Rice Crispy Treats

The library did a treats day and I wanted to bring something that those who have Celiac can eat. Rice crispy treats are the obvious choice, super simple and tasty. I wanted to do something unusual with them so I booted up the computer and googled 'decadent rice crispy treats'. I found this recipe for caramel, chocolate, rice crispy treats and knew I had a winner. (https://lilluna.com/chocolate-caramel-peanut-butter-rice-krispies-treats/) However, instead of melting the chocolate into peanut butter I just sprinkled chocolate chips throughout. They were super yummy.

After that success I decided to have more rice crispy treats for the holiday parties. (I had a Christmas Eve Eve/Jolabokaflod party, a Christmas Eve smorgasbord, and a Christmas dinner.) First I made a batch of plain/standard rice crispy treats. Then I created my own treat. Shanna and I both love mint. Earlier this month Shanna found a bag of crushed/chipped Andes Mints and I added them to my cabinet for future cookies. So when I started making rice crispy treats and she pulled out a bag of pink peppermint marshmallows I knew what to do. I used the pink marshmallows, replaced the vanilla with mint extract and stirred in the Andes Mint chips. These were also super yummy. 

I think rice crispy treats are going to be standard fare for our future Christmases. - Jenny

Slow TV

There's this new thing (okay not that new, but new to me as of today) called Slow TV.  

"Slow television, or slow TV (Norwegian: sakte-TV), is a term used for a genre of "marathon" television coverage of an ordinary event in its complete length. Its name is derived both from the long endurance of the broadcast as well as from the natural slow pace of the television programme's progress. It was popularised in the 2000s by the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK), beginning with the broadcast of a 7-hour train journey in 2009.[1][2]" - Wikipedia, 12/17/21 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slow_television

I'm now going to incorporate this into my Holiday Traditions.  I can put one of these amazing videos up on my big screen tv, mute the sound, and play my holiday music. I'm looking forward to doing this.  Here are a few of my favorites Slow TV shows via YouTube so far:

These remind me of home:

Snow Falling on a Winter River (https://youtu.be/KFopoC1VCU4)

Snowy Forest #1 (https://youtu.be/Q0NbGurj_os)

Heavy Snowfall in Light Wind (https://youtu.be/o0heG65MqpI)

Snow Falling in the Evening (https://youtu.be/LNFU0fWtd7c)

Fast Falling Snow (https://youtu.be/V4Oosy-ZtGY)

And then there are these videos that take me somewhere new:

Snow Falling on Christmas Street (https://youtu.be/opDqVQAf9GQ)

Snow On The Canal (https://youtu.be/YwfsVPr1Hvk)

Winter at Kew | Kew Gardens (https://youtu.be/Yn_KRG86DFY)

Finally an antidote to the cold:

Fire in a Fireplace (https://youtu.be/-RZKdWXfpz8)

Fire in a Fire Pit (https://youtu.be/6Haqb0zNr3g)

There are hundreds of these types of videos.  I found out quickly that the ones from moving vehicles like trains or cars make me a little dizzy.  But I love the ones showing snow.  I don't get much snow here anymore.  The person who drives the car (yes that would be me) is happy with this change, but the person who sits and reads, and looks out the window (yes this is me too) is very sad. - Jenny

Christmas/Holiday Activities: Part 2

Image: Emailed Greeting card from my Alma Mater.  Though it was the College of Arts and Sciences when I graduated with my history degree.

23rd – Thursday - Christmas Eve Eve party in Utah

Bringing
• Cheeseballs & crackers
• Devilled eggs
• Mostacholi
• Presents for kids, Salt scrubs for women

I ended up not getting presents for the kids. I didn't know how old Glen's kids were so I just bagged the idea altogether. We left around noon and arrived right at 2:00. We'd have been early if the fog hadn't slowed us down. Dinner was great and it was good to talk to the fam. Sam may be leery of dogs, but Tom sure wasn't he followed Barkley around and around and around. Nick had bathed him the night before and had fluffed the poodle into one big puffball. He is irresistible. When Tom wasn't following the dog, the dog was following the kid. He knew Barkley sat for us on command, but his high pitched voice didn't register as a command with the dog, who ignored him. I read many chapters of the Harry Dresden book 'Small Favor' on the way down and back. The feasting was good, the conversation awesome. I'm hoping we can do this one again.
Attendees: Aunt Susan and Harry; Glen, Nicole, and their kids Zach and Abigail; David, Jen and their kids Amy, Aubrey, Sam, Tom and Jen's mom.

24th – Friday - Christmas at home with family
In the end Rebecca and Hannah went to Texas so it hardly seems like it counts for a social activity since it was just the three of us. We kept it low key but had a great time.

25th – Saturday- Christmas at home with family

Menus
BREAKFAST
• Homemade bread (machine)
NOT • Sourdough bread
NOT • Boiled eggs
NOT • Tomatoes
NOT • Cucumbers
NOT • Cheeses: Havarti, Swiss ...

Simplify, simplify, simplify became our motto so a simple breakfast of eggs and homemade bread worked great for brunch. We decided to SLEEP in.

LUNCH
NOT • Veggie tray

DINNER
• Persian chicken and rice stuffing
NOT • Dolmathes
NOT • Greek olives
• Pita bread
• Swiss chard ala Nick
• Greek Salad
NOT • Tiropitakia
NOT • Baklava

The simplify motto came into play for dinner too. We're going to bring the baklava and tiropitakia to New Year party instead. Christmas was awesome, we sat on the sofa's and opened presents and laughed and enjoyed each other's company. I got the cutest fairies EVER, and a movie I had been dying to see (The Expendables). Shanna snagged a cloak and Nick got a new GPS along with a stocking full of mini-bar items. We also received many other wonderful gifts such as the bird book from Melinda, hand crocheted scaves & hats, clothes, kitchen stuff...

26th – Sunday - Breakfast with Annie
Shanna and I met up with Annie at Elmer's where we had a great breakfast and talked and talked and talked. Nick had pain in his back so he stayed home and worked on thesis.

29th - Wednesday - Visit from Sarah & Lance Bitter
Weird. It was weird seeing Lance again after 30 some years. Seeing him in the context of him marrying my sister was even weirder. I'm sure it'll get more normal as we see each other more often, and I am very happy for her. He is a nice guy and she deserves nice, funny, kind. They're great together, it's just weird.

27th – 30th Mon-Thu (South Family xmas Party)
(NOT) The South family party never got off the ground. We're all just too busy at this time of year. I think that next year I may suggest moving it to November, cause after Xmas just didn't work.

31st – Friday New Years Eve party
Nick is making roast lamb and chicken with olives. Shanna and I are making baklava and tiropitakia. Dinner should be awesome...

And it was, other people brought greek salad, hummus and pita chips, stuffed saffron rice, rum soaked fruited couscous. We were joined by Nancy & Dan, Janet, Heather & Duo, and of course Maura & Jim - it was their house after all. We sat and ate and talked and laughed and talked and laughed and Jim shared some of his alcohol from foreign countries and we laughed and talked some more. We started toasting the new year at 10:00, it was the new year in New York, and then at 11 for Chicago ... I just wish we'd started the silly idea earlier in the evening. We never got to the movies though we did manage to stay up till midnight.

Solstice and Surrounding Parties

Image: Fire from Solstice Party 2008

16th – Thursday
(I’m on vacation from the 17th – the 2nd, going back to work on Monday the 3rd)
Prep house, do laundry, wrap presents ...

17th – Friday - John & Bill Arrive
Decide to make and send biscotti to friends for Christmas
• Gingerbread biscotti (not very good, tossed it)
• Double chocolate
• Chocolate mint
• Vanilla Almond
• Cranberry Almond
Decided there was too little and what I had was too ugly to send.

Dinner at Mama Inez with Heather, Duo, Bill, John, and Chrissy (plus her boyfriend and another couple of her friends). Later that evening exchanged presents at our house with H&D, J&B. (see: http://www.yellowbook.com/profile/mama-inez-mexican-quisine_1820761515.html)

Read "Hyperbole & a Half" blog posts out loud to the clan...

• This is Why I'll Never be an Adult http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/06/this-is-why-ill-never-be-adult.html
• The God of Cake http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/10/god-of-cake.html
• The Party http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/09/party.html

Seriously, we could not stop laughing. Some were of us were crying. Not me of course ... I had to try and maintain composure while reading aloud and showing the pictures. This woman is a genius.

18th – Saturday - Prep for Solstice party, Dinner

Went through holiday music, created a 190 song playlist including Ru Paul, Transiberian Orchestra, Enya, Twisted Sister, Loreena McKennit, piano, Nightmare before Christmas, Barbra Streisand, Axemas, Muppets ...

Dinner of Lasagna and salad with H&D, J&B at our house.

Made fudge & toffee with Heather

Read "Hyperbole & a Half" dog based blog posts:

• Dog http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/07/dog.html
• Dog's Don't Understand Basic Concepts Like Moving http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/11/dogs-dont-understand-basic-concepts.html

I recommend that you do not read these at a service point, or while drinking any sort of beverage.  I read the last one at the reference desk one evening and HAD to stiffle the laughter. I'm sure I looked like I was having a seizure or something.  Good thing it was at the end of the semester when everyone is out studying, not in researching.

19th – Sunday - Solstice

Made peanut brittle that morning for Bill

Nick loaded up the Jeep, and then reloaded it, adding stuff to Bill & John's vehicle.

We also brought the spare tree plus decorations, music, movies, bonfire stuff, wood, candles, butter, zip lock bags, tablecloths...

I forgot to arrange for a dog sitter so Barkley came with us. He was quite the hit. We rented the conference center at Aura Soma. http://www.aurasomalava.com/ It is a lovely facility with beds, hot pool, fire pit, views of the river and usually snow, and a big kitchen.

Attendees: Jenny, Nick, Shanna, John, Bill, Heather, Duo, Darci, Adam and Barkley

Had a GREAT TIME!

We decorated tree, then everyone went to Purple Moon to do some last minute shopping.  I hung out with Barkley reading Solstice myths, it was very peaceful. Next came the awesome feast...
 MENU

• Turkey - Duo
• Greek Broccoli Pie - Heather
• Creamed Carrots - Heather
• Rolls - John & Bill
• Dressing – Jenny
• Potatoes – Shanna
• Gravy – Nick
• Pumpkin Bread - Darci
Plus: all the biscotti, the cookies, mint divinity, fudge, peanut brittle & three butterscotch banana breads.

Then outside we trooped to the fire. Barkley scampered around in the snow eyeing the river. A couple of years ago I was taking a walk with a friend and Barkley decided to check out a different cold river and promptly fell in. He could not get out of the river on his own but was clinging to the bank with his cute little fuzzy paws.  I got wet and muddy pulling him out. Nick, Shanna and I kept a close eye on him. None of us wanted a repeat of that incident. Though Nick did say he'd take care of it if it did happen.  Alas he was not with me the previous time. 

The bonfire was warm and was a great way to welcome back the light.  Heather decorated a Yule with greenery and put it in the middle of the fire. Later we did the white elephant gift giving game and I managed to score three frogs doing yoga. Some went and soaked in the hotpools, others of us hung out and watched The 300. Lots of talking and laughing at all times.

20th – Monday - Shanna Birthday

Got up early, packed and stopped for Breakfast at the Wagon Wheel diner in Lava. Made everyone listen to

The Viking Before Christmas

'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the Hall
Not a creature was stirring, not warrior nor thrall.
And I in my armor, my shield and my helm
Was drunker than anyone else in the Realm.

I staggered upstairs and fell into bed
While four quarts of mead were ablaze in my head.
Then up from below came the sounds of a brawl
So I grabbed up my axe and ran down to the Hall.

I missed the last step and crashed down in a heap
Thinking, "Why can't those low-lifes downstairs go to sleep!"
When what to my wondering eyes should appear
But two brawny strangers, wielding mallet and spear.

I said to myself, "We'll soon have them beat!"
Then I noticed ten warriors laid out at their feet.
I gave out a yell and leapt into the fray...
I'll always regret my poor choice of that day.

For the one laid his hammer to the side of my nose
And up, up, up to the rafters I rose.
Then came a lone frightened voice from the floor,
"Those are no mortal warriors -- that's Odin and Thor!"

Then they looked at each other and they said, "Battle's done.
Now they know who we are, it no longer is fun."
Then Thor raised his hammer, and his elbow he bent,
And with a loud crash, through the ceiling they went.

I crawled through the Hall and flung open the door,
Not really sure that I'd seen them before.
The snow bathed in starlight, the moon like a glede,
I saw them ride off on an eight-legged steed.

And I heard them exclaim, 'ere they flew out of sight,
"TO HELA WITH CHRISTMAS, WE JUST LOVE A GOOD FIGHT!"

http://www.odins-gift.com/poth/U-Z/vikingchristmascarol.htm

Image from Aura Soma Lava Solstice Party 2008

Headed for home, unloaded the Jeep and then I went directly to bed for a long winters nap (okay it was about 3 hours). Bill & John, visited other people for awhile. When I awoke we talked a bunch more. That evening the clan gathered again and we had a small party for Shanna. More Italian food in the form of a pasta bar Nick made alfredo and I took care of the marinara. Meatballs from the freezer, grilled chicken and steamed broccoli rounded out the pasta bar menu.  Heather brought a great salad with grapefruit and cilantro. Shanna had requested brownies for dessert, though really we'd already had so much sugar it was overkill.   Hung out a bunch more that evening. John and Bill took off early the next morning.  We had a great four day party with them.  :)

Christmas/Holiday Activities: Part 1

Decorating for the Holidays... We put up or Christmas decorations on Thanksgiving weekend. I take it slow and watch movies. Usually it's the extended Lord of the Rings series. This year, my family voted for the Harry Potter movies instead.

1st – Wednesday - Lunch with the Girls (Maura, Robin & Loretta) at Ruby Tuesday
This was very fun, talked to Maura about her hosting a New Years Eve party. :)

4th – 5th Satunday & Sunday
Cookie baking weekend
• 12 dozen chocolate chip cookies
• 8 dozen peppermint bark cookies
• 8 dozen peanut butter toffee bit cookies

7th – Tuesday
Not feeling well, stayed home from work. It ended up lasting the week.

8th – Wednesday - Xmas potluck at Work - skipped too sick
MADE: Applesauce Spice Cake in the morning, too sick to bring it to work, it was lovely to just eat instead.

10th – Friday - Cookie Exchange at work - skipped too sick
Bagged chocolate chip cookies and sent them in to work with Shanna for Cookie Exchange

11th – Saturday
I was supposed to go to Salt Lake City to visit Mom, Rebecca, Jessica, Doug & Rachel. I was feeling better, but didn't go down to visit. I was afraid of giving my illness to my pregnant sister and her young child. Instead Mom came up that evening for a visit, which was awesome.

12th – Sunday
Visit with mom till she left for Logan around 2:00

13th – Monday - Lunch at Remo's with reference crew: Cheryl, Kristi, Spencer, Regina and Emily
Another fun time, but we always have a good time hanging out or even in meetings. I am very lucky to work with such great people.
Work and work and work

14th – Tuesday
Work and work and work
MADE: Baklava for tomorrow's party

The fire alarm snafu...
Shanna and I made a baklava, we put it in a big jelly roll pan instead of the normal cake pan. It ended up using twice as much of everything but the Filo. Because of this it overflowed in the oven during the baking. As I pulled it out of the oven I saw big clumps of debris on the floor of the oven. I left the oven door open, as is my wont when I am finished baking. After all, why waste the warm air when it is so cold outside. What I didn't know was that there would be smoke from the remains of the clumps in the oven. It set off the fire alarm. We had recently purchased a new "for kitchens" fire alarm. It works. It emits a really loud set of three beeps then pauses and repeats, indefinitely. At first I just shut the door to the oven and the big door between the kitchen and me hoping it would turn itself off once the air/smoke ratio normalized. That didn't happen. Barkley started crying about the sound and Shanna, taking matters into her own hands pulled it off the ceiling. After turning it off she left it on the washing machine because it was way too high for her to put it back. We then went to bed.

Meanwhile, Nick had been out and about shopping for Christmas Presents. He didn't know what happened. Upon his return he saw the cooling baklava and this triggered in him a need to clean the oven. It is one of the self-cleaning type so he turned it on, never opening it, and went down to his office. Later the alarm went off, it penetrated my sleeping brain, but I assumed it was just a leftover alarm from the baking. It kept going, finally I smelled a new icky burning smell and thought, maybe the house really was on fire this time. I got up and went out and was greeted by the ferociously thick smoke emanating from the oven. I met up with a very confused Nick who explained that he had tried to clean the oven. I nodded and went back to bed.

The next morning confusion unraveled, Nick had banged on the sleeping Shanna's door accusing her of taking the alarm down but not turning it off. She became equally confused having decided to just ignore the second blaring of the alarm. We unconfused him by explaining the first alarm, and he explained how he hadn't looked in the oven before turning it on to be cleaned. I had gone to bed with the intention of scraping out the clumps in the morning, but that was no longer necessary. The only thing left to do was to vacuum out the ashy remains. Thank heavens the baklava didn't acquire any flavor from the smoke in the kitchen that night.  It was fine and yummy...

15th – Wednesday - Holiday party at Sandi's (Social Activity 8)
Work and work and work
Holiday party at Sandi's was great fun, lots of interesting people and the view from their house is stunning.

Holiday Plans: 2010 Thanksgiving - New Years

I didn't intend for this year to be the whirlwind of social activities it turned into. Fate intervened to eliminate a couple of them.

This was the plan that evolved over time:

1. Nov. 25 – Thursday - Thanksgiving
2. Dec. 1st – Wednesday - President's Christmas Party
3. Dec. 1st – Wednesday - Lunch with the Girls
4. Dec. 8th – Wednesday - Xmas Potluck at Work
5. Dec. 10th – Friday - Cookie Exchange at Work
6. Dec. 11th – Saturday - Salt Lake City to visit Mom, Rebecca, Jessica, Doug & Rachel
7. Dec. 13th – Monday - Lunch at Remo's with Reference Crew
8. Dec. 15th – Wednesday - Holiday Party at Sandi's
9. Dec. 17th – Friday - John & Bill Arrive - Dinner Out with Friends
10. Dec. 18th – Saturday - Prep for Solstice party, Clan Dinner
11. Dec. 19th – Sunday - Solstice Party
12. Dec. 20th – Monday - Shanna Birthday
13. Dec. 23rd – Thursday - Christmas Eve Eve party in Utah
14. Dec. 24th – Friday - Christmas eve with family Rebecca & Hannah visiting
15. Dec. 25th – Saturday - Christmas with family Rebecca & Hannah visiting
16. Dec. 26th – Sunday - Breakfast with Annie
17. Dec. 29th - Wednesday - Visit from Sarah & Lance
18. Dec. 27th – 30th date never decided for post xmas Extended South Family Christmas Party
19. Dec. 31st – Friday New Years Eve Party at Maura's

19, somehow I committed myself to be involved in 19 social activities. I sometimes think I'm a hermit. Times like this remind me that I'm not. I LOVED all of the stuff I went to. With cancelations the schedule ended up like this:

1. Nov. 25 – Thursday - Thanksgiving
NOT 2. Dec. 1st – Wednesday - President's Christmas Party too tired, skipped it (1)
3. Dec. 1st – Wednesday - Lunch with the Girls
NOT 4. Dec. 8th – Wednesday - Xmas Potluck at Work came down with flu, skipped it (2)
SORTA 5. Dec. 10th – Friday - Cookie Exchange at Work still sick, sent a proxy (Shanna)
SORTA 6. Dec. 11th – Saturday - Salt Lake City to visit Mom, Rebecca, Jessica, Doug & Rachel - Didn't want to expose Rachel to my illness, mom came to visit instead.
7. Dec. 13th – Monday - Lunch at Remo's with Reference Crew
8. Dec. 15th – Wednesday - Holiday Party at Sandi's
9. Dec. 17th – Friday - John & Bill Arrive - Dinner Out with Friends
10. Dec. 18th – Saturday - Prep for Solstice party, Clan Dinner
11. Dec. 19th – Sunday - Solstice Party
12. Dec. 20th – Monday - Shanna Birthday
13. Dec. 23rd – Thursday - Christmas Eve Eve party in Utah
NOT 14. Dec. 24th – Friday - Christmas eve with family Rebecca & Hannah visiting (3)
NOT 15. Dec. 25th – Saturday - Christmas with family Rebecca & Hannah visiting(4)
16. Dec. 26th – Sunday - Breakfast with Annie
17. Dec. 29th - Wednesday - Visit from Sarah & Lance
NOT 18. Dec. 27th – 30th date never decided for post xmas Extended South Family Christmas Party (5)
19. Dec. 31st – Friday New Years Eve Party at Maura's

Meaning I skipped out or had canceled five and sent a proxy to one leaving me with 13 marvelous, entertaining, fun get-togethers this past holiday season.

Journal Entry - Preparing For The Holidays

Weekend before Thanksgiving:

With some 13-19 social engagements for the holiday season, and being the control freak I am, we started our preparations early. It took all three of us but we managed to make and freeze a bunch of stuff ...

Nov 20 - Saturday
• Huckleberry Muffins (36)
• Butterscotch Banana Bread (26 mini loaves)
• Meatballs(40 some)

Nov 21 – Sunday
• 1 (foil) big lasagna
• 2 (foil) cake pan lasagnes
• 6 (foil) bread pan lasagnes (1 noodle wide)
• 1 (glass) big lasagna (had to add prego)
• 1 (glass) sml alfredo lasagna with broccoli, cauliflower & tortellini. Serve with grilled chicken.

Unfortunately I still want to get a bunch of cookies, biscotti, truffles and other candy premade.

Cheating...Sometimes it's good to know when you don't want to or perhaps don't
have the energy to do everything yourself. I broke my toe three weeks earlier so I wasn't feeling all that capable. Our sweet real estate agent sent us a letter gifting us with free rolls from a local bakery. Our persistent auto dealer sent us a letter gifting us with a free turkey if we test drove a vehicle. Instead of making our gingerbread houses from scratch we bought kits. And for dessert I purchased frozen cheesecake and banana cream pie.


The turkey operation was fun. We went on a very snowy day to the dealer and test drove a Toyota Highlander. It was awesome! I'd really love to have one, but can't afford it at this time.

The rolls became a comedy of errors. Hubby got them reserved then we forgot to pick them up. So late Weds night he was running errands and picked up Pillsbury crescent rolls, which I forgot to bake. First Thanksgiving in a long time without rolls of any kind.

The cheesecake was lovely with huckleberry jam (from the Idaho store) as a topping.

Heavy duty paper plates and glasses were the final, lifesaving, cheat.

Cheating. Definitely going to try it again next year.

(Images, I have no idea where I got any of these on this blogpost... Sorry)

 

Miscellany for December 2009

Written December 2010... Ooops, I had the notes I just forgot to convert them to a blogpost.

December activities included:
Getting away from it all, I took off one day to think and found myself driving up Scout Mountain way. I spotted:
Magpies
Dark eyed juncos - Oregon race
Horned larks (flocks)
Crows
Ravens
And best of all, the above Ruffed grouse crossing the road.  He was moving ever so slowly. Stealthy. But unfortunately for him, he stood out clear as day on that tarmack.

This was the year of the pink birthday cakes. They were awesome.  Shanna's includes Swedish Fish in honor of her Swedish Fish Inn gingerbread house. 

For Christmas Hannah and Rebecca stayed with us. They were delightful to have around. Funniest thing was doing a little stocking stuffer shopping. We decided to get the girls their favorite candy. Hannah was easy, but Rebecca was hard. Nan did not know, Hannah did not know, Melinda remembered seeing her buy a Three Musketeers bar so that's what we got.  What's truly ironic, is that since I'm writing this a year late, I don't remember what the real answer was.  I do remember having a lot of fun with them.  This was the first year we tried the middle eastern feast for our Christmas feast.   Rebecca, having spent time in Turkey contributed the ideas for breakfast.   Nick managed to find a bunch of funny, yet useful, stocking stuffers for her at the grocery store. Things like fingernail clippers and a fly swatter...