The 6th Day of Christmas and I got for me... (!)

A full day, again!

I tried the 4th tea I got for Christmas, this is one that I ordered for myself,

remembering how I had it in Luxembourg on our special trip 2+ years ago.

The depth I did not quite get from what I remember of it

but I was using a sachet in a smaller tea pot and will have to experiment with 

amount of tea and steeping time! 

It was good though, no question there! And nice big tea leaves. 

We had a lovely lunch of leftovers and I am just loving that small loaf

of brioche bread we were given for Christmas... with a bit of butter and

apricot jam, it's like opening a bit of summer sunshine into winter.

Very nice and very lovely also with a good pot of black tea! 

I got 3 books in the mail and opened them tonight... 

this Williams-Sonoma 1986! (I was 10!) Cookbook is a gem!

I got it on thrift books for a super good price (less than $4)... 

I think it is going to be my 'foodie read' for the 12 days of Christmas this year!

Believe it or not, I am ready to bake again!

Meanwhile...

Here is a collage of my Turkey Encore Casserole and here are the steps to this recipe 

and recipe source info, etc:

Turkey Encore Casserole (inspired by, named by and adapted from Lanc. Co. Amish Cookbook) 

(Note I used cooked turkey + turkey gravy leftover and frozen from our Thanksgiving meal that I order from our grocery delivery service).

1. butter dish

2. melt butter in pan, add 2 tbs flour, mix into paste.

3. add cream, mix completely together

4. add turkey gravy (about 8 oz or so), keep stirring as it is simmering 

5. add chicken broth, keep stirring (I am aiming for about 20 oz of liquid here, i.e. 2 soup cans full but I think it was more than this and if anything I would have added *more* next time and perhaps some milk too as it it could have been a slight bit less thick, but only slightly!)

6. add a dollop of sour cream (2 cereal (the large not small) spoon fulls)

7. stir, make sure is thick but very easy to stir and add 2 cups diced cooked turkey

8. Add 3.5 servings of frozen broccoli (1 small bag) to it, stir.

9. Grate 8 oz bar of sharp cheddar cheese

10. Add half cheese to the roux with steps 2-8 (i.e. everything) in the pot. Stir and mix.

11. 1 package of cooked egg noodles (12 oz Pennsylvania Dutch extra wide egg noodles is what I used) cooked, drained and put in bottom of buttered casserole dish

12. Add Mixture in step 10 on top

13. Sprinkle evenly the rest of the grated cheddar cheese

14. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes

15. Add 3oz (basically cover the top of the casserole) with French Fried Onions (I used Trader Joes can of them, which is an 8 oz can, I used about 1/3 of it) 

16. Bake for 5 more minutes and serve hot! 

17. Watch everyone want seconds and clear their plates!

****

My Husband and I are, (LOL), already talking about possible other bookshelves ... 

we have a few,

very few, places left to put them... 

But it's so nice to be talking about the future in terms of what we hope for one day...

****

I am getting some deliveries in the next week or so, that I am looking forward to...

And books to read... and no fasting till Friday :)

The 12 days of Christmas is a very special time...

***

I am also grateful for friends who when one is struggling

(even in the good of these days, yep, still struggles, life is life right?)

one can reach out to and be understood. 

Such a blessing.

***

I can tell I have a lot of internal stuff to attend to, 

It's been a tough few years on a lot of fronts and I think I 

have some grief to process now that things are changing, for the better, 

from all we can see...

I keep wanting to hear these 2 songs on repeat the last few days.

and 

Well, it's high time I go to bed, church + church Christmas party, DV, tomorrow!

And on to today {still sick but thankful}

Thank you all for your kind comments,

each was really encouraging!!! 

BTW, I realized after posting and looking at my post again later,

that blogger is having a difficulty sending comments right now.

I noticed that gmail is offering a new look again and by the sounds of it

that is the cause of the problem (see here)

so I will be more deliberate in looking at my comments on my 

internal dashboard to try to see them all.

***

So at present it feels like I have a cold in my throat;

as in I have drainage like a cold that is bothering my throat but my

nose is oddly not yet impacted; I've had it before that a cold 

sneaks in round about and starts somewhere other than in my nose

so that's what may be happening (we will see) and if so,

I may be in for another week or so of this.

Boo :( ... so my throat is swollen I think because of the drainage at present

and I am fatigued as if I have a doozy of a cold. 

But your comments were honestly quite encouraging.

Thanks.  I know that when one is feeling under the weather

everything seems a bit harder to bear than normal

and things have been hard and so, I am glad I have friends who care!

***

I've been re-reading DE Stevenson which has been just right

and I realized I needed to add lemon and honey to my herbal tea

and have black tea as well as it cheers me up.

***

Well, other than this Deb P on IG (of Smitten Kitchen fame)

posted on Stories a fun vintage cookbook and I ordered it!

I did not know of this cookbook but they are part of the 1980s-now 

fame of NYC/East Coast/American cooking world (James Beard, Julia Child) I found out

with a small bit of research. So that's fun also as I love

reading about these cooks/chefs and the like.

***

I love reading cookbooks and have been loving this one all over again:

Marion Cunningham worked with James Beard

and this book (and The Supper Book) have so many

mouth watering recipes that I want to make! 

I used the above (The Breakfast Book) 

for the epic brunch I had for my goddaughter and her Mother

that I see I still have not blogged about but will try to do so

this week.... 

***

Anyway, please if you may pray that I am able to go to liturgy tomorrow

as our local priest is going to be honoured for 55 years of service + marriage and 

I missed vespers with the Bishop (who will return tomorrow DV) so that I will

have more strength to go tomorrow... 

***

I am more resolved again to patience, 

as I wrote on social media earlier today:

This [sickness] is another lesson in the many 

layers of learning to be more patient. 

Our Good Lord knows that I need the lessons

 even when I have to make myself be thankful, 

for I do know that patience brings inward peace,

 ultimately as all of the fruits of the Holy Spirit, 

the parts of love (1 Corinthians ch 13) do.

Traveling Knitting + 3 Vintage Cookbooks

Mr. Husband and I went to visit dear friends!

I did a lot of car knitting, all dish or bath cloths!

A quick and easy gift is to have

new nice hotel soaps with some handmade bath/wash cloths,

a bag and you're done!

*

I've been reading some lovely things...

Modern French Culinary Art

The Spice Cookbook

Mastering the Art of French Cooking

all 3 from the daughter of the Matushka who passed away about a year ago.

*

There are so many recipes I want to try!

These cookbooks are all hardcover and are such enjoyable reading!

I have ordered some mylar dust jackets and look forward to 

making these cookbooks usable and with protected dust jackets!

*

I find that I am drawn to all the creative arts,

culinary arts, knitting, quilting... 

so much joy to be had.

I am dreaming of serving more meals to others!

*

And of knitted things for Christmas gifts! 

My stash is slowly growing!

*

What are you reading and creating?

Yarn Along with us!