Homemaking Edition

Last Monday, knowing that we had a heinously busy week ahead of us, Michael and I made a giant pot of clam chowder and a full batch of Mom's famous rolls. And we ate this food ALL week: Monday night, Tuesday night, Wednesday night, and Thursday lunch. We didn't even get sick of it, so I'm sharing the recipes here.

Christmas Eve Clam Chowder
2 6.5 oz cans minced clams
1 cup finely diced onions
1 cup finely diced celery
2 cups diced potatoes
1/2 cup butter (that's why this chowder is SO good!)
3/4 cup flour mixed with water (for thickening)
1 quart half and half (the other reason this chowder is delicious)
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp sugar
Drain juice from clams and pour over vegetables. Add enough water to cover vegetables. Simmer covered over medium heat for 20 minutes. Add cream and butter and heat thoroughly. Add thickening and cook until thick. Add clams.

2 hour butter rolls (makes 3 dozen)
Sift into mixing bowl: 4 cups flour (I like half white/half wheat), 1 tsp salt, 4 Tbsp sugar
Soak 4 tsp yeast in 1/4 cup warm water
Beat slightly 2 eggs
Scald 1 1/2 cups of milk (heat to 150 degrees F) add 1/3 cup butter. Cool.
Add all ingredients together. Beat until smooth. Cover and let rise until double. Roll out to desired rolls, let rise again. Bake at 375-400 degrees for 20 minutes.

This week was heinous because of my work schedule. I was giving library instruction sessions to graduate students: how to use library databases, how to keep track of your resources, how to conduct online searches, etc. I really enjoy teaching and the classes went well. These were evening workshops (6-8 pm), plus I worked at the reference desk one evening, so on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday Mike and I were on campus from 8 am to 8 pm. We survived, and the week ahead should be easier.

Friday night we babysat for some friends in the branch while they went out on their first date since . . . they're not sure when. We had a good time with their three little kids.

Speaking of kids, some other friends of ours are expecting a baby. This is the cute little project I've been working on for that little one:

This picture is sort of dark, but you can get the idea. It's for a 3-6 month old -- a yellow cabled jumper. I'm going to get a little white top and tights to go with it. There's just a little more finishing I have to do: neckband, armbands, and buttons.

Lest you think that all we do around here is cook, knit, and babysit -- last night we went to a performance on campus of the Vagina Monologues. We saw the Vagina Monologues last February in Salt Lake City and decided it needed to be a family tradition for us. Last night's performance was great -- very moving, very entertaining. It almost made me think I ought to audition for the show next year. We'll see.

Tonight we're staying in, checking on the Oscars webcast occasionally, and praying for spring to come soon.

Yes We Can

This is a music video by will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas inspired by Barack Obama's "Yes We Can" speech. I think it's inspiring and I know we're all hoping for great things for the U.S.



It was a creed written into the founding documents that declared the destiny of a nation.
Yes we can.
It was whispered by slaves and abolitionists as they blazed a trail toward freedom.
Yes we can.
It was sung by immigrants as they struck out from distant shores and pioneers who pushed westward against an unforgiving wilderness.
Yes we can.
It was the call of workers who organized; women who reached for the ballots; a President who chose the moon as our new frontier; and a King who took us to the mountaintop and pointed the way to the Promised Land.
Yes we can to justice and equality.
Yes we can to opportunity and prosperity.
Yes we can heal this nation.
Yes we can repair this world.

Yes we can.

We know the battle ahead will be long, but always remember that no matter what obstacles stand in our way, nothing can stand in the way of the power of millions of voices calling for change.
We have been told we cannot do this by a chorus of cynics...they will only grow louder and more dissonant ........... We've been asked to pause for a reality check. We've been warned against offering the people of this nation false hope.
But in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope.

Now the hopes of the little girl who goes to a crumbling school in Dillon are the same as the dreams of the boy who learns on the streets of LA; we will remember that there is something happening in America; that we are not as divided as our politics suggests; that we are one people; we are one nation; and together, we will begin the next great chapter in the American story with three words that will ring from coast to coast; from sea to shining sea --

Yes. We. Can.



Celebrities featured include: Jesse Dylan, Will.i.am, Common, Scarlett Johansson, Tatyana Ali, John Legend, Herbie Hancock, Kate Walsh, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Adam Rodriquez, Kelly Hu, Adam Rodriquez, Amber Valetta, Eric Balfour, Aisha Tyler, Nicole Scherzinger and Nick Cannon