Jan. 21: Coconut Macaroons

I violated my Martha List. Wednesday night I made Barefoot Contessa Coconut Macaroons.

I probably should have checked to see if Martha had a recipe. But I didn't set out to bake cookies. I was looking for a tropical-theme dessert to take to Renee's house for Lost night. Coconut Macaroons it was. They turned out very good--especially warm from the oven. I've learned that James loves them. And Renee's husband, Rob, does not.

We watched the season premiere at their house because our satellite company dropped ABC in December. It didn't affect our lives for the past month, but now that Lost is back, we're feeling the pain. Today James is setting up service through a new company. Turns out the Superbowl is on ABC this year.

Tonight I'm sitting here eating a Cookie Dough Blizzard from DQ. James brought us all ice cream treats in celebration of his rejoining a health club. Tomorrow, the big diet starts. As for me, I climbed the stairs three times this week. For some reason, most coworkers look at me in horror when they learn what I'm doing. I just tell them that the water fountain on 16 is way colder than the one on 2.

That's only one of the interesting things I've learned recently. Other favorite tidbits I've picked up this week include:

1. An 87-year-old, 100-pound woman can take 30 Vicodin pills in a four-day period and remain surprisingly functional.

2. Occupying a car that you know to be stolen is against the law. But only if you get caught.

3. My great-grandmother had her fifth (and last) child at age 48. Holy shit!

4. The King County Sheriff's office frowns on hands-on cell phone use while driving. (At least it was my car. See #2.)

5. Late-onset menopause may run in my family. (See #3.)

6. I'm addicted to those chocolate Whoppers.

Life is full of surprises.

And this weekend is full of kids and chores. Basketball game, baseball sign-ups, soccer game, birthday party, housework.

I'm also hoping to find time to work on my cookbook. Well, it's not really a cookbook, per se. Last year I decided to gather recipes, stories and photos of family and friends, and put them all together into one collection. I love working on it, but there's so little time. Last year when James spent January in Palm Springs, I spent many late nights writing. It's harder now.

So far my favorite part are the photos. Like this one of my great-grandmother, her grandmother and my grandfather. It was taken around 1918. Through the work I've done so far, I've seen how much food connects us with one another. The growing of it, the preparing, the serving, the eating and the sharing. At first I was amazed at the number of food-related and cooking-related photos I've collected. But now it's not so surprising. The kitchen is at the heart of our home, and we love to share what comes out of it, I guess. Even if the reason is as ordinary as watching a TV show with friends.