And here it is.....New Year's Eve....the last day of 2023 and the 6th day of Christmas. Time just flies. Eating fortuitous foods to celebrate the New Year is a custom in many cultures to bring us luck throughout the year.
This food need not be extravagant or difficult. It can be as simple as this Easy Cabbage Salad.
The very last category in my Foodies Read Bingo Challenge was A Book that had been on my To Be Read list for far too long. Last Christmas I got the book Coffee and Cookies with God: 31 Devotions for December as a gift. This year I pulled the book out and started each morning this month with a cup of coffee while I read the devotion, spent some time in prayer and thanksgiving, and found some calm in all the busyness of the season. I finished my last devotion this morning.
This book was completed on the 5th day of Christmas, as a bonus, it completed my Foodies Read Bingo Challenge by completing my goal of a Coverall.
On the 4th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me Four Calling Birds. These Calling Birds signify the 4 Gospels as written by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John in the New Testament. This classic Christmas Carol is sometimes believed to have been written in code signifying Christianity when it was forbidden to practice the faith.
This theory, however, has been debunked, mostly because it is a French Carol written in 1780. The French Revolution, when Catholicism and all Christian religions were outlawed, didn't occur until 1790.
Santa brought me pasta attachments for my Kitchen-Aid Mixer this year. I had fun playing with it on this 3rd Day of Christmas and as a bonus, I used up the leftover shrimp I had in the refrigerator from Christmas Day.
On this second day of Christmas, we are having Frank's cousin Bob and his two daughters and their husbands over to celebrate the season. Don't tell anyone but I am serving up leftovers.....
Our Christmas Season continues until January 6th when we celebrate the Epiphany. Until then, our decorations remain, the tree stays lit, and the feasting continues. It is a joyous time of year.
Our feasting this week includes enjoying all the wonderful leftovers from our abundant Christmas Dinner. Tonight we enjoyed some leftover ham and leftover cheese from my cheese tray in a Macaroni and Cheese Casserole. There was some Broccoli Slaw left to enjoy as a side dish.
Enjoy this Holiday twist on a classic cocktail by using Eggnog in place of the cream in your White Russian.
The Sunday Funday Bloggers are sharing Eggnog recipes today....Cheers!!
Be Cheered; It is Christmastime........
We had friends over for dinner last night to celebrate the season. We started the festivities with appetizers and a bottle of Dominio de Los Duques Cava. Spain's answer to Champagne. Just as crisp, dry and delicious, and much more affordable.
This Almond Galette is commonly served in France for the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6th. Traditionally a feve, which translates to dried bean but is in fact a little trinket of some sort, is hidden within the cake for the youngest at the table to find.
Slices of tender, lean, beef tongue marinated in a garlic, onion and pepper vinaigrette. This dish is delicious to serve as an appetizer by itself, as part of a charcuterie or as a topping for a green salad.
Classic Chicken and Dumplings with a twist. These Dumplings are made with cornmeal and fresh herbs providing a savory, delicious, and unexpected addition to your dinner.
Tender Beef Filet seared golden brown then roasted to a perfect medium rare and topped with a creamy brandy sauce.
This recipe comes from Jacques Pepin of television fame and the Executive Culinary Director for Oceania Cruise Line.
This sparkling Rosé from Loire Valley is made from Grolleau grapes in the Champagne Method. It is bright, vibrant, and bone-dry. Perfect for welcoming guests with appetizers, pairing with a meal, or toasting with dessert.
Sugar Cookies with an Apple Pie Jam filling are sure to be a hit at the Christmas Cookie Walk or Bake Sale Fundraiser this holiday season.
I was inspired to make these cookies after reading Murder by Chocolate. The first in the Bite-Sized Bakery Cozy Mysteries.......
Tender, flaky Cod Fillets baked with Zucchini, Onions, and Peppers in a Zesty Tomato Sauce.
Delicious vegetables are cooked until tender in a rich, meaty broth and then pureed to a silky, smooth goodness.
Our halls are all decked and we are feeling jolly. It is time for the parties to commence. We start tonight with a dinner at Jessica and Julien's. Julien's parents have been visiting from France and tonight is their last evening here.
I am taking this Michigan-themed basket to share with everyone.......
You are going to love how quick and easy it is to make these festive cookie treats. They are a perfect addition to your cookie tray, dessert buffet or to leave on the hearth for Santa.
These scrumptious shortbread cookies are even better with a touch of cinnamon in the dough and a sprinkling of spiced sugar on top.
These puffed pastry cookies look very impressive but are so easy to make that they are sure to become one of your favorite holiday treats.
These classic cookies from Pillsbury make an appearance on my cookie trays every Christmas. They are festive and delicious. They freeze well, pack up well for sending and gifting, and are great "fill the cookie jar" treats.
These fun little pinwheel cookies will surely be a hit this Christmas Season. Cream Cheese cookies with a dollop of jam in a whimsical form.
Delectable, Chocolate Chip Cookie in a flaky pastry crust. I topped mine with ice cream and a drizzle of dark chocolate. A perfect ending to a Holiday Dinner.
I read another Dean Koontz novel as we drove from Michigan to our son's home in Virginia for Thanksgiving.
Creamy deep dark chocolate pudding in a flaky crust topped with a fluffy meringue.
When you buy a bottle of wine named Pappardella it is only natural that you should pair it with the pasta for which it was named.
We are traveling to the Lombardy Region of Italy today......
Boneless, skinless chicken breasts seared to perfection and served with a delicious Dijon mustard sauce.
These muffins are an explosion of flavor with citrus in the forefront and earthy pumpkin and dates in the background.
Seared Chicken Breasts served on a bed of Celery Root Puree and topped with Chestnuts. This is a lovely, elegant dinner to grace your Holiday table.
Our World Wine Travel Group has been exploring South America in 2023. This month we were invited to open a bottle of Carmenere.
A quick and easy Meatless Monday Dinner. This colorful, delicious dish is ready in a snap and is a wonderful way to start your week off by Eating a Rainbow.
You can make this easy and delicious cake in a 9" round cake pan for serving up as your holiday dessert or to take to a potluck but I chose to make 12 mini-cakes for inclusion on my dessert buffets and gifting to hosts at holiday parties.
Teriyaki pork stuffed inside flour tortillas and topped with an Asian Slaw that includes Mandarin Oranges is a fun, easy change to your Taco Tuesday meal.
The Holidays are very busy but we still want to serve up an elegant and delicious dessert. This easy, peasy recipe allows that to happen and takes only a few minutes of hands-on time.
We are finishing up Christmas Sweets Week with a bang......
Tender, flaky salmon fillets, roasted to perfection and topped with a Beaujolais wine and Grape Coulis.
These Blondies are studded with White Chocolate Chips and Dried Cranberries and topped with Cream Cheese Frosting and Gold Sprinkles. They make a perfect addition to your Holiday Dessert Buffet.
These tender, delicious, pull-apart, cloverleaf rolls start with sourdough and make a perfect addition to your holiday meal.
Tender, moist, pumpkin bread studded with chocolate chips. Perfect for breakfast or dessert. These little mini-breads make perfect gifts for hosts, teachers, and coworkers.
This warm, comforting bowl of pasta smothered in a hearty ragu started with leftover pork loin roast from a dinner enjoyed earlier in the week.
A fun take on the class peanut blossom cookie, this recipe starts with an oatmeal base to cradle the kiss.
I have been doing a lot of traveling in the past month. I am leaving again in 10 days. While researching Brazil for our Eat the World Challenge, I came across a popular cocktail called Caipirinha.
I thought a cocktail was perfect for this month's challenge. It is easy to make and relaxing with a cocktail in between trips sounded marvelous to me.
My favorite California Winery has a new blend this year that they call Cinnabari. Dracaena wines specializes in Cab Francs. They also have a Chenin Blanc that is the best I have ever enjoyed and a Rose that is a summertime favorite for me. When I opened my club selection this time I was excited to see this bottle of Cinnabari included.
This delicious soup fragrant with cumin, thyme, and turmeric and garnished with a dollop of marshmallow cream makes a fun, unique first course for your holiday dinner.
While on the All-Star Live Aboard Yacht, diving the Red Sea in Egypt, we enjoyed many gourmet meals and each one included a vast array of salads. One of my favorite salads was this simple compilation of fresh, crisp veggies in a tasty dressing that can also be served as a refreshing drink alongside the salad.
We kicked off the Holiday Entertaining Season here on the Farm with the Food and Wine of Piedmont (Piemont), Italy.
Tender baby greens topped with roasted squash and red onions, sprinkled with dried dates and roasted almond slices, and drizzled with a savory tahini dressing.
This quick and easy, Spaghetti Carbonara, is a wonderful, comforting dish that will warm your soul this fall.
Russet Potatoes, Carrots, Turnips, and Beets, thinly sliced and drenched in cream, garlic, and herbs, topped with cheese, and baked to perfection. A perfect side dish for your holiday dinner.
Easy and Delicious this creamy, cheesy, side dish is the perfect side dish for whatever you are serving this holiday season.
