i am not sure what i will say i am thankful for tomorrow. all i can think of right now is last year. tom & i picked out names on the way up to his folks house & back to pass the time. we dreamt big & made our plans for our soon to be arriving (HA HA HA) bundle of joy. how would we handle discipline, what kind of daycare would we go with, what color will we paint the nursery. we were so nervous that we wouldn't have time to finish the kitchen renovation AND do the nursery. how naive we were...
this thanksgiving i am (slightly) wiser. i can't plan for the future, but i can dream & wish dammit. is it alright to have a thanksgiving wish- if so i know i don't even have to say it. you already know what it is.
so... the things i AM thankful for (in no particular order):
- wonderful friends - i am so lucky to have the lovely ladies of this there in-ter-net who support me & make me feel oh so happy when i see your wonderful comments on my blog! i am just as equally blessed to have friends around me who know me & love me for who i am. a surprising number know about how we have been trying- i just can't seem to keep my mouth shut about it!- and they are not only supportive & sympathetic, but they put up with the crazy, hormonal rages & periodic weep fests that have become my norm. and not a single one has said to 'just relax' or 'get drunk'. (although i have heard a mention or two about - 'well you can always adopt'... but i know they mean well. some even have a good amount of education about the IF world that means real conversations even though they are no where near being in my same position.
- my family- as much as my mom can drive us crazy- and believe me she has crazy covered (reminder to blog about this when fortified with copious amounts of red wine!) we have a pretty great family. from my cousin who knows we're trying & had her own troubles with her son- to my sister my rock my svesta. i can not even begin to explain how much she means to me and how much better my life is just because she is my sister.
- my job - as much as it drives me crazy & as bad as any job can get, i am lucky to work somewhere that i am proud to be a part of doing something that i really love. now if i can just feel like they believe in me as much as i believe in them we'll really have something!
- my husband - what words can be adequate here. none that i can think of. true love & companionship, strength & support, a total understanding of another person & no matter what- tyong your life to theirs & trusting in that completely. these are a few of the thoughts running through my mind & they don't even cut it.
- my furry kids - my 2 dogs & 1 cat. they just make me happy. chase is always, without fail, so excited to see me every day. i make his world better & i LOVE that!
- epicurious dot com. and these:
almond bar cookies
Gourmet December 2004
These moist, chewy cookies have an intense almond flavor.Makes about 3 dozen.
1/2 cup packed canned almond paste* (about 5 oz; not marzipan), coarsely crumbled
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup sugar
2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, softened
1 large egg, separated
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sliced almonds (about 1 1/2 oz)
Pulse almond paste in a food processor until broken up into small bits, then add salt and 1/4 cup sugar and continue to pulse until finely ground, about 1 minute.
Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F.Butter a 9-inch square baking pan, then line with foil, leaving a 2-inch overhang on 2 opposite sides, and butter foil.
Beat together butter and remaining 1/2 cup sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes in a stand mixer (preferably fitted with a paddle attachment) or 6 minutes with a handheld.Add almond mixture, egg yolk, and almond extract and beat until combined well, about 2 minutes. Reduce speed to low, then add flour and mix until combined. Spread batter evenly in pan with an offset spatula. Lightly beat egg white in a small bowl, then brush some of it over batter and sprinkle evenly with almonds.
they are surprisingly easy, but the almond paste is pricy! almost $7 for a tube- but 2 tubes = 9 dozen or so cookies, so i think it's worth it. they are so decadent & delicious that it's totally worth it! plus your husband will stop in his tracks & worship you. at least until the bars are gone. i'm bringing them for thanksgiving dinner tomorrow & i hope i have enough...
