Cold Toes, Warm Heart

I recently joined in on the Austin Scooter Club's first annual Scoot 'n Skate group ride from Southside Flying Pizza to Chaparral's Ice Skating Rink. Only about seven of us showed up (that's my scooter on the left), but it was well worth it. My skating skills left something to be desired...but perfection wasn't the goal here. While my friends back in Michigan were digging out of a snowstorm, I was frolicking along winding roads on a dry and balmy Texas night. Not to gloat or anything, but Christmas-time in Texas is pretty awesome.

I remember when Christmas was all about decorations, gifts, music, snowy days off, and loads of dessert. The anticipation of Christmas morning was almost unbearable, and I spent my days shaking gifts under the tree, and my nights awake, theorizing about their contents. Obviously, priorities change as you get older, and I'm happy to say it's no longer entirely about the gifts and the food. It's now almost entirely about the food. *smiles*

One personal favorite of mine is Cranberry-Walnut bread (served with cream cheese, of course).

I hope all (eight) of you have a lovely, food-filled Christmas!

Baby it's Cold Outside

Shortly after I moved to Texas, someone hit my car while it was parked in front of my sister's house, shoving it ten feet down the road and totaling it. The resulting insurance payment was only enough to purchase a scooter off Craigslist. I've been relying on this mode of transportation ever since, which is usually pretty awesome. Except when it's raining or cold, which can be rather uncomfortable.

After I got home from work yesterday, shivering, I decided it was time to start making soup. This batch of lentil/split pea soup is the first of many pots of soup I will make with every intention of eating in their entirety, only to leave a bowl's worth at the bottom of the pot in the fridge until I need the pot for new soup, and have to figure out how to throw away spoiled soup with no garbage disposal. What a gripping life I lead.

Lentil soup in general, no matter what type, is best served with fresh lemon juice squeezed over the top, mixed in as you eat. Mmm.

Oh, and I also made my Great Grandma Read's banana walnut bread today: