RINGing in the New Year...

December 26, 2009...

I don't know why my camera takes mirror image pictures, but that is actually my left hand.

He proposed... and I gave him a hug.

Then he reminded me to answer the question... and I said yes!!

:-)

Longwood Gardens

Every other year, the Drexel Chorus gets an opportunity to sing at Longwood Gardens for their Christmas Wonderland. I took a few pictures while I was there this year. The fountain show is my favorite part. I could sit and watch the fountain show all night! (...if I could manage to stay warm long enough ;-) )

Some Christmas spirit for you...

Warm holiday sipping...

Wassail, wassail all over the town...

What better than to warm your spirits on a chilly December evening than a hot cup of Wassail with its wonderful smell wafting through the air?

I made a lovely pot of wassail this weekend. Feel free to scale the recipe (mine was suitable for a party of 16).

1 gallon apple cider
1 quart orange juice
1 quart pineapple juice
1 quart cranberry juice
1 orange (cut in half, squeezed over the pot, studded with cloves, tossed into the pot)
1 lemon (cut in half, squeezed over the pot, studded with cloves, tossed into the pot)
3 cinnamon sticks
all spice berries (I didn't measure these... maybe a tablespoon or two?)
a sprinkle of ground cinnamon
a sprinkle of ground cloves
a sprinkle of ground all spice
a sprinkle of ground nutmeg

bring to a boil and simmer for an hour
transfer to a crockpot or serve directly from the pot

optional alcohol:
cream sherry and brandy (you can add whatever amount you wish... )

mmm... the left overs taste great too!!!

Way Back When-esday

No Dairy Cranberry Apple Cake...

Here at the den I have ventured into a new realm of cooking... the ultimate goal is to produce a god-daughter friendly baked good that I can take when I visit (... I've been promising a visit for much too long). My adorable god-daughter "BF" just turned 5 years old! BF has a few allergies which, I'm pretty sure, include milk and eggs. Cranberry apple cake for a 5 year old?! you say? Well, no, I'm really not expecting a 5 year old to be ecstatic about cranberry apple cake, but I had to start somewhere and seeing as Thanksgiving is quickly approaching, I thought I'd start with something seasonal. Plus, I'm not really sure what all I need to avoid other than dairy in making a BF friendly item.

It looks quite lovely... the raw batter certainly tasted good! Since I'm going to JB's extended family thanksgiving dinner tomorrow, I'm going to refrain from eating it just yet so that it will still look pretty when we take it. I stole a little piece that baked over the edge of the pan and it seemed to be pretty tasty... here's hoping! (Shh, don't tell them that they're the guinea pigs ;-) ) More to come on the taste review...

In case it is as tasty as it seemed, here's the recipe: (I forgot to add the vanilla... oops... next time)

1 3/4 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt (I used kosher salt)
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. all spice
1 cup brown sugar
1 tbsp egg replacer, 3 tbsp warm water mixed
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup applesauce
3/4 cup rice milk with 1/2 tsp. cider vinegar
2 tbsp honey
2 tsp vanilla

Mix all ingredients to form batter...
Fold in fruit

2 1/2 cups chopped green apple (reserve some for topping)
1 cup cranberries (halved) (reserve some for topping)

Pour into 9" greased & floured pan (mine almost overflowed the pan but I may have used too much fruit).
Top with reserved apples and cranberries, sprinkle with raw sugar.
Bake at 350°F for 50-70 minutes or until set in the middle (check with toothpick).

In memorium...

look, my arm...

This guy was standing to my left... the right hand corner of his video features my left arm (blue sweatshirt, wrist watch)