What's a crap purge?
It's when I go into my children's rooms when they are at camp with a big black garbage bag. I then throw away all of the miscellaneous "stuff" that the children have felt it necessary to hoard but will in no way miss once I throw it away.
This stuff includes, but is not limited to: any and all packaging, bubblegum wrappers, dried up markers, crumbled up papers, rocks, straws, pencil points, crayon shavings and general detritus.
You may think they get the hoarding urge from me. Au contraire! I am a ruthless purger. If I no longer use something or care for it I either chuck it, donate it or sell it. I very rarely regret getting rid of something and I appreciate the impermanence of stuff.
There is one thing, or rather one group of things that I do refuse to part with. In the attic of David's office are about 12 antique doors, including a dutch door. They came with the house and I cannot bear to part with them. I keep toying with the idea of installing the dutch door in my kitchen back door. Maybe I'll add that to my ongoing list of crazy projects.
Here's my philosophy of stuff:
People are important.
Stuff is nice to have and enhances my home, but the people in my home are what I can't live without. At my house we don't get upset when the inevitable happens. Messes are made, things break, love endures.
The point of all this is that I was a hard working housewife today. So hardworking that I even found a use for the puff pastry. (Michael, I loved your menu ideas! If it were just David and me eating we'd be all set, but the children bring some culinary challenges to the table.)
I found this recipe for making chocolate croissants and dear god it is so easy!
Shiny Red Oh My God They Are So Easy Chocolate Croissants
1 large thick bar of good quality chocolate chopped into 1/2 inch chunks. Do not skimp!
1 package of puff pastry
1 egg beaten
Heat oven to 350 degrees.
Let puff pastry thaw at room temperature for about 15 minutes.
Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
Cut pastry sheet into four squares.
Sprinkle about 2 tablespoons of chocolate on each square.
Fold pasty into a triangle, trapping the chocolate in pastry puff goodness.
Brush pastry with egg.
Bake for about 20 minutes.
While they are baking make a pot of good french roast coffee.
Once they are browned and puffed, take them out and eat while drinking the coffee.
Your faith in the world will be restored.
10 comments:
On Sundays I like to make madeleines, fudge sauce and tea and spend some time reading in the library. If I got myself a housewife, do you think I could enjoy my indulgence daily?
Yummy!! I have WAY too much stuff I don't need and daily get rid of and buy more!!! I'm really bad. BUT the whole family comes to me before they buy anything as I will most likely have it! Good for you for not keeping stuff. Kids do have a way of NEVER throwing anything away. Old chewed gum is my favorite, YUCK!!!!
Hugs, Lisa
Wow. I've never bought puff pastry but that sounds like an awesome goody for girls nights. I think they would leave my house loving me more. The doors in the attic sound pretty cool. Hang on to them!
I use to be a hoarder until I had children ~ now I have a good purge every now and then and it feels so up lifting to get rid of clutter and junk. (makes room for new thrifty finds too)
Oh, I love the crap purge! I have to wait til the kids are out of the house, of course, because as it turns out all their crap is incredibly important and useful if you just look at it the right way. But you're right, they never miss it once it's gone. Ah, it's a good feeling to haul that bag of trash out to the garbage can ... congrats!
frances
Oh so that's what it's called when I clean my husbands' (cave) computer room when he leaves on a business trip...
Elizabeth
Chocolate, Easy and good too. I will try them soon.My hubby and I both are collectors of "good stuff. this sounds so much better than hoarding, don't you think? Seriously, we are trying to be better at getting rid of stuff we are no longer using.
You have a great day.
Jean in Virginia
Oh boy, does that look good. And with coffee! Only thing is I have a major fear of puff pasty. I have stared at it through the glass door at the grocery store, but then I start to tremble. I'm just thinking that I could cheat on this and buy a tube of crescent rolls and unfold, stick a chuck of chocolate and then bake??? Not as good as yours, but I wouldn't need therapy.
I also am not a hoarder. I love throwing junk away. If it's good it goes to the back door of the local GoodWill. Not long ago I saw a ginger jar that I made in ceramics about 20 years ago sitting on their shelf for $7.50! I was so proud! I felt like telling everyone in the same aisle as me, "hey, I made that!" But I didn't.
Cute story from last June...I was at a local little town fair and a student from last year (4 years old) came running up to say hello to me and show me the treasure that she just got for a dollar. It was a plastic bag full of Barbie accessories. It had a tag on it that said "100 pieces". Her mom (one hell of a funny lady) looked at me and said with a smile on her face..."isn't it wonderful what Ava found, and how convenient that it came in it's own little garbage bag"! She gave me a sneaky smile and I laughed. :)
I throw stuff away too, but it seems like everywhere I turn there is more stuff, like it multiplied during the night.
That receipe sounds so good and easy too. And yes, Michael you need a wife to spoil with your cooking talents. lol.
I was at Walmart going down the main isle. Clothes, Music, Bed and Bath, House Wares, Toys. I had hoped House Wives would have been after House Wares. Well, on to Target.
Post a Comment