2008年圣诞节（1）节前准备 2008 Christmas Preview (rev 1)

I started to decorate our home couple weeks ago. From front gate toback door, from outside house to inside the home. Things started tocome together. Didn't get chance to take any pictures until thisweekend......... Snow came down.  What a joy!
两星期前开始着手准备圣诞节装饰。从前门到后门，从房子外到房子内。渐渐准备齐，不过我的还没有开始。一直没有时间拍照直到上星期天。。。。。下雪了。好兴奋！

Here is the front gate:
这是前门：雪下得好象就是为我。。。。。。


I made the wreaths by myself.
我自己做的wreaths。


I was going to make garland for the lamp. Oh well, next time.
我本想用 garland 来装饰灯，下次吧。


Take a close look, snow has covered the wreath. What a joy!


Snow was coming down hard by the time I walked back,
走到后院的时候已是漫天鹅毛大雪了


Here is our Christmas tree. I have collected Christmas ornaments over the years.  I think I have enough.
这是我家的圣诞树。近年来我收集了许多装饰品，我想足够了。


I made a lot Ginger Bread Man cookies this year. I hung some on the tree.
今年我做了很多Ginger Bread Man cookies，我挂了一些在树上，很有趣。



Here are some Christmas cookies I made. From top to bottom:Pizalle cookies, Ginger Bread Man and Frosted Short Bread cookies withBlack Berry Jam.
这些是我做的圣诞饼干。顺序从上到下：意大利饼干Pizalle，Ginger Bread Man 和黑梅果酱Short Bread饼干。


These are chocolate fudge I made. Cut into squares and wrap them with candy wrappers. They are good gifts.
这些糖果叫巧克力Fudge。 我自己做的。放冷后，切小块，用糖果纸包好。做礼物送人好看又好吃。


配方很简单：
1罐 Condensed milk
2 cup Semi chocolate chips
1 大勺奶油
2 大勺巧克力粉
取一只厚底锅，低火加热Condensed milk 和 Semi chocolate chips，直到溶化，加奶油和巧克力粉，溶化后放入冰箱冷却两小时。切小块，用糖果纸包好。


这下雪的星期天去外面吃饭可不太明智,还是我自己做吧.
Braised Rib Roast and potatoes with homemade Fetichini
1.5-2磅带骨Grass fed 牛肉 (Rib Roast)
2杯红酒
1只洋葱切丁
2只 BAY LEAVES (香叶)
3只胡罗卜
4只土豆
盐和胡椒粉
1大勺面粉
橄榄油层1-2 大勺
取一块 牛肉 (Rib Roast), 化冰, 两面用盐和胡椒粉淹30分钟.


厚底锅加热(中高热), 加1大勺油, 牛肉两面煎黄, 取出待用,


1只洋葱切丁,放如上面的锅里炒软, 加胡椒粉,再加入一大勺面粉,炒1分钟,加入2杯红酒, BAY LEAVE, 煮开,加入牛肉, 胡萝卜,土豆, 低火或放如烤箱325F 烤3小时. 加盐和胡椒粉调味. 很容易, 成品见下图.


自己做的手工面放在下面, 浇上汤汁, 牛肉, 素菜, 配上一杯红酒, 开饭了.


典型的 COMFORT FOOD.


Snow continued to fall on Monday. Road condition was not too friendly.I decided to work from home. I made simple dinner and covered it prettytight. He came home and looked at dinner table. "OK, Box dinnertonight?" I had good laugh at it. Let's look what's in there.
星期一雪还在不停地下。路不好，在家上班。晚上做了两盒饭。盖子盖得挺严，放在餐桌上，他说今天吃盒子餐（Box dinner)？笑得我前仰后合。来看看吧，好象有点东西。。。。。


Now you can see the whole "box".......
看到了卢山真面目了。。。。。。


Miso soup, Marinated ginger, Wassabi with soy sauce
Miso 汤，腌好的姜片，辣根和酱油。


Simple Sushi rolls for appetizer.
Sushi卷当开胃餐。


Stir fried shredded zuchinni and pork with Miso sauce.
角瓜Miso肉丝


White rice with seasoning. Very simple and less dinner plates to clean up.
白米饭加些芝麻，柴鱼片，昆布。简单的星期一晚餐。


Snow has been off and on since Sunday.  Temperature has dropped 13F theother day. It was quiet cold. But house still warm and made me feeleven warmer when the Christmas tree was lighted up.
自从星期天，雪还是下下停停，那天早上室外温度降到了13F。天气蛮冷的。不过家里还是暖融融的，尤其是看到我家的圣诞树。


圣诞节就要到了，今年的菜单已定：
First course: Butternut squash soup
Second course: Green salad with Creamy Garlic Dressing
Side dish: Homemade Sausage with White Beans
Main course: Herb Roasted Leg of Lamb
Bread: Homemade Buttery Dinner Rolls
Dessert: Basque Creamy Rice Pudding
After dinner drink: Winnermucca Coffee


I wish everyone has a very merry Christmas.
祝大家圣诞节快乐！