The BEST Chocolate Chip Cookies EVER!!

I love this chocolate chip cookie recipe!  LOVE IT! 

I love making them for me!  I love making them for family!  I just love eating them fresh out of the oven with an ice cold glass of milk!!! 

Here’s the recipe:

2 cups plus 2T flour

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking soda

Place in a large bowl and set aside.

1 cup butter (2 sticks) melted

1 cup dark brown sugar, packed (( I have been known to throw in an additional 1-2 T))

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 large egg

1 egg yolk

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Add the melted butter tot he sugars and whisk well, set aside to cool.  When cool, add the eggs and vanilla.  Transfer butter and sugar mixture to the flour bolw and mix by hand until ust combined.  Don’t over mix!

Add 2 cups of chocolate chips

3/4 cups walnuts chopped (optional)

Fold in the chocolate chips and nuts if using to the cookie batter.  Cover and refrigerate for and hour or two, or overnight which is what I typically do.

Preheat oven to 325.  Drop balls, a little smaller than a golf ball onto your cookie sheet.  Bake for about 12-14 minutes.  Allow to cool on your cookie sheet for about 5 minutes or so, then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling.  I bake mine on a baking stone and they bake up perfectly every time!  Store in an airtight container….if they last that long!

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The Crafty Side of Me!

I was so busy over the holidays with a new job, physical therapy and making a few crafts.   I had intended to post them as I made them but it just didn’t happen.  So I guess I’ll just have to post it all now!!

Christmas a year ago, my daughter and I made those Christmas balls with the glitter, yanno which one I mean right?  They are now all over Pinterest!  But this year I wanted to use paint, not glitter.  So I checked out TONS of You Tube tutorials and they were pretty much all the same technique. 

I may have used too much paint because I had some gorgeous color combinations but by the time all the excess paint drained out it had altered my designs. 

What I did was gathered and arranged my acrylic paint into the color combos that I wanted.  I would strategically squirt in the paint, cover the opening with a piece of paper towel and shake it until I got the design and mixture I wanted.

Then I set the balls upside down, turning them occasionally to get the paint to run out.  Unfortunately, I did these in the evening and by the time I got up in the morning some paint had settled in one spot and ruined my design.  Oh well, lessons learned.  They still look pretty good and next year I’ll put them in a jar or basket for display.  Next Christmas I hope to do a better job so I can hang them on my tree.

I made 2 shadow boxes and I love them so much that I may do them as gifts next year.  So that means I will need to start collecting coupons from craft stores and buy them months before Christmas so I can get them at a discount.

Here is the first one that I did, I saw it on Pinterest:

I took the back off of the frame and cut a piece of scrapbook paper to fit and attached it to the back of the frame.  My girlfriend has some sort of machine that prints the vinyl letters so she did that part for me.  Then, while the back of the frame was off, I added different sized bells.  You can add as many or as little as you want.  I put the back on the frame and put the letters on top of the glass.

Then I started to think of other designs and came up with this one:

I basically did the same thing but added some “snow”.  I bought the bagged snow at the craft store, I really loved using that because some of it stuck to the inside of the glass and it looks like it is snowing!!!

With the snow that was leftover, I dumped in an apothecary jar and set 2 silver glitter ornaments that I had from last year.  I saw this in a magazine somewhere but they had something different setting in with the snow.  The jar is pictured to the right of the glitter votive cup below.

I made 2 glitter candle votive cups.

I bought the glass cups at the dollar store.  I quickly slathered on the Mod Podge to the outside of the glass containers and then dunked each side in a plate full of glitter.  A girl can’t have too many sparkly and glittery things!!  I loved the look of them in the evening when the only light I had going on was candle light!  However the glitter does drop off when touched so I think I might look into some sort of a sealer to spray over it.

I also made several scarves, here’s three of them:

I’ll be setting up an Etsy shop and selling them there.

And finally, my gorgeous peacock feather Christmas wreath!  LOVE!! 

I bought an peacock feather wreath at an import store and simply added the blue balls and hydrangea flowers.  I was however, stuck on which color to go with.  I also had some green balls and flowers that matched the inside of the feather but decided to stick with the blue. 

Stay tuned though, there are some additional types of ornaments that I will be making yet!  I’m saving those for some cold wintery weekend when it’s just too bitter outside and I want to hibernate for a few days.  It doesn’t have to be Christmas to make ornaments!!!

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Thanksgiving (and Christmas) Dinner

WOW it’s been a long time since I have last posted anything!  Guess a new job and physical therapy will keep a girl busy.  I’m kinda tired of grilled cheese, guess it’s time to start cooking!!  And man oh man do I have some idea’s so stay tuned!

I was hoping to post this before Thanksgiving so you could see what delicious dishes I was serving my family, but yea, that new job and PT changed my plans a little…  BUT this will also be my Christmas dinner!

I heard someone talking at work about making mashed potatoes the night before and then baking them just before dinner.  Hmm, I can do that.  I found “butter potatoes” at the store so I thought I’d give them a try.  So Wednesday night I peeled and cooked them, mashed them with a masher (not the mixer as I usually do).  Add about half a stick of butter and mix them in well.  This time I added some softened cream cheese too, it just made them a little more creamier, I wanted to use sour cream but since I forgot to put that on my shopping list…. I improvised and used the cream cheese.  I greased a casserole dish, poured in the mashed taters and in the fridge they went.  This can be baked at 275 till warm, but first dot the top with butter and cover.

Then I started on the cranberries.   Here’s the recipe:

1 bag of cranberries

¾ cup sugar

½ cup water

½ cup apple cider (NOT vinegar)

1 orange, run thru the food processor

1 tablespoon of Disoranno (optional)

Add the berries, sugar, water and apple cider to a saucepan.  Start with a high heat and as the mixture starts to bubble, you need to start turning the heat down.  You want the heat to be hot enough for a light boil/light simmer so the berries pop.  If you turn the heat too low, they just cook.  Whatever you do, DO NOT walk away.   I also like to cover the pan to keep the mess at a minimum AND so I don’t get splashed either!

Also, you can adjust the sweetness or tartness as your taste prefers.  You can start with just a half of a cup of sugar and add one tablespoon at a time.  Be careful when tasting, its hot!!!

While the berries are bubbling, go ahead and process your orange.  Now, I know we are always told not to use the pith of the orange, its bitter.  But, my Grandmother taught me to use the whole orange so that’s what I do.   I cut the orange up in quarters and toss it in the food processor until it is completely chopped up (smooshed up).    Remember to remove theseeds first!!!  When the berries are popped, reduce the heat to a very light simmer and add the orange and Disoranno if you are using it.

 If you don’t want to do the orange that way then don’t.  Instead you can zest the orange peel and set aside.  When the berries are popped go ahead and cut the orange in half and squeeze all the juice into the pan of berries and add the orange zest.

Cook the berries on low for about 5 minutes or so and remove from heat, transfer the berries to a heat resistant bowl to cool and thicken.

Next, I prepared the sweet potato casserole.  I’m in love with this dish.   And the recipe is:

5-6 Sweet Potatoes

4 T Butter, softened

1/3 cup Sugar

FOR THE TOPPING:

1 cup Brown sugar

1/2 cup Flour

1 teaspoon Cinnamon

Butter, cold and cubed

Mash the cooked sweet potatoes in your bowl, add the softened butter and sugar.  Pour into a greased 9×9 casserole baking dish.  In a separate bowl,  add the cinnamon, flour and brown sugar and blend with a fork.  Toss in the butter and cut in with either 2 knives or with a hand-held pastry blender.  When the mixture is all crumbly, place on top the mashed sweet potatoes and smooth over evenly.   At this point I covered the dish with foil and put it in the fridge with the other potatoes.  Bake at about 325 for about 30 minutes, or until heated thru.  About the last 10 minutes I remove the foil.

I made my traditional maple glazed carrots but I made them boozy too! 

1 bag frozen carrot slices

¼ cup water for the steamer

¼ cup Maple syrup

¼ cup Brown Sugar

1-2 tablespoons Whiskey

I steamed a bag of carrot slices in my microwave.  I have this awesome steamer from Pampered Chef that I just love.  When the carrots are tender I drain them, add the butter, maple syrup, and brown sugar and heat in the microwave for about 2 minutes.  Stir in the whiskey and heat again, for about 3 more minutes.  Feel free to add a little more syrup or brown sugar if you want them sweeter.  A little more whiskey would also be delish!

*I didn’t take a picture of the turkey, not quite sure why, guessing we were really hungry and there was no time.  It was prolly more like me forgetting…. sigh

For the turkey, I quartered a large onion and placed that in the cavity of the turkey.  I then take about 3-4 tablespoons of butter cut into cubes and set aside on a plate.  In a bowl I mix up some garlic powder, seasoned salt, poultry seasoning, and salt and pepper.  If I am feeling a little daring, I go thru all my spices and herbs and play around with other additions.  Set this aside.  With clean hands, gently slide your fingers under the turkey skin, try to slide them all over the breast meat in down into the thighs if you can.  Then, grab some small amounts of the seasoning you mixed up and begin to spread that under the skin, rub it all over the meat.  When you are finished with that, start to place the butter dots under the skin too.  Tie up the bird and try to pin down the skin so it covers the breast meat.  I couldn’t find my turkey pins this year and I really wanted to cry over that.  I will probably find them next week, after I buy new pins for Christmas dinner.

For my stuffing (not sure why I call it stuffing as I don’t stuff the bird)

3 bags store bought bread cubes

6 eggs

2 tablespoons parsley

1 tablespoons poultry seasoning

1 tablespoon sage

5 cups chicken or turkey stock

1 large onion

½ stick butter

Salt & Pepper to taste

I chopped and diced the onion, melted the butter on the stove and simmered the onions until they were tender.  Remove from heat.  I sometimes use a stalk of celery along with the onion but I omitted it this time around.   Put the eggs in a large bowl and lightly break them up, add the parsley, poultry seasoning and sage and some salt & pepper, whisk until blended.  Pour in about 5 cups of broth.  This can vary depending on how moist you like your stuffing.   Then, when the onions and butter are cool, add them to the egg mixture.

I usually work with one bag of bread cubes at a time.  Pour one bag into a very large bowl and start ladling the egg and broth mixture over the bread.  Mix with your hands, add more as you need it but don’t make it so wet that it is all mushy, it is bread after all!! When you have that bag done, add it to your baking pan ( I use a very large foil pan ).  Repeat with each bag.  If you are noticing that you are running low on liquid and you are on the last bag, add some more broth and another egg to liquid bowl.  After you get all the bags done and into the pan mix them together too.  Now, My Mom used to kinda make large balls of stuffing.  You can if you want but I just bake loose.  I cover with foil and put it in the oven with the sweet potatoes.  When the potatoes are done I remove them from the oven, uncover the stuffing and bake for about 15 more minutes or until it is completely heated thru.  Or longer if you prefer your stuffing a little more….. Crispy?  Toasted?  Crunchy?

The only other thing I made was buttered corn and heated some store bought rolls. 

My 9 year old grandson said that it was the BEST Thanksgiving EVER!   These recipes fed 4 and I had enough leftovers to send home with my kids.  I love doing that!!!  Christmas will pretty much be a repeat of Thanksgiving dinner, my kids love it and refuse to let me try new dishes.  Warms my heart that they love our traditional dinner (sigh)

Happy Holidays everyone!!

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A Different Kind of Easter Dinner, PA Dutch Style

This Easter I decided to mix it up a little and modify the traditional Easter dinner and NOT make ham!  This year I made Hog Maw, or pig’s stomach, a traditional Pennsylvania Dutch dish.  My Grandma made it all the time and it was fantastic!  So, before I go any further and you decide to stop reading because it just seems too disgusting, think SAUSAGE casing.  Except here, you use a pig’s stomach, which I do not eat!!!  My son’s do, but not I!  Be brave, the pictures below are not really pretty.

The stomach is stuffed with sausage, diced potatoes and onion.  My Grandma  added cabbage, I do not .    I have since heard of other locals in my area using other variations such as a bread dressing that you would use to stuff a turkey, sliced carrots, apples.  Really, you could use anything your little cravings desired.  Although I would not recommend chocolate, THAT would just be wrong.

A little history on Pennsylvania Dutch; they were not Amish, or Dutch, but rather a German descendant that settled in PA a very long time ago.  In addition to Hog Maw, other traditional PA Dutch dishes were slippery pot pie, apple or corn fritters, rhubarb pie, potato cakes,  and scrapple (keyword… scrap) which my Dad fried and smothered with molasses,  schnitz un knepp, and the most delicious….Funnel Cake and Sticky Buns!!!  I am sure many of these dishes were also part of other cultures as well since way back then, they were all farmers.

And, the PA Dutch had their own language.  My Mom’s family spoke it often when I was around them, clearly it was an adult conversation that I was not meant to hear.  Recently I learned that a volunteer where I work speaks PA Dutch, and often comes in my office and rattles something that sounds somewhat familiar and comfortable. 

So, here come a few pictures, not for the weak of stomach (no pun intended).  View at your own risk but let me tell you my Easter dinner was a delicious!  I have very little leftovers. 

For those of you that are not local or familiar with south central PA, where I live, we have, as I am sure many other towns have, “Markets”.  Not to be confused with a grocery store, but lovely vendor stands with produce, butchers, bakers, crafts, sandwiches, and yes, a wine stand (*insert happy face).  Several of the bakers and butchers are run by Mennonites, they wear the cute little net bonnets.  That is where I purchased my sausage and pig’s stomach.  And I’m thinking in my conversation with the woman that took my order, she wasn’t quite sure I knew how to make this traditional dish as she wished me well and said that she hoped it would turn out for me.

I purchased 2 pig stomachs, and you must make sure they are “cleaned”.  I don’t mean washed cleaned but rather cleaned of the lining inside the stomach.

Not knowing exactly how big they would be since I have never purchased them from this butcher, I bought way too much sausage.  I used 3 different sausages this time, fresh, smoked and Italian.  I know, Italian sausage in a traditional PA Dutch dish?  Shocking yea, but I’m a rebel, what can I say.  I bought 2-1/2 pounds of fresh (loose, not in casings), 1-1/2 pounds of smoked sausage and 1-1/2 pounds of Italian (again, loose, not in a casing).  And a 5 pound bag of red skinned potatoes. 

I left the skins on the potatoes, just wash them well and cut out any imperfections, then dice.  My Grandma would never have left the skins on but yanno, it’s the rebel in me.  Or is it laziness???

Dice a whole large onion.  Mix with the potatoes and salt and pepper well.  I did a very light drizzle of olive oil but again, it’s not what my Grandma did.   In a separate bowl mix the sausage.  Now, I didn’t use all of the sausage at one time.  After I judged the size of the stomach, it sort of doubles when they are stuffed, I just started grabbing handfuls of sausage until I got the combination that I wanted.  I cut and cubed the links of the smoked sausage as that can only be bought in links. 

Then I mixed the potatoes and the sausage together.  Salt and pepper the inside of the stomachs and start stuffing.  Cram it in there!  It needs to be a firmly packed. 

After they are stuffed, you get to stitch the opening closed.  I have always used a sewing needle and white thread and it has always worked for me.  Just remember to remove the tread before you slice it. 

I put both of the stuffed stomachs into a roasting pan and added just a small amount of water to cover the bottom of the pan, cover tightly with foil. 

Bake at 350 for about 4-5 hours, until the potatoes are tender.   Usually you can tell by poking it with a knife!    About 2 hours into the baking, check to see it has not cooked dry.  Add more water if needed.  I’m sure you could use a chicken or beef stock if you so desired, some folks make a gravy with the drippings but it just seems too greasy for me.  Remove the foil about the last hour of baking to brown the skin.  Baste as you watch it, you don’t want it to burn. 

AHH browned perfectly!  My boys loved the crispy skin!

 Remove the thread, slice and serve and be prepared to be knocked off your feet cuz it’s good!!!

If you have never ever had Hog Maw, I hope you are tempted to try it.

Cheers!

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Cinnamon Christmas Ornaments

Looking for something fun to do with the kids this week?  Make these very aromatic ornaments!!!  you can use them on your tree as decorations or tie them onto gifts.  They are very easy to make and need about 2 to 3 days to completely dry.

Here’s the recipe (but DON’T eat them, they are NOT edible!!):

2 cups Cinnamon

1-1/2 Applesauce, NOT chunky

2 tsp ground Nutmeg

2 tsp ground Cloves

4 Tb Elmer’s Glue

Mix all the ingredients well.  When completely mixed, divide the dough in two parts,  roll out one batch between sheets of plastic wrap. Keep the dough around a 1/4″ think, if you make it too thin the ornaments will curl or break.  Using a toothpick or a small straw, put a hole in the top of the ornaments for the ribbon.  Place on cookie racks to dry.  After they are completely dry, you can carefully use a fingernail file to finish off the edges, tie a pretty ribbon in the ornament for hanging. 

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Turkey Spice Rub

Once upon a time I had a rub recipe that involved Season All and a powdered italian salad dressing mix.  Of course there were other herbs and spices in the mix, BUT I no longer use that recipe.   I prefer my own mixture of herbs, still including the Season All but not the powdered salad dressing mix.  I use all dried herbs but you can certainly use fresh.  Here’s what I do:

In a small bowl mix together,

1 1/2 T Season All

1/4 tsp Thyme

1 tsp Parsley

1/4 tsp Garlic Powder

1/2 tsp Sage

1/4 tsp Poultry seasoning

1/4 tsp Salt

1/4 tsp Pepper

Also, before your hands get yucky, and your hands will get yucky, get out the olive oil and a stick of butter.  Slice about 3 tablespoons of the butter and cut it in small dots, about the size of dimes, keep it cold.

Next, using immaculately clean hands, the turkey rinsed and in the roasting pan breast side up; use those clean hands to gently slide your fingers under the skin.  You want to very gentle separate the skin from the breast meat without tearing it.  Take your time, be patient, it can be done.  Now, using a spoon or your fingers, start putting small amounts of the rub mix under the skin, onto the breast meat.  Working it as far back and down the sides as you can.  Now take the cut up cold butter and start strategically placing the butter dots under the skin as well.  Wherever your little buttery heart wants to put them!

To stuff or not to stuff the turkey…..  I haven’t done a stuffed turkey in a very long time, maybe I will this year in honor of my Mom.  She LOVED the stuffing that way.  I usually stuff the bird with a large onion that has been quartered and a couple of bay leaves.

Now you can drizzle a small amount of olive oil over the top of the turkey, sprinkle with salt and pepper, or if you have any leftover rub mix go ahead and sprinkle it over the turkey.   DONE!!  Go wash your hands!

I like to use some chicken broth to the pan, or turkey if you can find it.  And bake.  Roasting a turkey is really easy.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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Cranberry Chutney (Sauce)

Actually, my Mammaw called it cranberry sauce, and I mostly do to, it just sounds fancier if I use the word chutney.  AND, I like to make it year round to use on sandwiches.   It’s absolutely delish!

Anyway, back to Mammaw.  She taught me how to make the cranberry sauce.  And, she gave me her old manual food grinder.  I still have it too, it’s packed away in storage, I should dig it out!!  She made the sauce by adding an entire bag of cranberries through the grinder, then a whole orange, sliced of course, and seeds removed.  And that was it!  She added a healthy cup or two of sugar and stirred it well.  Popped it in an airtight container and left it sit in the fridge a few days before turkey day so it could get juicy and sweet.  My aunt added an apple and pear.

But then I found a recipe to cook the sauce on the stove, and I have been hooked ever since.  Now, I make it all differnt ways.  I like to add a splash of Triple Sec, Disaronno, a sprinkle of cinnamon, nutmeg, apple cider, or honey.

Here is the basics:

1 bag of cranberries, rinsed, sorted and any stems removed

Orange zest from 1 orange

Add the Orange juice from the zested orange to a measuring cup.  Then add apple cider, orange juice, water  to make 3/4 cups of liquid

3/4 c sugar

1 tablespoon honey or orange marmalade

Put all of the ingredients in a saucepan, heat on a medium to medium high heat until the berries start to pop and it begins to get a little bubbly.  Turn the heat back to medium low.   Don’t walk away and stir often.  If left unattended it can cook over.  When the berries have all popped, immediately remove from heat to cool.

After the pan is removed from the heat you can add the alcohol  if you wish to try the sauce that way, about 1 tablespoon.  If you want to try the cinnamon or nutmeg (1/4 tsp) or the honey (1 tablespoon), you can sprinkle that in as you add all the other ingredients.  Have fun and experiment, try chopping a pear or an apple and adding that with the cranberries.  I’m not a huge fan of of chunks of apple or pear in my cranberries, but you might love it.

I hope you enjoy this recipe.  Try it year round on crusty bread with your sandwiches, I love it.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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A Doggie Snuggie and Cookie Dough

Digging out the blue doggie snuggie is a pretty good indication that it’s beyond cold outside.  We haven’t been out of freezing temps for weeks!  Firing up the oven is another sign its cold, nothing like a hot oven and warm, gooey, fresh cookies with a glass of milk on a chilly December night.  All I need to complete this picture is a roaring fireplace! But I’d settle for a cheap electric one from Lowe’s!

Jack doesn’t like a bath to begin with, let alone the shivering afterwards.  All I have to do is say the word BATH and the little guy hides under furniture.  During the cold winter months when Jack needs a bath, I like to wrap him in his snuggie after his bath.  And that he likes (and his doggie cookie treat too!).

But for now, he won’t even look at me, he’s still a little upset with me about being tossed in the shower.

But then I say the magic word “cookie” and I have his full attention!

Then he rests.  Quietly. Probably seeking his revenge for bathing him and wrapping him in blue fleece.  He may be thinking the blue snuggie might not be a very manly dog thing.

And then there’s the cookie dough!  Who doesn’t like cookies right from the oven?  I make the dough…

Then I divide the dough in half, place the dough on plastic wrap and form into a log and wrap!  After the dough has chilled and you are ready to bake, all you need to do is slice and bake.  The other log you can freeze for a few weeks.

I hope everyone is enjoying their own “warm” traditions on these chilly December nights!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

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The Annual New York Christmas Shopping Trip

This week was my annual New York City shopping trip with my bestest friend Julie.  The day starts out with her stopping for our coffee and picking me up.  Yanno, it really can’t get better than that, curbside pick up with coffee.  Thanks Jules!  The morning then proceeded to making fun of people.  Now, I usually don’t pay attention to the people surrounding me, at least not in a poking fun at kind of way.

Not like Julie does anyway.

Okay okay, maybe I do.

Except for the first vision.  Old guy in skinny jeans (insert shudder) with women’s white tennis shoes (eye’s squinted and shuddering).  Then there was the poor soul that sat behind us blowing “B’s” out his lips.  You know, the kind of sound little boys make when they’re running their race cars on the floor?  Yea, that sound.  At any given moment, not snoring, just blowing B’s. 

Enough chuckling at other folks, I promise.

The bus pulls out of our little town by 5 am and pulls into a breakfast stop just before 7am.  For some reason I decided to take a picture of the paper placemat, but not my food.  I dove into that like a starved animal!

Sleepily we drag our butts off the bus out into the cold, bone chilling weather and run for the restaurant.  Yummie menu…belgian waffles, pancakes, french toast, eggs and bacon and hot coffee.  No we did not order all of this, just the eggs and bacon but it sure was tempting to not order everything just to keep our tummies full for the long ride to New York.

We laughed some more, napped a little bit and then New York! YAY!  Get me off this bus!!!  Last year we had our entire day mapped out.  We each made a list of where we wanted to go complete  with the address so that we could have all of our destinations organized.  This year we had no plan.  Zippo.  Except for the Rockefeller tree and Sephora of course.  This year we just wandered.  And oh what fun it was to just have no plan except to just take our time and enjoy the day and the city.  We started at Macy’s

We walked past a Payless Shoe store and decided to see if they had the same shoe’s that they did back home.  We couldn’t get past the hat section!  I have been bugging Jules to try on a style of a hat that I think she would look adorable in, she wouldn’t hear it.  Until this moment.  I tried the hat on and loved it, so it inspired her.  And she loved.  And she looked adorable.  I knew she would.  When will she learn to listen to me?

We hit Sephora’s.  We could get lost in this place testing all the shadows, perfume, so much fun.  Julie asks me to help her find a lip gloss, I picked one for her, she loved it.  So did I.  Now we have matching hats and lip color!!

Time to eat!  Yea we were hungry again.  I took us down this side street thinking it would be full of pubs and restaurants.  It was, but it was all Asian, not what Julie and I were wanting.  We circled around and ate at the restaurant at the Empire State Building.  Delicious menu.  It was our first cocktail of the day, well mine anyway.

We ordered a plate full of nachos and a chicken quesadilla.  I got her to try the guacamole, she liked it!  See Jules you DO need to listen to me more often! 

We continued down Broadway and ended up in Madison Square Park.

We eventually wandered into Union Square.  At this point we are in the “locals” section of the city.  And all along our walk we were popping in and out of the stores.  Union Square had this amazing little outdoor farmers market thing going on.  They were selling fresh fruit and vegetables, meats, baked goods, Christmas trees and wreaths.  It was incredible. I had to buy some of the local buckwheat honey, YUM!

Then it was back uptown to the New York Public Library.  If you have never been there you must go.  Stunning.

Behind the library there are very quaint little tent-shops filled with wonderful gift idea’s, for yourself or to give.  They have their own skating rink.

And their own tree.

Then we got to St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Rockefeller Plaza to see the tree.  I just love St. Pat’s.

Remember the Dean & Deluca coffee shop that you’d get to see outside the Today show?  It’s not there!!!  We stood on corner puzzled, knowing that it should have been there when this NYC fireman approached us looking for donations for their soup kitchens. He started the conversation asking if we were the Sports Illustrated magazine models.  I told Julie we’d be recognized!!!  Hysterical laughing aside, we donated, so see, even though we laugh at people we still care!!!  Anyway, Dean & Deluca, luckily for us the little shop around the corner is still there.  So we did get our coffee and cookie break.

We shopped more and surprisingly needed more food. After our bellies were stuffed with crusty bread and onion soup we boarded the bus to head home.  Thing is, when you arrive in NYC to spend the day, you must pay attention to what the bus driver tells you.  Such as the bus number and the time and place for pick up.  We waited for 30 minutes for two ladies to return.  They never did, so we left.  Seriously!  We left them behind to fend for themselves in the big apple.  I really do hope they are well and made it home safely.  Can you imagine??

Last year we ended up in a section of NYC that we really shouldn’t have been in.  Julie told me not to make eye contact with anyone, no problem, I was too busy trying to look like I belonged in this bad section.  Yanno, kinda like mess with me and your dead kinda look?  Not so sure I pulled it off but no one bothered us.  Two years ago it was crazy cold and it snowed as we left the city.  A very heavy snow.  The ride home was awful, accidents everywhere. 

Do any of you dare run the streets in NYC with Julie and me?

Merry Christmas!

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