Happy Hanukkah!  Although I am not Jewish, I will celebrate the first day of Hanukkah with latkes and applesauce.  I am making simple potato latkes, not fancy ones.  I have a big pot of applesauce on the stove.  OF COURSE, I make my own applesauce.  It is such a easy thing to do.  It’s ridiculous to buy in a can, jar, or individual plastic container.

I am horrible writing recipes as I eyeball all ingredients.  I used a mix of  Fuji, Red and Yellow Delicious, and  Gala.  Go for a sweeter apple instead of  tart like a Granny Smith.  I had about two dozen apples.  I peeled, cored, chopped into chunks and tossed in a stock pot.  I added 1/2 cup of brown sugar, maybe 1.5 tablespoons cinnamon, a teaspoon of allspice, a dash of cloves, and fresh nutmeg.  I have said many times, always buy whole nutmeg and use a microplane to grate.  I add 3/4 cup of water and let simmer for about an hour.  Once the apples are cooked, I run the mixture through a food mill.  Voilà, applesauce.

applesauce

As for my Christmas War, I finally lit the big tree with the poinsettia lights and started ornament placement last night.  Here’s a few ornament photos.  The spider web ornaments I found in a thrift store ages ago are my favorites.

ornaments02

ornaments03

ornaments04

ornaments01

I am still deciding on ribbon for that tree and it needs more ornaments.  It looks downright bare.

Onward.

5:38 PM- All I managed today was chop, peel, and make the kitchen a disaster area.  Oh well.  I’ll enjoy latkes with homemade applesauce.

latkes

I really need to work on my food styling.  This was the best shot out of two dozen.

7:49 PM I called the above photo, “mutant crustaceans ooze goo” on Facebook.

I accomplished nothing today regarding the War.  This year is the worst War in Defense of Xmas.  There should be garland over the mantels, trees nearing completion, and less mess as I return empty boxes to the garage.  As I have said numerous times, I lack the decorating spirit this year.  I have boxes and boxes of glittery goods and none improve my mood.  There are brief spurts of “get it done,” then it wanes quickly.  Unless Marley appears to teach me a lesson, this year won’t be as glittery.

9:00 PM- Interrupted by phone call.  What was I babbling about?  Oh!  Waning Xmas spirit and no desire to decorate.  Yeah, that.  Tomorrow is another day.  Let me see.

Related posts:

  1. Suck The Marrow