Wednesday, December 1, 2010

CHANUKAH OH CHANUKAH Let's light the Menorah!

December 2, 2010 at sunset begins Chanukah, the Festival of Lights. Every night candles are lit on the Menorah.  The first night only one is lit along with the center candle, then the next night two are lit and so on until all eight are lit along with the center candle. Children receive a little gift each night.


There are also foods that go along with Chanukah and one is the LATKE, delicious potato pancakes.  For me, no-one made them like my mom but there are so many recipes out there.


Four keys to successful pancakes:
  • Speed Things Up
Once you peel and grate the potatoes, work as quickly as possible to prevent discoloration — after a few minutes, they'll start to oxidize and turn brown.
  • Dry It Out
Squeeze all the liquid you can from the potatoes and onions—lingering water will keep the pancakes from holding together and cooking properly.
  • Mix Your Fats
You can cook latkes in either oil or butter, but a mixture of the two will combine the flavor of butter with oil's high smoking point (which helps protect against scorching or burning). We like a one-to-one ratio.
  • Keep the Crunch
Potato pancakes are best served as soon as possible, before they lose their crunch. Of course, if you're frying them in batches (as in these recipes), you'll need to keep the first batches warm in the oven while you cook the rest. But as long as you work somewhat quickly, they'll retain most of their texture and flavor. Using two pans can lessen the holding time, but be sure you're comfortable with the frying process—you'll need to watch both pans closely to prevent burning. Or, if your kitchen is close to your guests, offer the latkes as they come out of the pan, after a brief drain on paper towels.


This is the classic latke, made with little more than grated potatoes and onions, with egg and matzomeal for binding.
  • 1 medium onion, peeled
  • 4 large russet or Idaho potatoes (about 3 1/2 pounds), peeled
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 tablespoons matzomeal
  • 6 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • Applesauce and/or sour cream, for serving
Preparation
Preheat oven to 200°F. Place 2 nonstick baking sheets in oven.
Using box grater or food processor fitted with grating disc, coarsely grate onion and place in colander set in sink. Coarsely grate potatoes, add to colander, and set aside to drain.
In large mixing bowl, lightly beat eggs, then stir in matzomeal.
Press potatoes and onion to extract as much liquid as possible, then add to egg/matzomeal mixture.
Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Using wooden spoon or hands, mix well, but do not overwork.
In heavy-bottomed, 12-inch skillet over moderately high heat, heat 1 tablespoon oil and 1 tablespoon butter until hot but not smoking. Drop 4 scant 1/4-cup portions of potato mixture into pan and flatten with spatula to form four 3-inch pancakes.
Fry until bottoms are golden-brown, 4 to 5 minutes, then turn over and fry until golden-brown and crisp, an additional 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain; season immediately with salt and pepper. Keep warm on baking sheets in oven while making remaining pancakes.
Using paper towels, carefully wipe out pan. Add 1 tablespoon oil and 1 tablespoon butter and fry 4 more pancakes. Repeat with remaining batter, wiping out pan and adding 1 tablespoon oil and 1 tablespoon butter before each batch.
Serve pancakes hot with applesauce and/or sour cream.
This is the more authentic recipe.
YUMMY!!


This is another recipe that I got from Mario Batali, chef extraordinaire - just a little different.
MARIO'S HANUKKAH LATKES

2 large russet potatoes
2 medium Yukon gold potatoes
3 tablespoons milk
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
4 tablespoons matzoh meal
Salt and pepper, to taste
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

Wash the potatoes but do not peel them. Grate the 2 russet potatoes on the large holes of a grater and grat the yukon gold on the medium holes. Add the milk, egg, baking powder, and matzoh meal. Season with salt and pepper and stir to blend well and toss into a colander for about one minute to drain just a bit of the juices. Replace in the mixing bowl.

Heat a scant 1/2 inch of oil in a large skillet until it is very hot but not smoking. Drop the potato mixture by large spoonfuls, then flatten slightly with a spatula to create a lacey edge. Turn them once.

When they are golden brown on the bottom side, cook them several minutes longer and drain them on paper towels (the latkes will have crisp edges).


Serve hot with marscarpone and /or applesauce

Makes 3 to 4 servings.


My memories of my mom's latkas are very sweet especially that we were lucky if most of them even made it to the table!!  What fun!

Monday, November 22, 2010

HAPPY THANKSGIVING 2010

I know that I have not blogged in a while but I wanted to take a few minutes to wish everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving.

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord,continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Col 2:6-8

Sunday, October 17, 2010

SILLY SATURDAY - a couple of days late

The winner of the giveaway by CKSilver is---
Nancy of NancysBagsEtc.etsy.com
CONGRATULATIONS NANCY!
**************************************************

The 2.99 Special

We went to breakfast at a restaurant where the 'seniors' special' was two eggs, bacon, hash browns and toast for $2.99.


'Sounds good,' my wife said. 'But I don't want the eggs.'


'Then, I'll have to charge you $3.49 because you're ordering a la carte,' the waitress warned her.


'You mean I'd have to pay for not taking the eggs?' my wife asked incredulously.


'YES!' stated the waitress.


'I'll take the special then,' my wife said..


'How do you want your eggs?' the waitress asked.


'Raw and in the shell,' my wife replied.







She took the two eggs home and baked a cake.




DON'T MESS WITH SENIORS!!!
WE'VE been around the block more than once!


Sunday, October 3, 2010

CKSILVER GIVEAWAY AND SALE

I am thrilled to be featuring Cindy of CKSilver - a fantastic jewelry artisan.

I am going to get right to the GIVEAWAY BRACELET - This is a $49 value.
Gorgeous!




http://www.etsy.com/listing/52653764/water-in-the-desert-bracelet-in-sterling.
 The first picture is one of my favorites. Walking through the woods is such a wonderful way to be close to God.  This is what they remind me of.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/56453744/walking-through-the-forest-sterling






Allow me to introduce Cindy!
 My name is Cindy, and I am a jewelry designer specializing in sterling silver, genuine gemstones, freshwater pearls, and swarovski crystal. I love what I do, and am constantly fascinated with new ways that I can reflect the beauty of creation all around me.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/38038014/flower-cluster-sterling-silver-earrings
 God has blessed my husband and I with two wonderful biological children, and now we have the opportunity to do foster care. I also have my own marketing business and play the piano, both of which I enjoy immensely and they give me another outlet for my creativity.






http://www.etsy.com/listing/57131207/eternity-blue-sodalite-necklace-on

My faith is very important to me. I grew up in a Christian home, and put my faith in Christ at a very early age. And although I believed in Jesus, it wasn't until more recently that God has really grown my faith.





http://www.etsy.com/listing/39453904/autumn-wind-sterling-silver-earrings
I used to think that I just had to try harder to have more faith, and that if I worked hard enough at it I would have success. I remember being at a worship service with some friends and feeling like I was on the outside looking in at something they had that I didn't. So I began to seek God more earnestly in my life, and kept telling Him that more than anything in my life I wanted to know Him more intimately. I am still learning and growing, and God is teaching me a lot.


http://www.etsy.com/listing/54811173/southwest-autumn-necklace-in-sterling?ref=v1_other_2
One of my favorite Bible verses has become:

"Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." I want to keep asking Him to show me more of Himself, and to help me love Him more all the time, and to keep growing my faith.
Jeremiah 33:3



http://www.etsy.com/listing/54079490/tropical-paradise-bracelet-in-turquoise
 I have all birthstones available, and am happy to do custom orders as well.





http://www.etsy.com/listing/44850213/september-sapphire-sky-sterling-silver

My one year anniversary on Etsy is coming up on Oct 9, and in honor of that, I would like to offer all readers of this blog 20% OFF all items in my shop for the week of Oct 3-9. I hope you find some fun Christmas gifts for the women on your list, and even something for yourself!
And here is my contact information:

Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/cksilver
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/cksilver
Twitter: http://twitter.com/cksilver
Blog: http://cksilver1.blogspot.com/

There are MANY ways to enter this amazing giveaway and each one counts as an entry. The winner will be chosen by Random.org.


Go to Cindy's shop and choose your favorite items. Each favorite should be a separate entry.

Tweet the giveaway.

Post the giveaway on your blogs by putting a link on your blogs to my blog.

Post the giveaway on your team's thread.

Visit Cindy's blog and leave a comment.

Follow my blog

Follow Cindy's blog

Follow me on twitter http://twitter.com/milagros1130

Follow Cindy on twitter.

Purchase something from Cindy and that will count as 5 entries.

THE WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN ON OCTOBER 17TH.

Friday, September 17, 2010

IMAGINE THIS GIVEAWAY

Please welcome Judi, artiste extraordinaire. She has three shops with gorgeous items and is doing a giveaway, HERE, on my blog. I am thrilled. Her three shops are
http://www.etsy.com/shop/PocketComfort
http://imaginuity.etsy.com/
http://vintagelegacystudio.etsy.com/


http://www.etsy.com/listing/32496302/note-cards-original-art-quilt-prints

These are the GORGEOUS cards that will be the prize for the giveaway - A $25 value. (click on the link to see them more closely)

Let's get to know Judi a little better.

1. Where do you live and a little something about family?

My name is Judi.
I live just outside Golden, Colorado on a 1/2 acre in the midst of horse country.


My husband and I have an small flock of chickens and one duck (who thinks he's a chicken). We have lived here for 22 years, having moved to the country to raise our 6 sons, 5 of whom are now married and living within 30 minutes of home. We are blessed to be able to see them and to enjoy our 4 grandsons and 1 granddaughter. We also have another little one on the way in the spring.



2. How did you get your start on Etsy?


I first began selling my artwork and some of my vintage treasures on Ebay. I learned about Etsy shortly after it started, but was also juggling a job as a life and career coach, so I put the idea of a shop on the back burner.


Last year I opened my first shop -- with all my vintage pieces -- as we began to be aware my job might not last. I opened the other two shops within a few months after seeing success in my first one. I love the community and the ability to connect with other artists!


3. What is a typical day for you?


I don't think there is a typical day! I juggle a lot of balls. . .from collecting eggs and gathering up produce from my garden, to canning and running errands. I work to fit in my creating and photography in little snatches wherever I can. I carry a notebook with me so I'm able to jot down any inspiration I discover through the day and typically I work more strategically on my creating and shop listings for an hour or two in the mornings and then again in the evenings.



4.If you could be anywhere in the world for one day, where would it be?





I would love to go to Europe. I have made a number of Etsy friends there, and the history of the UK, France, Italy and Spain have always intrigued me.


5. What is your favorite Bible verse?

Jeremiah 6:16 -- "Look and see, and ask for the Old Paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and you shall find rest for your souls."


6.What is your favorite Etsy item listing to feature?


I love the vintage books in my VintageLegacyStudio shop -- but I also enjoy the variety of creating in both my PocketComfort shop and my Imaginuity shop. I am a "change and variety" girl -- so that's really hard to say!



There are MANY ways to enter this amazing giveaway and each one counts as an entry.  The winner will be chosen by Random.org.
All of Judi's links are at the bottom of this feature.
Go to Judi's shops and choose your favorite items. Each favorite should be a separate entry.
Tweet the giveaway.
Post the giveaway on your blogs by putting a link on your blogs to my blog.
Post the giveaway on your team's thread.
Visit Judi's blogs and leave a comment.
Follow my blog
Follow Judi's blog
Follow me on twitter http://twitter.com/milagros1130
Follow Judi on twitter.
Purchase something from Judi and that will count as 5 entries.
THE WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN ON OCTOBER 1ST!

Here are Judi's links:

http://vintagelegacystudio.etsy.com/
http://imaginuity.etsy.com/
http://pocketcomfort.etsy.com/
http://vintagelegacystudio.blogspot.com/
http://creativedailyliving.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/VintageLegacy
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Vintage-Legacy-Studio/141956373934?ref=search&v=wall

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

FEATURING LYNN OF 19thAvenueFabrics AND 19thAvenueDesigns


Introducing my good friend and Christian sister!!!

My name is Lynn and I live in Western North Carolina and have lived here my entire life. I am married to a wonderful Christian man and have three sons, all grown, two grandbabies and another on the way.

2) I just happened upon Etsy by happenstance while doing an online search for something craft related one day, I don't even recall what I was looking for, but I was impressed by the overall look of it and the ease in their search options, so I stuck around and got hooked! :) After about two weeks of coming back to Etsy every day, I decided to give it a try and started listing things to sell in my first shop here, which was Imperfections Unique.


3) Since I work a day job, most days, I don't have any time to craft, but I always have the longing to do so. When I do have days that I can sit down and just make something, whether it be a small jewelry item, a handbag, throw pillows, or my newest venture of tarts, candles and soaps, I am much more relaxed and always take away a feeling of accomplishment. Not a single days goes by that I don't have a feeling deep within my being that I should be using my crafting abilities to earn my living and I am always searching and praying that God will help me understand the way to get there, and that I'll keep on keeping on until that way becomes clear. Sometimes, when I'm wanting it very badly, the journey seems harder to bare but I honestly feel as though it's one I am supposed to be taking. The hope of getting there some day helps to keep me focused, and I believe that God will give us the desires of our heart. I whole-heartedly want to be successful with the gifts and talents that He has given me; I hope that that desire is pleasing to Him.

4) If I could be anywhere in the world for one day, it would be somewhere beautiful, peaceful and relaxing with my husband, children and grandchildren, just enjoying each other and having a great time. It wouldn't really matter where exactly that was so long as it was a great day! :)

5) My favorite Bible verse is John 3:16. To know that God loved me, of all people, that much is a very humbling realization.

6) I don't have a whole lot of items listed at the moment, but my favorite item to feature would be anything that I have had to sew or jewelry that I have had to do beading on. The only things of that nature I have listed right now are the throw pillows.

You can visit my shops at
http://www.etsy.com/shop/19thAvenueFabrics
http://www.etsy.com/shop/19thAvenueDesigns

Friday, September 3, 2010

SILLY SATURDAY

2011 PLAYBOY BUNNY CALENDAR






AND YOU WERE THINKING - WHAT?

Friday, August 27, 2010

SILLY SATURDAY - PETS


Please don't let them drink me........

Hellllllllp!!!!!! I can't breathe!!!!!!

Who me?  I didn't do it!


All's well with the world!

Now that you've smiled,
please share these with your friends..
HAVE A TERRIFIC DAY!!!!

Thursday, August 26, 2010

GREAT GIVEAWAY BY CHRISTIE COTTAGE

WIN IT WEDNESDAY BY CHRISTIECOTTAGEBLOG
http://christiecottage.blogspot.com/

A New Giveaway from
ZudaGay's shop



To see more of Zuda's work:
http://www.pbase.com/zudagay

or http://www.flickr.com/photos/zudagay/

http://www.clayinthehands.blogspot.com/

her other shop: http://www.zglimited.etsy.com/

You will surely want to visit her shop - She does gorgeous work!

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Ice Cream Analysis




Blue Bunny ice cream was on sale this week.
I have a mug full every night but this week I had a revelation. I love ice cream -just ice cream in its' place.
Not candy disguised as ice cream, or ice cream buried in sauce and whipped cream. Don't get me wrong, I love candy, hot fudge sauce and whipped cream, just not mixed with ice cream.
I decided to try two new flavors this week - peanut butter swirl and pecan praline. When Jenifer called me from Shop-rite to read off the flavors they sounded really good. The peanut butter swirl was inundated with peanut butter cups and the pecan praline was loaded with pecans.
Now perhaps you are reading this and saying, "What? Is she nuts?" Maybe but the nuts should be nuts in a bowl and the ice cream should be separate. I just can't enjoy the ice cream while having to chew all that stuff.  If I want peanut butter cups, I will get a bag of Reeses!
Also, ice cream CONES have to be sugar or waffle cones, not those cones that taste like styrofoam that they usually give you at Dairy Queen. Nowadays, you have to ask for a sugar or waffle cone when back when I was a little kid that is all they had.
So, my ice cream revelation is that from now on, I will get vanilla, chocolate, coffee or strawberry or any ice cream that just stands on its own.

What is your favorite?