I'm Honored

Bloggers love a little recognition. So I was thrilled yesterday to learn that Mattenylou of the charming blog On Larch Lane has given me the Kreativ Blogger Award. Thanks, Mattenylou!

This award is designed to share news of fun blogs. Each recipient is asked to post seven interesting things about herself (or himself, of course) and to pass the award on to seven other bloggers.

Mattenylou very sweetly wrote to me saying that if I didn’t have time to post seven things about myself she would understand. Naturally, I responded that for an egotist like me the problem would be finding ONLY seven things to write about!

Things about Tinky (they may be of interest only to me, but here they are!):

1. Let’s start with guilty pleasures: I read category fiction. This means I love mysteries and even the occasional romance novel. (I have also been known to TiVo “Ghost Whisperer” on television; I can’t figure out why, but it’s there in my queue every week.)

2. I have had crushes on a number of movie stars, including the following (not in order): Matthew Broderick, Fred Astaire, and Walter Pidgeon. Also Walter Cronkite (maybe there’s something about the name Walter?)

3. There are days on which I would kill for a truffle.

4. I talk to my pets constantly. I am certain that they talk back.

5. When I’m really frazzled I take a walk in the woods.

6. I love my friends and my family. I wish more of them played bridge with me, however; I haven't played bridge in years! And it's my favorite team sport.

7. I would love to be better organized. Also rich and famous, but better organized actually comes first!

Seven of My Favorite Blogs

These were really hard to narrow down; I read and enjoy a LOT of blogs.

1. Commonweeder, which muses year round on gardens and community.

2. Food & Think from the Smithsonian, which mixes science, food, culture, and fun.

3. Walking Off the Big Apple, the thinking woman’s (and man’s) guide to New York.

4. History Hoydens, in which historical-romance writers talk about their research and their writing with wit and passion.

5. Sugar Apple, which blends Southern American and island cuisines to maximize color and flavor.

6. How Does Your Garden Grow, which concentrates on local eating and doable recipes in my native New England.

7. Today at Mary’s Farm, in which journalist Edie Clark shares insightful essays on country life.

Please take a look at them—and, if you like, leave a comment to tell me about some of YOUR favorite blogs. I’m always looking for new reading material.

Before I go I have to post a recipe since National Oatmeal Month is almost over and I HAVEN’T POSTED A SINGLE AVENACEOUS RECIPE this January!

This recipe comes from Jody Cothey. I’ll tell you more about her in my next post, which will feature another of her favorite foods.

For now I’ll just let you know that she and her husband Edward own Tregellys Fiber Farm in my hometown of Hawley, Massachusetts. They have a longstanding interest in Tibetan and Nepalese people and culture.

The Cotheys learned to make this oatmeal dish from Nepalese friends and eat it frequently at this time of year. In Nepal it’s sweetened with honey, but in Massachusetts the Cotheys (and I!) tweak it with a little maple syrup.

If you like bananas and oatmeal, try this combination. It is surprisingly silky in taste and texture.




Nepalese Porridge

Ingredients:

1 cup milk
1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
1 pinch salt
2/3 banana, cut into small pieces
maple syrup to taste

Instructions:

In a small saucepan combine the milk, oats, salt, and banana pieces. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the porridge reaches the consistency you like (for me this is about five minutes).

Serve with maple syrup. Serves 1 to 2, depending on appetite.