A Life, Lived

2017

I think that this is the perfect quote for 2017.

There was so much to be fearful about this year - the constant barrage of negativity and anger was overwhelming. I can't remember a time when I so wanted to be able to crawl under the covers and shut the world out . . . even for an hour or so.

Yet in the midst of all the horror there were wee glimpses of hope. Resistance. Courageous individuals standing up and declaring that they had had enough and were no longer going to take things as they were.

My thoughts as we take the 2017 calendar off of the wall and replace it with a shiny new one for 2018 are that we need to grow that hope. It may be cliche (particularly after the Obama 'Hope' political campaigns) but we really do need to think of our better selves . . . they are in there somewhere. If we let them out more often our world would be a far better place.

So, no resolutions for me in 2018. Just a reminder to be positive, presume good intentions, and work to let the better Jerry out from time to time.

I wish you the best and ask you to join me.

Finally . . .Christmas Dinner

On the 26th we woke up to still more snow.

I thought evil thoughts about my neighbour who was welcoming his brother and family from the UK. I get that you hoped fro a white Christmas for them but all of this was just too much.

Paul went out to shovel the fresh snow.

Inside the kittens were hard at work keeping warm.

We had invited our guests for 1:00 (although for some reason mom thought it was 1:30 and even then she arrived at 2:30). Because we were doing a prime rib roast rather than the usual turkey we didn't need to have a giant hunk of meat in the oven for 5 hours like we normally did. By 10 I had everything made and we just needed to utilize the oven for a couple of hours to get it all on the table.

The roast had a crust of mustard, garlic, and herbs.

Guests who arrived on time (i.e. NOT mom) enjoyed apps in front of the fireplace. Sausage rolls (using the Jamie Oliver recipe with caramelized onions and fresh sage), cheddar sausage balls, and cheddar wrapped olives. Paul selected a cocktail from his new farm-to-table cookbook by Lynn Crawford - luckily we had just received a bottle of local, organic grape juice in our last CSA shipment!

Once mom finally we served dinner. We moved into the dining room for the main meal.

We served the prime rib, yorkshire, and potato gratin on plates and then let people help themselves to the green bean casserole (no pic), fennel gratin, gravy, and horesradish sauce. We also had fresh rolls and butter. Unfortunately because of her tardiness the yorkshire pudding that had looked so impressive when it was taken from the oven had deflated. :-( What a disappointment.

Dessert was the leftover yule log from Christmas eve, tarts, fruit cake, and our annual platter of cookies and squares.

We were finished eating by 3:30.

Our normal Christmas routine would see me racing around at this time just trying to get dinner ready. I sort of liked having it all done. We sat around, talked, opened gifts, laughed for the rest of the time until people left at 9ish.

While it had not been planned this way in the end it was one of the more enjoyable, relaxed Christmas dinners I can remember.

Perhaps it is time for a new tradition. LOL

Christmas 2017

So, Christmas did NOT go quite as planned this year.

Because of this:

But I am getting ahead of myself.

When we woke up on Christmas morning the snow had ended and we had a beautiful white Christmas.

We sat in the family room and opened our stockings . . . and nibbled on cranberry orange brioche and gingerbread scones . . . and watched the kittens have fun with tissue paper and bows.

After we had finished with the stockings we moved into the living room to open the gifts under the tree.

Next up was breakfast. I made a savoury puff pancake (that refused to puff but still tasted yummy), cranberry maple sausages, applewood smoked bacon, and sausage patties with caramelized onion and sage. We had fruit and a hash brown casserole along side. Paul poured some mimosas.

We got busy and started our early prep for dinner - we weren't doing a turkey so I only needed about 3 hours of 'oven time' to get everything on the table.

When I called mom to wish her a Merry Christmas she was concerned that her driveway had not been plowed. She had about 20 cm of snow and she wasn't shoveling it or driving her car through. She was stranded. She decided to call the plowing company and then call me back. When she called the plowing company the voicemail box was full so she couldn't even leave a message. That wasn't a promising sign.

Then I called our other guest. She had been shoveling for three hours and still wasn't done.

On top of this none of the streets in our neighbourhood had been plowed yet.

I asked everyone if they had plans for the 26th - no one did - so we just bumped Christmas dinner. It was the best decision. I think we all breathed a big sigh of relief and relaxed.

Paul went out and shoveled while I tidied up in the kitchen.

We spent the rest of the day reading, napping, and enjoying a calm Christmas.

Incidentally - out street got plowed about 5 PM.

Then it snowed again. LOL

It really was one of the more lovely Christmas' I can remember.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from our house to yours. May the closeness of friends and family, the wonder and joy, and the comfort of home renew your spirits and hope this season.

It looks like Santa found us whilst out on the worldwide journey . . .

. . . and apparently we have been very good this year!!!!

Santa is on His Way . . .

Christmas 2017

Travel Tuesdays - Bologna and Florence

5 years ago we were in Bologna and Florence as part of our Christmas in Italy.

Rolo Pretzel Bites

I’m a big fan of fancy desserts.

BUT… there are times when you just need something quick, easy and still delicious!

That’s the kind of recipe I have for you today.

In fact, I have a hard time even calling it a “recipe”, when it only has three ingredients…

Rolo (store bought chocolate/caramel candies), pretzels and M and Ms.

Bottom line, if you just threw those three things in a bowl it would be pretty yummy!

For these tasty treats, all you have to do is lay the pretzels on a baking sheet. Top each pretzel with an unwrapped Rolo candy.

Bake in the oven at 250*F for 4-5 minutes (no longer).

When you remove them from the oven, the Rolo will still be in the same shape as when it went in the oven. Place a M and M on top of the Rolo and press down a bit.

Top each of the Rolo with one M and M.

Place the entire baking sheet in the freezer for about 5-7 minutes to allow the Rolo to cool. Of course, if you live in  deep freeze like we do in Canada just place outside for until set.

Remove from freezer and enjoy! Or place in a container to enjoy later.  These will last several days- probably more, but they’ve never lasted that long in our house!

These are so delicious!  A great sweet-salty combo.

Enjoy!

A Cat's Life at Christmas

Our kittens are dealing with this confusion.

Travel Tuesdays - Venice

Five years ago Paul and I were racing to get ready for an extended vacation in Italy. Paul was out of work due to his employer going out of business. I was CRAZY busy at work. Heading out of the country for Christmas was the perfect antidote.

Our first stop was Venice . . .