So if you think Im over the top when it comes to being in the kitchen at the holidays.
This is what my sister Deborah, posted today.
It is the family xmas weekend cookie making list that they carry on and track. Based in the one my Mom started over 50 years ago.
A few from my own kitchen archives…
I do not have affiliate agreements with any of these vendors – I just like the products.
Plant Apothecary.com is running its Black Friday sale and including free shipping for orders over $25. They are one of my fav body washes and I purchase the Wakey Wakey and Get it On pretty regularly. But also love Start Happy one.These I also have affiliate agreements with – so for transparency, I am noting that:
Hey Everyone, I hope you are recovering from however you choose to celebrate on Thursday. I know some of you have jumped on the Black Friday bandwagon. Like, may of you, this year more than ever I will be shopping more online. But while I will still use some of the “big-box stores” I also am making an effort to use local and small businesses when I can.
Several recommendations I have I will list below as well.
Hanging out at a coffee shop is usually part of my morning ritual when I travel, as Paul usually sleeps in. It gets me out of bed and catching up with local pals or out walking. Not to mention they often serve as part of my mobile office on more than one occasion. Now – it is no secret that a part of my heart is always in Provincetown and I have posted about my trips back a number of times. Well, my old college pal, Glenn, and two friends of his took over ownership of Joe’s Coffee in February of 2019. They even managed to make it into my last summer’s TikToks about the new app they had rolled out while I was working on the COVID19 response instead of vacationing this year.
@frank_mentorsfOne of the of the few gifts of #COVID19 is app & web based ordering. #coffee #coffeeshop #notalkingbeforecoffee #fypシ #provincetown #notalk
Joe Coffee is running my favorite type of promotion this season. For every purchase you make, they are giving back money to Provincetown’s Soup Kitchen. SKIP as it is known in town prepares upwards of 150 hot lunches a day from Nov – April each year and with so many people not working as much leading into the winter – supporting these programs is more important than ever.
Joe Coffee is running two winter promotions;
For all gift cards purchased between Nov 28 and Sunday, Dec. 13- they will donate money to SKIP. the more the value, the more they donate.
To order your gift cards (which can be sent via email to the recipient if you want to send as a gift) use this GIFT CARD Link: https://www.toasttab.com/joe-coffee-cafe/giftcards
You can also purchase a SKIP GUEST CUP OF COFFEE either online from anywhere across the USA or In-Cafe at the register. Each of these sold, will be added to the 150 FREE COFFEE COUPONS they already plan to include in the SKIP GUEST lunch bags on the day that Joe Coffee sponsors lunches. These coupons come in handy when someone wants a reason to hit the coffeeshop and money is tight. Sure – will it save the world? No. But can help someone have some reason to get out (masks and all) without worrying does that money need to be spent elsewhere.
You can buy a SKIP coffee donation here: https://www.toasttab.com/joe-coffee-cafe/v3
For more information on Joe Coffee you can visit them online at https://www.joecoffeeptown.com/ or check out its Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/joecoffeeptown and Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/joecoffeeptown/
For more on SKIP visit them online at https://www.skipfood.org or visit the SKIP’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soupkitcheninprovincetown/
Note – This post has no paid affiliate links – I earn nothing from sharing this post.
I had posted this over on Mentorsf.com/Engage this morning and figured I would share here as well.
Unlike when I talk about cable these days – “I have nothing to read” are words you will rarely hear come out of my mouth.
Whats makes that even better has been my Amazon Prime membership. It’s been a constant companion since I was back in school. From Summer and winter “disconnect trips” to my commutes between San Francisco and DC/Atlanta. Having the ability to download groups of books has meant I always have something to read.
Summer Reads
With COVID19 keeping so many of us indoors, in addition to many bookstores closing up, many of us have not been able to get to our fav bookstores. So while I still advocate using independent bookstores when you can. It may be time for you to try #Amazon Prime. I’ve been a fan of it for several years.
They currently have a discount promo being offered with 50% off the regular monthly subscription; https://amzn.to/3llLOAp
Learn from the students who know.
Adjustable and dimmable ring lights offer a flexible easy way to give you better lighting. Also great for new tiktok users and stuck-at-home workers needing portable lighting.
Get 50% off till 9/4 from my link for the one I use.
Neewer 18-inch SMD LED Ring Light Dimmable Lighting Kit w/stand 50% off with code till 9/4.
Neewer 18-inch SMD LED Ring Light Dimmable Lighting Kit w/stand 50% off with code till 9/4.
As a way to stay mentally challenged from the other side of my brain – I started to learn how to use epoxy-resin as resin-art.
A lot of this was inspired as a new way for me to use more of the old jewelry pieces I used for the 2019 Holiday Trees and 2018’s Planner Keepers and Bookmarks when I was given a box of old jewelry to do something with. So since then I keep trying new ways to use up the “broken and unloved baubles & beads” as more people donate them to me to give them a new life as gifts for others.
I first started with pouring and casting coasters to get a feel for the process (and yes they will most likely show up somewhere come December for gifts). It was an interesting process needing to pay attention to the temperature in the room and bubbles etc. from Coasters I branched out to more art-themed pieces with some multidimensional art with some practice pieces using an owl mold filled with pebbles for feathers.
This week I wanted to begin to use up some leftover resin before we close up and head back east in a few weeks at the end of the month.
That means going back into the “gaudy baubles & beads” box for some finishing touches to a series of bookmarks for those that still read actual physical books.
For the background in how I reuse old previously loved, broken and vintage jewelry and the gaudy baubles box visit: https://bitetheroad.com/dec2019recap/
I decided to see how free form resin pours would come out with an eye towards making a vase/candy dish/trinket bowl type thingy. Definite lessons learned but for my first try, it’s not awful. The with the surplus resin I did a series of bookmarks
Plenty of time with the 4-legged boss while managing to teach to night classes.
Just found out that that the “What the “Bears” can teach Goldilocks” talk I did for TEDxProvincetown 2018 now has the transcript translated in three languages including Japanese https://www.ted.com/talks/frank_strona_what_the_bears_can_teach_goldilocks
This is what happens when Paul And I watch Saturday morning cooking shows.
P: Honey. Make this…
Me: What? The Mexican inspired pizza?
P: No, the green sauce. Let’s do “make your own Tacos”. So we can use it.
Me: “eye roll”. Fine. I bet you mean use hard taco shells too. Not the soft ones .
So the end result; I swapped out a kicked up ground turkey for traditional carnitas (pork) that I wasn’t about to make or regular ground beef. Used whatever greens I had around and dinner is ready. Paul got his Taco and as usual mine got turned into a layered salad.
The roasted Tomatillo Salsa recipe is great. Will make again. Note to self; 1 roasted jalapeño wasn’t enough. A second or add the seeds/ribs next time
Getting lots of specifc food cravings too. So this Instant Pot Rice Pudding with cinnamon, shredded coconut, and my new non-dairy decadent treat – “condensed coconut milk”; all the sticky sweetness without the dairy hit the spot. Using lactaid free milk also added to the whole, making the whole dessert good for is “intolerant” folks. Chilling now to set but looks super easy to replace items and with only 20 min cook plus set up – including cooking the rice.
Another win at the house was a simple Instant Pot, 5-spice chicken & vegatable stew to go along with our Jodie Foster weekend. From Hotel Artemis to Silence of the Lambs
Been dragging recipes up “from the past” treat was inspired by strawberries that needed to get used. Old school Strawberry Shortcake with a twist of sweetened greek yogurt cream and homemade biscuits.
One day I even had time to have a cookie day with my version of “monster cookies”. Pretty much an “anything goes” coolie, so perfect way to use up bits of this and that.. chocolate bunnies from easter, nuts, m&ms, etc. it’s no delicate tea cookie. Its a solid oatmeal and peanut butter base great dunking.
The boys got all excited about a 70’s fav dish with “shake & bake” porkchops, baked sweet potatoes & green beans from our childhood too which was part of retro week. When I did a past’ & beans for dinner. A favorite since I was a kid and money was tight. Its kinda like the italian-american version of fast comfort food. Not to mention all the Friday grill ups we have been doing
I’ll be getting some recipes up this week too
Always a challenge, but more so when I didn’t get off work till late. So after I did a search in the depth of my freezer to see what I had to work with.
With some frozen chicken, red potatoes, assorted herbs, broccoli and some jarred black bean and corn salsa. My dinner was set. After I added veggies to steam in the residual heat for a final few minutes. Dinner was ready in 30 minutes.
In the Instant Pot; add 5-10 red potatoes, rinsed and halved. Add 4-6 frozen chicken breasts, pour 1 cup of water and one 24 ounce jar of the corn and bean salsa, add 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, salt and pepper to taste. Add a few stems of rosemary, (or any other herbs). Got some dried fruit? Sun-dried tomatoes? Toss them in too. Save Cilantro for topping at the end.
Turn the IP on pressure cook for 20 minutes, use then use the quick release, toss in the broccoli and cover again for 5 minutes to “steam”. Add chopped Cilantro, a few squeezes of lime and serve
Thats it!
While not everything I want is available at the stores- I am finding some fun in coming up with ideas using what I have. Vanilla Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip “Pop Tart” wedges, was one that rose to the top. Then just because Paul is lamenting the Walking Dead “COVID-interuptus” episode last week, his got topped with ice cream and a dollop of whip cream.
And a rainy Sunday seemed like a good day for banana choc chop & peanut butter bread
While we settled in after already being on lockdown for several weeks. The May 1 extension for #ShelterInPlace got my crazies in play too.
I adjusted the “kitchen” with labels and containers as the new “employee lounge”. With three adults all teleworking from home, often from 7am -7pm, this is where we meet during office hours. The boys appreciated my humor…
Order up!
I even joined in the scavenger hunt and put one of the only bears I have in the window. With a little light swing to brighten him up at night.
Of course Paul managed to make Dino part of the madness. Poor Dino but he is taking it in stride and loves us home so much.
As a fun distraction, way to connect and meet new people and mostly for general silly fun.
@frank_mentorsf
@frank_mentorsf #duet with @jamusic4 Taking a #StellaDora break from #Covid19 today.
@frank_mentorsf
Well its that time of January, when I am finally back on track and catching up on all the delays, vacation emails from folks. The majority of the holiday decor is down and we are settling into more rain here in the Bay Area. Below is a visual recap of some of the highlights.
This year I went back into my craft pile and decided I was going to use more of the surplus old jewelry pieces I use of when I made the Planner Keepers and Book Jewels in 2018. While I had initially thought I would do ornaments, I somehow got my vision shifted and ended up making decorative pinecones “globes”. While a bitch to ship, I am happy to say all but two arrive in tack and I even have a few extra still around to give as gifts or sell. The only “new” as in pre-owned that I needed to purchase to make these were the vases that got used as the globe parts. With each one taking about 2 days plus dry time. Needless to say, a few folks got them late. A couple of folks were all “you should sell them”. And I’m like and what, call them “Gaudy Baubles”? Hey.. that could work too.
While a lot of work – it was pretty cool to see the progress. Even if the house was covered in glitter snow.
The rest of December was pretty casual. No big party this year did a super casual last-minute potluck with a few pals. I managed to back a few treats while Paul recovered from some dental work. Scored a great find at Salvation Army with a 5 foot “Santa” which didn’t get added into the decorations but it was a pretty damp holiday. Did try out two new cake recipes which were hits as well as some fun vintage ornaments I scored. then a great dinner at our favorite steakhouse for New Year’s Eve. So overall a good way to wrap up 2020
