Category Archives: inspiration

4 carnivores and 1 non-beef eater

And everyone leaves happy . . . . .

While the in-laws were in town for New Years we ventured to the new 5 Guys burger stand in Tempe and everyone found something to be thankful for and to be annoyed by – perfect holiday experience! The 4 burger eaters were all happy and enjoyed their burgers although the tall one said he wanted to take the group to In and Out burger the next day for what he feels is truly the very best burger. He was vetoed though as a burger a week really is the limit. I am not a beef eater so I enjoyed the 5 Guys grilled cheese with sauteed mushrooms and onions – very tasty! We all enjoyed the fries although do four adults and one child really need a grocery bag filled with fries – the volume was a bit much. We all also enjoyed the “while you wait” peanuts offered in the “help yourself” cardboard bins. What we didn’t enjoy at all was the blasting, blaring, very load music. So loud we couldn’t actually talk to each other. Maybe their idea is to have you shut up and enjoy the food but the loudness was too much for anyone over 30.

The while you wait "help yourself" to the peanuts bin

The joint on Mill Ave.

The bottom of the bag of fries

The short ones plain hamburger

My grilled cheese with mushrooms and onions

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Had a Merry Southwest Christmas

As mentioned in a previous post the extended family Christmas had a Southwest theme this year. Our new tradition of the last few years is to celebrate the Saturday after Christmas so that everyone can do their own thing on Christmas and then come together more relaxed. That said – we are also all tired of ham and turkey by then so I thought now that all of my family lives out in Sunny Arizona (at least during the winter) we should celebrate the season by embracing the flavors of the South West. We had to make multiple versions of items due to some members of the family’s desire for a lot of heat in their food and some members who refuse to have a pinch of pepper added! Also, putting this post together I realized I forgot to take a picture of the Southwest peach/mango cobbler baked in the donkey shaped pan and since it is all gone I can’t do a re-do. It was yummy though let me say! Here are some pics of dishes made by . . . . . hmmm . . . . .  all the ladies of the family. Well, I guess the guys did build and keep stoked the holiday fire pit outside in the fabulous AZ weather. Oh and as a p.s. side note we discovered my brother doesn’t like this type of food. He ordered a pizza with out telling us and had it delivered to my house to the suprize of all of us when the knock came on the door. Well each to his own right!

Mango Citrus Punch

Guacamole - I think mom may have actually licked the bowl!

Spicy Chiplotle and Green Chili Salsa (only 3 of us dipped into this)

Warm black bean/corn dip - seriously good - mmmmmm

chili and sugar crusted dried mangos

Tamales from the Tamale Store - kind of a disapointment I wish I wouldn't have praised so much in an earlier post

Pan of corn enchillandas

Three bean chili

Southwestern Beans

Taco Pie

Peach Mango Salsa

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Cowboys and all – My Favorite Versions

In my I-Tunes Holiday Folder I own 21 hours and 13 minute of Holiday Music. That is over 400 songs – well over 400 versions of a couple dozen songs anyway. I am serious about it though – The Holidays mean nostalgic and new versions of some of my favorites. As soon as Thanksgiving arrives I turn on the Holiday tunes listening on my personal collection on my computer,  I-tunes radio station, in the car, on the upper channels of cable TV and this year I created a Pandora “Rocking Christmas” station. My all time favorite Christmas song is Christmas For Cowboys by John Denver. I have such a visceral experience any and every time I hear a John Denver song. The list that follows is a list of my go to Holiday play list – in alphabetical order.

Favorite Christmas Carols – My Favorite Versions

Baby It’s Cold Outside – Ray Charles and Betty Carter
Baby, Please Come Home  – Darlene Love
Bizarre Christmas Incident  –  Ben Folds
Blue Christmas – Bright Eyes
Christmas For Cowboys – John Denver
Christmas in Hollis -Run-D.M.C.
Christmas Wrapping – The Waitresses
Do They Know Its Christmas – Band Aid
Feliz Navidad – Jose Feliciano
Frosty The Snowman – Jimmy Durante
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen  –  Barenaked Ladies
Hallelujah  –  Rufus Wainwright
Happy Xmas – Plastic Ono Band (John Lennon)
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas  –  The Pretenders
Have A Holly Jolly Christmas – Burl Ives
I’ll Be Home For Christmas – Bob Dylan
I saw Daddy Kissing Santa Claus  – RuPaul
I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm – Billie Holiday
Last Christmas – Wham!
L-O-V-E  –  Nat King Cole
Merry Christmas Baby  –  B.B. King
Most Wonderful Time of the Year – Johnny Mathis
O Christmas Tree – Aretha Frankiln
O Come All Ye Faithful  –  Patty Loveless
Pine Cones And Holly Berries – Hank Jones
Please Come Home For Christmas – Bon Jovi
Pretty Papers – Willy Nelson
River  –  Joni Mitchell
Santa Baby  – Eartha Kitt
Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town  – The Jackson Five
Silver and Gold  – Burl Ives
The First Snowfall  –  Bing Crosby
Twelve days of Christmas – (Reggae) Peter Broggs
We’re a Couple Of Misfits – Paul Soles
Will Santa Come To Shanty Town – Eddie Arnold
Winter Wonderland – Trick Pony
What A Year For A New Year  –  Dan Wilson
White Christmas – Otis Redding
2000 Miles  –  The Pretenders

Christmas for Cowboys - John Denver

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