Homemade Pumpkin Gnocchi

Something about gnocchi has always fascinated me.

Maybe it's the funny shape, the funny name, or maybe just the way they don't really fit in with the rest of the pasta family.
Not like our favourite lasagna... *mmm*

But hey, I'm an open-minded individual so I went to my (Italian) nonna and demanded asked for gnocchi.

"Nonna, let's make gnocchi!  I want to try it...again.  It looks weird."

[Insert answer in southern-Italian dialect which I can't spell or speak]
Roughly translated:  "Okay, just come over when your ready and I'll show you how it's done."

I love my nonna.

So one day, in the middle of a crazy mid-semester week, when I had four papers due on Friday (criminal!), I drove over to nonna's and said "I'm here Nonna!  Let's make gnocchi or else I'm going to go crazy and fail all my papers and my degree and my life will be devoid of meaning..."

Introducing...

It's been one of those weeks where I've done nothing but write, write, write.  Eat, sleep, papers.  Eat, sleep, papers.

Ever wondered how the media actually effects Australian society?  Or whether capitalist societies can have effective welfare systems?  I can give you a 2000 word response, referenced, double-spaced, complete a peer-review bibliography.
But you're not that interested, right?  Right.

Moving right along...

Mysterious things have been happening on this blog.

A.  I changed everything
B.  The changes disappeared
C.  I wrote out a long post
D.  Said post disappeared

= V. annoyed Mouse

So, in my original post I raved on about my new layout, and nifty new header...but NOW I'm not sure if the layout and header are actually there...visible for all human eyes.  Oh so mysterious.

Let's pretend my changes are still there.  Everything should be nice and light.  There should be a green, grassy header showing my eyeballs without glasses, and a nice clear title 'The Mouse Files'.  Yes, good.

Sigh.  I had some really intelligent things to say about my new blog look, but I have just never had the ability to bounce back and rewrite something I wrote and then accidentally deleted.  (Actually, I said it mysteriously disappeared, didn't I?  That's a little different.)

I'll just leave you with this observation about the new blog look.  I like it.  Do you?


The Mouse Files was inspired by a nickname my dad gave me when I was very young.  I was called 'mouse' because I was really timid and quiet, and I really liked cheese (don't laugh).

I'm not quiet and timid any more (I thing girls can easily lose the quiet and timid tendency between the riotous ages of fourteen and sixteen.  This is when I became a drama queen.).  But I still really like cheese, and so the name stuck (don't laugh).

So, it's established.  These are the Mouse Files, and I am the Mouse.

The thing is...I'm not the only mouse in this house.

Is that a...tail?

Ears...I think those are ears.

I have a feeling we have found ourselves another mouse.

Ah HAH!

Hello there.  Do you mind if I interrupt for a moment?

INTRODUCING

Mouse at large.

Meet Frederick Wentworth (my tribute to Jane Austen).  He name is Frederick and is by no means ever called Fred, Freddie, or Rick.

He wears a spiffy suit and he likes to read classics.  The older the better.

Oh and he likes cheese, just like me.

Now one day Frederick was snooping around my computer.  I caught this with my camera.

I see you Frederick.

He was very interested in the title of my blog.

After much deliberation I decided that this mouse would make an excellent addition to The Mouse Files.

Frederick was most pleased and looks forward to sharing this space with you in the future.

Keep an eye out for those ears...

Oh, and I should probably point out that the state of Frederick's tie is entirely my fault.  I just can't tie it properly, but he puts up with me.