Watch Out Husbands - Baking Season Is Upon Us!

It's December, nearly, and I foresee a nation of men with bruised knuckles, expanding waistlines and sugar highs by close of the year. It's the grand opening of winter baking, and cooks have their wooden spoons at the ready - ready to strike the hand of any tasters who venture near at inopportune moments.

We actually enjoy every stage of the baking process, from shopping to tasting, rolling and basting, even the cleaning isn't so bad. The kitchen is warm, smells fantastic and brings the family closer together.

Peppermint Pinwheels by Munchkin Munchies

What are we baking? Toffee, fudge, gingerbread and sugar cookies, candy canes, caramel corn and pies, of course. But, I'll be following my friend Suzanne as she bakes us through the holidays and will likely serve up a few of her recipes. She's got a great blog with beautiful pictures, tasty recipes and helpful pointers. We've been the recipients of some of her eats, and we've never been disappointed. I'm starting today with this one.

And if those aren't enough for you, head over to TasteSpotting - a treat shared by my cousin, Akira.

Uncle Dave's Humor

This past week, I received a link from my cousin, Kelly, to a video submission her dad is making to a Superbowl video competition. If Uncle Dave, and a cousin of hers who plays co-star, win the contest, they go to the Superbowl - and I think their ad is also adopted into the product's lineup of ads.

I had NO idea what to expect. I haven't seen him in YEARS (he lives two states away, which is saying something in the Western U.S.), and hadn't a clue what this whole video thing was about. Pretty much sums up Uncle Dave's (and HIS dad's) sense of humor.



If you'd like to support their entry in the contest, log on to the official link and cast your votes in January.

Compassion - A Quote Worth Remembering

Today, this quote showed up on a friend's social media page. I really liked it:

"When we finally know we are dying, and all other sentient beings are dying with us, we start to have a burning, almost heartbreaking sense of the fragility and preciousness of each moment and each being, and from this can grow a deep, clear, limitless compassion for all beings."
- Sogyal Rinpoche

In realization, I don't think he meant in our final moments. I think he meant when we mature enough to realize that not only won't we live forever, but we may die any time. Nothing has made me more aware of this than having my own children, and my own brain surgery.

Every moment is precious - sometimes, it's so hard to keep that in mind. Particularly as we go through our everyday motions.

In 2011, I hope to be more mindful of this, among other, truths.