Here now

View from my parents front yard Christmas Eve. Spectacular.

Well here we are, the day after Christmas. Aftermath. Here. Now.

The button popped off my jeans when I crouched over the other day. That would be one too many Christmas cookies. One too many glasses of wine.

I went with J for a bike ride this afternoon, I was silent because of this deep yet shallow breathing/gasping for breath I was doing.  I was sore from an hour and half bike ride. Frustrated as I was I reminded myself that I will just see drastic improvement from here on out. I told J thanks for sticking with me on the ride, he told me to tell him that in 50 years.

Here is a nice perspective from a woman who feels close but is far away. We are here now. here. now.

This is what I want to give to people for New Year's. No really it is what I want for New Year's.

Pretty sure my Dad makes the best apple pie, Mom peeled the apples. He also made black berry and a peanut butter pie for our Christmas Eve celebration. And pork ribs, which I learned how to make including his special sauce that he has been using since I was teenager.

Photos of food that I can get lost in for hours.

The other day I heard Dr. Andrew Weil discuss his new book, Spontaneous Happiness, where he talked about how inner contentment can lift depression:

“I was very surprised in writing this to discover how much scientific evidence we have for the power of gratitude to improve mood. There’s two aspects to this. It’s feeling grateful and expressing it. And the good thing here, there’s nothing in the way of doing it. All you have to do is remember to do it. You know, forgiveness also has great power, but that’s tricky. There’s a whole lot in the way of being forgiving.

But there’s nothing in the way of expressing gratitude. There’s a simple exercise from positive psychology called keeping a gratitude journal. You get a little notebook, keep it by your bed; during the day, make mental notes of things you have to be grateful for, jot them down when you go to bed. Doing that for one week can cause improvement of mood for up to six months. And that’s pretty dramatic.”

Joyful

I'd like to wish everyone a very happy festive season!! Eat, drink, be merry and all that.

Thank- you all so much for reading my little blog.

It's been a wonderful year. Your support means the world to me and is greatly appreciated!

Grapefruit Bourbon Punch & all things festive

My dog is stuck in the other room, looking at the freshly mopped floors with complete fear in her eyes. They are slicker than slug slime at the moment. Indoor ice skating rink for a 14 year old young dog. I tried hard not to laugh. They had to be cleaned, not because I actually care but my feet were sticking to them like a dirty dive bar at closing. There might have been a little bit of holiday cheer spilled across the pergo as friends gathered on here last Saturday night.

This is what the holidays are all about, close friends, new friends, good food, festive libations. Welcoming a house full of friends.

I have been up to my elbows in chocolate, creating hand dipped truffles for the holidays. Thank you to all have supported me in my endeavors. Anyone who is looking for a last minute gift idea and live in the Bellingham area, I have some truffles that would love to be gifted.

With all the heavy food around this time of year, including chocolate, chocolate and peanut butter covered in chocolate, bacon cheese logs and Cesar salad deviled eggs (that I really hope shows up at our Christmas), a vegan soup of all things has stole my heart. I just devoured this curried carrot soup. I tossed in a yam for good measure and replaced coconut oil for the canola oil. Make it. Make it for your colon. Be vegan for five minutes like it is no one's freaking business.

Then go eat chocolate for dessert.

Back to the holidays and debauchery. All things laden with heavy cream, cheese, meaty and boozy. I leave you with this punch that we quadrupled for our little party. It will treat you and your little holiday just right.

Bourbon Punch with Pink Grapefruit and Mint 
A twist on the mint julep that's perfect for a party.

Makes 8 to 10 servings By Melissa Clark December 2007

1/3 cup water
1/3 cup sugar
15 fresh mint sprigs, divided
4 cups strained fresh pink grapefruit juice
1 lemon
1 lime
2 1/2 cups bourbon
12 dashes angostura bitter 
1 cup club soda
1 ice block

Stir 1/3 cup water and sugar in small saucepan over low heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat and bring to boil. Add 5 fresh mint sprigs. Remove from heat; cool syrup completely.

Strain syrup into punch bowl.

Add juice, bourbon, and bitters; mix in soda and 10 mint sprigs. Add lemon and lime disks. Add ice to bowl.