The Raging Debate: #MakingofaBandwagon

Sports teams, politics, TV shows, human rights, animal rights... big dumb celebrity award show boycotts. All of these things and so many other topics I can't put a name to at the moment have a few things in common in the way of sensationalism and social media play:

I found myself being guilty of something that irritates the crapola out of me when I see it other places: Bandwagon behavior. I'm not proud of it and it got me thinking about one of the main sources of my current-event files and entertainment, i.e. social media. And my DILEMA, in meme form is this:

 

It all started for me with the now-internet sensation #MakingAMurderer. I was not aware of any crazy rabidity surrounding this Netflix show when I first watched it, thinking only that I, like many people, have morbid curiosity that real life murder shows somehow soothe. In other words, we're a bunch of harmless looky-loos. I watched this show about a man who had been wrongfully convicted of rape and was given another shot at life once his sentence was vacated- after serving 18 years- only to be arrested for murder in the handful of months that followed.

This one still works actually- and still makes me laugh

I gnashed my teeth and pulled out my hair for ten episodes going through this poor simple sap's fatally raw deal in life, with all the plot twists and tragedy of a Dickensian-Bronte collaboration. This guy was an honest to goodness, if slightly less noble Jean Valjean (yes, I know that is neither Dickens, nor Bronte). At the end I found myself crushing on the brilliant legal minds that fought for justice and seemed to having all the 'facts' on their side. I wept for the man (spoiler alert) robbed of his freedom by a corrupt county judicial system for the second time. I memed my disgust and anger across the Twitterverse:

Classic

And the fact is... I was wrong. Or at least not in possession of the full set of facts. I<3 Radio has put out a collection of 10 minute rebuttals for each episode of the series- and without ruining the show or the radio piece for you I will say that both sides are as wildly speculative and subjective as the other. One has a bit more evidence... but the bottom line is at least listening pushed me out of the auto-pilot indignation cloud back into rational thoughts of my own.

Not only was I wrong, but I had fanned flames and contributed to what is becoming a national outcry.... that is having real life impact on the people who actually lived through this case and trial. The family of the girl who died, the public officials who bungled everything from start to finish, and the skeevy pervert prosecutor who ultimately won the day. Yes that sounded harsh, watch the show- it's fair. The point is they are still people despite how awful they come across. So in the immortal words of Jane Austen's Mr. Darcy, "[I] have now only to be ashamed of what my own [feelings] have been."

 

 

Normally, in situations of widespread, often uneducated outrage- if I weigh in at all, I try to stay neutral. Many of us may have forgotten Cecil the Lion by now, but that was once such instance. The Facebook/Twitter/Social Media nation called for the lion killer's head on a platter- and while I categorically disapprove of his actions, I found it telling that people in Zimbabwe had a different message:

 

"In Zimbabwe, we don't mourn for lions..."

 

 

So how do so many of us mostly intelligent, usually rational and civilized people keep getting caught up in the online mob mentality?                                      The trouble is that social media has fostered and nurtured a phenomenon called SLACKTIVISM

slack·tiv·ism

ˈslaktəˌvizəm/

noun

informal

noun: slacktivism; noun: slactivism

actions performed via the Internet in support of a political or social cause but regarded as requiring little time or involvement, e.g., signing an online petition or joining a campaign group on a social media website.

"such e-mail alerts make slacktivism easy"

 

From changing the philters on our Facebook pictures to spreading the dreaded online petition- while it is nice to show compassion and solidarity- realize, that is all it amounts to. This is not ACTIVISM.

The term activism is self-evident in that it requires action- which the click of a mouse does not constitute.  Do online petitions highlight the distant plight of nameless unfortunates and tug on your heart strings? Without a doubt. Do they actually work? Not at all.                 If there is cause you believe in- or even if there is something that is circulating online, you are better off doing your own research rather than mindlessly forwarding it on to you equally unsuspecting friends. If the research proves sound, but your schedule doesn't allow for an active role- DONATE.

 

On a smaller scale, bandwagon shenanigans will abound as we roll into Super Bowl madness. That can be forgiven as people want to feel included even if their favorite team has already been knocked out of the playoffs. Sports fans will tell you otherwise, but at times like this it doesn't do to be a purist or have a long memory. Even if it's not my team per se, I'm still bound to have an opinion or at least preference in the arena. And this is one positive expression of group mentality- sharing in the cheering and excitement.

 

Where the real problem with banding together comes is when it is morphs into cyberbullying or social shaming. In the unfortunate case of the murder show- those people were highlighted nationally and will be on the radar until the wind blows someone else under the microscope.

 

The danger of getting in on it is that it is all too easy to forget the real people that read the comments posted from the safety of relative anonymity. Additionally, the fickle attention span of social media makes it easy to drop a blitzkrieg of abuse on someone and then forget on the way to the next fad- leaving that person behind to deal with the implications.

 

 Before jumping on the wagon or weighing in on a topic really think about if it is something you:

 

A. Care about- if so why?

Weighing in if you don't care will give the exact opposite impression. Be judicious about what you throw your name behind.

 

B. Know anything about- what makes your input worthwhile?

An old saying comes to mind- "it's better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and confirm it.

 

C. Does your voice add anything positive to the debate?

This is really more subjective- but for me I find that I try to avoid spreading negativity. Education- yes, if I'm qualified, but negative conjecture, I try to steer clear or.... because what's the point and who does it help?

 

The thing about opinions and outrage is there is never a shortage of either, but that doesn't make them right.

 

Locale Love: San Diego Zoo and Safari Park

I would love to have the budget and freedom to be a travel writer- and while that is not my current lot in life, I am very much blessed to live in the playground paradise that is Southern California. This place has so much to offer- sometimes at a hefty fee, sometimes completely gratis. There is a reason that for April to October it's impossible to get around on the freeway here as there are so many tourists and RVs slowing things down. I have friends who will preface plans we've made by saying things like, "there's bound to be traffic," or "expect to wait in line," to which I cheerily reply that that's the bargain I struck to live somewhere so great. With that in mind, I thought to showcase some of the local gems that keep my family engaged here- and nothing is more iconic in this area than the world renowned San Diego Zoo.

If you don't live in Southern California, you're probably thinking why should I care about this zoo (voted the #1 zoo in the world by Trip Advisor in 2015)? Simple, this zoo has an immense global presence and conservationist mission.  The mission statement in its utter simplicity is a rallying call for our planet:

San Diego Zoo Global is committed to saving species worldwide by uniting our expertise in animal care and conservation science with our dedication to inspiring passion for nature.

They proudly declare "We will lead the fight to end extinction." 

And the truth is that every single one of their employees and volunteers means it.




The zoo itself, taking up 100 acres of historic Balboa Park, in the heart of the city, is home to 3500 different animals - rare and endangered- comprised of more than 650 species and subspecies.

Koala sleeping through Jungle Bells

 In addition it is home to a massive botanical collection with more than 700,000 exotic plants. Such entertainments as Skyfari, Animal Encounters and my personal favorite Jungle Bells at Christmas... (where all the animals are asleep, but the park is lit up),
take a backseat in my opinion to the magic of witnessing the baby animals (recently the hippo, my favorite, or the panda).


Babies!!



What I like about this amusement park- for lack of a better term in this resort area- is that unlike other

If that bear was bigger, he'd be in real trouble. 

similar organizations, the animals are not exploited. They are not set up as a side show act, taught to dance for your pleasure. You see them mostly as you would in the wild, but in  much smaller setting. Now before you go thinking that it is wrong and unnatural to have these beautiful creatures caged up on display you should know that the majority of the animals been rescued- like the two bald eagles, grounded due to irreparable injury, or the orphaned brown bear cubs, now grown.

Caught their good sides



ZIP-LINING! I'm the tiny black dot on the right.

Separately, in North County, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, more of a wildlife sanctuary, is home to more than 3,000 animals comprised of more than 300 species, with its own botanical collection of 3,500 species and 1.75 million specimens. Over 900 of the Park’s 1,800 acres are a designated protected native species habitat. It's attractions above just the animals include a controlled balloon ride, Roar and Snore camping and my favorite- zip lining over the safari.

Condor puppet feeding hatchling

I remember having a San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research representative visit my first grade class (I won't tell you how long go, but suffice it to say two decades-ish) in Connecticut. They
brought with them a California Condor, which at that point was on the brink of extinction. As of the early 80's only around 20 of these birds were left in the wild, but a year after that classroom visit- and a decade of techniques ranging from egg snatching, bait-and-switch and strategic puppet theatre
- the first condors bred at the zoo were released into the wild. And 20ish years later the number of California Condors has grown to around 417, with 240 of those free. A similar program has been implanted with success in growing the Hawaiian bird population.





And they have had success with their Giant Panda breeding program , creating a sustainable population and influencing the Chinese government to increase the number of panda reserves.

The goon squad and I make up 3 of their half million members (making it the largest zoological society in the world). We use our passes every month or so and have renewed them every year because as they will tell you in the gift shops and cafes- the money goes back to conservation. They are a not-for -profit, so it's one of the few amusement parks where I don't smuggle in a packed lunch and don't mind buying the goons one more stuffed toy they won't play with. An added bonus for us locals is that on days like MLK, coming up, or Christmas, New Years, etc., we always have at least one place we know that is open. As the animals have to be attended to, the zoo is open every day of the year.

African Shoebill... or as I call it Tyrannosuarus Bird

While I can only visit my favorite- the hippos- at the zoo, I find that I am more drawn to the Safari Park. A few years ago, one of my best friends noticed the way I geek out around birds- I was completely oblivious to it, until she pointed out to me that I am a closet birder. The Safari Park, with its Hidden Jungle, has become a place of calm for me if I'm having a rough day. The rainbow colored birds fly overhead, and the goons and I have made a game of trying to find every different species lurking in the bushes. There are giant pelicans and shoebills from
Africa that seem like the missing link to Mesozoic dinosaurs. And even better are the elephants.

The story of their rescue and transport is definitely worth the read.

The elephants at the Safari Park were rescued from destruction as a herd. Hearing their story during my first visit to the park cemented their place in my heart.

The mechanism and organization of such an operation continues to impress and, more importantly, evolve. If spending your money in the gift shop would require a much bigger expenditure in the way of airfare, the organization has many other ways to be of service or donate. This organization is the physical representation of global conscience and stewardship of the future.

The Raging Debate: Adult Coloring Books

Coloring books for adults not to be confused with Adult Coloring books--unless of course, the coloring by itself is not enough excitement. After receiving a staggering collection this holiday, I wonder are these a flash in the pan or worth the hysteria?
Suddenly, these books are stalking me around town, taunting me with their "for grown-ups only" designation (sorry kids, these intricate designs are like child-proof pill bottle level complexity-- just kidding).  I found a conservationist coloring book at my local farm store, a graffiti book at the gas station and a pocket zentangle wedged in with the impulse cookbooks at the supermarket checkout. And every time I go into my local mega-book store, there is more square footage dedicated to housing larger mountains of them as seem to be multiplying exponentially at a rate similar to phytoplankton (in the billions, every few days). Edgy designs, designs for mom, designs for the bird lover in your life, Mandalas, the BIBLE, and designs for the potty mouth in your life.

On the surface the sheer genius and simplicity of reengineering coloring just boggles my mind. Like when I read Daniel Quinn's Ishmael for the first time, the realizations that were unlocked in my mind-- rudimentary and common sense enough as to have been there all along-- just needed to be highlighted for that facepalm moment. That staring-you-in-the-face obviousness is what makes the adult coloring book brilliant, at least in theory. It's a blitzkrieg of "childhood lost" nostalgia being hurled at you from every corner of the universe in every form imaginable, designed to appeal to the inner child in us all that giggles at the thought of pinning fancy cussword on the fridge, as well as the adult in us who frequently uses those words and also now owns the fridge.


That's a lie- you'll never be this good.

 And even better--it is a completely universally leveling past time. There's no skill set or expertise required. Once you've mastered coloring on one side of the lines or decided that lines are symbolic of every other unnecessarily complicated task in your life you wish you could scribble over, there really isn't much room for improvement or failure. No pressure to perform. You are already as good as you or anyone else will ever be at it.


 So what can be said about this inescapable coloring phenomenon; what has been said?

Likened to meditation in its therapeutic properties, coloring has been hailed as a stress reliever. 

Such publications as The New Yorker and  even CNN are reporting on these miraculous books with disingenuously incredulous catchphrases like, "Peter Pan market" and  "no longer just for kids." Um, excuse me, who made the kids-only rule in the first place? As if suddenly, upon receipt of your adult membership card, coloring was strictly verbotten. "Please turn in your crayons, your skinned knees, and pigtails. You are no longer welcome or eligible for the perks.  Collect your wrinkle cream and credit card debt on the way out." 

Pro tip: you can build a pillow fort and put marshmallows in your hot chocolate if you so chose, go jump on a trampoline or roll down a hill, watch Disney movies all day long and eat nothing but Fruit Roll-Ups. It's ok. You're allowed. Maybe if you were doing more of those things, you wouldn't be a frazzled stress ball looking like easy pickings for every charlatan with tiny-interwoven doodles of your favorite TV show and access to a commercial copier attempting to separate you from your money.


But in the name of science and despite my skepticism, I thought it was worth a crack to see if coloring books titled with words like "Stress-Free," "Zen" or "Mindful Haven" really would help me shut off the noise of my life, and if only for a little while, sooth the anxious wound-up cretin within. 

Well, I call FALSE on the inner peace test, and here's why. Despite my normative rebelling against the conventional guidelines of adulthood, I simply don't have the time for such a luxury. I felt increasingly guilty as there are a million other things-- important things-- that require my attention. It became a vicious cycle: guilt, anxiety, coloring to sooth and repeat.

(Side note: not sure whether to take the receipt of so many coloring books as a sign of the trend.... or a message that people think my kids and I need to chill out. We each received at least 3.)

Right now I should be filing my taxes, cataloging my intended scholarship options, writing scholarship essays, writing an article for that activism organization I've been meaning to get to, planning dinner, doing laundry, washing dishes, buying my daughter a new coat: I should be otherwise adulting. I'm stressed out just thinking about all of the things I still need to work on today. The mere thought of neglecting those important tasks for an hour of coloring sets my teeth on edge.



Even so, I sat myself down in a coffee shop with my laptop out and one of the plethora of these books I was gifted.

I set my timer and tried very hard to dedicate 30 minutes (a good compromise) to adding vibrancy and life to the very suggestive psychedelic mushrooms staring back at me from the white page.

 I did notice my breathing deepen and my thoughts calm down. I was still fixated on my resume and scholarships rather than the enjoyment of putting pencil to paper, but at least stream of consciousness was marginally less chaotic. 

Overall, though, for me, coloring doesn't shut out the noise. My chosen method of unwinding is murder... more specifically, watching murder mystery shows at night, on my phone, under my blanket tent so that my kids don't ruin it. Additionally, I felt frustrated when I realized that the picture, with it's teeny, tiny details, wasn't going to get done in an hour. In fact, 6 hours in I still wasn't done-- this is a project. It's become another unfinished project, of decidedly low priority, but still unfinished.

You know what these look like up close? Sliced lemons, get your mind out of the gutter.

Another reason I found coloring in this beautiful, sophisticated book to be stressful-- which may have been local to my literature revrring upbringing-- is that growing up, it was simply not done to defile a book. And make no mistake, these are books. They are nicely bound with thick, high quality paper; some of them have glossy gold embellishments. They bear no resemblance to the shoddy quality and recycled paper aesthetic of a children's coloring book. I would feel terrible if I ripped or bent a page. I don't want to get it dirty. I can't imagine the chagrin I'd feel at coloring one of these magnificent drawings with results below what its gravitas demands. Or, the unthinkable, making a mistake in one.

That brings up another point. Pristine, these books are full of promise and possibility, like untouched snow.  I prefer the analogy of an uncracked thunder egg.

Thunder egg

 You could open it and find treasure... or it could just be a rock. But once cracked the mystery is gone. Similarly, the second you put color on the page, the potential is gone... and so is some of the thrill, to be honest. My kids gave me a Harry Potter coloring book for my birthday; by that, I mean that I went online, ordered/paid for it, wrapped it when it arrived and gave it to them to give back to me, which they did happily taking credit for the effort. Motherhood is a strange transaction). Anyway, I was super excited to preorder, then wait, then unwrap, then marvel. But I was not excited to ruin it by coloring the pages. My kids had no such qualms about scribbling all over their respective copies of the same book. I colored one page of mine; it made me angry. The magic, if you will, was all in the possibility.


To be honest, it's not just coloring books that have this effect on me. I have a stack of pristine journals that have been given to me over the years that I cannot bring myself to defile with any unworthy thoughts. My mother, aware of my love of writing, gave me a journal covered in Gustav Klimpt's The Kiss, embossed with gold paper-- that's just cruel. These books get packed into boxes and move with me each time I do, but they'll never be written in.

I think it was Christopher Marlowe who said: "What nourishes me destroys me." I would agree in this case as I really want to enjoy coloring, but the inner turmoil surrounding it is daunting, irrational though it may be.

 Determined to overcome my own objections, I continued on my coloring odyssey finding a way to remove the guilt of the incomplete to-do list: coloring with my friends. It's hard to always make time for social engagements with all of the adulting we collectively do. So we cracked a bottle, let the good times flow and color.  I shared my views on the subject and was surprised to have them reciprocated. "Oh my god, I thought it was just me. This makes me really anxious," Gloria exclaims, looking much more relieved than she had while concentrating on keeping her gel pen inside the lines. "It feels like a chore. Talk about sensory overload,"  Elicia agreed. 

Could it be that this kind of whimsical delight really can be outgrown (like trying to jump rope after not doing so for over a decade-- the struggle is real)?

Maybe it was the books we were using, full of symmetrical floral designs (yawn), intricate fishscapes and geometric weavings. Undaunted by our communal lackluster experience I picked out an abstract, purse-sized book and grabbed my own gel pens. Turns out I find the abstract way less intimidating. It actually was relaxing... and dare I say fun. Even better was the discovery of a Game of Thrones coloring book-- adding murder definitely enhances the soothing quality for me; that I can get behind.

"[Color] is coming."

But, there arises a new quandary-- what do I do with
 the pictures or book when I am done? Do the pages get ripped from the book and hung around my home among the offerings of my six and seven year old? Do I, in fact, put them on the fridge? Do I throw out the most expensive coloring books under the sun or save them to show people? That seems weird. It's not like it's my original work, all I did was color. But if I don't have the time to color, I certainly don't have the time for drawing/ taking out my easel (even if it is infinitely more satisfying than coat-tailing someone else's work).

Original work.... pre-kids.

Technically, the books exhausted their usefulness once colored. It goes against Konmari to keep this kind of clutter creating dust and taking up space. Hard to be sentimental, in my opinion, and I don't really see myself thumbing through them, revisiting fond coloring memories.


All in all, I'm glad I took the time to try it. I found that with the right style book and in a guilt-free setting it really is enjoyable, although I have a sneaking suspicion that had more to do with the mutual hatred of my good friends who I rarely see. As for regular use on my own, I'd have to say, it's a pass from me. But if I change my mind, at least I have a million of them to choose from.

Christmas the Finale: Traditions

As I've become an adult (and I say that tongue in cheek) and raised my own brood I've had occasion over the years to ruminate on the rituals and traditions that have seen me through, across time and continent. In the immortal words of Tevye, tradition helps us maintain balance. Balance of what

"Tradition"

though?

I like to think of the traditions I've carried from childhood and the new ones I've added for my own childrens' benefit as a balance between personal progress and antiquity. Me striking out on my own, but with a respectful shout out to where I come from.
 Thanksgiving through New Year is a time rife with tradition for most people; some funny, some poignant and some reverent. But that's not for everyone. My father, not one for tradition, inadvertently began a sort of anti-tradition (in the way of an anti-hero) by serving tri-tip year round for every occasion. "Come for the Fourth- we're having tri-tip." "I've got a really nice tri-tip for when you come up for Thanksgiving." "For Christmas, I thought we'd try something different. How does steak sound?" And his refusal to do anything festive has become the running joke of my family and thus a new tradition was born.

 

Everyone got fancy new skates this year!

 Red meat, however, is not the tradition I've carried over into my household. What I remember from Christmases past is the fantastically personalized décor (as mentioned in prior post), the songs of Nat King Cole and Manheim Steamroller, the exquisite meals my mom created for the extended family visits and the interesting "family gift"- my dad, like me, gets super jazzed when he makes a new discovery of something he likes. He gets Oprah fever- "One for you, one for you, one for you...." you get the idea. Turns out the apple shops the same way as the tree. It's well meaning- clearly if I enjoy it, so should you.



My son obviously loves the skates as much as I do.

Aside from that, my kids both have their own nutcracker and personalized stocking and Christmas ornaments. And the Christmas breakfast, of course. But I am not trying to mold them into me- even if these things I've shared are the best parts of my own memories. We've found ways to make each celebration our own; unique to our tribe and life and friends.

Tradition for tradition's sake is akin to progress for the sake of progress in emptiness.  In order for a tradition to continue being relevant it is important to understand its purpose. It's easy to get caught in the tide of maintaining the status quo, but think about why you are doing it and if there isn't a solid reason other than it's simply tradition, it may be time to move on.

 

Christmas aside, what makes a good tradition?

Special rituals: Rituals are fantastic so long as you know what they mean and why you value them. For the last four years, we have packed a bag full of bagels and sled and driven to the top of a local mountain to greet the new year. This is absolutely one of my favorite things of the year to do with my kids and something I hope they do with theirs. But snow and snacks aside there is something so spiritual, cleansing and reaffirming about being out in nature, breaking a new year from the top of the world- even if it is only a small mountain. And that's why I continue.

Special places: . In our area there is a quaint mountain town (not to be confused with our New Year's mountain- our holiday it the Tale of Two Mountains)  circa cowboys and miners. The town is now famous for pies (we all hate pie), but it still has the old West country town feel and we love the cider mill and root beer floats. We go in the afternoon, with our friends but everything closes at 5:30. The modestly applied Christmas lights seem more idyllic there when the town quiets. And sometimes, if we're lucky, there is a dusting of snow. I know I said Christmas aside, but it's not Christmas without a visit and a bag of gummies from the country store. The town holds comfort and charm that means something different to each of us, but the community is the same.

If your bagel doesn't shine, it's an imposter.

Special food: When I was a kid, my dad would make me get up at the crack of dawn- and sometimes before that- to walk the dogs with him. We'd put on our matching Land's End coats and yellow work boots (family gifts- not always as great as skates) and trudge through the snowy hills of Connecticut. But at the end of the walk on Sundays, we'd drive into the next town for real bagels- the kind that are boiled, then baked, and Clearly Canadian (if you don't know what that is, you have sadly missed out). He'd read the newspaper and I read the colored comics and we didn't talk... and it was great. However, if you ask my dad, he thinks it was my younger brother on those freezing mornings, but I distinctly remember the phrase "your dog, your responsibility" and now refuse to live in an area where snow visits my house. Anywho, living in southern California now, there aren't many real bagel places to be found, but I am lucky enough to have one such establishment in the town next to mine and so have shared with my kids the joy of boiled bagels, bagel dogs and bialys.

 

Why is tradition so important?

Whether your family is more Normal Rockwell or Norman Bates, tradition is a defining factor of both family and personal identity. When appreciated properly they enhance not only special occasions, but imbue daily life with flavor and magic. They give us comfort and something to look forward to. Tradition is a bond the ties us to each other and our roots- both familial and historical.

 

         

Christmas Part 3: The Flavor of Christmas

Keeping this short and decidedly sweet- One full day of Christmas fare from my kitchen to yours.

Clearly not from my kitchen, but you get the idea

Buckwheat pancakes rolls

1 cup sifted flour
1/2 cup buckwheat flour
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp salt
1 well beaten egg
1 1/4 cup milk- add more milk for thinner pancakes
3 Tbsp vegetable oil

Sift the flours, baking powder and salt.
Mix the egg, milk and oil.
Mix the wet ingredients with the dry, but don't over beat them or the pancakes become tough. Bake on a griddle, lightly greased if you prefer.



Scrumtralescent

My family prefers these pancakes thin enough to roll- we garnish with Nutella or maple syrup (we are syrup purists) and the buckwheat has a rich, almost nutty flavor. But fruit or other speads would work. The buckwheat pancake roll also lends itself really well to savory flavors, like ham and Swiss.

I usually accompany this favorite with bacon from the oven, and eggs quick fried in the leftover bacon grease (don't judge, it's one morning a year).

Sandwich Wreath

1/2 lb of lean hamburger meat
1 pkg frozen spinach, thawed & drained
1 medium/small yellow onion, diced
1-2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 cup mushrooms, diced
1 tsp oregano
1Tbsp Olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
1 pkg Crescent rolls
browning sauce optional
sliced or shredded pepper-jack cheese

Preheat oven to instructions on crescent rolls. Heat the oil in a sauce pan and sweat the onions and garlic. Next, add mushrooms to brown before adding meat. Add oregano and salt and pepper to taste. Once the meat mixture is sufficiently browned, (I sometimes add a little browning sauce for flavor), stir in drained spinach. Drain any excess liquid.




Once closed, I wove them together

On a cookie sheet, separate and arrange the crescent triangles to form a circle, overlapping the edges. It should look like a large round star. Scoop spoonfuls of the meat mixture onto the broad part of the triangles, spreading evenly. cover with cheese- I prefer a nice heavy layer. Take the top point of the triangle and fold it over diagonally to seal with the base of the next triangle and repeat until the formation is like a wreath. meat and cheese will be visible. Put in oven until bread is golden brown.



Hot chocolate- we like the Ovaltine Malt flavor with warm milk (instead of water) and a big scoop of frozen Cool Whip or Marshmellow Fluff. I sometimes add a dollop of heavy cream for added thickness and we may dunk Snickers or Musketeer bars in- again, this is only once a year.

Lemon Sherry Chicken

This is a hybrid of a recipe from a friend and my mother. Always a hit.

1 pkg of boneless, skinless chicken tenders or breasts (if breast, cut to scale)
salt and fresh ground pepper (I prefer lemon pepper)
1 1/4 stick of butter
2 Tbsp Dry Sherry (I prefer 1/2 cup)
2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice (I prefer the whole lemon)
2 tsp lemon zest (I use the whole lemon)
1 cup whipping cream
Parmesan cheese (optional- I don't use it if I am using the whole lemon)
3 Tbsp capers, drained
1 pkg white mushrooms, rinsed


Preheat oven to 350. Melt one stick of butter in skillet. Flatten chicken- use a mallet or a pin, get that frustration out without ruining the meat though. Season with salt and pepper on both sides. Add chicken and cook until solid white or slightly brown (no more than 5 minutes per side). Transfer to oven safe baking dish, allowing excess butter to drip back into skillet. Add remaining butter to skillet and brown mushrooms. Add lemon zest, juice and capers. Add sherry and bring mix to a boil. Slowly stir in cream and mix. Pour sauce over chicken- taste the sauce to decide if you want to add the parmesan. Broil for about 5-10 minutes depending on the color of the chicken.

 Haricot Vert (French green beans)

1 lb fresh green beans- look for the thin kind, those are the French ones

1 qt water

1 cube chicken bouillion

2 Tbsp butter

1 clove garlic, minced

1 medium/large shallot

1 cup slivered almonds

Salt to taste

Bring water and salt to a boil. Add washed and trimmed green beans and bring back to a boil. Remove pot from heat and dump hot water and immediately blanche with cold water rinse. In a sauce pan, melt butter to sweat shallots and garlic. Add beans. Add 1 cup of water and bouillion cube, cover and allow to simmer, salt to taste. Plate for serving and garnish with slivered almonds. (Pictured above)

Herb Roasted Carrots

1 bag of thick carrots

Parsley

Thyme

Oregano

Salt

Pepper

2 Tbsp Olive Oil
2 cloves garlic, minced

Lemon Juice- just a squirt
1 medium shallot (optional)

This recipe couldn't be easier- I'm not sure it really even qualifies as a recipe.
Chop the carrot diagonally into bite sized pieces and put in oven safe dish- add diced shallot if desired (I like it). Coat evenly with olive oil and  garlic. Sprinkle with herbs, salt and pepper until coated to your satisfaction- I prefer a generous smattering. squirt a little lemon juice over the top and pop in to over for 30 min.



Martha Stewart's Crispy Roasted Potatoes

I cannot improve upon this recipe and don't even want to try. One of the great things about Martha Stewart is how simple her recipes are- very few and simple ingredients, but insane flavor. The ease of her shopping list allows for clean eating and can be translated to fit most diets. She knows her business.

Fudge

Mix #1:

8 oz Hershey bar

8 oz pkg of semi-sweet chocolate chips

8 oz jar Marshmellow Fluff

Mix #2

6 1/2 oz condensed milk

2 1/2 cup sugar

1/4 lb margarine

                                                     2 Tbsp vanilla



Prep Mix 1 by grating the candy bar and mixing with chocolate chips and Fluff.

Combine ingredients for Mix 2 in a sauce pan and bring to rapid boil. Boil for 4.5 minutes then remove from heat. Add Mix 1 to Mix 2. Stir quickly.

Blend until fully brown and all lumps are removed. At this point you can pour it onto a wax sheeted cookie tray and refrigerate, but I've started to experiment with flavors. I divide it in separate bowls to create different flavors. I suggest orange extract, raspberry extract, peppermint extract (topped with crushed candy canes), coconut, mini M&Ms, slivered almonds.


I did promise spirits this week, and as such, I'm going back to my girl Martha. This recipe- not my own- is flawless. As the song says, "Have a good old cup of cheer!"

Christmas Punch Recipe

These are a few of the favorites that are offered on my holiday table. Happy Holidays and Bon Appetit.