High in the air on wings so vibrant
Twirling, twisting, dancing
A display of ferocity, of passion

Fire flashing, burning with desire
Arching to and fro
Like lightning charged with primal power

Talons clasping in the final act
Plummeting down in a test of faith
Dragons dance in aerial rapture

– Heims Draco

 

“Hallo, my fine fellow!”
“Hallo!” returned the boy.
“Do you know the Poulterer’s, in the next street but one, at the corner?” Scrooge inquired.
“I should hope I did,” replied the lad.
“An intelligent boy!” said Scrooge. “A remarkable boy! Do you know whether they’ve sold the prize Turkey that was hanging up there?—Not the little prize Turkey: the big one?”
“What, the one as big as me?” returned the boy.
“What a delightful boy!” said Scrooge. “It’s a pleasure to talk to him. Yes, my buck!”
“It’s hanging there now,” replied the boy.
“Is it?” said Scrooge. “Go and buy it.”
“Walk-er!” exclaimed the boy.
“No, no,” said Scrooge, “I am in earnest. Go and buy it, and tell ’em to bring it here, that I may give them the direction where to take it. Come back with the man, and I’ll give you a shilling. Come back with him in less than five minutes and I’ll give you half-a-crown!”

“And it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless Us, Every One!”

― Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

Make your own photobooth:

What about the booth?

Bowtie Pasta with Spicy Sausage and Kale

inspired by Everyday Italian by Giada de Laurentis

Ingredients:

• 1 bunch of kale, stalks trimmed and torn into bite size pieces
• 12 ounces mini bow tie pasta
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 pound spicy Italian sausage, casings removed
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper flakes
• 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Bring a large pot of water to boil.  Add the kale and cook until crisp-tender, about 1 minute.  Strain the kale, reserving all the cooking liquid.  Set the kale aside.  Cook the pasta in the same pot of boiling water until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes.  Drain, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid.

Meanwhile, in a large, heavy skillet, heat the oil over a medium flame.  Add the sausage and cook, breaking up with a spoon, until the sausage is brown and juices form, about 8 minutes.  Add the garlic and red pepper flakes, and saute until fragrant, about 30 seconds.  Add the kale and toss to coat.  Add the pasta and enough reserved cooking liquid, 1/4 cup at a time, to moisten.  Stir in the Parmesan cheese, salt to taste, and pepper into the pasta mixture.  Transfer to pasta bowls and serve.

Little bit more of a smile this time for #selfimonday

The itsy bitsy spider climbed up the waterspout.
Down came the rain
and washed the spider out.
Out came the sun
and dried up all the rain
and the itsy bitsy spider climbed up the spout again.

SWIRL

Begin by pouring a tablespoon of olive oil into a small glass. Cup the bottom of the glass in your hand to warm the oil; cover the top with your other hand and swirl gently to release the aromas.

SMELL

Bring the glass to your nose and smell the oil. Take a note of the aromas.

SLURP

Next, take a slurp. As you do so, touch your tongue to the back of your top teeth and inhale. This spreads the oil in your mouth and helps release the flavors of the olive oil.

SWALLOW

Finally, swallow the oil and take note of the flavors you experience.

To me, this is the breakfast of champions a Wawa 20oz Coffee and any bagel Sizzli.  I usually have a turkey sausage, egg white & cheese Sizli but when I was there the other day they only had the pork roll, egg & cheese left.

Since moving to the Southern Tier, I have been missing Wawa so much.

If only they would open a store here in Corning!!!!!