Charlie is exhausted, and so am I. So much to do, so hard to time to find the time to blog.To the rescue: my pal Emiline from Sugar Plum with a quick and easy meme. Here goes...
1. What were you cooking/baking 10 years ago?
I have a cookbook called Christmas Memories Cookbook from Mystic Seaport. I've used it for years, so much that it's missing both of its covers. In the back are pages to record "Memorable Christmas Menus." Looking back to 1997, we had a Christmas party for about 30 friends and their 30 young children. We all sang Christmas carols with Tom playing the organ, me playing the guitar, and the kids ringing jingle bells. When the singing ended, some elves had visited the family room and left candy for the kids to find!
My menu included a purchased Honey-Baked Ham, and I made meatballs, hot crab dip, phyllo triangles, lots of Christmas cookies, and mulled cider (recipe to follow). Tom made his homemade eggnog.
2. What were you cooking/baking a year ago?
I did a lot of baking last year, much of it chronicled in this blog. My most successful new recipe of the 2006 Christmas baking season was Black-and-White Cookies.
3. Three snacks you like
I'm with Emiline -- if coffee qualifies as a snack, that would top my list! If not, I'd include Sponge candy from Stever's, popcorn (even better if buttered!) and Twizzlers.
4. Three recipes you know by heart
- Chicken parmesan
- Bruschetta (with tomatoes, basil, etc.)
- Artichoke dip
5. Three culinary luxuries you would have if you were a millionaire.
- Someone to clean my kitchen for me.
- Regular jaunts to NYC to visit family there and dine out at great restaurants.
- A remodeled/enlarged kitchen.
6. Three foods you love to cook
- Chocolate chip cookies
- Scones
- Quiche
7. Three foods you hate to eat/cook
- Oysters
- Water chestnuts
- Oatmeal
8. A happy food memory
The dinner Tom & I had at Mader's, a German restaurant in Milwaukee, the night we got engaged (November 1990).
So the deal is that I'm supposed to "tag" people, so I think I'll tag my fellow Rochester food bloggers:
- Smita from Smita Serves You Right
- Bibliochef (don't know her real name) from Cooking With Ideas
- Laura Rebecca from Laura Rebecca's Kitchen (who I just "met" yesterday)
Maybe you folks can do it if you get foodie burnout after the holidays.
Now for the Hot Mulled Cider recipe from 1997, which I've made for years. It's the perfect calming brew for this busy time of year.
Hot Mulled Cider
adapted from Christmas Memories Cookbook, Mystic Seaport
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 quarts apple cider
cheesecloth bag containing:
1/2 teaspoon whole allspice
1 teaspoon whole cloves
dash nutmeg
cinnamon stick (plus extras for serving)
To make on the stove: Bring all ingredients to a bowl in a large saucepan. Reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes. Remove bag of spices. If desired, serve with cinnamon stick stirrers.
To make in a crockpot: Put ingredients into pot and cook on "high" for 30 to 40 minutes. Remove spice bag; reduce heat to "low" until ready to serve. May be kept on "low" for many hours.