With the holidays over and the winter temperatures plummeting lower and lower, there are many sporting events tune into from the warmth and comfort of home. The NFL play-off have begun, basketball and hockey are in full swing and, in our house, the Premiere League is a weekend staple. So, regardless of what you are staying in for, you are going to need the game-time snacks.
Being a New Englander, the beginning of the play-offs is the kick-off to the road to the championship. Thus, it is time to start planning and practicing the game-day snacks for the BIG GAME! And today, we started with game day basics, buffalo chicken dip and wings. And while the dip recipe is pretty basic, there can be some huge variations for the marinade for the wings. We start of with some mild flavors and then will escalate to find the right balance of heat and flavor.
But, these snacks, while always well received comfort food, are just the beginning. In the coming weeks, as the play-offs continue, there will be a big push to raise the bar. And honestly, if the temps stay as frigid as they have been this past week, spending time in the kitchen with the oven on will easily become my winter happy place.
In the security of my kitchen, I plan to leave my comfort zone to experiment on some new recipes that I have historically deferred to others to bring to the table. And with my growing boys as taste testers, there is really no excuse not to try. Worse case, they’ll be too engrossed in the game to care or notice if there is a miss. So, since we cannot tell Alexa to skip winter, we might as well use the time inside to master some recipes!
“What you are afraid of doing is a clear indication of what you must do next.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
As we rollover into a new year, there are resolutions made with the willing hopefulness to make changes. And many of these changes involve what we eat and drink. And all is good when we feel empowered to choose to make these changes. But what about the changes we do not choose???
There are habits we each have: the good, the bad and the benign that we may never consider changing. And then, out of the blue, just as 2018 was coming to a close…your daily coffee house announces they will be closing in a just a few short days. And yes, these things happen all of the time and we just need to adapt. But this “small thing” of my coffee changing after 23 years is more than the coffee itself, it is also a daily routine that has changed.
So, regardless of planned or unplanned changes for the new year, it is a time to embrace the possibilities. It is an opportunity to imagine of my morning routine can improve in my quest to find my new cup of joe or begin to embrace the variety of tea options. In many ways, the routine of my mornings; work days, weekends and even holidays has revolved around my trip to the coffee house. So, while I look to replace my coffee stop, I have the opportunity to re-design my mornings. Additionally, as this change has been forced upon me, it leaves no room for resistance. There is no fight to hold on to the old; the only option is to look forward and hope for better.
And although this change was not planned, many are embarking on thoughtful, planned changes. And while this too is significant work, the bright side is that it typically takes just two weeks to develop a new habit. So weather it is the “simple” change in coffee or a bigger challenge of removing sugar, carbs or processed foods from your diet that you may have resolved to do this year, just remember…two weeks. Really not that long to start a new habit and with the new habit, your tastes will change and before you know it, the change will not seem like work. The habit and/or taste will become routine and hopefully enhance life in the manner in which was envisioned.
So, embrace change and best of luck to all that are taking steps to change what they eat and the habits that are associated with this. I am hopeful these changes are the beginning steps to new habits.
Happy New Year!
“When you can’t change the direction of the wind – adjust your sails.” – H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
December is here and holiday prep is underway. The tree has been cut, the pantry is fully stocked with baking supplies and today, a trip to the liquor store for the cocktail essentials is complete and am now ready to begin making spirits bright.
While the joy of holiday parties is to mix and mingle; it is also fun to try out new cocktails. And a staple to have in stock is pro
secco. Prosecco chilled on it’s own or in combination with other ingredients can easily add the sparkle to your glass of cheer.
A classic; the Poinsettia, with a splash of cointreau and cranberry juice is a crowd pleaser; simple, crisp and clean. Then, taking that to the next level; my newly added cocktail recipe, the Raspberry Sparkle. This concoction is a result of taking other favorites which build on the prosecco base with a step up of flavor and a splash of color for a festive treat.
But if prosecco isn’t your thing, no worries…I have added another new one that I am calling the Abominable for it’s stark white color and, as my husband put it , “punch in the face flavor. ” And, if you have more than one, you may become a Bumble; I double-dog dare you!
I plan to pour quite a bit of holiday cheer and happy to pass along the recipes that pass the test. But, if all of the hustle and bustle is making your head spin and you can’t grapple with the mixing of potions, the classic glass of red, white or bubbly may be all you need.
And as the weeks progress through the holiday season, going from one get together to another, continue to check MainelyMartha.com for additional holiday spirits to try out this season….and jingle all the way!
I’m dreaming of a white Christmas but if the white runs out, I’ll drink red.
Ok, Thanksgiving and Black Friday have past and now it is time to get down to business…the countdown is officially on. It is time to start the baking, doing party prep and all the joy in which that entails. After all it is the most wonderful time of the year!
As cookies are a big part of my Christmas, today was the kick-off to baking. A double batch of the orange cloud cookies, followed by a couple batches of chocolate dough for the turtle treasure cookies. The orange cloud cookies free
ze beautifully and can be eaten straight from the freezer, making the the obvious first bake of the season. Followed by the chocolate caramel treasures dough to be tucked away to chill until right before sharing. However, the cookie dough made in advance is a huge benefit to get some of the work done in advance.
Another part of the holiday season, bigger than cookies, are the holiday gatherings. Thanksgiving, although profound for giving thanks, is merely the prelude to the joy of the season in coming together with friends and family. This is why, in between batches of cookies, there is menu planning. Reviewing and /or testing appetizers and cocktails for the mix and mingle events to the main dishes and desserts for larger events.
For it is the coming together with friends and family that exudes the true feeling of Christmas. Eat, drink and be merry are the simple joys that make the season bright. So get planning and start baking…tis the season!
And continue to check in throughout the holiday the season for new cookie, appetizer and cocktail recipes that will be added regularly.
“Christmas is a togethery sort of holiday” Winne the Pooh
In preparation for this week’s post I had been focused on Thanksgiving; the appetizers, the dinner, and dessert recipes I had to share, the drink recipes I wanted to test and maybe share and then realized hat as much as Thanksgiving revolves around food and drink, I need to pause to be thankful for much more.
There are so many, near and far that are struggling and may not have the holiday that so many of us will. This Thanksgiving will be unlike any other for so many. As a result, I cannot just give thanks on Thanksgiving, but be mindful and appreciative every day for everything and everyone that I am grateful for. As we are busy with the day to day act
ivities and responsibilities of life and then the add on the pressures of the holidays, it is is imperative to not lose sight of the meaning of the holidays. In all of the chaos, it is family that truly adds the joy to the holiday and it is for family that I am thankful above all else.
So as we rush through the week to prepare for Thanksgiving, let’s try to be mindful of what we are rushing for. No, it is not Mom’s stuffing that I have this once a year, the pies or the turkey, it is the people that share our lives that we will spend time with. And although all of my memories of Thanksgivings past glimpse the traditional meal and desserts, the vivid memory is that of family around the table enjoying the meal and the company.
The family members around the table have changed over the years, adding so many and losing a precious few, the family dynamic has not deterred; the seats at the table are well worn from our gatherings. The food is and was always fantastic, but it the talking, banter and laughter around the table have made truly great meals and the fondest of memories.
Happy Thanksgiving!
What if today, we were just grateful for everything? – Charlie Brown
The temperature drop this past weekend here in the northeast has not not so subtly crept in. And for some reason, it completely catches me off guard every year. Conversely, the initial arrival of the crispness in the fall air brings an excitement the first fire and the warmth of the kitchen as the oven is filled with fall baking. But as that magnificent crispness deviates to the first bite of cold, there is a need to shift focus in the kitchen to expand the depths of warming comfort foods. As such, soup is on the menu this week.
Almost any recipe that begins with the wafting aroma sauteing onions, garlic and mushrooms to fill the air is the 
foundation of a great meal in my book! As such, the steak and ale soup was the definite recipe needed with it’s blended ingredients simmering on the stove to make mouths water in anticipation. The flavorful concoction with the tender pieces of rib eye has the making of a perfect cold weather meal.
Thus, while happiness can be found in hot soup on a cold day, making homemade soup to warm the kitchen and beyond is the true warmth that the soup can bring. Although aromas of my mother’s cooking and baking continually filled our home, there was always a particular warmth and comfort to coming in on a cold day to the scent of soup. The soups that were made seemed symbolic of the love extended without words; a feeling of coming home to hug. In particular, the cold temperatures always resulted in a pot of shin soup while any and all ailments, chicken soup was in order.
There are the favorite pies, cakes, cookies or meals that are made to bring a smile as an expression of love but the depth in flavors married together in a soup is a different story; it is the caring of well-being…in a hopefully delicious way. For as I recall the various recipes from my youth, soup may not be the first to come to mind, but, as the cold hit this past weekend, the memories of soup on the stove on a cold day holds a special place. So as we inch in to winter and the falling temperatures, enter the season with abandon, show some love and get your soup on!
Good character like good soup is usually homemade. – Amish Proverb
With the clocks turned back this weekend, I had the luxury of an extra hour to enjoy some baking. Taking advantage of the time, it seemed wise to try a new cookie recipe to see if would be added to the holiday mix this year. Having stocked up on all my essential cookie ingredients for the upcoming season, I pulled up Love Actually On Demand; my preferred holiday movie for cookie baking, and fired up the oven.
With a few new recipes before me, there was one in particular that I have been itching to try. My son Griffin is a huge fan of cinnamon rolls, so why not cinnamon roll cookies? Make sense right? Well, yes and no. While hopeful these cookies would be a hit, I am not a huge fan of cookie prep that requires chill time. But, as it was a glorious fall day a
nd had a whole extra hour on my hands, I took my chances and made the dough, rolled the cookies and then enjoyed a some time outside while they chilled. The end result….some very yummy cookies with a seal of approval from all three boys!
So, the big question now, will they be added to the line-up of this years holiday cookies? Definitely maybe. Yes, they hit all of the marks from easy prep to a high approval rating from the critics, but a nagging concern is that the cookies may not make it out of the kitchen. Can the supply keep up with the demand?
So, while I am thrilled that the recipe was a hit with the boys; the testing will progress and am hopeful for big results. But for now, before decisions are made, there are still some recipes in queue to be tested for this years big cookie bake. Yet regardless of the recipes that make the cut, these cinnamon roll cookies will absolutely be a family favorite going forward.
“If a year was tucked inside a clock, then Autumn would be the magic hour.” – Victoria Erickson
No, not the Red Sox …the blog is back! With the dropping temperatures, the leaves falling and a fire burning in the hearth, it is that glorious time of year for baking. And as the mixer emerged from it’s hide-away and the oven warmed, the boys anxiously awaited whatever sweet treats were coming their way. Followed by the question, “hey what about your blog?” So, not to disappoint my three taste testers/critics, the weekend was spent baking and writing.
With 
October quickly slipping away, there was an immediate need for pumpkin. Thus, the baking commenced with frosted pumpkin cranberry bars. So simple, that I couldn’t help but wonder why I have not made them yet this fall.? The answer though is simple; apples and Cooper have dominated the seasonal baking to date. But alas, the pumpkin took center stage and filled house with the intoxicating aroma from the oven luring the boys away from video games and cell phones to drift into the kitchen to dig in. As they do not seem to hear me call them for dinner or ask them to do anything while playing video games, their sense of smell seems to be in full tact.
It is the warmth and scents from the kitchen that are part of my memories from childhood which I like to think I am creating for my boys. So stay tuned as more recipes are in queue to keep memories of the past alive while creating new ones.
Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall – F. Scott Fitzgerald
After weeks of enduring the hussel and bussel of planning, shopping and baking, we are now ready to shift to celebrating the joy of the season. With Christmas just days away, it is time to pause to be present to enjoy the holiday with friends and family.
And with those holiday gatherings upon us, there is never a shortage of food, drink and best of all…good company! Yes, there a
re gifts but they really are the fluff; not the reason we all gather. There are the traditional favorite recipes that are made and shared year after year, but there is also the effort put into selecting the cup of cheer. And although my husband and brother – in-law married into our longstanding family Christmas gathering, they have truly embraced the spirit of the day and celebration and put there best foot forward in choosing the craft beer that will be shared… knowing that it is better to give than to receive.
Thus, we embarked on the journey of visiting a few of the local breweries as well as a distillery to solidify the selections of the spirits to be shared with our loved ones. Like all of the other preparations that go into the gathering we rallied; we sampled, tested and finally selected our spirits to contribute. This truly can be more of a chore than simply deciding what type of food to serve, it is the challenge of appropriately pairing. And with so many choices, it is also a challenge cull the list down and ultimately make the final selections. But, it is that doing something extra, that adds to the spirit of Christmas. Eat, drink and be merry because it truly is the most wonderful time of the year!
“We’re going to have so much fun we’ll need plastic surgery to get the smiles off our faces” – Clark Griswold
The countdown is on; I am making my list and checking it twice…oh wait, that’s Santa! But, I am checking my stock of baking ingredients to ramp up efforts on getting cookies done. There is nothing worse than getting elbow deep in baking and running out of something; and it is amazing how quickly the supplies dwindle when doubling batches.
Having put my best foot forward and getting an early jump on this seasons cookies that would freeze beautifully has resulted in a few sly 
boys raiding the stash each day after school. So, I guess that was just the practice round which obviously proved to be successful from the crumbs left behind. And now that the practice round is done, it’s game time…it is time to step it up and double batch everything; starting again with the orange cloud and chocolate marshmallow dream cookies. But this time, I will be utilizing video surveillance and alarm notification when the freezer is opened! And as the stock pile of cookies I had is now depleted, I now have plenty of freezer space for the replenishment efforts.
But, it is with the ovens on and the aroma of the baking cookies wafting through the house that adds to the joy of the season. It is what keeps the boys hovering and and even helping, hoping to get the cookies made that much faster. Not to mention being close by to get dibs on licking the bowl.
It is also the reminder of Christmas past and the memories of the baking that filled the house. It brings a warmth and comfort that adds to the love of the holiday and of home. So, as we head into the next couple of hectic weeks of holiday preparation, try to keep calm and bake while not losing sight of the true joy of the season.
The joy that you give others is the joy that comes back to you – John Greenleaf Whittier
