This year I had a wonderful Thanksgiving with my friend Carol. It was supposed to be 3 of us but a co-worker had to cancel that morning because of side effects from his 3rd booster shot. Carol and I had a wonderful meal and visit.
Table: I borrowed my Mom’s harvest plates that she bought at Wegmans many years ago. Carol made the beautiful flower arrangement. I used the cornucopia napkin rings that I bought in NYC in 1999. I made simple place cards with this leaf pattern. I used my Great-Grandmother’s sterling silver flatware. Brown table cloth.
1st Course:Pumpkin Apple Soup with pumpkin seeds garnish, Cream Cheese Chive Rolls from Martha Stewart Baking (I prepared the rolls few days before and put in my freezer. I baked them right before serving.
Dessert:Apple Turnovers with homemade Pumpkin Ice Cream. I baked the turnovers right before serving. The ice cream I made a day ahead and pre-scooped that morning to make it easy for serving.
My critique of the meal: Everything was delicious! The sweet potatoes were a repeat from last year’s Thanksgiving. I would do the dessert again – delicious but easy and the ice cream was make ahead.
I made a cat themed meal for my friend Renae and her family. Even the lentil soup had cats in it! Her oldest daughter Natalie helped me style the meal.
Raw Vegetables and Hummus – carrot, cherry tomato, celery
Lentil Soup with Cat Shaped Carrots (cut with a cookie cutter)
Cat Bread – I used the same recipe as the Groot Bread. I shaped the bread as cats and added chocolate details – chocolate and white chocolate with food coloring
Individual Cat Cheesecakes – details with Hershey kisses, M&M’s large and mini, melted chocolate put in a zip-lock bag with corner cut off
My critique of the meal: I think that everything was enjoyed by all. The cat carrots in the soup were a delight to eat and the bread and cheesecakes were adorable and delicious!
Left Side: Sugar Skull – Cheddar mashed potatoes shaped with a cookie cutter, Green – maccha powder, Purple – butterfly pea powder, Yellow – turmeric, red nose – red bell pepper, soybeans
Happy Halloween! My 19 year old niece and I enjoyed planning and preparing this Halloween party. My Mom also helped. My parents, niece and I had a memorable meal!
Mashed Potato Ghosts with Green Pea Eyes – shaped in a ghost cookie cutter
Cooked Green Beans
Creamed Corn (Candy Corn) with Cheddar – my niece made foil shapes, added the creamed corn and small pieces of white and orange cheese
Individual Chocolate Pies with Whipped Cream Jack-O-Lanterns (see below)
Mango Juice with Seltzer
Individual Chocolate Pies
Ingredients:
Graham Cracker Crumbs
Melted butter
1 can condensed milk
175 grams semi-sweet chocolate
1 TBS butter
3 TBS milk
Preheat over to 350.
Crust – Press mixture of graham cracker crumbs and melted butter into bottom and up the sides of individual pie plates
Filling – In a pan combine condensed milk and chocolate. Stir occasionally until melted and smooth. Remove from the heat and stir in the butter and milk. Keep stirring. After it cools, pour into crust. Bake for 30 minutes.
Chill for several hours.
Jack-O-Lantern Whipped Cream – Whip heavy cream with orange food coloring. Sweeten as desired. Spoon into a small plastic bag, snip off a corner, pipe face onto chilled chocolate pies.
Lighted Menu Cards – This was a hit with party attendees. I mostly followed these directions.
My critique of the meal: We all enjoyed this Halloween party! I was delighted to collaborate with my 19 year old niece. All of us keep talking about the menu cards and the homemade creamed corn.
My parents and I enjoyed a pumpkin shaped and themed ravioli dinner.
Pumpkin Ravioli – I used my favorite pasta dough with a little canned pumpkin added to the dough for color, cut with a cookie cutter, filled with a mixture of canned pumpkin, brown sugar, parmesan, and nutmeg.
Blanched Snow Peas with Parmesan Cheese
Sage Butter – Melt butter with a few fresh sage leaves, remove sage leaves
Toasted Walnuts
Pumpkin Truffles – I somewhat followed this recipe but I used wheat flour and did not cover with chocolate. I only used a little bit of chocolate for the jack-o-lantern faces.
My critique of the meal: It was fun and delicious! I enjoy making ravioli days or weeks ahead of the meal to freeze. It makes preparation easier on the day of the meal.
I made this space travel meal for my friend Dennis. I used my space shuttle cookie cutter. For my meal, I also ate the Cuban Black Beans and rice. It was delicious.
Left Side: Boo, Eek – Flour Tortilla cut with cookie cutters, Baked Cauliflower Potato Patties, I mostly followed the recipe but did not use egg or any egg substitute.
Left Side: Ghosts – roasted potatoes and cheddar cheese cut with a cookie cutter, Eyes -smoked paprika added with a toothpick, black bean sauce
Top Right: Pistachios
Bottom Right: Ghosts – apple cut with a cookie cutter and dipped in water and lemon juice to prevent browning, Eyes – cinnamon added with a toothpick, blueberries
In September, I had oral surgery. September 14, I had surgery on one side of my mouth, September 29, I had surgery for the other side of my mouth. I usually do better handling challenges when I have a plan. In the weeks before my surgery, I spent quite a bit of time preparing meal plans and cooked freezer food to enjoy after my surgery. Some challenges I needed to plan for: eat smoothies with a spoon since no straws allowed in first days after surgery, eat soft foods for two weeks after each procedure, avoid nuts, seeds, and crunchy food for around 6 weeks after the second surgery.
I like crunchy food. Years ago, a coworker remarked that I like crunchy food. I guess he was aware that I enjoyed snacking on pretzels in the afternoon. But, I also enjoy creamy food. Many years ago, when I worked in NYC, I dated a man who actually did not like creamy food. I am glad that I like creamy food since it made life easier after oral surgery.
I designed a meal plan that covered a month of meals. I made modifications before the second surgery with what I especially liked (yogurt in pottery or glass) and didn’t like (pumpkin oatmeal). Overall, my plan worked and it made a difficult time easier.
I created smiling tooth stickers to indicate oral surgery approved meals in my freezer.
Goals:
Remain on the same calorie / carb plan that has worked for me this year. (So far this year, I lost a substantial amount of weight and achieved an amazing A1C).
Eat plenty of vegetarian protein sources to help with healing.
Eat food that fit the needs of my mouth after surgery but was interesting and enjoyable.
Make myself smile during a time I expected to be moody due to pain and food restrictions.
Eat a combination of freezer meals and freshly prepared meals.
Eat yogurt in glass and pottery as a special treat for myself. It is better for my health goals than ice cream.
Notes:
After my second surgery I remained on the mostly liquid diet (smoothies for breakfast), one day longer than I had planned the first time. My mouth and jaw were sore and any movement on one side of my mouth impacted the other side.
Freezer Meals
Mom’s Mac & Cheese – I asked her to make it without the breadcrumb topping.
This is a simple meal I made for my friend Carol when she returned home from vacationing on her island. This is my first time to use the new EasyLunchBoxes 4 container box.
When I was a child, I had an imaginary friend. He was a parrot named Tippy. I called him Tippy since he sat on the tip of my finger. This is my first time making a parrot lunch. My friend Renae made some parrot cookie cutters with her 3D printer. I am excited to explore other Tippy themed meals. Hands are part of this meal since young Kathy held out her hand to the large green bird.
Left Side: Parrot – zucchini (from CSA) cut with a cookie cutter, Eye – dried blueberry attached with spaghetti, Beak – orange cheddar attached with spaghetti, pasta with sautéed onion (CSA), zucchini, and cheddar
Top Right: Hand – flour tortilla cut with a cookie cutter, place on cookie sheet sprayed with cooking spray, spray cut-out with cooking spray and bake in a 350 degree oven for about 10 minutes or until lightly browned and crisp,
Left Side: Volcano – Flour tortilla cut with with a knife, red sanding sugar, place on cookie sheet sprayed with cooking spray, spray cut-out with cooking spray and bake in a 350 degree oven for about 10 minutes or until lightly browned and crisp, lettuce, broccoli
Top Right: Pecans
Bottom Right: Dinosaur – Kohlrabi cut with a cookie cutter, black beans and salsa
Left Side: Flowers – Apple cut with a cookie cutter (half are sprinkled with cinnamon, half show their skin), blueberries
Right Side: Flowers – Beet cut with a cookie cutter, radish cut with a cookie cutter, center of flowers attached with spaghetti, pasta with blue cheese
My friend Deborah came over for dinner and a long walk on a workday. I wanted something easy for dinner so decided on falafel waffles. We served them with tahini sauce, tomatoes, and cucumbers from Deborah’s garden. Falafel waffles are so much fun to say and eat. We each plated our own. Mine is the first photo and Deborah’s is the second.
I made this for my Dad on a day I met family at the Utica Zoo. This was actually my first time making fougasse. I had to significantly modify the recipe from the original so I won’t link to the recipe.
Left Side: Space Ship – flour tortilla cut with a cookie cutter, place on cookie sheet sprayed with cooking spray, spray cut-out with cooking spray and bake in a 350 degree oven for about 10 minutes or until lightly browned and crisp, lettuce (from CSA), pearl fresh mozzarella balls
Top Right: Brazil nuts
Bottom Right: Stars – Cheddar cut with cookie cutters, black beans
Left Side: Planets – Baked Cauliflower Potato Patties, I mostly followed the recipe but did not use egg or any egg substitute. Earth – sprinkled with Butterfly Pea Powder and Spinach Powder, Mars – sprinkled with smoked paprika, Venus – browned, Saturn Ring – cut flour tortilla
Left Side: Giraffes – Roasted sweet potatoes, orange cheddar cheese (red pepper flakes and smoked paprika), orange bell pepper all cut with cookie cutters, Spinach Walnut Pesto (I also added basil)
Top Right: Pistachios
Bottom Right: Apple with cut check pattern, blueberries
Almost 2 years ago, I started looking for a house. I think everyone who knows me will be glad when I finally find one. Then they won’t have to hear me complain about prices and the lack of houses that meet my criteria. Last week, I actually looked at two houses! Before I looked at a house after work with my friend Dennis, my 19 year old niece asked if I was going to make a house search themed meal for him. I was not planning on it but thought it was a great idea. Dennis enjoyed it!
Left Side: House – Flour tortilla cut with a cookie cutter, place on cookie sheet sprayed with cooking spray, spray cut-out with cooking spray and bake in a 350 degree oven for about 10 minutes or until lightly browned and crisp, food coloring marker details, For Sale Sign – Cheddar cheese, carrot, food coloring marker, rice with spinach, onion, garlic, and Asiago cheese
Top Right: Cashews
Bottom Right: $ – Ishtar zucchini (from my CSA) cut with a cookie cutter
I made this for my sister-in-law on a day I met her and my brother at the Utica Zoo. This was actually my first time making fougasse. I had to significantly modify the recipe from the original so I won’t link to the recipe. I think it looks perfect as a peacock.
Left Side: Peacock – Cheddar cheese cut with a knife, butterfly pea powder painted with a brush and a little water, dried blueberry eye attached with spaghetti, fougasse (ladder) bread, Feet – carrot cut with a knife
Top Right: Peacock Feather – Apple cut with cookie cutters, green tea maccha powder and butterfly pea powder painted with a brush and a little water, blueberries
I made this for my brother on a day I met him and his wife at the Utica Zoo. I asked him for a theme request and he said, “snow leopard”. This does not look exactly like a snow leopard but he enjoyed. I think that this was actually my first time making fougasse. I had to significantly modify the recipe from the original so I won’t link to the recipe.
Thank you to my awesome 19 year old niece who helped me out by taking most of these wonderful photos!
In honor of my 50th birthday (today), I hosted a Luncheon Tea (last weekend) for the women closest to me. I love cooking, planning parties, and spending time with the important people in my life. This was the perfect gift I gave myself. Including me, 7 attended my party (Mom, 19 year old niece, Renae, Carol, Deborah, and Beth Ann). I am delighted that they were able to join me for this celebration.
INVITATIONS
I decided to send paper invitations in the mail. I purchased a digital copy of this, modified it for my occasion and printed it on my personal printer.
TABLE SETTING
Triangle Snack Plates – My Great Grandmother’s snack plates (Indiana Milk Glass White Orange Blossom Snack Plate). My family only had 2 from her original set. Years ago, I purchased more on Etsy.
Tea Pot Pizzas: Hummus- Vegetable – I used Martha Stewart Pizza Dough recipe, rolled out dough with plenty of flour, cut with a cookie cutter and followed these directions to pre-bake the crusts to make it easy on party day. On the day of the party I baked with hummus. After baking I added a red pepper flower cut with a cookie cutter and cut snow peas.
Tea Pot Pizzas: Fresh-Mozzarella-Tomato – I used Martha Stewart Pizza Dough recipe, rolled out dough with plenty of flour, cut with a cookie cutter and followed these directions to pre-bake the crusts to make it easy on party day. I used tomato sauce that I made ahead and put in freezer, fresh mozzarella, shredded basil and baked for about 10 minutes.
Carrot Salad (I shredded rainbow carrots and mostly followed the recipe but left out cumin, paprika, cayenne, chickpeas, and raisins) served on top of a spinach leaf in a Corn Tortilla Cup
Corn and Feta Purses – p. 154 Best Ever Vegetarian. I made ahead and put in freezer.
Vegetable-Chive Bundles – I did not use the dip. I made bundles of different combinations of carrot, rainbow carrot, red bell pepper, celery, and cut snow pea
Marcona Almonds
SCONES
Served with Strawberry Jam and fresh Whipped Cream
Tea Pot Sugar Cookie – cut with a mini cookie cutter, sprinkled crumbled freeze dried raspberries on top of the wet glaze
Jam Thumbprint Cookie – cut with these cookie cutters, chill for 30 minutes, roll the dough out pretty thick, punch in the heart shape, refrigerate the shaped dough for 15 minutes before piping in preserves with a ziplock bag and bake at 350 for about 21 minutes.
Cream Cheese Berry Tartlets – I made this tartlet dough ahead of time, shaped, pre-baked and put in my freezer. On the day of the party I filled and right before serving I garnished with raspberries.
I transformed my dining room into a paper garden. We were all pleased with the results. It helped add to the atmosphere. I mostly followed these directions but with my own twist. I made a smaller version of these crepe paper roses. I made these birds but did not use the bottom of their bodies or their legs. I made the butterflies with my Cricut machine.
I bought many bunches of assorted pink roses from Trader Joes and Wegmans. My Mom did a fantastic job arranging them in the tea pot, vases, and the individual napkin rings. She even put flowers in my bathroom.
I decorated my entryway with Dollar store tissue pom-poms that I assembled and hung with command hooks.
I ordered balloons from Wegmans and picked up on the morning of my party.
The last time I held a birthday party was for my 40th. For that party I had a children’s theme Sheep party and invited all of my nieces and nephews at the time. My 19 year old niece attended. For that party she helped me make a sheep banner and she put “40” on each of the sheep. I cherish that banner and still have it. This year she came up with the idea to make a sheep banner with 50 sheep. I am delighted that she made it for me.
FASCINATORS
My friend Deborah and I made the fascinators before the party. I got the materials from friends, Michaels Crafts, Dollar Tree, and a craft thrift store in my area. Each guest picked a fascinator to wear. It added a fun element to the party. I enjoyed taking photos of each friend with me.
FAVORS
I bought little boxes put shredded paper from the Dollar Tree inside and added assorted chocolates. On the outside of the boxes, I taped assorted Tea Forte tea.
PLAYLIST
I like the idea of creating a party playlist but don’t usually make one. For my 7 Continents Christmas dinner I started it but only finished Africa. I found and used some of the Carol of the Bells songs I selected for my Carol of the Bells Christmas dinner. For my Birthday Tea party, I worked hard at creating a playlist. I discussed it with many people in my life. I ended up selecting 5 songs from decades I have lived. I got a Spotify account to play it. Unbelievably, I was so busy with my party, I forgot to play it!! One of my friends realized after most people were gone that I did not play my songs. Here is my list:
1970’s
Sunshine on my Shoulders by John Denver
Song Sung Blue by Niel Diamond
Piano Man by Billy Joel
Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen
My Sharona by The Knack
1980’s
The Tide is High by Blondie
Joy by George Winston
Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) by Eurythmics
I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) by The Proclaimers
Storybook Love Princess Bride by Mark Knopfler
1990’s
Istanbul (Not Constantinople) by They Might Be Giants
Broken Arrow by Rod Stewart
Thank You for Hearing Me by Sinead O’Connor
The Memory of Trees by Enya
Here with Me by Dido
2000’s
The Model by Belle & Sebastian
The Middle by Jimmy Eat World
Bring Me to Life by Evanescence
Boom Boom Pow by Black Eyed Peas
Fairytale by Alexander Rybak
2010’s
Like a G6 by Far East Movement
On the Floor by Jennifer Lopez
All About the Bass by Meghan Trainor
Pale Grass Blue by Enya
Soy Yo by Bomba Estereo
BIRTHDAY PERSON TRIVIA
I made a little quiz about me. My Mom said I should keep it to 10 questions but I ended up with 20. I think it was fun for my guests.
My critique of the party: I had a lot of fun and my guests seemed to also enjoy. The next time I make a playlist for a party, I will put it on my cooking to-do list as a reminder to play it. I like the idea of having smaller tea parties in different seasons. Some of the desserts I served at this tea would be perfect to make again. Maybe I will have a dessert open house when I finally find and buy a house.
Left Side: Birds – Roasted white and sweet potatoes, orange cheddar cheese, orange bell pepper all cut with cookie cutters, Spinach Walnut Pesto (I also added basil)
I made this for myself on the same day I made the Lizard meal for a friend. This was not as gross to eat as the lizards. The tails are what got to me with the lizards.
This was planned for when a friend was supposed to come over but she was sick and stayed home. I ended up eating this alone. I found it a little gross to eat zucchini lizards.
My Mom’s Macaroni and Cheese is very popular. When her kids and grandchildren visit, it is one of the most requested meals. I am including the original recipe from Betty Crocker here but over the years, my Mom has made it her own. She uses Seriously Sharp Cabot Cheddar Cheese. Mom adds onion powder and dried mustard to the cheese sauce. Also depending on who she is making it for, sometimes she makes it with a breadcrumb topping and sometimes without. When she uses breadcrumbs, she puts extra cheese on top of the elbow pasta then adds the breadcrumbs. I prefer the breadcrumb topping. We like a brown and crispy crust. Mom bakes it for 45 minutes. Delicious!
I want to buy a house. I’ve been searching for nearly 2 years. A house that meets my requirements, lists less than once a month. Last weekend 2 houses that mostly fulfill my requirements listed on the same day. The last time a house listed for me was the end of April!. Last weekend my friend Renae went with me to see the houses. Since we had appointments at lunch time, I packed identical snack lunches for us to eat in the car.
I made this skunk themed meal for myself. It is my first time to use this cookie cutter. I have no idea why my skunk is orange and has no stripe. Next time, I should make one that looks more like a skunk. But I enjoyed eating it.
Eclectic Lamb 
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