Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Monday, 24 October 2011
Thanksgiving Memories
I know that Thanksgiving was 2 weeks ago ( well here in Canada it was), but I thought that I would share some of the recipes that Stef and I used to make our Thanksgiving meal truly perfect. Our parents were away for the weekend and came back Monday afternoon to a beautifully prepared Turkey Dinner. We made candles out of miniature pumpkins that we bought the day before and had colour co-ordinated napkins and table menus. Unfortunately all the pictures look strange because of a failure on the side of the photographer ( Stef).
We started off with an appetizer of bread and crackers with a homemade spinach dip that I was afraid that my mom would not even try but ended up loving.
For the main part of the meal, we had turkey (duhhh...) with stuffing and cranberry sauce with a side of butternut squash. This made for a very colourful plate and everything was truly delicious and super healthy.
We followed that up with still warm apple crisp topped with butterscotch ice cream, sprinkled with walnuts and drizzled with caramel sauce. Orgasmic.
So now for some recipes:
Zuza's Butternut squash
You will need:
-a butternut squash
-2 tablespoons of butter
-2 garlic cloves
-a teaspoon brown sugar
-salt
As you will probably notice, your squash has a hard rind and let me tell you, you don't want to eat it. Therefore, we will boil said squash until the skin is easily penetrable with a fork. Now that the skin is soft, peel it off the squash and cut the squash in half. Take out all the seeds and gunk in the middle. Cut the squash into big chunks and put in a baking dish. Mince the garlic and spread it on top along with the chunks of butter and sprinkle the sugar and some salt. Put it in the oven for 25 minutes at 325 Celsius. When the squash is ready it should be soft.
ENJOY!
Sunday, 16 October 2011
A Polish Sunday with my Family
8:00- Mom rolls over in bed and turns on the Polish community radio show
8:30- Whoever needs a shower contemplates getting up now or waiting until other goes. " My hair needs to dry, but it's so warm here, uh oh, I think Tata is going for it!!....wait, false alarm that's him going out to walk the dog. But I should get up..." etc. etc.
9:00- Anyone that is either a) really hungry b) wants to suck up to the parents, starts making breakfast which usually constitutes of just setting out all the ingredients for, wait for it......KANAPKI (sandwiches, which in Polish families constitutes 50% of meals). So the table is covered with jars of jam, tubs of *Polish* cream cheese, packages of fresh deli slices bought at the *Polish* stand at the farmer's market, and bread that my dad made himself (new obsession). Mama has been feeling unlike herself lately and the occasional plate of french toast or eggs has found its way to the table.
9:30- Everyone finally make their way to the kitchen table and gorge themselves. When everyone is stuffed Mama brings some cake out and everyone enjoys that with a cup of lemon tea.
10:15- The rush for the bathroom round II starts because:
a) There are 4 girls in this family
b) There are only 2 bathrooms
c) This is the one day a week my Dad shaves
d) Polish people at church judge, therefore you must have impeccable hair and makeup
10:15-10:50- Everyone is getting ready to look their Sunday best. If you don't, Mama will make you change. You cannot look:
a) frumpy
b) skanky
c) casual
d) too trendy
e) poor
f) scandalous
g) be wearing any type of denim
10:50- The shoe issue.
10:55- Everyone piles into the mini-van where Mama quickly turns the radio to the Polish station. "What if we miss something important?!"
11:10- We are at the Polish Church way too early, but I guess it takes a while to walk from the parking lot in these heels and "a little time to prepare never hurt anyone"
11:30- Mass starts. All the Polish ladies make sure to register exactly who is and isn't there. Who trickles in late, who leaves during the Mass.
12:15- The line to Holy Communion becomes a catwalk where everyone evaluates and judges the outfit, size, hair colour and shoes of the devotee. And woe on whoever doesn't get up to go receive Communion, everyone is thinking of all the horrible things you must of done to bring your soul to such a state.
12:30- Mass end and everyone groups up to talk, gossip, and make coffee dates.
1:00- The family finally gets in the car and drives home.
3:00- Early dinner that everyone MUST be present at.
3:45- The cake is gone and the cups that were filled with coffee are empty,
4:00- "Is there a new episode of _________________( insert name of Polish show)?" "yes, I think so!" They invade the basement to watch their fill of tv on full volume so that I cannot focus on the homework I have been attempting to do.
8:30- Whoever needs a shower contemplates getting up now or waiting until other goes. " My hair needs to dry, but it's so warm here, uh oh, I think Tata is going for it!!....wait, false alarm that's him going out to walk the dog. But I should get up..." etc. etc.
9:00- Anyone that is either a) really hungry b) wants to suck up to the parents, starts making breakfast which usually constitutes of just setting out all the ingredients for, wait for it......KANAPKI (sandwiches, which in Polish families constitutes 50% of meals). So the table is covered with jars of jam, tubs of *Polish* cream cheese, packages of fresh deli slices bought at the *Polish* stand at the farmer's market, and bread that my dad made himself (new obsession). Mama has been feeling unlike herself lately and the occasional plate of french toast or eggs has found its way to the table.
9:30- Everyone finally make their way to the kitchen table and gorge themselves. When everyone is stuffed Mama brings some cake out and everyone enjoys that with a cup of lemon tea.
10:15- The rush for the bathroom round II starts because:
a) There are 4 girls in this family
b) There are only 2 bathrooms
c) This is the one day a week my Dad shaves
d) Polish people at church judge, therefore you must have impeccable hair and makeup
10:15-10:50- Everyone is getting ready to look their Sunday best. If you don't, Mama will make you change. You cannot look:
a) frumpy
b) skanky
c) casual
d) too trendy
e) poor
f) scandalous
g) be wearing any type of denim
10:50- The shoe issue.
10:55- Everyone piles into the mini-van where Mama quickly turns the radio to the Polish station. "What if we miss something important?!"
11:10- We are at the Polish Church way too early, but I guess it takes a while to walk from the parking lot in these heels and "a little time to prepare never hurt anyone"
11:30- Mass starts. All the Polish ladies make sure to register exactly who is and isn't there. Who trickles in late, who leaves during the Mass.
12:15- The line to Holy Communion becomes a catwalk where everyone evaluates and judges the outfit, size, hair colour and shoes of the devotee. And woe on whoever doesn't get up to go receive Communion, everyone is thinking of all the horrible things you must of done to bring your soul to such a state.
12:30- Mass end and everyone groups up to talk, gossip, and make coffee dates.
1:00- The family finally gets in the car and drives home.
3:00- Early dinner that everyone MUST be present at.
3:45- The cake is gone and the cups that were filled with coffee are empty,
4:00- "Is there a new episode of _________________( insert name of Polish show)?" "yes, I think so!" They invade the basement to watch their fill of tv on full volume so that I cannot focus on the homework I have been attempting to do.
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