This SO beats the Bond Business

We woke up this morning to 4 inches of freshly fallen snow and a whole day to ourselves inside. I was SO thankful not to have to board a train at 5:15 in the morning and trudge my way to the office, where the Fed had an emergency meeting this morning and cut interest rates by 75 bps.  Glad to be out of it and making oatmeal and hot cocoa instead.

Even if you hate oatmeal, you should give this recipe a try, it tastes fabulous and is pretty healthy for you too!  Well, depending on how much brown sugar you add at the end...

Alsace Oatmeal with Grated Apple

1 1/2 cup old fashioned oatmeal (I like McCain's Quick Cooking)

3 cups milk

1/2 tsp. salt (or more, to taste)

1 medium apple, peeled and grated

1/2 tsp fresh lemon juice

1/2 tsp butter

Cinnamon sugar to taste

Combine oatmeal, milk and salt in a medium saucepan.  Bring almost to a boil.  Add grated apple, lemon juice and cinnamon sugar.  Cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Add butter and cook one minute.  Spoon into bowls and add anything you want: brown sugar, dried cranberries, maple syrup, more milk...sky's the limit!

Good Things in 2008

*The new Glen Ellyn Restaurant, Honey, hitting their stride!  Way to go Anna, the carrot cake cupcake is the talk of the town...literally.  If you haven't gone yet, it's time.  I can recommend the burger tasting trio and their fries.  And of course, the cupcakes.  More to come on this little spot.

*Talk Soup, on at 9 pm Central, Friday nights on E!.  A cynical recap of all that is stupid and interesting in the media, Joel McHale is the goofy host.

*The Margherita Pizza at Cellar Bistro, downtown Wheaton.  All ingredients are organic, and as local is they can find.  I dream about the homemade crust.

*The dark chocolate latte, in a mug, at Honey.  Not sure what they're doing to the foam, but the taste of the drink is the best hot coffee drink I've had, this side of the Atlantic.  It wasn't as good in a to-go cup.  Maybe I'm delusional.

*Lost is back!  January 31st.  I hope I'll still care after all this time.

*A new clothing budget.  Praise the Lord.

*Selling old clothes on eBay.  I somehow sold a Patagonia red fleece I'd bought on clearance last year, some nice girl in Boulder, CO paid $60 for it!  Now it's time to list my old cashmere sweaters from Ann Taylor that no longer fit...thanks to Sam and his voracious eating habits.  

*8 weeks until Spring Break in Naples, Florida.

*The French Market opens April 29th!  I am hungry for fresh produce, maybe it's time to make a peach blueberry cobbler with the fruit I froze last August.  

*Buying super cheap hardback and paperback books from Half.com.   Seriously.  You can find used and brand new books for $2 or less, you just pay $4 or so in shipping.  There's no better deal anywhere.  Anna turned me onto the site and I must admit I'm addicted, it's so cheap!

*THIS recipe from my friend Cheryl, who has great taste in so many things.  I cannot even describe the deliciousness that these sandwiches evoked in my mouth:

Hot Roast Beef Party Sandwiches

2 packages Hawaiian Rolls (In their own little section at Jewel, in orange bags)

2/3 cup peach preserves

1/2 cup dijon mustard-mayonnaise blend (either Grey Poupon or Hellman's)

3/4 lb. thinly sliced Boar's Head roast beef

1/2 lb. thinly sliced Havarti Cheese

Salt and Pepper to taste

Remove rolls from packages, do not separate.  Cut rolls in half horizontally, creating one top and one bottom per dozen.  Spread preserves on top half of rolls, spread mustard/mayo blend on bottom.  Top with the beef and cheese, sprinkle with salt and pepper if desired.  Put roll halves together and wrap well in tin foil.  At this point, the rolls can be frozen up to one month. Thaw overnight in the fridge and bake as directed.

Bake at 325 degrees for 20-25 minutes, or until cheese is melted.  Cut rolls apart and serve as a heavy appetizer or "light" (heh) dinner.

That's it for now, I'm off to shower and get Sam ready for his first "Storytime" session at the library.  :)  

First Haircut!

I don't even think he officially needed one, but I couldn't help myself.  

As it turns out, Scott was REALLY bummed that I did it without him.  I think he was hoping we'd go ahead and use the clippers...it's alittle soon for an all over buzz, honey.  

Don't even ask why I'm posting at 2 in the morning.  Can't sleep, so I'll search eBay and blog instead.  

Sigh, stupid hormones.