Saturday/Weekend 6

[dawnnys]

It can't be less than 2 weeks before Christmas, it just can't!

- Putting the finishing touches on the tree... decorating the tree with mostly bird ornaments this year. I found a couple of favorites and decided to go with that theme. Found a spotlight holder (the thing you put into the ground), for 50 cents at cookie walk table sale (yayyyy) so we won't have to dig through the garage for the one we put quickly put away last year.

- Thawing turkey thighs out of the freezer for something for next week. I'm thinking of trying a simple turkey pot pie, maybe with spiced cornbread biscuits on top?

- New stove comes Monday - yayyy It's a GE CleanDesign with a ceramic cooktop. Get ready, set, bake...

- Making something that uses a garlic roaster. Soon. I want to try my new one out.

- Went to a cookie walk this a.m at church not-so-nearby. Those are so fun, and growing in popularity around here. That's where I first found the lime meltaways and I've been going ever since. After a half-hour, almost all of them were gone. Glad we got there when the doors opened. I saw the cutest ones and bought them for models if I decide to make some on my own. Little pretzels with chocolate melted into the center, toped with a pecan half; mice cookies with licorice tails and almond ears; and butter cookies (thin, almost like puff pastry) wrapped around chocolate fudge - most of them didn't survive the trip home! Gotta make those, definately.

- Plans tomorrow? Ang's Pork Tenderloins stuffed with prunes (dates)

 

[luisa_calif]

What's a "Cookie Walk"? Is that like a Cake Walk?

 

[barb_b]

Sat Six

- Bought a Delonghi toaster oven for $3.00. It was a gamble; needed lots of cleaning. My Dad was up for the challenge. I have never had a toaster oven, so it will be fun to use....IT looks Great!!

- Trying to figure out what to make for our neighbors for Christmas...I was intending on giving them some of my jam/jellies...BUT, in-laws and dh have been enjoying it so much. (And the fruit was from their garden..)

-Christmas Tree....Brought it down today from the attic...I have bad allergies, so needs to be artificial. As I was perusing the attic, it brought back memories....There was a time when I would do 4-5 different themed trees....((I think I must have needed a hobby!! What was I thinking!))

- Thinking of changing our christmas eve dinner menu...Recent years have been making Beef Stroganoff. Thinking of a new theme...My Grandmother always made Spaghetti and meatballs...

- Mom brought over 4 lbs of 1/2 priced shrooms; kindly asked for me to make soup.... (She justs wants to see me!) I made the hungarian mushroom soup posted above, using chicken broth. Mom "DESTROYED" it by putting it through the processor. I am not Hungarian, but I know it should never be pulverized! Oh well! Fun day!

- Don't have a 6....

 

[heather_in_sf]

Weekend Six...

The cat woke me up this morning, meowing so funny, it sounded like he was singing. I guess he feels sleeping in until 9 am is late enough despite my not coming home until really really late from an underground restaurant dinner party with the cutest chef ever.

To combat slight head fuzziness from all the spirits they were sampling last night, and of which I partook without restraint, I needed bacon and lots of it. I made a breakfast burrito of eggs scrambled with green chile and a cafe presse. Heaven!

It is pouring Maine Coons and Mastiffs and I'm ever so happy that I don't have to go anywhere today. I'm still in my pjs, watching silly movies and what a great day it is.

I am almost finished with my Christmas knitting!!!!!

Tonight I'm making bockwurst and found a recipe for roasted cabbage with potatoes, caramelized onions and dill. I'm thinking of adding diced pancetta and red peppers, your thoughts? I have some great strong mustard and a bottle of Cabernet and I am not afraid..

Tomorrow I'm attending an artisan beef tasting coordinated by a local food blogger featuring the amazing Carrie Oliver who is the (world's) promoter of artisan beef. Her premise is that the breed, location, feed of the cow has the same effect on flavor as "terroir" does to grapes for wine. I love her ideas and can't wait go taste them in action. Thanks to her I have fine tuned my thoughts and feelings about beef. I have been trying to meet her for almost a year and I can't wait for tomorrow! She is introducing me to a gal who might be a contact for a position in the food industry. Wouldn't that be fun!!

I have confirmed myself for a meat CSA for next weekend, artisan pork of heritage breeds finished on hazelnuts and acorns. It's called Pork Prom!!! I also arranged to purchase 3 pounds of exotic flavored butters in 6 flavors and The Twelve Gobs of Christmas (like whoopie pies with different flavored cakes and buttercream fillings) as a Christmas gift to me from a friend. So excited for these treats, but how on earth to find room in the freezer???

Have a great weekend!!

 

[dawnnys]

Usually held by a non-profit group to raise money for their cause... members bake

a couple dozen of their favorite cookies and bring them in. Plates (mounds!) of them are set down on a table and customers are given a box that they fill with whatever cookies that they want. A sampling of a buch of them - dozens of one or two different kinds, whatever you want. Cost is per pound or even "as much as you can get in" a given box.

It's fun, and a little crazy - a little like Black Friday - and if you don't get there in the first 15 minutes, you miss the best ones! And you come away with a great assortment of hand-picked coookies which comes in handy around this time of year. )

 

[luisa_calif]

Sounds a little wild and fun!

 

[evan]

My Weekend Six

1) We decided to make a real NY breakfast this weekend with bagels, smoked salmon, Philadelphia cheese and onion rings, with freshly squeezed orange juice and....tea. (The tea part is our twist, because I cannot remember ever having tea for breakfast when I lived in NY).
It tasted so great we repeated the theme on Sunday (today), and it brought back a lot of nice memories.

2) Today is the day we celebrate St. Lucia.
We bake saffron yeast rolls called 'Lussekatter', that we decorate with raisins. They taste really good with tea or coffee. I'm planning on baking some this afternoon.

3) I need to wrap Christmas presents and have them sent to our family who doesn't live here. Oddly enough, it will be a lot of food and kitchen gadgets in there. ('Surprise, surprise'....)

4) We have the same dinner every year on Christmas Eve, so that doesn't need to be planned. But I bake different breads for breakfast, and I need to start planning what to bake soon. I make yeast rolls, breads and crisps. Yum!

5) I want to bake dog treats for my dogs for Christmas. I had a great recipe some years ago. I wonder if I'll be able to find it in time for Christmas.

6) Since I'm not baking cookies (I'm cookie challenged and have officially given up cookies), I will be making biscotti and a cake this year. AngAK's pumpkin cake with chocolate glaze was so good, I'll probably end up making it again for Christmas.
I'm also making a Panettone.

 

[sylvia]

Heather, I wish my cats would let me sleep in till 9. They think I should be up at 4. Ignoring them

is difficult work. Sigh! They are worse than babies.

 

[barb_b]

This was my morning smile.... SO....Did you come home with the cutest chef ever...OR did you have

dinner cooked by the cutest chef ever? Don't answer.... Let everyone wonder!!
OR - If you do....Don't worry. It will be our lil secret! : )

Thanks for my early morning smile!!

Best,
Barb

 

[heather_in_sf]

Ha ha ha, Barb! Now you have given me my morning smile! I wish

But the cutest chef ever was cooking dinner for everyone and we did chat a lot. I hear he has a girlfriend, of course, don't they always??? By the way, the bartender was super cute also.

You know what they say, you eat with your eyes as well as your stomach. Hee hee

 

[dawnnys]

I was thinking the same thing! Scratch-scratch-scratch at the door till

someone (usually me) gives them attention/food.

 

[angak]

Dawn, those pretzel things---try making them with a rolo on top of the pretzel. bake for a few

minutes till melty and press the pecan on top. yum!

 

[luisa_calif]

Six things? SIX things you say?

I don't remember what the Hell I did this weekend! Must be this time of year....

 

[traca]

Heather, did you meet Tracy the butcher at your event? Love that guy!

I must have talked with him 5 times before he left on that trip!

Carrie's presentation on artisan beef is insightful, isn't it? I hosted her for a series of dinners here in Seattle earlier this year. Life changing, for sure!

 

[marilynfl]

{chuckling!}