"Truth be told, for a long time, I wouldn't give this recipe out. Then I realized that I was doing the world a great disservice by not sharing it. This is a twist on the traditional mashed potatoes served at every holiday meal. My in-laws have dubbed it Mubba-tatoes (Mubba's my nickname) and its the only kind my mother in law will eat. Last year when they spent the holidays with us, on several occasions I would discover that my father in law- a serious diabetic who shouldn't eat these- would be sneaking them in the middle of the night. They really are the best mashed potatoes you will ever eat.
8-10 potatoes
1 tsp fresh garlic
1 stick butter
1 block cream cheese
approx 1/2 cup sour cream
Boil the potatoes like usual, except when you throw the potatoes in the pot, include the garlic as well. When they're done cooking, add the butter and cream cheese. Mash until smooth. A Kitchen Aid does an exceptional job. After the potatoes are smooth, add sour cream. You might want to add some more- I usually do. But it depends on your personal taste. If you don't have any garlic, you can add ranch dressing with the sour cream- but only a few tablespoons.
These are in no way good for your physical health. But boy are they good for your mental health. Total comfort food."
I usually poke holes all over the roast and then sprinkle on the spices, squeeze out the juice of a grapefruit and orange and then wrap it in bacon to cook. I usually cook it in the crockpot for about 6 hours. (Mom does it in the oven). We don’t measure, but you can smell and judge what are good amounts of things.
On Christmas Day, we use the leftover pork to make Cuban Sandwiches. We also then fry the yucca and make yucca fries with a lemony garlic sauce.
Christmas Day Cuban Sandwiches
French Bread
Leftover Pork, pulled apart
Yellow Mustard
Swiss Cheese
Ham
Dill Pickles
Butter
We cut the French bread lengthwise and then spread mustard onto both sides of the bread. Then, we put on the pork, ham, cheese and pickles. Then we close up the French bread to make one big long sandwich and butter the outside of the bread. Then take a cookie sheet and a heavy iron pan and put it over the bread and press down onto a griddle at about 300*. Flip the sandwich when the bread starts to get brown the cheese is melting. Cut it up into smaller sandwiches and eat with yucca fries (pictured below) or potato chips."
It’s not Christmas morning at our house without Lemon Bread! We have this, and pull apart cake. Lemon Bread is my favorite, and pull apart cake is my husband’s. So, we do both. Oh darn, lots and lots of sugar-coated bread for us to eat.
Lemon Bread
3/4 cup milk 1/3 cup sugar 1 pkg yeast 4 1/2 cup sifted flour juice and grated rind of 1 lemon Glaze (directions below) 1/2 cup margarine 1/2 tsp salt 1/4 cup warm water 2 eggs, beaten
In small saucepan, scald milk. Stir in butter, sugar, and salt. (If you use powdered milk, you can skip this and just warm the ingredients in the microwave.) Cool to lukewarm. In small bowl, sprinkle yeast into warm water. Stir until yeast is dissolved. In large bowl, place flour. Add milk mixture, dissolved yeast, eggs, and lemon juice and rind. Mix well. On lightly floured surface, knead dough until smooth. Place in a large, greased bowl. Cover with wax paper and clean towel. Let rise until doubled. Then, punch dough down. Shape as desired. Let rise until half double in size. Bake 10 mins at 325 and then 30-35 mins at 359.
Glaze: 2 cups powdered sugar, juice and rind of 1 lemon. Pour over bread while still warm.
"No thanksgiving or Christmas feast is complete without the most AMAZING cream corn. If you have ever had cream corn in a can, completely throw that out the window! I had never had it and just the other day I accidentally bought it instead of regular canned corn. No wonder my in-laws thought I was absolutly nuts when I said I loved the stuff, They had only had the canned JUNK, which looked like the most disgusting thing I had ever seen. That went straight in the trash. You MUST try this recipe at your next feast. mmmmm I am salivating right now. This recipe reminds me of the holidays. ENJOY!
Cream Corn (Megan's Favorite)
20 oz. package corn ( petite white is the best)
8 oz. whipping cream
8 oz. milk
1 tsp. salt
6 tsp. sugar
Combine all together and bring to a boil and then simmer 5 min.
Mix together 2 tbs. melted butter
2 tbs. flour
Combine with corn, heat till bubbly. Put in casserole dish and Broil till brown."
What are the holidays about if not food?! (Don't answer that)What are your favorite holiday treats? Do you have something you always make at Christmas as gifts or for your family to chow down on? Let's share some festive recipes! (And if people don't email in I'll just post up a bunch of my favorites, yes I have that power! haha!)
"Oh man I LOVE Christmas Music. And I HATE it. Oh yes, Christmas music and I have the most powerful love-hate relationship of all time, more even than Claudio and Hero of Shakespeare fame.
I'll be the first person to delcare myself to be a music snob, I wear the badge proudly. But don't think for a second that I am going to judge you for listening to Kanye West or Mariah Carey. Too many people mistakenly assume that because I am a music snob I only listen to what they call "classical" music. Let's just throw that out right now. It's no that I only listen to stuff that is more than 100 years old, its that I only listen to GOOD music. There's a difference. Your misconception comes perhaps fromt he fact that very little bad music lasts for over 100 years, so naturally the good old stuff is stuff that I listen to. (And don't even get me started on the defifnition of "classical" music. Let me sum up. If you get to call everything that was written more than 100 years ago "classical" then I get to call everything that was written less than 100 years ago "pop". The minute you try to correct me as to what constitutes "Pop", hip hop, R&B, rap, country, tweenie music, boy bands, or whatever else you want to lecture me on, I will return with a lecture on the difference between Bach and Beethoven, who were incidentally seperated by more than 150 years as well as the purpose with which they composed music. There is so much more difference there than there is between Miley Cyrus and Tupak, seriously, Bach and Beethoven even altered their harmonic structures!)
But we should step off that soapbox and return to Christmas music. Also, I am going through these questions backwards.
3)What is your least favorite song, the one you can't stand? You know it, there is that one song that forces you to change the radio station when it comes on. Here's your chance to rant.
Once upon a time, I was called a "Music-Hating Grinch". That's right. Granted it was before I was accepted to sing with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir (which is a recent development ni my life) but it was by a fellow cast member in an opera. It was because I posted a blog post about the worst Christmas songs ever, which you are welcome to read if you would like. (personally I think its the best bit of writing I have ever done) http://ibeimomenti.blogspot.com/2008/12/top-ten-worst-christmas-songs-ever.html
Now the thing you have to know about this list, whether or not you choose to read it, is that its really about the sincerity of the music. I always judge music on its sincerity, but I am convinced that above all other music, Christmas music should be held to a standard of truthfulness and sincerity. I'm not so concerned if a song doesn't quite reflect my personal beliefs, but I get pretty up in arms about whether or not it reflects the beliefs of the people singing it. Like Niel Diamond (A Jewish man) singing O Holy Night. I have no patience for it. Maybe he can get away with Joy to the World, since the text reflects a Jewish belief in a coming Messiah. Or that crap about the Christmas Shoes, which is a fictional story written to induce a false emotional response. No wonder people think religion is a lie, if this is the crap they hear. The scriptures are pretty clear, Faith has to be in something that is True. Which is also why the Forgotten Carols top off my list of worst Christmas songs ever. Two words: Not True.
(Now you see why I had to go backwards. There is some stuff I feel really strongly about.)
2) Which Christmas song touches you the most or has the most profound message in your opinion?
Some of my favorites have already come up. Ally mentioned that text from In the Bleak Mid-Winter, which I absolutely love. The other bit of text that brings me to tears every time is from a Mack Wilberg arrangement of The First Noel. You can find it on one of the Tab Choir Christmas CDs, but I know it from having sung it before they did (Hah! Me First!)
Then let us all with one accord Sing praises to our Heavenly Lord That He this glorious earth hath wrought And with His blood mankind hath bought. NOEL!
But you also just HAVE to hear the recording, I mean the sopranos do this soaring note and the harmonies just build into this glorious moment and I'm just sayin'. Wow.
1) What is your all-time favorite Christmas song or the CD you always throw in the first day of December? Or your favorite song to sing?
OK, here is where I confess to being one of those people that keeps Christmas music on my little ipod shuffle all year round. Sometimes its just a few, sometimes its a ton, and always it includes that recording of The First Noel. But come the day after thanksgiving the first cd I throw in is the soundtrack from the new Miracle on 34th Street. It's a great blend of music, and the very last song is this very pretty "Song for a Winter's Night" by Sarah Mclachlan. It's actually one of the few songs I could leave on repeat for an entire day and never get tired of it. But it's not very easy to find, so it's nice that its not done often and that I'm the only one really humming it all the time."
"Many years ago, I attended school at the University of Wisconsin in La Crosse. It was lonely, I'm not gonna lie. The town was built around a brewery. In fact, their claim to fame is that they have the longest stretch of bars in the world. 3rd Street in downtown La Crosse stretches for over 5 miles. And its all bars. During my time in La Crosse, as far as friends go, I had to choose between those who drank legally and those who drank illegally. I chose those who drank legally. I had two other friends who also felt that way- one was greek orthodox and the other was a devout non-denominational Christian who lived as she believed. One night, while all of campus was at the Campus Christmas Drinking Party, my devout non-denominational Christian friend and I enjoyed dinner and exchanged presents and goodbyes. Since I wasn't going to be returning after Christmas break, it was really the last time we'd see each other. She gave me a CD called Jingle Bell Jazz. She had found it at Williams Sonoma in the check out aisle- you know one of those $5 go to charity deals. Its a collection of several classic Jazz artists doing Christmas songs. Beautiful. We were both music majors- french horn players- and both loved listening to the rich sounds of Billie Holladay and Frank Sinatra- fully recognizing of course that being horn players, we'd never possess the talent that it takes to execute such music.
(Melissa, this is the picture I found when I googled it...is it the right one? It's on Amazon, I want to buy it if it's the right one!)
I brought the CD out to Provo with me when I transferred and introduced it to my new roommates. They all fell in love with it. We listened to it quite a bit during those years. Many nights we would sit on the couches sipping hot chocolate and listening to it. Or building our gingerbread houses- like the epic quidditch field we built one year. The CD not only reminds me of Christmas, but also of my dear devout non-denominational Christian friend who was a lifesaver during my freshman year of college, and of my Centenniel #224 roommates and the good times we had there. Now, when I'm feeling crabby during the Christmas season, Matt will turn it on and it immediately brightens my mood. I love it!
The Christmas song that I think is the most profound is "I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day." Longfellow does a beautiful job expressing the meaning of Christmas in those verses.
The Christmas song that I can't deal with is Feliz Navidad. It reminds me of a certain choir teacher from my youth who played it all the time and he was a creep. Plus, it really is just annoying."
1) What is your all-time favorite Christmas song or the CD you always throw in the first day of December? Or your favorite song to sing?
"D. All of the above. Okay, not all of the above. Lucky for me, I have a 6 CD changer, and I throw them in and put it on shuffle. I couldn’t pick just one. Right now, “Celtic Women” is playing. We also really enjoy “The Jamaican Noel”, by a group that I can’t remember the name of. "
2) Which Christmas song touches you the most or has the most profound message in your opinion?
"Handel’s Messiah wins “most profound message”, hands down. But, one song that I enjoy thinking about is “Little Drummer Boy”. It’s not just a story about a little boy who played the drum. It is a story about Christ accepting our gifts, no matter how small they are. And, it is a story about how the greatest gift we can give Him is the use of our talents. It reminds me to not downplay how important what I can do is, even if it pales in comparison to the other gifts people give."
(Jessica, I found this video of two things you mentioned you like! I'm awesome. It's a pretty arrangement. I approve.)
3)What is your least favorite song, the one you can't stand?
"Christmas Shoes for my dead mother. I always yell “No” when it comes on the radio, and change the station. The other one is “Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time”, which my husband finds amusing to sing to me. Oh, and wait, speaking of my husband, he seems to be missing his Alvin the Chipmunks CD. Gee, I can’t imagine what happened to it. (insert evil laugh). No, actually, I don’t know where it is. But, I’m not making much of an effort to find it, that’s for sure."
1) For some reason, I love Harry Connick Jr at Christmas time. He makes me happy. I think it's because my mom used to always play his songs when I was a kid (I think she's got a pretty big crush on him!), and now his voice just says Christmas and fun and excitement to me. I just want to throw a Christmas party and drink lots of hot chocolate and eat Christmas cookies! If you listen to this and you don't smile, I will wonder if you've got some Grinch in you.
2) In terms of Christmas songs that have really touched me, I think automatically of O Holy Night, which can always get my heart pounding. I'm sure most of you won't argue with me on that one. There's also great arrangement of The First Noel with Pachelbel's Canon that I love. But I couldn't find a version of it on youtube that wasn't a bunch of middle schoolers belting it out, so I will spare you the video and let you imagine it in your mind.
But one of my other favorites is Sissel singing "In the Bleak Mid-Winter" with the MoTab. The song is haunting, the lyrics are beautiful.
What can I give Him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb; If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part; Yet what I can I give Him... give my heart.
3) Christmas music I can't stand? I'm sorry but I absolutely despise "The Twelve Days of Christmas"- it is repetitive and obnoxious and must be destroyed.
And I will never understand the lyrics to "Baby it's cold outside." I once wrote a rant about this on my blog. This is not a healthy relationship- him trying to talk her into staying even though she's nervous about it. And then there's this exchange: Her: The neighbors might think... Him: Baby, it's bad out there. Her: Say, what's in this drink? And every time I hear it I think it's amazing how they've made date-rape seem so festive.
Hey everyone, I'm back! Sorry for slacking on the blog lately, I have been focused on making it through my morning sickness. But luckily I now have drugs and I'm feeling better, so let's get chatting!
It's Christmas time! Let's talk about one of the best things about Christmas: the music!!
1) What is your all-time favorite Christmas song or the CD you always throw in the first day of December? Or your favorite song to sing?
2) Which Christmas song touches you the most or has the most profound message in your opinion?
3)What is your least favorite song, the one you can't stand? You know it, there is that one song that forces you to change the radio station when it comes on. Here's your chance to rant.
Tis the season to be jolly. Fa la la la la la la la LA!
"When I was young (yes I was young once) my grandma Gangee (yes we called her Gangee) brought donuts every Halloween, right before Trick or Treating. You young Moms may want to establish your own family traditions, although I have to say in the 60's high blood sugar wasn't as much of a concern (at least not in my house). So anyway, Gangee arrived with the donuts the year I had strept throat, and I couldn't swallow a bite. You know the rules, if you don't eat your donut, you can't go Trick or Treating for candy. After all the hours I had put into painting a large cardboard box tombstone gray, and inscribing the words 'Here lie the bones of Tom Jones, who should have looked before he leaped' - I was miserable. Luckily, my siblings were all taxed to cover my losses, kinda like nationalized healthcare, and I made out like bandit. Also had a great costume ready for the following year. Every cloud has a silver lining..."
I will never forget the Christmas morning when I sat under the tree, surrounded by gifts and family members tearing into their gifts.
And I had to lay down. You KNOW you are sick when you can't even scrounge up the energy to open your presents on Christmas morning.
I later ended up hospitalized for dehydration and high fever from my pneumonia. But the worst moment of all was not being able to open my gifts. Bah humbug!
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What are your favorite holiday treats? Do you have something you always make at Christmas as gifts or for your family to chow down on? Let's share some festive recipes! (And if people don't email in I'll just post up a bunch of my favorites, yes I have that power! haha!)
Pick one or all of the questions below and email me (
