Cook'n by the Creek: It's all about the angle.

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

It's all about the angle.

Even though each day is cold and sometimes bitter cold the sun is glowing at a new angle. With 4 large windows facing the southwest I really get to see the change. Every few days I can see how the sun travels across the wall opposite the windows. Yes, with each day something else looks quite dusty. It started low in the room and is now very close to the high beams and tops of door casings. It's like an automatic reminder of what to clean next. By May the sun will be high enough in the sky that nothing will need cleaned and no sun rays shining in. For now the cleaning will begin right down to the blinds! I really dislike cleaning blinds and wonder why I wanted them!

Looking out the sun makes the snow look so clean, crisp and refreshing and helps the cold temperatures become tolerable. Another beauty with the sun hanging low in the sky is the long shadows cast from the trees. Especially midday when the sky is so blue and the shadows have a deep blue/gray color. Never in my younger life did I notice the beauty of each day. Funny even clouds, rain, snow and sun have their own special awesomeness for me now. I missed a lot of gorgeous days wanting warmth and sunshine so many years ago. Now is the time to take a deep breath and realize what the great outdoors has to offer.

Off to Wellsville today for a few needs and coffee with my friend. We chatted, drank coffee and played with her new tablet. Like most of my friends we have known each other since our high school days. If someone would have told us back then.......in 52 years you two will be communicating with cell phones, tablets, etc........well can you imagine? Knowing me I would have called them crazy! Heck colored tv wasn't even invented way back in my teen years. How about buying water to drink? Never! I could go on and on with what has been invented in my 65 years. Well two hours with Marcia flew by but time flies when your having fun. Like 65 years it really flew by, I should have paid more attention and taken notes :)

When I ask the hub what he would like for supper there is a good chance he is going to say spatzle noodles. They are of German cuisine and very easy to make if you have a spatzle grater. Years ago I did them by hand cutting off strips of dough from a cutting board. Then by luck I came across the spatzle maker, if something makes life easier I do it. Here it is in action, load some of the dough in the little square and slide it back and forth on the grater over boiling water. Three minutes and spatzle is done! We like it with cabbage or sauerkraut, browned meat and gravy or good bratwursts. A slice of cheese and crusty bread on the side, it's a meal. We have leek butter made last spring and it hits the spot this time of year. Most Potter County people are thinking of the leeks in the winter just waiting for them to start sprouting in early spring. I say they are sleeping through the winter just like the asparagus in our garden. It is so exciting to see the first shoots pop through the ground, at least in the life of Cheryl. If you are from here you probably remember years ago when kids would be sent home from school because they ate the wild leeks. Leeks, spring gobbler and trout season in our area is the sign winter is over. We enjoy leek butter on homemade bread or any bread, noodles, potatoes and anything else we can think of.