November, 2011

  1. Just in Case You Were Curious

    November 4, 2011 by Tarrant Figlio

    Here is what our family will have for Thanksgiving more or less:
    Turkey (shocking I know!) I just cook it buttered with some salt.

    Green Bean Casserole (my feelings on such here: Five Least Favorite Thanksgiving Dishes )

    Boring cranberry sauce

    Crescent Rolls

    Cranberry Orange Relish

    Cranberry Orange Bread (maybe)

    Red Hot Jello

    Stuffing (boring normal stuffing)

    Candied sweet potatoes with marshmallows

    Perhaps Surprisingly Good Salad

    Old Witch Cake

    Pumpkin Pie (with nutmeg)

    Same thing, every year. I would adventure, but my family prefers the standbys “normal Thanksgiving”

     

    Now a bigger question: when is Thanksgiving to be celebrated at the Flamingo House? I have a boy child who turns 18 this month the day after Thanksgiving and he is in Japan until Thanksgiving Day. It doesn’t look like I will actually see him until the Monday after. Hmm. Celebrate without him the weekend before? Celebrate short three kids on Thanksgiving Day? Celebrate on a Monday night after a school/work day? Skip it and wait for Christmas? Decisions, decisions. I suppose I need to make them now before he is on another continent.

    Category retro food | Tags: | 2 Comments

  2. Stella Duffy’s Theodora Makes You Think #BHBC

    November 3, 2011 by Tarrant Figlio

    Do you enjoy historical fiction? What about historical fiction that is about a real woman? A powerful woman? Then you would enjoy BlogHer Book Club‘s current pick: Theodora: Actress, Empress, Whore.

    The language is bawdy in places. Ok, definitely not PG-13. Of course, the book isn’t a PG-13 read. You probably sorted that out from the title. What you probably didn’t know about: Theodora. Why not? Oh, because the women behind the men tend to fade. (Unless you are Anne Boleyn, in which cases so many books will be written, they all crowd together into a strange picture of a woman) You just don’t run into many books about the wives of the Roman Empire. This was one and filled in a blank spot in the history you know and don’t know.

    It also gives you quite a bit to think about as you watch how she finagles her way to the top and her reasons behind it. Would you do it? Did she make the right choices? What would you do? These are all questions that go through your head as you watch this disciplined woman rebel over and over again.

    I was compensated for this BlogHer Book Club review but all opinions expressed are my own.

    Category BlogHer, Book Reviews | Tags: | No Comments

  3. Holiday Food Stockpile Items

    November 2, 2011 by Tarrant Figlio

    I am starting to make a list of things we need to start looking for sales/deals on for the holiday cooking/baking season.

    Here’s what I have so far:
    Turkey
    ham or beef for Christmas
    Stuffing
    Canadian Bacon (Eggs Benedict)
    Cream Cheese (Witch Cake, Eggs Benedict)
    Vanilla
    Cinnamon
    Flour
    Sugar (granulated, brown, powdered)
    Baking soda(?)
    Red hots
    Applesauce
    Strawberry Banana Jello
    Cranberries
    Frozen Orange Juice
    Pineapple juice
    Maraschino Cherries
    Butter
    Margarine
    Lorena’s Chex Mix stuff?
    Dried apricots
    Walnuts
    Graham cracker crumbs
    Peanut butter
    Kisses (?)
    French Fried Onions
    Chocolate Chips
    Marshmallows (large)
    Condensed milk
    Evaporated milk
    Lemon Juice

    What am I forgetting? What is on your list?

    Category retro food | Tags: | 6 Comments

  4. Marshmallow Peppermint Frosting

    November 1, 2011 by Tarrant Figlio

    Nothing perks up plain chocolate like mint–unless you are my mother of course. This recipe from the Hershey’s 1936 Cookbook makes a great topping for chocolate cakes, stirred into a mocha or just off the spoon.

    Marshmallow Peppermint Icing
    2 tablespoons water
    1/2 cup granulated sugar
    1 egg white, beaten stiff
    3/4 cup marshmallow fluff
    few grains salt
    1/4 tsp peppermint extract (I go with a bit more–closer to 1/2 tsp)
    few drops red or green food coloring

     

    Boil water and sugar together until it forms a soft ball in cold water. Slowly pour hot syrup over beaten egg white, beating constantly. Add marshmallow whip, salt, peppermint extract and food coloring. Beat until cool.

    Category retro food | Tags: | 2 Comments

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