And no, I’ve not abandoned blogging. I haven’t vanished, nor fallen off the earth or into a ditch by the side of the road. Though certainly, I appreciate the concern – voiced by many of you dear souls – that I could be, I’m not. I am in fact just where we left off: squinting at a laptop, coffee to the left, Cleo near my feet and two steps from the kitchen.

So then, where have I been?

As noted, mostly here. I’ve been working on the work of writing – a few projects, each requiring keyboard, coffee, and 10% nuts-90% chocolate trail mix. Nothing to announce. Just send love, luck, and extra chocolate chips.

We spent Josie’s spring break here:

Of course, not in this spot, not the whole time.

We were also here

And eating, here

And oh please more, here.

We had wonderful meals in NYC and met up with new and old friends, including Amanda and Merrill, the brilliant ladies of food52…

…and surrounded by waves and sky, one great big grande dame.

Back home, Simmer’s been hopping around the web. Both PaulaDeen.com and Flashlight Worthy Books featured our Great Reads for Culinary Kids (and Hungry Adults) lists, and the New York Daily News blog Mothership Meals tapped Two-Bite Jam Tarts as a baking pick for picky kids.

So there we are. How pleasurable to speak fluent Simmer again, an odd language I use when talking to a warm, invisible group that’s not invisible at all. Still simmering, and glad you’re here.

Chocolate sprinkles on that? I thought so.

Comfy now?  Good – first, let’s talk about popularity. I raised the idea the other day, when I recapped Simmer’s most popular posts of 2008 – popular not due to great personalities or loaded iPods or shiny hair, but celebrated for their viewing numbers alone. This left a few readers cold, and I must say I didn’t love it either. Stats don’t always tell the tale.

I heard things from readers like “but the ones I like weren’t even on there,” or “what about the rat head in the drain?” I believe the estimable Country Doctor’s Wife was referring to the mouse head in the dishwasher, bless her heart. I knew what she meant.

After reading everyone’s thoughts I closed the laptop, jammed on a pair of oven mitts and yanked out some burning cheese straws, talking to the oven.  “Can’t win…everybody different…burnt…whatever…”

Greg and Josie were watching basketball in the other room. “What,” he said, “did you say something?”

“No,” I said.  “I mean…whatever.” Then I puttered around the kitchen. “Stupid oven…popular…please everybody…tired…”

Over the game, they yelled.  “Hey! Mumblyrant.  Stop it.”

That is what they call me when I’m doing that – Mumblyrant. When I pointed out that “Mumblyrant” sounded like a Harry Potter character, they started calling me Professor Mumblyrant. Nice.

Sadly, they’re right – I do that, especially in the kitchen, and especially when things aren’t going well, and it’s gray outside for the fourth day in a row, and they happen to be doing some pleasurable other thing. Why, it never occurred to me that slamming dough and banging pans and yammering to oneself might sound like martyred, mumbling ranting.  But there it is.

Wait – why are you getting your coat?

I’ll get back on topic – popularity. Popular posts. Let’s end that idea once and for all – and perk up the gray days of winter – with a little giveaway. If you leave a comment in which you share your favorite post from this blog, you will be entered to win something wonderful.

Something handmade – a little book containing every recipe from Simmer Till Done, craftily hand-bound, and one-of-a-kind. Let’s peek into the Simmer workshop, where my assistant has already begun production.

Looks like she’s just taking a break.

A two-hour Wallace and Gromit break.

Anyway, name a favorite Simmer post – we’ll set the record straight on quality vs. quantity, and you might just win a little handmade recipe book. You know, when J.K. Rowling wrote Beedle the Bard, her billionairess follow-up to Harry Potter, she created seven handmade copies -  six were gifted to lucky people, and the seventh was auctioned for $4 million. One of them is on display, behind bulletproof glass, at the New York Public Library.

So, that probably won’t happen here.  But it’s darn cute…and I’m making it myself…crafty…stupid blog…

Perhaps Rowling will feature Professor Mumblyrant in the next one?

Now – go forth and comment, please.

And really, I’m so glad we had this chat.

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Name your favorite – or recently enjoyed – Simmer post in the comments, and you are entered to win a handmade Simmer Till Done recipe book.  Winner will be chosen randomly from the comment list.  Comments close Saturday, January 10, at 11:59 pm.  Winner announced on Sunday. Good luck!

* note: oh, fine, let’s make it 11:59 pm Pacific time, for our dear friends out West.  Holy ganache, that’s an extension for everyone else!  Thanks for playing along – you’ve made my weekend reading quite delicious.

I’ve been “tagged” in a blog chain by the delightful Karen of Mignardise.  I’m supposed to share 6 random things about myself, and then pass it on to six more unsuspecting thrilled bloggers.  A little redundant, don’t you think, sharing random bits with readers you already share most meals with?  In earlier blog days, I was determined to write in the first person as little as possible – the new old house, chocolate frosting, glass doorknobs, anything but “I.”   And now?  Not so much.  By now you know nearly as much as Greg does, or approximately twice as much as you need.  What’s next?  Watching sports to tune me out?  Is this what it’s come to?  Sigh.

Anyway, you may have heard that I’m not so good at saying no, so here goes – and if you need to turn up the game and occasionally nod, I’ll understand.

1.  I’m Bob Dylan’s cousin. True – but sadly, Bob has better things to do than troll food blogs and doesn’t know me from Adam.  Bob – if you’re reading, call me!  I’ll let you guest post.

2.  I don’t love onions, but I do love onion soup.  Kind of a Fanny Dooley-Zoom thing, no?

3.  I have a slight obsession with The Sound of Music, as in, I am not beneath singing “I Have Confidence” while walking the dog.  I despise the Baroness and am dreamy for Captain Von Trapp.  He sings, plays guitar, looks swell in a tux, climbs every mountain and sticks it to the Nazis.  What’s not to love?

4.  Speaking of Austria, I once drank a whole “boot” of beer in Salzburg and then threw up in a mountain meadow.

5.  I’ve had four dogs: Duffy, Norman, Clara and Cleo.  Greg would like to name the next pair Hogan and Klink.

6.  Secret snack of shame:  sliced bananas with sour cream and brown sugar.

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Whew!  Tag over.  I’m going to break the rules and only tag three marvelous people, all of whom are sure to also break the rules, but provide delightfully random answers:

Erin from Erin Cooks

KianLam Kho from Red Cook

Jean from Renovation Therapy

The rules

• Link to the person that tagged you.
• Post the rules on your blog.
• Write 6 random things about yourself.
• Tag 6 people at the end of your post.
• Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
• Let the tagger know your entry is up.