Thanksgiving Things

Zoe got her Owls. And I've saved her bitter art for the future.
(Ironically, I have no buttons small enough for eyes and must buy some. Figures, right? Ha. )


Besides the hat, very little knitting was done, but we had a great week. We gave the kids a little slice of my childhood with a trip into NYC. Besides a morning at the Met, we saw the holiday windows and the ice skaters at Rockefeller, smushed through the FAO Schwartz crowds, ate big pretzels from a cart guy, walked through Central park, and best of all --

spun through every one of these we could find on 5th Avenue.

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I also helped move my Grandma from her house into a smaller place, where she has no further need for this. You guys know how it works, right? I love it. I've always wanted it. And it made me teary to get it. The tears had nothing to do with the fact that the bottom compartment was completely full of amazing buttons.

Since my family knows me well, they also passed on my Grandma's collection of old party-themed pamphlets from the 60s and 70s. Grandpa, especially, never passed up the opportunity to get something for free and these all look like they came with magazines or bottles of booze or were giveaways at the market. They are awesome.

Full of amazing little hints to throw the Perfect Party. Decor, food, etiquette AND cocktail recipes. My first might be the Blinker (from the Carstairs Party book - a free gift from Esquire Magazine)

Blinker

2.5 oz grapefruit juice
half oz grenadine
jigger Carstairs White Seal (or other American Blended Whiskey)
shake with ice in silver shaker and strain into glass

according to the glossary here, a jigger - 1.5 oz

There are many recipes that look like this. Creamy with olives on top. Also lots with toothpicks, lots rolled up and lots with mayo and cream cheese. One recipe calls for a Jar of Cheese. Not sure where I find cheese in a jar.

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But how about these cheese canapes?

1.25 cups mashed american cheese
2 tbs cream
1/8 tsp chili powder
chopped nut meats
Ritz Crackers

Mash cheese, blend cream. Add chili powder. Force cheese mix through pastry tube onto crackers. (yes it says "force"). Sprinkle nutmeats on top.

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I am going to get so much joy out of these books.

I hope my friends are hungry and in an adventurous mood for the next few months. I may have to make them the cocktails first so they'll eat the snacks. I definitely have to make the cocktails first.