After a highly scientific selection process – one that involved a roomful of 60′s computers and throwing beans in the moonlight – the winner of the Simmer Till Done handmade recipe book is…Muddywaters!

Readers may remember that Muddy is also known as Mike, proprietor of the wonderful blog Greasy Skillet. He just happens to live in the vicinity of Simmer HQ, and thus may claim his prize in person…when it’s finished. Congratulations Muddy, and many thanks to everyone for playing along. It made the most delightfully embarrassing weekend reading.

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.