Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I hope everyone’s holiday was a memorable one. It was a very busy holiday season. For the first time in a very long time I was ready for Christmas early. Not only were gifts purchased and wrapped early, I worked on being in the moment. “I can’t believe Christmas is over!” was not something I said this year. I remembered to be involved as best I could in all events during the Christmas season. I do find it difficult to remain in a good mood while attending gatherings right after work. But work will do that. This year I approached get-togethers with a new perspective. My niece posted that “Someone in a hospital bed would gladly change places with you this Christmas.”
Christmas Eve started out with mass at St Marks. Our parish of 27 years. The children’s choir sang and our pastor gave a wonderful homily. After mass, we went home to gather our gifts, packed up the car, and headed off to my sister Martha and her husband Jim’s house. My sisters Barb and Liz were in attendance also. Martha and Jim live in the house we all grew up in. Over the Jennings freeway and through the soon to be developed woods we went. Memories of past Christmases flooding back. Martha and Jim put on a beautiful spread. Prime rib sliders (yes, they were delicious!), a bacon dip that will be shared, shrimp, brie bites, stuffed mushrooms, cookies, and more. And what Christmas would not be complete without cocktail sausages and meatballs! They were scrumptious! Jim and I watched football and received an education in division 3 football. It was a semi-final game between Susquehanna University and North Central University. North Central won in a blowout. 66-0. Be sure to watch the D3 football championship, or Stagg Bowl, on January 5th when North Central takes on the Purple Raiders of Mount Union. My son, Aaron, goes to John Carroll University. JCU is another D3 powerhouse. We found out later in the night that my niece Ann’s husband, Mike, went to a D3 school. Where was he earlier when Jim and I were D3 illiterate.
Speaking of Mike and Anna! Mike, Anna, their handsome son Michael, my nephew Eric, his wife Sofia, and his three very cute boys Eddie, Wally, and Frankie, all came over to Marth and Jim’s! They opened presents from Martha and Barb. Barb is their Grandma. It was a heart warming event. So much fun seeing them dive into their presents. We then went back home and dreamt of sugarplums waiting for Santa’s visit.
Santa was very generous! Cookbooks, a spatula, a phone case, thumb drive for my phone, and more. I received The Wok by J. Kenji Lopez-Alt. Since I received this book about cooking with a wok, I bought a wok with my gift card. The Wok is a very detailed book about cooking with a wok. Can’t wait to start. I also received Tartine by Chad Robertson and Elisabeth Prueitt. This book will up my baking game and push me to finally try croissants. Yes, I have a fear of laminated dough. It is an irrational fear. I have tried so many different other recipes, different types of cooking, but somehow can’t get myself to face laminated dough. Maybe too much Great British Baking Show.
Speaking of upping their game. Gayle raised the rice krispie treat bar with an incredible recipe from Sally’s Baking Addiction. They start off as your usual puffed rice treat but finish with a blast of vanilla. Yellow cake mix is the secret! The sprinkles didn’t hurt either.
With the NFL playoffs coming up and the NCAA playoffs in full swing don’t forget appetizers for your parties!
See you in two weeks, maybe sooner!