use real butter

Welcome to 2008 everyone! Gong Xi Fa Tsai! I hope folks were able to start the new year off properly and in good spirits. I was pleased as punch this morning despite the 4F reading in the parking lot (that’s -15.5C for those living metric). I can take the frigid temps though, because everyone knows that women who tele are hot. ;) My arm is nearly normal and it didn’t bother me at all!

a little warm up

What I love about skiing our local hill is that I can be home in 15 minutes. That’s great for days like New Year’s Day when there are certain foods I have to make… Actually, it’s Chinese New Year that gets me all panicked about preparing the right foods to eat for luck, health, fortune, this, that, and the other. My grandma and mom have scared it into me! But I tend to do a watered-down version during the western new year, because they scared *that* into me as well. I suppose they figure if you hit the traditions on both of the new years, then you’ve got all of the bases covered, right?

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Recipe: crawfish phyllo triangles

I’ve had this recipe in the back of my head for well over ten years. Jeremy and I were driving from Ithaca, New York down to Virginia to visit with my parents way back in the late 90s when we stopped by my friend’s house in Washington DC along the way. I lived in northern Virginia for one year during high school and became close friends with Emily. It was nice to see her parents again (I love them, they are the sweetest people) and introduce them to Jeremy for the first time. While we chatted, Emily’s mom – the consummate hostess – presented us with a platter of hot, crispy phyllo triangles filled with… crawdads. Crawdads (crayfish) are these delicious freshwater critters that look like small lobsters and are practically religion on the Gulf. Mmmmm, mmmm, good.

crawdads, onions, celery, and spices, parsley and green onions

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Recipe: stir-fried chicken and asparagus

You must think we – the dog and I – partied our collective bums off and were lying about in drunken stupor for several days without lifting a finger to post for the joy of it all. How I wish. No, instead dog was fine and I was out with a head cold that was delivered to me by my beloved. Today I have emerged from the fog only to tank a batch of candied lemon peels this morning. Dayquil-induced? Perhaps…

So let’s take care of some business first: seasonal cheer. I do cheer this season because snow mantles the majestic Rocky Mountains – our home… And then we slap on our skis and tele, baby! I digress. Happy New Year to all. I wish you every happiness your heart desires. And an ass ton of home cooked goodies :)

Second: I’m so late in getting this posted…

A huge thanks to the judges and Zorra, the host, for the DMBLGIT November 2007. I won for aesthetics on this entry:

chocolate covered orange peels – a great way to get you swearing by noontime

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