A Few Days Have Passed

Hi everyone! I apologize for the lack of posts over the past few days. There's a lot going on in the next few weeks, and I've been trying to get ready for many of these things, rather than cooking nightly meals. Let me tell you about everything, so you have some things to look forward to in the next few weeks of posts.

from Flickr - by Pedro J. Ferreira

Halloween is my favorite day of the entire year, and we throw an annual party! I love to try new, themed recipes for the occasion so I will definitely be writing about all the fun treats that I'll be making. I've already purchased a cookie tin which makes cookies in the shape of witch's fingers, and I found these really cool little sugar appliques, in the shape of knives. They can be added to the top of desserts, with some icing that looks like blood for a really cool murder-scene themed cupcake! The theme of this year's party is Zombies, too, so I'm going to try and do a bunch of appetizers with a play on zombies. I have a big cauldron that I mix drinks in as well, so stay tuned for this year's signature cocktail!

A few days after the party, we depart for a European vacation! I'm so excited about this trip, because we are going to three countries that I've never been to before: Belgium, Germany and the Czech Republic. My plan is to write each evening, in order to discuss all the food we ate each day. We're going to be in a different city almost every day, so it should make for some really diverse posts! I can't wait to see the sights and eat the food of three cultures that I have yet to really delve into! We're going to learn together!

from Flickr - by PDX Pipeline

A week or so after we return to the states and our daily lives, it will be Thanksgiving, and this year, I'm hosting! My family, and my husband's family, will convene at our place for a delicious feast. I've never hosted a dinner party this big before, but I'm really looking forward to it. I have some ideas for creative sides, and I might even make my own pies for the event! I'm sure there will be more than a few posts on the planning, the shopping, the prepping and the cooking that goes on the day of Thanksgiving! You all know how I love being host...and this one will be a doozy!

from Flickr - by bbic

Just a month after that comes the winter holidays, and while I usually celebrate Hanukkah with my family by going out for a nice meal, my husband's parents usually come visit for Christmas Eve and the day of...which means another couple of fancy celebratory meals! I really have my work cut out for me this holiday season, but you know that I'm enjoying every second of it, and this year will be even more special because I can share it all with you, my wonderful readers!

'Tis the season for eatin'!