25-days.....

Imagine my surprise to open my email this morning and find the menu already in my inbox! Mr. Hinkelgruber is either very bored at work, or on strike...hmmm...

That frenetic time of year is upon us. That means baking, eating, baking, cooking, eating, baking some more, oh, yeah, shopping (did I mention I hate shopping?), and somewhere in there I suppose I should get to the gym. Having motivation issues on that front. Back to baking and, oh, yeah, eating!

Oh, and do you remember our rat issue of a few months ago? Well, apparently they have taken up residence in our neighbor's attic! When we had them, these neighbors mentioned they preferred 'humane, non-toxic' methods of eliminating them. Guess what? Now that the critters have moved into their home, they called us for information on where to buy the best rat killer that exists. Yep, hear that scurrying above your head in the wee hours of the morning and you'll reach for the best poison money can buy! Ach, schadenfreude!

Is pumpkin pie a food group???

This time of year, I do think the food pyramid does add a new section called "Pumpkin Pie." Well, mine does, anyway!

You all know how Mrs. Hinkelgruber hates to cook (I'm a baker, not a cooker!), but this week is Mr. Hinkelgruber's birthday so yes, you're reading the menu correctly, Mrs. Hinkelgruber is cooking dinner. It'll be Pizza Rustica (some of you will recall it from a few months ago), so you all know I do know how to make it!

I'll be making some more Whoopie Pies for Mr. Hinkelgruber's "group" birthday party/dinner with his fellow birthday celebrators on Monday. And then, later in the week, I'm going to try a Finnish Pulla bread. (It's like a challah or other holiday bread, but Finnish rather than Jewish.) I do love this time of year!

Ahhh...the smell of gingerbread in the morning....

Well, OK, the smell of gingerbread anytime is a warming and comforting smell! The first recipe for December for my baking group is Ginger Baby Cakes. And, since I needed a dessert for tonight's dinner, how about we go with that one?!? I don't know if they're going to taste good baked, but I can tell you the batter for them is delicious! (And, for the record, I'm not really a batter/raw cookie dough fan...)

They turned out very cute, but rather than go out and buy a new set of pans (the recipe says it makes 8 4-inch miniature cakes) I made them in cupcake pans. So, all of you coming to dinner, feel good about eating two - or three! And, this means that again, I'm ahead on the homework. I may even volunteer to host for the baking group...or not.

Did I mention that Thanksgiving is early this year? Yeah? Well, it bears repeating - Thanksgiving is early this year! So, I'll be baking bread/rolls all week this week. When will I fit in a workout?

Thansgiving is early, this year!

So, I got the buttermilk crumb muffins baked as well as the brownies! It's been a long time since I finished homework early - and those brownies are done almost ten days early. (Don't worry, we're not saving them for ten days, I just won't blog about them until then!)

Good things that happened this past week: the election's over (our favorite won), but the good news in this case is it means no more political ads! I managed to do a full 30-minute interval workout on an elliptical (well, it's good news to me!). And, last Sunday Mr. Hinkelgruber repaired my dryer and it works just like new! (You know you're a grown up when working electrical appliances make you as happy as Halloween candy makes little kids!)

This week's menu is abbreviated - Mr. Hinkelgruber is going to "Lost Wages," so I'll be on my own. But, true to form, Mr. Hinkelgruber will be taking care of me by leaving me plenty of leftovers to eat! And I'll be workshopping bread/roll recipes for Thanksgiving!

College football is tooooo stressful!

Both state schools' football teams are having historic seasons. And Mrs. Hinkelgruber is aging in five-year increments each week...

I've been knitting up a storm the past two weeks. (OK, so it's not a valid excuse for not blogging, but that's my story, and I'm sticking to it!) A couple of hats, a shawl, two cowls well on their way finished a scarf and a shawl...I'm sure you can hear the sticks clicking.

I'll be baking some buttermilk crumble muffins and brownies this month - sounds easy, but that usually means a lot more work than expected. Oh, and Mr. Hinkelgruber just told me that this week's theme is, "Chop...and drop!"