The View From Mrs. Sundberg's Window

Why not switch gears?

December 1, 2008

Listened to the show Saturday and it was not bad. Did a little dancin' this time around while I made bacon, egg and cheese sandwiches on toasted English muffins. I made some cheesy hash browns, too, but not pancakes. I often make pancakes, too, or waffles, but I've felt the need to simplify lately. And not just at mealtime. Seems there's so much, too much, of everything, everywhere. Not that a lot of everything is a bad thing. But really, people. Why not switch gears awhile and pare it down?

And today is a good day to begin. The first of December, the dark month, the corner you round into Christmas and the New Year. Instead of going all out and getting all carried away with the season and working myself into some kind of list-induced-migraine-frenzy, what is it that really matters? Well. Instead of sending out Christmas letters to friends and relatives who all pretty much know about me and my life, I'm going to send a few cards to people whom I know could use a piece of real mail. For Christmas Eve, rather than a big ol' dinner with all the fixings, I'll make everyone's favorite hors d'oeuvre, along with a homemade pizza. No new Christmas outfits this year. We HAVE nice clothes. Let's wear them. Instead of keeping a grid of numbers and prices and types of gifts for the kids, I'll simply buy a few nice gifts. And one of their gifts will be a trip to the grocery store to pick out groceries for another family, chocolates included. As for all those boxes of decorations and the big plastic Santa and the sacks of garland, well, perhaps we'll leave them and just do up the tree this year, and set out candles all over the house and light them each night.

Things don't have to be so complicated. You can wrap all the gifts in one pattern of wrapping paper and nobody is going to flip out. You don't have to make ALL the Christmas recipes in the box. If you don't make it to the holiday open house at the bank, your account won't be charged. You have one life, people. If it's not crammed full of stuff, it doesn't mean you're wasting it. It means you have time and space. And time is nice. Space is a good thing. Especially if an opportunity to make a snowman comes along.

Ham and Egg Bake
This recipe takes only a few minutes to throw together, and will leave you glowing warm inside all day.

1 can crescent rolls

1 pkg (8 oz) smoked ham

6 eggs

1/2 cup milk

Pepper

2 cups shredded cheese (cheddar is good)

Press dough into a greased 9 x 13 cake pan or baking dish,

covering bottom evenly and sealing off holes. Shred ham

and sprinkle it over the crust. Whisk eggs and milk until

blended and pour over ham. Sprinkle with pepper and cheese.

Bake 25-30 minutes or so at 350.