Get some Spinich for the bacon dressing Limey , heat the dressing up a bit , shroons ,Croutons , its All Great !!!


Good Haul !!!


It seems to be a foody Xmas !!!

Hey, Zip, thanks for the suggestion about the Bacon dressing - it's a new foodstuff for me! I'm wondering if'n it'd be good on brussels sprouts, but maybe Best Beloved would kill me :eek:!

Bacon makes everything tastier. :D

Everything :eyebrow: ...?

I think brussels sprouts are beyond help.


edit: it is really good on a spinach salad though.... little red onion, little tomato...

Oh contraire! Yummo!

Ingredients

* 3 slices chopped bacon
* 1 tablespoon olive oil
* 2 shallots, minced
* 1 1/2 lbs small Brussels sprouts, trimmed but left whole
* salt and pepper
* 1 cup chicken broth

Directions

1.
1
Brown bacon.
2.
2
When crisp, remove bacon from pan and drain fat.
3.
3
Add the olive oil and shallots and saute 1-2 minutes.
4.
4
When shallots are tender, add brussels sprouts and cook for 2-3 minutes on medium high heat until they are soft.
5.
5
Add broth and bring to a boil.
6.
6
Cover pan and turn heat down to medium low.
7.
7
Cook for 10 minutes or until tender.
8.
8
Top with bacon and serve.

Yippy, yippy, yippy, yippy!!! I got a secret santa package today. Getting photos uploaded and edited as we speak...er...type!

Okay, here we go:

Hmm...looks like it is from Michigan...could it be monster? One cannot tell. Let's open it!

Okay, so you get me right away with the chocolate. Here's what I think of that!

Next is a lovely dish towel (which I am always in need of, anyway.) Thank you!

Yes, I think Cardinals may qualify

And then *gasp* no you didn't! Monster, this has to be one of your beautiful pieces of pottery. I am so honored! Thank you! How did you get that pretty leaf pattern in the bottom? So nice of you to send a yummy candle for to go in it, but I hate to cover the bottom with anything. Maybe I will hang it on the wall? The dish, that is, not the candle. That's going to be burning in my living room as soon as I can locate a lighter.

And of course, the Christmas Cock. Standing tall and proud. I've decided to name him Richard. He is so happy to have some friends with whom to hang around the kitchen. We all know who the real alpha is, here.

COOL! i love how we all got a bit of cock for Christmas!!!!

lovely!!!

And finally a picture of the whole spread. Thank you so much, Secret Santa. You sure spoil me.

(BTW, did anyone notice my gnarled up thumbnail? That's what happens when you use your nail to push out stick pins from fabric, too much. I am sure many of you are not sorry about it, though.)

At what point do they stop tasting like pee?

Awesome haul!

I know, huh? Thanks again!

Nice! :) I'm always doing the happy dance seeing all your great stuff.
:jig:

SS Stuff
 

Finally a photo. A pox on Rosewill card readers.
On left is a "Thunderbolt Meteor Shower". Of which I'm baffled.
Center stage is Chocolate Charlie, that I've never had before. "Thanks."
Below is Chicken Poop lip balm. Reminded me of a friend who told a young kid that the best thing for chapped lips was chicken poop and honey.
KId: Will it help?
Bill: Don't know, but it'll stop you from licking them.

Thanks Secert Santa. I have a small clue

yw case ...couldn't believe it when the cellar santa randomizer came up with you! Well that was easy.... :lol:

Really? Huh. I think I am pretty easy to please, but anyone would like what you sent, monnie. :)

Are we suppose to reveal who our receivers were?

Woops. I forgot the nice card. Sorry SS

well you'd made such nice comments about the red and it was just the right size for the box..... gotta warn you, though, that glaze isn't "food safe" Me, I use bowls like that for non-liquid stuff, but it's your call....

nah, let them guess.....

So who do you think your ss is, buster? and anyone else who hasn't guessed yet.....

OK, by my reckoning we have seven more parcels to go ...and not all of those recipients are necessarily expecting something, so they might not be checking mailboxes as avidly as the rest of us.! ;) (I had to stick a foot up classic's butt to get him to check his mailbox, and he was expecting something :lol:)

A summary:

Brianna's SS was Limey, BRIANNA NEEDS TO POST PICS
Wolf's SS was richlevy
Zipper's SS was SundaeGirl
Fobble's SS was Zipper
Tulip's SS was Clodfobble
Jim n Jinx' SS was busterb
Classic's SS was ..................? he didn't say/guess.....
Nirvana's SS was ..................? she didn't say/guess.....
Limey's SS was Jinx n Jim
Case's SS ws monster
Busterv's SS was..................? he didn't say/guess.....but he said he had a small clue

11 received and opened, 7 more out there, total 18 -thanks to emergency back-up SS -you know who you are.... :)

Umm who is making you eat/drink pee? :eek: I have not had pee as a food or beverage so I cannot compare. ;)

my thoughts exactly

I think mine is from Jaydaan no real reason why except maybe I am a bit psycho .... er a bit psychic ;)

or a bit wrong. unless I messed up my spreadsheet thingie :p

darn alrighty then! =) Psycho it is!

Color me surprised
 

Monster and I were supposed to be the two people who did not receive Santa gifts this year. So I was very surprised when Mrs. Levy called me at work to tell me a Secret Santa gift had arrived. Purple paper and a size 9 1/2 shoe box. So it's from Barney's little cousin?

Gifts for me and "Zeyda's Little Cereal Killer".

I love the bowl and spoon. I can't wait to pass it on to Nolan and explain where it came from.

Happy Holidays everyone.

6 to go......

I thought you and I weren't getting gifts. I'm not complaining, but now I'd feel bad if you were the only one not getting a gift.

Shit! thanks Rich - now I remember what I forgot.

Oh, I got mine, don't worry. You weren't going to get one either, but then I couldn't resist the "Zayde's little cereal killer" idea :lol: (That bastard Zippeh stole my thunder, though......)

besides... yours is the gift that can keep on giving ...post a good pic of the snowman and maybe I can sell a few ;) :lol:

(That bastard Zippeh stole my thunder, though......)

Thank You , Thank you Verry Much

I thought of it but where to send??!!??

Everyone has such cool and interesting gifts. I'm beginning to feel very uncreative and boring. :bonk:

Well, most of the gifts are store bought. It's just a matter of going around and thinking "that's pretty cool".

For some reason, I think of a lot of department stores these days as boring. I think I could find a lot more interesting things in a dollar store. Farmers markets are also cool places for food gifts, although some have become more yuppified.

For odd things try Archie McPhee.
For general merchandise try BargainOutfitters.com. Most of their stuff is practical, but you can occasionally find the moose-shaped pocket knife/nut cracker with compass and magnifying glass that for some reason never built up much of a demand.

There are people on the Cellar that would kill for a genuine moose-shaped pocket knife/nut cracker with compass and magnifying glass.:D

We haven't seen who Tulip was Secret Sants for yet, Rich.
I'm betting that she's done a lot better than she thinks.

I always used to buy my boss's Secret Santa for him, and kept it quite staid, given his status. Year after year I was mortified by the fact he got more congratulations that I did!

I'm guessing she did too. I'm not a 'crafty' person, so my only creativity is finding the unusual. I remember reading about a buyer from some catalog or store that gets sent to Zambia to look for unusual craft items. That would be a cool job except for the pressure. "Did I get the right stuff or are we going to have to unload those 10,000 Ugandan nose flutes to Big Lots?"

BTW Monster, the snowman looks great. I didn't realize you made it. That makes it even more cool. I'll post a closeup of the front and back..

not the back, eh ;)

The mind boggles as to what is on the back now!
Was it in a BLUE package?!

:lol: you'll never know...... although I told rich he could maybe just obscure the bits in question....

Now only 5 out there in the ether -was 4, but another materialized in the mail.....

We need pics from Brianna, Juniper and bluecuracao...........

I'm starting to worry about the one I sent .

Don't.

These things take time, you mailed it somewhere remote where mail is still delivered by pigeons .......and your recipient will not be distressed if it arrives late. chill.

I GOT IT!

Lovely Mr Postie fought through nearly an inch of snow (snigger) and I got my Secret Santa prizes! And I had a really secretive Santa too. I know some Dwellars prefer to be fairly circumspect about their real name and location, so I won't put any clues on here. But if my SS wants to identify themself to me by PM it would be lovely to say thank you personally.

It looked like someone quite fancied the idea of what I was receiving, as the package was ripped. Luckily it was a very heavy-duty bag and there was no damage inside.

On opening the goodies were wrapped again, in another piece of paper I am re-using this year! And on opening - three presents! As you can see there is a set of cups and spoons for me in my conquest to convert the world to the splendours of American food. And best of all a Mixing/ Measuring/ Pouring jug. Mum and I were most impressed with it, as there is nothing like that over here.

My bro is going to be very jealous, but if he's a good boy and gets me some cornbread mix when he next goes on holiday he might get a lend...

Thank you Secret Santa. The gift was personal to me and very well chosen. I love them and they will definitely get some use.

And here are the goodies.
Note the instructions. I think they apply to me as well as the container!

OK, here's what I got.

Let's see: a pretty little bag, set of 2 santa soaps, a shower puff, emery board, pumice stone, lilac scented oil, and a little glass bottle thingy which I guess is for the oil, right?

I put a few drops of the oil in the water mister that I use while ironing (I like this better than using steam in the iron) so that while sewing the quilt I'm working on right now (on which all my goodies are sitting in the photo), my office/sewing room smells delightful!

Thanks! I dunno who sent it . . . have to do some sleuthing. Someone from Canada!

Great! thanks.

poor Jaydaan is now the only recipient who knows she's on Secret Santa's Nice List who hasn't got her pressie yet -and it was mailed in plenty of time! :( maybe it was so nice customs felt the need to investigate futher.....

but that's not all we're waiting for.... there are a few surprises still in the pipeline ;)

Yay!! More presents! :jig:

Richlevy and SundaeGirl: Thanks, you guys. I tried to choose something nice, didn't quite aim for creativity. :p And I will check those sites you mentioned, Rich. :D

BAH one of those gifts is missing over half!!!! There is an entire separate part missing. Handmade lotions, bath salts, etc..... as well as a scented candle. How does HALF a parcel go missing in the same parcel????

Let me post a photo of the envelope and maybe we can figure out why. :(

I'm guessing Jaydaan didn't use brown tape.

http://www.wayswriter.com/pam/env1.JPG


Look at it from the inside. Sliced right along the top.

http://www.wayswriter.com/pam/env2.JPG

What a shame. It's OK, darlin'. I know you meant all the best! :sniff:

Must be one of those Homeland Security things. ::shrug::

No I did not use brown tape... I used clear tape to secure the gluey stuff. On the right had side, actually.. I can still see my tape.

Well here's hoping the person who DOES get that section of it loves lilac scented candles, lavender body lotion, lemon drop lotion, energy bath salts and a bag that is goes in for travel.

I will send another out to you.. AFTER I find out why it was opened. No point in sending you the same item, if its going to get stopped at customs. Funny thing is: I get all my adult toys/lotions for my business from the States with no issues. huh.

Awww.....I hope there was a legit reason and not someone from the post office stealing it. :neutral:

Might have been the bath salts. Postal workers are so suspicious of powdery-type substances, I think, especially if it's not officially factory sealed.

Sounds absolutely scrumptious though! Please don't feel as though you have to re-send, but if you do, it will be appreciated very much.