My 10 Best Recipes from 2023 | Marion Wrapped!

I have shared Marion Grasby’s YouTube channel before. She does everything absolutely delicious. She even has two cookbooks with the wor delicious in their titles. In this video Marion is sharing her and viewers favorite recipes from 2023. I am going to share the ones that stood out to me.

MOO PING: This isn’t your dad’s pork on a stick. NO! This is a common breakfast meal in Thailand. It has some great flavors going on. Garlic, coriander two ways, white peppercorns, palm sugar, coconut milk, and Thai black soy sauce or kecap manis. The last one is one of tjose things that if you can’t get one you can probably get the other. Check Amazon.com and you can get a three pack of Healthy Boy soy sauce. You can get a sweet soy sauce which is another generic name for kecap manis. As always, check your stores around your home first. Especially if you live in spitting distance of an Asian neighborhood. Marion shows how to make the rice in a specific way sticky rice is made in Thailand and how to get the same results at home.

HOSIN CHICKEN STIR-FRY: As always our girl shares how to get the best results with chicken breast possible. Baking soda helps to get the outside brown without the inside being tough.

THAI FRIED CHICKEN RICE (KHAO MUN GAI TOD): Yeah, that’s a mouthful to say. What mad this recipe stand out to me was this; daikon radish in the broth. Yes! This gives a peppery flavor. I have not ever seen this used in a broth. Once your broth is made, use ut to cook your rice. Brillant!

LAMB BIRYANI: This is an Inian dish. It can be overwhelming. Marion is going to break it down. Here’s something you can do ahead: mix the sides, marinade and soak the rice. Day you make the Biryani, marinade the lamb, bloom the saffron, cook the rice, and fry the red onions.

RETRO BANG BANG SHRIMP: Y’all know I like retro recipes. This us one I hope to try by end of the year. Because the last three years have flown right by in a rush… Anyway this shrimp or prawn, which ever you call them, looks awesome.

I am goong to stop here so you can go to the link and enjoy. Or I will be here for the whole hour long video.

French Winter Dishes

Look at this… 👀 https://pin.it/HyrvXdW2e

This post comes from Snippets Of Pairs. Nassie Angadi has lived in France full-time now for a decade. She is sharing twelve wonderful recipes that will warm the body from the inside out. I am going to focus on the ones we are more likely to enjoy.

1. CHEESE FONDUE. Who doesn’t love cheese? I don’t know anyone that can say they hate cheese. The best thing about fondues is you can use a variety that you like.

2. EASY GRATIN DAUPHINIOS RECIPE. This potato casserole could be a full meal by adding meat you have in your fridge.

These were really the only two that I could see us enjoying. Of course, Nassie does have desserts on her site, but with these dishes I don’t know if it’s really needed.

The Snowy Day Printable Book – CrystalandComp.com

https://crystalandcomp.com/the-snowy-day-printable-book/?utm_source=convertkit&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=%E2%9C%8B++MITTEN+PRINTABLE+BOOK+%E2%9C%8B%20-%2012735922

I just opened up my email and I had this wonderful idea for snow day activities. My daughter is going to be 21 on the fourth of February. I remember when she was little and occasionally there’d be a hurricane day in August up till October. Now something like this would have been wonderful. So,  here’s a link to some fun activities that will help keep your littles busy on a snowy day later this week if you live in the north like I do. 

No Shadow Aliens Here! 🤦‍♀️ But Some Deals

I had to do it. I had to make fun of people freaking out over the shadow aliens in Miami. Florida is home of the oddball people plus Donald Trump’s hair. So, shadow aliens in Miami didn’t surprise me at all. Don’t get me wrong, there are aliens in America. They’re being trafficked across the southern border. 🤦‍♀️

Let’s get to the video. I took a walk through Kroger. OMG! Some deals could be found. Not like there used to be. Check out Adventures With Danno on YouTube. Danno has a great personality and he shares how to save money. 

Traditional Russian Christmas Food! 🎄

Look at this… 👀 https://pin.it/5TF8Ilq

This will be the last pre-Christmas post because Monday will be Christmas. This post cones from It Is A Keeper owned by Christina Hitchcock (www.itisakeeper.com). I choose Russian Christmas Feast because of it’s location to the North Pole. (Remember, I said countries with people I don’t find annoying.)

Russia celebrates Christmas on January 7 according to the Julian Calendar where as we in other countries use the Gregorian calendar that puts Christmas on December 25. Keep in mind there is no historic evidence which proves what day Christ was born on. We do know it was nine months after Mary was told she would be blessed. In Russia, as most Christian cultures, Christmas is celebrated by families. The good, bad, and ugly. And hopefully Grandma doesn’t get molested at the airport or ran over by a reindeer. (I had to throw that in.)

Here’s some simple tips for a successful feast:

1. Double the recipes because you never know who is going to be pregnant or training for athletic events. Or you can have your favorite dish as a reward for leveling the block.

2. Meat thermometer. I would say have four. See the last tip on entertaining children.

3. Preparation. Make things ahead that you can. Dough for bread and pies can be done ahead.

4. Decorations. This when you want your home to look beautiful and inviting.

5. Activities for children. As I eluded to above, make sure you have activities to keep children entertained. There’s nothing worse then bored children. You never know when a thermometer ends up taking the tem of the family pet. Which is why you may want to keep four thermometers and up out of the line of sight of children.

Here’s what the menu looks like.

SOLYANKA: This is a beautiful hearty stew that could feed a crowd easily. All the veggies are in the stew.

KVASHENAYA KAPUTSA: Sour kraut. This is a staple in Eastern Europen homes. Each are has their own way of making it.

RUSSIAN DEVILED EGGS: The thing that would make this version stand to me would be the wasabi paste. Japanese spice like our horseradish. These eggs have salmon roe which is salmon eggs.

SHARLOTKA: Easy Apple Cake. This cake sounds amazing. It could easily replace the apple pie. How many times can you eat apple pie anyway?

As usual I picked the thibgs that caught my eye. Hope you enjoyed these post and have a wonderful holiday season. I will see you in January 2024.

Children Had No Fear of Hobos

This week’s story comes from Betty Berney from Phillipsburg Kansas. She shares her experience with hobos who were riding the rails. She and her husband both grew up around hobos. Her husband would go to the yards and listen to them talk about their family or places they’ve seen. 

Betty’s mom would make sandwiches for them in abundance. Neither one was ever scared of these men. They had no reason to be. It was a more innocent time. I sometimes wish I could have lived then. When you could and did trust your neighbor. 

Traditional Portuguese Christmas Dinner! 🎄

https://www.portugalthings.com/traditional-christmas-dishes-in-portugal/

Last week I got inspired by traditional Christmas Feast after doing the French one so I decided to show how other countries do Christmas dinner. I choose countries with people who aren’t annoying. So, America will not be making the cut. 🤨

Portugal Things site http://www.portugalthings.com is owned by Jorge Bastos. It is everything Portuguese food related. I found it interesting. We will focus on what is served on Christmas Day.

ROUPA VELHA: This translates to old clothes. Yeah! This can be made with shredded cod and veggies. The Portuguese have a huge feast on Christmas Eve before Midnight Mass. Okay they are Catholic, I should’ve started by saying this. This dishcan be served with whatever meat you have leftover. So, to make Christmas special maybe roast a goat. There are other suggestions.

There are sweets to serve. Take time to explore this site and share your thoughts.

Gymnasium Of Hope

This week’s story comes from the Alphabet Soup chapter. The titled Rock Gymnasium Remains a Source of Pride written by Gene Sellers from St. Croghan in South Carolina. This gym was built in 1936 and the picture is beautiful. It provided an income to struggling families in the area. Unfortunately, in 1960 the school closed and the time took its toll on the gym. Until it was deeded to the town. They quickly repaired it and it serves as a living memory of what is possible.

A Traditional French Christmas Menu! 🎄

Look at this… 👀 https://pin.it/1cKOiuq

Audrey Le Gof from France us the owner of Pardon Your French site (www.pardonyiurfrench.com). This particular article features the rituals and different courses of a Classic French Christmas Menu. This menu is called “Le Repas de Noel”.

Audrey stated that the French Christmas feast is about the food and not decorations. This post starts out with a beautiful tablescape. There’s a red and black buffalo tablecloth. What’s refreshing is the centerpiece is minimal. It’s beautiful, but not overwhelming. Below will highlight the six courses.

FIRST COURSE: This course will be your appetizers. Small delicate bites that pack a great flavor. Think about a Charcuterie board.

SECOND COURSE: Soup. Some areas of France will get snow at Christmas. Especially down in the Jura Mountains. A soup like Roasted Carrot Soup with a rustic bread fresh out of an oven would be so inviting. As for Paris, perhaps it would have something with seafood since Paris isn’t far from the Atlantic ocean. Again, served with a bread. Like baguette.

THIRD COURSE: This will be the main course. Whatever protien being served with a wide choice of veggie sides with chestnut dressing (or stuffing).

FOURTH COURSE; CHEESE AND SALAD: I know. As an American, I am used to salad as a second course not fourth. This would be a classic cheese board. Hard, soft, and blue. (That’s a rule of thumb from Ina Garten.) Salad would be light served with a vinaigrette as opposed to a diary based dressing.

FIFTH COURSE; DESSERT: This course can be bought if you need. Their kitchens are limited on space and not evetyone can make a French Buche de Noel. This course could as light as a simple cup of fruit.

SIXTH COURSE; COOKIES AND TREATS: How to hell are these folks not four hundred pounds? Dear God! I can’t imagine six courses. This course can be very simple.

I certainly hope these folks don’t eat like this often. Holy crap!

Christmas Countdown!🎄

In three weeks, it will be Christmas and then New Year’s. So, this post will serve as a guide to getting your home ready for both.

WEEK 3: Where we currently are on Christmas. Inspect your kitchen cabinets to see what you have and need. Plan out your menu. Decide if your going to do a potluck.

WEEK 2: By now you know where Christmas dinner will be and what will be served. If it’s at your house, time for mega clean. I agree. Right after Thanksgiving. Yes! In this post we will assume you didn’t host Thanksgiving. Get every member of your house involved.

WEEK 1: Send out RSVP request reminding people of what they agreed to bring. Also, designate one person to help with shopping if needed.

THREE DAYS TILL CHRISTMAS (AND/OR NEW YEAR’S): Do a quick pick up and touch up. Pick up (have delivered) all items your requested to borrow. No need in buying items you only use once a year.

TWO DAYS: Prep your guest room. Have everything ready to make guest feel comfortable. Clean sheets, towels, and warm room.

EVE: Clean kitchen. Get things done ahead that you can. Get activities for children set up and ready. Also, have plenty of garbage bags ready.

There you go a nice easy game plan to prep your home for holiday meals and get togethers.

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