Congress actually does something right

Today Congress finally passed legislation patching the tax code so that middle-income Americans (like me!) don't get hit with the Alternative Minimum Tax on their 2007 taxes. Bush says he's going to sign it. That's the good news. The bad news is that the fix is only for one year. We desperately need them to fix this permanently.

Christmas cookies

For those of you rushing to make Christmas cookies in the next week, you might want to check out this little database that I built for the Pioneer Press. It contains cookie recipes that readers submitted to us last month. This page allows you to search by type of cookie, name or even on any given ingredient. When we were building this application, the food editor, who oversees this recipe thing every year, was thrilled to work with someone who actually knew her way around a recipe! It was kind of fun, too - although a big departure from what I usually work on. This is an example of where my skills are needed for far more than just "news" and I find myself helping simply because there isn't anybody else to do it.

Highway 14

The Star Tribune has a story today about Highway 14, the main highway that runs across southern Minnesota and skirts the edge of my hometown, Kasson. I've driven that highways thousands upon thousands of times going back and forth to Rochester or between Kasson and New Ulm, when I worked there earlier in my career. The story says the two-lane portions of the highway make it the most deadly roadway in the state of Minnesota. They've been talking about widening that road for as long as I can remember. Scary that the state can't seem to get it done.

The first storm is on its way

Everyone's hunkering down in anticipation of the first big snowstorm of the year. We're expected to get anywhere from 3 to 10 inches of snow tomorrow. I'm going to run my errands in the morning, then turn on the Christmas tunes and start doing my decorating (including putting up our fake tree).

Other news in our world: Jamey sold his Honda Accord this week. He had several bidders trying to out-bid each other within a few hours after listing it on Craigslist. He did the right thing by selling it to the first guy who showed up to test drive it. But that guy also did the right thing by giving Jamey whatever cash he had in his pocket to bolster the listed price.

The half-bathroom vanity is almost complete! Should be finished tomorrow. And my husband is working on his man-room, where I can shut the door and not have to look at the disaster of junk that he leaves everywhere. It's also going to be his video game parlor, so I can have the living room TV back! Can't wait.

Winter is here

We stopped off at the cabin on our way to and from Bayfield for Thanksgiving at my in-laws this week. When we left Thursday morning the lake was still open, with a little ice around the edges. By Saturday morning, it was frozen over and covered with a half-inch or so of snow. I was going to take a picture before we left, but forgot. It was beautiful, but also a bit depressing.

Cranberry-Walnut Cake with Caramel Sauce

This was one of my contributions to Thanksgiving dinner this year at my in-laws. It was a hit! I'd highly recommend making this just a couple hours before serving, if possible, and make the sauce at the very last minute.

Ingredients for the cake:
2 1/2 c. flour, divided
2 tsp. baking powder
Pinch of ground cinnamon
Pinch of ground allspice
Pinch of salt
3 Tblspoons butter, softened
1 c sugar
2 eggs
1 c milk
2 c fresh, whole cranberries
1/2 c walnut pieces

For the sauce:
1/2 c granulated sugar
1/2 packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup butter
1 c. heavy cream

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

To prepare the cake, place 2 cups of flour, the baking powder, cinnamon, allspice and salt in a mixing bowl and set aside. In separate bowl, cream together the butter and sugar (can use electric mixer). Add the eggs one at a time and beat in. Alternately add the milk and the flour mixture in increments, while the mixer runs.

Place the cranberries and walnuts in a bowl and toss with remaining 1/2 cup flour and fold into the batter (do not add the excess flour). I sifted the extra flour off before adding it to the batter.

Butter or grease a 9-inch cake pan or baking dish and pour the batter in.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

To prepare the sauce, place all ingredients in a large saucepan and bring to a boil. Stir well. (This only takes a few minutes, so it could be done just prior to serving)

Place slices of the warm cake on serving plates and pour the sauce over. Any extra sauce can be stored in the refrigerator and warmed in the microwave.

Hashbrown Turkey

Here's a recipe that even my husband liked....

Ingredients:
One 16-oz bag frozen hashbrowns, THAWED (the thin kind like you get at restaurants)
1/2 cup, plus 1 tablespoon flour
1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
4 scallions, finely chopped (optional)
3 large eggs
1/4 cup vegetable oil
4 turkey cutlets, pounded thin (about 1 1/2 pounds total)

Directions:
1. In a wide, shallow bowl, toss the potatoes with 1 tablespoon flour, then with the parmesan cheese and scallions; season with salt.
2. Place the eggs in another wide, shallow bowl and beat lightly.
3. Place the remaining 1/2 cup flour in another shallow bowl and season with salt.
4. In a large, heavy nonstick skillet, heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium-high heat.
5. Working with one piece at a time, coat the turkey cutlet with flour, shaking off the excess, then dip in the eggs and transfer to the potato mixture, pressing potato onto each side.
6. Cook the cutlets in the skillet with more oil as needed, turning once, until the potato coating is golden and crisp. About 5 minutes per side. Transfer to parchment paper or paper towels to drain.

Seattle Times investigation

There's a stunning investigative story this week from the Seattle Times about "energy medicine devices" that are big-time scams. Patients are told they can cure cancer, AIDS and other terrible diseases, but they don't do anything. The FDA has tried to crack down, but the companies making these machines have simply moved overseas.

The Part I story is compelling from start to finish. I was just agape at how people could fall for such trickery. I'm guessing this investigation will lead to some major changes in oversight of these devices and possibly a Pulitzer Prize for the Times. On a sidenote...the two reporters on this story each have a long track record of really great investigative stories.

Facebook

I'm afraid I have to admit I've gone to the other side! I decided to try Facebook to see what all the hype was about. My husband put up a profile a few months back and I started to wonder how many of my friends were out there.

So I put up a profile a little over a week ago and I already found 10 friends, including an old college friend I hadn't seen or heard from in almost 15 years! Kind of fun. :-)

In addition to putting up your profile, you can do all kinds of fun things on Facebook. Today I added a "widget" to my profile that displays a map of the world and I have highlighted all the places I've been, places I've lived and places I want to go (well..I just put the places highest on my list of places to see, otherwise I would've highlighted pretty much the entire world!). It's really cool.

They also have games you can add and discussion groups you can join (they have one in Mpls-St. Paul called "I'm moving to Canada if Hillary gets elected"...ha! ha!)

As for other things...you might notice I added a new widget to this blog page. There's now a slideshow in the lower left corner. Right now it's displaying pictures from my wedding. I'll probably change it up every so often.

UPDATE: Jamey got the leaves done at the cabin yesterday. The snow melted and he just happened to be up there with a couple of his buddies. He worked his tail off all afternoon to get them done!

Last weekend we went to Ikea (and spent 3 hours there!). We found a vanity and matching mirror for our half bathroom, which I've been desperately wanting to finish for quite awhile now. So Jamey just needs to put it all together and install it.

Thursday we're going to Jamey's grandparents' house in Bayfield, Wis. for Thanksgiving. It'll be a fairly small group -- eight of us, I think.

Waited a little too long

We came up to the cabin this weekend, intending to finally rid the lawn of the pile of leaves that accumulate there every fall. We were all set -- even with the new lawn vaccum/chipper machine that we bought. But as we got closer to Spooner last night, we started to see snow on the ground. By the time we got to the cabin, it was clear we wouldn't be doing any raking this weekend. There are about 2 or 3 inches of snow! So I guess the leaves are going to have to wait until next spring. Of course, that means it's going to be an ugly job. In the spring the leaves are always wet and heavy and a lot more work. Next year we have to remember to get up here before the end of October to get this done. UGH.