Wednesday, December 28, 2011
My favorite is pulled pork tacos.
It's that time of year, when the chilly winter temps make me pull out my Crock Pot at least once a week to cook up a warm meal while I go about my day. I especially like doing so on New Year's eve, when I want to be spending time with friends instead of slaving in the kitchen. This year I'll be making a new favorite recipe of mine: pulled pork tacos with a delicious orange marmalade sauce and cabbage slaw. I found the recipe, by Sandra Lee, on the Food Network website, and have made the tacos twice now. (Note: you probably don't need as much of the slaw as the recipe suggests.) What do you wow your family and friends with on New Year's eve? Share your favorite recipes in our comments section below. Ingredients Directions Place the onions …
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
There's more to do than just sit around the TV and waiting for the ball to drop.
Make it a luau — If you have the space, decorate your largest room with a tropical theme to help your guests forget about the cold outside. Have your guests dress or bring a change or summery clothes as you great them with colorful leis and fancy cocktail glasses. Oversized hats and sunglasses, tropical table decorations and cheap tourist cameras to capture the night will cap off the festivities. No exercising allowed — How many people do you know are making getting in shape their resolution? Well, give them one more night of freedom during your party by putting up caution tape in front of those exercise DVDs or books. This should set them at ease as they enjoy some chips, pretzels, sodas, etc., for one more night. Last puff area — …
Monday, December 26, 2011
In many countries, it's a natural extension of the Christmas holiday. Here's a look at what it's all about.
We don't celebrate Boxing Day here, but I've always wished we did. More years than not, I've been scheduled to work on Dec. 26, and little else can put an abrupt end to holiday festivities and cheer like working the next day. And it's also a day for which I have some very fond memories. Many years ago, I did a work abroad program in college and was in England during the holidays. I spent Christmas and Boxing Day with a friend and his family and it truly was a natural extension of Christmas--a two-day celebration of the holiday. We ate, we laughed, we hiked, we ate more--in short, we were merry. So today, in honor of our friends to the north, across the sea, and down under, we offer some facts and trivia about what this day means in other …
Dec. 26 is National Candy Cane Day.
It's National Candy Cane Day, which seems fitting given that you likely have a surplus lying around at this point in the holiday season. We visited the National Confectioners Association website to gather the questions and answers for a quiz dedicated to the striped peppermint candy synonymous with the season. The quiz is available as a PDF so it's easy to print off and share with friends or family gathered at your house for the holidays. Or just test your knowledge below: Candy Cane Quiz 1. Legend places the origin of the candy cane in the: A. 1900s B. 1800s C. 1700s D. 1600s 2. According to legend, candy canes began as a means of: A. Rewarding shepherds for successfully guarding a flock. B. Bartering for the Christmas ham. C. Keeping …
Sunday, December 25, 2011
The holiday season is a good time to reflect.
The holidays always make me look back at the last year and wonder where it went. I remember being a kid, and how a few days, or a few weeks seemed to last forever. A school year? Eternity. It doesn't seem like that long ago that we were buried under the snow of last winter's weekly storms. But here we are, at Christmastime again. I've been thinking lately what I'm thankful for, and I have a lot to be thankful for this year. My first niece was born healthy and happy in May. I live in a cozy home on a dirt road. Puppy teeth do eventually fall out (that's my dog, Rudy in the photo at right). I'm getting to see many loved ones this holiday season. What about you? Share what you're thankful for in the comments section.
Most businesses must be closed today.
Since Christmas falls on a Sunday, by Massachusetts law the holiday will be observed on Monday. Today, full restrictions apply, but they will also apply tomorrow with the exception of liquor stores. Massachusetts legislature just passed a bill allowing liquor stores to open on the Monday following a Christmas Sunday. For Christmas Day and Monday, most businesses must be closed, but there are some limited exemptions.
Saturday, December 24, 2011
From material goods to good cheer.
I can think of a few favorite gifts I've received over the years — the mouse slippers my nana knit, my first CD player, a neon yellow and purple snow suit. As I've gotten older, I've also come to enjoy the giving aspect of the holidays, more so than the receiving. This time of year I try to remember to give to those besides famiily and friends, be it donations to charities or supporting local causes. I'm also doing so on Dec. 27 in Sudbury, where The American Red Cross is holding a blood drive. What better to give than the gift of life, as they say? Tell us in the comment section below what favorite gifts you've given or gotten, be it material items or holiday cheer.
Friday, December 23, 2011
We gathered some facts about this holiday celebrated the world over.
You’re no doubt aware of what Christmas traditionally looks like when it rolls around each Dec. 25. But how much do you know about its religious significance, its history as a holiday or the background of some of its famous traditions? We collected some facts about Christmas and its associated traditions. Look through the list – you might be surprised what you learn. 1. Christmas Day was established as a day to commemorate the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, the foundational leader of the Christian faith. (History.com) 2. Though Christmas is celebrated in mid-winter, “some evidence suggests that his [Jesus’] birth may have occurred in the spring.” In particular, the biblical account of the birth tells of shepherds herding sheep, which was …
Spending time with friends and family? Volunteering?
Christmas is coming, and while it's not a holiday everyone celebrates, at Patch we're wondering how you'll spend the day, and what your family traditions are. I know some people who volunteer at a church or soup kitchen to serve meals to those in need. I have other friends traveling near and far to spend time with friends or family. I'll be spending time with my grandmother this weekend, a special treat not only because she is my last living grandparent, but because at 92, she's sharp as a tack and has great stories to share. What will you do to celebrate the holiday? Vote in our poll, or add your own answer in our comment section below.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
I finished mine earlier this week. What about you?
For me, doing my holiday shopping for family and close friends begins with a lot of mental preparation. I much prefer knowing what I'm going to get someone before going to the stores, rather than going shopping and hoping something strikes my fancy. I finished up the last of my holiday shopping earlier this week. Though that's not quite true. I won't see one member of my family until about a week after Christmas, so I plan on hitting an after-Christmas sale to get his present. I'm now at the point where I have gifts stacked on my desk, and it's time to wrap them up. I enjoy the wrapping process as well, a skill I learned from my mother. She still makes the best bows, but I can copy her technique pretty well. The giving part is the best, in…
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8:24 am on Sunday, January 1, 2012
recently a friend got me into baked brie with sliced grannny smith apples and pears instead of crackers, so good... more ›