Anatole Deibler! The Book!

Anatole Deibler by Cora Lynn Deibler | Make Your Own Book

If you've liked the story of Anatole Deibler in these blog pages, try the book! You can order this book in either hard or soft cover, and love it forever in the privacy of your own home.

Heading to Florida This Week...

As we're heading to Florida this week to close up Patti's mom's house, this sketch stood out to me. It is, indeed, the land of big, white cars and cataract sunglasses. We'll all be there soon enough.

From the Archives...

In going through some past sketchbooks I've decided to blog a few particularly good pages. Hope you enjoy them... This one reflects my love for cigars. Or, at least, doing something with the bands afterwards.

Passover Deliciousness

If you're looking for that perfect Passover dessert, look no further. Here it is! Matzoh CRACK! 'Cause you can't stop eating it. It's simple to make and will satisfy your sweet tooth, without a leavening agent. Make some and enjoy! Thank you to Patti Argoff for this recipe.

What You'll Need:

4 to 5 pieces of matzo

1 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar

1 cup  unsalted butter (I used salted)

1 cup chopped bittersweet chocolate, or semi-sweet chocolate chips

Chopped nuts as a toppings, if desired

How To Make It:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit, and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and/or parchment paper.

Place the matzo in one layer on a greased baking sheet, breaking it when necessary to fill the pan completely.  Set aside.

In a large sauce pan, melt the butter and brown sugar over medium heat, stirring constantly. Once the mixture reaches a boil, continue to cook for an additional three minutes, still stirring, until thickened and just starting to pull away from the sides of the pan. Remove from heat and pour over the matzo, spreading an even layer with a heat-proof spatula.

Put the pan in the oven, then immediately turn the heat down to 350 degrees. Bake for 15 minutes, watching to make sure it doesn't burn. If it looks like it is starting to burn, turn heat down to 325. (While it is cooking, resist all urges to scrape the pan with extra pieces of matzo. You will burn yourself. Trust us.)

After 15 minutes, the toffee should have bubbled up and turned a rich golden brown. Remove from the oven and immediately sprinkle the chocolate over the pan. Let sit for five minutes, then spread the now-melted chocolate evenly with a spatula. 

More Chickens- Raise Some!

In the spirit of Easter... chicks! If you're considering having chicks this spring, consider rare breeds. They need your support. Reliable purveyors of rare breed chicks are the Marti Poultry Farm in Windsor, Missouri, and the Murray McMurray Hatchery. Don't be afraid to have backyard chickens!

A Little Chicken Love

A special post for my brother, Eric Deibler, who is considering having a flock of chickens. He is thinking about Buff Orpingtons, a heritage breed. "What's a heritage breed" you ask! Sometimes called "rare breeds" or even "antique breeds," these are agricultural animals that are so low in numbers they are considered endangered. They're genetically important, so raise some! A great resource for learning is the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy out of Pittsboro, North Carolina. Visit their website!

This beautiful rooster posed pretty well! Painted on site at Kelmscott Farm in Lincolnville, Maine, a haven for rare agricultural breeds.

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things...

Sometimes it's the simple things, like a USB port multipllier, that make life worth living. Another image created on the iPad using Sketchbook Pro.