Cabin Fever

Every time I set foot out of my apartment all I can think about is that I wish we lived in Chicago. Or even Austin. Or anywhere civilized. It's not that I can't handle the cold, though four months of snow with two more to go can certainly leave a girl somewhat depressed. And it's not that I don't love the small country charm of Logan. But how can there be so little to do in a town, even a small one?

Last night we spent two hours trying to come up with something to do. Since winter started, we have seen every movie (both on video and in the theater) that we care to see, so movies were out. There were no sports events going on. As I was to the point of settling for a night in, Ryan started getting engrossed in "Oh my darling Clementine" on TV. This was not a matter of boredom or desperation, he just honestly likes those old lame cowboy shows. I, on the other hand, was bored but not that desperate. "I'll go get my coat. Let's see if we can find a restaurant we haven't tried out yet."

The amazing thing is, though Logan's got some decent dining options, we have hit EVERY SINGLE RESTAURANT IN TOWN over the last six months! I was dying for French food, or at least something different and unusual. We went to Quiznos and ate salad with fake blue cheese.

Next, the typical Friday night date: BORDERS. Here's how the conversation usually goes:

"What do you want to do now?"

"I don't know, what's still open?"

"Borders and WalMart."

And so we always end up at Borders. I have to laugh because every time we go to Borders, we always run into at least 4 or 5 people we know. We're not socialites. We don't know that many people! Apparently we are not the only citizens of Logan short on entertainment options.

Yesterday Lance Armstrong was on Oprah, which made me want to be out on my bike SO bad. I want to live in a city that is pedestrian-friendly, where you can take a stroller without worring about getting hit by some jacked-up truck or plowing it through a drift that hasn't been shovelled. And once I go out walking, I want there to be somewhere to walk TO! An aquarium, a museum, a coffeeshop with poetry readings, ANYTHING!

If anything can provide temporary relief for cabin fever, it's chocolate. (I'm such a foodie, you know?) Here is yesterday's to-die-for form of self-medication (gracias a Martha Stewart Living). These are called truffle cakes, but I prefer to think of them as Death by Chocolate. I do not even want to know how many calories are in these. Try some out. You can thank me later:

DEATH BY CHOCOLATE



5 Tbs. unsalted butter, plus more for muffin tin
1 Tbs. all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
14 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped (please do not even THINK about using ghetto-cheap chocolate for this!)
2 Tbs. sugar
2 large eggs
1/4 tsp. salt

1. Preheat oven to 375. Butter 6-cup muffin tin and dust with flour.
2. Melt chocolate, butter, 1 Tbs. sugar in medium heatproof bowl over pan of simmering water; whisk occasionally until smooth. Remove from heat and let cool 3 to 5 minutes. Process eggs and remaining sugar in food processor until pale and doubled in volume, about 2 minutes. Sift flour and salt into egg mixture; pulse to combine. Add chocolate mixture 1/4 cup at a time; pulse each addition until combined, about 10 times. (Batter will be thick.)
3. Spoon mixture into prepared muffin tin, filling cups three-quarters full; swirl tops with back of spoon. Bake until tops are springy to the touch, about 18 to 20 minutes. Immediately turn out onto wire racks; reinvert, and let cool.

P.S. These are best chilled or at room temperature. Don't worry that they're doughy. That's how they're supposed to be.

And just to prove I've been making good use of my cooped-up-in-the-house time, here's knitting project number 3, the kitschy kerchief, which I started and finished yesterday. I know it's simple, but I'm still trying to learn the basics. I think I made it a little too big. Would a felted kerchief be stupid? One way or another, it will be great to have after yoga class.