Merry Christmas

It is no secret that I celebrate Rosh Hashana, Passover, Purim and Hanukkah.  I am tired of people trying to "secularize" Christmas.  It is CHRISTMAS!  It is a CHRISTMAS TREE!  People hang Christmas lights!  Santa doesn't visit our house, and we are okay with that.

Recently I went to American Girl to buy my niece a gift card for Hanukkah, and the sales person asked "Is this a holiday gift?"

I replied "It is a Hanukkah gift."

She hands me a gift card that says "Merry Holidays."

I politely returned the gift card and said I would take a plain one with no holiday greeting.  The saleswoman said that this happened alot.  I said that no one wishes anyone a Merry Hanukkah or a Merry New Year, and that Merry belongs with Christmas.  I am fine with getting the generic gift card.  But don't try to stick me in the Merry box.

Last year and this year we sent "Happy Holiday" cards because I can't order half Hanukkah and half Christmas photo cards.  To me, Happy Holidays is secular.  We make sure we don't get trees, reindeer or Santa on the cards.  Usually a generic winter theme covers it for me.

People ask me if I am offended by receiving a Christmas card. . . . nope.  Of course, I appreciate the Happy Hanukkah cards my friends send (and I know for many of them I know that I am one of the few Hanukkah cards).  However, I appreciate the card. . . . I love receiving mail and I love seeing my friend's families on the cards.  I hang the Christmas cards right next to the Hanukkah cards. 

Please don't wish me a Merry Hanukkah.  :) Please pass the latkes and apple sauce.   And for dessert I will have a Christmas Jo Jo from Trader Joe's.

Thinking about Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving and Hanukkah are next week!  We are having 12 for dinner on Thanksgiving and I am really excited.  This is my menu so far:

Knishes (meat and vegetable)
Turkey
Gravy
Sweet potato with marshmallows
Potato Latkes and Apple sauce
Cranberry Orange Sauce (my mom is making)
Jellied Cranberry Sauce
Chestnut Stuffing (my mom is making)
Green Vegetable supplied by a guest
Noodle Kugel (Parve) - supplied by a guest
Homemade Challah

DESSERT
Apple Pie
Candied Cranberry Chocolate Tart
Pumpkin Pie
Chocolate Pie

What do you think?

Halloween - from the past

 

Here is our first Halloween as parents.  Mr. M is dressed up as a policeman!  He never made it to trick or treat, but we had fun.

Mr. M's second Halloween - a giraffe!!!

 The next Halloween is Winnie!!!!

 Then we have a fire fighter

 And now we have TWO kids - BUZZ and a Red Sox Player!

 The year of the APPLE and the Lady bug!

 Winnie returns - with a TOOTH!

 Transformer and a ROCKET!!!!

 Mario and Princess Peach

 Strawberry Shortcake and a Scary Dude!

Last year we have Tinkerbell and ANIMAL from the Muppets

Surprise - It is GOOD - Potato and Cheese Croquettes

First, make some mashed potatoes!

Take two large IDAHO BAKING potatoes (peeled and cut into chunks) and cook them in a large pot of boiling water for 20 minutes.  Drain the potatoes.  Put them in the pot (no water) and add 4 T. of butter, 1/2 cup half and half and salt and pepper.  Use a potato masher.

NEXT


While the mashed potatoes are still warm, add 1.5 cups of shredded cheddar cheese into the potatoes.  Beat in one egg yolk.  Shape the mashed potatoes into 16 balls.

Spread out 4 T all purpose flour on a plate.  On another plate put a beaten egg and on another plate combine 2 c breadcrumbs and 1 T parmsean cheese (shredded).  Roll the potato balls in the flour, dip into egg and coat in bread crumbs. 

Arrange on a plate.

Heat 1/2 inch oil in a skillet and fry the balls in batches 5-10 minutes - turning so that the balls are brown and crisp.

Remove and place on paper towels.

Serve hot!

Layers of Love Chocolate Brownies

Another great recipe this week!

Layers of Love Chocolate Brownies  - makes 16 yummy bars

The kids can’t take them to school because the brownies are too gooey.  Had to bring them to work.

¾ cup all-purpose flour

¾ cup baking cocoa
¼ t. salt
1 stick of butter, cut into pieces
½ c granulated sugar
½ c. brown sugar
3 large eggs, divided
2 t. vanilla
1 c. chopped pecans
¾ c white morsels (I used cappuccino, since I didn’t have white)
½ c caramel ice cream topping
¾ c semi-sweet chocolate morsels

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease 8 inch square baking pan.
 
Combine flour, cocoa and salt in bowl. 
 
Beat butter and both sugars in mixer until creamy.  Add TWO eggs, beating well.  Add vanilla and mix. 
 
Gradually add in flour mixture.  Mix til combined. 
 
Put ¾ c of batter into a measuring cup.
 
Pour the rest of the batter into the pan.  Sprinkle with nuts and cappuccino chips.  Drizzle caramel topping over the top.  Beat remaining egg and batter in mixer until light in color.  Stir in semi-sweet morsels.  Spread over caramel topping.
 
Bake for 30-35 minutes or until center is set.  Cool in pan on wire rack.  Cut into bars.

Another New Recipe - Pasta with Spiced Butter Sauce

I checked out a new cookbook, called PLENTY, from the library.  So far, I have made two great meals, including this pasta with spiced butter sauce.  Originally the recipe calls for homemade pasta, but I used premade pasta.  The original recipe serves 4, but I got 6 servings out of the recipe.  I also made a few more changes

One pound of pasta

Spiced butter
2 sticks of butter
4 tbsp. olive oil
4 whole shallots, finely chopped
1 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. sweet paprika
1 tsp. ground coriander
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
1/2 tsp. ground turmeric
1 tsp. salt
black pepper

½ c pine nuts, toasted and roughly chopped

4 tbsp. roughly chopped cilantro

 

Cook pasta according to box, and drain.

 

In a large fry pan, melt butter and oil.  Add shallots and cook for 10 minutes.  Add the rest of the spices and remove from heat.  Put the drained pasta in a serving bowl.  Add butter sauce, and then add pine nuts and cilantro.  Serve.  I served with a salad, and a side of honey glazed carrots.

Chocolate Chip Cookies from the Boston Globe Magazine – October 6, 2013

4¼ cups unbleached all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
3 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 cups dark brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons vanilla extract
2 cups mini chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, salt, and baking soda, and set aside. In a stand-mixer bowl fitted with a paddle attachment, mix the butter and sugars on medium speed until combined, 1 to 2 minutes. Slowly add the eggs, mixing until homogeneous, scraping down the sides of the bowl. Add the vanilla.

Add the flour mixture and mix on medium until barely combined. Add the chocolate chips and mix until just combined. Using a rubber spatula, fold the batter from the bottom to the top several times to ensure the mixture is homogeneous.

Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper. Drop large balls (about 2½ tablespoons of batter) onto the sheet, leaving 1½ inches between the cookies, for about 10 cookies per sheet. Bake 15 minutes, rotating racks halfway through the baking time. Remove from the oven when cookies are light golden brown. Allow to cool 5 minutes on the sheet and then transfer to a cooling rack. Repeat.