Monthly Archives: December 2007

a New Year's toast: with my favorite drink.

a New Year's toast: with my favorite drink.
What drink am I? My 5th grader recently had a class writing project where he had to describe his favorite candy bar in 10 sentences. It could not contain the name of the candy bar, but enough hints and clues that people could guess the name of the bar.… [more]

a trio of DIPS for your holiday vegetable platter

a trio of DIPS for your holiday vegetable platter
Why don’t you just bring an appetizer? Maybe a dip and some veggies? Sure, you think, wondering why you were left with the boring alternative. I can bring the 1950′s veggie platter. But it is true, people crave the green crunchy alternative to the creamy, oily, cheesy, bread-crusted delights we… [more]

pork: sugar and spice and everything nice.

pork: sugar and spice and everything nice.
My friend knows how to collect good recipes. When my kitchen is on the brink of a lull, all I need to do is call her up for an injection of inspiration. In fact, it was through her that I finally found a chicken curry I could[more]

A slinky, a birdhouse, a pile of rocks and a plate of cookies.

A slinky, a birdhouse, a pile of rocks and a plate of cookies.
It is Christmas time. And my [extended] family, probably not unlike others, struggle year upon year about whether to give big gifts or little gifts, pile grab bag gifts or make homemade gifts. Are the gifts getting too expensive? Is the family getting so big that we still buy gifts… [more]

list of holiday appetizers

list of holiday appetizers
It is that time of year, when we engage in party-throwing and dressing up and cocktailing for the sake of the season. In my opinion, we should do this more often, despite the season. I just think it is good to gather, converse, and to not replace a perfect tag… [more]

What’s circular, dotted with holly, and green all over?

What's circular, dotted with holly, and green all over?
Wreath cookies: of course! Many food bloggers do a great job making recipe upon recipe based on the calendar of food blog events. I on the other hand, only serendipitously contribute to these parties, events and recipe roundups floating around on the web. I was happy to find this one—or… [more]

a spoonful of sugar… a spoonful of special.

a spoonful of sugar... a spoonful of special.
You have seen them out there: individually cellophane wrapped chocolate covered nut-sprinkled spoons. But for the price of $10 each, I figured it worth my time to make my own. Besides, it isn’t that difficult to melt chocolate and cover a spoon. And if you do—and present it as… [more]

The same yet different: Green Bean Casserole

The same yet different: Green Bean Casserole
Man, it is almost Christmas and I am still trying to perfect a Thanksgiving dish! My poor family has eaten the infamous Green Bean Casserole at least a half a dozen times, if not more, in the last few weeks. I wanted to get it right. And Thanksgiving didn’t wait… [more]

things to do today: make eggnog

things to do today: make eggnog
Things to do today: buy Christmas gifts for kids’ coaches & teachers, buy packaging tape and boxes, call eye doctor, clean out email in box, make eggnog. Top priority: make eggnog. When I read Brandon Eats‘ message to make your eggnog now or it is too late, I… [more]

pecan & sage crusted lamb

pecan & sage crusted lamb
It’s easy. I promise. I borrowed this recipe from Jess over at hogwash. As has been established, I am always on the lookout for any entree—or side dish, appetizer, dessert, etc.—that can be claimed for my default dinner list. I look for easy, delicious recipes. The more ingredients… [more]