Friday, November 20th, 2009 9:00am

We’ve Talked Turkey


Butternut Squash SoupHopefully, you feel comfortable with cooking turkey for the upcoming Thanksgiving Feast. But, what are you going to make with the turkey? For great ideas, check out the MSN online article, “Our Favorite Thanksgiving Side Dishes.” We, at Storkie, decided to try and make one of the suggestions in each category of the article. Then we each brought the dish to our main corporate offices and shared with each other. The feedback helped each of us decide what to actually make for the big celebration.

Surprisingly, the traditional dishes got the most rave reviews! So, don’t forget one or two good stuffing choices, cranberry relish in some form, a minimum of two cooked veggie offerings such as Brussels sprouts and green beans, sweet potatoes and white potatoes in some form, a squash choice, and of course at least two kinds of pie. Anything else you want to add can be innovative and unusual.

Thanksgiving is all about stopping and counting our blessings. Tradition brings comfort and continuity to our lives.

Let us know what you are planning to make and bake! We look forward to some good ideas!

Thursday, November 19th, 2009 9:00am

Moving

Moving Announcement!Although the housing market has tumbled in value and activity, people are still moving from house to house and even from state to state. Moving has been listed as one of the most stressful events in life!

However, moving can be a time when friends and family gather together to help each other. Packing boxes, bringing a quick meal to the moving people ’s house, and babysitting are all very appreciated gestures!

Check out the cute moving announcement cards! At least choosing and ordering moving cards is stress free and fun!

Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 9:00am

Brunch and the Holidays


In This Photo It Is A Side DishAre you hosting out-of-town visitors for Thanksgiving this year? If you are, try this easy and most delicious brunch recipe. Williams Sonoma provides a great step-by-step recipe for potato-leek gratin that will be a huge hit with your holiday crowd!

I made this recipe for our annual November birthday weekend celebration this year. Several of my friends and I get together in March, May, September, and November for birthday reunion festivities. I hosted the November event and made the potato-leek gratin in a ceramic baking dish instead of the recommended fry pan in the oven. I did cook my leeks in a fry pan according to the recipe but then assembled the ingredients in the baking dish. My other modifications of the recipe include the use of a combination of purple, red, and Yukon gold fingerling potatoes and no nutmeg.

In order to use the leftovers of this delicious casserole, I warmed the gratin in a fry pan and then made holes where I dropped a raw egg per person eating this version of potato-leek gratin. I basted the eggs until almost set. WOW! Yum! What a useful way to use what remains from this recipe!

Tuesday, November 17th, 2009 9:00am

Not So Lovely Wedding Dresses


This Is A Wedding Dress?A bride wants to look her absolute best on her wedding day. The wedding gown plays an enormous part in how special a bride feels at her wedding. Even with modern couples living together before marriage and giving up many traditional customs, the wedding dress is usually chosen without the goal of looking sexy on one’s wedding day. So, what are these designers trying to do to and for brides?

 

Check out these unusually unattractive wedding gown options. What do you think? Let’s hear from you!

Wedding Dress, Really?

 Wedding Dress, Really?

Monday, November 16th, 2009 9:00am

Holiday Cookie Exchange


Cookie Recipe from Williams SonomaThe winter holiday season has always been a time for baking cookies. First of all, the baking cookies add warmth and comfort to our time indoors. The aromas of the baking cookies make the house smell like a holiday. Also, with cooler weather, we stop for cups of coffee, hot-spiced cider, tea, and hot chocolate more often and a “little” cookie goes so well with a hot beverage.

As our neighborhood plans the New Year’s Eve Party, we also plan on a holiday cookie exchange. If someone’s favorite recipe makes six-dozen cookies, doubling the recipe and making twelve-dozen allows for enough cookies for the cookie exchange. We set the date for the holiday cookie exchange to be on the 14th of December. Each participating family will place six cookies on a small paper plate in a zip locked bag and attach to the bag a card with the recipe and name of family offering the selection. To date, our cookie exchange plans are going well.

Yum! I can hardly wait!