Hello to all Kossacks. It has been a crazy few weeks here at the Kettle house. Grandma is doing better, but not better enough for me to not go by every day and help her with stuff. At least she got her drainage tubes out. That full time job I had pinned my hopes on went down the drain. This job would have allowed me to quit working a full time and a part time. Turns out I am fine to teach these classes part time on this campus for SEVEN YEARS, but not good enough to even call in for an interview when the job goes full time. They even had me write the fucking job description! This also means my part time work is gone next term because whoever they do hire will take all my classes away from me. "Don't worry Ma, you can still work the GED lab one night a week." Phew, yeah, that takes a load off, (not!). That means my income will fall by $1100 a month. So, I am now looking for another part time position, but I am not bitter, much.
Depression has set in. I do not care to either cook nor eat. My clothes have started to hang on me because all that I can think about is money, the lack of it, and where can I find it. I have begun to drink more and lean on the pills, and may need to seek (free) medical attention. In an attempt to lure me back to the table my family has become creative. This is kinda funny, because none of them really cook, but bless their hearts they are trying. The best they can do is toast and a runny egg, which I usually love. They tease me with it, but I don't care any more. I was put on this earth for manual labor, obviously, and feel that I no longer deserve even the slightest yummy food. Gruel only. Bah and fie!
Pa knows what has happened. He tells me that the stimulus will help the college hire even more people, and I should not dispair. He is such an optimist, that is one of the reasons why I married him. I have not sat down with him to talk about how this impacts our finances. Him getting another job is not an option. He is too sick, and dammit somebody needs to be home with the kids. I have been having long discussions with the dog however. She says I need comfort food, and has suggested that I try to write about something I really like to eat. She also suggests that I lay out in the sun with her and that a good butt licking brightens even the cloudiest day. I tried to put in an image of her but have not mastered this technique yet. Imagine a red nosed pit giving me advice.
Why am I writing this, I should be scrubbing toilets or mowing the lawn, or filling out job applications. I apparently have not been working hard enough, and do not derserve anything good or to have fun, no I need to dig ditches and darn socks and scrub floors in whatever spare time I have. JaneDoe the Dog says I need to do it though. So, in the interest of pleasing the dog I give you recipe number one:
Banana Pancakes
1 cup flour
1tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2tbsp sugar
1/4 cup oil
1 egg
1 smashed ripe banana
enough milk to make it the right consistency
Play with this recipe, add stuff besides the banana, or replace the banana with something else. Everybody eats these like it is some big treat, even the dog. I sometimes throw cinnamon, powdered milk, nuts or seeds into this.
Recipe number two, an oldie from grandma's collection:
Chicken ala King
1-2 cups cooked diced chicken
1/2 cup diced celery
1/2 cup diced carrot
1/2 cup diced onion
1/2 cup diced mushroom
1/2 tsp thyme
1 crushed clove of garlic
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 stick butter
1/2 cup flour
1 cup milk
1 cup chicken broth
On medium low heat cook the veggies. When you get almost no crunch from the celery throw in the rest of the butter and seasonings. When the butter is melted throw in the flour and whisk or stir until smooth. Quickly stir in the milk, and then slowly stir in the broth. Let this simmer a bit to cook off the floury taste, but keep stirring to avoid clumping. Throw in the chicken and serve over mashed potatoes, biscuits, or even corn bread.
People have written about how they can begin to see the turn around from the stimulus plan. That is great. The special ed teacher at my day job says she knows things are getting better because her contractor husband has started getting jobs. There is a diary on the rec list that gives some other signs of recovery. I am glad, and cannot wait until the recovery reaches the Kettle's. The dog says that providence provides, and that I should try to look up. When I do look up I see the top of the hole I am standing in. JaneDoe the Dog likes holes. This brings me to recipe number three, which was adapted from a ration cook book from WWII, (they did a meatloaf type mixture):
Stuffed Baked Potatoes
4 large baking potatoes
1 lb ground beef or turkey
1/4 cup diced onion
1 tbsp taco seasonings
shredded cheese
diced tomato
sour cream
Bake the potatoes at 350 for about an hour. Be sure to poke them or they will explode in the oven and that will be one more thing you need to clean this weekend. When they are done scoop out a good sized hole from each one. Throw the guts in a bowl and set the taters in a warm oven. Cook the meat and onions. When done put in the taco seasonings, add a little water if it is too dry. Put this in the potato boats, top with cheese, when the cheese melts top with sour cream and diced tomato. You can play around with this of course, add stuff like green onions or slasa, or scrap the meat and seasonings and stuff with a runny egg, sauteed mushrooms and a white cheese. You get the idea, add a salad and call it dinner.
I am looking for the silver lining. I have yet to find it, but JaneDoe insists that there is one. You can spend more time on your dissertation the dog says. Not if I have to work two part time jobs to make up what I am losing in income I won't. We argue like this often, sometimes she wins. It may take awhile to find the good news; the open door. Pa would agree with the dog on this one I think. Summer will be here soon; sorry that's the best I can do JaneDoe. This brings me to dessert:
Pineapple Upside Down Cake
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 stick butter
1 20 oz can of pineapple drained
Layer this in a 8x8 or round cake pan; start with the brown sugar, then the fruit, then dot with the butter. If you like your cake juicy add a little of the juice too. In another bowl combine:
1/3 cup softened butter
1/3 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/3 cup flour
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 egg
2/3 cup milk
Spread this mixture over the pineapple mixture. Bake for 45 minutes at 350. Cool and invert on a plate. You could substitute the pineapple for almost any fruit, I have used blueberries, apples, and pears with success.
I hope this makes the dog happy, and maybe a few Kossacks.