Merry Christmas to all of you Fresh Forkin' Festers! On this beautiful day of feasting and festing and frivolity, I want to share the gift of the Dickens' Cratchit Family Feast, which is something I like to read during the season to remind me what all the fuss is about. Eat well,  be well, and bring us some figgy pudding, because we won't go until we get some.

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Jamming, as I am, to get a ton of stuff done before the holiday break, I decided to skip lunch in lieu of a desk snack. Sitting quietly by my phone was a small pot of Uncle Pete's Sweet Hot Mustard. A run to the kitchen for some vending machine pretzels and we have a meal.

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After discovering the White Russian a few months ago ... I know, I know. Yes, I am a Big Lebowski fan, but I just assumed it was a mediocre drink, enjoyed by old ladies and girl-drink drunk drinkers … it's not.

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This Fresh Forkin' Friday I'm well aware that it's almost too late to have things shipped, but in the spirit of the last F3 before Christmas, I can't help but officially assign the gift o' the season—from Adornments & Ornaments, a neighboring Iowa shop, come these most stylish fork, spoon, and soybean pendants. I think all the fashionable eaters and bloggers will be wearing in them in 2010. If you're not so much about the bling, then maybe you could show your colors with this righteous spork shirt.

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I have a little tradition when I finally complete my holiday shopping. It involves me, alone, sitting at the Mayslack's bar indulging in a little beef monstrosity. But I'm not there yet. So yeah, I'm madly searching the Internets and hitting the stores this week to finish the list and get to the sandwich. I thought I'd share a little of what's out there for the Serious Foodist, in case you're still working toward your sandwich as well.

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Not content to pass the day simply zoned into the John Occhiato show, the D'Amico boys have things to do! Like opening a new restaurant concept.

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I have the feeling there will be much talk about the Subo experience over the coming days. The newest restaurant to occupy the old Hell's Kitchen space already had the chef tongues in town wagging.

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Here is the reason I go back to the same christmas tree lot every year: The first time I went, with three kids and an infant in tow, the Santa-clad treeman watched me wrangle and wheedle and negotiate with all kiddie opinions to land on the best (most afforable) tree in under 30 minutes, and then gifted me a teeny-tiny pocket rocket of Jack Daniel's as a reward. I loved that man. I feel like I could carry on the tradition, walking around with a purse full of airline bottles, handing out "rewards" to harried moms and dads as they maneuver shopping carts through Target, stand in the slow and stultifying lines to see Swine Flu Santa, or pile more and more kids on their shoulders in order to provide a view to a parade. I'd be like a boozy little elf. This Fresh Forkin' Friday, I'm wrapping my kids up in thermo-nuclear wear to brave the Holidazzle, and if you're going too, I might just have a gift for you ...

 

 

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As I wrote a few weeks ago, I was able to harvest three deer from our farm property in Wadena, Minn. This year I wanted to make jerky with 40 pounds of the meat that I would normally process into sausage and the like. I am not really a jerky guy, I don’t really know what that means beyond that I never buy the stuff … even though I do enjoy eating it. Maybe it’s because of the price per ounce or maybe it’s because I don’t find the store-bought product to be that satisfying … too soft, lacking chew, and not enough jerk. The cure and seasonings are really easy and leave a lot of room for self-expression.

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Generally this time of year brings out the comfort food cook in all of us. But I am already burned out on squash, roasts, and stews. I have been craving a new type of solace for the gloomy days in the way of food, something completely different that will warm my core but also excite my taste buds. I have found my new nookie-blankie in the way of kimchi soup. 

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