Happy New Year's Eve!

The Matzo Ball That Ate Winnipeg

Since it's Hanukkah all this week -- Best Wishes to all who celebrate! -- I thought I'd tell you about the time I attempted to make matzo balls in Winnipeg about 35 years ago. MY WORST COOKING DISASTER EVER!

When I started university, I discovered the joy of eating matzo balls in chicken soup at a local Jewish deli which, alas, subsequently went out of business. (You can read my tribute to that beloved deli here, if you want). Anyway, being in serious matzo ball withdrawal, I decided to try making my own.

How hard could it BE? (said the Anglo-Saxon Gentile)

So I purchased a package of matzo ball mix from the grocery store and read the VERY minimalistic "how to" instructions on the back. I mixed the matzo meal with some oil and eggs as directed and brought my biggest pot of water to a boil. Then I formed the dough into balls.

Hmm, how BIG should I make them? The package provided no insight. Since the large matzo balls I'd eaten at the deli were about the size of the ones in the above photo, I made six similarly large matzo balls and put them all in the pot of boiling water.

Now, this is where being a Shiksa proved to be my undoing. I was, in fact, ignorant of a KEY PIECE of cultural knowledge. I'd never actually SEEN anyone make matzo balls before, of course. So HOW was I supposed to know that they SWELL UP LIKE A SONOVABITCH during the cooking process?

My back was to the stove when I heard this odd glub, glub, glub sound. I'll remember that sound as long as I live. It haunts me to this day.

"Slowly I turned . . ."

. . . and saw ONE HUGE, FUSED-TOGETHER, POSITIVELY MUTANT MATZO BALL in the process of RISING UP, UP, UP out of the pot and SPILLING OVER the sides!

Sort of like this, ONLY WORSE --

What an unholy MESS it made! I cleaned matzo dough off my stove for DAYS afterwards.

And on top of everything else, I STILL had no matzo balls for my soup! It just added insult to injury.

O Holy Night

One of my favourite renditions of this beautiful carol. I hope you will have time during this busy day to pause, listen and contemplate.

Merry Christmas to All Who Celebrate!

It's Christmas Eve!

And we all know what that means, don't we! Yes, time for some Egg Nog 'n Rum, my traditional tipple every year on this date.

Since it's only once a year, I'd better make it worthwhile, LOL!

I'm in deep denial, of course.

What can I say? Except . . .

Stole that last meme from Mistress Maddie, of course!

Anyway, here's some more denial . . .

But really, don't worry, I only ever actually have two drinks on Christmas Eve. That's about all the eggnog and rum I can tolerate, quite frankly. I'm not a big fan of either of those ingredients, individually or together, on any other occasion.

Besides, I can't afford to be hungover tomorrow. My Rare One and I are hosting a traditional turkey dinner for a bunch of friends so I've got to be upright and functional! But if something DOES go wrong, I have the perfect excuse, eh?

Just as a side note, the last time I did actually get blasted, I was drinking Black Russians. Good Lord, those things are strong. Well, at least in the size I make them. Oh, and I had some Daiquiris too in Maui. I forgot about those. Not a blackout situation, I swear!

[P.S. -- Don't believe my bullshit, folks. In reality, I'm practically a teetotaller].

The Versatile Blogger Award

Last week, Captain Kirt of To Baldly Go . . . honoured me with this Versatile Blogger Award, the sweetie! He said some awfully nice things about me too, viz., "Debra blogs about life in Canada, she's genuine and a joy to read." Oh, you're making me blush! Thanks so much!

Captain Kirt is a talented cartoonist and illustrates his blog with his own work. He's got a charming style and produces such great toons! Here's two perfect examples showing The Captain engaged in a couple of his favourite recreational activities --

Now I'm supposed to tell you seven facts about myself, but here's the only one that counts today. I love quality cartooning! Always have, always will. I've been an avid fan of many cartoonists over the years, both mainstream and underground. I adore practically all cartooning styles and subject areas -- political, satirical, daily life, feminist, lesbigay, superheroes, just plain crazy, anything! Hell, I even love Garfield!

And I admire anyone who has the talent to produce their own cartoons. That's why I'm going to nominate for this award all my other favourite bloggers who habitually illustrate their blogs with their own cartooning work! Like Captain Kirt's, their cartoons bring joy to my life! If you don't already know their blogs, please check them out!

1. Bryan and Brandon at A Beer for the Shower

2. Gia at Mayor Gia

3. Cheryl at The Art of Being Conflicted

4. Ivy at The Happy Whisk

My Kinda Guy

Now, I enjoy watching a good hockey fight as much as the next Canadian, but this one is EPIC! Marcus Foligno of the Buffalo Sabres graphically demonstrated the other night that violence ISN'T everything!



To quote the incredulous announcers:

"That's a Pantene Pro-V commercial!"

"Who fixes their hair in a fight?"

Hey, he's entitled, you jerks! Look at that sexy hair! Rowrrrr!

Winter Solstice Blessings to You All!