Preseason "Holiday" Tree Lighting

Everybody in my house knows that I don't want to hear any Christmas Music before Thanksgiving. I let it go that I heard it in Boscov's last week (I was, admittedly, Christmas shopping).

So the Preseason tree lighting at Upper Darby's Township Building was for me, well, PREseason.

But like last year, I came away loving the day. So many people collaborated to make a really nice event. I left my EMPTY Vera Bradley backpack to hold a seat (risky, I know) while I was frolicking about taking these snap shots, and alas it was still there when I got back to it. Our bikes were unscathed as well. So it was a real feel good event all the way around. I like that our township is doing these community events and I end up at many of them, being a proud parent of an Upper Darby Summer Stage Shooting Star.

The parade was full of Upper Darby's finest police and fire people, various fire trucks, and groups from all of the townships many schools.

A combined choir from the elementary schools sang a medley directed by Barbara Benglian. It was so sweet a sound.

We had a great singing Santa this year!

A musical tribute was paid to all vets of each of our country's branched of the armed forces. Nice to remember how we keep these liberties.

It all kind of makes you happy to be part of the land of the free. And glad that Christmas is WEEKS away!

For more photos of the day, click here!

Karate Kid

Saturday was a delightful morning. New Black Belt girl, Jessica, came into the studio. Sweet. Meek, even.



But there is no wonder to me why they call her "Crazy Legs" at her studio, East Coast Karate, where she earned her Black Belt recently.



Mom and Dad were smart to want to celebrate her achievement in photos. You won't be this young, strong and determined forever. You have to hold on to the memories!
...Sounds like a song.

I love the diversity in portraiture that I get at the studio and I really enjoy celebrating your milestones. The people that I meet make my life richer and I am grateful.

Jessica is doing a jump kick here. The kid is on Fire!

Here is a gentle portrait that shows Jessica's pure soul and her closeness to her Art.

Jessica loves what she does and can be so proud of
her achievements!!

You Too Can Evaporate Your Own Milk

This feeding your family can take you to new places whenever you let it. And for as long as I have been at it, I need some new places to inspire me.

Last Sunday, Halloween, I went to make a pumpkin pie. In observing the Sabbath, I did not run out to my favorite corner grocery to pick up the evaporated milk I forgot. It occurred to me in that moment that I could EVAPORATE MY OWN MILK! Cowabunga!

I put a bunch of milk in a pan and started to simmer it until it (kinda) was cut in half. Wow! Look at that, the water was evaporating from the milk. Like who da thunk?

Then I cooled it a bit and put it into the mixer with the rest of the ingredients. This is the pie I made and it worked!

Also, I want to mention, that I did not use an already pie crust. This is the real thing.

I am really feeling like a pioneer woman now.

So the next day, Feast of All Saints, I went the next step. I baked my Jack-o-lanterns and put up almost a gallon of fresh pumpkin. Large yield for these two guys.

So we have had pumpkin bread and pumpkin soup. I have been threatening myself to do this for years. All it took was home evaporated milk. Lydia might call this a “reduction”.

Notable Kitchen Tour and Chef Showcase

On Thursday, November 4^th I was a privileged guest on the Philadelphia Orchestra Fundraiser Notable Kitchen Tour and Chef Showcase.

It was raining cats and dogs, and all the people who were making the tours were very cheerful and our hosts were most accommodating and patient.

My group, Elizabeth, Meg, Florence and I started the day at the Haverford Reserve, Anthertyn. We were greeted with warm cungee (sp?) and rice soup prepared by the most reserved, Margaret Kuo. The kitchen in this apartment was hardly a downsize. It was a fabulous kitchen that most of us would like to grow into. Having bumped into long time neighbor and customer, Susan Koedding, an interior designer, we both commented that although we don’t qualify for age at Anthertyn, we would love to live there and cast off our larger homes.

Next stop, still at Haverford Estates was at the Carriage Home. Here we were served with a light Morrocan Style Cous Cous dish which we were offered the recipe by chef Hope Cohen. Hope was affable as we discussed the incredible stools in the kitchen with gorgeous wooden backs.

In Haverford, we experienced the food of long time Reading Terminal Market Cook, Delilah Winder. Delilah was a student of Betty Moloznik, former owner of the historic “Moveable Feast” in University City, and MIL of Elizabeth. Delilah was so happy to think back to her days where she still claimed Betty had taught her everything she knew about food.

At each location, tables were set with uniquely themed appointments.

We picked up a shuttle at Valley Forge Military Academy where there was shopping set up and road stop by stop to three homes.

One of my favorite eats of the day was at a huge estate in Wayne, Deilwydd, where we were served Caesar Salad spring roll bites prepared by Michael Dorris of MPD Dining. He also prepared a nice sweet potato soup with apple cider foam.

We were thinking the large remade Barn in Radnor was our favorite home , especially as we really enjoyed our dumplings by Chris Foo of Hunan in Ardmore. But then we arrived at a brand new home in Villanova where we were served Sautéed Cod with rice noodles and an awesome apple cider courtesy of Wolfgang Puck Catering. By this time we were a bit tired of the Asian, so I did not appreciate the Cod the way I should have. The cider was stupendous, as the rain continued to come down in droves. This home was my last as the fantasy was over and it was time to go home to my own little kitchen where I enthusiastically prepared a nice light clams and linguini for Sweet-Sixteen who was opening at The Haverford School in Little Shop of Horrors that evening.

BTW, please excuse the pix today, they were taken with my rather low-end cell phone!