2008年聖誕節（1）節前準備 2008 Christmas Preview (rev 1)

I started to decorate our home couple weeks ago. From front gate toback door, from outside house to inside the home. Things started tocome together. Didn't get chance to take any pictures until thisweekend......... Snow came down.  What a joy!
兩星期前開始著手準備聖誕節裝飾。從前門到後門，從房子外到房子內。漸漸準備齊，不過我的還沒有開始。一直沒有時間拍照直到上星期天。。。。。下雪了。好興奮！

Here is the front gate:
這是前門：雪下得好象就是為我。。。。。。


I made the wreaths by myself.
我自己做的wreaths。


I was going to make garland for the lamp. Oh well, next time.
我本想用 garland 來裝飾燈，下次吧。


Take a close look, snow has covered the wreath. What a joy!


Snow was coming down hard by the time I walked back,
走到後院的時候已是漫天鵝毛大雪了


Here is our Christmas tree. I have collected Christmas ornaments over the years.  I think I have enough.
這是我家的聖誕樹。近年來我收集了許多裝飾品，我想足夠了。


I made a lot Ginger Bread Man cookies this year. I hung some on the tree.
今年我做了很多Ginger Bread Man cookies，我掛了一些在樹上，很有趣。



Here are some Christmas cookies I made. From top to bottom:Pizalle cookies, Ginger Bread Man and Frosted Short Bread cookies withBlack Berry Jam.
這些是我做的聖誕餅幹。順序從上到下：意大利餅幹Pizalle，Ginger Bread Man 和黑梅果醬Short Bread餅幹。


These are chocolate fudge I made. Cut into squares and wrap them with candy wrappers. They are good gifts.
這些糖果叫巧克力Fudge。 我自己做的。放冷後，切小塊，用糖果紙包好。做禮物送人好看又好吃。


配方很簡單：
1罐 Condensed milk
2 cup Semi chocolate chips
1 大勺奶油
2 大勺巧克力粉
取一隻厚底鍋，低火加熱Condensed milk 和 Semi chocolate chips，直到溶化，加奶油和巧克力粉，溶化後放入冰箱冷卻兩小時。切小塊，用糖果紙包好。


這下雪的星期天去外麵吃飯可不太明智,還是我自己做吧.
Braised Rib Roast and potatoes with homemade Fetichini
1.5-2磅帶骨Grass fed 牛肉 (Rib Roast)
2杯紅酒
1隻洋蔥切丁
2隻 BAY LEAVES (香葉)
3隻胡羅卜
4隻土豆
鹽和胡椒粉
1大勺麵粉
橄欖油層1-2 大勺
取一塊 牛肉 (Rib Roast), 化冰, 兩麵用鹽和胡椒粉淹30分鍾.


厚底鍋加熱(中高熱), 加1大勺油, 牛肉兩麵煎黃, 取出待用,


1隻洋蔥切丁,放如上麵的鍋裏炒軟, 加胡椒粉,再加入一大勺麵粉,炒1分鍾,加入2杯紅酒, BAY LEAVE, 煮開,加入牛肉, 胡蘿卜,土豆, 低火或放如烤箱325F 烤3小時. 加鹽和胡椒粉調味. 很容易, 成品見下圖.


自己做的手工麵放在下麵, 澆上湯汁, 牛肉, 素菜, 配上一杯紅酒, 開飯了.


典型的 COMFORT FOOD.


Snow continued to fall on Monday. Road condition was not too friendly.I decided to work from home. I made simple dinner and covered it prettytight. He came home and looked at dinner table. "OK, Box dinnertonight?" I had good laugh at it. Let's look what's in there.
星期一雪還在不停地下。路不好，在家上班。晚上做了兩盒飯。蓋子蓋得挺嚴，放在餐桌上，他說今天吃盒子餐（Box dinner)？笑得我前仰後合。來看看吧，好象有點東西。。。。。


Now you can see the whole "box".......
看到了盧山真麵目了。。。。。。


Miso soup, Marinated ginger, Wassabi with soy sauce
Miso 湯，醃好的薑片，辣根和醬油。


Simple Sushi rolls for appetizer.
Sushi卷當開胃餐。


Stir fried shredded zuchinni and pork with Miso sauce.
角瓜Miso肉絲


White rice with seasoning. Very simple and less dinner plates to clean up.
白米飯加些芝麻，柴魚片，昆布。簡單的星期一晚餐。


Snow has been off and on since Sunday.  Temperature has dropped 13F theother day. It was quiet cold. But house still warm and made me feeleven warmer when the Christmas tree was lighted up.
自從星期天，雪還是下下停停，那天早上室外溫度降到了13F。天氣蠻冷的。不過家裏還是暖融融的，尤其是看到我家的聖誕樹。


聖誕節就要到了，今年的菜單已定：
First course: Butternut squash soup
Second course: Green salad with Creamy Garlic Dressing
Side dish: Homemade Sausage with White Beans
Main course: Herb Roasted Leg of Lamb
Bread: Homemade Buttery Dinner Rolls
Dessert: Basque Creamy Rice Pudding
After dinner drink: Winnermucca Coffee


I wish everyone has a very merry Christmas.
祝大家聖誕節快樂！