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Showing posts with label Holidays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Holidays. Show all posts
Evolution
My friends and I are particularly fond of a wine called Evolution from Sokol Blosser winery in Oregon. It's soooooo smooth and easy to drink, that you have several glasses down before you know it.
So, for the cocktail party/drink fest, I had 1 1/2 bottles, bought 2 more, 2 other people brought 3 more bottles between the 2 of them. We had 6 1/2 total for the evening, along with an assortment of other wines. After about 3 hours, approx 4 people give or take a glass or two finished off the 6 1/2 bottles and more would have gone if we had it.
Every year after the party, my hubby makes a list of what we ran out of or are almost out of. He put all the alcohol on the list, and added Evolution to the bottom with a note "(Buy by the case next year)"
So, for the cocktail party/drink fest, I had 1 1/2 bottles, bought 2 more, 2 other people brought 3 more bottles between the 2 of them. We had 6 1/2 total for the evening, along with an assortment of other wines. After about 3 hours, approx 4 people give or take a glass or two finished off the 6 1/2 bottles and more would have gone if we had it.
Every year after the party, my hubby makes a list of what we ran out of or are almost out of. He put all the alcohol on the list, and added Evolution to the bottom with a note "(Buy by the case next year)"
"Now Everyone is More Important"
Ok, I thought I was doing him a favor...
My hubby wants green bean casserole with Thanksgiving dinner, and since it always gets all gloppy, and is really high in sodium, I told him I was going to try a few substitute recipes and see if he likes any of them better as a replacement.
So then after watching too much FoodTv Thanksgiving Specials last week, I told him that Alton Brown said that the only acceptable Green Bean Casserole is the one with all the French Fried Onions and Cream of Mushroom Soup. So I thought about it and figured all the sodium on one day shouldn't kill him and I was going to make his Green Bean Casserole. I thought I was doing something nice for him... I was wrong.
Instead he says it's not enough that he wants it, I have to listen to the opinion of a chef instead... and that it's not just the whole world wide web that's more important, now everyone is.
*sigh*
Oh well, I was trying to be nice... By serving him high-sodium glop...
My hubby wants green bean casserole with Thanksgiving dinner, and since it always gets all gloppy, and is really high in sodium, I told him I was going to try a few substitute recipes and see if he likes any of them better as a replacement.
So then after watching too much FoodTv Thanksgiving Specials last week, I told him that Alton Brown said that the only acceptable Green Bean Casserole is the one with all the French Fried Onions and Cream of Mushroom Soup. So I thought about it and figured all the sodium on one day shouldn't kill him and I was going to make his Green Bean Casserole. I thought I was doing something nice for him... I was wrong.
Instead he says it's not enough that he wants it, I have to listen to the opinion of a chef instead... and that it's not just the whole world wide web that's more important, now everyone is.
*sigh*
Oh well, I was trying to be nice... By serving him high-sodium glop...
Christmas Shopping Already?
Ok, normally I'm fairly creative and at least have some ideas as to what to get adults for Christmas. This year, I have nothing, nada, zilch, zip, zero... Kids are easy, plop a bit of cheap plastic in wrapping paper and they writhe in delight upon opening. (Actually, no cheap plastic this year, too many toy recalls)
I don't think my hubby would be too thrilled to open a box of nothing Christmas morning... "It's um... quarks... from um... the planet um... Pluto..." And of course, I'd be caught in a lie, because well, we all know Pluto isn't a planet.
My hubby is an Electrical Engineer, so when I look at lists they tend to be the "Gifts for Geeks" type lists. Problem with this, as anyone married to a tech geek knows, is that these tech geeks do research.
They don't want just any gadget, they want this brand, this model, with this and this and this option in this color. And they know this because they did a gazillion hours of research to figure out which one they want.
And well asking for all those specs while scribbling furiously is just a little too obvious.
So unless you are super-crafty and discrete and can get him to give you all the specs above without him knowing it, you will inevitably get the look when they open the gift.
The look is really a 3 for 1 deal, you get the "This Is Awesome" look followed by the "Quizzical Analyzing Specs" look followed by the "Not Quite Right, I Wonder If I Can Exchange It Without Her Noticing" look.
This look is also commonly seen after a gift of tools...
I don't think my hubby would be too thrilled to open a box of nothing Christmas morning... "It's um... quarks... from um... the planet um... Pluto..." And of course, I'd be caught in a lie, because well, we all know Pluto isn't a planet.
My hubby is an Electrical Engineer, so when I look at lists they tend to be the "Gifts for Geeks" type lists. Problem with this, as anyone married to a tech geek knows, is that these tech geeks do research.
They don't want just any gadget, they want this brand, this model, with this and this and this option in this color. And they know this because they did a gazillion hours of research to figure out which one they want.
And well asking for all those specs while scribbling furiously is just a little too obvious.
So unless you are super-crafty and discrete and can get him to give you all the specs above without him knowing it, you will inevitably get the look when they open the gift.
The look is really a 3 for 1 deal, you get the "This Is Awesome" look followed by the "Quizzical Analyzing Specs" look followed by the "Not Quite Right, I Wonder If I Can Exchange It Without Her Noticing" look.
This look is also commonly seen after a gift of tools...
It's Thanksgiving Over at Kitchen Comforts
I'm getting ready for the Thanksgiving kickoff for Kitchen Comforts. November is my busy entertaining month every year, so I'll have tons of recipes, tips, download samples, planners and other goodies.
Apple Butter
Earlier this week I was given two bags full of apples by a co-worker. I've been munching on a few, but the majority of them are going to be peeled, sliced and used for baking and making apple butter.
I was in 7th grade the first time I ever tasted apple butter. I was spending the weekend with my best friend at her father's house, and they had a small "orchard" for a back yard. Her step-mother made apple butter every fall, and I remember when we arrived the whole house smelled like apple, cinnamon and nutmeg. We had fresh baked bread with apple butter at just about every meal, and ever since I anxiously await jars of apple butter to show up at farmer's markets in the fall.
With a surplus of apples, my first thought was to try my hand at making apple butter. So, I went shopping last night for all the ingredients to make apple butter from this recipe. I'll put some apples aside for Apple Galette and Caramel Apples as well, but the majority will go towards the Apple Butter. I'm hoping it turns out well and I will hopefully have enough jars to give a few away for Christmas.
Supreme Apple Butter Recipe
INGREDIENTS
2 (12 fluid ounce) cans frozen apple juice concentrate, thawed
1 cup apple cider
8 pounds Macintosh apples - peeled, cored and chopped
1-1/2 cups dark brown sugar
2 cups apple brandy
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
DIRECTIONS
In a large saucepan, bring apple juice concentrate, apple cider, and Macintosh apples to a boil. Reduce heat to low. Stirring occasionally, simmer uncovered about 1 hour, until apples are easily mashed.
Mix dark brown sugar, apple brandy, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves into the apple mixture. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer uncovered 2 hours, stirring occasionally, until thickened. Transfer to sealed sterile containers, and cool at least 1 hour before serving.
*UPDATE* I've cross-posted this to Kitchen Comforts and will put any future recipe cooking type posts over there instead.
I was in 7th grade the first time I ever tasted apple butter. I was spending the weekend with my best friend at her father's house, and they had a small "orchard" for a back yard. Her step-mother made apple butter every fall, and I remember when we arrived the whole house smelled like apple, cinnamon and nutmeg. We had fresh baked bread with apple butter at just about every meal, and ever since I anxiously await jars of apple butter to show up at farmer's markets in the fall.
With a surplus of apples, my first thought was to try my hand at making apple butter. So, I went shopping last night for all the ingredients to make apple butter from this recipe. I'll put some apples aside for Apple Galette and Caramel Apples as well, but the majority will go towards the Apple Butter. I'm hoping it turns out well and I will hopefully have enough jars to give a few away for Christmas.
Supreme Apple Butter Recipe
INGREDIENTS
2 (12 fluid ounce) cans frozen apple juice concentrate, thawed
1 cup apple cider
8 pounds Macintosh apples - peeled, cored and chopped
1-1/2 cups dark brown sugar
2 cups apple brandy
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
DIRECTIONS
In a large saucepan, bring apple juice concentrate, apple cider, and Macintosh apples to a boil. Reduce heat to low. Stirring occasionally, simmer uncovered about 1 hour, until apples are easily mashed.
Mix dark brown sugar, apple brandy, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves into the apple mixture. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer uncovered 2 hours, stirring occasionally, until thickened. Transfer to sealed sterile containers, and cool at least 1 hour before serving.
*UPDATE* I've cross-posted this to Kitchen Comforts and will put any future recipe cooking type posts over there instead.
Thanksgiving
I took Wednesday - Friday off this week, so I have a 5 day weekend... woohoo...
Feeding 20 people on Thursday, so I decided rather than rush and stress, I'd the take off the day before and after and relax and enjoy the holiday.
For all the foodies that might care, here's the menu...
Turkey, brined and basted with a sage orange butter
Ham, with a brown sugar glaze
Gravy
Dressing
Mashed Potatoes
Brandied Candied Sweet Potatoes
Kugel
Egg Noodles
Green Bean Casserole
Corn
Cranberry Sauce
a variety of salads
Veggie and Relish platter
Dinner Rolls
and for dessert...
Pumpkin Pie
Pecan Pie
Ice Cream
Feeding 20 people on Thursday, so I decided rather than rush and stress, I'd the take off the day before and after and relax and enjoy the holiday.
For all the foodies that might care, here's the menu...
Turkey, brined and basted with a sage orange butter
Ham, with a brown sugar glaze
Gravy
Dressing
Mashed Potatoes
Brandied Candied Sweet Potatoes
Kugel
Egg Noodles
Green Bean Casserole
Corn
Cranberry Sauce
a variety of salads
Veggie and Relish platter
Dinner Rolls
and for dessert...
Pumpkin Pie
Pecan Pie
Ice Cream
Waking Dreams
You ever have one of those waking dreams? The kind where something happens in your dream that causes you to become half awake and incorporate your surroundings into your dream. It's not lucid dreaming, since you have no control until you have fully awaken. I have been known to ask my husband utterly bizarre questions in this state. Often getting a bit indignant when he doesn't answer me or seem to know what on earth I'm talking about; that is until I'm fully awake. I had one of those last night. In a half-awake state I asked him several times how we going to get out. Well in the dream I had somehow become trapped in a room, and of course in reaching in front of me to escape in my dream I encountered the headboard of my bed. Confused and perhaps a bit scared I did what any reasonable person would do, I turned to my darling (who wasn't in my dream and magically appeared) how we were going to get out. Eventually during our conversation which probably lasted about a minute, I woke up enough to realize that my surroundings were my bedroom and I was in fact not trapped. I stated as much and he promptly went back to sleep. Realistically, these are probably usually nightmares, because it always seems that something scares me or startles me into becoming half-awake. However I can distinctly think of one where I woke up asking my hubby where we were going to keep the deer, and I can't for the life of me imagine that being a nightmare.
Oh well, since I'm fairly awake and it's the weekend after Epiphany, I figured I should go ahead and get out of bed and start gathering the Christmas decor from around the house so I can pack it away. Epiphany is the day that the Wise Men came and marks the end of Christmas. January 5th was Twelfth Night, perhaps when I have children I'll think of something special to mark the occasion. Right now, it simply marks the day that the Christmas decor comes down for me traditionally and the magic of winter and Christmas turns into the long wait for Spring.
So I'm starting my morning with Peppermint Coffee and Alison Krauss and feeling very serene and excited at the same time. I suppose that's enough babbling for this morning.
Oh well, since I'm fairly awake and it's the weekend after Epiphany, I figured I should go ahead and get out of bed and start gathering the Christmas decor from around the house so I can pack it away. Epiphany is the day that the Wise Men came and marks the end of Christmas. January 5th was Twelfth Night, perhaps when I have children I'll think of something special to mark the occasion. Right now, it simply marks the day that the Christmas decor comes down for me traditionally and the magic of winter and Christmas turns into the long wait for Spring.
So I'm starting my morning with Peppermint Coffee and Alison Krauss and feeling very serene and excited at the same time. I suppose that's enough babbling for this morning.
Christmas Lights & Cocoa
This time of year, my favorite thing to do in the evening is make some cocoa for Paul and I, bundle up and go for a drive to look at the Christmas lights. It's interesting, because when gawking and commenting the gaudier the displays, the merrier the drive. I just love to look at the houses all lit up like used car lots and wonder at the sheer number of light up Santa's they manage to squeeze into one yard. Not to mention the plethora of light up snowmen, reindeers, christmas trees and nativity scenes accompanying the Santa's. These days, often accompanied by an 8' inflatable snow globe. My favorite part of the drive is going by the historic homes on Belmont and Reeves, and for a few minutes, I can feel like I'm back in a quaint New England town, where you might actually find carollers in the town square.
We're heading to Orlando, Florida for Christmas, where it will be sunny and in the mid-60's for Christmas Day. While I'm eager to escape the snow and ice, it's hard to feel like Christmas when it feels like summer. Somehow driving around looking at Christmas lights while sipping a glass of sweet tea just isn't the same. Although, I'm sure the light displays can be just as entertaining, and perhaps even more so with the addition of a light up flamingo or two.
What's your favorite light display style? for your own house, and for looking at on the Christmas light drives?
My own is fairly simple, white icicle lights along the edge of the roof on the front of the house and a wreath in each of the alcoves and on the front door. Probably doesn't warrant more than a passing glance on drives, no gawking at my house.
We're heading to Orlando, Florida for Christmas, where it will be sunny and in the mid-60's for Christmas Day. While I'm eager to escape the snow and ice, it's hard to feel like Christmas when it feels like summer. Somehow driving around looking at Christmas lights while sipping a glass of sweet tea just isn't the same. Although, I'm sure the light displays can be just as entertaining, and perhaps even more so with the addition of a light up flamingo or two.
What's your favorite light display style? for your own house, and for looking at on the Christmas light drives?
My own is fairly simple, white icicle lights along the edge of the roof on the front of the house and a wreath in each of the alcoves and on the front door. Probably doesn't warrant more than a passing glance on drives, no gawking at my house.
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