A Pocket Full Of Christmas Memories

Sitting here on the couch with the laptop looking at a small pile of scribbled notes, menus, dog eared recipes, holiday to do lists, some items I intend to glue into my pen and ink journal and wondering how on Earth I could ever capture the flurry of our end of December activity in words. At this point, I have to admit that even the “glitteriest” memories seem jumbled and even a bit hazy. Recalling them almost makes me feel as if I am looking at them through a thick morning fog...

Rather than capture it all, I think I will simply dump out my pocket full of treasures and allow them to tell their own story.

Polish Christmas Eve Dinner Menu 2006

Cucumber Salad
Imported Marinated Mushrooms (Super Slimy) YUCK!
Mushroom and Sauerkraut Pierogis
Creamed Herring
Borscht
Hot Buttered Rye Bread
Jam Kolaches
Imported Chocolate
Krupnik (Hot Spiced Vodka with Honey)

Except for the imported items, the pierogis, and the rye bread, Blue and I prepared everything from scratch all day Christmas Eve. In this process, we discovered that “Pickled Herring is just one of those things best enjoyed in a restaurant. We never did feel brave enough to try our own version. Something about it just looked all wrong…

The Borchst was a vague recreation of my Great Grandma Julia’s recipe. No one learned how to make it, wrote down the recipe, or even remembers what was in it. But the tales I have been told of it, have sent me on a quest to recreate this old family favorite. No one was here to tell me if I got it right, but somehow, I have a feeling that Great Grandma Julia was looking down on me smiling the whole time.

True to Cultural traditions, Blue broke the Oplatek and we shared it with all the love it is meant to inspire. I was not feeling very well, but still Blue and I dined by the tree under the glow of the tree lights, the Yule log on TV, and the candles on our table.

Maybe next time we will be able to enjoy some other Polish Traditions as well…

*White table cloth on the table
*Hay under the table cloth
*Small Crèche on the table
*Extra place setting for those who are not present
*Placing the remaining Oplatek in the garden to inspire its fertility
*12 Dishes for the 12 Apostles or an uneven # of dishes
*Polish Christmas Carols
*Dinner starts when the first star is spotted in the sky

After Dinner, Blue and I opened exchanged our gifts to each other… We started this Christmas Eve tradition years ago, when we saw the need to carve out our own special time away from the typical chaos that Christmas morning always seems to bring.

So many cool gifts this year!!! I'll share a few of the highlights... I got Blue a Binary watch, a “good” Poker Set, and a microscope that attaches to his computer... I will be able to share pics of our findings. Blue got me an Ipod, and an old Holga Lomography Camera! It takes the coolest pics, and I just can't wait to develop my first roll of film and journal... There was more, but these are the “big toys.” Santa was good this year!

Christmas Day 2006

Appetizers:
Shrimp Cocktail, Polish Crock Pot Kielbasa, Deviled Eggs, Beer Cheese with crackers, celery sticks, and radishes

Dinner: Coca Cola Ham, Kentucky Bourbon Sweet Potatoes, Green Beans Casserole, Apple Sauce, Cabernet Cranberries, and Dinner Rolls with Pumpkin Pecan Butter.

Dessert:
Pineapple Upside Down Cake, Spanish Cream, Meringues, and an assortment of Christmas Cookies

Not my most favorite Christmas Dinner, but considering, that I was the only girl at our dinner table, I was the only one with that thought… The guys loved everything!
We exchanged gifts with the family and caught up with loved ones over the phone. And as usual, the day flew by much faster then we all would have liked… But not with out one stolen moment with Blue…

Before dinner, before his family came over, before the phone calls, progressed, we both snuggled on the couch and watched of all things… an old Christmas episode of Threes Company. We laughed and reminisced over one of our favorite childhood Tv shows and for a just moment, the usual “Christmas Day Chaos” was controlled and we were re-energized to make it through the rest...

Cola Basted Ham

Cola Basted Ham

Recipe courtesy Paula Deen

1 (18-pound) cured ham
2 (12-ounce) cans cola
Canned pineapple rings
Brown sugar
Maraschino cherries
Cloves

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

Place ham in a shallow roasting pan. Baste the ham with cola. With toothpicks, stick some pineapple rings on the ham, about 4 or 5 rings. Sprinkle some brown sugar on the rings. With toothpicks, place a cherry in each pineapple ring hole and then stick some cloves in the rings. Cover it with foil. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes per pound of ham, or until the ham reaches an internal temperature of 140 degrees F. Baste with cola about every 30 minutes during cooking.

Polish Jam Kolaches

I found this recipe on www.recipezaar.com during the holidays when I was researching recipes for our Polish Christmas Eve. These Kolaches were very light, flaky, and very simple to make.


Polish Jam Kolaches

2

dozen

35 min 20 min prep

1/2	cup butter, softened
3	ounces cream cheese, softened
1 1/4	cups all-purpose flour
1/4	cup strawberry jam
1/4	cup sifted confectioners' sugar

1. 1. Beat butter or margarine and cream cheese in mixer bowl until light and fluffy. Add flour gradually, beating well after each addition.
2. 2. Roll dough to 1/8 inch thickness on lightly floured surface. Cut into 2-inch circles. Spoon 1/4 teaspoon jam into center of each circle. Fold opposite edges together, slightly overlapping edges.
3. 3. Place 2 inches apart on greased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 15 minutes. Remove to wire rack to cool. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar.

Polish Kielbasa Bites

Polish Kielbasa Bites

2 lbs Kielbasa ~ Cut into bit size pieces
2 C Apricot Preserves
4 TBS Lemon Juice
4 Tsp Dijon Mustard
1/2 Tsp Ginger Powder


Combine all of the above in a Crockpot and cook on low heat till bubbly and sauce is slightly reduced. Apx. 1 hour

Be sure to stir occasionally!


Enjoy!

Red's Kentucky Bourbon Sweet Potatoes

I am most known for my Kentucky Bourbon Sweet Potatoes! I make them for the holidays especially when I am serving Turkey or Ham. They have always been a hit with my family and friends since I started making them in my early 20's. I would no doubt have to face an angry mob if I, for any reason ever decided to quit making these. Also, I realize some maybe horrified by the thought of canned over real sweet potatoes. I try to avoid preservatives and canned food as much as I can, but in this recipe everyone has fallen in love with the canned version and feuds start when I switch over to something fresher or healthier. I suppose on the grand scale of Holiday Feasting, this recipe is far from committing the most cardinal of unhealthy sins.

Red's Kentucky Bourbon Sweet Potatoes

3 (1-lb) Cans of Sweet Potatoes
1 Cup Sugar
1/3 Cup Bourbon (sometimes I add more) :angelgrin
1/2 Cup Butter, (room temperature)
1/2 Tsp Vanilla
Salt, to taste
2 Cups Mini Marshmallows

Preheat oven to 350 Degrees Fahrenheit
Drain the potatoes and mash with the sugar, bourbon, butter, vanilla, and salt.
Place mixture in a buttered casserole dish and bake uncovered for 20 minutes.
Top with the Marshmallows and bake till they are melted and browned.

This recipe is very forgiving and is a perfect do ahead dish. Prep everything up to adding the marshmallows. Cover and refrigerate up to 2 days in advance.
Adjust baking time when ready to serve. I almost double the baking time, but if you do this, be sure to keep a close eye on it. You would not want to bake out all of the bourbon, as it is one of the things that makes these sweet potatoes a legend.

And the snow turned into rain...

Same Auld Lang Syne


Met my old lover in the grocery store
The snow was falling Christmas Eve
I stole behind her in the frozen foods
And I touched her on the sleeve

She didn't recognize the face at first
But then her eyes flew open wide
She went to hug me and she spilled her purse
And we laughed until we cried

We took her groceries to the checkout stand
The food was totaled up and bagged
We stood there lost in our embarrassment
As the conversation dragged

We went to have ourselves a drink or two
But couldn't find an open bar
We bought a six pack at the liquor store
And we drank it in her car

CHORUS:
We drank a toast to innocence
We drank a toast to now
We tried to reach beyond the emptiness
But neither one knew how

She said she'd married her an architect
Who kept her warm and safe and dry
She would've liked to said she loved the man
But she didn't like to lie

I said the years had been a friend to her
And that her eyes were still as blue
But in those eyes I wasn't sure if I
Saw doubt or gratitude

She said she saw me in the record store
And that I must be doing well
I said the audience was heavenly
But the traveling was hell

CHORUS

We drank a toast to innocence
We drank a toast to time
Living in our eloquence
Another auld lang syne

The beer was empty and our tongues were tired
And running out of things to say
She gave a kiss to me as I got out
And I watched her drive away

Just for a moment I was back at school
And felt that old familiar pain
And as I turned to make my way back home
The snow turned into rain

Dan Fogelberg


Feels as if I have heard this song over the radio every Christmas of my life… Never really was one of my favorite songs, never seemed catchy or Christmassy, no upbeat catchy little tune to sing along to… Just the most melancholy sound played diligently on every holiday station year after year…

But, this year this song just crept up behind me right along with the holidays and surprisingly found a way to take center stage right in the epicenter of the rest of the madness… Somehow, this year, at least to me, this quiet, gentle song has become the most entrancing act on that stage… The one that stops me in my tracks as I pause to reflect, admire, and ponder its depth… The very last one in the world I thought I would or ever could possibly connect to…

After all, I have Blue, I have our love, I have all that we share together, the rich history that we have shared and I have hope. Hope that I cup in my small hands like the most fragile baby animal you know needs your help… will not make it solely on its own left to its own devices and the sometimes cruel world around it.

Yet there is something in this song that haunts me… something I can not seem to find peace with until I know that I have looked it in the eye, faced it for all it is/was, and acknowledge the fact that it could have so easily just have taken center stage long ago…

Long ago, when Blue and I were young, poor, newly married, and literally scavenging to make our way together in this world… many times with no more to our names then our own love to hold it all together…

And as in all of life’s twists, turns, and tests, I just so happened to be working as an up and coming nanny to the elite in our local society and economy…

During the day while at work, my life was literally draped in silk, caviar, “good” wine, diamonds, old mahogany, days at the country club and a world that could not be further removed from my own… And after hours, it was an entirely different place… Forget the silk; we could barely afford the cotton…

Sometimes, I still scratch my head wondering how I ever found my way into that other world… Was it my ideals, my love for children that I could work my way seamlessly into a family’s life and pick up the slack they never knew was there, or was it completely for a different reason, one closely intertwined with fate…? I suppose I never will know, but I do know that those experiences helped make Blue and I much of who we are today…

I shudder to think of all the times that I considered tossing it all away… trading love with Blue for the money… for that other life filled with more glitter and glam, for the other man… The one that the families I nannied for would often present to me on a silver platter… The one they insisted rode that white horse, and could more then afford to ride me off into the sunset… The one they “knew” I should choose over Blue… And I will admit, there were times I was tempted, times that I was made to feel bad over my choice, times I was tossed back to the curb in my rags as the carriage rode off with out me… and this happened… this happened more times then I care to even count… and each time I walked away in shame wondering what I had done wrong, what was so wrong with Blue that everyone tried so hard to pull me away from him…

Well, looking back, I can honestly say that there was nothing wrong with him or me for that matter. We were in many ways the same people we are today… just with a lot less of everything, experience being on the top of the list. Blue was and still is the guy that will cut intricate shapes in paper to use to make a powdered sugar design on the pancakes he makes me for breakfast, he is the one that I turn to first with all my thoughts, the one that still after all this time knows how to kiss away the pain, the one that makes life fun, the one that holds the key to my heart, and the codes to it’s many combinations… and he is still the one that I still love with all of my heart…

Life has changed so much for us, and although we still see the long curvy road ahead of us, we smile inside knowing that it is together that we will be going for the ride… And as that song plays on the radio this year, I take stock of my/our life and I realize just how easily it could have all been different… With my heart full of love, my eyes with tears, and hope that could conquer all, I know that I am right where I need to be… right where I am meant to be… And although in that other life, my Christmas “may” have been warmed by cashmere, brilliant fires at the hottest ski resorts, and perhaps an endless string of lavish parties and charity events… I know that as in the song, one look, one stolen moment shared with Blue/remembering the life I (almost) left… and all that snow would have turned in to rain…

Beef Bourguignon

Not to dumb this recipe down, but for years I couldn't pronounce it, so I kind of shied away from making it. But that was before I knew about pronunciation tools available of the internet. Now we eat all kinds of multi-syllable dishes filled with global ingredients ordered online. This is one of them, but by far the best. I made this for Blue's Birthday and my only complaint is that I didn't just go ahead and try this sooner.

Basically, this is the French version of pot roast. In my opinion, I think kicks our humble American Pot Roast's Butt. There is a lot of chopping involved, but this is one of those recipes that makes it worth it.

Can you say...

BEEF BOURGUIGNON

8 ounces bacon, coarsely chopped
3 pounds well-trimmed boneless beef chuck, cut into 1 1/2-inch cubes (from 7-bone chuck roast)
1/3 cup all purpose flour
1 1/4 pounds boiling onions, peeled
3/4 pound large carrots, cut into 1-inch pieces
12 large garlic cloves, peeled (left whole)

3 cups canned beef broth
1/2 cup Cognac or brandy
2 750-ml bottles red Burgundy wine
1 1/4 pounds mushrooms
1/3 cup chopped fresh thyme or 2 tablespoons dried
1 tablespoon dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon tomato paste

Preheat oven to 325°F. Sauté bacon in heavy large Dutch oven over high heat until brown and crisp, about 8 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer bacon to paper towels. Season beef generously with salt and pepper; coat with 1/3 cup flour, using all of flour. Working in 3 batches, brown beef in same pot over high heat, about 5 minutes per batch. Transfer meat to large bowl. Add onions and carrots to same pot and sauté until light brown, about 6 minutes. Add garlic and sauté 1 minute. Transfer vegetables to bowl with beef.

Add 1 cup broth and Cognac to pot; boil until reduced to glaze, scraping up browned bits, about 8 minutes. Return meat and vegetables and their juices to pot. Add wine, mushrooms, thyme, sugar, tomato paste and 2 cups broth. Bring to boil, stirring occasionally. Cover pot and place in oven. Cook until beef is tender, about 1 hour 20 minutes.

Ladle liquid from stew into large saucepan. Spoon off fat. Boil liquid until reduced to 2 3/4 cups, about 40 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Pour liquid back over beef and vegetables. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.) Rewarm over low heat before serving.

Serves 8.

Bon Appétit
May 1994

Mint or Vanilla Meringues

I made these over the holidays this year and they were incredible! They are so much better then the ones you buy in the store. Just do not attempt to make them on a humid day.

Mint or Vanilla Meringues
by VIKKI BARKER

4 dozen
time to make 2½ hours 20 min prep
2 egg whites
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon mint extract
3-6 drops green food coloring
green colored sprinkles (optional)

1. Heat oven to 200 degrees.
2. Grease 2 large cookie sheets, set aside.
3. Combine egg whites, cream of tarter, and salt in medium bowl.
4. Beat until foamy.
5. Add sugar 1 tbs at a time, beating until egg whites are very stiff and glossy and sugar is dissolved.
6. beat in mint extract and food color.
7. Fit a decorator bag with a large star tip.
8. spoon meringue into bag.
9. Pipe meringue in 1 inch puffs on prepared cookie sheets.
10. Sprinkle with colored sugar if desired.
11. Place cookie sheets on center rack of preheated oven.
12. Bake for 2 hours.
13. Remove from cookie sheet immediately, cool completely on wire racks.

Christmas Candlelighting in Roscoe Village

Some nights are so magical, that even at the time, you know in your heart that the memories you capture will live in your heart for the rest of your life. So, last night in Roscoe Village for the Christmas Candlelighting Ceremony , as the gleaming star on the 35 foot tree was lit, I took a deep breath, closed my eyes for a moment and took it all in...

The warmth, love, and tenderness of Blue's hand holding mine, the feeling of the cold candle wax of the candle in my other hand, the awe, silence, and stillness of the crowd, even the children... as the first candles were lit as the first lines of "Silent night" were sung by the first to share their light with the crowd, the crowd joining in to sing and the song getting louder as perfect strangers came together to celebrate the season and to share their light, the veil of tears in my eyes that I could not seem to blink back as I opened them slowly...

Looking down, my eyes now open, I was surprised to see some small children staring at me and Blue and especially the white knee high "super girly" fuzzy boots Blue and I could not resist buying in Philadelphia fairly recently... Super trendy on the East Coast and well here in the Midwest... judging by the looks they seem to get, and the little old Blue haired ladies enchantment with them everywhere I seem to go...
I think it might be a while before this style makes it here... if ever... I look at Blue and he is grinning for the same reason…

Soaking in some more now with my eyes open, we see the children's attention diverted as the song gets louder and the small flickering flames dance closer and closer to our part of the crowd...

Blue's candle was lit first, and with me he shared his light, then both of us to a young family behind us, we passed it along, slowly watching it's glowing light illuminate their faces...

The small children delighted with the opportunity to play with fire and utterly enchanted with the fun they could have with the dripping wax.

Glancing around it was impossible to miss the brilliance of the tree as it was lit, each thick white bulb shining like stars of hope in the darkest of skies... the older couples huddled close together, years of togetherness and memories visibly wrapped around them like a time worn quilted heirloom...

I could smell the scent of hot cider filling the air as it was stirred in large copper kettles over an open fire, the smokiness of the wood fire, and a slight hint of Blue's Ralph Lauren Polo cologne, as I held my candle and snuggled closer into him and his wool pea coat, the subtle scent of my candle wax as it melted, combined with the kettle corn that was popping only a short walk away created a blend of fragrances that I know I will search my whole life for every time I pick up a candle or a bag of potpourri…

And, as Blue held me close and we began to sing with the crowd... "We wish you a Merry Christmas... We wish you a Merry Christmas... We wish you a Merry Christmas," I truly thought my heart would burst because it was completely saturated in that moment with all that makes us hold the holidays dear... all that makes work at a frantic pace this time of year to keep them alive for both us and those we hold dear...

Retro Pineapple Upsidedown Cake

This is another recipe that I have made and rated as princess.and.the.pea on Recipezaar's website. I made it for the first time this past Christmas and it was so incredible that we will be making it religiously from now on whenever we will be serving a simple ham. Such a classic and absolutely incredible!



Pineapple Upside Down Cake Recipe
This recipe is by far the best Pineapple Upside Down cake that I've ever made. It is also quick and easy. The cake is very moist and rises much higher than the average recipe. The combination of pineapple cake mix and pineapple juice isn't overwhelming either.
by ElaineM
12
servings
time to make 1¼ hours 10 min prep
1/2 cup butter
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 (20 ounce) can sliced pineapples
6 maraschino cherries, cut in half lengthwise
1 (18 ounce) package duncan hines supreme pineapple cake mix
1 (4 ounce) box vanilla instant pudding mix
1 cup pineapple juice, from canned pineapple with a bit of water added
1/2 cup canola oil
4 eggs

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Melt butter in a 9x13 pan in oven.
3. Sprinkle brown sugar evenly over butter in pan.
4. Drain canned pineapple into a measuring cup.
5. Place pineapple slices evenly in pan, cutting the last two in half to cover pan.
6. Place the maraschino cherry halves in the center of the pineapple slices, cut side up.
7. Combine the rest of ingredients in a large mixing bowl on slow speed for 30 seconds.
8. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes.
9. Pour batter into pan.
10. Bake for 45 to 55 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
11. Cool 5 minutes and turn cake out onto a serving platter, pineapple side up.


You may find the link to the original recipe here:
http://www.recipezaar.com/70646

Winter Solstice 2006

Celebrating Winter Solstice is fairly new for us, but we have come to love the romanticism behind this ancient ritual and have found ways to make it ours.

As with all things, it can be so much fun planning something special when you have a clear vision in your head for it. But, when you don't...

This is what I have come up with so far:

I am going to make...
Crostini with Caramelized Onions and Brie garnished with a bit of Thyme(I love making homemade baguettes!)
A simple salad... Maybe just some mixed Baby Greens with a simple Dijon Dressing and...
Beef Bourguignon
and for dessert... Balsamic Glazed Oranges

Winter Solstice is the longest night of the year, so as usual, instead of using "traditional lighting" we we light candles through our home and turn on all those twinkly Christmas lights.

I will bring in some greenery from outdoors as a reminder that the return of the sun and the longer days will bring new life to the world around us. The greenery and an assortment of candles will go on our dinner table... some holly, some ivy, some evergreen... what ever I can scavenge on a morning hike earlier that day.

Dinner will begin at sun down and we will toast the return of the sun, the longer days, and the promise of Summer... when we can once again sink our toes in the warm sand at the beach.

If we had a fire place we would burn a Yule Log, but since we are also going to be celebrating Blue's Birthday, I imagine that with all the candles lit, that his cake may actually burn brighter.

At the end of the evening we will return the "greenery" to nature (our garden) as a reminder that the Winters in life do not last forever...

I am still thinking, but this is all I have for now...

Christmas on Caffeine

Yes, the chaos has officially started...
It began when Blue, my brother Rob and I spent an entire day searching 6 Christmas tree farms for that perfect tree. It is usually not quite so much work, but this is our 1 st Christmas in Ohio and to be honest, there just might have been to many options. We were successful with our last stop and found the most beautiful Fir tree. It didn't seem very big on the lot, but once those guys lifted it on to our little SUV, we knew it was going to be an adventure. Personally I loved it, but Blue pruned it and you can no longer reach out and touch it from the other side of our town house. But as I told Blue, there is now plenty of room for presents... He is seriously contemplating gluing those branches back on.

Currently, my Christmas is on caffeine as I tie up the loose ends on some projects and attempt to undertake a million more. Last night Blue came in to the kitchen as I was taking pictures of the cookies for an online cookbook, that I have been meaning to do... asked me if I was attempting to create cookie porn...

Nothing naughty about the pics except for maybe the calories, carbs, and fat...

Jolly Jam Bars

This Recipe comes from a Lake Highland Preparatory School Fundraising Cookbook. I love these for Christmas, but make them year round and find that these cookies are a perfect way to use up a bumper crop of summer preserves. They are quick, easy, and perfect with a cup of tea.

*For best results, measure dry ingredients with a liquid measuring cup. It makes the bars more like shortbread cookies.

Jolly Jam Bars

1 c. butter
1 c. sugar
2 egg yolks
2 c. flour
1 c. chopped nuts (If desired)

1/2 c. of your favorite jelly or jam

Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

Add egg yolks and blend well.

Gradually add flour and mix thoroughly.

Fold in nuts and divide the dough in half.

Pat 1 half of dough evenly into a greased 9" Square pan.

Top with Jam and cover with remaining dough.

Bake at 325 Degrees Fahrenheit for 50 minutes or until lightly browned.

Cool and Cut into Bars.

Cookie Crisis in my kitchen

Yesterday, I spent the day cleaning, wrapping gifts, ordering more online gifts, researched Polish Christmas traditions and made a list of all I wish to do for my family to make their holiday season special. Oh, and I buried that "Simple Living" sign deep in the darkest corner of my basement... It is not coming back out until I say so.

Last night as I was wrapping presents, my little brother (who is living with us), looks at me and asks if we are having a "Cookie Crisis" this year... I look at him eyebrow raised as he continues to explain, how I have somehow, not lived up to his expectations of "Christmas Cookie Bliss" and is wondering when and if I am going to have a bake off like our mom...

If he only knew... lol

So, today I am officially up to my elbows in cookie dough. There is a batch of Jolly Jam Bars in my oven right now and the next runner up will be some Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip cookies. I found some mini Peanut butter cups in Trader Joe's and I am going to use those instead of Chocolate Chips. Not sure where I will go from here, but I suppose you could say the cookie crisis is over and my home smells like Christmas Cookie Bliss!

Thanksgiving Weekend NYC/Bethlehem 2006

I will admit it, I sulk when the fun is over, when life slows down, and life goes back to normal. If it were up to me, we would all ride the waves of those highs and never ever see those lows. I know we need the lows to balance us, help us focus, help us appreciate the good times that much more, but in all honesty, I kind of think they suck.

Blue and I had an awesome 3 weeks away and our finale in NYC for Thanksgiving was just the icing on the cake. Wednesday night before Thanksgiving, Blue and I checked into The Holland Motor Lodge in Jersey City right outside the Holland Tunnel. This humble little family owned motel is a gem and we will not hesitate to stay there time and time again. A friend told us about it and we are glad that she did, the rates were unbeatable (under $100 a night), the wood paneled walls looked a little long in the tooth, but it was as clean as the Marriot rooms we usually stay in when we are traveling for business. The staff was incredible, the continental breakfast was impressive, and the hotel was a short 5 minute walk to the Path train into the city, which was only $1.50 each way. I have to admit, this place is one of the best travel bargains we have ever snagged and it freed up our wallet for all the fun we had once in the city.

Wednesday night we checked into the lodge, raced to the Path train and took it to the subway, and off to the city we went. I did not bring my camera because a huge storm was expected, so I have no photos, but I will never forget how magical this night was.

Everyone says that when you ride mass transit for the first time, be sure to buy extra tickets. Everyone gets on a wrong train or two their first time. We were no exception and our first mistake landed us in the heart of the World Trade Center site. This was our second time there since, 9-11 and it seemed just as eerie as the first time. The impact of all that happened there will always haunt me as I feared for those in our family that were with FDNY or NYPD that day. Thankfully, we lost no one, but my heart still hurts for those that that did. Maybe it is just us, but the mosaics of all of the eyes watching from the walls made us want to hurry out of there just as quick as we could.

Our next train took us uptown to 81 st and West Central Park to catch the Macy’s Day Parade Balloons being blown up. From what I hear, this is a tradition every bit as important as the parade. http://manhattan.about.com/od/event...cysballoons.htm
The area was packed and we just bumped along with the crowd as we walked along starring with awe and the size and magnificence of the balloons. It is so hard to pick a favorite when each one is every bit as amazing as the rest, but I really loved the snowmen. Blue had never seen the balloons in person before and like all grownups that see them for the first time, he was captivated with childlike wonder and awe. .

Hand in hand, we walked down 8 th to Columbus Circle, down Broadway and on to Times Square stopping for a slice on NYC style Pizza along the way. My family was always too paranoid to walk through the city at night, so this was my first time getting to enjoy the city at night. Words just can not capture how dazzling it all is or the energy that is so intense that even a city like NY can not contain it. We explored, shopped, and my first purchase is something I picked out especially for my Secret Santa Person. I can not wait till they get it!

Blue and I wandered the city for hours… Rockefeller center was not lit up yet, but the angels brilliantly lit the way all the way to Saks on 5 th Avenue which was lit up with a Swarovski inspired snowflake light and music display. The experience was downright intoxicating and we soaked it all in till we were practically ready to burst with the spirit of Christmas and the glittery type of sparkly feelings that only the magic of the holidays can bring. That was until the winds of the storm swept in like wild fire sending us and much of NY running for cover. We made it to the Subway just in time to miss the torrential rain that washed the city clean as it pounded down on all that was below.

The Subway at 1 am was an experience all of its own. We were alone in the subway car… I thinking of the risqué scene in the movie Risky Business and Blue wondering when the bad guy was going to come through with a knife. Blue’s paranoia won out and I laughed to myself as he stood up on watch ready to barricade the doors incase anyone illegally hopped train cars hunting for a victim. Like always, we balance each other… my sense of adventure and Blue sense of safety. Still wishing my sense of adventure had won out. ;-)

Of course we got off the subway, quickly headed out of the station and into the bone chilling winds and driving rain that seemed to engulf us as if it were coming up from the ground. Laughing, splashing, and soaked, we blew into a little diner for a cup of hot coffee, while the waitress called us a cab. Sitting in that diner listening to the friendly chatter of the locals warmed me in a way no heat source ever could. I was a bit sad when our cab showed up and it was time to go.

Exhausted we crashed for the night at 2 am wondering if the Parade was going too be cancelled for only the 2 nd time in 80 years…

At 5 am when I woke up feeling achy from the last traces of the cold we had caught, the rain still pounding, and our disappointment as heavy as the thickest rain clouds in the sky, I knew there was nothing more we could do then hunker down under the blankets and dream of the next time…

At 7 am, I felt better, the weather calmed, the parade was preparing to start, and we hustled to bundle up to head to the city and catch what we could. I was ready first and was thrilled to find the doughnuts and pastries of my childhood down on the breakfast table in the lobby. Abandoning all reserve I decadently devoured a strawberry filled powdered doughnut that was so full that it nearly weighed a pound. It took all my reserve to leave the others on the tray…

In the rain, umbrellas in hand Blue and I made our way to the path train admiring all of the Christmas decorations along the way. By now we had figured out that the Subway was unnecessary, so we took the Path train directly to 33 Rd Street to catch what we could of the parade. Most of the route was roped off, but we did catch a few of the balloons as they drifted by us 2 blocks away. A little bit of a let down, but we have our whole lives ahead of us and will most definitely try again.

Our day was spent walking the city much as we had the night before. Macys and all of the department stores, and most of the attractions were closed, but we had the most amazing time viewing it all as we walked by. Lunch was in a deli, a bagel with cream cheese, lox and extremely hot coffee…

The winds were still bitter and fierce. Broken umbrellas lined the trashcans on almost every corner like abandoned headstones in a graveyard. FAO Schwartz was the embodiment of childhood desire and enchantment. The Apple Store a grown up’s electronic fantasyland. Exhausted and cold at this point we meandered our way through.

So many places to choose from for Thanksgiving dinner, but all we could think about was the warmth of that tiny little diner in Jersey City where we decided to head… The chef was working alone when we got there. A blur of 67 year old grey hair racing through the kitchen as small parties of people gathered around the tables prepared for a feast. The food was humble, but the chef (a newly emigrated little old man from Greece) remembered us from the night before and welcomed us like royalty. It is from him and that night that I learned that the most humble food becomes a feast when it is served with much love. “Mr. Steve” the chef made our Thanksgiving dinner a memorable affair and we were very glad we had chosen to go back. We left the diner that night with full tummies, completely awed and inspired by the ideals of a man more that twice our age.

Black Friday we woke up at the crack of dawn for our first experience of facing the early morning door buster shoppers. There was nothing we really wanted, but to see the knock down drag out fights over discounted frying pans and Pyrex sets at Macy’s. Blue and I were not disappointed and the people watching was far better then the best of reality TV. Not sure we will do it again, but it was entertaining in a sense. We shopped our favorite stores, which were much quieter in comparison and we filled shopping bags with troves of treasures to wrap up and set under our tree till Christmas.

With the day moving fast, we finished our shopping, loaded the car, dined on some more doughnuts, checked out and made our way on the highways back to our home in Ohio. On a whim we stopped in a town called Bethlehem in PA. There was a Christmas festival in full swing and Blue grudgingly left his ambitions to get home in the car for a while as I begged for a 2 hour break. Spoiled and convincing, I won and Blue begrudgingly set out to have a good time. The sky was bright blue, the air crisp, and at the end of the 2 hours even Blue had to admit he was glad that we stopped.

Holiday tunes on the radio, we wound our way through the holiday traffic and were home tucked in bed before midnight. Still dizzy from the frantic pace of our latest adventure, we laid our heads to rest on the smooth silkiness of our very own cotton sateen encased down pillows and hunkered down for what could only be called a long winter’s rest. No visions of sugar plums this time, our dreams were laden with the scents of street vendors selling pretzels, shiny cases full of imitation Rolex watches, colorful knock off designer purses, and all of the sights and sounds of our trip. The sights and sounds that will have to carry us through till the next time, whatever and whenever that may be.

Hot Butter Your Buns With Buttered Rum in a Crock Pot Recipe

Some recipes were just made for winter. This is one of them!


Hot Butter Your Buns With Buttered Rum in a Crock Pot Recipe

A nice way to scent to home and warm the spirit!
by Rita L

8 servings
time to make 10 min 5 min prep
2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter
1 pinch salt
3 cinnamon sticks
6 whole cloves
3 cardamom pods
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground nutmeg
2 cups dark rum or spiced rum
Garnish
heavy cream, whipped
ground nutmeg, for topping
cinnamon sticks

1. Put first 7 ingredients into crock pot.
2. Add 2 quarts hot water.
3. Stir well.
4. Cover pot and cook on low for 5 hours.
5. Add rum and stir to blend.
6. Serve from pot in warm mugs with a scoop of whipped cream and a dusting of nutmeg and cinnamon stick as stirrer.

The Link to the original recipe maybe found here:
http://www.recipezaar.com/77800

Home Sweet Home in Philly

Our last week on the road before heading home and my eyes are brimming with tears imagining how nice it will be to snuggle with Blue tucked tightly in our own bed, with our own pillows, with window that face the morning rays of the sun. Coffee brewing in our own pot, bacon sizzling in my cast iron pan, eggs so light and fluffy that they could melt on your tongue like clouds, and lemon blueberry pancakes drizzled in locally tapped maple syrup… Followed by a long walk or drive in the country or surrounding areas. Each breath we take reminding us how important it is to live simply… Yes, those are the morning I dream of when we are on the road…

But, as they say, home is where your heart is and mine was in Philly with Blue this weekend. So, yes this weekend we walked the streets hand in hand gazing at the jaw dropping architecture, the eccentricities of the city, and the subcultures of people that no doubt led lives that we could only dare to imagine. This city could so easily become my home and if I ever had to choose a place to re-write and re-create myself… this would be it. As much as I love the country and serenity of Ohio I love the chaotic and eclectic pace that all of Philadelphia seems to breathe in to those who walk her historic streets.

If this was our life, I am sure you would find Blue in I in a colorful loft apartment set in a funky borough walking distance from all we could possibly need or imagine. We would still wake up snuggled tightly in our own familiar bed, maybe to the sounds of the heat cranking though the building’s ancient radiators and hopefully to a glimpse of the morning sun. I would slip on my bight pink slippers and head to a tiny kitchen to whip up a breakfast with the exotic ingredients I found the day before in Reading Terminal Market. Coffee infused with some fresh ground spices, Omelets made with leeks, caramelized onions, exotic mushrooms, and some lightly grated cheese from a paper wrapped block I bought at Salumeria. Maybe even some juice freshly squeezed from a variety of colorful fruits I found in China Town… When finished we would walk the streets, stroll through a green space just to soak in a tiny taste of the season, maybe even venture in to a museum or exhibit on tour. Each breath we would take would energize us, remind us to create, remind us of our individuality and drive us to push the limits of our existing boundaries. There would be nothing simple about it, but yet it would still be ours…


I do not have any recent pictures to share this time. I have long quit bringing my camera to Philly except when seeking out a new site. It is the place I go when I want to view the world with the naked eye choosing to capture the experience with another type of medium. Charcoal, oil crayons, paints, multimedia, felt, yarn, wood, clay, words, and sometimes with thoughts of what if…

Below are some links of places and flavors we savored this weekend.

South Street:
http://www.gophila.com/C/Things_to_...treet/1173.html

Pink Rose Pastry Shop for breakfast:
http://www.pinkrosepastry.com/item.html?PRID=1230701

South Philly Jean Madeline for a cut and color. This place is locally know as the Harvard Education for hair. There is never a doubt that your stylist today will be working in a hip salon charging you $$$$$ tomorrow. I sure did leave feeling like a million bucks, was nice not having to spend it to get there.
http://jeanmadeline.com/jmi_locations.html

Dinner was at South Street Soulvaki. This was no doubt the best Greek food we have ever had. The creamy Red Roe on top of my Greek salad was a treat all by itself.
http://philly.urbansavings.com/southstreetsouvlaki.htm

No Picture or Links for Macys Center City. :-( Just know that this place is not to be missed...

Reading Terminal Market:
http://readingterminalmarket.org/about.php

Lunch at Delilah's (Southern cuisine) was too die for!
They were voted "Best Macaroni & Cheese in the country by Oprah Winfrey in 2003." I had the Barbecue Baked Chicken Wings, Candied Yams, and Greens with a side of Cornbread. Blue had the fried chicken, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, and greens with corn bread. We devoured the huge portions and decided that if we ever decide to give our hearts back to Jesus, it will be in a ghetto in the deep south in a church that has regular church suppers and women who can cook. I am not kidding... it was just that good!
http://readingterminalmarket.org/merchantView.php?id=20

Walked Past the Liberty Bell and the fairly new Independence Center:
http://www.independencevisitorcenter.com/

Spent some time strolling through Chinatown. I try never to say never, but I really doubt that I will ever try those 1000 year old preserved eggs. Still I love browsing the markets especially when I find ingredients and produce I have never seen. This time we saw a big basket of these things that could only be some type of pod. They were small, black, felt like plastic and looked like tiny replicas of the devil's horns. I do not speak Chinese, but could tell that the ladies next to me that did were just as perplexed as I was. Of course that made me even more curious...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinat...a,_Pennsylvania

Hurt

I like to journal early in the morning not long after I first wake up, when my sense of self censorship is still asleep, when my mind is full of new thoughts, ideas, perspectives, and possibilities. Opening my eyes slowly to catch a glimpse of the sun shining through my windows is my favorite way to start the day. On mornings like that I wake up practically jumping out of bed to greet the day and all that it will bring. And on mornings like today, when the sun is hidden by the clouds, I crank the stereo or turn on VH-1 or MTV to catch the morning videos. Nelly Furtado’s Video, Say it Right is blaring right now. I love her voice and it is chasing the away the clouds in my mind that the sun has yet to clear. What she missed, Christina Aguilera has found with her song, Hurt. She has really evolved as an artist and this video is as colorful and surreal to me as a Mark Ryden Painting. Her voice captures my soul and the lyrics almost always bring tears to my eyes.

Ohh I'm sorry for blaming you
For everything I just couldn't do
And I've hurt myself, ohh

If I had just one more day
I would tell you how much that I've missed you
Since you've been away
Ooh, it's dangerous
It's so out of line
To try and turn back time

How many times did I hurt like that when I chose not to forgive, but rather to hold on to my pain while it slowly tore me apart from the inside out? Was it really their fault or were their actions just the result of their own shortcomings, limitations, and ignorance? Did they try their best or did they just not know how? If it was all different would I be who I am and where I am today? Yes, to forgive and to let go is sometimes more of a gift to yourself then it is the recipient, who often is too blinded by their own ignorance to fully absorb your pain or ever acknowledge it the way you need them to. Sometimes you can walk away and cut your losses and other times you never really do find that way out, that way to let go and never miss what was or what could have been if the pieces of that broken puzzle had only been found…

Do you have any tree trimming traditions?

We will finally be home this Sunday and I really hope to head to a Christmas Tree Farm to pick out a tree for Blue to chop down. Traditionally, we set up our tree the day after Thanksgiving. The Blue Spruce is our all time favorite and every year no matter how hard we try, we get the tree home only to find out that it is larger than life. By this time we are ravenous, so we feast on Thanksgiving leftovers. This year I am considering making some Pureed Carrot Ginger Soup, some baguettes, and maybe even a salad.

If you were peeking through our windows, you would see Blue arranging the lights on the tree while I help with the slack. I used to do them till the year Blue told me that if I squinted while doing it that I could see all the gaps. Well, several boxes of lights later, there was not a gap to be found, but we did have to put our tree on a few different breakers and you need sunglasses to look at it.

Our ornaments are a mix of the old and the new and there are no set rules where things should go. Honestly, I am just happy if it all fits and nothing breaks.

Christmas Music will be playing and occasionally one of use will sing along. Sometimes we will have old Christmas Movies playing on the TV. It's a Wonderful life seems to be a tree trimming tradition.

We laugh, joke, share memories, and snack on whatever desserts are left over from the big meal. By this time the liquor makes an appearance Frangelica in hot chocolate with marshmallow fluff, Kahlua in coffee if there is still much to be done, Shots of Irish Cream is we are too busy to sip, plain eggnog if we indulged to much the night prior, or ice cold toasted almonds if we are in sunny FL where the weather is hot. Somehow the alcohol just makes the night sparkle and I would dare Ebenezer Scrooge not to have a good time.

By now the lights are brighter, the music louder, and there is a good chance we are all singing. Blue and I are just too excited about Christmas and are ready to burst with our secret gifts. I can usually talk Blue into exchanging one early , especially if I am the one mixing his drinks.

This day is so much fun for us and I dare to say that it might be just as much fun as Christmas itself. I am excited about the Macy's parade and all the fun we will have, but it is really our tree trimming day that has had me checking the calendar since November 1 st.

This makes me wonder what your tree trimming traditions are.

Life Challenge #6

I think there may be too many matriarchs in my family... someone really should have had the foresight to cap that number long ago... so many fights, too much competition, and not one willing to just play fair. I had a fairly good time visiting my grandmother... tried my best to make the visit pleasant and something worth remembering... wish it were as easy as it sounds...

My big mistake, going to see my Godmother (Grandma's 86 y/o sister/arch enemy) on my way out of Long Island. I suppose that I should have chosen sides and not gone to visit my favorite aunt who is awaiting results for a biopsy that could very well prove to be cancerous...
Maybe I should have just gossiped about my Aunt Jean as my grandmother wanted and jumped on the bandwagon of women in my family that like to stir the pot as it seems to be expected maybe even required...

Yesterday my grandmother chose to pick a fight with me ruining what I could call a semi-nice visit if I try hard enough to be positive about it... Unlike the others before me, I called her on her actions and behavior ... Did the unspeakable and held her accountable for her own part in the ugliness. (GASP!) Pointed out the example she was choosing to set for the rest of us...

She backed down, the phone call ended, and I realized that as far a matriarchs go, that I was the new blood… the one that stood next in line to wear the crown and hold the reins… The thought made me cringe. I crawled into bed for the entire afternoon and I wondered just at what point the Grandma that used to give you milk, cookies, and a hug turned into the grandma that liked to play cowboys and Indians... handing you a gun and insisting on being on opposite sides.

With the words, "Your giving me a stroke!" ringing through my ears, I wondered how I could fix a negative mess that has existed long before I was born. Short of joining a convent, how could I disengage forever and never have to hear another word, vicious story, or feel the need to constantly run offense as every family member that I have ever loved is incessantly degraded in front of me?

With these thoughts in mind, I wrote my Grandma a letter and decided what challenge #6 would be...

Challenge #6:
To focus on the positive and to look for the good... to try my hardest not to engage in conversations that are focused on the past and all of our many faults and failures permanently captured with in it... To excuse myself from these conversations and situations as they do not support the life I wish to lead and the person I am choosing to be. To give myself permission to walk away, to end a phone call early, and to break the cycle... I will choose not be ugly or raise my voice, I will just gently remind my relatives where I stand, tell them I love them and that I look forward to the next time, when hopefully we can discuss better times or other topics that are more neutral...

I certainly can not expect them to change, but I can change myself and walk away from the role I have been groomed for… Become the change I wish to see…

Blue and my mom suggested that I write a letter as it is my only chance of truly being heard. Lets hope they are right…



Grandma,

I am really glad that you enjoyed the photo albums. I really enjoyed looking at your wedding album with you. I also really enjoyed going through your cookbook with you as well. I have so many wonderful memories spent in you home, especially your kitchen. From the time I was still small enough to take a bath in your kitchen sink with the Ivory dish soap (the smell of that soap still to this day brings back a flood of warm memories), making cookies in your kitchen, many family dinners, and the first thoughts I had ever given to meal preparations and menus. My love for cooking truly began with you. You always knew how to make that learning process so much fun for me. It is also because of you that I learned to love books, the library, and the adventures you could embark on just by picking up a book. So many wonderful memories...

I also am thankful for all of the holidays we were able to share... The excitement of waiting for you and Grandpa to come over Christmas day... Grandpa pulling me on a sled down a street completely covered in snow, all those trips to the duck pond and the park. Growing up, I never doubted that I really did have the best Grandparents in the whole world.

I remember shopping with you, mom, Aunt Jean and Michael... The visits you and Aunt Jean used to make together and how wonderful I thought it was to be able to get to see both of you at the same time. I may have been a little girl, but even then I knew how special it was to have lots of people around you that loved you and lots of people to love in return. I also remember one of the few times that Aunt Jerry and Uncle Joe came to our home along with everyone else for Christmas. All that love made me feel like I was one of the luckiest little girls in the world. I have always wished that there were more times like it...

I remember Uncle Joe picking inedible berries in the back yard with me just for fun, Uncle Eddie singing me the funniest songs, and Grandpa helping me clean my room so I wouldn't get in trouble. Very few memories of Uncle Richard, but our few visits to their home gave me a glimpse of a better life, one very different then my own at the time and one worth striving for. For that I am thankful, because through it, I learned that it was important to work hard to reach your goals, that the sky really was the limit…

My parents had their troubles, but still I love them very much too and share many wonderful memories with them as well. Dancing to disco music in the living room with mom, how hard she worked to always make the holidays special for us no matter what, the way that she always encouraged me to be myself, and all the times that she let me "mess" up the kitchen as I learned how to cook or bake. I remember singing in the car with my dad everywhere that we went, and how much fun we had when he taught me how to ride my bike. I also remember how good he was at listening to me when I thought I was wronged, and he taught me that you could never be too big or grown up to not have to apologize for the wrong you had done, the mistake you had made, or the mess you had caused.

Of course, there are the bad memories too, because of everyone listed above, none were perfect and they all made their mistakes. Even from this, I learned that life goes on, that when you fail, you try again, and no matter how bad the fight, you can always find a way to forgive and patch things up even if you know that the peace may not last forever... I also learned that even when it seemed as if the whole world fell apart that there will no doubt always be better times ahead to look forward to. In your own ways, all of you taught me all I know about the world and helped shape me into the person that I am today. I feel very blessed for the time spent with all of you and there is not one in the bunch that I do not love, admire, and respect for the part they played in my life.

In all honesty, it is the good things that I like to talk about... the kinds of memories that I like to remember and it is the times that we spend rekindling that good that I truly enjoy the most. Yes, there were the bad memories, but life is short, and there is no way to go back and change what was or what could have been... As far as I can see, those negative thoughts and memories add nothing positive to the present and do nothing to benefit my life or the lives of those around me.



Life is short, and in my opinion, it is not and could never begin to give us enough time... I just want to make the best of that time whatever it is and whatever it may bring... So, after much thought today I have decided that the change that I want to see has to begin with me... That change is nothing Earth shattering, just a small decision, just a slight change, but one that will no doubt leave an impact on my life... and I can only hope that maybe one day in my life time, that change will cause ripples through the whole pond. But, there is no doubt in my mind that it has to begin with me…



So, from this day forward I am making a very personal choice to focus on the positive and to look for the good... to try my hardest not to engage in conversations that are focused on the past and all of our many faults and failures permanently captured with in it... I will be always available, always willing, and very eager to chat about the better times no matter the day or time. Yes the past is there, but that is where I am choosing to leave it… Of course there are always other things up for discussion. Our world is a very fast moving, complicated, and wondrous place… so much to learn… and still so much to discover… so many ideas yet to discuss…



I am sure that this will not be easy and I have no doubt that there may be times that I fail. But I am going to try my hardest and I hope that you will respect my attempt to change something within myself, that I do not like and that as always you will be supportive in helping me achieve my goals.



I love you more than I could ever express in one lifetime and I am thankful for the role you have played in my life.



Love always,

Mini Goal/Challenge #5 1/2

I tried so hard to be a good girl, to slow down and not add anymore new goals this week... Just focus on the ones I already started...

On Sunday weigh in, I did lose 1/2 a lb and 3/4 of an inch but, we are now on the road again and traveling just seems to throw me off. I kind of feel bloated and sluggish right now and not so good about the way my clothes fit... Must be all that good food up here.

Also, I am a celebratory eater. I will eat more when we are celebrating something or I feel like we are on an adventure... Being on the road like this sabotages me time and time again and what do you do when you start to celebrate everyday for it's own ups and downs...? This is where I am at right now and I just do not want to lose my momentum this time. Worked to hard to lose focus now...
Yes, I know I am hard on myself...

I can expect that when we get to LI, there will be Pizza, Italian bakeries, and Cannoli's, bagels, and all of my favorite foods... Plus we will be heading out to Riverhead, where my Polish Great Grandparents had a farm... already have picked out a really good Polish restaurant...

To be honest, I want to have my cake and eat it too! I do not think I can conquer celebratory eating in a weekend, but I really don't want to pig out and eat till I have to secretly undo the button on my jeans at the dinner table...

My main focus all along has been to bring more balance into my life, so this morning I made a decision to intervene and give myself just a small goal to focus on. Something I know I can handle...

So, my goal is this... to eat what I like, but to savor each bite and eat a little less then I usually would...

__________________

South Philly/Election Day 2006

Yesterday Blue was off for Election Day, so we ventured into South Philly for the day. I feel like a traitor to NY (my birthplace) but, I have to admit, Philadelphia is by far my favorite city. The architecture here is amazing and we are always captivated by the rich history, melting pot of cultures, and all of the flavors this city has to offer. One thing is for sure, they do not call Philadelphia the restaurant city for nothing. The food here is incredible no matter where you go! Don’t even consider coming here on a diet…

South Philly is known for its Italian Market district and no trip would be complete for us with out a stop here. We love walking the strip and absorbing the sites and sounds… the butcher, the baker, the produce markets, the fresh fish staring up at you from their chilly bed of ice. Walk through the doors of Di Bruno Bros. house of cheese and you will swear that you could literally taste the air. Blue and I bought several boxes of imported Porcini Mushroom Bullion, some Dry Sanbitter , an old world loaf of bread, some chestnut honey, and an assortment of olives and antipasti which we are saving for tonight’s dinner.

After the market, we drove down to Tony Luke's eager to try his Italian Philly cheese steaks. Blue and I never really understood the hype surrounding cheese steaks. They were good and we tried all of the most popular places in South Philly Pat’s, Geno’s etc... But, in all honesty, we thought they all seemed kind of bland and unimaginative.

That was until Tony Luke’s. I had recently seen Tony Luke do a thrown down with Bobby Flay on Food Network. Bobby Flay came prepared with a wide array of gourmet ingredients brilliantly combined to make a cheese steak that could no doubt put most places out of business. However, Tony Luke competed with his Italian… A fresh in house made crusty roll, sharp provolone cheese, sauteed broccoli rabe , and thinly slivered steak. Surprisingly to me, Tony Luke won the throw down by a landslide! Curious, Blue and I decided to see for ourselves…

Arriving at Tony Luke’s the line was already out the door… the smell of their food wafting out the building like a life force of its own. Blue and eagerly got in line and pondered the menu. Meatballs bigger and better than your mother used to make, burgers, an assortment of cheese steaks, fries, all kinds of yummy sides, and things guaranteed to make you leave one size larger than you already were… We decided to both get the Italian cheese steaks, fries, and some drinks. Waiting for our food was a form of torture, not because service was slow, but because it all just looked incredible! A few minutes and one bite later… we were hooked… Each bite revealed a complex dynamics of flavors. Tony Luke no doubt uses the best ingredients he can get his hands on and it shows. The combination of all of them was simply indescribable… Definitely worth the hype and we look forward to returning again and again!

Completely full and satiated, we decided to walk South Street and make our way to some of the mosaic buildings we always seem to pass, yet have never found the time to explore…
In all honesty, I am utterly speechless when it comes to describing what we now know is Philadelphia’s Secret Garden. Isaiah Zagar , the artist that created this installation, is no doubt a genius and we greatly admired his vision and creativity. Since being there yesterday I am having fantasies of breaking things around the house only to mortar them back together in a creation of my own… God help us when we finally buy our forever home… I am already having visions of garden installations I would like create with Blue… We certainly now have a greater sense of respect for all things that are broken…

Here are the images of our day:
http://picasaweb.google.com/redandb...ElectionDay2006

Uwchlan, PA

We have been traveling to West Chester, PA for Blue’s job for at least 3 years now. We have seen many seasons here come and go, but I have to admit, this year has been an amazing year for fall leaves here in this corner of the state. Monday morning we woke up to a gold, burnt umber, sienna, and crimson colored world. Not even the grey clouds that drifted overhead could suppress the brilliant display of color lighting the sky like a fiery torch.

These are just a few images I was able to capture right behind our hotel. We have laid our heads to rest here many times, yet never knew the treasures that lie waiting for us just beyond or window. As the sun set, we trekked through the back of the hotel’s property into an all encompassing autumn stain glass scene.

Here are the images of what we found:
http://picasaweb.google.com/redandblue2/UwchlanPA

History of Uwchlan, PA:
http://www.uwchlan.com/history.htm

Busy Fall Weekend

It is only Wednesday, but it feels as though Blue and I have lived a hundred different lives in the past 7 days. Around this time last week I was shopping in the quaint town of Mason, Michigan while Blue was working. The snow was falling hard and fast making me feel as though for just a moment in time, that my life existed in a snow globe.

In a modern 5 & 10 store, I found the most adorable vintage looking snowman. I could not resist buying him and he quickly set the theme for my kitchen and dining room this year. I had the best time in Mason’s antique district searching for vintage ornaments and other ephemera to complete the vintage holiday look I had envisioned…

This past weekend was busier than normal as we prepared to head out of town for 3 weeks. Spur of the moment; I decided to decorate my kitchen and dining room for the holidays. I just could not leave that snowman sitting wrapped and tucked away in a dark and gloomy shopping bag for long. We will also be gone until after Thanksgiving, so I thought it might be nice to come home to a little bit of a head start on our own merry little Christmas. This is the earliest I have ever decorated and it is normally something I would not even consider, but I am glad I did. Between decorating, packing, and baking a batch of an old family recipe for honey cookies, I was exhausted, but in a good way. I was the kind of exhaustion that brings you the sweetest and most glittery dreams as your head hits the pillow easily finding sleep at night.

On Sunday, Blue and I drove to Pittsburgh to spend time with a good friend “M”while on our way to West Chester, PA. So much has changed since the last time we saw her in the beginning of summer. M has moved from Morgantown, WV to the Outer Banks, to Charleston, SC where she was practically homeless for 3 weeks, to Parkersburg, WV to re-group, and then on to Pittsburgh.

I am not sure I have ever encountered someone quite as fun or free spirited. M, is so young, yet such an old soul, and truly bohemian at heart. I still can not believe she is not yet 21. Reminds me of myself and Blue at that age, only we were just a little less adventurous... Blue kept us grounded…

After a wild whirlwind of a summer, M has settled down to her very first apartment and real job. Blue and I feel so proud of her; she has come so far... still a wild child at heart... but strong now that she is holding/anchoring her own kite string. No longer running from everything including herself... It seems along the way she learned how to pair down and get rid of her extra baggage both tangible and that which she had carried within...

I want and wish the best for her... Wish I had my charcoals and sketch pad. I would like to sketch her as a sea turtle for Christmas... So many more years to go… yet already weathered and wise from the moons many cycles...

Glad we were able to splurge on her a bit… was never done for us at that age, but it made us feel really good to be the people we wished we would have had back then...
So many back home, believe she may fail, little do they know their cruelty will be one of her greatest drives. She doesn't see it yet, but we do... and know from experience that it can be nice to be the butterfly flying above those down below eating crow sometimes.

Pictures from the weekend:
http://picasaweb.google.com/redandblue2/BusyFallWeekend

Daylight Savings Weekend

Last week was a whirlwind of activity for me that carried right over into the weekend. Roy flew home from Atlanta and I picked him up Friday early evening. It was our last full weekend home before being on the road for several weeks, so there was a sense of urgency to enjoy the tail end of the Fall leaves, our 2 short days of Indian summer, spend time with the family, and pack once again for almost a whole month on the road.

Looking back, I believe my weekend was as packed as my luggage is now. Bursting to the type of excess where you really are not to sure of the details in retrospect… But, it is all good and I think that is what matters most. I worked on a Christmas concept for my dining room. I have just been bedazzled with all of the glittery retro silver, red, green, and white ornaments this year and plan to incorporate that look into my kitchen and dining room. I found a box of retro red, silver, and white glass blown ornaments in an antique shop and they are proving to be the foundation of my dream design. I even was ambitious enough to buy some red glittery felt to get this… make my own table runner. Will be interesting as I have no idea how to sew… I bought some components to make a wreath for my kitchen and I can not wait to get home, so I can start on some of these projects.

Blue and I made homemade caramel corn and mulled some cider. Saturday night was spent with the two of us playing cards, munching away in utter bliss. Blue taught me how to play poker and it seems I am a natural. I beat him several times… could just sense what his cards were… He never did figure out when I was bluffing… LOL Big surprise, he has a hard enough time figuring me out in real life, have no idea why he thought poker would be easier. But, don’t you know he is a glutton for punishment and I believe the man likes it when I keep him guessing… always a new surprise and no reason to be bored.

Sunday morning we invited Blue’s Dad and brother join me, Blue, and my brother for brunch. I kept the menu simple as the guys would have just bugged out a bit if there were flavors they could not identify and titles they couldn’t pronounce. No frittatas, Soufflés, Crepes, or Brulees for these boys. As it was, they thought I had simply out done myself with Hot Coffee/Pumpkin Spice Creamer, Mulled Cider, Bisquick Pancakes, Eggs, Bacon, and the good old Bisquick Sausage Cheese Balls. Men are so easy to please… Add a good game of Poker after breakfast and I think Blue’s family would disown him if he ever considered leaving /divorcing/or cheating, not that it is even in Blue’s nature. But, I think I have insured my title of Queen Bee till the next time.

After Blue’s family left, we went for a walk and gathered some of the abundance of pinecones that seem to be everywhere this fall. The trees are loaded with them and all though I have no plans in mind; I could not resist picking up 2 huge shopping bags full to the point of bursting.

Blue and I also took a drive to Newark's Earthworks . “The Newark Earthworks were the largest set of geometric earthen enclosures in the world. Built by prehistoric Hopewell people between 100 BC and AD 500, this architectural wonder of ancient America was part cathedral, part cemetery, and part astronomical observatory.” We took a million pictures throughout this ancient Lunar Observatory and walked the grounds marveling over the complexity of such a project. It was a great end to the weekend and I was thrilled to have been able to catch a pic of the perfect ghost moon, in my last shot. It was the perfect ending to such a wonderful Daylight savings weekend, our last full weekend home.

The weekend in picture:
http://picasaweb.google.com/redandb...806378997743634

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

These cookies are divine! It does not get any better then this! I think Blue ate almost all of them on his own.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

I love these rich, very sweet, addictive cookies. I adapted this recipe from one I found and loved on allrecipes.com. I have altered it somewhat to suit my tastes and my preferred baking techniques but this is based on the recipe known there as Aunt Cora's World's Best Cookies. Cooking time is per batch, cooking one sheet at a time.
by HeatherFeather

36-48 cookies

1 cup sweet unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup sweet creamy peanut butter (do not use reduced fat versions - I use Jiff or Peter Pan brands)
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup brown sugar or light muscovado sugar, packed
2 large eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips or better yet, mini peanut butter cups

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
2. Have ready at least 2 baking sheets lined with parchment paper.
3. Cream butter until smooth.
4. Add peanut butter and both sugars and beat until combined well.
5. Add egg and beat well.
6. Stir in flour and baking soda gradually until well combined.
7. Stir in chocolate chips by hand.
8. Using a meatball scooper or a spoon, scoop out small portions of dough and drop onto parchment lined cookie sheets, leaving 2" gap between each cookie.
9. Bake for about 15 minutes or until cookies are just firm around the edges- don't overbake- if you wait until they are brown on top, they will be too hard.
10. Slide parchment sheet, cookies and all, carefully off pan and onto your counter, set a new piece of parchment paper onto your baking sheet and repeat until all dough is baked.
11. Meanwhile, as the next batch bakes, remove baked cookies from the parchment and let cool completely on wire racks.
12. Wipe off the crumbs from the old sheet of parchment and you can reuse it for your next batch.
13. These will keep about 3 days stored in a cookie tin (for crisp cookies) or an airtight plastic container (for softer cookies).

The link to the original recipe may be found here:
http://www.recipezaar.com/51104

Caramel Corn

If you love Caramel Corn then you will love this recipe! It is a bit messy to make, but worth every bit of it! I made it for the first time this Fall and we ate it by the hand fulls.



Grandma Paul's Caramel Corn Recipe
Recipe from Paula Deen.

1 cup butter
2 cups packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 teaspoon baking soda
8 quarts popped corn

1. Preheat oven to 200 degrees F.
2. Over medium heat, combine first 4 ingredients and boil for 5 minutes.
3. Remove from heat; stir in baking soda.
4. Stir well.
5. Pour over the popped corn.
6. Stir to coat well.
7. Bake in large roaster or pan for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.
8. Spread on waxed paper to dry.

Life Challenge #5

Wow! I almost could not believe my eyes when I saw that I am up to challenge #5 already. So hard to believe I have been adopting healthier habits for a whole month now. I suppose that explains the new bounce to my step and why I feel more vibrant than I have in a while.

Challenge #4 was an amazing week for me. Blue was out of town again and I was on my own with my goal to get moving. This was one challenge that I just seemed to run with, and once I built momentum, I taught myself how to embroider and I started embroidering a dish towel to give my mother for Christmas. I went for a couple walks, ran some extra errands that I had been putting off, did some organizing around the house, and some deep cleaning. It took me two whole days but I also tackled and cleaned my whole basement. Now that the disaster in the basement has been crossed off my list, my head feels so much clearer and calmer than it has in a while.

When I stepped on the scale on Sunday and took my measurements, I practically fell of the thing. I could just not believe my eyes! Not yet where I want to be, but less than I have been in a while. Just this past week I lost 2 lbs and 2 ½ -inches! I am still eating the same, none of that has changed; I have just slowly been working on my goals one week at a time. I originally thought they might cause me to slim down a pound or two, maybe even some bloating, but I honestly thought that I would not really begin seriously slimming down until I began to put my self on a diet and began exercising religiously. I can see that I have much to learn… All in all this month I have lost 5.2 pounds and 6 ¼ -inches… shaking my head in disbelief right now…

So, I will begin Challenge #5 with a quick recap of my goals thus far…
Challenge #1: Get on a sleep schedule (In bed by 12 pm up by 7 pm)
Challenge #2: Eat smaller meals more often
Challenge #3: Drink more water
Challenge #4: Get moving (No exercise routine just yet, just everyday activities that I have been putting off)

For Challenge #5 I have decided to eliminate mindless eating. This was inspired by a book that I recently heard about called Mindless Eating , by Brian Wansink. I have yet to read the book yet, but plan on picking it up tomorrow when I am in Lansing, MI with Blue. From what I can gather it is a physiological approach to eating and challenges us to focus on the moment while we are eating and making food choices.

I am looking forward to reading the book and hearing what Dr. Wansink has to say. In the meantime, I have decided to “be in the moment” when I am eating. No meals over the kitchen counter or sink and no eating while I am multi-tasking doing other things. The goal for this week is to focus on the taste, color, flavor, and texture of my food. To enjoy every bite, but to be more mindful in the process, to not scarf down a huge bowl of homemade caramel corn that we made this weekend, with out at least savoring every bite…

More Info on Mindless Eating:
http://www.amazon.com/Mindless-Eati...k/dp/0553804340
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Books/story?id=2596723&page=1
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/11/d...e833064&ei=5070

Sausage Balls

I made these for a Fall brunch. The guys loved them and there was not one left behind.

Sausage Balls

1 (1-pound) package ground sausage
3 cups baking mix (recommended: Bisquick)
4 cups grated sharp Cheddar
1/8 tablespoon pepper



Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a baking sheet with vegetable oil cooking spray.

Combine all ingredients in a large glass bowl. Mix well with your fingers. The mixture will be very crumbly. Form into 1 inch balls, squeezing the mixture so it holds together, then rolling it between the palms of your hands to form balls.

Place the balls on the baking sheet. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. To prevent sticking, move the balls with a spatula halfway through cooking.

Life Challenge #4

Last weeks challenge to drink more water was easy and I finished this past week successfully. I was ecstatic Sunday morning when I took my weight and measurements. Last week alone, I lost 1.6 lbs and 2 ¾ inches!!! My skin looks healthier and it felt really good to not feel as if my clothes were literally squeezing the life out of me. Funny how much more energetic you feel when you have enough room to breathe in your own clothes.

However, I have discovered that there is something missing in this whole plan… Treats!!! So, on Friday when Blue’s plane was late I shopped my heart out in Easton. Nothing major just some anti-bac soaps from Bath and Body Work’s flagship store, a new journal to cut and paste my Parlor entries, and a few surprises and treats for Blue.

I also treated myself to dinner and a glass of wine, solo at the bar at Bon Vie . I had a nut crusted chicken salad and a few slices of warm baguette with butter. Truly a treat, the bartender was super cool, and it felt good to feel confident enough to be able to enjoy a good dinner and my own company. Something I would have never considered or dared to attempt when Blue first started traveling…

My goal this week is to get moving… No major commitment to do Cardio 3 times this week or to unbury the Cross bow in the basement. Not quite ready for all that… But, the leaves are peaking and it is a perfect time to push myself to take a few brisk walks and maybe even meander down to the arboretum on my own. Moving will mean organizing my basement, picking up those long neglected oil paints, and to start on some of my holiday projects. I may even play with my Pilates ball again once I clear a bunch of stuff from the basement floor. I have a feeling that the results of me getting moving is going to be a treat all in itself…