An Unlikely Obsession: Cranberry Sauce

It truly is the most wonderful time of the year and has been for more than a month as we are in the middle of three of my favorite holidays, lined up, back-to-back-to-back.  Last year, I posted ramblings on Halloween and Christmas, bypassing a holiday that is just equally as great:  Thanksgiving.  How can you not love a day dedicated to food?!  And some of us even take it a step further by stuffing (pun intended) ourselves miserably where all we want to do is fall asleep in front of the television, waking up when the pies and cakes are brought to the table, and then proceed to gorge ourselves to a point where we'll regret it the next day.  I LOVE Thanksgiving!  However, there is one draw back… cranberry sauce.

I can't say I'm a fan.  Granted, while growing up, the only kind was ever served was that blood-colored gelatinous goop from the can.  It took some time, but I was eventually able to imagine that it was not part of the feast but a holiday decoration - like a centerpiece (however I did make an exception the next day when using it as spread on my leftover sandwiches but that's not the point.)  Once my childhood Thanksgiving traditions shifted to another side of the family in adulthood, it was only then that I was introduced to cranberry sauce not made by Oceanspray, which is what I want to share by taking something I like least about a great holiday and turning it on its ear.

The cranberry sauce I had been introduced to (and admittedly did not try the first few adult Thanksgivings) was completely homemade and now one of the highlights of my holiday.  So if you're like me and can't stand that jell-o sauce still able to hold the shape of the can after its been on a plate for hours, or even if you are a fan of that crap but are open to trying something new and fresh, or if anyone is just in need of a good cranberry sauce recipe, I would like to share the yummiest one I know; and when better to share a recipe than on a foodie holiday?

Make according to package directions (usually 12 oz. berries, 1. c. water, 1 c. sugar) - When cooled a bit, add:

1 c. chopped walnut pieces

1 grated lemon rind

1 grated orange rind

1-2 small cans mandarin oranges without juice

8 ½ oz. CRUSHED pineapple with juice

A few squeezes lemon juice (until not cloyingly sweet)

Let it sit.

You can double or triple the recipe, if needed.

Bon appétit, and Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

I have A Christmas Story for you...

"I want an official Red Ryder carbine-action two-hundred shot range model air rifle with a compass in the stock and this thing which tells time!"

Poetry, sheer poetry.  You know it... you know you know it!  About 98% of film fans, Christmas fans, and comedy fans will recognize this lengthy movie quote.  'A Christmas Story' is not only my favorite Christmas movie of all time, but probably in my Top 10 of favorite films of all time.  I am obsessed with this movie and TBS knows it because for years they've honored my little obsession by airing 'A Christmas Story' non-stop for 24 hours (unfortunatley, with commercials), starting on Christmas Eve (8:00pm EST) until the same time on Christmas Day.  All I have to do is turn on the TV and let it go for hours and hours, including Ralphie, Randy, Flick and Schwartz on my holiday guests; thereby, packaging up those days of hitting repeat on my DVD and hiding them in the closet for good. 

Now, I know a lot of you don't need the answer, because you feel the same as I about 'A Christmas Story', but for those who must know why I am obsessed with this movie, you obviously need an explanation because you have not watched it yet.  What are you waiting for? Christmas!?!  Hmmm... come to think of it, might be a good idea.  But it is Christmas now and there's no time like the present (present... get it?), and 'A Christmast Story' is the gift that keeps on giving.

'A Christmas Story' has become a timeless classic with a perfect cast.  Yes, it was directed by Bob Clark who brought you the first two Porky's movies and the original holiday cult classic, Black Christmas... but don't hold that against him.  Bob only proves that talent can't be locked into one genre.  This film is based on a book by Jean Shephard, "In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash" who also adapted his own book into the screenplay and additionally, offers his voice talents by narrating as the adult Ralphie, the younger version played to perfection by Peter Billingsley.  Essentially, 'A Christmas Story' is about Ralphie trying to convince the adults in his life into getting him the perfect gift for Christmas, a Red Ryder BB gun.  But this story is so much more than that, filled with unforgettable supporting characters including Darren McGavin as Ralphie's Father (The Old Man) and his cleaned-up foul mouth, Ian Petrella as Ralphie's younger, whinier, piggier brother Randy, Ralphie's two best friends Flick (Scott Schwartz) and Schwartz (R.D. Robb) [always thought it was funny Schwartz was not played by Schwartz], Tedde Moore as the uptight teacher, Miss Shields, and my favorite of the cast, Melinda Dillion as Ralphie's mother (Mother), who also starred in another favorite film, 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'.

'A Christmas Story' is filled with quotable quotes including, "Mommy's little piggy", "Randy lay there like a slug, it was his only defense", "You'll shoot your eye out!", "I TRIPLE dog dare you!", "fra-gee-lay" and the every popular, "Oh, fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuudge." to just name a few.  And then there are the many, many memorable scenes, of which I would like to share just three:



Now, here's a very interesting fact - former child actor, Ian Petrella, Ralphie's younger brother Randy, now LIVES in the home where they shot this film in Cleveland, Ohio and gives 'A Christmas Story' tours year round.  You can check out the fascinating website with fun facts and video at A Christmas Story House and Museum.  (Yes, it has its own museum, that's how awesome this film is.)

So, hoping to have done justice to 'A Christmas Story' within the walls of this confined post, I bid adieu (probably until 2012), so Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy New Year!!!  And if you haven't seen 'A Christmas Story' yet, please do.  The film really is simplisticly brilliant with subtle humor and filled with holiday tradition.  You may need to watch it more than once to get the full effect.  Thank you again, TBS.

This reviewer gives 'A Christmas Story' an A+++++++++++++++++++++

Welcome To My Virtual Halloween Festival

Do you remember gorging yourself on free, little candies?  Do you remember the first time you watched John Carpenter's 'Halloween'?  Do you remember wearing your favorite costume two or more years in a row?  If so, then you might just love Halloween (All Hallows' Eve, Samhain, Parentalia) just as much as I do.  So, sit back and enjoy just about any and everything I can offer to celebrate this holiday, virtually.  Let's begin by "watching the magic pumpkin, kiddies":

What is there not to love about Halloween?  You get to dress up as whatever you want.  I've been Darth Vader, Jason Voorhees, a killer klown, a gothic vampire, Shazam!, a dead cowboy, Death and a living, breathing Crystal Lake Camp Counselor who was about to die at any moment - just to name a few, and then there's the chocolate, the carmel apples, pumpkin pie and my family tradition of chili and cornbread.  There's scary movies, of which my top 5 recommendations would be:

1. Halloween (original)
2. Poltergeist
3. Psycho (original)
4. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (I actually prefer the 2003 remake)
and a new horror film just released this year (2011),
5. Insidious

Then there's fantastic music to get you in the mood like:



or this AMAZING show set to 'This Is Halloween' from The Nightmare Before Christmas:



Now, I've stated that I am a Halloween fan, but I have a couple of friends who are more obsessed about the holiday than I am and put me to shame, including one friend Richard who nearly always decorates his home to the hilt, including faux cathedral windows, a Halloween tree and an entire village with moving parts:

Notice the detail of the bottles - very cool

Nothing is safe from a decoration...

... not even the exterior.

This Is Halloween Tree.

Then there is my friend Dawnda, the costume QUEEN!  This lady plans her Halloween costume as much as a year in advance and works on it the whole year long.  Unfortunately, she could not find a picture of my favorite costume she created, the Jackal from '13 Ghosts', but she did such a phenomenal job, it would be difficult to tell the difference if I posted the real pic from the film:

Here are some of her other creations, of which she's won her company costume contest every year:

A Killer Klown

An inbred from the film 'Wrong Turn'

Pyramid Head from the horror game 'Silent Hill'



Dawnda lives in San Diego and I've told her she really needs to get the most mileage out of her creations by dressing up for Comic-Con each year, especially The Jackal and Pyramid Head - she'd be a hit!

And then, there's all the pleasures of growing up and living in Southern California with great traditional activities made especially for this holiday like The Halloween Haunt at Knott's Scary Farm (which I have probably been to more times than I can count on two hands).  Here is walk-through somebody took in 2010 of just one of their 13 mazes, The London Maze.  It's pretty good quality because there is still a little bit of daylight.  So, if you've never been, you might enjoy:



Then, there's Disneyland's transformation of The Haunted Mansion to 'The Nightmare Before Christmas'.  Again, for anybody who lives too far from either Disneyland or Disney World to enjoy the attraction, here is decent ride-through to give you an idea:



Alright, so that's about it and again, I ask, "What is there not to love about this holiday?"  I've always been a little obsessed about Halloween: the scares, traditions, films, music and food, so much so that my next planned children's picture book will be based on the origins of All Hallows' Eve, which I'll publish with 'The Night After Christmas' illustrator, Anita Driessen, who loves the holiday even more than I do (I have such rockin' friends!)

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!!!