Devorah Stone's Blog
Posted by Devorah Stone
This is one of the big movie going times of the year. All the Oscar contenders are out. I love the movies but I have one rule. I always eat before I go. I realize many movie houses make most of their money through food and I would eat at the movies if they had decent food. Popcorn at the movies isn’t what it used to be. With the exception of a few small movie houses, most movie popcorn nowadays tastes like greasy Styrofoam. Just about all the offerings are calorie laden but without any great taste. Why can’t they do better.
For more on eating out see Tips for Healthy Eating Out.
Posted by Devorah Stone
Yesterday we had our writer’s group Winter Solstice Party – the longest night of the year, one night early. I brought one bowl of grated potatoes with onions and another of grated yam latkes mix. I made the latkes in Nicole’s kitchen. Both plain classic potato and yam latkes. I didn’t have to squeeze out the yams but I did the potatoes. She didn’t mind the mess or the smell. Adele brought her cauliflower salad. Gillean brought quiche made with soya milk instead of real milk because some of us are lacto intolerant. It tasted like the real thing you would never guess she didn’t use milk! (I’m going to try to get the recipe) Our hostess provided us with cinnamon cider, polenta (corn meal mixed with water, salt and grated cheese and yes, I’m going to get that recipe) with tomato sauce. We sat down to a feast.
After we lit candles. Adele and I lit the Hanukkah menorah while Nicole and Gillean lit their festive Christmas candles. We had 21 candles in all. Twenty one a magical number of 7 X 3 and the night of the Solstice. We opened our Secret Santa presents. We had a limit of $10 each and yet we all managed to buy wonderful gifts. I got a dip chiller with two-dip mixes roasted pepper and mango curry. Yum!
We read our poems and stories about new beginnings. Some were memoirs others short stories. All were deeply personal. Then we Stephen gave us two words from which we had to write a paragraph. His two words “Artistic Excitement”. All four of us managed to write a story, or a memoir in just one paragraph. It was fun.
For more party ideas see:
Posted by Devorah Stone
Hanukkah is a nighttime holiday. Thus far I’ve gone to three parties and one concert. Ate latkes at all the parties! First night was our family night, we made latkes together. Preparing food together was part of the event. I think it’s the best way because its fun and a wonderful way to connect with your family and friends. We lit the menorah, read a play I wrote and played games.
The second night was a silent auction fundraiser in an art gallery. It also had latkes, a draydel game, and talent show. Third night I went to a Klezmer Band concert for the Blue Klezmer Moon a local immensely talented group. Klezmer is Jewish music that often incorporates many other musical traditions.
Last night, I attended what will probably be the last Christmas Concert at my son’s school. He plays bass clarinet. It was a wonderful mix of standard Christmas carols, Classical, Jazz, and ending with a sing-along.
Tonight it’s our Writer’s Group Annual Winter Solstice celebration. I am brining… you guessed it – latkes. My friend Adele is bringing her cauliflower winter salad. This year’s theme is “New Beginnings and Hope”.
So that’s three holidays and five events! And there’s more to come. So stay tuned. I’ll be blogging more tomorrow.
Posted by Devorah Stone
Who doesn’t like a party? Seasonal Cooking readers love a party – but none of you want a dress up formal one, instead %38.46 prefer a casual get together. And %30.77 like age inclusive parties for the whole family. A sit down dinner got %19.23 of the votes. A fun adult only theme party received only %11.54. Whatever kind of party you are having or going to – Happy Holidays! Here’s my Holiday Index.
Winter meals warm the body and the soul. Winter is comfort food time. What’s your favorite winter meal? Is it curry, chili, stew, meat and potatoes or do you just eat the same food all year round? Take a poll.
Here are some of my Winter Meal ideas:
Posted by Devorah Stone
A Winter’s Brunch
My writer’s group came over and we had chocolate chip cookies, carrot and banana cake, dinner rolls, bean salad and butternut squash, coconut milk curry soup.
The soup is just like my butternut squash, coconut milk curry recipe but without the split peas, lentils and carrots. It’s so filling and simple.
Nothing is simpler than bean salad, its just a can of mixed beans (a kitchen essential) with whatever fresh salad vegetable you have around in this case lettuce, and spring onions. I put broccoli tops with about 2 tablespoons of water in the microwave and added those to the salad.
