pestilence

Last time I checked, you're not supposed to get the flu from the flu shot. That's supposed to be preventing the flu, not causing it. Correct? Well I had the damn shot on Friday and by Monday afternoon I was sick as a . . . as a . . . as a very sick person. Yeah, that's it. And I blame the shot because the nurse was kind of rude and had shifty eyes. I suspect she used the non-dead virus on me. It's been a while since an illness has kicked my ass to this degree. I made several efforts to go in to work, each time being sent home within a couple hours with the same "why the hell are you here" glares from my co-workers. Sorry guys. Hope you don't get it.

So the week has been spent in the recumbent position in fleece pants, drinking chicken broth and water, watching shitty movies and playing solitaire. Yeah it's been pretty rad.

But before the pestilence was able to fully declare war on my body, my sister gave me a big-ass box of italian plums. Right on. Plum time.

Or not. See above RE: the kicking of my ass.

All I managed before the flu took control of my immune system was a batch of plum-chambord jam and a couple loaves of plum bread (oh sweet baby jesus it's so good). I was able to get most of the stragglers into the freezer -- submerged in apple juice -- before the fruit flies could set up camp in there, but I did have to toss a bunch. F-ing flu.

And I had such big plans for chinese plum sauce and fancy tarts and all sorts of fun shit. Now all I'll get later on is a plum pie or cobbler of some sort. Oh well, still good.

The plum bread was so good I've decided to share the recipe.

• 2 cups italian plums, seeded & chopped
• 8 oz butter, room temp
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 4 eggs
• 3 cups flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp cream of tartar
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 3/4 cup vanilla yogurt

Cream together the butter, sugar and vanilla. Add eggs one at a time. Combine dry ingredients. Add dry mix and yogurt in batches, until it's all in there.

Grease 2 loaf pans. Add about a quarter of the batter into each, layer chopped plums on top, then the rest of the batter, then the rest of the plums. Bake at 350 for about 50-55 minutes.

Apparently it freezes really well, but I didn't have to test that out.