Recipe SOS

I know, I know - I still have yet to post holiday tales and photos. I'll get there. Eventually.

In the meantime, I need to post an SOS. Tony and I have decided to swallow our common sense and host an AFL Championship Game party at our place. In Baltimore. This is despite (or in spite of) the very evident amount of anti-Steeler sentiment in what is decidedly Raven territory.

To that end: We need recipes, people! Pittsburgh-themed ones, specifically. Casa Wiley-Giarnelli is a hater-free zone during the game (in fact, we're debuting a special shot - "Hater-ade" - for those who choose to be ignorant), but we still want to showcase our Steel City love.

So, send me any drink or food ideas you might have and we'll try to make them for the big game. If we do use your recipe, I'll even post it along with a photo of the end product on this blog on Monday. And who doesn't enjoy that kind of free press?

Thanks in advance and Go Steelers!

Both admirable and just a little bit nerdy

I'll post on the holiday festivities later in the week, but for now, a little something from NPR. Tony was thisclose to being an Eagle Scout (for those of you who knew him in college, it's surprising, I know...) so the story has some sentimental value. Enjoy!

Scout Earns All Merit Badges Possible

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Scout Shawn Goldsmith shows off his merit badges. Courtesy Shawn Goldsmith

All Things Considered, January 3, 2009 · Shawn Goldsmith has accomplished a rare feat for a Boy Scout — he earned all 121 merit badges available. You only need 21 to get the title "Eagle" Scout. "If I run into a stranger, there's definitely something to talk about. I have 121 topics to talk about," he says when asked why he did it.

Thanksgiving '08: The Year of the Turducken

I've been slack on the updates, but with good reason: The holidays are flipping EXHAUSTING.

Case in point: This year, Tony and I hosted a small Thanksgiving get together at our place for a few of our friends. Since we couldn't nail down an official head count until the last minute, I went junk-out and made food for about 8 people. Which meant I had to start cooking early. Like, the Tuesday before early.

I woke up around 6:30am on Thanksgiving day and then got to cooking. Thankfully, my mom and sister were on mobile phone standby to answer my numerous questions about proper cooking and presentation.

From Thanksgiving 08

Tony, bless him, actually chipped in and cleaned the house after a few requests and the occasional threatening look.

About 20 hours' worth of food prep (and one burned wrist - stupid roasting rack...) later and we had PLENTY to feed the 5 people who finally sat down to dinner:

From Thanksgiving 08

The 2008 Wiley-Giarnelli Thanksgiving Menu consisted of (going clockwise from the flowers):

1. Corn pudding (aka, corn souffle)
2. Jalapeno macaroni and cheese (Thank you, Vonetta!)
   
3. Honey roasted sweet potatoes
4. Sage sausage stuffing
5. Garlicky green beans (Thank you, Christa!)
6. Cranberry walnut salad
7. Simple gravy
   
8. 7lbs of Lemon-sage brined turkey
9. 4lbs of Turducken
10. Cranberry relish
11. Mashed potatoes (Thank you again, Christa!)
12. Wild rice
13. Pumpkin corn bread muffins
14. Italian bread
15. Mozzarella basil bruschetta (not pictured)

My dessert (brandied pumpkin creme brulee) was a spectacular failure, but Vonetta saved the day with her A-M-A-Z-I-N-G sweet potato pie. :)

It was fantastic. We wrapped up, watched some football, doled out left overs and said good night...and then the gals and I met up again a scant 5 hours later for some marathon (i.e., 7 hrs of) Black Friday shopping. I am the quintessential shopping queen, thus making Black Friday my high holiday. It's the one stereotype to which I happily subscribe.

Of course, the highlight of this year's event was the 3-in-1 poultry entity that people have repeatedly asked about: the Turducken. 4lbs of duck, wrapped in chicken, wrapped in turkey, with layers of corn bread stuffing in between.

From Thanksgiving 08

I know it sounds revolting, but honestly it's not a bad dish. I'm not going to make a habit of shelling out the $50 to have it delivered to the house (we couldn't find it locally and had to Internet order it from New Orleans), but it added a little something special to the meal. And it made Tony happier than a boy with a brand new puppy on Christmas Day.

Between now and the New Year I get to celebrate some birthdays, hang out with some of my closest friends in D.C. and Charleston, and visit with family in both Pittsburgh and Clemson. Assuming the Steelers beat the Ravens on Sunday, I'll peg this as one of my Top 10 Most Fantastic Ends of the Year.

Happy Holidays!

xoxo,
Adj