Flapjack Bonebreaker

An unexpected day. Any day that includes a trip to the ER should qualify as unexpected. And hopefully rare as well.

So, this morning while on my way out i stopped to lock the house door, the dog's leash loosely looped around my left hand. Suddenly, as JRTs are prone to do, Flapjack launches full force in a 90 degree angle away from me. The lead snapped taut and my little finger snapped back. i knew right away that it had broken and instinctively felt that a lengthy profane recitation was justified. i believe i ran through every curse word i know while Flapjack happily pranced around my feet.

Winding one of my lovely ice-packs around my hand, i drove into town, dropping the four-legged little dear in the river at my ex's before driving to Pres ER. Quick xrays & treatment (some patient waiting was required on my part) and i'm reversing my course, with a stop at the pharmacy for some narcotizing treats. Verdict: clean fracture between the knuckle and first joint of my left pinkie finger.

Somehow it seems to me that an injury requiring immobilization of a pinkie finger for four+ weeks should qualify a faggot like me for short-term disability. i'm just saying....

Dia de los Muertos

Yesterday i enjoyed a lovely, leisurely lunch with Doña and the pup that included yummy sushi, miso soup, green tea, and even more sustaining conversation. Many hugs Doña (and thwacks for you, pup.)

This year i've been invited to not one, but two Day of the Dead celebrations! It's a celebration that, while not part of my cultural heritage, is one that nevertheless fits with my personal history of honoring my ancestors. Given my innate tendency to create altars in the spaces where i live, and the honoring of All Saints & All Souls days at my parish, and to honor a tradition prevalent in my adopted land, i'll create an ofrenda.

Of course, this also means that i'm really gonna have to make an effort to clean up the house. Right now i'm not comfortable with the living seeing how messy the house has gotten, let alone the dead.

So after today's post-Mass homo-gathering at Monroe's downtown, i'll wander around Old Town (stopping certainly at Santisima and Hispanae) for some supplies & ideas.

There are some great resources online with much general info about the celebration, like http://www.diademuertos.net/

And here's a recipe for the kitchen-inclined:

Pan de Muerto, "Bread of the Dead"

In celebration of Mexico's Day of the Dead, this bread is often shaped into skulls or round loaves with strips of dough rolled out and attached to resemble bones.

Ingredients:

* 1/2 cup butter
* 1/2 cup milk
* 1/2 cup water
* 5 to 5-1/2 cups flour
* 2 packages dry yeast
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1 tablespoon whole anise seed
* 1/2 cup sugar
* 4 eggs

In a saucepan over medium flame, heat the butter, milk and water until very warm but not boiling.

Meanwhile, measure out 1-1/2 cups flour and set the rest aside. In a large mixing bowl, combine the 1-1/2 cups flour, yeast, salt, anise seed and sugar. Beat in the warm liquid until well combined. Add the eggs and beat in another 1 cup of flour. Continue adding more flour until dough is soft but not sticky. Knead on lightly floured board for ten minutes until smooth and elastic.

Lightly grease a bowl and place dough in it, cover with plastic wrap and let rise in warm place until doubled in bulk, about 1-1/2 hours. Punch the dough down and shape into loaves resembling skulls, skeletons or round loaves with "bones" placed ornamentally around the top. Let these loaves rise for 1 hour.

Bake in a preheated 350 F degree oven for 40 minutes. Remove from oven and paint on glaze.
Glaze

* 1/2 cup sugar
* 1/3 cup fresh orange juice
* 2 tablespoons grated orange zest

Bring to a boil for 2 minutes, then apply to bread with a pastry brush.

If desired, sprinkle on colored sugar while glaze is still damp.