es ist gut!

Altes Brot ist nicht hart, kein Brot, das ist hart. 
                                                             - German proverb
(Translation: Old bread isn't hard, no bread, that is hard.)


Some of the best things in life are really simple. When I think of food that's quick, easy and satisfying, it's often something I grew up on. One example: rinderwurst and corn bread. I can't even begin to count the number of times I've eaten this meal at my grandparents' house.

a few of my favourite things

When I'm feeling sad, I simply remember my favourite things, and then I don't feel so bad. - “My Favourite Things”

Long before I knew “Black Friday” existed with its over-hyped deals and rabid shoppers, I looked forward to the day after Thanksgiving with an inordinate amount of excitement for one reason: all things Christmas were officially allowed. House rules declared that nothing Christmas-related could be displayed or indulged until “after Thanksgiving,” and given my penchant for technicalities, I lay in wait for 12 am Friday to strike just so I could listen to Mannheim Steamroller.

cottage pie

A handful of skill is better than a bagful of gold. - Irish Saying

My brother and I are at least 3/8 Irish, and that's something we've always been proud of. I like to think it makes us a little bit lucky. I know I'm definitely lucky to have my brother, because he's about the best lil bro anyone could ask for (awwww).

He's pretty handy to have around, too. Yesterday he treated me to homemade cottage pie for dinner – his special recipe. This dish is commonly referred to as shepherd's pie here in the States, but this summer when I spent a month in Ireland I learned that technically, shepherd's pie is made with lamb, while the same dish made with another kind of meat (typically beef) is called cottage pie.

ingenuity

A hunch is creativity trying to tell you something. 

- Frank Capra

Sometimes, my family likes to party like rock stars. Take yesterday for example: my mom decided to rent a hotel room just to have a place to crash and relax for the night. It was our little pre-Thanksgiving shindig, to include throwback gaming, movies, and my mom's famous shrimp dip.

This stuff is a staple at family functions. It's a good sized tray of dip, isn't expensive, and is super easy!

                            

community

Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar, and fat. - Alex Levine 

Coffee... one of those rare things that qualifies as both a pleasure and a necessity. I can barely remember life before coffee. My parents were wonderful people who allowed me to taste sips from their cups even as a child, eventually allowing me to lace hot cocoa with increasing amounts of java, then weaning me off the faux mochas until I would take my coffee no other way but black. These days – especially those mornings I work at 5 a.m. – I require at least a wake-up cup and an afternoon pick-me-up.

My current favourite brew? Community Coffee Dark Roast. Smooth, dark, wonderful. 

Again, I have my dad to thank for this gem. I first tried it when I spent Christmas with him three years ago, and has been nice enough to keep my supplied since then! In fact, about three weeks ago he mailed me two 32 oz bags – that's sixty-four ounces of coffee grounds. I'm already about halfway through the first bag and looking forward already to restocking when I visit Dad in January.

I'm not the only one who loves this coffee. It's been dubbed the state coffee of Louisiana. My advice to you:

Get some!

try pie, try!

When come back, bring pie! - Weebl

Yesterday I got a request from a family friend to make a cherry pie for her family's Thanksgiving dinner. While I was flattered that she trusts my baking skills, I also felt a stab of fear and guilt. It's true I love to bake. And it's true I love pie. But I'm afraid to say... with much chagrin... that I myself have never really baked a pie. 

Well, it's about time I learn.

one of those weekends

As one of my favourite chefs likes to say...

There's a time and a place for everything, and it's called college.

Okay, I admit, Chef isn't really a chef. Nevertheless, his statement is relevant. My diet this weekend (which ran over into Monday) consisted of chips, queso, black & tans, puppy chow, white Russians, pizza, Jager bombs, cookie dough, B-52s, and wings. The only thing my binge-mates and I were missing was the hot tub of bacon.

You read that right.

Behold the beautiful product of a beloved cast iron pan, three pounds of bacon, and a case of insatiable munchies!