I did tell my friend to buy any new furniture now (she wants to replace a bunch of stuff that is just too bulky for the rooms in the new house, despite it being more sq ftage) because if she waits until she moves in, she'll get so caught up in the HOUSE stuff, she likely won't want to spend the money on furniture. IME.

I'm glad I replaced my computer and bought the futon BEFORE I knew I was moving (by a mere matter of months.) Cause otherwise I might not've.

I did get a new bed (queen!) but that's partially because I knew I'd want to have a spare bed, and my old one would work. Though after almost 15 years, I should replace that too.

But I feel like I should get a real bedframe for mine, first. EHN.

Avatar the movie, ita?

I spent today judging writing for a bigtime secondary school writing contest. I read mostly portfolios and the ones that were really good were amazingly good. I am just happy I didn't have to read middle school humor or science fiction.

We went a little yam happy yesterday -- I bought 10 lbs for $3. For tomorrow, I baked steel cut oats with some sweet taters. OH HOLY JESUS it's good. It tastes like sweet potato pie. I don't get it. It's actually as good for me as any steel cut oatmeal (made with skim milk and 1/3 cup brown sugar in the entire casserole (2 cups dry oats). Nothing that is healthy for me should taste that good.

I'll freeze it into pint or half-pint canning jars for breakfasts later.

I am telling you baked oatmeal is the bomb.

Apparently, I don't sweat the playoffs. I'm enjoying the hell out of this game but it isn't stressing me out. Nice.

Well, sure, Brees, Sproles, and Graham saw to that.

Recipe? I love pie for breakfast and if it's actually oatmeal that tastes like pie that would probably be good for me.

Eta: First half I was relaxed, Nora. It was weird.

Avatar the movie, ita?

Yup.

Okay -t,

Toast 2 cups of steel cut oats with 1 tbls of butter in a dutch oven. Once it smells toasty, push the oats to the side and melt another tbls of butter in the center. Put 2 yams worth of yam mush and brown for about 2 minutes (or one can of pumpkin). Add 1/3 cup brown sugar and cinnamon, clove, ginger and nutmeg (1 tbls of each except less of the cloves). Stir it all until it browns and is fragrant (like 3 minutes). While still on the burner, add 2 1/4 cup of milk and 2 3/4 cup of water, a splash of vanilla, and a pinch of salt.

Bake in a preheated oven (375) for 35 minutes. When you pull it out it will look overly liquidly. Let it sit for 5 minutes and then stir. The liquid will incorporate.

If I had pecans, I'd glaze them and put them on top, but that would be so decadent!

Kat, what does baked do to the oatmeal that just boiling water doesn't? I am actually intrigued. Also how do you bake?

Thanks.

Thanks Kat, that sounds delicious!

Perkins, report. please.

I actually got a fair amount done tonight. I only got two boxes packed, but I did a lot of organizing and throwing out of stuff, and I have a sizable pile of stuff that it will make more sense to cart over to the house than to put in boxes that's now by the front door, waiting for me to load it into the car.

I think I am mostly done for the night, though--I am about to make myself a bourbon and ginger, put in a dvd, and shred stuff.

On a non-packing note, remember these: [link]

This is where I stole the recipe from. I just make a slightly larger batch: [link] When I make steel cut oats on the stove top, I inevitably boil over and sometimes over cook. Baked? Perfectly al dente every time.

I think next time, I might try coconut milk and mangoes instead of pumpkiny stuff. Or apples instead of yams.