine.

Basically it’s just a rich tomato-based chicken stew.

Going to serve it over this baked polenta. Which was jazzed up a tiny bit with a shake of aged parmesan on the last stir.

January photos from previous years.

My co-workers gave me a big ol’ can of WhoopAss. I was afraid to drink it. I’m saving it for an emergency.

RE: Ground is frozen. Menards has bulbs on clearance. What to do?

• Posted by ljrmiller

Well…since it’s the midwest, you could buy bags of ammonium nitrate fertilizer, mix it with fuel oil, put scoopfuls everywhere you want to plant bulbs, put a firecracker in each scoop, light and run like blazes, then plant in all the craters you made…

Okay, probably a VERY bad idea. I’d pot the bulbs up, and put them in a cool, but frost-free place (about 40° F) until March, then bring them out to start them growing.

Ground is frozen. Menards has bulbs on clearance. What to do? – Bulbs Forum – GardenWeb

I brought in a bunch of pots of dirt where mesclun was growing last year, thought I’d plant these bulbs and put them out in our cool storage spot, then plant out in early spring. I thought it would take an hour or two for the pots to thaw out. 4 hours later I just tried to dig around in the smallest one and found there’s still a big chunk of solid-frozen dirtsickle in the middle of it.

Toasted with butter it was so nice and crusty on the outside, soft tender and yeasty on the inside, with the sweetness of currants, every now and then a subtle licorice taste of fennel, and tart cranberry tempting one to have another piece.

Seven begged for a spoonful of honey on hers. I thought it was gilding the lily, but on the other hand…..

I think the beekeeper, Elton Franklin, of Hot Springs, Montana, would have approved this bread as worthy of the bees who made the honey.

The walnut oil was so delicious, I used it to carmelize some onion which I used instead of green onions in the Turkish Pancakes recipe. I also substituted dried dill, tarragon and parsely for the fresh herbs since that is what I have this time of year. The herbs were wonderful and it felt good to use the grated zucchini from the freezer.

Turkish Zucchini Pancakes

from Bon Appétit | January 1996

Yield: Makes about 20 1 pound zucchini, trimmed, coarsely grated 2 cups chopped green onions 4 eggs, beaten to blend 1/2 cup all purpose flour 1/3 cup chopped fresh dill or 1 1/2 tablespoons dried dillweed 1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley 2 tablespoons chopped fresh tarragon or 2 teaspoons dried 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese (about 3 ounces) 2/3 cup chopped walnuts (about 3 ounces) Olive oil Place zucchini in colander. Sprinkle zucchini with salt and let stand 30 minutes to drain. Squeeze zucchini between hands to remove liquid, then squeeze dry in several layers of paper towels. Combine zucchini, chopped green onions, 4 eggs, flour, chopped dill, parsley, tarragon, 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper in medium bowl. Mix well. Fold in crumbled feta cheese. (Zucchini mixture can be prepared 3 hours ahead. Cover tightly and refrigerate. Stir to blend before continuing.) Fold chopped walnuts into zucchini mixture. Preheat oven to 300°F. Place baking sheet in oven. Cover bottom of large nonstick skillet with olive oil. Heat skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, drop zucchini mixture into skillet by heaping tablespoonfuls. Fry until pancakes are golden brown and cooked through, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer each batch of pancakes to baking sheet in oven to keep warm. Serve pancakes hot.

My talented son made this beautiful heart-shaped artisan bread and it is heavenly.

One part is fennel/currant, one part is cranberry, and there is some whole wheat marbled in there too. It’s the best thing I’ve tasted so far this year, toasted with butter, we’ve eaten nearly the whole loaf in only a day.

Regarding the confusion over RUPAUL and RON PAUL, RUPAUL said: “Contrary to recent reports, I did not come in third in theIowa caucus. I am not even a member of the Republican Party.  But I am a proud American.”

Regarding RuPaul’s political aspirations: “I’m not a political person by nature.  But anytime a man leaves the house in a wig and a pair of cha cha heels, he’s making a political statement.  Let us not forget that this great nation was founded by a bunch of men wearing wigs.  Forward thinking men, who fought for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all.  And honey, watch out, because they started a revolution.”

Why New Hampshire? Why now? “I’ve always loved the New Hampshire state motto: LIVE FREE OR DIE.  I think it’s important, especially in an election year, to celebrate who you really are. And to let everyone around you have the right to express their true selves.”

Regarding his political drag doppelganger, Ron Paul: “I have one message for Ron Paul… and to all the Republican candidates…’If you can’t love yourself, how in the hell are you going to love somebody else. Can I get an AMEN?’”

*MEDIA ALERT* Meet RuPaul (not Ron Paul) at the Red Arrow Diner in Manchester, NH Jan. 7, at 9:00 AM ET « Logo Press Room

Much better RuPaul than Santorum!

http://dailycaller.com/2012/01/08/minutes-after-nh-debate-snl-opening-mocks-santorum/#ooid=wyZDc5MzrGQ9nNV6iuI5DGikM5sICPXc “If the lesbians don’t get me, the Mormon Deathsquads probably will.”