SIMPLE BRANDIED YAMS

1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup brandy
6 sweet potatoes, boiled, peeled, sliced
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons water
1/4 cup butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a small bowl, let the raisins soak in the brandy for 30 minutes. Grease a shallow baking pan with butter and layer sweet potato slices. In a saucepan, combine brown sugar, cinnamon, water and margarine and bring to a boil. Add the raisins and brandy and pour mixture over sweet potatoes. Bake uncovered for 40 minutes, baste.

I can't wait for Thanksgiving.

HAPPY REPEAL DAY!

In 1933, the state conventions ratified the Twenty-first Amendment, which repealed Amendment XVIII and prohibited only the violations of laws that individual states had in regard to "intoxicating liquors". - Wiki

THE JOY OF GIVING IS EGO STROKING

Christmas update at the Guardian.  In today's technology section PS3's being traded for Wiis at the bottom there is a comment from CharlieHorse that reads:

There is something peculiar going on... little kids cheered W11 and booed PS3 when Santa presented both systems at an event today in Burbank,CA.

Just further proof that more is just more and not necessarily better.  So far, the most obvious reaction of appreciation from any gift I've given has been the cheap $25 gas cards I gave my friends who are in college.  Those were also the easiest to buy.

The most fun to was definitely the basket of canned food for the shelter that was collected.  The grocery store trip was ok but the people that would just bring cans by really made the holiday a social event for me.  That present is also the most useful in the way it is being gifted.  I'm giving it to my daughter for her to give it in her name.  She spent Christmas Eve at her Grandmothers so I don't know what her reaction is yet.

The least pleasant part of this holiday so far for me was time spent at jewelry counters.  I was only buying cubic zirconium earrings that my daughter asked for.  Diamonds are not worth the money as she sees it, but it was at the Macy's.  And the real sucky part is I had to go to several counters before somebody would tell me where to buy the things. 

Me at a mall is like watching a goldfish in tap water slowly cooking under the chlorine toxicity.   The final counter I arrived at was hosted by two middle aged women who spoke Urdu.  I was able to transcend the experience only because one lady from India spoke of her friend standing next to her who is Pakistani.   They laughed like young school girls at the wars between their two countries over religious intolerance.  It was a real Macy's experience.

Io Saturnalia!

Io Saturnalia! Io Saturnalia!  The winter Solstice is upon us.  It is time to make merry as it has been for all known time.

Earth as seen from the Sun today:

I recommend you take a nap during the day if you can.  There will be no time for resting later.  Tonight will be the shortest night of the year.  Good things come in small doses and time will run fast.   Prepare the harvest bounty, paint your faces, pick out the music, rehearse if you have to, and lets get ready to party!

Possible Character - Ghost Goddess Holidays Halloween Christmas Solstice Feature "Yele" and "Entreat Me," an improv around "You" and selections from "Litur."

** THE REINDEER COW **

by :::ROB HIGHFILL:::

MP3 Available

Santa had a reindeer who thought it was a cow
it wasn't good for nothing he loved it anyhow

It stood out in the pasture all covered in the snow
just chewing cud and mooing in twenty-one below

And then one boring Christmas Eve while Santawas away
his wife butchered up the reindeer cow to feed to Santa Christmas Day

And Santa Claus was puzzled when he got back home
his reindeer cow was missing she'd skinned it to the bone

She served it up for dinner with some Christmas rolls
she didn't dare tell Santa what was in their bowls

Because one boring Christmas Eve while Santa was not there
his wife made a stew of the reindeer cow for Santa'd left her pantry bare

And now Santa has forgotten all about the reindeer cow
but his wife is eyeing Rudolph for next years Christmas chow

and the reindeer are all nervous when Santa is away
their children come up missing every Christmas Day

Now Mrs Claus sits and picks her teeth as Santa drinks a beer
and there's not much to eat up in Christmas town except for Santa's tiny reindeer

happy thanksgiving.... I guess.

Much as Independence day was an exercise in hypocrisy, and veterans day was a study in double speak, I spend this holiday in protest. HERE is the bird I will not eat this year.

TIME TO GET YOUR TURKEY ON

If you don't have your turkey picked out for the holiday, well, your late. You better get one quickly unless you want people to suggest you take the Neocon test. What ever approach you like works, store bought, with a bow and arrow, gun if you have to. You should have your meat by now, and it should be thawed.

It's time to brine your meat. I use the lower vegetable bin double lined with a couple of trash can liners so I can keep things cool. Boil a cup of salt, two tablespoons of whole peppers, two tablespoons of whole all allspice and a dozen bay laurel leaves in a quart of water. Put bird in bags fill half way. Pour brine water over bird. Cover bird with liquid. Tie bag.

Brine for 48 hrs. There now. The hard part is done.

Happy Halloween

I almost fell off the road when I heard THIS on the way to work (technically) yesterday. Sam Seder regarding John Boehner's claim that Donald Rumsfeld is the best thing that has happened to the pentagon.
Happy Halloween, be safe but not THIS safe.

Finally THIS is hilarious.  Sam Seder hosts Katherine on his morning show.

Again, Happy Halloween.