Happy New Year!!!!!

I hope everyone had great holidays and feel ready to return to work . . . yeah I can hear the screams on that one!!!!! My Big Sis and I had a WONDERFUL time as always and apologies for not posting but I neglected to take along my blog password in my excitement to get out the door and onto the aircraft!!!! Weather was fine for travelling both ways and AA flew me safe which is after all the whole point!!!! I'm pleased to report that we did make several sourdough loaves which turned out very good and my Big Sis is keeping the starter going and I think plans to bake more bread over the coming weeks. We had fresh homemade bread along with squash & sweet potato soup for one dinner - that sure keeps the cold snowy Winter nights at bay!!!! Oh - the soup is good with a little cayenne to tickle it up!!!! We also had a turkey feast - a nice fresh turkey from the local gourmet butcher - with plenty of leftovers as well as turkey "gold" and I made stock from the carcass. My Big Sis made turkey tortellini soup which was YUMMM!!!! I also made baked pork chops with onion and apple for one dinner along with braised red cabbage - just shredded with apple, onion, a little shake of seasoning and nutmeg (you can add other spices) and a glug of red wine vinegar. This all braises happily in a slow oven along with the pork chops. When cooked the red cabbage does improve in the fridge after a couple of days and can be frozen. You get the idea that we did eat good on vacation!!!!! We also got in lots of stitching time and I'm now back to working on White Star - see my Big Sis's Fine Art Crossstitch site for the latest pic. We also had a Girls' Afternoon Tea with our Mom, Jen and SL - see pic above of the table. I made my Big Sis's apple-walnut cake with caramel frosting, UK-style scones to eat with real clotted cream and raspberry conserve and little crustless tea sandwiches - egg dijon or cream cheese with cucumber and red onion. I also had little tea favors to hand out for going home gifts as you can see in the basket. Everyone had a great time and agreed it was a very good UK twist on afternoon tea!!!! Christmas was wonderful and although we did spend a lot of time with family we also got to have several PJ Days with movies and stitching and food - a couple of new traditions are Muffalatas which are glass cocoa mugs filled with vanilla icecream then a little liqueur of choice (not every time!!!) then hot freshbrewed flavored coffee (pecan pie was best) poured over and topped with whipped cream (all lowfat I hasten to add!!!!). We also had gourmet hot chocolate in the glass mugs topped with whipped cream and a shake of gourmet coocoa powder . . . these along with a tiny Baci candy each were wonderful treats!!!!! My Big Sis made Chex Mix and I have 2 HUGE bags all to myself!!!!! I can't wait to head back in May and miss my Big Sis already!!!! But I know it won't be long and I wish everyone a great New Year and happy stitching!!!!!!!