Jamaica, Mon!

Daughter #1 is working on a special presentation. She was assigned a country on which to do a PowerPoint presentation. I had recollections of my 6th grade presentation about how I wanted to be a veterinarian. 6th grade has come a long way, my friends.

Part of her presentation is to bring a food culturally associated with her country. Daughter #1 got assigned Jamaica. The joke, early on, was that I got excited and said..."OOOOH, YAY! We can make Jamaican patties!" The response was the requisite eye-roll and "MOM! Stop!" response.

But, guess what, we were making Jamaican patties tonight--only because Daughter #1's presentation is tomorrow, and she was slightly panicked...so the patties didn't sound like such a bad idea.

Now, I'm always happy when I'm in the kitchen, so I was more than willing to help get the job done. I will give Daughter #1 credit, she did most of the work, even crimping the dough.

Turns out, these things are pretty darn tasty! I ran out of pie dough (there's enough for her to share with her class) and tried puff pastry for the abundance of filling I had left. While the puff pastry was good, we all agreed that the pie crust is the way to go.

So now I have a bunch of meat left...I made a Jamaican meat loaf! Hubby-bubs will eat it--smile:) Check out the recipe for mini-Jamaican patties on recipes~

Next!

Well, I don't know about you, but we had a lovely Thanksgiving. My mom and I were major "chatty-chattersons," as we always are when we get together; then there was Wii, lots of laughing and so much more. Hubby-bubs' brine made for a fantastic, juicy turkey--although the process took a little a longer than expected. We have to give him credit--he worked from 8 until 2 on Thanksgiving (the downside of managing a wine shop).

Outside of the fabo turkey, my faves were the pear/cranberry chutney I made for the first time, the stuffing (always my sweet spot), and the green bean casserole recipe borrowed from my sister.

So...what to do with those leftovers? I froze much of the turkey, some of the mashed taters and stuffing. Last night I borrowed something I saw on TV with Emeril Lagasse and made stuffing cakes. I plopped one of those babies down on slices of turkey and a smidge of gravy...mmm...mmm.mmm.

Tonight we are doing pasta that I think we can add the remaining green been casserole too--throw in some olives if you want to (we have some remaining from "party tray.") And I am baking up fresh bread as well.

But now we move on. Christmas and Daughter #1's 12th birthday on Dec 24. She's chosen a theme for the cake--flowers. As I know I cannot make frosting flowers, I bought some at www.fancyflours.com. I wanted the sugered pansies, but they were cost-prohibitive. Daughter #1 picked out some she liked--we'll go with that.

Coming up...peppermint marshmallows, peppermint bark, a family favorite and much more.

Happy Thanksgiving Eve!

How glorious that I had today off! Last night was spent cleaning. Today I was in my mode--in the kitchen with an apron on, prepping for the big dinner tomorrow night. Daughters and I picked up our fresh "Turkey Tom" today at my favorite meat market--Kincaid's. It's like stepping back in time to a simpler way of living when you walk in there.

After an early afternoon Thanksgiving Eve nap, I spent the rest of my time in the kitchen. Apple and pumpkin pies, cinnamon ice cream, prep for the stuffing and sweet potato casserole.

Hubby-bubs is in charge of the turkey--he's doing a brine.

Tomorrow---we wake up in time to watch the parade and do last-minute prep. Then it's all about food, family and festivities--and football (Green Bay, baby)!

I'm grateful for my children, my Hubby-Bubs, my extended fam, my friends, my job, the opportunities I've had this year to expand my horizons, our home, food on our table, clothes on our backs, education for our children..and the beauty of waking up every day to a world in which we can choose to make a difference--big or small.

Blessings to all of you!

Preparations!

Things are in full swing at the Duffy household. That means quick and easy dinners--tonight...pasta! I have a date with a Swiffer and some Pledge in the next couple of days! Best wishes to you all for a happy, healthy, fun and safe Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving!

I know, I know...you are all anxiously awaiting what we will fete on for Thanksgiving. Between now and after Jan 1 is one of my favorite times of the year, for so many reasons. I love the side of me that delves into the spirit of the festivities. I'm the one who gets the computer all set up to watch Santa's journey through NORAD. Daughter #1 will be Santa's helper this year, as she learned some things about how he works. I won't mind one bit that I get laughed at for continuing to put on SantaTracker--I get so excited!

So, now...here's what I'm taking about...Thanksgiving Dinner. There have been two times in my life where I have been ill on Thanksgiving. First time...I was about 12 and spent the day on my grandmother's couch unable to ingest anything other than Sprite. It's a sad story. Last year we hosted the entire Duffy clan and I came down with a virus. Hubby-bubs had to go to work that AM, so I spent the morning on the couch with ibuprofin to take my fever down, watching the Thanksgiving Day parade and doing my best to give the Daughters instructions on what to do. I rallied until almost through dinner. I had my pumpkin pie in bed, made by sister-in-law and delivered by Daughter #1.

This year is bound to be different. We have just my mom and Jim coming so it will be a smaller affair, but that doesn't mean it's not worthy of a good effort. So...here you go:

Turkey: I ordered my fresh turkey from our fave meat market--Kincaids. Walking into that place is liking walking through a time machine. I'm an instantly back as a child at South Bend's Farmer's Market. Fresh is best, in my mind. And it's not that much more than frozen. Anyhoo--Hubby-bubs is in charge of the turkey. He's done a variety of things...even soaking the bird in a brine overnight (which required him getting up at 3 am to turn the bird). Last year, it was simply butter, salt, pepper and an aluminum foil tent. It was FABO. Why make it hard, when it can be easy and sooo tasty!

Stuffing: we don't stuff our turkey, so I guess technically this is dressing. Again, we've done simple and complicated. This year, I'm following Betty Crocker and adding spices that we like. Do what you love.

I'm doing my sister's green bean casserole which calls for shiitake mushrooms. Then, mashed taters, sweet potato casserole, apple salad (also known as Waldorf salad) and rolls.

Dessert is apple pie with cinnamon ice cream and pumpkin pie with whipped cream.

Great Day!

I'm usually the one asking for money, as I've been in the fundraising biz for nearly 20 years. Today, I had the distinct pleasure of working with 20 or so fabulous women from my OPTIONS class - a program with The Women's Fund - to decide how to disseminate our collective contribution. It was a wonderful process that left me feeling inspired and fulfilled. I am sad to see my year with OPTIONS pass, but I am looking forward to serving as an alumna.

Coming home from that experience, I came into the house to find a dozen roses, sparkling wine and a take out menu for Boogie Burger in honor my Hubby-bub's and my 14th anniversary. Couldn't top it off better! Hope to get in a game of cards as well!

Certainly feeling blessed at this very moment!

Orchard Auction!

Congratulations to the entire Orchard Auction team that put together a great--and I believe quite profitable--event on Saturday night! I am always amazed at our Aladdin staff who not only feed over 700 people a DAY at school, but can also put together a lovely plated dinner for 200. I'm stealing their pear, cranberry, pumpkin seed salad we had Saturday night for my own table at Thanksgiving. I'll have more to say about Thanksgiving later...

I put together our weekly menu and on tap for tonight, burgers on the grill (since it's 65 degrees out) and homemade onion rings, which I am monitoring while I blog. It's a bit of a process which usually includes taste testing. However, Daughter #1 always gives me a stern warning not to do so, since it leads to me eating 1/2 the batch!

Monday we will have BALTs--bacon, avocado, lettuce, tomato sammies. Again, it's going to be near 70 tomorrow, so heavy food doesn't sound good. Plus we're keeping things relatively simple since we'll also be prepping for Thanksgiving.

Tuesday - Hubby-bubs and I will celebrate our 14th anniversary:)

Wednesday - we haven't had fish in a while, and we love tilapia, gently coated and pan fried. Lemon-herbed orzo will go perfectly with this dish.

Thursday - I have an event with the Women's Fund, so it'll be leftovers for the rest of the fam.

And then we'll see what Friday brings....

Comfort Food

There were snow flurries here in Indianapolis today. It seems to me that this is one of the earliest times that we've seen snow fall in this area in a long time--perhaps a harbinger for things to come. After all, the Farmer's Almanac does call for a snowy winter for our region. And I'm quite excited about it!!!!

In any case, cold, snowy weather does call for comfort food. I stated that I was going to make chicken and dumplings tonight. I did...and the house smells fantastic!

It also brought up some really heartwarming memories. Almost 12 years ago, Daughter #1 was born on Christmas Eve. We brought her home 3 days later and then we were blessed with many kind visitors who brought food, gifts and fellowship.

Hubby-bub's sister (who was married 2 months before us and had also given birth to a daughter 7 weeks before Daughter #1 arrived) came to our house to drop off a meal. I was napping with the baby at the time, but I remember my mom heating up that meal for dinner--it was chicken and dumplings. And it was the absolute BEST chicken and dumplings I had ever eaten. And I still compare any chicken and dumplings to that meal.

I wonder sometimes if some foods or meals become better because of the circumstances in which they are eaten. I don't think I will ever have chicken and dumplings like that again, probably because of that specific time and place in our lives and the loving intent with which that meal was provided.

The Week of Cookies

I've been focused on these 200 owl cookies I'm making for a work event. Sounds simple enough, but the process does take a while. It's been a multi-evening effort for me, therefore, most meal planning has been fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants.

I had a streak going over the weekend: make-your-own-pizzas last Friday. I love making my own pizza dough! And it's really quite easy, as is making homemade bread, which I also love baking.

I did manage to boil some pasta last night. I had some leftover "dirty rice" as well, so it was a bit of a smorgasboard last night.

Tonight, I'm sorry to say, it was frozen pizza, in order to save time so I could finish up the owl cookies.

Now--I'm excited about tonight! The weather took a nasty turn. The temperature went from 66 degrees at 11 am yesterday to 45 at 5 pm. There's talk of snow. That means the weather is perfect for comfort food! And one of my favorite comfort foods is chicken and dumplings, so that's on the docket.!

We will have enough leftovers to sling us into the weekend and Hubby-bubs and I will fete on Saturday at the event for which I made the owl cookies--I've seen the menu and it looks better than anything I would come up with.

Looking into something Columbian over the weekend to take to our friends who have a new baby boy! Mom's Columbian and we wanted to honor the heritage. Thinking about carne asada and arepas!

Flashback

So, I am making these owl cookies for an event at work--200 or so. Not such a big deal, except I want these things to look good. My first round turned out great. 2nd round didn't live up to my standards so they went in the Duffy family cookie jar. I'm under a deadline, so I have to get these things done, right? So tonight, I'm baking cookies simultaneously while I'm firing up dinner and frosting my hoo-haaa off--with royal icing which I want to set up before I add the "eyes" of the owl.

Earlier on, in the middle of dotting one of the eyes on these owls...it hits me. 14 years ago I was in a similar situation.

Back then, I had this fabulous idea that I was going to make giant wedding cake cookies for everyone who attended Hubby-bubs and my rehearsal dinner. I had ordered the giant cookie cutters from Martha. I had made the handmade dough and cut them all out and, somehow, stored them in our teeny-tiny freezer until it was time to decorate them. I even went so far as to buy veil material to wrap them individually and tie with a gold bow.

However, I found myself swamped with last minute details and, the Thursday before our wedding it snowed like crazy. My sister and brother-in-law made it that night through the snow (they were coming from up north) and saved the day with the cookies.

I'll never forget the picture of my future husband and my brother-in-law slouched over a table decorating wedding cake cookies--of course they thought they'd have some fun with a few. Those never made it to the rehearsal dinner:)

I still have some time on the owl cookies and I'll get them done. Life's just a little different than it was 14 years ago. It made me chuckle to remember that time in place.

Three Hits This Week!

Weekend Halloween parties and trick or treating on Monday threw my meal planning slightly out the window, but I made it up by being efficient mid-week.

A tradition in the Duffy household: Halloween's the only night the children can have candy for dinner. Maybe it's not a good idea, but I've never been able to figure out how to feed them something decent on that night. As a kid, I remember going trick or treating and then having to come home and eat chili (which, at the time, I hated) before having any candy. So, maybe that's the reason we don't even try. In any case, we call the day after Halloween--also All Saint's Day--the Halloween Hangover. Daughter #1 and #2 don't want to get up because they've been jazzed all day by school activities and the excitement about dressing up and trick or treating, then eating too much junk and staying up too late. And hubby-bubs lies in wait until they go to bed so he can raid their stash! I wake up the next morning and find candy wrappers everywhere. Each year I implore him: if you're going to hit their stash late at night...HIDE THE EVIDENCE!

Anyhoo, we're back on track. My first big hit was the vanilla scones I made from scratch on Tuesday night--in honor of a friend's birthday. Best scone I ever made, I gotta say.

Second hit--spag and meatballs on Tuesday night. I have a personal quest to make the best meatballs. I've done enough research to think that the perfect meatball requires a delicate combination of meats and herbs. I admit I typically use ground beef or chuck, so that's probably a strike against me. But, for some reason, this time around, they were delicious!

The coup de gras is the fact that I planned ahead and, while cooking the spag and meatballs and baking the scones on Tuesday, I coupled the ingredients to make spaghetti tacos for tonight! If you're not a regular iCarly watcher, you may not know about spaghetti tacos. The first time I made them, I did it for the daughters, but they are actually pretty good and fun--check out recipes for my personal touch on this iCarly fave.

I was inspired by our food service folks this week--they made chicken enchiladas. I've rocked the house with my own, so--now that the weather is again turning to the cold side--I will make this over the weekend.

Look for my story about etouffee and planning for the holidays coming up.