jojowo
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SHORT AND SWEET GODDESSES
Posts: 438
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Post by jojowo on Dec 21, 2016 0:51:42 GMT
wow Joan! That is really cheap! Several yrs. ago we had about 60 for a family reunion. Trying to remember what we had but it was sooo good : chicken and at least 3 veggies. Also another meat. I think salad and dessert( an assortment) and it was over $1000-maybe $1500
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jojowo
Epic Member
SHORT AND SWEET GODDESSES
Posts: 438
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Post by jojowo on Dec 21, 2016 11:26:21 GMT
Up early, couldn't sleep well. Caught DGS's cold that he had Friday when we kept him. Hope that DH doesn't get it.
Had the bigger kids yesterday and took them to see Moana, a Disney animated movie. Was a good little movie and the music was great.
Went for Italian last night. I had Ziti Sicilian (ziti with eggplant in a marinara sauce).
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Post by nov21987 on Dec 21, 2016 20:36:23 GMT
Hi!
I've been prepping off and all today for dinner. Have my mis en place all set up, taking a break before the final push to precook some items and make the hors d'oeuvres. I like to be super prepared, everything cut and measured out and all I have to do is cook and throw things together.
SO's job was to set the table.
Holly, my old exercise bike was in the laundry room with a tv.
Joan, you did a lot of work on your garden yesterday! Do you still have your canker sores? I love almond tartes, made one in my pastry class with pears.
Jojo, sounds like good time with DGKs. I hope your cold is not too bad.
So far, SO and I have not been sick (knock on wood). It's going to be strangely warm the next week or so - in the 50's!
Think we will be going to my sister's again for Xmas, she is making a ham and I'll bring some hors d'oeuvres or whatever else she wants me to make.
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Post by holly2007 on Dec 21, 2016 22:36:46 GMT
Hi all,
No work til January 3rd! Whatever will I do with myself? :-)
Made my grandmother's coconut cake last night. Great to continue her baking traditions. Down the road, I hope to come up with some of my own. Interesting how my profession in education came from one set of grandparents, and my hobbies came from the other set.
Supposed to get my stitches out tomorrow, but I am not sure if the wound has healed enough. It's still tender, bruised, and a little puffy. I still have some numbness at the top of it that's just starting to wear off. Ready to stop having to wear the big bandage over it.
JoJo, hope you feel better. That dinner sounds yummy.
Sue, I am going to put it in my office/spare bedroom.
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Post by holly2007 on Dec 21, 2016 22:37:42 GMT
Sue, hope the dinner goes well.
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jmg44
Transcendent Member
Posts: 938
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Post by jmg44 on Dec 22, 2016 2:45:46 GMT
Hi Holly, Sue and JoAnne---busy, busy day---still have one more load of laundry---have one all the clothes today then---was really piled up! Also did two classes---took my gifts to people today. I hit four grocery stores, one before class, one after class, then manicure and two more after that---OMG---had to reorganize my pantry and fridge to get everything put away! Definitely decided to make cheesecake for dinner Christmas Eve and almond tart next day---the cheesecake is so large there will be leftovers for the next dinner am sure.
Cankor sores were good for about 3 days---felt such relief---now coming back---no clue why! I can feel them starting below the surface.
Holly, I hope they can take stitches out but of course, you don't want that if it's not healed. I'M sure you will find something to do over your break---some good movies!! Watch The Meddler.
JoAnne, so sad you caught the cold---so hard not to get it from little ones as you cannot do hands off care!!
Didn't really cook tonight---bought a CA roll sushi and some prepped cauliflower from the deli case---and made an arugula kale butternut sq. Salad. Not a favorite of DH but I just had no time.
Tomorrow is the viewing and reception---yes, JoAnne, I thought that was pretty cheap for that much food! Hope it's adequate! Yikes, hate being responsible!
No classes till the 9th now---bummer---I love my work out classes so much!
Did Facetime with DGD12 last night and she got a glimpse of the kitchen in the background and was shocked---I forgot that she's not yet seen any of it.
Sue, I know your dinner is going to be astounding tonight! Wish I could be there and serve for you so I could see! I think you will be getting colder in a few days---we are supposed to get rain on Saturday and the highs in the 40's which would be really cold for here!
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Post by holly2007 on Dec 22, 2016 15:39:44 GMT
Stitches are out! They drained fluid and old blood, which was what was making it so puffy. There's still enough numbness that I didn't feel them do the draining. So glad that's over.
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jmg44
Transcendent Member
Posts: 938
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Post by jmg44 on Dec 22, 2016 17:00:03 GMT
So glad the stitch removal went okay, Holly! No big bandage for Christmas pictures!
I posted a small tribute to Jean last night--hoping the family will appreciate their mom's affect on others by reading the really special ways people remember her.
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Post by nov21987 on Dec 23, 2016 0:23:51 GMT
Hi!
Took the car in for inspection today, did some errands while out and went to the gym today.
Holly, it's great that you are taking on the coconut cake tradition. Glad the stitches came out without any issues.
Joan, wow four grocery stores in one day, that would totally exhaust me alone even without the 2 classes, gift taking and pantry/refrig re-org! I did all the food for SO's mom's and brother's open houses after they passed away.
Dinner went really well, I haven't had people over for dinner (other than my family for casual meals) in ages. Although we have had many cocktail parties. It was less elaborate than I used to do but I don't think I can eat as much as before. I know we were all full last night.
The guy loved my pate en croute, the pastry part I took apart because it had gotten a little soggy, put the pate part was fine. The local, pasteured filet mignon was pricey and I cooked it perfectly - medium rare for everyone. I pan seared and put it in the oven to finish while making the sauce, then we had the first course while the filet was in the oven. Timing is everything, so I put it in a fairly low temp because I didn't want to over cook it. Undercook is always better than overcook, you can always put it back in the pan/oven to cook but you can't save over cooked food.
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jojowo
Epic Member
SHORT AND SWEET GODDESSES
Posts: 438
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Post by jojowo on Dec 23, 2016 14:41:00 GMT
Good morning ! My cold has escalated. I feel terrible. Congestion in chest now. DDIL has it too. I did the sinus irrigation thing yesterday which helped some.
Trying to do last minute prep for company.
Got my hair cut yesterday. Not my usual hair stylist. She cut way too much. Hope I can do something with it today. Of course it will grow out but I hate it for Christmas.
If I don't check in again before, I wish you all a wonderful Christmas and BLESSINGS of the season!
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Post by nov21987 on Dec 23, 2016 20:28:30 GMT
Hi!
Did a lot of organizing my piles of paperwork today, put most things into notebooks and still have some more to do. But it feels good, I haven't done any filing in a year! Weight is still at 123.
Jojo, sorry the cold is worse! I hope you can take it easy despite having company.
I gave out the tips to the front desk staff and cleaning person in my condo. I'll start wrapping for my family tonight, it's usually just cash for my nephews and restaurant gift cards to my sister and BIL, with 6 people in the family, going to a good restaurant can be very expensive.
Out of desperation I've been buying SO a bunch of random things, he really doesn't want or need anything. ONe of the things I got him was on Oprah's "best" list - an appliance that takes fruit and makes ice cream, it's supposed to be just fruit so we'll see. He loves ice cream and this will be healthier.
Going to the gym soon. DVD on tap tonight
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jmg44
Transcendent Member
Posts: 938
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Post by jmg44 on Dec 23, 2016 23:56:38 GMT
It's nearly 4---I got up and quickly started making a turkey noodle soup---had no noodles but got the cooking part done. Then went to the graveside ceremony with two friends---was an hour from here---we managed to get there in time to have a coffee first. Both sons spoke a minute and asked me to speak so I did. After that came back and had a quick lite lunch here with BF and then DH and I went up an ordered a Sleep Number bed---ugh---another bed---but our tempurpedic is just breaking down and it's only 4 years old---so we try yet another way---will get it after the 10th. Have to modify the platform part of our platform bed so the motor will fit down in under the mattress --good thing is we only have to buy the top portion. Then came back, added the noodles and finished seasoning the soup, roasted some more of the romas with carrots and onion so my DGD's can try it. Then made the cheesecake and it's in the oven---will take 3 hours and then I'll make the chocolate topping---this topping is to die for---not sloppy---forms a slight crust and is really yummy with the cheesecake---will cool and store it in the fridge overnight---it is for tomorrow. Getting ready to stirfry some veggies now and will have those with the soup for dinner. Leave for airport at 8 to get DD and family. DH has been wrapping on the island while I cook---
Oh, JoAnne, that's really bad about your cold---I hope it feels better and not worse tomorrow. Isn't your brother coming or something? So hard to feel sick on a holiday!
Has been cloudy all day but now clearing up and will get cold tonight---rained all day yesterday.
Sue, I do that with my steak on the grill---sear it on both sides for about 4 min. Per side and then indirect heat off to the side of the grill with no burner on there and do another 4 or 5 minutes depending on the thickness---we usually make pretty thick filets. I never used to do them that way but it works so well. DH loves a rare to medium rare steak.
I need to get out and cover my aralia in the entryway---I have frost cloth but brought it in to dry after yesterday's drenching.
It is getting windy now too. High tomorrow is supposed to be in the 40's so that's pretty cold for here.
Hope everyone has a great Christmas---will probably check in late everyday with the girls here for entertainment.
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Post by holly2007 on Dec 24, 2016 17:54:25 GMT
Merry Christmas all.
Coconut cake was a hit. Looks like that will always be my thing. I even use my grandmother's pans to make it. We ordered BBQ for tonight, and will have a crockpot sausage casserole in the morning. The sausage is from my coworker's farm.
JoJo, hope you feel better today.
Joan, it is 60ish here, a little warm, but thankfully not 70's like last year. Have fun with the family.
Sue, enjoy your time at your sister's.
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Post by nov21987 on Dec 24, 2016 22:56:27 GMT
Happy Christmas Eve!
Had a relaxing day, did some gift wrapping, some cooking. Have 3 large presents to wrap tonight after SO goes to sleep. I usually set the presents out late at night and SO sees them in the morning and sets out my presents so that I see them when I wake up.
Holly, glad the coconut cake turned out so well!
Joan, SO and I have a tempurpedic type mattress that we've had for 12 years. It's from Design Within Reach. I guess it's not as firm as when we first got it, but it's still comfortable. That cheesecake sounds amazing!
I went to the gym but they were closed, bummer. I don't remember them being closed on Christmas eve before, so no work out for me.
We don't have any traditions for Christmas Eve. For about 15 years we were at SO's parents during this time, then after his father passed away, each year was different, between going to my sisters, having it at my house or up to SO family.
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Post by nov21987 on Dec 25, 2016 18:38:30 GMT
Merry Christmas!!!
I'm sure everyone is enjoying the family time!
We finished opening up presents and now I'm relaxing a bit before starting to prepare the hors d'oeuvres for tonight. I'm trying a new mini crabcake recipe and I might do the potato stuffed with creme fraiche and caviar again.
Just got a text that my cousin who got married in October is pregnant! Hope it's a girl, we need more girls in the family, her older brother has 3 boys.
For once I don't have to return any of the presents I got for SO. He got me some 2 leather jackets and a cashmere cardigan that needs to be returned - the jackets fit weird, and he got me 2 cashmere cardigans and one I just know I wouldn't wear that much. He got me a set of 11 international cookbooks, beautiful books from Phaidon Press and a Prada pocketbook.
I told him since he got me the books that he needs to find a place for them, we have about 5000 books in our house and have totally run out of shelf space.
It's so sunny and warm here! SO is out on our balcony reading a book.
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