Gator Pam

This is my opinion, so take it with a grain of salt. If one is comfortable doing so, the first time you see someone you know in the new year,no matter how late in the year. However, if one needs justification to do so, keep this list in mind around the date of January 1st: "So 5 months ago!" - Islamic New Year "2 months ago!" - Diwali "Three weeks early!" - Lunar New Year "36 days early!" - Tu Bishvat "Almost 3 months early!" - Balinese, Zoroastrian, Ugadhi, and B'hai New Year "Nearly 4 months early!" - Sinhala and Tamil New Year I'm sure there are others I missed. We can celebrate new beginnings throughout the year; a fresh start is always welcome when change is called for.

For those following the Julian calendar, such as several of the Orthodox churches...

I had the best comeback I've heard yet to The Three Wiser Women meme posted elsewhere today: "Were they all named Maggie?"

Blessed Epiphany

Rabbit! Rabbit!! Rabbit!!!

Happy New Year!

Just returned from shopping up most of Christmas dinner. Fairly simple this year, being just the four of us: Standing rib roast Red wine, Beef marrow bones, and Beef shin au jus Garlic mashed potatoes Vegetable TBD I'm leaning towards creamed spinach for the vegetable, but not everyone is a fan. So, we may go with pressure cooked artichokes with hollandaise sauce. In the past I've done Yorkshire pudding with rib roast, but again, not everyone is a fan. Whereas, we all like the garlic mashed potatoes. Christmas brunch will most likely be one of the many overnight French toast casseroles I've shared recipes for here over the years.

A Blessed Yule!

I'll be busy at sunset tomorrow, so here's wishing you all Happy Hanukkah! חֲנוּכָּה שַׂמֵחַ Hanukkah Sameach!

Yum!

Hanukkah starts the evening of the 18th. I don't really have anything special planned, although I may make latkes to serve with apple sauce or sour cream and purchase some jelly doughnuts. Christmas Eve will probably be my Jewish appetizing version of the Feast of Seven Fishes. Christmas morning will be one of the overnight French toast casseroles I've posted over the years. Christmas night will be standing rib roast with garlic mashed potatoes; other vegetable to be determined. How about you?

Rabbit Rabbit! Rabbit!!

Thanksgiving Monté Cristo Sandwich I made my usual Bennigans copy cat method, but I made some slight changes to finish off more of the planned overs. Instead of a third slice of bread inside the sandwich, I used a whipped egg to bind some planned over stuffing, shaped it into a patty equal to a slice of the bread I was using, and pan fried it until it held together. Once that was layered over the bottom level of the sandwich, I used some cold gravy on top of it as my spread before putting the turkey on the top level. I follow this recipe for the basic method, although I divide by 3, as half a sandwich is enough for me with the other half to share or package to be rewarmed for another meal. The rest of the cranberry sauce for dipping. https://iamhomesteader.com/monte-cristo-sandwich/

Only items bought so far were from the Grim Oak Press Black Friday sale. I purchased a limited edition of the second and third novels in Stephen R. Donaldson's The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, The Unbeliever: The Illearth War and The Power That Preserves. I wanted a copy of the limited edition of Anne McCaffrey's Dragonflight, but it was my first time doing this sale, and I was too slow.

Yesterday's bountiful meal. The spread, starting from the far end and working counter clockwise: Homemade Cranberry Orange Sauce. I'm pretty sure this is the version Cristal gave me. I've added a sprig of fresh rosemary, a 1" piece of fresh ginger cut into coins, and an eighth of a cup of bourbon to the recipe over the years. Platter of carved turkey. Brenda's pumpkin bread. It was made yesterday and we couldn't wait... Crockpot stuffing. George's green bean casserole. Sweet potato casserole. The thermos is how I keep the gravy warm. We screw off the top and pour it directly out of the thermos, instead of using the spigot in the top. This year I made Chef Alex Guarnaschelli's recipe which uses roasted garlic and onions blended with some of the stock and drippings to thicken. The texture was perfect and the taste fantastic. Now, if it stays pourable when chilled, instead of becoming gelatinous, it's the perfect gravy recipe for me. My plate before gravy... ...and after. A slice of pumpkin pie with fresh made whipped cream piped on top.

Purty turkey, cooked to temperature, not to when the "pop-up" indicator says it's ready.

For the pumpkin purée, I cooked the pumpkins one at a time in the Instant Pot. The skin falls right off, the flesh separates easily from the seeds. Puréed in the blender and liquid squeezed out. I use a store bought graham cracker crust. Easy and yummy.

Thanksgiving prep is underway. Turkey is thawed and dry brining. Giblet broth is made. Homemade poultry stock is thawing. Pie pumpkin has been cooked down into pumpkin purée. Cranberry orange sauce will be made tomorrow.

I honestly thought I wasn't purchasing anything. Then, I saw the announcement for Grim Oak Press' Black Friday sale. Just an announcement of date and time, and phots of some of the seconds being offered, but no actual list of titles or prices. Still, if the items are severely discounted, the quality of Grim Oak Press' editions, even warehouse seconds, will make trying to get them worthwhile.

If you're on Facebook or Twitter, and would like to see the progress on my tattoos so far, feel free to visit either or both of these links. Same photos on both, but be aware they are photos of my bare reconstructed breasts. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1490173147676194/posts/pfbid02Mrmekfo1CDZwRbPikcVfd1Z8iBDujCLUz1kN8NHwpcBquiLBdjPKVr6GkJQ256rKl/?mibextid=Nif5oz Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/IllumeEltanin/status/1593427316814008320

I understand about doing keto/low carb during festive Meals. I'm at the point where I'm comfortable splurging on holidays,but if you want me to point you in the direction of favorite keto recipe sites to help build your menu, let me know. For instance, Pressure Luck Cooking recently posted a green bean casserole recipe made in the Instant Pot, which except for the French fries onions is completely keto, as far as I can tell. No cream of soups or any fillers that I see.

Yesterday Tattoos by KJ and I got together and did shading on my dragon and phoenix mastectomy tattoos. Pretty much immediately after, Krystin had a radio interview about P.ink Greater Seattle. The interview starts at about 30 minutes in and has a lot of good information for people not familiar with the organization. ...and my tattoo is very briefly mentioned. If your on Facebook, you can listen to a recorded stream of it at: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=667043704861887&id=283303208173

Congratulations!

Everyone got their Thanksgiving menu ready? My turkey is bought and defrosting, but that's as far as I've gotten. Menu will most likely be our carb heavy feast, i.e., crockpot stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet potato casserole, and green bean casserole.