The Holidays...

So is anyone else looking forward to the holidays?  I'm not sure if I am, or if I'm not.  Don't get me wrong.  There are a lot of aspects about the season that I love, but then there are some I think I could do with out.  I hope to openly convey my feelings about both.

Thinking of this in time-line pattern, first on the list is Thanksgiving.  Typically, we would make some kind of trek to see family, but this year we're staying put.  Which isn't a bad thing, we've done it before.  This year feels different, and I can't explain why.  We got invited to go to a friends house, which I'm totally up for. (This guy can cook! Ask me about his balsamic reduction)  Since I love to cook, I'm hoping to do a thanksgiving style dinner at home as well, or at least cook the food and eat it as left overs.  I'd like to make a sandwich with some thinly sliced turkey (brined and cooked rotisserie style), some mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and gravy...all wrapped up in a nice warm roll....on a snowy day.  Doesn't get better than that, does it?  I think once I get one of those, I'll be happy happy.

Don't get me wrong, my life doesn't revolve around food, however I do like having meals to look forward to.  Lately I've been experimenting and cooking new things.  They've all been good, but nothing with that 'wow' factor.  Sheperd's Pie, Chili Verde are two dishes that stand out.  Both were good, but could have been better with little tweaks.  So moving on, there's my mom's birthday, Isaac's birthday, and then Christmas.  Now that is something I'm looking forward to. Mix in company holidays and it will almost be a two week trip!

First we head down to Concord, CA where we'll be staying a small moderate temporary living establishment. Centrally located, and relatively close to my favorite Mexican Restaurant, El Faro!  I give this place a 6 on a scale of 1-5.  We'll be hanging with the family for about 5 days, then it's up the coast to the in-laws in Oregon.

(Because I know my mom is thinking it, our house will be occupied by a heavily armed friend and our man-eating dogs)

We'll be up in Oregon for almost another 5 days...of course I don't know what we'll be doing, but last time we were there, there was talk of going to the coast.  So I guess it's all weather permitting, but it's still gonna be fun.  The down side is the driving...this is going to be a looooong trip.  Hopefully the weather is good and the roads are clear.

Peace!

(interesting, that in a holiday post, the only picture I put up is a burrito....)