Saturday, November 20, 2010

Back to The Bog :: Cooking and Crafting


The care packages are boxed and labeled. I will be at the P.O. first thing Monday morning.

And now, while Geoff and the kids build a robotic arm float for the holiday parade, I am going to get things started in the kitchen. It is very much a multi-tasking day, as I give some robotics' club members sewing tips, prepare them snacks, and dinner, and also cook a thing or too for Thanksgiving. The kitchen smells wonderful, and I can hear power tools and rain fall... bliss.


Well, I am doing it again! I love Martha Stewart's cranberry relish, but since I am the only one that loves it, this time I cut the recipe in half. Maybe it will gain popularity this year, which will give me a good excuse to make more.


The flavors of ginger, vanilla, cinnamon, citrus, and cranberries... they all cook and ooze together, and I think it tastes delicious.

We plan on constructing gingerbread houses this year. It's a favorite family tradition. But what about little gingerbread houses... a perfect size to accompany your hot drink? "Not Martha" has an amazing cooking~craft you will want to see, and make. I think they look irresistible.

"Eat~Drink~Chic" is sharing a little bird... a graphic to download for Amy Moss's candy in a cup craft.

Over at Heather Bailey's blog, Heather has whipped up a great craft and tutorial. Download her free PDF pattern and directions. And those felts she sells are very nice.


Everything in to the pot, and slowly simmering until the cranberries POP! I love that part!

1 + 1 = 2: Two great projects from "Cart Before the Horse," like a clever little display shelf. And to fuel my obsession with little houses, Jo also shares a tutorial for her little houses.

Which reminds me... next week, when I am definitely not shopping at a mall, I will be visiting "32˚ North!" Amanda will be having a promotion and Etsy sale on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. And, if you have a shop on Etsy Avenue, stop by 32˚North Blog and pick up a free banner and avatar from Amanda.

Okay. One more blog link just to keep the fun rolling: Hop over to Monica Solorio-Snow's place, because she is the "Happy Zombie" and she is having a giveaway! She calls it 5 or So Days of Holiday Happy in honor of her Gnome~tastic fabric line: Holiday Happy. I already know what a winterland of whimsy these prints are because I was one of the lucky winners of her first Holiday Happy Giveaways. Thank you Monica!

My relish is calling!

Happy Weekend Before Thanksgiving everyone!

9 comments:

Rois said...

Those little gingerbread houses are SO cute!
My Hubby makes a lovely cranberry relish each year that we all just love.I even like it on Cheese Cake or vanilla ice cream.
Happy Cooking.

Miriam said...

Lovely citrus-y photos! That looks like a wonderful relish recipe - did you think about making a really big batch and canning some of it? That way you could enjoy it again and again and again...

Natalie, the Chickenblogger said...

Rois... it sounds fantastic! I picked up a little brie, because the cranberry relish drizzled over baked-melted-oozing brie is amazing.

Thank you Miriam. I need canning lessons. Can I come and get snowed-in with you guys, and learn how to can the relish? Everyone should see the chickens up at the Mucky Boots Wonderland: http://muckybootsfarm.blogspot.com/2010/11/wonderland.html

Anonymous said...

Mmm, relish on melted brie...when can I come over?!

Thanks for the inspiration and the recipe. Now I know a wonderful treat to serve on the day after Thanksgiving.

Have a wonderful time with your loved ones.
Sylvia

Natalie, the Chickenblogger said...

Happy Thanksgiving Sylvia! And thank you for visiting Chickenblog.

Alison said...

Miriam's idea is wonderful--I'll bet that relish would look beautiful in canning jars. There's gotta be somebody in all your extended hands-on tinkering friends and family who knows about canning...or you could get a good book and just give it a shot! (My coworker, who claimed the recipe I gave her looked like Greek, canned by herself out of desperation and it worked! I am very proud of her.)

Natalie, the Chickenblogger said...

You're right. I believe canning is in my future, but my canning future will not be this week!

happy zombie said...

Oh you sweet wonderful you, Natalie!!! I heart you so much! And the comment you just left me... TAMALES was the other thing I was going to say. Tamales is #1 on my family's Christmas Eve celebration. And piñatas. There's no better family then a Mexican family! Now that we live in Oregon and I miss the big family Christmas Eve party... we go out to dinner, and it's to a Mexican restaurant - and I ALWAYS order myself a tamale - and feel my family's love. xoxoxoxo!

Natalie, the Chickenblogger said...

¡Viva La Zombie! May her tamales always be *hot!*