Sorry, guys...

Sorry for the lack of posts lately. I have been consumed...by Harry Potter. I just started the last book in the series, and I quite literally can hardly put it down. I'm somehow managing my readings for school in spite of this, although I have to say that my first priority is definetely Harry Potter.

It's funny, I used to scoff at the Harry Potter craze, imagining that the books couldn't be that good and that I was somehow above all that. I felt smug for reading Virginia Woolf. I still adore Virginia Woolf, but I have to say that J.K. Rowling is brilliant. Genius. The Harry Potter plot is amazing, and as the books go on, the story gets more intense. Every time my boyfriend (a philosophy and German major who scoffs at reading the books although he loves the movies) walks in my room, the first words out of my mouth are, "You'll never believe what just happened!" Indeed, a thrill a minute.

I know that Rowling doesn't need any extra publicity, but let me just say that if you have not read the books, you should read them. Adults, adolescents, and children alike can appreciate these books. I was actually convinced to read them by the owners of the first goat farm I worked on, who are both neurologists in their 60s. They preordered the last book and were excited as children when it came in the mail. So definetely try to get your hands on them--they have been out long enough and are popular enough that there should be plenty of copies at your local used book store.

Comfort Food #1

I'm sure you, as I often do, have days that seem interminable. This, my lovelies, is the time for baking.
Note: This is a really large recipe for sharing with friends. I'm sure you could downsize the recipe if you wanted them all for yourself, which is perfectly reasonable.

Death By Oatmeal Cookie

Ingredients:
--2 c. whole-wheat flour
--2 c. all-purpose flour
--1 Tbsp. baking soda
--1 tsp. salt
--4 c. oats (yes, 4 cups)
--1.5 c. dried fruit of your choice
--1/2 c. brown sugar, packed
--1.5 tsp. ginger--now that I think about it candied ginger would be fantastic as well
--1 tsp. cinnamon
--1 c. toasted nut of choice (even coconut)
--1 c. unsalted butter, melted
--1 c. molasses
--2 T. hot water
--2 eggs

1.) Preheat oven to 375 (don't you hate it when recipes forget to tell you to preheat the oven BEFORE starting the recipe?)
2.) Combine all flour, baking soda, salt, oats, dried fruit, brown sugar, spices, and nuts in a freaking huge bowl.
3.) Add butter, molasses, water, and eggs and combine well.
4.) Drop dough in as large or small portions as you like on a greased baking sheet (if you have a stoneware baking sheet this is even easier because you don't have to grease stoneware).
5.) Flatten balls of dough with the bottom of a drinking glass dipped in sugar. You may have to wet the bottom of the glass to get the sugar to stick for the first cookie (Note: I love Sugar In the Raw for this--the great big sugar crystals crunch when you bite into the cookie).
6.) Bake 10-12 minutes.
7.) Eat with a glass of soymilk with feet propped on a big, cushy ottoman while reading the Harry Potter book of your choice.