'Twas two days after Christmas..

     ..and I have not yet met my Christmas time cooking goals.  But like I said in my last post, there's still time.  Counts 'til New Years.  And guess what- I've got 3 days off before then, which, after the past month or so, seems like a foreign and distant idea.  Also, I made a list last New Years of things I wanted to accomplish in 2010, and one of the things yet to be done is to learn to make good dolmades.  I've never tried. We'll see if there's time before Friday, or whenever 2011 begins.
     Christmas was awesome, whether I had the time or energy to cook or not.  Today I'm making up for it though.  I only worked until about three, and for dinner I had Trader Joe's puff pastry margherita  pizza and this awesome carrot blend they sell frozen (have I mentioned my love affair with a grocery store?), and now occupying the oven are a couple of orange-ricotta pound cakes.  The recipe came from Food Network Magazine, as do so many of the most awesome recipes ever.  This one in particular is from Giada. I'll letcha know how it turns out.
     OH, by the way! I got the "I Heart Trader Joe's Cookbook" for Christmas, and this awesome vegetarian cookbook from my mom, and a tea kettle from my boyfriend, just like I wanted! Can you say "badass?"

And speaking of Christmas food....

     I haven't had much time yet to make any.  BUT- there's still close to a week left! Plus however long we've got until New Years, which also counts as Christmastime! Cookies and gingerbread and other such simple carbohydrates...you watch out.  You just watch out.
     Also, anybody who knows me is aware of my sickly devotion to Trader Joe's, and I'm here to tell you all that you should really try their holiday teas.  If anybody's actually reading this, this means YOU. Cinnamon Vanilla Black Tea and Candy Cane Green.  I am serious.  I actually put their Ginger Pear White Tea on my letter to Santa.
     Now I'm going to watch my vegetables slowly shrivel to caramelized excellence and watch "The Santa Clause 2." 

Tis the season of stress and food and joy.

     I love December.  I love Christmas.  I work retail.  This past couple of weeks have been insanity. Tomorrow I finally have a day to breathe and to sleep, my only one until Christmas day.  I. am. drained. I haven't slept properly in days. The lower half of my body is very, very unhappy. So naturally, I'm cooking my brains out. 1,2138721 servings of various roasted vegetables, here I come. Merry Christmas! Best time of the year. Seriously.