Is it lunchtime?

You know, food is a hobby to me, much like scrapbooking is. I love to eat it, to cook it, to smell it, you name it. I’ve decided that my dream job is to be to work in one of those test kitchens that they have at the magazines. You know to just test out recipes all day to see which ones work and which ones don’t. That would be cool. Of course, I would probably be three sizes bigger than I am now, but I’d still love it.

So it was no surprise that I got suckered in, er, I mean I volunteered to head up the food at our office Christmas party. I actually have no problem with this. Well, with the exception of two people who want to bring the same salad. And when I suggested to one to get together with the other one to avoid duplication, she just said “well, her salad might be too small”. So There! Sigh! Well, I can only do so much; you guys are on your own. I’m not about to get into a salad war.

But what I didn’t realize is that I’d get roped into the Toys for Tots drive as well. Again, no problem, really. They are a great organization, one that does so much the community. They deserve all the help they can get. But I hate the being the “badgering” one, because people just don’t want to do the right thing. Really, how hard is it to pick up a cheap toy at Wal-Mart and put it under the tree? You don’t even have to wrap the darn thing. And no, I don’t want your used piece of crap from your grandkid. Seriously, stop being cheap!!

So, now I have to figure out what I’m bringing where, to all these parties. Jules says I’m bringing dessert to our Stocking party. Okay, that’s easy enough I guess. I’m thinking Pineapple Upside Down Cake. Everyone likes that, right? The office party I do my usual stand-by, Spinach Dip. Everyone loves that. Especially my special recipe. :P Drunco Party is on the 8th... Dh is already making his dip (nicknamed Shit Dip, because well, you figure it out!), so maybe something else dessert-y. I found an Almond Pie recipe in Paula’s mag, that will be good.

Then, there’s Christmas. Ah, yes, the in-laws. (Actually step-grand-in-laws. Yeah, don’t ask!) Maybe more dip (The stuff lasts forever, frozen, when you make double batches. Love Sam’s Club!) Something else snack-y, like a bruschetta. Oh, then DH tells me he wants to order a deep-fried turkey from Honeybaked Ham. Okay. But then, you gotta have sides: mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, corn, probably some broccoli casserole or something similar, sweet potatoes.

Yeah, thanks DH! Nah, I don’t mind really. I’d like to do the taters myself, but we decided to go with the big Publix container, (probably will do the same with the sweet potatoes.) But I cannot do gravy. It’s just not my forte. Plus, how do you gravy, when the turkey is deep fried? Wouldn’t all the drippings go into the fryer? Ah well! Oh, and I AM making Grandma’s stuffing. I love Grandma’s stuffing. It’s very simple, just bread and celery and onions and butter, and about half a container of poultry seasoning. But so, so yummy!

Which leads me to a story (Okay, what doesn’t lead me to a story). Last year, Rachel Ray had a contest to find the best stuffing. So, I read one of the winners. Bread, check. Celery, check. Onions, check. Hey, wait a second! This is Grandma’s recipe!!! Now, the printed recipe called for mushrooms as well. My theory is no one in our family ever ate mushrooms and so she probably left them out, say, oh, 60 years ago. But it’s the identical recipe! Well, heck, maybe I should have entered that darn contest. Hmph!

Anyway, now you are probably hungry and thinking When’s Lunch? Well, I’m on my way to Panera Bread for lunch today, so only an hour away. So, think yummy! J