"Help, Please"

"Help please," all day long. Meaning, help me get this toxic cleaning product off the top shelf, help me pull the spice rack off the wall and dump all the spices out, help me open this book to a page that doesn't exist (you know, between the cover and page 1.) In case you think I'm complaining too much, I must add that I'm thankful that he at least says please.
I have had this great plan for a couple weeks now to go feed the ducks at Starker Arts park, even saved some old scones I made, but finally threw them out in the front yard, hoping to attract birds we could then watch through the window (none came yet.) Yes, the ducks I have abandoned to the rain and snow and wind and ice. Yesterday we had so much weather! It did all of those things, plus slushed and sleeted and spitted. Today was much better but I had vowed to stay home all day lounging around. I stayed home, but the only lounging was accomplished by the feline element. I did laundry and some other menial domestic tasks, but most of all, I picked stuff up off the floor. You know what? There's stuff all over the floor! And the cats are still lounging. They are unwaveringly unhelpful.

Help!

Just to simplify my life a bit, I've decided to make pizza for dinner every Friday. Last week, it was topped with caramelized onions, cherry tomatoes, pine nuts and capers. What are your favorite combos? Help me simplify even further with a list of ideas to try. Anything goes! Prizes for the best pies!

Wow! It worked! I could never figure out how all you pro-bloggers put the image anywhere but the right side of the page, then Heather told me how to do it in about 15 seconds. Duh. I never even noticed the toolbar. Thanks, Heather, no promises, but maybe my blog will get just a little more exciting (is it possible?) now.

Caramel Corn Recipe

Ingredients:
3 Tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 cup popcorn kernels
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
3 cups granulated sugar
1 1/4 Tablespoon kosher salt (I just use sea salt)
3 Tablespoons cold unsalted butter

Spray 2 large heatproof spatulas and a very large metal bowl with your Misto, or lightly wipe with veg. oil. Pop the corn in the 3 tablespoons veg. oil and put it in the large bowl. Filter out the old maids (is that un-p.c.?).
Now make the caramel. Measure out the soda into a small bowl so it's ready to go. In a 4 quart or larger saucepan, combine the sugar, salt, butter, and 1 cup of water. Gently stir with a wooden spoon just enough to immerse the sugar. Brush down the sides of the pan with a pastry brush dipped in water. Cook the mixture over high heat without stirring until it melts and bubbles and turns a very light golden caramel color on top (about 10 to 20 minutes.) If you take it off a minute too soon, it will taste horrible. If you leave the kitchen, it will burn and your house will fill with smoke. Do not leave the kitchen.
Take the caramel off the heat and whisk in the baking soda. It will bubble up and aerate the caramel. Immediately pour the bubbling caramel over the popcorn (don't scrape the sides of the pot, just use what pours out easily.) Toss it with your previously greased spatulas, then spread on a couple of parchment-lined cookie sheets into a flat layer. As soon as it's cool enough to touch, break it into smaller clusters (using your hands.) Let cool completely, then proceed to eat. Store any you don't eat in airtight containers.
Variations: Spicy. Stir 3/4 or so teaspoon cayenne into the baking soda. Nutty: Toss 2 cups lightly salted peanuts with the popcorn before pouring on the caramel. Hazelnutty: Same as nutty, but better.
This recipe is from Fine Cooking, Winter 2005.

Blog Warning

I changed the template on this thing, and it scrambled all the pictures, so they're in no order. Trevor figured out how to climb up on the toilet to reach the sink (the side with the hot water faucet) and is very proud of this ability. He gets his hand wet and then comes and shows us. He also can climb in and out of his highchair. I spotted him once or twice, but now he's on his own. Tonight he was dragging Boa around saying "heavy" (sounds more like "hebby"). For some reason we were talking about my backpack and he went to get it and carried it through the house saying "heavy." One of his hobbies is pulling everything out of drawers and cabinets and not putting it away. He also likes to cook in his kitchen.

Happy 2008

Yikes, in almost exactly one year from today, my tv won't work anymore. Who knew about all this digital stuff? You know this means they (THEY) can now brainwash us with hidden digital messages...oh wait, never mind, they're already brainwashing.
We celebrated the new year with root beer floats! Yum, I haven't had one of those in years.
Next week we fly off to Florida to visit family and bask in the sun. I'm feeling trepidatious about the long flights there and back. Now go ahead and give me some amazing ideas, advice I haven't heard (maybe along the lines of horse tranquilizers) to survive the trip. Don't even bring up any of the following: plenty of books, activities, snacks, stickers, masking tape, long layovers (ain't happenin'), dvds, puppets, new toys, crayons, modeling clay, making friends with the flight attendant and people sitting across from you. I mean, I need the ultimate ace up my sleeve. Also, what is your favorite root beer float combination? I remember my little brother swore by stirring a little ice cream in the bottom of the mug with a little root beer before making it. I realize you probably all have new year's resolutions that forbid the consumption of all that sugar, but blogging about it can't make you fat!