baby it's cold outside

103.3 inches of snow in my neck of the woods.
Temperature is 14 degrees as I post this.
Minus 21 in Watertown this morning.
Minus 25 in Saranac Lake this morning.
Looking out my back door Sunday afternoon.

Oh the snow the beautiful snow filling the sky and earth below. Over the house tops and over the streets, over the heads of people you meet. Dancing flirting skimming along. Oh the snow the beautiful snow how the flakes gather and laugh as they go. Whirling about in their maddening fun it plays in its glee with everyone. Chasing laughing hurrying by it lights on the face and sparkles the eye. And even the dogs with a bark and a bound snap at the crystals that eddy around. The town is alive and its heart in a glow to welcome the coming of beautiful snow. Bon Hiver Cicely. - Chris Stevens - "Northern Exposure"

comfort food for a cold winter's day

 
Galumpkis, cabbage rolls, pig in the blankets.  Whatever you choose to call them they are the best comfort food.  I have been eating them since I can remember. They take some work to make but the reward is in the eating.  What else do you have to do on a cold winter day?

The ingredients - rice ( you can use whatever kind

you want - I use brown), cabbage, ground beef, canned whole tomatoes, salt and pepper. 

 

Cook rice according to the package directions.  

You should have 2 1/2 cups of cooked rice. 

Core the cabbage with a sharp knife.

Place the cabbage in a pot of boiling water.

The cabbage leaves will start to fall off.

Parboil the cabbage leaves.

The cabbage should be cooked just enough to be able to fold them.

Mix the cooled rice with the ground beef.  

You need 1-1/4 cup of rice for each 1/2 lb of ground beef.

Add salt and pepper.

Mix together with your hands.

Cool the cabbage leaves in a strainer.

Using a sharp knife slice off some of the spine 

of the cabbage leaf to make it easier to roll.

With your hands scoop a handful of the 

rice/ground beef mixture and place on the cabbage leaf.

Roll the cabbage leaf. 

Fold up the sides and tuck the end under

the folded up sides to hold the cabbage roll together. 

Ta-da - you've made a Galumpki.

Place them in a oven-proof pan.

Add tomatoes.  I use canned whole tomatoes.  Pour the liquid into the pan and cut up the tomatoes.  I use two 28 oz. cans.  I like a lot of tomatoes and juice.  You can also use crushed tomatoes or cans of tomato soup - whatever your preference is.  Cook them in a 325 degree oven for about 2 hours. 

  Check to see if they are done by inserting a thermometer into the cabbage rolls.  If the temperature is over 165 degrees they are done.

 Enjoy. I know I will.

good lunch good friends

Ate lunch today at "The Mission" restaurant.  Had some great food and conversation with some friends from work. We started out with chips and homemade salsa (free on Mondays and Tuesdays).  Mm Mm good.  The salsa was so fresh tasting.  I had a "Mambo Salad".  A Mambo Salad has lettuce, tomatoes, orange slices, black beans, avocado chunks with a citrus dressing served in a crispy tortilla shell.   If you're in the area you really should check out this place.  You will not be disappointed.  You can get info on this restaurant here.  You can read all about the history of the old church that is the restaurant.  Part of it's history involves the Underground Railroad that was used as a refuge for fugitive slaves.  You can read about that here.

snow gently falling

Just checked my visitor map - I  had many visitors and I haven't posted in about 2 months. Wow!  Thank you visitors.  Please check in with me again. Today in Central New York has been like living in a snow globe.  Snow has been falling gently all day.  I like days like today. It's so peaceful and quiet outside.  Good day to hang inside, curl up on the couch with a cup of hot tea  and watch an old movie or a football game.  Is that what I did?  No, I went to a birthday party for my nephew Brad.  Brad 6 years old, full of energy and a smile as wide as the grand canyon.  

 A Toy Story shirt and matching sweatpants.

That's my head peeking over Brad's shoulder.

 Camo was the theme.
  Unknowingly (is that a word) I was dressed

 appropriately in a green sweater and green jacket.

A cake made by a good friend.  
How clever and delicious.  

The frosting made our tongues
and teeth turn green.

Thank you Brad for inviting
us to your B-day party!

PS - I borrowed these pictures from his MOM.

if anyone is still out there

If anyone is still paying attention to my blog just want you to know I'm still here - haven't felt much like blogging lately.  Seems like I don't have much to say right now.  Keep checking in with me.  I have been very busy.  I recently retired from my job and now I'm working part-time at the same job.  I really like going to work now because I know I don't have to be there everyday all day.  I was worried that I would be bored when I retired.  So far it hasn't happened.  As Martha would say "it's a good thing".

happy halloween

 

Trick or Treat!!

Happy Halloween Everyone!

Picture from Google Images 

countdown to halloween 1 day to go

When witches go riding, and black cats are seen/the moon laughs and whispers, ‘tis near Halloween. 

-19th century Halloween postcard

countdown to halloween 2 days to go

Comfort food.

picture from Google Images

countdown to halloween 3 days to go

Darkness Falls Across The Land

The Midnite Hour Is Close At Hand

Creatures Crawl In Search Of Blood

To Terrorize Y’awl’s Neighbourhood

And Whosoever Shall Be Found

Without The Soul For Getting Down

Must Stand And Face The Hounds Of Hell

And Rot Inside A Corpse’s Shell

The Foulest Stench Is In The Air

The Funk Of Forty Thousand Years

And Grizzy Ghouls From Every Tomb

Are Closing In To Seal Your Doom

And Though You Fight To Stay Alive

Your Body Starts To Shiver

For No Mere Mortal Can Resist

The Evil Of The Thriller

Michael Jackson

countdown to halloween 4 days to go

 

When black cats prowl and pumpkins gleam,

May luck be yours on Halloween. 

~Author Unknown  

picture from Google Images