Archive for September, 2008

The Autumn Mood

Friday, September 19th, 2008
The autumn is here and so the darker season is come. One of my favorite activities is to take down my old scare crow from the attic and hang him up with my “autumn leaves” collection. A pumpkin by his side and we are ready to go. Scare crows are often used for the night of fear but they also make charming decorations. Some nice scare crows can be found online at Terry’s Village and Fortune3’s Millennium Treasures. I can’t vouch for them personally but you may want to take a look.Our autumn equinox begins on September 22nd and ends on December 21st. It’s around this time of year that my little one asks for his “nervous breakdown cake, otherwise, who knows what can happen to him”, (I think my Halloween special effects have been too effective).

The inevitable settling of falling leaves and gloomy skies calls for a slice of Apple Anni or some Strawberry Pound Cake. A little piece of Ambrosia Chocolate Torte has also been known to sooth the nerves for all of us. I serve sparingly to keep the calories down.

I can not remember an autumn season that hasn’t been filled with scary movies and that special intensity that the earlier sundown brings. A nice beverage for the cooler weather is a fresh cup of hazelnut coffee. I find it is the perfect topper to a roasted chicken dinner. There are some special touches which I like to add such as a dollop of heavy whipped cream with a sprinkle of cinnamon and a biscotti cookie on the side. It’s a quick pick me up while I survey my garden and watch my favorite flowers die.

Wishing you happiness amidst the falling leaves.

Written by Delightful Biteful

 

 

Moving Toward Another Holiday Season

Wednesday, September 3rd, 2008

I hear folks speak about their holiday season as though it were predictable and repetitive. I have made every effort to re-define my holidays. For instance, I do not serve the same food every year. Although turkey is the traditional main course for Thanksgiving, I like to change off to duck, game hen, or lamb. There are so many tasty recipes online like Recipe Zaar and Recipe Land. I always cook a trial meal before I use it for the holiday. The trial starts about 2 to 3 months before the holiday, so I am prepared in case the new dish doesn’t work out. I try new salads during lunch and try different desserts after regular meals (dessert is always my favorite).

For more variety, I try to expand my musical repertoire. There are so many holiday songs to choose from. I used to think there were only about five. For absolute convenience, XM radio has quality musical programs for the season and you don’t have to purchase a string of CDs or go ripping tunes all over the web.

For decorum, I like to use different themes such as: traditional, with golden lighting and rich dark colors, an exotic theme with bright colors like fuchsia and tropical blue, or art deco with silver and red or blue coloring. I have seen some beautiful art deco pieces on Kyle Design’s web site. I try to use my imagination without going overboard.

Last but not least, I check out the fashion and buy something festive to wear for the holidays. I try to pick something out for each member of the family too. I stay away from flashing lights and goofy eyes peering up from fuzzy slippers. The key to holiday happiness that has always worked for me no matter what’s happened throughout the years has been to take quiet time to be glad, if for nothing else but the moment. A nice egg nog and a gaze at the twinkling lights make everything alright for awhile.

And we’re off to the races!
Written by Delightful Biteful