Recession Diary: Mom and Dad at home

(Editor's note: Unlike past recessions, the current downturn has taken a significant toll on sectors of the economy virtually unscathed by earlier economic crises. This is the latest in a series on one family's struggle.)

SKOKIE, Ill., Oct. 12 (UPI) -- Despite all the interest in my friend's birthday party, this has to be the last time I indulge in such frivolity; next week, back to talking about my job situation.

A number of people have asked for my coffee-mocha cheesecake recipe; you got it. I will try to have it appear in the course of several comments below this column (too long for a single comment field). If that doesn't work, I will provide the recipe in another installment.

Frugal though I believed I was in buying the least-expensive coffee liqueur out there, a friend informs me homemade hooch is cheaper. Just combine 16 ounces water with 1.25 cups sugar. Bring to boil, stirring occasionally, for 3 minutes. Turn off heat. Add 4 heaping tablespoons instant coffee, let cool. Add 1 pint (16 ounces) vodka or brandy (go for the cheap stuff, natch), and a half teaspoon vanilla. Pour into glass bottle. Cap closed and allow to "age" 10 days.

I promised to give another use for the coffee liqueur: Drink it! I can live with reducing the bottle's capacity for several cheesecake toppings to imbibe a bit on Date Night.

A bit of coffee liqueur straight up, over ice, or mixed with a little cream (I guess that's a White Russian if vodka is added, right?) is a lovely treat while watching a DVD -- heck, you can't drink in a movie theater! Liquor is costly; a once-per-week drink is a treat. Luckily, neither of us drinks much, wild couple that we are.

Fred and I never have been huge party animals, preferring to go out or stay in by ourselves, or to spend a quiet evening with one or two other couples. It's cozy and kind of romantic; in fact, if we could afford to fix our wood-burning fireplace, it would be very romantic. We check out movies from the public library, which has reduced its DVD rental rate from $1 per week to free.

We like to think we're pioneering a trend for staying in and creating fun with friends at each others' homes. Our friends know we can no longer afford to go out to a movie, play, opera, concert or comedy club.

Instead, we relax with inexpensive collaborative meals, polish up the old art of long conversation to the accompaniment of background CDs, perhaps watch a DVD (the rule is we discuss the movie afterward or I threaten to give a quiz) or play a game or two. We like Boggle, Scrabble, and other word games; they can keep us out of trouble for hours.

A recent issue of New York magazine said the No. 1 activity people miss in this economy is dining in restaurants. That doesn't apply to us! While we used to love restaurant exploration, it's part of a past life and we're done with it.

Instead, I enjoy mining my cookbook library and the Internet for new recipes, and delight in rediscovering old favorites I haven't cooked in years. I regard my kitchen as my la-BOR-a-tory (mwa-ha-ha!) and test my own mysterious concoctions on my unsuspecting but always-appreciative lab rat victim.