Thanksgiving Tea

 Invitation:
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=gmail&attid=0.1&thid=133d913bef46579b&mt=application/pdf&url=https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui%3D2%26ik%3D38c7057d82%26view%3Datt%26th%3D133d913bef46579b%26attid%3D0.1%26disp%3Dsafe%26realattid%3Df_gvepaat00%26zw&sig=AHIEtbTN0PSuKo042X8f6Jnc_A7wRHNlrw

Table:

Lobster

I once was told that a lobster turns red because he's embarrassed at being caught naked.  So...how do you dress a lobster?  At home, after cooking, there's nothing more decadent than dipping lobster meat into melted butter, letting it drip down your chin, and enjoying it that way.  Plain and simple and simply, plain delicious.  However, you find lobster dressed in a number of ways on menus these days:  lobster nachos, lobster cakes, lobster raviolis, lobster lasagna.   One used to see lobster newburg but not so often anymore.  But that's one of our favorite preparations.  Here's a simple newburg sauce:
Melt 1/4 cup butter and whisk in 1/4 cup of flour making a roux.  Add 2 cups half & half and heat on low.  Do not boil.  Add a dash of cayenne pepper, Worcestershire sauce and salt.  Add 2 oz. dry sherry.  Sprinkle with paprika, for color.  Can be served over shrimp or mixed seafood.

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving

For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food,
For love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Tailgating

Today is the last tailgating party of the season.  Let's make it easy.  No grill -- pick up a rotisserie chicken.  If you wrap it in foil, it will stay warm for a long time.  While at the market, buy pre-made sides; no preparation time.  No table to set -- package individual place settings in small handled tote bags. Inside will be a disposable plate, napkin, cutlery and a cup.  Once used they are returned to the bag and tossed in the trash. Simplify, cheer on your favorite team, enjoy food with friends and the crisp autumn air.

Homemade Bread Day

I don't make yeast breads; just quick breads.  One of the most fun is monkey bread.  You can make it savory or sweet.  Each starts with 2 cans refrigerated buttermilk biscuits, each biscuit cut in halves or quarters.  Roll in 3/4 cup melted butter. Then in 1/2 cup sugar & cinnamon mix for sweet version or add herbs to butter for a savory version.  Each of these can be embellished with chopped nuts or grated cheeses, etc. Spray a 12-cup fluted tube pan and arrange biscuit pieces in pan. Bake at 350°F for 28 to 32 minutes or until golden brown.  Cool a bit and then invert onto a serving plate; pull apart to serve.

Apples!

In 1999, Autobahn 33, a major German highway, was closed for several hours after a truck carrying 16 tons of apples turned over, spilling its apples all over the highway. The applesauce was four inches thick.  How do you like them apples?   ;-)
Use  far fewer in this recipe:

6 large golden delicious apples, peeled, cored and cut into chunks

1 cup water 

3-6 Tblsp. sugar (to taste)

1/2 tsp cinnamon

Cook covered for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally,breaking down apples

Mash to a coarse consistency.  Adding a tablespoon or two of butter gives a richness.  Enjoy.

Girls Night In

Autumn Harvest Dinner

The table is set and guests' places are marked by a pine cone with their name on a slip of paper.

Chocolate

A Lithuanian strip mall put together a special space for Valentine's Day 2011: a traditional Lithuanian sitting room made entirely of dark and white chocolate. Almost everything in there is chocolate: the walls,table and chairs, flowers and candles, dishes, utensils and food, even the pet cat!
The roses in particular are exquisitely well done. Only the floor broke the theme: it appears to have been made of plain wood. Oh, well. Check it out http://www.odditycentral.com/news/shopping-mall-creates-perfect-place-for-a-romantic-dinner-a-room-made-of-chocolate.html
Surprisingly, this work of edible art required only about 660 pounds worth of chocolate to create. It measured 17 square meters (roughly 183 square feet), so it wasn't huge -- but it was as big as most dining rooms. It's the work of sculptor Mindaugas Tendziagolskis and his assistants.
On International Women's Day, March 8, the display was broken into pieces and eaten by visitors -- an excellent fate for any piece of chocolate art, wouldn't you say?  Source:  http://www.extremechocolate.com/weird-and-wonderful-chocolate-art.html

National Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day

Really! Now follow this logic...

Chocolate is a vegetable; it's made from cocoa beans, which means it's good for you.

Almonds help to improve your cholesterol levels so they are good for you.

So... together that must mean that bittersweet chocolate with almonds has to be good for you, right?

Celebrate by diving into your favorite chocolate guilty pleasure!

National Candy Day

Make your own chocolate bark:

Melt 2 cups of semisweet chocolate. Spread on waxed paper.  Sprinkle on whatever you like:  crushed peppermints, chopped almonds, dried cranberries, toffee chips, white chocolate bits....Be creative.  I once had some with edible gold - a special holiday treat!

National Sandwich Day

This day celebrates the birthday of John Montague (1718), 4th Earl of Sandwich, who invented the sandwich in 1762 while playing a 24-hour game of cards at London's Beef Steak Club. Celebrate by eating your favorite sandwich, of course! ;-)  One of mine is the

MONTE CRISTO

• 18 slices bread
• butter
• 6 slices ham
• 6 slices turkey or chicken
• 12 slices Swiss or Gruyere cheese
• a little mustard and mayonnaise, if desired
• 3 eggs
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1/8 teaspoon salt

For each sandwich use 3 slices of bread. Butter one side of bread first, then cover with a slice of ham and a slice of turkey or chicken. Butter both sides of the second slice of bread and spread with a little mustard or other dressing, if desired. Place on top of turkey or ham slice and top with 2 thin slices of cheese. Butter third slice for top; press sandwich lightly and trim crusts. Cut into halves diagonally and secure with toothpicks. Beat eggs with milk and salt. Dip sandwich halves into the egg mixture and fry on a hot skillet or griddle in butter or margarine. Brown on all sides, adding more butter when necessary. Remove toothpicks before serving.   Makes 6 sandwiches, 12 cut triangles, to serve 4.  Source:  http://southernfood.about.com/od/turkeysandwiches/r/bl30107j.htm
 Buzz:  dust with powdered sugar and serve with raspberry jam for dipping

National Deviled Eggs Day

Halve a hard boiled egg across the middle.  Scoop out yolk and mash with some mayo and mustard    Fill cavity of egg.   Sprinkle with paprika and add two pieces of red pepper as horns for a truly 'devil'ed egg.

November celebrations

Strike up the band for International Drum Month and Peanut Butter Lover's month.  November also gives us reasons to party on Mickey Mouse and Cookie Monster's birthdays, and the anniversaries of the light bulb patent and the Gettysburg Address.  Since it's Good Nutrition month, eat healthy.