Ok, so maybe it’s not all that bold, and I’m not sure if I love it yet or not, but it’s a new layout just the same. Voila!

I haven’t changed my layout in a very long time. I really liked the last one and I was hesitant about changing it today. I finally decided to go ahead and do it because what is life without a little change? It’s boring is what it is. Boring and predictable and blah.

So, of course, I went the ever so excited route of black and grey. Whatever, I happen to like black and grey. I grabbed a handful of other themes from around the webz so this one may not last too long.

We’ll see.

I made up a meatball recipe back at Christmas. I needed some kind of finger food to take to my mom and dad’s. It turned out really well, so I wanted to write it down before I forget what goes in it.

The first time I made this, I did a pan sauce/gravy and we just ate them with a fork. I decided to try them out again, but this time with marinara as meatball subs. This is just the recipe for the meatballs. You’re on your own for sauce.

Ingredients:

1 lb ground veal (can substitute ground beef)
1 lb ground pork
1 lb ground beef
2 shallots minced
1 head of garlic minced
2 tbsp finely chopped fresh basil
2 tbsp finely chopped fresh oregano
1/3 – 1/2 cup bread crumbs (panko)
1 egg
1 tsp coarse salt
2 tsp pepper
6 oz finely grated white cheddar cheese

saute shallots and garlic in a little butter/olive oil until tender. Set aside.
In a large bowl, combine all ingredients except cheese. Mix thoroughly. Add cheese last and mix well to distribute evenly.

Roll into balls – about 1 inch diameter.

Brown on all sides in a large pan. Meatballs will not be cooked through.

Return meatballs to your sauce (whichever kind you like) and simmer until done – about 20 minutes.

January is always insane at work. This year, it’s even more so. Broken machines are the bane of my existence, but an unfortunate fact in the printing business. They just always seems to break when I need them the most.

And hey, Mother Nature. Can we talk about the cold? Seriously? I mean, I LOVE snow and all, but this cold thing is out of hand. And the snow you gave us didn’t even stick. I don’t want to complain, really I don’t, but the high on Friday is supposed to be 25. This is Texas. We’re not used to that kind of cold. Can we negotiate 10 degrees, maybe? I don’t think that’s too much to ask.

I did wash all my sweaters in preparation of the weather. They’re hanging all over the hall bathroom so they can dry. And the really heavy ones are draped over the side of my bathtub because hanging them would stretch the shoulders.

Ok, back to drinking my tea and then on to laundry. I’d really just like to sit here and maybe nap.

2009. I don’t know quite what to say about this year.

I spent a good chunk on time yesterday reading back over all my posts from the year. I did a lot of whining and complaining. I posted a lot of photos and music. I’d really like 2010 to have a much higher photo to complaint ratio. I’ll work on that.

This year held a metric shit-ton of ridiculousness. So much, in fact, that it was decided we needed a new word to describe it. Beth and I are still working on coming up with that. Suggestions are welcome.

Let’s review:

I experienced the horror of a Miley Cyrus concert. I moved. I got my ear pierced again – twice, even. I renewed a friendship I thought was gone forever. I opened an etsy shop (but failed to put anything in it as my external hard drive is holding all my photos hostage at the moment). I gained 5 lbs. I got into nerd core hip hop. I became the mother of a registered voter. I lost 2 pets. I bought too many books and too much music, but read and listened to it all. I wished on countless 11:11s. I failed. I won. I’m pretty sure I laughed more than I cried which makes 2009 a good year in the balance of things.

Happy New Year to the bots and crawlers who read this. May your 2010 bring more laughter than tears and may you find a few precious moments of happiness along the way.