Blessings This Christmas and For the New Year

The scene outside my studio window this morning is a winter wonderland. Red cardinals stand out in sharp contrast against a sparkling white blanket of snow. The air is quite chill – in the low 30’s today with a wind chill in the low 20’s, but its warm and cozy inside our new home here in West Virginia. I hope this message today finds you all enjoying the comforts and joys of the season inside your own homes.

 Last Christmas Papa Crane and I were knee deep in a remodel of our home, so we made do with a make-shift kitchen in our laundry room. After looking at over 70 homes here, we finally just “settled” on one that “would do”, but it was in need of a serious make-over. I now have my “dream” kitchen (more on that in a future post) and can cook up a storm this Christmas, but our little laundry room kitchen will always serve as a reminder of the sacrifice we made to bring this dream into reality. 
 

We are still trying to get settled here, but are ever thankful that Papa Crane has been able to remain employed in a career that began in 1980, and has seen a steady decline over the past 32 years. When he graduated with a degree in printing from a small college in West Virginia, and we then married and moved to Richmond, VA, we had no plans of ever moving back here. But fate has a way of turning the tables on you, and so here we are. So when you open that lovely, glossy new magazine or sit curled up in a cozy chair with a cup of tea and your favorite book, know that you are supporting an industry that employs thousands upon thousands of workers all over the US, and no doubt all over the world.

A very Merry Christmas to all of you and I wish you Many Blessings this season and all throughout the coming year!

NOTE:  I'm currently reading "Stories From a Small Town - Remembering My Childhood in Hedgesville, West Virginia" by my new friend and local author  Roger Engle, and "A Fine Romance: Falling in Love with the English Countryside", by the immensely talented artist and writer Susan Branch.

A Special Dinner for My Feathered Friends

Well Hello beautiful! 
I'm so glad you could join me for dinner today! 

What's on the menu? Why, it Kush Kush Crumble, of course!

Oh, its your favorite?!!! And you would like the recipe? Why certainly, its oh so easy!

Bye bye now! Come again soon won't you?

 Kush Kush Crumble

3/4 cup bacon or other drippings

2 cups yellow cornmeal

2 teaspoons baking powder

2 cups water

Melt the drippings in a skillet over medium heat. Meanwhile, stir together the remaining ingredients.

When drippings are hot but not smoking, pour in the batter. When it has set a bit around the sides, stir and turn the mixture with a spatula for 2 or 3 minutes, until it resembles scrambled eggs.

Cover pan, lower heat and cook 2 to 4 minutes longer, until the grains have swollen and the mixture is stiff. Spread on a platter to cool.

Optional additions: Add a 1/2 cup chopped peanuts to the batter or stir in 1/2 cup peanut butter at the end of cooking.

Crumple and scatter on the bird tale or over the ground-feeding area. Refrigerate leftovers up to a week or freeze up to 2 months.

FOLLOW UP: Initially I added some birdseed (black oiled sunflower) over the Kush Kush to encourage the birds to visit. Then I scattered some on the ground to entice them even more. Only problem was, my dog found it so I will not be doing that again!