Fancy Gourmet Dessert Cakes

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

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

If you’re like me, you might have had little luck keeping plants bright and prosperous in the house. I have found after countless “botanistic” deaths that three plants can handle the indoor environment; Spider Plants, Herbaceous Plants, and some Ferns (Ask about them at your plant store).

It is always surprising to me how relaxing plant life can make a room. They are a kind of plant pet and I seem to have developed a relationship of sorts after tending to them over time. I have found that too much watering is an instant killer. Keep a close eye on the moisture in the soil. If you let it build up, they can develop a fungus or they will simply drown. I water my indoor plants every three to four days depending on the heat and humidity.

Having a gathering in the family room can seem a little mundane without some plant life. Strangely enough beverages are more refreshing, it may be due to the carbon dioxide rush since plants actually breath. The party keeps it’s spruce (no pun intended) when adding a few fresh flowers to a spider plant or fern. I place them carefully between the leaves or on the branches and try to keep the shape proportionate.

I would also like to stress, that since so much of the greenery is being chopped down; more plant life anywhere can help the environment. I am not a big environmental junkie or anything, but I have noticed that the air has gotten stuffy, thick and definitely less fresh without the beautiful trees that we used to have here in Fort Lauderdale.

So here’s to more life at home!

Written by Delightful Biteful

I was walking down the street the other day and I noticed that the holiday decorations are already going up. The fact is, that I don’t care. They are so pretty to look at, and with the economic crunch, my appreciation for colorful distractions has increased.

Friends of mine have mentioned that they are watching their budget, I said to my pals, worried about food prices, to get out the wok. Nothing like some stir fried veggies to keep the body healthy and the wallet fat. Less meat in the diet never hurt anyone. I have done that in my struggling years along with buying large quantities of food and storing it carefully and it worked like a charm. I did not feel like I had to pay so much attention to the budget because I was always ahead of the game and less stressed out.

Now back to the holiday decorations, it seems that they are effective as I am already making out my gift list and deciding on some new decorations. Careful spending does manage to leave me with extra money to spend, I just need to remember that things can always be worse and I need to be considerate of my needs first. After that, I go to town and decide what kind of foods to prepare, and activities to anticipate.

Frankly, it’s been a long hot summer and I’m looking forward to a slice of pumpkin pie and some hot apple cider. In any case, we’re coming down the stretch and the leaves are getting ready to fall from the trees. Yippee!

Written by Delightful Biteful

Valentine’s Day is here again and it’s time for loved ones and love birds to celebrate. But where did all of this celebrating come from? The History Channel has a few nice theories about this. One is that Valentine was a priest joining men and women in Holy Matrimony in order to save the young men from being forced into the Roman military under Claudius the II. The defiant priest was put to death and into martyrdom. Another school of thought believes that Valentine fell in love with the warden’s daughter while in prison where he sent the very first “Valentine” and so the tradition was born.In any event it is a nice distraction during the gray winter months. Chocolates and various sweets are very popular gifts and are sometimes combined with flowers or other trinkets. The traditional color of red symbolizes enthusiasm and flamboyance and distinguishes the holiday with its heart shaped decorations. 

American children become familiar with the holiday when they make their first Valentine for someone in their class. It is a good day to stop and recognize one another and show our appreciation. Americans love lovers and celebrates relationships between men and women with zeal. I have always loved that quality in my fellow countrymen. No matter what nationality though, love is always encouraged and welcomed.  I think that is the true value here.

So maybe it is more than a distraction from the winter clouds. Okay, I am looking forward to the holiday again. Happy Heart Day Charlie Brown!

Written by Kim LaBarbera at Delightful Biteful

Rule #1: Do not take on the challenge if you are not up to it. I learned that the hard way. Remember that people can sense what you are feeling in any situation, especially if you are apathetic. Your guests pick up on your feelings and it often sets the mood for the event. Now, that is a pretty powerful thing. I was approached by someone I met a long time ago. He became a long time acquaintance after arriving unexpectedly at a party I held.  This nice, shy man told me that my party turned into one of the nicest evenings he could remember. That particular evening was one of my most successful events. It was a night of good food, dancing and games where all of the guests were encouraged to participate. I was in a wonderful mood and it showed.

I used to hate to go to a party “in the third person” (welcomed to come with an invited guest) because it was likely that I would not know too many people and would feel a little bit out of place. This was often the case because the host or hostess did not make it a point to welcome me. I would receive a harried half acknowledgment as he or she rushed by and would think to myself “Alright, I can expect no help from you for comfort ability here; I’d better check for the nearest exit.” Do you know I have actually stepped through a couple of them? Courtesy is a big word and not always easy to spot.

Unexpected guests must be expected for a gathering to come off well. I see it as a compliment. Someone sees my home as a nice place to be and my friends as good people to spend time with. When I take the position of humility, I treat people the way I would like to be treated. It is the responsibility of the host/hostess to be organized and have room to take care of the needs of the guests, beyond the food and beverages. Make sure that they have someone to talk to and someplace to sit. You can build a strong reputation with something as simple as an enjoyable evening. 

Rules that have worked for me over the years are as follows: Smile and look your guests in the eye. Stop what you are doing and put the people first. This is done through careful preparation. Have everything together so that you can take the time to get to know someone well enough to introduce them around and join them with others that share similar interests. For instance I have brought together a music lover and an artist. It was the closest match I could think of and it worked very well. As a matter of fact the two of them are still married. It’s okay to ask for help. Get the brightest personalities among your friends to act as ambassadors, for guests that seem out of place. You may just give someone a night to remember.

Written by Delightful Biteful

Now that the holidays are over and we adjust to the New Year; a strange lull sets in, like a big “happy” balloon slowly deflating. I think that is one of the reasons Valentine’s Day is celebrated in February. The lengthy gray winter months are a little drab in my opinion. Well, I have an idea for the post holiday blues. It’s called “The Arts”.  Have friends or potential friends bring a picture or poster of their favorite piece of art work to a get-together. I have had friends for years that I really didn’t know until we went to museums and concerts together. It’s nice to appreciate the unique characteristics of a person while learning about and enjoying something artistic. 

I am also a believer in sharing cultural customs. I enjoy gatherings where people from different countries bring something from their homeland to share with the other guests. Most Americans have families that originate from another country, so sharing aspects of their nationality gives everyone a chance to appreciate their country and how far their families have come. Full breed Americans are hard to find nowadays and may know of recipes and foods that are uncommon or unknown to many in modern day America.  Meanwhile décor is a wonderful addition to the celebration; works of art from different countries can offer an educational experience as well as new and exciting surroundings.  I hope these ideas help, if in fact you suffer from the post holiday blues like I do.  

Written by Delightful Biteful   

It’s the New Year again and although the holiday season has passed the desire for rich foods hasn’t; at least not for me.

Life is too short and after all, another year past is one less holiday season to enjoy. I keep going until I absolutely have to check the scale. So out comes a thick piece of cake to keep my coffee company.

I have some strawberries that are nice and ripe due to the green house growth process, so I can still have my serving of fruit to help with the needed nutrients, and tonight, I will have a nice salad instead of a large meal. A Caesar salad, yes that’ it, and it works too. I manage to hold off my weight gain more effectively with this sort of logic. If you want to try it, here’s a recipe that I like to use.

You only need a head of Romaine lettuce and a few ingredients.1/2 tsp. Fresh Ground Pepper½ tsp. Salt1 egg yolk¼ cup Parmesan Cheese ¼ cup virgin Olive Oil1 tbls. Lemon3 Anchovies ground up½ clove finely chopped garlicMix all ingredients thoroughly and let sit for about 1 hour.Don’t forget your regular exercise! (If applicable) Written by Delightful Biteful

The holidays are synonymous with turkey, gravy and mashed potatoes so if you would like a few tips for each; here goes. To really lock in the juices, butter baste your turkey. Put about three tablespoons of margarine and three tablespoons of cooking oil into a microwavable cup. Heat the mixture until both are melted together. Baste the turkey thoroughly with the mixture and cook your turkey as you normally would. You’ll be amazed at how juicy the bird turns out. Oh, by the way, get a kitchen thermometer and cook your turkey at a slightly lower heat, even if it takes a little longer, it will keep the bird from drying out too much. The thermometer will ensure that the turkey is safely cooked so you won’t get thrown off track by the change in degrees. 

Gravy is relatively simple to make. You can take about 11/2 cups of the juice which melted off the turkey during cooking (this is assuming that you are cooking an 18 to 20 pound bird), mix it with about 1/4 cup of flower and stir the mixture thoroughly in a large skillet over a low heat. The flower thickens the leftover juice and creates a nice gravy texture. Adjust the measurements accordingly to your bird’s weight.  

For mashed potatoes, you can add a little garlic powder along with the butter and milk before using the mixer on your boiled potatoes. It makes the potatoes a little more flavorful. Some people use a dash of Cheyenne pepper on the potatoes but I would recommend doing a test run before hand so that you are sure you like the flavor. We all develop little tricks over the years and I hope these come in handy. There is nothing like enjoying a fine meal, especially one that you have prepared yourself. Happy eating everyone!  Written by Delightful Biteful 

Looking at the traditions of Christmas and Chanukah it seems that these celebrations have common traits.

For Christmas hanging lights around town and in the home is an important part of the celebration.  On Chanukah, lighting of the Menorah for each day of the celebration is what gives this holiday the name “holiday of lights”.

Caroling is a wonderful Christmas tradition and has been part of the holiday for a great many years. During Chanukah, Hallel “Jewish Praise” is chanted each morning from a selection of Psalms. 

Giving of presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas day is a tradition for most people.  The giving of small gifts or money to children and some adults too is a popular way of celebrating through Chanukah. 

Traditional Christmas dinners are turkey, goose, duck or ham with stewed fruit, pudding or rich cake for dessert. Many people enjoy a late night dinner consisting of fried fish fillets or shell fish. 

Eating of fried foods (potato pancakes are very popular), to celebrate the “miracle of the oil” is a common Chanukah tradition.

Red and green and gold and white are symbolic colors for these holidays. When these colors are displayed it is clear that ‘tis the season.

Wonderful Christmas and Chanukah cards are a long time tradition. Many people have begun to create their own cards with software programs that are perfect for that kind of thing, and fun too.  

Of course in the past years many people complained that the holidays were becoming too commercial and that the meaning of it all was being squashed. Recently some folks have made a concerted effort to keep the spirit in mind and the materialism secondary. I myself am enjoying the change.  

Celebrating and rejoicing are a precious right that we are so blessed to have. May your season be a wonderful one. 

Written by Delightful Biteful