I’ve mentioned before that this here bloggy thing is the longest continual journaling I’ve done in my life. And one of the best best BEST parts of it (IMHO) is that it is so easy to look back and see where I was a year or two ago at this same time.

This time of year is hard for me. A big part of the hardness is the reduced amount of sunlight. The lightbox is helping some, but I’m having a hard time using it regularly enough to really get the best benefit of it. Still it helps.

Another big part of the lethargy and generally Ba-Humbug feeling is the lovely warm and “functional” relationships with my family of origin. (See here, for instance, for my latest whiny-assed rant against my mother.)

Both of those things add up to a pretty rough run-up to the holidays. (And the aftermath isn’t all that terrific either.)

One of the things that keeps me from sinking into the depths of insanity this time of year is food. The creative act of putting together a delicious meal, or a scrumptious delicacy is enough to get me off the couch, away from teh teevee, (and the computer! gasp!) and into the kitchen.

Cooking (and the natural consequence…eating) are elemental activities. And, unlike laundry or making the bed, cooking is creating and therefore, there is potential for ART. And creating Beauty is a spiritual discipline. I guess it’s part of that finding the sacred in the ordinary thing. (anybody still with me here?)

Anyhoo.

If I can just get a sketch of a menu planned, or see a picture of a delicious something I could make, it’s enough to feel that little flutter of creative excitement begin in my head. And then I’m motivated to get to the grocery store and the poor boys benefit from having more than cereal and mouldy bread to choose from for afternoon snacks.

And finding new recipes? or a new food writer? Well, that’s like walking into a fairy-tale trove of treasure for me.

And that happened last week when I bumped into Mrs. Marv. (Abbagirl, you are going to LOVE her site!)

I don’t even remember which rabbit hole of the blogosphere I was wandering down to find her. But I happened across her Snickerdoodle recipe last week. And when I went to look at it again, she had a new post up all about a lamb stew.

Now I don’t usually have lamb stew meat in the freezer. But I did have a package of venison stew meat in there from part of my Christmas present last year from my father. (Hey. It might be weird but it’s better than haranguing me for gift ideas.)

So last Sunday, while the boys were putting up the tree, I was making this. (my food photography is nowhere near as beautiful as Mrs. Marv’s. Be sure and check it out. (I also should have used the optional garnishes, but I forgot them.)

It was delicious and a huge hit with the guys. DS1 went back for seconds. The recipe makes a big pot of stew, looked like about 8 servings to me. Filling and warm. A real comfort food. I took some for lunch yesterday and like most stews, it’s even better the next day.

I’m enjoying myself following her blog links and finding other really beautiful blogs out there with really delicious looking recipes. I think there may be a new section in my blogroll sometime soon!

Now, if I could only get half as excited about exercising….
— — —
A year ago (or longer) on This Journey…

good news 2007
“What’s the coming weekend hold for you?” 2006
Busy day; enjoyable but exhausted 2005

— — —
A year ago (or longer) on This Journey…

good news 2007
“What’s the coming weekend hold for you?” 2006
Busy day; enjoyable but exhausted 2005

— — —
A year ago (or longer) on This Journey…

good news 2007
“What’s the coming weekend hold for you?” 2006
Busy day; enjoyable but exhausted 2005

Posted on December 11th, 2007 under food. RSS 2.0 feed. Leave a response, or trackback.