Susan's Polenta Chow Down

2 cloves garlic

2 T. olive oil

1 c polenta

2 1/2 cups chicken broth

1/2 cup white wine

2 teaspoons Ital or Herb de provence

cheddar cheese

Jar thick, chunky tomato sauce

1 cup any of these cooked leftovers: chicken bits, chopped meatballs, chopped sausage, or sauteed diced onion and/or sliced mushroom

Prepare the polenta according to package directions, adding sauteed garlic along with broth and wine (substitution for water) Mix in herbs near the end, and add cheddar cheese when polenta gets creamy. In a separate pan, heat the sauce and add leftovers.

Pour polenta onto a platter, spreading in an even layer. Top with tomato sauce, spreading to nearly cover polenta. Sprinkle with a little minced parsley or a grating of parmesan cheese to garnish. (optional)

Town Hall Clock

Susan commented recently on the poor condition of the Town Hall Clock.  Since then, I have learned that the clock has holes in it thanks to some target practice which took place decades ago by several of Needham's finest gendarmes.  And it all happened when they were...um... "on the clock"  (as it were).

Paper or Plastic

I ran across this article which, although somewhat lengthy, spells out some pros and cons when choosing to pay by credit card, debit card, electronically or in cash.  With security paramount in most of our minds, I wanted to share.

www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs32-paperplastic.htm

Zipper Steamer bags

Always on the lookout for time-savers that boost healthy cooking too.  Steamer bags require no added water, cook broccoli for 2 in 1.5 minutes, and the bag goes into the trash.  Added a small lump of butter, and it was SENSATIONIAL.

What convenience products do you find indispensable?

All politics is Local

Catered a reception at the Historical Society for Denise Garlick, a woman who is running for Jack Cogswell's vacated Selectman seat.  Wow, is she a cool lady.  I went in knowing nothing, and came away with the sense that she would make a terrific addition to the board. More than anything I was impressed  by the fact that we have long needed a female voice and viewpoint on the board, and that she is smart,  empathetic, and not afraid to speak her mind, in the nicest possible way.    Her background is as a nurse at Brigham and Womens' for 35 years, and term on the board of health, as well as being a town meeting member.  Colleen Schaller is running her campaign and her base includes many prominent democrats around town.    Elections aren't until April, but if you have a chance, listen to her speak at a coffee or wherever.  Unless someone else pops out of the woodwork, she is unopposed as of now. 

Phew Made It In At Last!

This is going to be fun....

Anyone need Ham and Pineapple? We received a huge fruit basket gift for Christmas and have been munching our way through it for weeks. First the grapes, then the pears, on to apples and oranges - but that pineapple, it was a giant! We finally settled on the idea that I should do a baked ham for New Year's to use up some of the rapidly maturing pineapple. So now of course I have enough left over ham AND pineapple to feed everyone at Rosie's Place! Feeding only two mouths is sometimes really challenging. I guess it will be on to pineapple muffins, baked mac/ham & cheese, ham and lentil soup and on and on and on.

OK, since it's just us, I'm going to start a rant for the New Year and the new blog. I was reading the Needham Times just before Christmas and read an article that really got me STEAMED and shaking my head in disbelief. Can you tell me why it's appropriate to use the Needham Historic Preservation Fund to purchase awnings for storefronts that are owned by private businessmen who charge substantial rents and don't care to improve their properties in the process? Why should tax dollars go to improve THEIR PROPERTY!!!! And right in the shadow of town hall who's clock face is a complete embarrassment and disgrace to the town! For Pete's sake (who was Pete anyway), hire someone to cut a circle of plywood, paint it black with a fake clock face and screw it up there until the real clock can be fixed. How many years have the clock faces had holes in them, 10 maybe..... Clearly our priorities with the money in that fund are warped - I want my money back!!!

Now, that feels much better.
Happy New Year All!

Who slipped the Roofies in my Eggnog?

The past week has been a haze of crumpled paper, unending leftovers, and a vague sense that I may have been through something I can't quite recall.  Christmas Eve was really the nadir, which is too bad because I used to love that best of all.  But people started streaming in, little girls in velvet bodices and plaid skirts, gals in Santa hats, in-laws, sons-in-law of in-laws... And I became a new bride who had never held a party or fed a crowd EVER.  Three pounds of bacon wrapped water-chestnuts vanished in a few moments, dozens of potato pancakes (PC or Linda loves potatoes?)  Bags of egg rolls, even some TJ pot stickers were pressed into action.  Two tenderloins were rescued before they overcooked, only to find they were RAW in the center.  AND I had failed to trim them, mistaking BJ's for a real butcher shop.  That's why Roche's gets the big bux.  

The Santa we recruited was someone Chris knew... apparently  so huge we couldn't mash him into the Santa suit.  We played hot-potato with the "So now, who here is going to play santa?" with all the men at my party doing a great impression of a silent Stevie Wonder.  

"Not me, mon"

And then, He arrived.  No, not Jesus, but Santa, in full regalia was at our door.  Three year old Brody had just popped his eighth raspberry Vol au Vent into his mouth, as Santa strode past and into our living room.    With great flourish, he dispensed the gifts, and all the while I am thinking, "who the hell is this"  when he then presents ME with a gift.  A squeaky  story book about reindeer.  What tha...... ??  He said it was from Libby.  Huh?   So now, I am the only one in my immediate family besides Drew who "believes."

We had a full night, with an embarrassment of riches, (don't get me started on the obscenity of 

the whole gift exchanging thing, or I will rant  clear through February) and no real Silent Night to follow.   

I am grateful for the fact that I had all my kids and grandkids around me and Jim sleeping peacefully upstairs through it all.  But I hated feeling so glad when it was over, as though some sinister beast had been tailing me for about  a month.   New Years resolution is to reevaluate everything I take for granted and get rid, not only of some of the "stuff" but some of the expectations too.