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Mashed Potatoes

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Comfort for Tax Day

Thursday, April 15th, 2010

Good Morning, Darlings!

I don’t know about you, but we waited until yesterday to do our taxes and now I have all these papers on my dining room table to sign and mail out.  The sheer volume of paperwork is enough to send one into a tizzy, so I thought last night would be a perfect time for some lovely comfort food.  Roast Chicken, Mashed Potatoes and Fresh Green Beans.

It was most comforting.

My time is limited today (bloggers bake sale to bake for, dogs to take to the vet for check ups, figure out who to send these tax forms to….) so I thought I would leave you with some photos of yummy goodness.

If the taxes are making you batty, stick a roaster in the oven at 375F, after rubbing the skin with olive oil and herbs, roast for 2 hours and voila! Instant (almost) comfort.  Mash up some taters and snip some green beans and you are good to go.

xoxo, Patti

Pre-Oven. I also stuffed the cavity with an onion and taragon and thyme bunches.

Peeling Potatoes is a Nice Stress Reliever

Snip Off the Ends of the Green Beans Before Giving Them a Quick Blanch

Convince One Sweet Husband to Carve the Bird

Relax and Enjoy!

Our Christmas Feast for Six

Saturday, December 26th, 2009

Good Afternoon(!!), Darlings!

I trust you all had a bang up Christmas.  We certainly did.  There were six of us gathered around the table this year and it was the one of the nicest Christmases I can remember. Oh, we had fun. But you knew that already, didn’t you? 🙂

First, let me list the menu:

Prime Rib, Dry Aged By Eric
Yorkshire Pudding
Mashed Potatoes
Peas
John’s Awesome Veggie Bake w/Brussel Sprouts, Portabellos, Broccoli, Wild Rice, Cheese (Everyone had at least 2 helpings of this!)
Beef Gravy
Chocolate Brioche Bread Pudding w/Homemade Whipped Cream
Everything Cookies
Buckets and Buckets of Champagne

More Christmas Celebrations After The Fold

Comfort Food and More Comfort Food

Wednesday, December 16th, 2009

Good Morning, Darlings!

Since our holiday party I have been in a bit of a fog…part dreamy, part wiped out.  But of course, I am still eating and cooking. And when I’m not, I’m at someone else’s place sitting, drinking and eating.  The day after the party and last night were two such times that I played the guest and not the host, which is so nice.

Sunday, Tracy and Isham put together the most amazing dinner that required Eric and me to only get off the couch, change out of pajamas, and mosey across the street. Nope, no driving involved.  There we found roast pork with a cherry/raisin chutney, cheese bread and the most decadent mashed potatoes I have ever eaten. I believe they contained butter, cream cheese and sour cream. Oh my goodness, they were tasty.  Joining us were Tracy’s friends Mark and Wesley, who are flat out hilarious and the dinner conversation took such odd twists and turns that I can honestly say I can’t remember having a more unusual or lively visit. It was terrific, meeting new friends was terrific and Tracy & Ish are super terrific to have us all over.  It was nice to eat real food. Not party food or pizza.  Of course, I forgot my camera, but I will stop doing that. Sorry, Sweeties!

Last night found me at the glamorous new loft of bestie Clint for cookie making.  Clint and I had not caught up in ages and we just didn’t feel like getting our hands dirty with messy cookie dough, so Clint pulled some containers of pre-made cookie dough out of the fridge and we just scooped, baked and ate. And ate. They were yummy!  We visited, toured the loft, decorated the tree and generally enjoyed each other’s company. Clint has been globe hopping lately – freshly back from St. Thomas and off to Memphis for Christmas – I was lucky to spend an evening with him.  Pictures? Nope, not last night either. I have got to snap out of it!

Today, I will be having lunch with buddy Tami at Bocado. Promise to report in full and take photos.

xoxo, Patti