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.
