Saturday, January 2, 2010

Creative Buzzing

Sometime around the middle of November, my Creative energy kicks in to overdrive.  It's humming everyday, but this mid-November mark, it really starts to roar.  I've known over the years not to fight this and to run with it.  Come January 1st, I'm tried, but it's a great tried.  So, I slow down a bit, reflect and get the creativity reved up again.
For this week's project, I chose a cooking project.  The old Southern traditional New Year's dish, Hoppin' John.  It's said that by eating this dish on new year day one will experience prosperty throughout the year.
Cool.  I had never made this dish before.  I love to cook and yet cooking bean dishes are not among my favorites.  I went looking for recipes for Hoppin' John.  Everyone seems to have one.  Which is awesome, because that meant, I could make my own.   I also chose to cook it in my slow cooker. ('cause I wanted to sit on the futon, knit and relax with the on the mend Mickeygirl kitty).
Here's my 2010 Prosperty Knows No Bounds Hopin' Jack
1 bag black eye peas
1 big red onion chopped
2 big red peppers chopped
5 stalks of celery chopped
1 pound ham hocks
Garlic to taste
Louisana Hot sauce to taste
Salt and Pepper
32oz. Chicken broth

I toss these in my slow cooker, cover and cook on high for 3 hours, switch to low for five hours or just cook on low of 8 hours.   I serve it over rice and with corn bread.  Yum! Yum! Yum!

Okay, does this count as a creative project.  I think it does.  I think cooking is one of the best ways to express yourself and get in touch with your creativity.  Especially, a new recipe.
I certainly didn't lack for creative projects from mid-November to January 1st.  If there is a doubt, take a look at this list.

2 pairs hand knited socks.
3 hand knitted neck warmers
3 hand made journal books
1 pair hand knitted/felted slippers
1 gold lame tree skirt
5 hand knitted cat nip mice
3 sewn men's shirts
2 christmas stockings
2 french press coffee cozies
8 bottles of raspberry cordial
12 bars of soap
2 doz. dog treats
10 doz. chocolate truffles
5 doz. decorated priate cookies
4 doz. chocolate brownie kisses
4doz. chocalate dipped shortbread stars
5 lbs of cashew brittle
2 pine wreaths
1 Christmas stocking tree
Plus the pieces I made in glass studio (doing that again on January 3rd).
30 plus pyramid evening bags
14 hand knitted cyclist ear muffs.

It was a super great Chirstmas season!  I looking forward to the New Year.  My focus is to be creatively expressive.  Working on answering the question...In this moment, how can I be creative?
Happy New Year!!!
Until next week...Create to feel great!   12 projects complete 40 to go!

2 comments:

  1. Whew! What a list! I may need to get the recipe for those gingerbread pirate cookies -- DE-Licious! Wearing my neckwarmer as we speak. Thanks for sharing all of your creativity so generously.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sure! I think creativity is for sharing!

    ReplyDelete