I arrived home to see my beautiful tomato plants withering away. It wasn't from extreme temperatures. I think it is because I am just not destined to grow tomatoes. I have tried for years with no success. But each Spring I dream about having my own tomatoes and I forget the pain of the previous growing season. Already this year, I am on my second round of tomato plants as the first round died in a freak frost in early May (seriously, frost in May???). The second round was thriving and when I left, I had dozens of precious tomatoes on the vine. I arrive home to dead fruit and plants. I think it was some sort of fungus. I will know better for next year.
My car has been at the repair shop since July 4th and who knows when I will get it back. I was involved in a car accident just before we left for the States. I know what you are thinking...and it wasn't my fault...and I have the accident report to prove it! At any rate, they have to order the parts from the US and it will takes weeks until the car will be ready. We leave next week for France and I need a car! I keep calling the insurance guy and while I am impressed with my understanding of German, I am not getting any further in getting a rental car. Herr Horrhammer keeps telling me that he will resolve the situation and call me back in 10 minutes. That never occurs and I end up calling him each morning, "Herr Horrhammer. Das ist Frau Lord." "Ja, Ja," he always replies...and then we do the dance again.
Finally, I had a job interview yesterday...entry level, GS HR job. 8 1/2 hours a day, five days a week and it would get me into the system. I think I can handle an entry level job, don't you? It didn't sound like a bad job even though the interviewer did admit that I was totally over-qualified. I had to laugh at the questions..."Give me an example of a time when you gave superior customer service. Give me an occasion when you had to deal with a customer who was really mad and upset and used foul language. What is your experience with computer software programs?" "Really?" I wanted to scream, "Have you even looked at my resume?"
Finally, this morning, I decide to finally launch this blog. It is something that I have been wanting to do ever since we moved here in late December. So, today is the day. After trying WordPress and getting totally frustrated, I moved over to Google Blogger and continued to be frustrated. If anyone can design a good blogsite for me, please...have at it. As any of my former colleagues know (and my family can confirm), I am what you can refer to as "Electronically Challenged."
Ok, but enough of the gloom...HEY, IT IS MY FIRST BLOG! Who cares about the tomatoes...I also came home to a ton of carrots.
So, after two evenings of having Honey Carrots for dinner, I decided that we needed something else. Last week, I made Chocolate Zucchini bread after my brother-in-law supplied the largest zucchini I had ever seen. It went over well...so why not try Carrot Cake. After a quick check on the Internet for a recipe, I found a simple, classic version on BettyCrocker.com. Yes, I could have gone for a more exotic, updated cake, but why? Sometimes, the classics just hit the spot. My mood was lifting already.
The recipe calls for three cups of shredded carrots. On the IPAD, I click on I Heart Radio and select my favorite country music station out of Washington, DC. I go into my cooking zone and begin to feel more centered. I hear the DJ, Boxer, indicate that it is going to feel like 105 outside in DC today. My mood continues to improve. While I have shorts on here in my German home, I am also wearing a sweatshirt. Sorry guys!
The cake comes together easily and as it cooks, I make a quick lunch for my daughter, whom I have not seen for three hours. She is deep into the summer vacation mode; sleeping until 9:30, eating a quick breakfast and out the door to play with friends shortly thereafter. I did manage to get her to do six math problems prior to her mad dash. (What can I say...I am a slave driver.)
The phone rings. It is the insurance company. "And when do you need your rental car, Mrs. Lord?" "Do you know the horsepower of your car because we want to make sure that you get something comparable." Shortly thereafter, the cake comes out of the oven and the rental car company calls. "Mrs. Lord, we will bring you the car on Saturday morning." They are bringing me the car? The day is definitely looking up.
I am not sure if I will get around to a frosting for this classic carrot cake. Based on the grin on daughter's face, it may be just fine the way it is. (Her friends agree as well.)
Perhaps I should have made something that didn't incorporate the use of an oven for my inaugural posting. But I am not in the US where the temps are soaring. The temps are cool here and I have a bumper crop of carrots. So, if you need to wait a few months to bake...keep this easy recipe in mind.
Classic Carrot Cake
adapted from www.bettycrocker.com
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 cups shredded carrots
Preheat the oven to 350. Since I do not have a mixer in Germany, I had to hand mix the ingredients. It wasn't too difficult and did not take much time. In a bowl, mix together the sugar, oil and eggs. Once combined, add the cinnamon, baking soda, vanilla and salt. Gradually add in the flour; mixing small amounts and incorporate before adding more. Finally, stir in the carrots. Pour into a buttered (I used PAM) cake pan and cook for 45 minutes to an hour. When a toothpick comes out clean, it is done.
P.S. I am not very creative and have had a really hard time coming up with a spunky name for the site. I wanted to incorporate not only food but our travels...so Miles and Morsels came to mind. Stay tuned for bits on our travels!
Tschuss!
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