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kinetic-elaboration · 2 years ago

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December 19: Clarke/Octavia, First Kiss + Decorating Cookies

2022 Ficmas #2

Clarke/Octavia, high school AU, ~1200 words

For the prompt "first kiss + decorating cookies"

Having lived fifteen years with a certified Christmas fiend, Octavia knows a few things about the holiday. The fiend in question is her brother, Bellamy, and he's taught her how to string popcorn garlands to decorate the tree; how to brew the best warm, spiced cider; and even how to safely hang lights along the roof of their house. She knows how to bargain shop for Christmas gifts and how to wrap them immaculately. For the last three years, she's been in charge of choosing the wreath to hang on their front door.

She also knows that the spirit of Christmas is one of generosity and community, which is why it makes perfect sense for the Blake family to all but invite Clarke Griffin to live with them this holiday season. Clarke's parents finalized their divorce in October. She's having just about the most cheerless holiday of anyone Octavia knows, and she gets the most pathetic hangdog expression on her face when she talks about how they haven't even bought a tree for her mom's house, or how her dad somehow lost the Christmas stocking she's had since she was a baby, and it's not like they ever went all out with the decorating, but this year it's been particularly grim...

So Octavia's mother insists that Clarke stay for dinner, and Bellamy invites her to help trim their tree. They teach her the lyrics to at least six new Christmas songs. On the night she gifts them a carton of store-bought eggnog as a thank you, she stays so late drinking it with them that Aurora insists she spend the night.

Octavia and Clarke have been best friends since they were three, so all this should be totally great. Except that Octavia has recently realized she's in love with Clarke, so instead it's all totally awkward.

Today, they're baking cookies in the Blakes' tiny kitchen while they wait for the promised snow to fall so they can go sledding on Wallace Hill. Bellamy's already warned them that probably won't be possible until tomorrow, but it's early yet—the sun still falling in flat, white-yellow rays across the sugar-streaked counter, lighting up strips along the avocado-colored cabinets, bleaching Clarke's blonde hair nearly white when she stands at the sink, her tongue between her teeth, carefully pouring vegetable oil into a measuring spoon. They're using great-grandma Blake's secret family recipe: right out of the back of a magazine from 1955, but it feels old and special because their mom wrote it out on an index card when they were little, and now the thing is dog-eared and stained. Clarke's wearing one of Bellamy's heavy knit sweaters, and striped pajama pants she borrowed from Octavia. She looks like one of them, like she's already home.

Makes Octavia's heart ache.

Being in love is the stupidest thing she's ever done.

"Is your mom going to kill us for what we did to her kitchen?" Clarke asks later, as they wait for the cookies to finish baking, and the clouds outside the window gather but do not yet break into the promised snow.

Octavia glances around at the carnage. It is pretty bad. Way worse than when she and Bellamy bake.

"Nah," she answers. "We're just breaking a few eggs or whatever."

"I think that's for omelets," Clarke murmurs and underneath the table, she bumps the edge of her foot against Octavia's foot.

The cookies come out misshapen but otherwise fine—"Not burnt at all," Clarke is happy to declare, as she pulls out the tray with a pair of snowman pot holders. "My first batch of cookies..." She sounds almost wistful, looks at them with a soft sort of pride.

"You've never made cookies before?"

"Nuh-uh. Jake and Abby were never into baking." Since the separation, she's taken to calling her parents by their first names. Octavia watches her, watching the cookies, but before she can decide what to say, Clarke turns abruptly toward her and asks, "So where's the icing?"

They have green, red, and white, and a little bit of blue hidden in the back of the cabinet, which has probably been there for years.

"We usually just do squiggles and stuff on them," Octavia says, as she lines the three not-suspicious tubes up in a row. "Sometimes Bellamy does polka dots but I think it just looks like he gave the cookie chicken pox."

"Just squiggles?" Clarke raises an eyebrow. "I thought you'd do like an elaborate Christmas scene or something."

"Me?" She mimics Clarke's expression, adds another layer of exaggerated surprise.

"Yeah, you're so into Christmas!"

"And my art skills peaked with stick figures!"

Clarke opens her mouth to shoot back another reply, then shuts it again. She's got that look on her face again, half determined and half nefarious, the look she gets when she has a plan and she wants to be in charge of it. Very carefully, she picks the tube of red icing, hands it to Octavia, and then selects the green for herself. "Everything you've done for me this Christmas," she says, "the least I can do is give you an art lesson."

Her voice sounds so much softer than Octavia thought it would be. Her smile is almost shy.

"Yeah," Octavia breathes. "All right."

If anyone asks, the stupid blush on her cheeks as Clarke leans over and guides her hand is just from the heat of the oven, the stuffy warmth of the old Blake furnace as it beats back the winter cold.

Together, they turn the cookie into an ornament, make another into a snowflake, draw a snowman on a third. Their chairs pulled close together, and Clarke's arm bumping up against her arm, and Clarke's familiar laughter in her ear every time they mess up—her laughter sounds so cute now, to Octavia's ears, and that's how she knows she's in this deep.

If Clarke were decorating the cookies by herself, her reindeer would look like a real reindeer, and not a bunch of red and green blobs. Octavia is really weighing this partnership down. She’s so consumed with this thought that she doesn’t notice as Clarke deliberately adds a dollop of icing to her finger—not until she says, "Oh, no, got some extra all over me," in her most deadpan voice, and then wipes it off on Octavia's nose.

Octavia stares back at her. "Griffin, are you trying to start a food fight in my mother's kitchen?"

"No! I'm trying to give myself an excuse to do this."

And she leans forward and kisses Octavia's nose, licks the icing off with a tiny flash of tongue.

It's the wildest and most unexpected thing that's ever happened to Octavia in her life, because this is Clarke, and that was a kiss, but she isn't sure what sort of kiss it was, and now Clarke is staring at her with a wide-eyed and open-mouthed expression that is a little hopeful and a little scared and a little excited all at once. Her face is as red as Octavia's feels.

So all in all, there’s only one thing she can do.

Octavia pushes the tray of finished cookies away, pulls her chair a little closer, and very slowly, very carefully leans in. Clarke doesn't pull away. She tips herself forward instead, meets Octavia's kiss awkwardly, sincerely, gently at first, her hands grabbing on to Octavia's hands. As they kiss, the frigid winter clouds converge outside the window, and flurries of snow begin to fall.

#the 100 #the 100 fanfiction #octavia blake #clarke griffin #octavia x clarke #clarktavia #mine #my writing #the year 2022 #2022: free write #ficmas 2022

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smilestonedentist · 5 years ago

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5 Ways to Survive Candy Season With a Healthy Smile

We care a lot about firm smiles at Smilestone Dental Care , so you may be expecting this blog to be all close to how you should not eat sugarcoat during candy season.

Here are our top 5 thought for enjoying candy period of time while keeping your smile as rosy as possible.

1. If chocolate is your candy of choice, get the dandy stuff – go dark. Earlier this year we knowledge folks that dark beverage can actually have constructive health benefits, consider bacteria-fighting quality, when consumed in moderation. ! Smilestone is the Best Dental Clinic in Nagpur.

2. Encourage the kids (big and small) to craft their candy for thing else. It can be hard to bodily process what kind of sugarcoat and kickshaw the kids bring home. For example, some families have their own “buy-back” system, where kids can trade in their sweet for cash or other tokenish or credit towards thing they want.

3. Candy isn’t the only culprit – be on the lookout for civilised sugars. Candies and hot chocolate are not the only delicacy around that tin can be prejudicial to teeth. These can include cake and other baked goods, portion such as cider and eggnog, and of course those pleasing but sugar-loaded flavorer and seasonal beverages from your popular coffee store.

4. Swish with water after snacks or feeding candy, and be excess vigilant about brushing and flossing. Sugar is only one part of the tooth-decay equality – time is another prima component. The more time macromolecule, bacteria and food particles are countenance to sit on the teeth, the more equipment casualty and decay they can cause. Smilestone also offers Best Orthodontist in Nagpur

Enjoy and savor, in degree. The best way to have a blissful and healthy candy and leisure season is actually to permit yourself to relish some of your favorite treats, rather than by nerve-racking to debar them completely. Eating day-to-day, rose-cheeked and balanced nutriment and snacks throughout the day can make it much easier to avoid ingurgitate on sugary treats. Take the case to savor and genuinely taste.

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trulyhopelessromantic · 5 years ago

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I have arrived! Your secret santa! You look like you had so much fun! (Sorry for late response!) Sounds like you got to experience a lot in England~ ❤️ do you own any illustrated books? Also What kinds of drinks do you like during the winter season? Any food you enjoyed while in England? 💌

Illustrated books at the moment I think I own an illustrated Secret Garden, my copies of the Mirrorworld Series have illustrations in them as well as really any Cornelia Funke book I own, The Christmasaurus and then all the other Illustrated books I can think of that I might own are from my childhood but I'm always going through the book stores looking through all the Illustrated versions of things especially the copies that MinaLima have put out and telling the books I will come back for them when I have gift cards XD I once almost bought the Beauty and the Beast they did but then something came up and I haven't gone back since

Actually I think a few of my really old books that I have purchased in the last five years are illustrated at least in part and those are a Robin Hood book and one part of a Charles Dickens anthology aaaand I can't remember if my copy of Arabian Nights has illustrations in it and I bought a couple more while I was in England but currently I placed them all into storage so I can't 100% recall without going and taking a look ☺ that sounds bad I just realized but I have a 4 year old niece who lives with us and I don't want her touching my precious things that are as old as the eighteen-hundreds so 😊

Favourite drinks around Christmas are peppermint hot chocolate, trying out different types of limited edition hot chocolates actually like snickerdoodle or gingerbread etc that places like Starbucks release and I love hot apple cider. I also enjoy eggnog now that I'm thinking about it! I enjoy tea as well but I enjoy that year round ^_^

Foods that enjoyed in England? Well for starters, I discovered my love for Earl Grey tea which sounds super cheesy and corny and predictable and like a stereotype but honestly I didn't realize what that tea tasted like I never really tried it while I was here in Canada. I also developed a love for mince pies. I always liked fish and chips as well as Sunday roasts but that carried on very easily when I was over there. I learned that I like lamb with a touch of mint paste lol and I also discovered Yorkshire pudding! I can't get enough. And mushy peas... I learned what an English breakfast was and it's not too shabby LOL and I came to learn that Twinings tea tastes different in Canada than it does in England. I thought it's probably the water but having been sent some Earl Grey over from England itself I discovered it's literally the tea blend that is slightly different more flavorful to my tastes anyway LOL

Also, it's quite common to get vanilla Coke from the pound store over there whereas here it's sort of a delicacy and that makes me sad XD I'm also a huge fan of digestive cookies specifically the Mcvitie's brand they could be plain or I really like the dark chocolate dipped ones. I actually found I can get them here which is fantastic

And that's all that comes to mind for now if anything else pops up I will try to let you know next time ^_^

-Britt xo

#poto secret santa

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drycoin14-blog · 5 years ago

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balsamic kale with cranberries

I’ll admit that simple sauteed kale with balsamic vinegar and dried cranberries is not the sexiest recipe to highlight in the first few days of the the new year, but with so many of us (myself included) cutting back on refined sugars, grains and dairy, I think it is appropriately useful to share it with you today. It’s a recipe I have been making for the better part of a decade, and it is always a great addition to our healthy plate. It happens to be vegan, paleo and gluten-free, but that’s not all it has going for it. It also happens to be sweet and tart and a delicious way to enjoy fresh kale!

I originally shared this recipe on October 29th, 2013. I have updated the text, images, added a video (see below) today.

Are you craving fresh food right now? I am pretty certain you’re going to say yes, and friend, me too! Like times 1,000,000! I’ve been digging into the veggies like there is no tomorrow. Don’t get me wrong, I had a great December and holiday season. But after a lot of Eggnog White Russians (OMG yum!) and Pecan Snowball Cookies (who can say no to a snowball) I don’t feel that great. In other words, I am ready to get a little bit of green on my plate right now. I have more news to share on all that and what I am doing about it, so if you follow me on instagram or you’re on my email list I’ll be sharing more about it over there.

a Super Easy Vegan Side-dish

The first time I made this recipe seven years ago, I’d been in a similar boat. I’d been traveling with my family and after too much processed foods, I craved something whole and fresh. So I went out to our row of kale in the garden and took no mercy. After I removed the ribs from the kale, I chopped it up. Then I sauteed it with some onions from the CSA, some apple juice-sweetened organic dried cranberries from the cabinet and a drizzle of really good balsamic.

I have been making it ever since. I almost always have the ingredients on hand and it provides a nutritious and delicious counterpart to so many dinner combinations. I love the way the sweet and sour flavors work with the slightly bitter kale. It is such a simple recipe, after trying it once, you’ll be able to do it over and over again without even measuring!! I have noticed that sometimes it is the most simple recipes (like this green beans with walnuts and balsamic or this lemon garlic broccoli) that resonate the most with busy families. So I really hope you enjoy it too.

How to Make Vegan Balsamic Kale with Cranberries

Shopping Notes: You can use green, purple or lacinato (dinosaur) kale to make this recipe. Also, dried cranberries are most commonly sweetened with sugar. If you are following a paleo diet, look for cranberries sweetened with fruit juice. I find them near the bulk department at our local health food store.

Kale cooks down a lot when you cook it, so you’ll need to start with a full head of kale. Since the size of bunches of kale varies, if your market or CSA has smaller bunches, grab two. Remove the ribs, chop the kale and wash it. You’ll want 8 cups of chopped raw kale to make this recipe. If you use lacinato, you’ll want to cut the leaves more finely.

Next you’ll need a diced onion. If you missed my post earlier this week, please check out the proper way to dice an onion. It is part of my new series of cooking basics called “In The Kitchen.” I use whatever kind of onion I have on hand, but I think sweet onion is really nice to naturally boost the sweet flavor of this kale recipe.

Sauté the onion in olive oil until it is brown. (See the video for a visual of that.)

After that add on the kale, salt, cranberries and water. Quickly cover the skillet to capture the steam from the evaporating water, and let the kale wilt. I usually stir it once or twice, to help it wilt down evenly.

To keep an ever so slightly crunchy texture and brighter color, err on the side of not over-cooking the kale. But if you prefer soft and tender greens, feel free to continue cooking it to your preference. If you do so, you’ll likely need a splash or two of water as the skillet goes dry.

Finish the dish off with some really good quality balsamic vinegar. It will really brighten up the flavors. It balances the bitter of the kale and the sourness balances the salt.

QUESTIONS

Do you feel the need to eat cleaner now that the holidays are over?

Do you crave fresh food after a lot of celebrations and big meals?

More Easy Side Dishes To Try

Sweet Potatoes with Citrus Dressing

Kale with Cider Vinegar

Hot Moroccan Carrots

Pickled Beets

Simple Skillet Green Beans

Simple Sautéed Swiss Chard

Thanks so much for reading. If you make this recipe, please come back and leave a star rating and review. I would love to hear what you think!

Happy Cooking!

~Katie

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vegan balsamic kale with cranberries paleo

Description

Easy healthy kale saute with dried cranberries and balsamic vinegar. Gluten free, vegan, clean eating and paleo.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1 medium onion, diced

8 cups shredded kale leaves (no stems)

¼ cup dried cranberries

2 tablespoons water

¼ teaspoon salt

4 teaspoons best quality balsamic vinegar, or to taste

Instructions

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and sauté until starting to soften and are browned, 3 to 5 minutes. Add kale, cranberries, water and salt, cover and cook, removing lid to stir often until the kale is wilted and tender, 3 to 6 minutes longer. Drizzle with balsamic vinegar.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1/2 cup

Calories: 76

Sugar: 9 g

Sodium: 150 mg

Fat: 3 g

Saturated Fat: 0 g

Carbohydrates: 11 g

Fiber: 2 g

Protein: 1 g

Keywords: vegan,paleo,cleaneating,kale,easy,healthy,balsamic vinegar,dried cranberries,

Here is one of the original images I shared with this post.

struggling with weeknight meals?

My free ebook, The Best Weeknight Dinners, includes 15 of my family’s favorites — recipes and meals we go back to over and over again. It includes simple entrees you can make start to finish in 20 to 40 minutes. And all are made with simple to follow instructions and easy to find ingredients.

Thanks for signing up! Just check your inbox to confirm your subscription, and then look for a welcome letter from me, including a link to download your free ebook. Every week you’ll receive ideas and inspiration on how to incorporate more fabulous healthy seasonal recipes into your life!

Source: https://www.healthyseasonalrecipes.com/balsamic-kale-cranberries/

0 notes

moonstew16-blog · 6 years ago

Text

balsamic kale with cranberries

I originally shared this recipe on October 29th, 2013. I have updated the text, images, added a video (see below) today.

a Super Easy Vegan Side-dish

How to Make Vegan Balsamic Kale with Cranberries

Sauté the onion in olive oil until it is brown. (See the video for a visual of that.)

Finish the dish off with some really good quality balsamic vinegar. It will really brighten up the flavors. It balances the bitter of the kale and the sourness balances the salt.

QUESTIONS

Do you feel the need to eat cleaner now that the holidays are over?

Do you crave fresh food after a lot of celebrations and big meals?

More Easy Side Dishes To Try

Sweet Potatoes with Citrus Dressing

Kale with Cider Vinegar

Hot Moroccan Carrots

Pickled Beets

Simple Skillet Green Beans

Simple Sautéed Swiss Chard

Thanks so much for reading. If you make this recipe, please come back and leave a star rating and review. I would love to hear what you think!

Happy Cooking!

~Katie

vegan balsamic kale with cranberries paleo

Description

Easy healthy kale saute with dried cranberries and balsamic vinegar. Gluten free, vegan, clean eating and paleo.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1 medium onion, diced

8 cups shredded kale leaves (no stems)

¼ cup dried cranberries

2 tablespoons water

¼ teaspoon salt

4 teaspoons best quality balsamic vinegar, or to taste

Instructions

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1/2 cup

Calories: 76

Sugar: 9 g

Sodium: 150 mg

Fat: 3 g

Saturated Fat: 0 g

Carbohydrates: 11 g

Fiber: 2 g

Protein: 1 g

Keywords: vegan,paleo,cleaneating,kale,easy,healthy,balsamic vinegar,dried cranberries,

Here is one of the original images I shared with this post.

struggling with weeknight meals?

Source: https://www.healthyseasonalrecipes.com/balsamic-kale-cranberries/

0 notes

skonnaris · 5 years ago

Text

Christmas Traditions

1. Christmas gift shopping, stocking stuffers.

2. Put lights up on evergreens and house outside.

3. Cut down Christmas tree and wreath; hot apple cider, apple cider donuts.

4. Decorate tree and deck the halls inside.

Fun fact: The city of Riga, Latvia holds the claim as home to history’s first decorated Christmas tree, back in 1510.

5. Holiday Tea

6. Tree lighting at Rock Center.

7. Christmas concert - TBD.

8. Tour of Lights.

9. Bake Hoska, Christmas cookies.

10. Balducci’s in Scarsdale.

11. Eataly in Manhattan.

12. Carolers at South Street Seaport.

13. Christmas letter and cards.

Fun fact: Christmas cards, which originated in England, were first sent in the 1840s.

14. Christmas movies: Disney’s A Christmas Carol, Magoo’s Christmas Carol, Polar Express, White Christmas, It’s a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, How the Grinch Stole Christmas (cartoon), Home Alone, Home Alone in NYC, Joyeux Noel, A Charlie Brown Christmas, Love Actually, White Christmas,

Fun fact: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was invented by Montgomery Ward copywriter Robert L. May in 1939, as a way to lure customers into the store.

15. The Nutcracker ballet

16. Sweet Little Nuts

17. Cordials and Plum Pudding

18. Go on a one-horse open sleigh ride

19. Go Christmas Caroling

20. Make a gingerbread house and people.

21. Visit Wintergarden.

22. Make sneak out plans.

23. Peppermint bark and peppermint hot chocolate using special plates/cups.

24. Make a popcorn and cranberry garland.

25. New PJs on Christmas Eve.

26. Hang stockings.

27. Read Santa’s Workshop and Dickens A Christmas Carol.

28. Visit the Cloisters for Early Music.

29. Leave out Bailey’s Irish cream

Fun Fact: It’s traditional for Irish families to leave out mince pies and pint of Guinness as a snack for Santa.

29. Peppermint coffee

30. Polar Express train ride

31. Shopping at the last minute before stores close to get bargains then going to King’s for hot chocolate and cheese franchise.

32. Open 1 present on Christmas Eve

33. Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at Church

34. Christmas Markets - Union Square, Columbus Circle, Bryant Park, Astoria

35. Baraque Christmas Tree at the Metropolitan Opera

36. Vienna Boys Choir at Carnegie Hall

37. Lighting of the Advent Wreath. The Advent wreath began in Germany as a Lutheran tradition, but eventually spread to other Christian denominations, including the Catholic and Episcopalian Churches. The evergreen wreath traditionally has four candles around its perimeter (designed to mark the four weeks before Christmas) and a white candle in the center (to be lit on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day). It may also be adorned with berries or pinecones. The weekly lighting of each candle may be accompanied by prayer, Christmas carols, and/or snacks such as stollen or mulled wine.

38. The Twelve Days of Christmas

39. Jolabokaflod - Iceland

40. See a Bell Choir performance. “Carol of the Bells,” was based on a Ukrainian folk chant, “Shchedryk” (known in English as ��Little Swallow”). Composed by Mykola Leontovych, it was originally sung on New Year’s Eve and tells the story of a swallow flying into a house to sing of prosperity to come in the Spring. The song was performed at Carnegie Hall by the Ukrainian National Chorus in 1921, ultimately inspiring American composer Peter J. Wilhousky to rewrite it as an English Christmas carol in 1936.

41. Displaying the Poinsettia. Native to Mexico, the poinsettia was originally cultivated by the Aztecs, who called it Cuetlaxochitl (“flower which wilts”). The plant’s brilliant red color symbolized purity for the Aztecs, and they often used the plant to reduce fever.

42. Lighting the Yule log.

Fun Fact: In southern France, some people burn a log in their homes from Christmas Eve until New Year’s Day. This stems from an ancient tradition in which farmers would use part of the log to ensure good luck for the next year’s harvest.

43. St. Vassilios day - Epiphany, January 6th.

44. Boxing Day - the day you take down your Christmas tree.

45. See a performance of the Messiah.

Fun Fact: George Frederick Handel’s timeless Christmas classic, “The Messiah”, was first performed in Dublin, Ireland in 1742.

46. Hang Mistletoe and kiss someone under it.

Fun Fact: Mistletoe was held sacred by the Norse, the Celtic Druids, and Native American Indians, because it remains green and bears fruit during the winter when other plants seem to die. Druids thought the plant had the power to cure infertility and nervous diseases, and to ward off evil.

47. Santa Lucia Festival.

48. Feast of the Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve.

Fun Fact: Italian families celebrate Christmas Eve with the Feast of the Seven Fishes and eat lentils during the holiday season to ensure luck and wealth for the following year. The children in Italy receive gifts from La Befana during Christmas.

49. Toast with a glass of Egg Nog.

Fun Fact: According to reports by Captain John Smith, the first eggnog made in the United States was consumed in his 1607 Jamestown settlement. Nog comes from the word grog, which refers to any drink made with rum.

50. Making a Christmas List from the JC Penney and Sears Christmas Catalogs.

51. Writing a letter to Santa.

52. Tea and Cinnamon Toast.

53. Figgy Pudding and Wassail.

54. Advent calendar

55. Ugly Sweater Party

56. Elf on the Shelf

57. Christmas Outfit

58. Share Christmas memories with family - record or write them down.

59. Hide the Christmas Pickle for finding and opener of the family gift.

59. Homemade cinnamon rolls for Christmas Day breakfast.

0 notes

rikrakyarnncrafts · 6 years ago

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Winter Holiday Chill Zone

“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.” – Edith Sitwell

It’s no secret that we love a good listicle. When the opportunity presents itself to write about our favorite things, we jump on it. Traditions vary for those of us here at Knit Picks HQ, but the one common thread is that for each of us, this time of year offers a chance to indulge in the nostalgic traditions each of us holds dear. Whether it be watching Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas on repeat or imbibing a classy holiday cocktail or two, we hold each near and dear to our collective hearts.

In the spirit of all things merry & bright, we bring you our guide to enjoying the winter holidays!

Ultimate Cookie Platter

Alexis – I love December; it is easily my favorite month of the year. Besides my love for all things Christmas (movies, songs, decorations), I get to spread some good cheer baking for all my family and friends. Baking cookies represents all of the things I love about the season, as it ties together tradition and generosity in a small tasty treat.

What once started as a simple continuation of a family tradition soon turned into a spreadsheet and baking madness as my desire to share grew. As soon as the calendar flips to December 1st, my humble kitchen and dining room transform into a virtual cookie factory. Pounds of flour, nuts, butter, and sugar line any extra counter space. Sweet smells of melted chocolate and gingerbread permeate the air during my rounds of baking for batches that get shipped or hand delivered to local friends and co-workers. And of course a few for the surprise visitors: Santa and his reindeer.

Because it is impossible for me to grasp moderation, especially when giving, I go all out with seven different cookie options that have expanded and shifted a little over the years. There are the staples: Gingerbread People, Pennsylvania Dutch Coconut Macaroons, Linzer Tartlets (my favorite), Bourbon Balls (the boozier the better); a new classic: Chipotle Chocolate Chip, my spin on a Mexican Hot Chocolate; and two new fan favorites: Caramel Salted Pretzel Linzers and Italian Bakery Style Butter Cookies, developed by my favorite home chef Deb Perelman of Smitten Kitchen. All of these are created with love and happiness as I dance to Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker Suite Op,71a covered in powdered sugar.

Winter Sips

Daniel – I have four essential drinks that I have to have at some point during Winter.

Homemade Eggnog It’s not for everyone, but I’ve always enjoyed eggnog in all of its forms. I made my own eggnog for the first time just last year using this incredibly easy blender recipe. It was so well received that I made a second batch right after Christmas that I aged for three weeks. Not only do I recommend the taste, but aged nog is ironically also safer! If you’re particularly wary of raw eggs or prefer your eggnog kid- and teetotaler-friendly, you’ll need to cook your eggs! I like this clever recipe that tempers the eggs with scalded milk in a stand mixer, rather than going full custard.

Cinnamon Manhattan A serendipitous juxtaposition at a holiday baking party led directly to a festive version of my go-to winter cocktail. Just adding ground cinnamon to a drink results in unpleasant sediment, so now I make cinnamon syrup. Add a teaspoon to a standard Manhattan recipe (or any number of other traditional cocktails) for a healthy dose of holiday cheer. You can also add a whole nutmeg to the syrup for additional flavor, but I recommend avoiding clove.

Mulled Everything Full of spice and piping hot is my favorite way to have apple cider, the only way I’ll drink wine, and by far the best way to enjoy port. In my experience, store bought mixes are lackluster and not worth it, especially when it’s so easy to make your own. There are plenty of worthwhile recipes online, but I prefer the quick and simple like this one for mulled wine. If you’re thinking ahead, it’s simple to prepare your spices ahead of time and makes it more feasible to get a little more involved. Though it requires the extra effort to dry your own orange and ginger, I really like this fancier recipe. If you’re *really* ambitious, some homemade glogg will really impress at your next holiday party.

Cocoa! Absolutely necessary to all winter celebrations. While I’ll drink any kind of cocoa, and even have a special affection for store-bought mix packets, you don’t have to go crazy to make a good homemade mix. It also makes a delightful and easy gift!

Festive Flicks

Hillary – The only surefire way to get me in the holiday spirit is by watching holiday movies! My favorite Christmas Eve tradition is going to the candlelight church service, coming home, and getting into new Christmas jammies to watch A Christmas Story.

Here are some of my must watch movies to snuggle in and catch the holiday spirit bug. Grab some hot cocoa, your favorite furry friend, and a cozy blanket!

In this sweet, feel-good movie, Charlie Brown seeks out the true meaning of Christmas with the help of his friends! Perfect for the young and the young-at-heart.

It’s a Wonderful Life is a classic for good reason. It was nominated for six Academy Awards and is on the list of 100 Greatest American Films of All Time.

And my personal favorite, The Nightmare Before Christmas! Tim Burton blends Christmas and Halloween together in a way that is both spooky and heartwarming at the same time.

If you want a good cry, The Family Stone is perfect for you. Full of an all-star cast that comprise a family full of quirky personalities, the story revolves around the holiday season. Although not a typical Christmas movie, it is a GREAT movie I highly recommend.

Holiday Tunes

Kate – Full disclosure: I have to actively make it a point to NOT listen to Wham’s Last Christmas throughout the year. Not only do I get all 80’s kid misty-eyed when I hear it, but I may have accidentally indoctrinated my 5-year-old daughter into the Wham fan club, as she now requests this song as well. I blame my love of music on my dad, who ALWAYS had the radio on and tuned into his favorite classic rock station, and also my sister, who let me watch MTV* whenever she “babysat” me. Don’t worry though. This playlist does consist of more than just holiday pop hits from 1986. I added a little Darlene Love, Vince Guaraldi, and even a little of The Ramones for good measure. Download my Holidaze playlist here!

*Note: This was in the eighties, when MTV actually played music videos.

Favorite Winter Reads

Erica – For me, the best part of the holiday season is wrapping myself up in a big, cozy blanket and re-reading some of my favorite wintertime books. And when I say “wintertime books,” I’m referring to books I have deemed, for what I think are temperature-based reasons (more on this later), good for this time of year. Anyway, here are two of my favorites:

A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett

I’ve read this book countless times since I was a child, and it never fails to make me happy. But what’s now intriguing me most about this book is … why do I consider it a wintertime book? Is it the cold/wintery aspects of the story that keep me coming back, or is it the warm cozy parts that draw me in? Do I instinctively snuggle down deeper under my blanket when Sara Crewe is shivering in her attic room or running errands around London in her hole-filled shoes and skimpy, old clothes? Or, do I feel some sort of vicarious warm fuzzies when Ram Dass sneaks in and decks out Sara’s attic room with cozy furniture, tapestries, a roaring fire, and yummy food?

(I would stare at this illustration for hours.)

I think I love this book for both, honestly. Also, I know lovers of this story can be pretty opinionated about which illustrator they prefer, but I’m just going to go ahead and assert that Graham Rust’s illustrated version (originally released in 1989, which just happens to overlap with my childhood … coincidence?!) is the best one. And really, my assessment of this very much hinges on the two-page spread depicting Sara’s decked out attic room (above).

If you haven’t read this book, please do check it out! Just make sure to get yourself a full, unabridged version … there are a LOT of abridged “retellings” of this story out there, so be choosy.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

Fun fact! Charlotte Bronte’s unfinished manuscript for a novel entitled Emma was likely part of the inspiration for the book A Little Princess. (The more you know!) Anyway …

I think this is where my wintery feels start to be more about the cold and less about the warm and fuzzy. When I think about reading this book in the summer, it just feels wrong. How could I read about Jane shivering at Lowood school because THE WATER IN HER WASHBASIN HAS LITERALLY FROZEN during the dog days of summer? That just seems vulgar, doesn’t it?

It’s occurred to me that Jane Eyre features a similar “super cold” but then “warm and fuzzy” moment like Sara’s attic transformation in A Little Princess. Jane wanders the moor (SHE SLEEPS OUTSIDE IN THE COLD, Y’ALL), and shivers and starves, pretty much collapsing on St. John River’s doorstep before being brought inside to a cozy fire, food, and new friends!

But generally speaking, this book feels, temperature-wise, wintery. Sure, there’s fire. There’s passion. But when I think about Jane walking around, asserting herself even though she’s “poor, obscure, plain, and little,” I can’t help but imagine her with a cold nose and breath visible in the air.

Clever Non-Knit Gifts

Lee – I always love making and giving handmade gifts to my loved ones during the holidays, knit or otherwise! With a lot of non-knit gifts, you can batch-make several of the same kind of item to give everyone in your group, and/or you can have time to make more different kinds of items than with long-term knitting projects. In my old (pre-Knit Picks) life, I used to write a lot of craft project tutorials, so I’m going to point you to some of those projects that would make fun gifts!

Make yarn bowls out of old records for all your fiber friends! They aren’t quite as functional as real yarn bowls since they are very lightweight, but they’re still fun to have around. Just be sure to use scratched records that no one would want to listen to!

Spray paint thrifted picture frames with or without lace “stencils” and fill them with photos or song lyrics. I made these for my wedding and then let my guests take them home as wedding favors, but they’d also make great holiday gifts!

Many years ago I made this fun Before+After picture of my brothers as a gift to my parents. If you look at it from the left, you see a photo of them when they were little kids, and from the right you see them as adults.

If you have some pretty beads but no experience with jewelry-making, these easy 2-bead earrings are a great starting point, and they’ll make some quick+easy gifts!

And lastly, for your wool-loving friends, grab some of our Bare yarn and dye it yourself into custom hand-dyed gift skeins! I did a few Kool-Aid dyeing tutorials long ago (it’s food safe AND colorfast!), and you can also google to find more; here is one for specifically crock pot dyeing with Kool-Aid! It’s also easy to do this kind of dyeing in a microwave. Just be sure to use yarn that’s all or mostly wool, alpaca, or other animal fibers, in order for the dye to work.

Tannenbaum Traditions

Hannah – The first year I got my very own Christmas tree, I realized that I’d not inherited a stash of ornaments! A new tradition was born: every year I make a handful of new decorations to add to my steadily growing collection. I try to make two sewn felt ornaments, two knit/crocheted, and a batch of cinnamon ornaments every year. Now, I’ve got a good-sized box, and I have sweet memories that go with every piece. I like Alicia Paulson’s felt patterns, this recipe for cinnamon ornaments, and I’m planning on making Annie Watts’ Walrus ornament this year (I love it so, so much!).

Whatever traditions you hold dear, or if this time of year is simply about relaxation and replenishment, we hope you are able to slow down and enjoy life a little. Happy holidays!

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vandykecarolpdrf7 · 6 years ago

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The KetoDiet Guide to Staying Low-Carb During the Holidays

Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year's Eve are holidays we eagerly anticipate celebrating with family and friends every December. However, this time of year can be challenging for those of us trying to remain low carb, energetic, healthy, and fit. Here's our guide to navigating the holiday eating season, low-carb style.

Make Low-Carb Holiday Foods Everyone Will Love, Including Carb Eaters

During the holidays, you'll very likely be spending time with people who eat considerably more carbs than you do. In fact, some of them may think that a low-carb lifestyle sounds unhealthy, unappealing, and too restrictive. Holiday get-togethers are the perfect time to demonstrate that keto and low-carb foods can be undeniably nourishing, satisfying, and delicious.

You can find lots of low-carb holiday recipes on the KetoDiet blog, and even get inspired by some of these ideas for a healthy low-carb festive menu.

Have Responses Ready When Offered High-Carb Food

Before attending parties or other social events, make sure you have a game plan for staying on track. If possible, bring a dish or appetizer you can enjoy if you suspect there may be a lack of low-carb options available.

Anticipate that some people — often with the best of intentions — will offer you homemade baked goods and other high-carb treats at these gatherings.

A polite “No, thank you,” said with a smile, should suffice. However, if the person is persistent and you don't want to hurt their feelings, here are a few responses you can try:

“That looks absolutely delicious, but I really can't handle that type of food. Thanks so much for understanding.”

“Thank you very much for the kind offer. Unfortunately, some of the ingredients in that luscious dish just don't agree with me.”

“I truly appreciate the time and effort you spent making this. However, I've found that I only feel good when I follow a strict low-carb diet at all times.”

Enjoy a Festive Low-Carb Alcoholic Beverage

Fortunately, some types of alcohol are allowed on a keto or low-carb lifestyle.

Most holiday parties and celebrations include alcoholic beverages. Dry wines, champagne, and hard alcohol mixed with soda water are all good options. However, limit your intake to two drinks at most, especially if you're concerned about weight gain.

Make sure to avoid sweet cocktails, spirits, and high-carb seasonal drinks like mulled cider, eggnog, and hot buttered rum.

When entertaining at home, enjoy indulging in low-carb-friendly versions of holiday favorites, like these:

Low-Carb Mulled Wine

Creamy Homemade Keto Eggnog

Low-Carb Spicy Margarita

Keto Coquito

Sugar-Free Moscow Mule

Super Creamy Keto Hot Chocolate (you can spike it with your favorite liquor such as rum or tequilla)

Low-Carb Berry Mojitos

Low-Carb Daiquiri Cocktail

Gin Fizz

Engage in Physical Activity Every Day

When things get busy around the holiday season, it's easy to push exercise to the back burner. This is a mistake, because being physically active not only helps prevent holiday weight gain but can also improve your energy levels and reduce stress. Although you may not always have time to get to the gym, try these strategies for getting some daily exercise in:

When doing your holiday shopping, walk the perimeter of the mall at least once before heading into the stores

Skip the elevator, take the stairs

Do a 30-minute workout DVD at home in the morning or after work

Try stair sprinting at the park or even at your office during your lunch break

Aim for a minimum of 20 minutes of uninterrupted walking per day. If necessary, multitask by walking while talking on the phone, watching TV, or cleaning up around the house.

Manage Holiday-Related Stress

Although the holiday season can be fun and exciting, it can also be stressful at times. Attending parties and other events, traveling to see family or hosting guests in your home, and experiencing other changes to your usual routine may seem overwhelming. During this hectic time of year, it's important to get a handle on stress so you'll remain healthy, vibrant, and less likely to indulge in high-carb comfort foods.

Here are a few stress-relieving techniques for holiday survival:

Practice tai-chi, yoga, stretching or any type of movement that incorporates deep breathing

Take at least 15 minutes to be alone every day (walk, read, or simply rest)

Ask for help when you need it

Get to bed early whenever you can

Remember That the Holidays are About More than Food

Sometimes it may seem as though tempting holiday meals and treats are around every corner. And yes, it's true that there's a focus on festive foods at parties and other celebrations.

However, do your best to ignore the constant food cues and instead appreciate all the other wonderful things about the holiday season: spending time and reminiscing with family and friends, listening to familiar songs, watching favorite movies, reflecting on the year's end and making plans for the new one about to begin.

Healthy Recipe Ideas for Your Festive Menu

Check out some of our favorite ideas for keto and low-carb entertaining this season.

Appetizers

Low-Carb Pumpkin Soup with Chorizo Crumb

Low-Carb Cheese Soufflé

Keto Everything Bagel Deviled Eggs

Low-Carb Chicken & Herb Terrine

Smoked Salmon Keto Mini Quiches

Low-Carb Raspberry Baked Brie

Mains

Low-Carb Czech Christmas Fried Fish with “Potato” Salad

Keto Ginger-Spiced Pork Roast with Buttered Brussels Sprouts

Steak with Mushroom & Red Wine Sauce with Creamy Cauli-Mash

Low-Carb Cheese & Capsicum Stuffed Meatloaf with Cauliflower Rice

Low-Carb Crispy Spatchcock Chicken with "Potato" Gratin

Low-Carb Pumpkin Gnocchi with Cheese & Pesto

Sides & Condiments

Sweet & Spicy Prosciutto Wrapped Green Beans

Low-Carb Spiced Orange Cranberry Sauce

Grilled Radicchio with Parmesan Dressing

Low-Carb Crispy Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Roast "Notatoes" with Garlic and Feta

Low-Carb Smoky Roasted Mushrooms

Party Snacks

Keto Blinis with Smoked Salmon

Quick & Easy Keto BLT Cups

Mini Keto Corn Dogs

Keto Pepperoni Pizza Cups

Crispy Multiseed Keto Crackers

Keto Spinach Bacon & Artichoke Dip

Low-Carb Zucchini Pesto Roll-Ups

Keto Savory Spiced Pecans

Easy Keto Jalapeño Cheese Crisps

Holiday Cookies

Keto Glazed Anise Holiday Cookies

Keto Cinnamon Swirl Cookies

Keto Chocolate Dipped Cookies

Gingerbread Cookies

Low-Carb Cinnamon Stars

Easy Keto Coconut Macaroons

Desserts and Sweet Treats

Chocolate Hazelnut Celebration Cake

Low-Carb Holiday Berry Pavlova

Low-Carb Gingerbread Loaf

Keto Carrot Cheesecake Muffins

Keto Brown Butter Pecan Ice Cream

Keto Chocolate & Mint Fudge

Keto Salted Caramel Turtle Candy

Low-Carb Chocolate Cinnamon Skillet Brownie

Low-Carb Lemon Meringue Parfaits

Festive Breakfast Recipes

Low-Carb Pumpkin, Feta & Cranberry Tart

Keto Goat Cheese Tarts with Caramelized Onion

Low-Carb Tomato & Goat's Cheese Quiche

Keto Cheesy Cauliflower Muffins

Festive Keto Goat Cheese & Kale Quiche

Keto Mulled Berry Chia Parfaits

Low-Carb Tomato & Goat's Cheese Quiche

Fluffy Low-Carb Chocolate Pancakes

Keto Southern Goat Cheese Shakshuka

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#The KetoDiet Guide to Staying Low-Carb During the Holidays

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yumyummunchies-blog · 6 years ago

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101 Christmas Celebration Food Ideas|The Experience Bite

It's that time of year again! The time of year when you are sure to have loads of people heading to your home expecting some tasty Christmas Celebration Food Concepts!

Well never ever fear since we understand just the dishes for you to use to wow your guests and have them requesting seconds! These tasty Christmas Party Food Ideas make certain to go quick when your guests see them so make extras!Vanilla Pudding

Puff Pastry Christmas Star Cookies Like giving your Christmas celebration visitors their own little Christmas tree! These Vanilla Pudding Puff Pastry Christmas Star Cookies are as yummy as they are lovable! Get Dish Here. Gingerbread Cake If there is a Christmas celebration food idea that is cuter than this I would enjoy to

see it! You will feel a little guilty about needing to damage this one to consume it but it will disappear when you take that first bite! Get Dish Here. Sweet Cane Christmas Breadsticks Recipe How Cute! These Sweet Walking Stick Christmas Breadsticks are an adorable way to treat! Get Dish

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is the ideal way to put your instant pot to deal with a tasty classic while you prepare the rest of your Christmas celebration food! This is a substantial time saver! Get Recipe Here. Nordic Panna Cotta Skyr Wild Berries These charming

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Get Recipe Here. Ultimate Christmas Cheese Board Put this yummyUltimate Christmas Cheese Board dish down on the table and view the treats fly off the platter! You may require a second batch to be prepared for the demand for these treats! Get Dish Here. Susie's Chex Celebration Mix Way much better

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Balsamic Spiced Mixed Nuts These Balsamic Spiced

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Fruit Nut Cake As a gift or a Christmas party food concept, this Easy Christmas Fruit Nut Cake is a sure winner with your buddies and family this year! Get Recipe Here. Gingerbread Cranberry Get Dish Here.Christmas Wreath The Christmas Wreath isn't simply for your door this year! This healthy snacking idea is ideal to show your guests at any Christmas party! Get Recipe Here.

Chocolate Log Christmas Cake Chocolate Log Christmas Cake may be simple but it is anything but plain. This is sure to take spotlight at your Christmas party this year! Get Dish Here. Christmas Spice Chocolate Waffles Add a little joyful spice to your Holidays today with this incredible Christmas Spice Chocolate

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ezatluba · 6 years ago

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The Humanification of Pet Food Is Nearly Complete

Jerky, cookies, cheesy toppings—animals’ meals are out of the can and into the uncanny valley.

JOE PINSKER

OCT 26, 2018

To succinctly capture the strangeness of how Americans feed their house pets in the year 2018, there are perhaps no better five words than pumpkin-spice lattes for dogs. If there’s room to use a few more qualifiers, then non-GMO, American-made goat’s-milk pumpkin-spice lattes for dogs would probably be more evocative.

That is a real product, sold by a real company—“Just add warm water!” the label says—and it would not feel too out of place on the shelves of many pet-food aisles, where these days one is almost just as likely to encounter labels boasting “grass-fed beef” and “high-protein” recipes as anywhere else in the store.

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As these aisles indicate, pet food—particularly high-end pet food—is edging ever closer to human food, and the overlaps between the two categories can be uncanny. “People are putting whole berries in there, whole cranberries, whole blueberries,” says Don Tomala, the president of Matrix Partners, a pet-products branding firm. “They’re putting kelp in there, they’re putting turmeric in there, they’re putting apple-cider vinegar in there … These are all trends within the human-food side.”

Tomala, who helped launch the dog food Kibbles ’n Bits in the early 1980s, remembers that back then, “it was food for your dog—that was about as far as it went.” Ingredients weren’t fussed over, and the packaging was playful; he remembers cartoonish labels, say, with “a bubble-faced dog on it smiling.” That wouldn’t fly today. Tomala says packages now are more likely to display “a serious-looking dog … It looks nutritious and healthy—it looks like something I’d buy at Whole Foods.”

This transformation of pet food reflects a broader trend, in which people go to ever-greater lengths to address the human needs they project onto their pets, almost as if the animals were their children. Some Americans buy silicone testicular implants so that their pet might “retain its natural look and self-esteem” after being neutered, or make provisions in their wills for their horses; a friend recently told me that she discovered, when picking up a new prescription, that she and her dog had been put on the same anxiety medication.

Marketers often attribute the treatment of pets as little humans in part to Millennials waiting longer to have children, which frees them up to channel their energies toward their “fur babies,” a term people sometimes (unfortunately) use for their pets. With that in mind, it makes sense that some people would want to buy the finest foods for their animals. Another factor behind the rise of high-quality pet food is the increased concern many shoppers have about the environmental and social impact of all sorts of consumer goods.

“One of the main things that we’ve seen in the past five-plus years is that the parents, the shoppers, of the pets, they’re looking at pet food in the very same way they’re looking at the food they buy for themselves,” says Steve Rogers, a principal consultant at the firm Clarkston Consulting who advises large food and beverage companies, many of which have pet-food divisions. Non-GMO, gluten-free, no preservatives—these are what many consumers are after, and, Rogers says, “any trend that you almost see in consumer purchases or consumer food, pet food is basically a lagging indicator.”

These trends, of course, do not apply to the entire pet-food market, but they do apply to a significant, fast-growing chunk of it. Based on market research and conversations with clients, Rogers estimates that about half of pet owners could be potential buyers of these more expensive, ethically sourced, and organic varieties. And Tomala says there’s plenty of demand for regular old dog food, but “it just isn’t what’s driving the pet industry as much—the growth is coming from higher-end products,” the ones that cost twice as much, or more, per pound. Indeed, Americans’ spending on pet food has increased from $18 billion in 2009 to $30 billion in 2017, which far outpaces the rate at which pet ownership rose during that period. In other words, people are spending more on food per pet than they did a decade ago.

One company that has benefited from this increase is the Honest Kitchen, a San Diego–based firm founded in 2002 that makes the aforementioned pumpkin-spice lattes for dogs as well as a range of other “human-grade” pet foods. “That just means the ingredients are from the human food chain and are manufactured inside a human food facility and follows all of human food regulations,” as opposed to the regulations for pet food at the state and federal levels, explained Carmen Velasquez, the company’s marketing director. The Honest Kitchen makes dehydrated products, which, with the addition of warm water, achieve “almost like an oatmeal consistency. You can still see cranberries, pieces of apple, little banana chips,” Velasquez says.

“We definitely pull inspiration from the human food chain,” she told me, citing her company’s “instant bone broth” and “seasonal instant eggnog.” It also sells beef jerky for dogs. Mike Steck, the company’s chief marketing officer, who was also on the phone, said, “We have to be careful. Part of what we have to do with the brand is make sure that it can never be confused as human food.”

Read: Why is buying pet food so hard?

Dana Brooks, the president of the Pet Food Institute, a trade group representing pet-food makers, has taken note of the humanification of pet food as well. “We’re trending more into the space of having our pet food look a little more like our food,” she said.

She mentioned a company called Freshpet, which in its own words makes “real pet food, fresh from the fridge.” In explaining the appeal of “real” food, Brooks said, “Maybe you can provide your pet something that looks similar so you feel like you’re sharing your meal with your pet.” She told me about a recent visit she’d made to a Freshpet facility: “I mean, I was hungry when I was touring it—it smelled like hamburgers and roasted chicken and beef stew.”

The history of pet food as a consumer good has not always been so appetizing, as Katherine C. Grier, a historian at the University of Delaware and the author of Pets in America: A History, told me. Grier walked me through pet food’s past, starting in the mid-1800s, when housewives would cook a separate “dog stew” that consisted of leftover meat, bones, gristle, or vegetables mixed into potatoes or rice or cornmeal. The first consumer pet food, Grier said, hit the American market in the 1870s: A British company, Spratt’s Patent Ltd., sold biscuits that claimed to improve the performance of hunting dogs and show dogs.

Over the years, Spratt’s and other companies started selling to more casual dog owners, but what really launched dog food into the mainstream was canned food, which started appearing on shelves around the 1910s. The first canned food was made up entirely of horsemeat—something that humans generally wouldn’t eat but that was left over after worn-out workhorses were killed and turned into soap, fertilizer, or other products. Some meatpacking companies, following the success of horsemeat pet food, realized they could package their own unused animal bits and started entering the market as well.

The Great Depression, ironically, is when canned food started to really catch on. In tight times, households scaled back their meat purchases, which often meant less in the way of leftovers for the family pet. So households started turning to canned food, which allowed them to keep feeding their pets protein more cheaply. Human-quality meat was also hard to come by during World War II, and according to Grier, after the war was over, pet food got its own aisle in the supermarket.

This was the beginning of the pet-food market that today’s cat and dog owners would recognize. While the food was generally nutritionally adequate, it was still kind of gross; horsemeat still made it into cans for decades after the war, but disappeared over time. Even today, pet food can include, in the words of the independent organization that helps establish industry standards, chickens’ “heads, feet, [and] viscera.”

When I referred to some pet-food ingredients as “unsavory” in my conversation with Brooks of the Pet Food Institute, she said, “The only thing I would caution is when you hear ‘unsavory,’ it may be unsavory to you as a human consumer … [but] also provide the minerals and some of the vitamins that pets need.” There are animal parts, she noted, that many Americans prefer not to consume, but are “considered delicacies in other countries.”

American pet owners’ ambivalence about these ingredients is part of what high-end food manufacturers are responding to. They are also catering to the pet owners who worry about contaminated food and (probably too much)about grain allergies.

But the sorts of products that some of them are buying—see: jerky—seem unlikely to address health concerns, and blur the line between human and pet indulgences. The concept of that line is something I talked about with Molly Mullin, an anthropologist who lectures at North Carolina State University and studies human-animal relationships. “These categories, people have to, to a certain extent, make them up as they go along,” she says. “People are always revisiting them and thinking about them and playing with them.”

Food is just one category that’s getting played with. And that’s probably a good thing: As upscale pet foods become more environmentally friendly and more ethically sourced, those trends can trickle down into the mainstream market as well and shape the way more American pets are fed.

Still, the contribution to the greater good seems modest, given that the majority of pet food is ultimately just the feeding of some animals to others—not to mention that some people pay to pamper their pets while other people go hungry. And besides, who can tell how much a pet actually likes human-grade bone broth? Humans are not always good at reading dogs’ emotions—the canine expression that humans interpret as a smile actually can indicate fear or worry. For the most part, pet food isn’t getting more human-like so that pets can feel better—it’s so humans can.

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thesoggychef-blog · 7 years ago

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[Photographs: Vicky Wasik, unless otherwise noted]

You’ve decked the halls with tinsel and wreaths; you’ve stocked up on Hanukkah candles and polished your grandpa’s menorah. Your New Year’s bash may get a disco ball this year (because, really, good riddance, 2017)—but you’re not quite done with all the fancy preparations. Because if there’s ever an occasion to drink fancy, it’s the holiday season. December is the time to pour Champagne (or, okay, good sparkling wine) and mix a little something special into your cocoa. And, to get through all those office parties and ugly-sweater contests, you’re going to need some whiskey…and some rum…and some gin.

Before you hit the store, do a little survey of your calendar so you can stock up in advance on liquor for special gatherings of family and friends, gift bottles for your holiday hosts, and once-a-year investments for truly delicious winter sipping.

Bubbles, Bubbles Everywhere

Buy a dozen bottles of sparkling wine now, and you’ll likely score a discount. That’s money you can put toward better-tasting bubbles for every toast through New Year’s—plus, with a dozen on hand, you’ll be ready for last-minute dinner invites and all those endless end-of-year parties. We’re partial to bright, lemony Vitteaut-Alberti Crémant de Bourgogne Cuvée Agnès (around $24) for cocktail-party situations, especially if there’s seafood or lighter snacks on hand. If your meal stars richer pork or poultry, go with rounder, yeasty Domaine Parigot & Richard Crémant de Bourgogne Brut Blanc de Blancs (around $23), or the wonderfully juicy, citrus- and blackberry-tinged Raventós i Blanc Rosé de Nit (around $24). Worst case: You have a bottle or two left over for Valentine’s Day.

The Easiest Cocktail Ever

[Photograph: Courtesy of Hochstadter]

It’s wise to be a little wary of premade cocktails—there are bad ones out there, gang—but pour a mini can of Hochstadter’s 84-proof Slow & Low Rock and Rye (around $4) into a nice tumbler with a big cube of ice, and you’ll easily fool the snobs in your midst into thinking you’ve stirred a cocktail to order. Made with rye, raw honey, dried oranges, rock candy, and Angostura bitters, it’s an old-timey concoction that’s essentially a canned Old Fashioned. The citrusy spice feels holiday-appropriate, and the pleasure-to-effort ratio is just right. Planning on serving a crowd? A full bottle of the stuff might be more up your alley.

Rum for Sipping (and for Eggnog)

You may not use a whole bottle of rum when you make eggnog, so you might as well buy something that will also taste good on its own. Luckily, there’s a wealth of options. This time of year, we often recommend the rich, complex El Dorado 15 Year Old ($50) or its more affordable 12-year-old sibling; luscious Zaya Gran Reserva 12 ($30); toasty Ron Zacapa Centenario 23 ($45); or sweet, chocolaty Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva ($22 for 375ml).

Spice Your Cocoa

I’ll always have a weakness for cocoa spiked with tequila and mint schnapps (try it!), but this year, my comfort drink of choice is a big mug of hot chocolate with a tablespoon of St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram (around $28) stirred in after heating. The Jamaican-born rum-based liqueur adds a blast of spice that’s reminiscent of pepper, clove, cinnamon, and nutmeg. When you’ve had your fill of spiced cocoa, you can pour a bit into your Old Fashioned, your mulled wine, your hot cider, your coffee, or pretty much any punch.

The Best Gin for Martinis

Fords Gin (around $30) makes a beautifully balanced Martini, its piney, resinous flavors backed up with a chorus of grapefruit, peppercorn, and coriander. Be careful: With a cocktail this silky-smooth, you might find yourself drinking fast. (I trust you’ll already have snacks at the ready.) While Fords won the Serious Eats Martini taste test a few years back, I also truly adore the super-fragrant St. George Terroir Gin (around $33), flavored with sage, Douglas fir, and California bay laurel. Don’t dishonor it with stale vermouth.

(At Least) Two Fresh Bottles of Vermouth

Unless you (or your dinner host) have bought vermouth within the last month and stored it in the fridge, you’ll need fresh vermouth to start the season right. You can’t go wrong with Dolin, especially since a half bottle is just about 10 bucks, but lately I’ve been enjoying Routin Dry Vermouth (around $23), which is especially bright and citrusy thanks to a dose of Sauvignon Blanc. It has a nice floral character, too. If you like a slightly richer Martini, try the alluring, honeyed Martini & Rossi Riserva Speciale “Ambrato” (around $18), which has a round, sweet-and-savory character and a delicately bitter, herbal finish.

While you’re at it, pick up a half bottle of Carpano Antica Formula (around $16) for Negronis, Boulevardiers, or this variation made with apple brandy. Again: Remember to store any open bottles of vermouth in the fridge.

Red, Red Wine

If you followed my advice and bought extra bottles of Cabernet Franc or Passe-Tout-Grains in the days leading up to Thanksgiving, your work here is done. Those wines will do just fine with your Christmas prime rib, crisp-skinned goose, or crown roast of lamb. The Domaine de la Chanteleuserie 2016 Bourgueil “Cuvée Alouettes” ($16), in particular, has an earthy, juniper-infused flavor and affordable price that make it ideal for a crowd. But even the very best gamey, savory, and delicious Chinon, from producers like Olga Raffault or Bernard Baudry, isn’t all that expensive.

Party Whiskey

Serious Eats has a whole list of the best budget bourbons and another of the best budget rye whiskeys from a few years back, both written by Michael Dietsch, the author of Whiskey and Shrubs. There are also some great values recommended in this introduction to bottled-in-bond whiskeys; my go-to these days for cocktails is the spicy Henry McKenna Single Barrel, which I’ve seen for about $27 near me.

After-Dinner Sips

[Photograph: Wes Rowe]

If you haven’t quite sated your sweet tooth even after a plate or two of cookies—or if you prefer to drink your dessert—a small pour of Don Ciccio & Figli’s Concerto (around $32) will do the trick. It’s a luxuriously rich and chocolaty liqueur, flavored with wood-roasted barley, espresso, and various herbs and spices, and it wraps up on a black-licorice note that makes it a nice accompaniment for just one more gingersnap.

Some folks like to sip something a bit more aggressively bitter in the hopes that it’ll settle the stomach. If you’re bored with fernet and the amari you’ve got on hand, try Don Ciccio & Figli’s citrusy Amaro Tonico Ferro-Kina (around $40) with your fruitcake, or score a bottle of bittersweet Barolo-based Chinato, made by Cappellano, Vergano, or G. D. Vajra.

A Fancy Gift for Scotch Lovers

This year has some strong contenders when it comes to new whisky releases, including The Macallan’s robust, toffee- and fruit-laced Edition No. 3 ($95) and Speyburn 15 Year Old ($65), which is a lovely mouthful of graham cracker and marmalade. But the whisky I keep thinking about night after night is The Balvenie’s Peat Week ($99), a 14-year aged Scotch made back in 2002 with earthy Highland peat. (They produce peated whiskies only one week out of the year at the distillery, hence the name.) While there’s an intriguing, smoky finish to this dram, it isn’t the peat monster you might expect from the label. Instead, Peat Week is a chewy, butterscotch-y Scotch with full, round body and a vanilla-scented warmth. I love it.

Something Pretty for the Bar Cart

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention one more—the bottle I’ve most enjoyed having around for dinner parties. Even if you’re not normally the sort to be charmed by a beveled, decanter-type bottle, pouring Suntory’s Hibiki Japanese Harmony ($65) for your guests just feels fancy. And drinking it does, too: This Japanese blended whisky is creamy, mellow, and silky, hinting at toffee, toasted nuts, and a fragrant orange twist that’s been lit by a match. Offer a cheese plate alongside it, and let everyone linger.

While we’re talking about booze gifts that are basically both sculpture and drink, those who like their whiskey headier, sweeter, and richer have Blanton’s Bourbon Single Barrel ($60), complete with metallic horse-and-jockey stopper and beveled-bowling-ball bottle. This guy is gooey caramel and velvet in a glass, as intense as some sort of whiskey concentrate. Which might be just the dram you need when your family’s in town.

Disclosure: Tasting samples provided for review consideration. All prices noted in the text are estimates as of the time of writing and may change. Your purchase on Drizly helps support Serious Eats.

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#Booze #Good #Spirits #Throug

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viralleakszone-blog · 7 years ago

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20 Simple Holiday Hacks That'll Make Your Life Easier

http://www.viralleakszone.com/20-simple-holiday-hacks-thatll-make-your-life-easier/

20 Simple Holiday Hacks That'll Make Your Life Easier

food and drink, Holiday Hacks

Between trimming the tree, decorating your home and wrapping gifts, the season of joy can easily turn into an ordeal that’s more stressful than merry. Make this holiday season festive and efficient with 20 clever ways to save time, money, and last but definitely not least, sanity. We say simplify the season and cut corners whenever possible.

1. Turn Store-Bought Flowers Into a Holiday Centerpiece

No need to place a special order to get a professional-looking centerpiece for your holiday table. You can easily make an impressive floral arrangement using a simple $10 bouquet from the grocery store and greens from your yard or neighborhood. You may just put your local florist out of business.

2. Make a Gas Fireplace More Like a Wood-Burning One

Not everyone is #blessed with a wood burning fireplace, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make the most of what you’ve got. Get that old fashion fireplace experience with this simple tutorial. You’ll be enjoying crackling embers, glowing orange flames and that authentic scent of burning wood in no time.

3. Use a Piece of Reclaimed Wood as a Holiday Card Display

This year, don’t settle for a pile of holiday cards on the coffee table. Instead, make a mantle-worthy display to showcase the beautiful cards you receive from your family and friends. If you’re comfortable using power tools, you can tackle this project in an afternoon, and you’ll enjoy the holiday cheer all the more for it.

4. Sew a Stocking in 5 Minutes

Decorate your mantel in record time with mini homemade stockings. They add a bright pop of color to a stark fireplace when strung together as garland, as pictured. Bonus: You can also make them as gift card holders for last-minute gifts (or even as ornaments!).

5. Make a Chic Wreath From a Foil Baking Sheet

No one will ever guess that you made this designer-looking wreath using a foil baking sheet and gold spray paint. So go ahead, decorate the halls on the cheap. We won’t tell anyone your DIY secret. But you’ll be so proud of your handmade holiday decor, you’ll probably want to announce it to everyone yourself with a perfectly styled Instagram post.

6. Upcycle Wine Bottles Into Festive Lighting

Turn empty wine bottles into Pinterest-worthy home accents with this tutorial. Place the illuminated bottles on your mantle, on your dining room table in lieu of candles, or in an empty fireplace to add a modern twist to your holiday decor. 7. Turn a Tomato Cage Into a Christmas Tree

Celebrating the holidays in a small space? Make your own evergreen stand-in using a tomato cage and ivy bunches. Accent with a festive bow to add extra holiday cheer to your apartment. (This DIY is also ideal for procrastinators who waited until the week of Christmas to get a tree).

8. Make a Simple Beaded Wire Home Accent

Choose your favorite holiday sentiment, such as Joy, Love or Family, and use jewelry wire and beads to create a beautiful yet simple adornment for your mantel, front door or tree. The best part? You can display this homemade home accent all year long. 9. Turn Cardboard Into a Faux Fireplace

Calling all apartment dwellers: If you don’t have a traditional fireplace to decorate for the holidays, fret not. Make your own cardboard faux fireplace using inexpensive materials from your local hardware store. This cost-effective DIY is easy to assemble and gives you a festive mantle to deck for the holidays.

10. Create a Curtain Rod Wrapping Station

Turn the back of a closet door into an organized gift wrapping station to keep scissors, wrapping paper and ribbon at your finger tips — unruly spools of ribbon and unraveled rolls of wrapping paper will be a thing of the past. Santa’s elves couldn’t wrap a present more efficiently themselves.

11. Perfectly Wrap a Present

When it comes to wrapping a present, it’s all about proportions and crisp edges. With these simple tricks, your presents will be looking perfect under the Christmas tree.

12. Opt for Free Printable Gift Tags

Skip the expensive gift tags and opt for these free printable versions. This simple yet modern design will look great tied around the neck of a bottle of wine as a hostess gift, adorning a present under the tree, or atop a homemade gift fit for a foodie.

13. Make Your Own Fancy Bows

Make every gift an impressive one by topping it with a homemade fancy bow. It almost doesn’t matter what’s in the box because the wrapping is so pretty. But if you do want the gift to be as awesome as the wrapping, check out these easy DIY stocking stuffers for everyone on your list.

14. Use a Sprig of Pine to Make Festive Wrapping Paper

Don’t waste your money on pricey printed paper. Instead, make your own festive gift wrap using just a sprig of pine and white paint. Simply snip a small piece of the Christmas tree to transform a plain roll of wrapping paper into holiday-ready snowflake gift wrap. Now you can spend the gift wrap money you saved on cider and eggnog.

15. Turn a Garden Trellis Into an Advent Calendar

Make a quick trip to your local home improvement store and grab the materials you need to turn a garden trellis into a simple advent calendar. This easy project will only set you back about $10 and the tree-like shape of the trellis doubles as festive decor. We call that a win-win.

16. Create Quick Birch Bark Placemats

If you’re entertaining this holiday season, make simple placemats by hot gluing birch wood slices onto neutral placemats. A small succulent Christmas tree on each plate adds the final touch to your festive place settings.

17. Make a Last-Minute Christmas Boxwood Tree

Whether you waited until the last minute to get a Christmas tree for your home or you’re looking to impress the in-laws with a great hostess gift, this Christmas boxwood tree can be made in a flash (and on a budget). Simply use floral foam, boxwood cuttings and spare ornaments to make your own.

18. Scavenge for Free Swag for Your Front Door

There’s no need to spend over $15 on a festive swag from your local nursery to adorn your front door. All you need to do is gather items from your own yard (or your neighbor’s yard if you’re on good terms — or if you’re feeling daring) to make your own holiday swag for free. 19. Make an Herb Wreath for Fragrant and Functional Decor

Decorate your home with a wreath that will not only make your home look and smell great, but that you can also use while you’re cooking for the holidays. Make a rosemary wreath for an easy and cost-efficient version, or create a wreath with a medley of herbs to keep all your favorite herbs within arm’s reach.

20. Whip Up Last-Minute Chocolate Bark

Maybe you forgot to get the neighbors a gift, or perhaps you need a last-minute hostess gift — whatever the reason, we’re not judging you. Chocolate bark is a simple yet impressive-looking dessert that can be made in mass quantities in a time crunch. Plus, it’s easy to put your own twist on the recipe to make it your own. May we recommend sweet, salty, nutty chocolate bark?

#food and drink #Holiday Hacks

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yumyummunchies-blog · 6 years ago

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101 Christmas Party Food Ideas|The Experience Bite

It's that time of year again! The time of year when you make certain to have loads of people heading to your home expecting some scrumptious Christmas Party Food Ideas!

Well never fear since we know just the dishes for you to use to wow your visitors and have them requesting seconds! These tasty Christmas Party Food Concepts are sure to go quick when your visitors see them so make extras!Vanilla Pudding

Puff Pastry Christmas Star Cookies Like giving your Christmas party visitors their own little Christmas tree! These Vanilla Pudding Puff Pastry Christmas Star Cookies are as delicious as they are adorable! Get Dish Here. Gingerbread Cake If there is a Christmas celebration food idea that is cuter than this I would love to

see it! You will feel a little guilty about having to destroy this one to consume it however it will disappear as soon as you take that first bite! Get Recipe Here. Candy Cane Christmas Breadsticks Recipe How Cute! These Sweet Walking Stick Christmas Breadsticks are an adorable way to snack! Get Recipe

Here. Cranberry Cream Cheese Mini Phyllo Bites Bite sized perfection, these tasty little morsels make certain to disappear quick when they make the rounds at your Christmas party! Cranberry Cream Cheese Mini Phyllo Bites are the best party food idea! Get

Dish Here. Apple Pie with Cloves If you have actually never ever tried clovesin your apple pie prior to you are going to go bananas for this remarkable Apple Pie with Cloves dish! Share this delicious reward with your guests this vacation! Get Dish Here. Blackberry Lavendar Champange Cocktail This champagne cocktail gets a special twist with a basic blackberry and lavender sauce that is very easy however looks spectacular! Perfect for entertaining with delicious genuine components. punch is the best way to ring in the holiday season! Champagne and a perfect pairing of juices integrate for a holiday punch that will have everyone coming back for seconds! Get Dish Here.Santa Cupcakes These Santa Cupcakes are as adorable as they are tasty! Try these out on your own tonight! Get Dish Here. Roasted Turkey Breast Dish Include some flavor to your turkey with this simple to follow Roasted Turkey Breast dish this year. This is sure to be the tastiest thing at your Christmas party this

year! Get Recipe Here. Christmas Spice Cake Eggnog Buttercream Christmas Spice Cake Eggnog Buttercream is the Vacation treat you didn't understand your table

had actually been missing out on! A piece of this

delicious cake goes perfectly with a hot cup of coffee or tea! Get Dish Here. Christmas Wreath Caprese Salad One part focal point, one part appetiser! This stunning Christmas

Wreath Caprese Salad is a healthy method to make your table more

joyful at your next Christmas Party! Get Dish Here. Pomegranate Champagne Margaritas Pomegranate Champagne Margaritas are as delicious as they are head-turning. Get Recipe Here.Instant Pot Honey Baked Ham Immediate Pot Honey Baked Ham

is the perfect method to put your instant pot to work on a tasty classic while you prepare the rest of your Christmas party food! This is a substantial time saver! Get Recipe Here. Nordic Panna Cotta Skyr Wild Berries These charming

little Nordic Panna Cotta with Skyr Wild Berries cups are an ideal method for your Christmas Party guests to have an easy to consume a single serving reward table! Your guests

will enjoy this delicious Christmas Celebration

Food Idea! Get Dish Here.Pomegranate Champagne Mixed Drink This Pomegranate Champagne Mixed drink is the easiest mixed drink for entertaining! Just 3 ingredients and no cooking! Get Dish Here.Turkey Packing This simple to put together Turkey Packing

dish is a tasty take on the traditional side meal. This is sure to be a best addition to anything you make for your Christmas Celebration! next Christmas celebration

! Get Recipe Here. Apple Cider Bourbon Mixed Drink Apple cider fulfills a shot of bourbon and they shake things up with apple butter, fresh orange & lime juiceand spices

. Get Recipe Here.Thumbprint Cookies Thumbprint Cookies are a Christmas party food concept staple! Get Dish Here. Blood Orange Champagne Cocktail This blood orange champagne mixed drink is the perfect easy

cocktail recipe for amusing! Get Recipe Here.Quick Easy Sugar Coated Pecans This traditional Christmas Celebration Food Idea is Cocktail Sausages

A tasty twist on a traditional

Christmas party food concept, these yummy little Sticky Asian Cocktail Sausages are sure to be a big hit at any party!

Get Recipe Here. Ultimate Christmas Cheese Board Put this yummyUltimate Christmas Cheese Board dish down on the table and enjoy the snacks fly off the plate! You may require a second batch to be ready for the demand for these snacks! Get Dish Here. Susie's Chex Celebration Mix Method much better

than shop bought! This scrumptious Susie's Chex PartyMix dish makes certain to be a big hit at any Christmas Celebration! Get Dish Here.

Balsamic Spiced Mixed Nuts These Balsamic Spiced

Mixed Nuts are way much better than any store purchased mix! Yummm! Get Dish here. Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts These Bacon Covered Water Chestnuts make certain to turn some heads and have your guests running for a taste! These are

the Christmas celebration food idea you have

got to have at your next get together! Get Dish Here. Bacon Cheese Straws Yummm! These delicious Bacon Cheese Straws are snacking excellence! This is theperfect Christmas Party Food

Concept! Get Recipe Here.Easy Christmas

Fruit Nut Cake As a gift or a Christmas party food idea, this Easy Christmas Fruit Nut Cake is a sure winner with your loved ones this year! Get Recipe Here. Gingerbread Cranberry Get Dish Here.Christmas Wreath The Christmas Wreath isn't just for your door this year! This healthy snacking idea is ideal to show your visitors at any Christmas party! Get Dish Here.

Chocolate Log Christmas Cake Chocolate Log Christmas Cake might be easy but it is anything but typical. This makes certain to take center stage at your Christmas celebration this year! Get Dish Here. Christmas Spice Chocolate Waffles Add a little festive spice to your Holidays today with this incredible Christmas Spice Chocolate

Waffles recipe! These are crazy excellent! Get Recipe Here. so yummy as it is with these scrumptious Merry Christmas Pancakes! Get Recipe Here.Baked Eggs Bacon and Hash Brown Bites Wow! These Baked Eggs Bacon and Hash Brown Bites are a fantastic junk food!

These are best for a Christmas Party Food Idea

! Get Dish Here. Christmas Chocolate Chia Truffles Delicious and healthy too, this Christmas Chocolate Chia Truffles dish is a step far from the ordinary Christmas party food

that you will be thankful you took

! Get Dish Here. Hashbrown Sausage Breakfast Casserole This Hashbrown Sausage Breakfast Casserole makes sure to be the very best thing onyour Vacation table today! Get Dish Here. Christmas Sprouts Cheese Sauce Yummm! This Christmas Sprouts Cheese Sauce is sure to take spotlight at any Christmas Celebration! Get Dish Here.

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