The first no "L"

One of our most treasured Christmas decorations is a set of angels that used to belong to L's grandmother. She had many grandchildren (26, to be exact), so to have anything of hers is an honor, and especially these angels, which were a favorite of L's dad as a child.

There are four angels, and they each hold a letter of NOEL. However, when they came to us, the angel from the "L" was missing, and we did the best we could to display it, but most of the time it ended up looking like there was no "L" in "Noel." Really, I can't make this up.

Each year, as we unpacked our Christmas decorations, I was a little sad that we didn't have an angel for our "L." But, what we did have was the original packaging. So finally, last year, I made it my mission to locate L's angel (bet you didn't think I had another pun, did you?).

I scoured eBay and Craigslist and the rest of the Internet. I found quite a few sets of these angels, despite their age (60+ years), which was remarkable. But I kept getting in touch with people too late or losing auction bids. Finally, I found someone who only had an "E" and an "L." Sold! (Come "L" or high water.)

You'll see in the picture that our "L" is a bit smaller than the others, but he still matches perfectly. A major upgrade from the previous version nonetheless.

You'll also see in the picture that the tradition with the angels is to display them a bit nontraditionally.

Hats off to the holidays

Some holiday traditions are passed on from generations and practiced so long that you don't know where they came from. Like, going to church, or when to open presents, or putting up certain decorations.
Other traditions just kind of happen. And you don't know how long they will last. Like our reindeer hat, which is now in its 4th year.

L's dad showed up with this hat at Christmas when Jellybean was 1. I was thinking it was nice for her to have a warm hat, but it seemed frivolous to have one that can only appropriately be worn for one month a year. Turns out, I was very short-sighted.
This hat, which Jellybean and Peanut can both wear and share, has been so much fun for us. It has been a conversation starter so many times over when we're out and about -- and it's brought smiles to so many faces. I mean, who can resist a little person sporting Rudolph on her head?

We will keep wearing the Rudolph hat for as long as it stays intact. A hat to wear once a year? Totally worth it.

What's for dinner (in 20 minutes)?

Do you feel like you have the same 7 dinners in rotation every week -- like same stuff, different day? It's so easy to get in a rut of fixing the go-to, popular meals day in and day out. I'm hoping by sharing a couple of our favorites, maybe you can share your family's easy favorites, and then we can all shake up our routine a bit.

We are working very hard to make home-cooked dinners our priority. For the past 6 months or so, between our farm share and other meal planning, we have averaged almost six nights per week of eating at home. We've managed to create a rotation that includes many low-prep dinners and some decent nutrition. We always serve a vegetable, and we have a priority on whole grains -- sometimes difficult when we want to eat quickly and not spend all evening in the kitchen.

A while back, I wrote about some recipes that I love. I am not a gourmet chef, but I can follow a recipe. I'm also not terribly creative in generating new and exciting dinner ideas. Bear that in mind when you read our most popular meals -- for the kids AND adults in our house -- below.

1. Tacos. I have this one down to a quick science: brown the meat, heat some shells, and warm up refried beans. I have struggled to come up with the right vegetable to complement tacos. Nothing with much nutrition seems to mix well (read: lettuce on the taco doesn't count as veg!). But last week, it hit me: Sauteed bell peppers and onions.

2. Omelettes. Now that eggs are good for us again, according to the nutrition experts, I have no qualms about dishing up breakfast for dinner. They are quick to prepare, and often we can incorporate leftover vegetables as part of the omelette. And the girls shovel omelettes in like they're going out of style (but they're not). Toast on the side, and we're done.

3. Picnic dinner (veg and protein components pictured). I'm not talking about eating outside on a blanket. Instead, bring the picnic foods inside and put them on the kitchen table. This one was inspired by L's famous "snacky-snack" appetizer trays that he prepares for special occasions. Slice up cheese, salami, all the raw veg and fruit you can find, and put it on big plates. Add in whole grain crackers and/or whole grain bread. Everyone serves themselves. L and I agree that the girls probably eat more fruit and vegetables at this meal, wherein they select their food themselves, than at meals where we prepare their plates. The first time we served this, Jellybean exclaimed, "It's a picnic dinner!"

So, I showed you mine. Now you show me yours: What are your family's favorite quick dinners?

Thanksgiving and wine

In case you've been under a rock, it's that time of year where we all get to heap our plates full of food and glug down a couple glasses of wine. For some people, I guess that could be every day, but for me, it's Thanksgiving!

I have many, many things to be thankful for every day of the year. Maybe some day I'll make a list worthy of sharing. But in the meantime, we're doing our usual hosting duties for Thanksgiving, so I have some cooking to do.

I will be doing my "no-fail" turkey again this year, as well as baking a couple of pies with my vodka crust recipe. I will also be wine shopping. Although I couldn't drink for many of the previous Thanksgivings we hosted (I was pregnant or nursing for 4 years straight), I was still the unofficial sommelier. I have a few favorites that pair well with turkey and the flavors of the season.

Whites:
Chateau Grand Traverse Riesling -- I try to drink Michigan wines but don't always love them. This one, on the other hand, is one of the best pairings with turkey I have ever had. Slightly sweet contrasted with the sage and herbiness, mmmm.

Covey Run Riesling -- If you can't get the Michigan riesling, this is the next best. Again, the slight sweetness greets the Thanksgiving table flavors wonderfully.

Big House White -- I didn't feel like I could have an all-riesling list because it might turn some people off. This wine, Thanksgiving or not, is my favorite white wine I've had in a long time. Beware, it's dangerous. The first time L and I tried it, we drank the whole bottle in a sitting! That never happens, so that's saying something. A steal with mass appeal.

Reds:

Echelon Pinot Noir -- Appeals to all wine drinkers, from serious sommelier wannabes to occasional wine drinkers. Smooth with nice flavor, accommodates Thanksgiving flavors perfectly.

Beaujolais Nouveau -- Not always a great pairing with Thanksgiving (the earthy French flavors tend to be subtle), even though the timing of the varietal's release coincides. I haven't tried this year's yet, but I have read that the French are particularly pleased with this year's harvest. Might be worth uncorking.

Really, you won't go wrong with any pinot noir at the Thanksgiving table. Many people espouse the rule of white wine with poultry, but the strong flavors of Thanksgiving lend themselves to pinot noir so well. Make sure you at least try it. Or do like we do, give lots of choices at the table, and let everyone share tastes!

What are you serving at Thanksgiving? I'd love new suggestions to share at our tasting table.

Happy Thanksgiving!