It's the last month of 2016....

WHERE the hell did THAT go? The years seem to be speeding up exponentially over here. It's such a strange phenomenon to experience time at warp speed once you're over the age of 30 something. I (hopefully, fingers crossed, I don't want to jinx myself) get to celebrate another birthday this month, but more importantly, we have Christmas to look forward to, and two days AFTER Christmas is Kelsey's 4th birthday. I feel like I'm on drugs. It was JUST summer, my baby was JUST a baby, I was, like 32 years-old, like 3 weeks ago. Sorta, kinda. I'm appreciative that there is not much time to dwell on another year passing by so fast. There is too much to be done, magic to be made, and lots of good stuff to look forward to in the next month. I hope you're not freaking out about the impending new year. As they say, it beats the shit out of the alternative.

What' to drink....

I realize it may not be gin and tonic season, but I've never been one to discriminate against alcohol, just because it's not the right time of year. It's always the right time, as far as I'm concerned. This gin, you guys, I want to douse myself in this stuff. It smells so good, so floral and lovely. While I don't mind the off-season G & T, I don't really love all the sugar in the tonic, so I do a little splash of tonic AND a splash of club. It cuts the sweetness, and cuts the calories, which we could all use this time of year, so that we may spend said saved calories on some other delicious shit. Throw in a lime or lemon, and you have a phenomenal drink that you can enjoy at any time of the day year. Up side to drinking tonic, you won't get malaria. I see no reason to not imbibe. It's good for your health, after all. Cheers!

The Botanist Gin

What's to eat....

In keeping up with the holiday hustle and bustle, I think I'm going to designate this month's food portions to holiday appetizer/short-cuts/holy shit this stuff is so good, kinda things. I'm going to do my BEST to keep things really simple all around this month. So, imagine this stuff, some really great crackers or pita chips, a wheel of brie, and me, in absolute heaven. I try to have this on hand around the holidays because it's got a little something for everyone. It's got a kick, so if you don't like spicy, go easy. For me, I like just enough to have my eyes tearing, but not so much that I am going into full-blown cardiac arrest. Trader Joe's has so many good finds. This is one of them. 

Trader Joe's Hot and Sweet Chili Jam

Working on my Thanksgiving Recap/Theories....

I know we have moved onto bigger and better things, here, but I think there are a few things worth mentioning for the future. 

1. Best Turkey recipe - Goes to Martha Stewart. My turkey came out damn good. This is no surprise as you baste the bird with a mix of 3 sticks of butter and an entire bottle of wine. The smell alone had me all hot and bothered. It's good stuff. If you need a new turk recipe. This is it. 
http://www.marthastewart.com/353184/perfect-roast-turkey 

2. I shouldn't bake. I've said it before, and I'll say it again. I always forget ONE thing. This year's thing...I forgot to peel the friggin' apples for the apple crisp. It's not SO bad, I guess, but it kinda had a chokey texture to it. Like the peels were coming off before you chewed it completely, and it may or may not cause some variation of asphyxiation at any point in time. The ice cream helped a bit, but it was definitely an "eat-at-your-own-risk" kinda situation.

3. My Grandmother makes better gravy than you. That's right, my Gram. This lady showed up to my house on Thanksgiving, all ready to be put to work. Her and my Mother helped me, tremendously. But this gravy thing is her best work. It's a thing of beauty. I explained to her that she is not allowed to die, ever, because we will never eat good gravy again. She is happy to comply. 

Moral of the story, wine and butter make everything better. I could have killed someone with my apple crisp, and I should probably stick to buying baked goods. Grandmas are the BEST, and Thanksgiving, like life, is not a one man show. 

Wishing you ALL of the Good Stuff. 

XO
Tara 


P.S. I drove a loaner minivan for a week, while my car was in the shop. I found myself driving 10 mph over the speed limit, and taking turns at a fast clip to compensate for the "un-coolness" of the whole thing. Then I remembered that I drive a Honda Pilot, and I wasn't all that cool to begin with. And that minivan was some kind of luxurious. Nice comfy seat, kids getting all in and out without issue, spacious, and a smooth drive. I'm going to miss the old girl.