Chocolate, Music Paper, and Concrete

More and more of our friends (and family) are eating gluten-free. I don't want to fill my pantry with tons of alternative foods that I'll rarely use. These cookies are good alternative, containing no flour of any kind. I'm adding them to my Christmas baking list. I made them this morning and they are yummy! Chocolate Pecan Brownie Kisses - recipe found by clicking on the link.

Did you take piano lessons as a child? I did, for most of my school years, and later taught piano in Ecuador. I like using music paper in crafts, but have a hard time tearing up my own, definitely vintage, music books. I asked myself recently, "Will you ever play Czerny's Exercises in Passage Playing again? How about the Royal Conservatory Technical Exercises?" The answer was a resounding NO. So I cut them up to make the ornaments seen above.
 

I made a lot of them for the craft fair this Saturday. For a display idea - an inverted tomato cage. I still need to do something with the top. 
 

And a driveway report. The  concrete pour went well. We put up barricades to keep people off for a couple of days. But how disappointing to wake up this morning to discover cat prints in the fresh concrete. A whole trail of them. Grrrr. Next project is a new porch.

Time for another cookie. What's happening around your place today?

Drippy, Dreary November

It's one of those November days when you have to create your own cheer. Rain pelts down and the sky is dark. I taught today (Bible and Home Ec classes) and the students were great, but the school was chilly, chilly. Coming home, all I wanted was a cup of hot tea. So here I sit, with my tray to hand, a little candle burning, Earl Grey with a bit of milk, and the almonds and chocolate are gone. A hot rice bag sits at my back. I have about 45 minutes before I'll begin dinner prep. Ahhhh. Comfort.

Speaking of dinner - when someone in your household doesn't particularly like something, do you avoid cooking it even though you enjoy it? I like brussel sprouts but the man of the household does not. So I rarely pick them up at the market. However, I make granola for him and I don't eat it. Lately, I've been buying sprouts. I had them roasted up at Mater's place last month (cooked by Pater) and enjoyed them so much. 

Last night I cooked these - steamed them for a few minutes until mostly tender in a skillet, then added a little olive oil and sauteed them until the water evaporated and they browned a little. Then, a teaspoon or so of honey and some finely grated orange rind. Tim even tried some and declared them not bad at all.

What do you do for comfort on a dreary day? And do you cook things just for yourself, even if other members of the household don't eat them? 

Note Card Party - Delicious Treats

It's once again time for Vee's Note Card Party. It's a lot of fun, with interesting selections from many bloggers. You never know what's going to turn up as someone's choice for note cards. The idea is to find four photos, previously published on your blog, that you think worthy to be made into note cards.

French Silk Pie

This month, it's all about chocolate. For me, dessert is best when chocolate is involved. I know several people who don't really like chocolate. Does. not. compute. 

Chocolate Mousse filled Chocolate Roll with Chocolate Sauce

Nothing completes a meal, for me, like a little bit of chocolate, preferably dark and intense.

Raspberry Chocolate Tart

Did you catch the other theme going on here? Fruit! Chocolate + Fruit = YUM, although I confess to sometimes eating the fruit first so I can enjoy the chocolate last, without any other competing flavours.
 

Salted Caramel Chocolate Sauce

Does it seem frivolous to you to be thinking about chocolate and fruit on a day when people mourn, when life, for some, has been shattered? It does to me. Then, I think, what is the goal of these people who, in their twisted minds, wreak such havoc upon the world? Is not their goal the destruction of all that is beautiful and lovely? Do they not want to create insecurity and have people live in fear? When we cease to live our lives as we normally do, the terrorists and evil have won.

From our little island far away from Boston, 30 people traveled to run the marathon. One of them was a co-worker of my husband. When she was finally able to call (the cell towers were jammed), she told him that she had crossed the finish line two minutes before the blasts.

I will pray, and I will care, and I will grieve with those who grieve. I will continue to live my life trusting God, and giving thanks for the beauty of life.

Enjoy the beauty over at Vee's Card Party today. We're likely to be a little subdued, but the gathering will be a pleasant way to spend some time together.

Chocolate Cheerios

There are, apparently, people who do not like chocolate. I have met some of them. It's beyond my comprehension, because I think everything is better with a little chocolate. 

Like Cheerios. These are a riff on the ubiquitous Rice Krispie squares - made with marshmallows and butter. Add a little chocolate to the mixture and substitute another cereal and voila - a whole new treat!

I have had a hard time concentrating this week. Our roof is being replaced and it sounds as if Santa and his reindeer are clattering about all day above me. 

Yesterday I joined the tech-age. I've had a little flip pay and talk phone that I use rarely. But I found that even being called for substitute teaching is changing and I was missing calls/emails because teachers sent them out to several people and whoever replied first got the job. So....I now have an iPhone and will be connected at all times. Unless I choose otherwise. Perhaps it will become second nature, but for now, I'm finding texting awkward. I'm sure anyone under 40 reading that would laugh hysterically. 

Choosing a phone and a plan was VERY stressful. I needed some data but not much. What a rigamarole it all is. Now I have to learn how to use the phone. 

I think I need to make some more Chocolate Cheerio squares since the batch pictured above was devoured during camping last weekend.

Here's the recipe if you are feeling the need for a little chocolate:

Chocolate Cheerio Squares

1/4 cup butter or margarine
10 oz marshmallows (40 regular or 5 cups mini)
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
5-6 cups Cheerios

Melt the butter, marshmallows and chocolate chips together in the microwave or over low heat on the stovetop. Stir to combine well. Add the Cheerios. 

Press into a lightly greased 9 x 13 pan. Chill. Eat.