Darkness is a Harsh Term, Don't You Think?

It may be someone else's mediocre video, but this is Mumford and Sons singing "Roll Away Your Stone" at the Ryman Auditorium during one of their three shows in Nashville this week. We can talk about the best Ryman shows ever at a later time. But I want you to soak up this song and see how it unexpectedly brought me to that strange point where you're simultaneously wiping away the fast tears and dancing in the aisles.

Roll away your stone, I'll roll away mine
Together we can see what we can find
Don't leave me alone at this time
For I'm afraid of what I will discover inside.

'Cause you told me that I would find a hole
Within the fragile substance of my soul
And I have filled this void with things unreal
And all the while, my character, it steals.

But darkness is a harsh term, don't you think?
And yet it dominates the things I see.

It seems that all my bridges have been burned,
But you say that's exactly how this grace thing works.
It's not the long walk home that will change this heart,
But the welcome I receive with the restart.

Well darkness is a harsh term, don't you think?
And yet it dominates the things I see.
And darkness is a harsh term, don't you think?
And yet it dominates the things I see.

Stars hide your fires, these here are my desires.
And I will give them up to you this time around.
And so I'll be found with my stake stuck in this ground
Marking the territory of this newly impassioned soul.

But you, you've gone too far this time
You have neither reason nor rhyme
With which to take this soul that is so rightfully mine.

Kids Under Construction

(also the title of my favorite Children's Choir musical)

Please excuse the technological dust. Spring has sprung and it's time for a little blog makeover - in style as well as content.

How does it look so far? What would you like to see in terms of layout? What new content would you like to see in 2012?

As always, appreciate you; appreciate your feedback; appreciate your readership. Leave a comment below!

Homemade Snackity Snack

I was one of the few children who adamantly ordered the all-you-can-eat salad buffet at Ruby Tuesday's growing up. It wasn't because of some obscene love for salads or for the unlimited croutons, bacon bits, and shredded parmesan cheese. No. It was for the unadvertised vat of chocolate pudding at the end of the buffet. Why was there chocolate pudding at a salad buffet? I HAVE NO IDEA. But you could pile an entire plate full of chocolate pudding at the end of the night.

I also grew up on occasional Jello chocolate pudding cups. But those didn't have a huge impact on me. Other than undeniable glee.

A few weeks ago, I decided to treat myself to a six pack (of pudding cups). Guess what? Those things cost almost $4! A girl of my profession can't very well indulge in that on a weekly basis. I could make those powdered just-add-milk instant Jello pudding packs, but something makes me leery about eating that amalgamation of unknown ingredients on a daily basis as well.

Thus, the hunt for a decent homemade chocolate pudding recipe.

This one is easy peasy, quick, microwavable, and comes out at less than $1 per batch. I found it on a fun newly-discovered website called Budget Bytes. I also like to think it's really healthy because I use skim milk instead of...uhh...cream? And there's no gelatin.

Whatever. It's straight sugar and I love it.

The first time I made this, I ended up eating it all at once with a soup spoon while weeping in front of the Oscars. It's just such a moving show, guys. And Red Earth Trading Co's jewelry was worn (see #10) at it!

The second time, I quickly packaged it into itty bitty Gladware cups and have taken it to work for lunch every day this week. Yay self-control!

Beware: you will be tempted to eat this straight out of the microwave. And you will burn your tongue and be unable to taste the pudding later on once it's cooled. Resist temptation.

Quick Chocolate Pudding

Photo cred

Ingredients:
1/2 cup white sugar
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3 tbsp corn starch
2 cups milk
1 tsp vanilla extract

In a large microwave-safe bowl, combine the sugar, cocoa powder, and corn starch. Whisk to combine and remove any lumps. Whisk in the milk until everything is evenly mixed.

Microwave the mixture on high for three minutes. Remove the bowl and give it a good stir. Microwave for one and a half minutes more, then stir again. Continue to microwave at one and a half minute intervals until the pudding has thickened (about 3-4 cycles of cooking/stirring).

Stir in the vanilla extract. Either serve warm or refrigerate until chilled. Press plastic wrap over the surface of the pudding before refrigerating to prevent the formation of a thick skin.

Put into individual serving size cups, for the love of God.