A day in the life of dohhead

A little Fergie festiveness.....

My day began, with this incredible sunrise, just outside Fergus, I had to pull off, and snap this shot...

 

Saturday, Dec 24, Christmas eve day.....Just as last minute mall shoppers are frantically perusing the shelves for last minute gifts, so were the baked item shoppers frantically purchasing 11th hour goodies for their holiday soirees... 

A T-bone and one of these puppies, is good eats, I don't care where you're from....To quote Larry the cable guy....

Cran apple pie, with 2 1/2 pounds of fruit....OMG!

Steamed Christmas puddin'.....One of the world's best working class desserts.....Sugar, spice, raisins and a whole lotta booze to invoke some holiday cheer!

My boss, Miriam, even found the time to have a little "bonhomme" (ceramic replica) of your's truly, made for me....I was noticeably touched...Especially with the pseudonym pasted on the fishing hat...

By midday, it was a wee bit crazy in the shop....

The following morning, my auntie made us brunch, a superb frittata, and Champagne to wash it all down, she spares no expense!

Hope your Christmas eve/day was as tasty as those of us at  Fergie's fine foods, and  Casa Baumgartner.....Cheers, and happy holidays.....

 
 

How to rescue the roast.....

Last night, Mom was having her annual dinner for her bible study group folks ....She likes to have a comfort food dinner type of deal, as the weather has normally taken its seasonal turn for the worst, as the northern hemisphere gears up for the winter solstice.  Roast beast, taters of some kind, and cruciferous veggies....Are usually "de rigeur". Upon leaving work @ 1400, I checked in with mom, to see where she was at in her dinner preparations...The agreement was, I was  to make dinner....Pretty simple, right?  Mum tends to panic. If stuff isn't done WAY ahead of time....It all starts to unravel. Mum used to be a fairly good cook...When  she cared, and had fewer concerns on her plate...Now, it's just a good idea to steer her to an easy chair, if the phrase "can I help?" is uttered!  She advised me that the roast was in the oven, and the  timer set for 4 hours hence....The conversation went as follows:  Anthony: "Ma, did you season the roast?"

              Lydia:  "No, we didn't have any"

              Anthony: "Which roasting pan are you using (for the king-sized Sirloin tip Mastodon-sized roast) ?

              Lydia: "My roasting pan", (the one that I got as a wedding present, 54 years ago, that is suitable in size, for a 3 lb chicken.)

              Anthony: "Ma, I'm home in 5 minutes, please don't do anything else".

 

Such was the imbroglio that I walked into! The roast in fact, had been squeezed into the rather small, 54 year old pan, with such force, it made a sucking noise upon emergency extraction...I immediately made up a Dijon/Merlot/garlic poultice, which I applied liberally to the hunk of meat...The remaining 3/4 bottle of wine was poured into the bottom of the turkey-sized roasting pan, along with some veggies, for roasting.  The liquid also keeps a nice moist environment, to keep the meat juicy.  Here is the finished roast, just prior to slicing...

.....And the business end, sliced just a wee bit too soon, the cooking time had been extended by about 45 minutes, and folks were famished....I take full responsibility for the excess meat juice on the cutting board. It did however, make its way to the gravy boat....No harm, no foul!

Appie of the day.....Some festive cake pops, too!

Oven roasted Russet potato chip. Smoked salmon mousseline, caramelized onions in duck fat, with local maple syrup, fresh chives....Crunchy, creamy,sweet,unctuous and peppery....Go ahead , Make my day! 

Basket o' cake pops, for  those with a festive sweet tooth...  

Some holiday Fergie-ness....

Here are some images of the past weekend at Fergie's for your enjoyment....I'm sure SOMETHING will jerk your chain, eh? 

How about a corporate Diva, making a braided loaf?

Here it is, once baked.....Not bad for a first timer!!

....And the money shot....

Some very Christmassy Penny festive cupcakes....

 

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Some incredibly moist, and delicious....Carrot cake, yes, with cream cheese frosting....
 Basket o' cookies....

 

 Some buttery, fruity rhubarb/strawberry coffee cake......Get out the creme fraiche and the caramel sauce.....

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