BHM Newsletter
Volume 9      Number 12

December 19, 2007
 

INSIDE BHM

It's raining and the wind is blowing on a fairly regular basis in the Pacific Northwest, but we've been plowing through the weather to get the mail out for Christmas. We're packaging and sending out orders as soon as we get them, but it's up to the post office now. If you order anything from here on and hope to get it by Christmas, you'll probably have to opt for a speedier delivery service than the U.S. Postal Service.

Subscribers have been receiving their new issue (Jan/Feb 2008, Issue no. 109) in the mail this past week and noticing that there have been many price increases for both subscriptions and anthologies. This simply reflects our increasing printing and postage costs. Since the new issue update won't go on the BHM website until after Christmas, you can take advantage of the old prices until then.

As this is the last issue for 2007, Lenie and I, and all the staff here at Backwoods Home Magazine, would like to wish all our readers and their families a very Merry Christmas, or happy holiday of their choice, and a healthy and prosperous New Year

—Dave Duffy

SELF-RELIANCE TIPS

Top New Years Resolutions
(and How to Keep Them)

It's that time of year again: when we make promises to ourselves about ways we'll improve our lives in the coming year. Too often, we end up breaking those promises. Maybe we set the bar for our goals too high. Or we just get distracted. Or that cigarette, piece of chocolate cake, or demand from the boss is just too compelling to deny.

But don't give up hope -- and don't stop making resolutions. If we're patient with ourselves and if we find the right method for changing our lives, we can do it. We are, after all, "the captains of our own souls." In that spirit, we present some of the top New Years Resolutions people make and links that will help us keep those self-made pledges.

"I will quit drinking!"

Getting Help for Drinking Problems. Resources from your family doctor to AA.

Cut Down on Drinking. Some problem drinkers (for instance young college partiers) may not need to quit altogether, but only to learn better habits.

Rational Recovery. An alternative to AA for addicts (of all sorts) and their families. No groups; no "disease model"; focus on self-help.

Personal Recovery Stories to help give persistance and courage.

"I'll stop smoking!"

Smokefree.gov. A resource guide from the people who are "into" everything.

American Cancer Society: Guide to Quitting Smoking. A great overview of both the hows and the whys of quitting.

WhyQuit? The Internet's guide to going cold turkey.

Dr. Bob's Quit Smoking Page. Wow. Big guide to everything including why smokes, how to quit (many different ways), and even the U.S. government's role in promoting tobacco use.

"I'll take off that extra poundage!"

Whole Body Fitness. Excersise, diet, and attitude all count.

WebMD's Diet Directory. Everything from binge eating to losing that last five stubborn pounds. Learn about low-fat, carbs, the Mediterranean diet, etc. (We're personally rather fond of the Do-Nothing Diet).

eDiets. Big portal on everything to do with health and fitness.

Mayo Clinic Weight Loss Center. Online advice from the world-famed medical center.

"I'll spend more time with family and friends."

Families with Purpose. Big guide to all kinds of family-centered activities for busy people.

How to Reclaim Your Weeknights. Real experiences of real people.

Find time for Friends. You'll feel a lot happier and won't be carrying so much of the world on your own shoulders.

Family Dinners. Real people tell how they create time and mood for that all-important bonding ritual.

"I'll reduce stress and relax more."

Make a "Stop Doing" List". All that busy-ness might just be an inefficient use of your precious time.

Understanding Your Stresses. Analysing and beginning to deal with the stressors in your personal life.

25 Ways to Reduce Stress. From self-hypnosis to music to games to sex.

How to Help Reduce Stress at Work. Mentoring, better sleep habits, and more.

"I'll learn a new skill or pursue my education."

Career Tests and personality inventories. Learn more about yourself before you sign up for a new learning program or move toward a new career.

15 Steps to Cultivating Lifelong Learning. A systematic, intellectual, yet practical, approach to making yourself a better learner (and teacher).

Resources for Career Change. When you want your learning to take you in a new direction.

Aging and Learning. Continuing to learn, well up into your senior years.

Subscribe to Backwoods Home. Of course! What better place to learn new skills for independent lifestyles?

And no matter what your resolution ...

Here are some websites that will help you set and realistically meet goals.

How to Keep Your New Year's Resolutions. Aim low and don't sweat the setbacks.

Top 10 Ways to Ensure New Years Resolution Success. Write 'em, plan 'em, set up accountability checks. And believe.

The Goals Guy. Advice for many different personal styles and many varieties of goals.

Clipart in this article courtesy of Designed to a T.

RECIPES

Happy, Healthy Holidays

Yes, we love to feast! But oh, the aftermath ... that we can do without. Jelly belly. Arteries oozing with leftover grease. You know the drill. So herewith we present a collection of recipes that still have the holiday spirit, but don't have quite so much bad-for-us stuff in them.

Berry-Wine Soup

(May be served warm or chilled.)

1 cup cranberry juice cocktail
1 cup fresh raspberries
1 cup hulled and sliced fresh strawberries
1/2 cup fresh blueberries
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
1 cinnamon stick
Pinch of ground cloves
1/4 cup red wine, preferably a fruity wine, such as Zinfandel
Thin lemon slices for garnish

Combine all ingredients, except wine and lemon slices, in a medium saucepan; bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Remove from heat and let cool until warm. Remove and discard the cinnamon stick and stir in the wine. Serve immediately. Or refrigerate in a covered container until chilled, at least 4 hours, before serving. Garnish each serving with a lemon slice.

Serves 4.

Apple-Spiced Pork Roast (for crock pot)

2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh rosemary
2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh thyme
1 teaspoon dried marjoram (you can also substitute dried sage)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon white or black pepper
2 1/3 to 2 1/2 pound pork sirloin tri-tip roast
1 cup spiced apple cider (bottled)
2 Tart apples (Granny Smith or Pippin, for instance), cored and cut into 3/4-inch pieces
1 large red onion, cut into 3/4-inch pieces
1/4 cup dark brown sugar, loosely packed
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons maple butter (you can substitute maple syrup)
2 tablespoons quick-mixing flour

In a small bowl, mix together rosemary, thyme, marjoram, salt, and pepper. Rub the herb mixture all over the outside of the pork roast. Place in a crock pot. Pour apple cider around the roast. Cover roast with apple pieces, then top apples with onion pieces. Sprinkle brown sugar and cinnamon over the top of the apples and onions.

Cover and cook on low about 4-5 hours (a meat thermometer inserted into the center of roast should register 165 degrees). When cooked throughout, remove roast to serving platter.

Turn crock pot to high. Add maple butter to a microwave-safe custard cup and microwave on high for about 5 seconds to soften. Stir in flour (add a tablespoon of juice from slow cooker, if needed). Stir maple paste into the apple-onion-cider mixture in slow cooker. Cook for 30 minutes longer, or until thickened nicely. Meanwhile, after pork has cooled slightly (about 10 minutes), cover with foil to keep warm.

Serve sliced pork roast with apple-onion sauce, and steamed yams if desired.

Serves 6.

Healthy Ham, Cheese, and Veggie Bake

Cooking-oil Spray

4 cups frozen ready-to-cook hash brown potatoes with peppers and onions, thawed
3 cups (8 ounces) small broccoli florets
1 cup (8 ounces) diced, cooked lean ham
2 cups reduced fat shredded cheddar cheese
Egg substitute equivalent to four eggs
2/3 cup skim milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees F. Coat an 8-by-8-inch glass baking dish with cooking spray. Combine potatoes, broccoli and ham in a large bowl; toss well. Arrange half of potato mixture in baking dish; top with half the cheese, remaining potato mixture and remaining cheese. Beat egg substitute in a medium bowl. Add milk, salt and pepper; mix well. Pour evenly over potato mixture. Bake 40 minutes. Let stand five minutes before serving.

Shepherd's Pie (for leftover turkey and vegetables)

Cooking-oil spray
2/3 cup chopped mild or sweet onion
2 cups diced roasted turkey
2 cups leftover gravy
1/2 to 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce (optional)
1-2 cups assorted leftover vegetables (optional)
2 cups mashed potatoes
1 tablespoon butter or no/low-trans fat margarine
Freshly ground black pepper (optional)

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Coat the inside of a deep-dish pie plate with cooking-oil spray. Coat a large, nonstick skillet with cooking-oil spray, add the onion, and cook until the onion is lightly browned. With the spatula, stir in the diced turkey, gravy, Worcestershire sauce, and leftover vegetables, if desired.

Spread the turkey mixture evenly in the prepared pie plate. Spread the mashed potatoes evenly over the meat. With the fork, make a design in the mashed potatoes. Set aside.

In a microwave-safe cup, melt the butter in the microwave (or melt it in saucepan over low heat on the stove). With a pastry brush, brush the top of the potatoes with the melted butter. Sprinkle black pepper over the top if desired.

Place pie dish in the oven and cook until heated through and golden on top (about 25 minutes).

Serves 6.

Skinny (and Easy) Mashed Potatoes

5 large potatoes, cut into 1-inch pieces (about 7-1/2 cups)
2 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) chicken broth
Generous dash pepper

Place potatoes and broth in a medium saucepan. Over high heat, heat to a boil. Reduce heat to medium. Cover and cook 10 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Drain, reserving broth. Mash potatoes with 1-1/4 cups broth and pepper. If needed, add additional broth until potatoes are desired consistency.

Green Beans with Almonds

1 pound fresh green beans, chopped to 1-1/2 inch lengths
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup slivered almonds
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Italian-seasoned bread crumbs
Salt and pepper to taste (optional)

Microwave green beans in water until almost tender. Drain off water. Place almonds, butter, and garlic powder into the bowl, mix, and continue microwaving until beans are soft enough to eat but still have a little "tooth." Sprinkle with bread crumbs, add salt and pepper if desired, and serve.

Serves 4.

Brandied Baked Pears

6 firm Bosc or Bartlett pears
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup plus 1 teaspoon brandy
1/4 cup chilled whipping cream or heavy cream

Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 450°F. Peel and halve pears, leaving stems intact, then core with melon-ball cutter and toss with brown sugar in a large bowl. Melt butter in a 3-quart shallow baking dish in oven, about 1 minute, then add pears, turning to coat with butter. Add water to dish and bake pears, turning over occasionally, until tender and edges are caramelized, 30 to 50 minutes, depending on ripeness of pears.

Transfer pears with a slotted spoon to a plate, then add 1/4 cup brandy to baking dish and stir with a heatproof rubber spatula to dissolve any caramelized juices. Return pears to dish.

Whisk cream in a bowl just until thick (before soft peaks form), then whisk in remaining teaspoon brandy. Serve pears with brandy sauce and drizzle with brandied cream.

Serves 6.

HUMOR

Let Sleeping Dogs (and Cats) ...

In the April, 2007 issue of the newsletter, we included a photo feature titled "When you're tired, you're tired..." with a few pictures of kids who'd fallen asleep in unusual positions. This month, thanks to Susan in Tucson, AZ, we'd like to share the "furry friends" version, interspersed with our regular text jokes.

After looking and laughing, we expect you'll be glad that so many pet owners, with camera in hand, "let sleeping dogs (and cats) lie."

HIS AND HERS

HER DIARY - Sunday, June, 27: Last night I thought he was acting weird.

We had made plans to meet at a bar to have a drink. I was shopping with my friend all day long, so I thought he was upset at the fact that I was a bit late, but he made no comment. Conversation wasn't flowing so I suggested that we go somewhere quiet so we could talk, he agreed but he kept quiet and absent. I asked him what was wrong and he said nothing. I asked him if it was my fault that he was upset. He said it had nothing to do with me and not to worry.

On the way home I told him that I loved him, he simply smiled and kept driving. I can't explain his behavior; I don't know why he didn't say I love you too.

When we got home I felt as if I had lost him, as if he wanted nothing to do with me anymore. He just sat there and watched TV. He seemed distant and absent. Finally I decided to go to bed. About 10 minutes later he came to bed and to my surprise he responded to my caress and we made love, but I still felt that he was distracted and his thoughts were somewhere else. I decided that I could not take it anymore and I wanted to confront him with the situation but he had fallen asleep. I started crying and cried until I too fell asleep.

I don't know what to do. I'm almost sure that his thoughts are with someone else. My life is a disaster.

HIS DIARY - Saturday, June, 26: Played a horrible game of golf today. Shot a 97. Can't putt for crap. Got lucky though.

PRESENT TENSE

"Thanks for the electric guitar you gave me for Christmas," little Chris Cody said to his uncle the first time he saw him after the holidays. "It's the best present I ever got."

"That's great," said his uncle. "Do you know how to play it?"

"Oh, I don't play it," the little fellow said. "My mom gives me a dollar a day not to play it during the day and my dad gives me five dollars a week not to play it at night.

IT'S ALL IN HOW YOU LOOK AT IT

A family had twin boys whose only resemblance to each other was their looks. If one felt it was too hot, the other thought it was too cold. If one said the TV was too loud, the other claimed the volume needed to be turned up. Opposite in every way, one was an eternal optimist, the other a doom and gloom pessimist.

Just to see what would happen, on the twins' birthday their father loaded the pessimist's room with every imaginable toy and game. The optimist's room he loaded with horse manure.

That night the father passed by the pessimist's room and found him sitting amid his new gifts crying bitterly.

"Why are you crying?" the father asked.

"Because my friends will be jealous, I'll have to read all these instructions before I can do anything with this stuff, I'll constantly need batteries, and my toys will eventually get broken." answered the pessimist twin.

Passing the optimist twin's room, the father found him dancing for joy in the pile of manure. "What are you so happy about?" he asked.

To which his optimist twin replied, "There's got to be a pony in here somewhere!"

A POLITICALLY CORRECT CHRISTMAS

On the 12th day of the Eurocentrically imposed midwinter festival, my Significant Other in a consenting adult, monogamous relationship gave to me:

TWELVE males reclaiming their inner warrior through ritual drumming,

ELEVEN pipers piping (plus the 18-member pit orchestra made up of members in good standing of the Musicians Equity Union as called for in their union contract even though they will not be asked to play a note),

TEN melanin deprived testosterone-poisoned scions of the patriarchal ruling class system leaping,

NINE persons engaged in rhythmic self-expression,

EIGHT economically disadvantaged female persons stealing milk-products from enslaved Bovine-Americans,

SEVEN endangered swans swimming on federally protected wetlands,

SIX enslaved Fowl-Americans producing stolen non-human animal products,

FIVE golden symbols of culturally sanctioned enforced domestic incarceration,

(NOTE: after members of the Animal Liberation Front threatened to throw red paint at my computer, the calling birds, French hens and partridge have been reintroduced to their native habitat. To avoid further Animal-American enslavement, the remaining gift package has been revised.)

FOUR hours of recorded whale songs

THREE deconstructionist poets

TWO Sierra Club calendars printed on recycled processed tree carcasses and...

ONE Spotted Owl activist chained to an old-growth pear tree.

Merry Christmas Happy Chanukah. Good Kwanzaa. Blessed Yule. Happy Holidays! (unless otherwise prohibited by law)*

*Unless, of course, you are suffering from Seasonally Affected Disorder (SAD). If this be the case, please substitute this gratuitous call for celebration with suggestion that you have a thoroughly adequate day.
 

OTHER STUFF

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Contact Info:

Editor/Letters - Dave Duffy, editor@backwoodshome.com
Web Site - Oliver Del Signore, webmaster@backwoodshome.com