Pulled Pork...

While we were out at Target today, the crock pot was going with a pork roast soaking in Jack Daniels Old No. 7 barbecue sauce for 7 hours! I even made tater tots on the side along with string beans (must have our greens).



Christmas Eve was not only a success, but we enjoyed our company very much!





Christmas Day at Denise and Joe's was great as usual. Good food and good friends!


New Year's Eve we are going out with Denise and Joe (our usual foursome) however, Chuck is joining us this year and we are going to Aegean Cove in Astoria. We have requested the table in front of the fireplace. Let's hope that happens!

New Year's Day is always a sleep in. But this year, we will be venturing out in the evening to see Katie Uva perform on her guitar and sing her wonderful songs at National Underground at 9pm.

What a perfect start to a great New Year!

Approaching Holidays

Jesse is home! Holidays are coming! Busy, busy, busy...

Can't say much about cooking lately. Made rosemary lamb chops, papardelle with mushrooms and Greek salad when my mother-in-law came for dinner the other night. Ordered pizza last night :) Tonight's plan (ha ha) is chicken sausage, rice and green beans.

Friday night, however, is a different story. Christmas Eve with the Figliolias and Wisners!!

Our menu is: (If you'd like to be surprised, skip the next paragraphs). Antipasti will include: Cheese board with Manchego, Ciao Angelo and Parmigiano-Reggiano with fig spread, honey, mustard and cornichons. Also, roasted tomatoes, marinated artichokes, olives and baguette and raisin-pumpernickel breads. Along with sauteed shrimp and chorizo.

Dinner is: Turkey lasagna (so all can eat it), Caesar salad, Linguine with white clam sauce, chicken cutlets, foccacia bread and a small baked ziti with no ricotta for Ian. Desert is: Apple and blueberry cobbler with caramel ice cream on the side, along with chocolate chip cookies.

I hope I didn't leave anything out...I am sure Michael will take photos for my next post.

I am making Michael's mom's recipe of sweet and sour meatballs for Christmas Day to take to Denise and Joe's along with a tray of Old Bay chicken wings.

Can't wait to celebrate! Merry Christmas to everyone!

Christmas is Coming!

We were able to spend another great few days with our family after Thanksgiving. Margo, Mike and Chrysalis came down from Ithaca last weekend so we could all go see Ryan perform in the Purchase Dance Company's Nutcracker. It was wonderful to see Ryan dance on a big stage. He is dancing again in February and also in April, so we will have more chances to see him and be proud!

Friday I went to see the tree at Rockefeller Center, the Christmas shops at Bryant Park, the Christmas shops at Grand Central and watched the skaters. Ate at Two Boots Pizza (not bad, first time there). Got into the Christmas spirit. The city always looks so beautiful when it's dressed up for the holidays!

Saturday afternoon we saw Ryan's performance. In the evening we went to Katz' Deli for way yummy pastrami, corned beef, hot dogs, pickles...and to The Mercury Lounge to see Sim Redmond. The band is great and Margo and Mike dancing are fun to watch too.

Family left Sunday after Michael and I made challah French toast. Last night we had a big salad with grilled chicken (shared with Jill too). Tomorrow I am making chicken marsala. Friday is up in the air. I am thinking about going to Barosa. We also need to get our Christmas tree from Joe and Denise's basement sometime this weekend.

Saturday night is Glenn and Eileen's annual Christmas ornament party. I am making Old Bay wings. It will be a fun night! Friends, food, wine, ornament exchange and laughter.

Next week I will officially go Christmas shopping (began on line already) in the stores. And Friday, December 17 our baby boy comes home from college for winter break for five weeks. I get all the hugs I want :)

Then we will continue the pleasure of our closest friends for dinners, conversation and holiday cheer!