Anna Sultana's Turkey Roasted with Bacon - A Maltese Thanksgiving by Margaret Ullrich

On Thursday we enjoyed the U.S. Thanksgiving experience.

The Macy Parade, followed by the dog show, followed by the Miracle on 34th Street movie, in black and white.

And, of course, a turkey dinner with all the trimmings.



We had a lovely time.

And the dinner was excellent.

If I do say so myself.

And I do.





During the parade, Macy announced that this was their 85th parade.

And that

Cloves / Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice Blend and Pomander - Margaret Ullrich

Cloves is the strange cousin of the spice family.

It's not an old stand-by, like pepper.

It usually just gets trotted out for holidays.



But, then the oddball becomes the life of the party!





If you're not a 'turkey for the holidays' type, you probably had ham for Thanksgiving.

And what's ham without pineapple rings?

And those little spikey things holding the pineapple slices in place.

Thanksgiving Wishes & A Turkey Tale From The Gentle Barn

May your stuffing be tasty

May your turkey plump,

May your potatoes and gravy

Have never a lump.



May your yams be delicious

And your pies take the prize,

And may your Thanksgiving dinner

Stay off your thighs!



Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!



****

From The Gentle Barn:  A Turkey Tale





Twelve years ago a man approached The Gentle Barn and said that he purchased a turkey for

Unfriending Facebook - Margaret Ullrich

This has not been a good week for Facebook.



I had gotten an email: a senior citizen friend wanted me to see a Lady GaGa video.

I had to be over 18 to see it.

That part was easy.

But, one thing about being over 60 is you know your friends don't bother with things made for people over 18.

I didn't look at the video.

I mean, what could it possible show me that I haven't seen before?



Okay

Fancy Peppernuts (Christmas Cookies) - Margaret Ullrich

Okay, you've just bought some citron for the fruitcake recipe.

Nobody eats fruitcake, but you'd better make it.

Tradition and all that.

Yeah, life is hard.



What to do with the leftover citron?

No, it doesn't go well with cereal.



Time to make some more Peppernuts.

With citron.

These cookies are soft.

Not like the Plain Peppernuts.



Serve both.

Something for everybody. 

Hey,

Plain Peppernuts (Christmas Cookies) - Margaret Ullrich

What would Christmas be without pepper?

No, I'm not talking about the dash added to the gravy.



Although that's good, too.



Pepper is something just about everybody has in the kitchen.

The salt shaker would look awfully lonely with its buddy, pepper shaker.



Pepper is a really useful spice.

You can crack or coarsely grind peppercorns to coat steaks or chicken breasts 

before grilling.

Getting Spicy: Flavouring Oils, and Eating Dandelions and Weeds - Margaret Ullrich

Chicken isn't the only food that could use some spicing up.



For a flavored oil in your salad dressing, blanch the leaves, let them soak in your favorite oil for two weeks and then store the oil in the refrigerator.  



Think it's hard to grow herbs?

Nope. 

Many herbs are very resistant to garden pests.  You don't need to treat them with weed killers.  A good thing to remember, especially

Good Scents and Aromatherapy - Margaret Ullrich

Different scents can help creat different moods.  There have been studies on the healing properties of aromatherapy, including one in the palliative care department at the St. Boniface Hopspital.  Lavender oil was misted from diffusers to make the air smell good and to allleviate stress.



But, you don't have to buy fancy candles or sprays.  

Just go to your garden... or spice rack.



Which

Herbs & Health - Margaret Ullrich

Many herbs have a long tradition as folk remedies.  



The leaves of the violet plant contain acetylsalicylic acid.  Violet tea was drunk in small doses for coughs and heart trouble. 



Pick mature white sweet clover flowers, dry at room temperature, and use to make a soothing tea, good for coughs, colds, bronchial and nervous condtions.  

The plant is a source of the anticoagulent,

Herbal Fun - Margaret Ullrich

You might have an aloe vera in your kitchen and use it as a burn soother.  But, you might say, what can I do with fresh herb leaves and flowers?



Boil a kettle of water, snip the leaves and flowers off the stalk, simmer in water for about three minutes, take them off the heat and let steep overnight.  Non-caffeinated herbal teas are great hot or cold.  

They can also be blended with classic '

Herb Gardening - Margaret Ullrich

I once attended a class held by David Hanson of Sage Garden Herbs.  



Along with the information, David gave everyone some rosemary and thyme cuttings.  I babied the cuttings in a small jar of water on my kitchen windowsill, potted them and they smell wonderful.  



I also enjoy using fresh rosemary and thyme in my cooking.  



Now, before you "poo pooh" herbs as a hobby-type thing, price

Anna Sultana's St. Martin's Cake / Fruitcake, Maltese Style

Lest we forget...

Today is Remembrance Day.



In Malta, November 11 is celebrated as the feast of St. Martin.

il-festa ta' San Martin it-tajba lil kullhadd!



St. Martin, Bishop of Tours, was once Roman soldier.  He is one of the greatest saints of France and the most celebrated Bishop of the fourth century.



He had a great love for the poor.  Legend has it that upon seeing a beggar, 

St.