The Holidays Were Very Pleasant- Just the 2 of Us

Happy New Year, gang!

Our Christmas and New Year celebrations were very low-key and quiet.  Extremely pleasant.

Christmas Eve found us eating a nice antipasto salad and French bread pizzas.

Christmas Dinner was out of this world.  I roasted a 6# Duck and served it with potato pancakes, red cabbage with brown sugar/vinegar, and a wild rice/mushroom/cranberry pilaf.  It was all yummy!  (Very German)

New Years Eve was spent watching the Twilight Zone Marathon...  a tradition for us.

Pigged out on Muffalettas!

Did our annual Pork and Sauerkraut on New Years Day.  (Along with roasted pig tails, country ribs, mashed potatoes, baked apples, and Angel Hair Pasta in the pork drippings.)  OINK OINK!

THIS WAS A REAL PLEASANT SURPRISE:

On the 23rd, I got a phone call from the American Legion saying that they had a "gift" for us and wanted to make certain that we'd be home.

I told him that we live behind a locked-gate 8/10 of a mile back in the woods and he could just leave the "gift" behind the gate.  I thought that it was a scam and wasn't very pleasant.  I hung up the phone.

2 hours later the same fellow called.  "I hate to bother you again, Mrs. Manzo, but can you come down to your gate to get this??  I'd hate to leave a turkey and a ham out here.  I'm afraid that the local critters will snatch it!"

(Not only did they give us the turkey and ham, but a storage container packed full with a pumpkin pie, fresh fruit and all sorts of dried and canned goods

He went on to say that Sharon at the local food pantry had given them Dom's name as a Vietnam Veteran!

I felt horrible.  I apologized to the guy and he understood completely. 

I volunteer at the local food pantry.  The American Legion and the VFW had contacted the coordinator for names of veterans.  Didn't she give them Dom's name with our address and phone number!!!!

HERE'S WHERE I VOLUNTEER

The Veterans organizations story in the local paper:

Christmas baskets for local veterans

DONATION: Gilbert Pfisterer, center, received one of the food baskets delivered by two local organizations who support veterans. The donations were made possible by a number of organizations and businesses.

Veterans in Pearl River County received a gift of food for the holidays due to the efforts of local organizations.

Members of the Sons of the American Legion, McSween-Johnston Post 73, Picayune, Miss., worked with the James L. Burge Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3804, to distribute more than 100 food baskets for Christmas to local veterans and other Pearl River County residents, according to the release.

The annual Christmas Basket Food Drive included contributions from Sons of the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Froogle’s Cost Plus Foods in Bay St. Louis, Paul’s Pastry and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The baskets included a 12-pound turkey, an 8-pound ham, several side dishes and a pumpkin pie from Paul’s Pastry.


“The annual drive exemplifies the spirit of the season, while allowing these veterans’ organizations to further their mission of service to our community, state, and nation,” the release states.

https://www.picayuneitem.com/2018/12/christmas-baskets-for-local-veterans/

Dominic and I wish you all a very HAPPY NEW YEAR and hope that your holidays were GREAT!

New Year's Eve and Day

Rick and I had a very mellow New Year's Eve.  We bought a pound of large shrimp and 4 lobster tails at Jungle Jim's International Market.  This place is so HUGE that it's almost intimidating.  One can spend hours poking around this place.....

Discover a World of Food and More!

Jungle Jim’s International Market is more than a grocery store, it’s a destination! With more than 200,000 square feet of shopping space in each of our stores, there are over 150,000 products from which to choose.

In addition to all the grocery items, you’ll find store tours, food demonstrations and lots of fun and attractions for the whole family.

Our stores also offer more gift shops, boutiques, restaurants and conveniences than any other mega store in the region. Stop in for an hour or make a day of it. However you do it, shopping at Jungle Jim’s 

The 2 of us just sat in front of the television, sipping and nibbling.  Very enjoyable.

The BIG FUN started on New Year's Day.  Sadly, Tony had to work, so missed the fun.  He's an executive chef at BRAVO'S and works long hours.

Aunt Nan had her annual "Pig Tail Party" to get things rolling.  Baked until super crispy.... yummy.  Like meaty cracklins.  (probably something that you have to grow up with.... very German)  After about 4 pounds of tails, we moved on to dinner.

Center cut pork loin roast, Country pork ribs, Sauerkraut, Mashed Potatoes, Baked Apples, Limas and an Angel hair pasta with pork drippings.....decadent.  I had a Filipino client that turned me onto this.

We had a great day!

Final Batch of Random Ohio Pictures

I'm "Blogged-Out"!  (And so are you guys, I'm guessing)  *grinning*

Aunt Nan's "Pig Tail Party" (New Years Day)

Firstly, let me tell you about pig tails.  I grew up on 'em.  Very German.  As hideous as they sound, they're delicious if they're baked to a crispy crunch!  If you enjoy cracklin's or pork rinds, picture them with meat attached.

Two years prior to this batch of pictures, the 4 kids wanted NOTHING to do with them.

Finally, Jen's daughter Lauren, saw Ric and I enjoying them, and was the first to indulge.  Within minutes, the other 3 were racing into the kitchen to eat 'em!  I figure that my maw was smiling down from heaven!

I picked up 7 pounds of them this year.  They went quick (with a little bit of help from their Grandad and I)  This year, the "Pig Tail Queen" was Jill's Brooke.  The kid lost a mouth full of baby teeth, but still managed to proclaim, "Look Aunt Nan!  I picked it clean!".  She was one determined little girl.  (pictured)  Man, she put them away this year!

Also cooked a center cut pork loin, country ribs (I think that maw always cooked spare ribs, but we like the meatier country style), sauerkraut, mashed potatoes, lima beans, baked apples, and finally another "hit".......  I had gone to a client's "Filipino/American" Christmas party years ago.  They had a fabulous angel hair pasta dish.  When I inquired about the ingredients, she said, "PORK DRIPPINGS with a little bit of salt".  (I cook about half of the pork with kraut, and the other half without for the pasta).

Ho, Ho, Ho.....and Happy New Year, Gang!

 

Hoping that this post finds all of you happy and healthy.  Yesterday, I returned from spending Christmas and New Years with my brother, his 2 daughters, their husbands and 4 kids in Cincinnati.

As usual, we had a wonderful time.

Dom stayed at home this year to hold down the fort and feed my raccoon family.

He asked me to do something "Really Fun" for the family this year, so I'll start off with this batch of pictures.

We headed to THE CHRISTMAS RANCH one evening.  (I was bummed out that Jennifer and her gang were unable to make it.)

Bro and I headed to Jill and Tony's house, loaded up in Jill's mini-van, then hit the road.

Gang, this place was MAGICAL.  500,000 lights, all synchronized to music.

Wagon Rides (which we did), Train Rides (next year), Bon Fire, SANTA, food, drink.....WONDERFUL.  The six of us walked around with big smiles on our faces for about 3 hours.