Here we are on the eve of Advent 2. Why does December whiz by so quickly when January goes on FOREVER???
It has been a full week around here as we ramp up to top gear for Carols & Cocoa- Coast to Coast as well a prepping for Week 2 of the Team Alumnae Advent Program There is also the Advent/Christmas edition of CTM’s newsletter “Networks” to assemble. We really wanted it to be in peoples’ Inboxes by December 15th but I would like to include a short report on Carols & Cocoa and another Board Member, Rebecca, would like to add a piece about the Recettes en Pot fundraiser, which she has spearheaded, so we may end up with a slightly later date for Networks to publish as both those activities wrap up next weekend.
Outside of office hours there have been several Zoom and FaceTime meetings with former Team Members and I was very chuffed to receive an email from Team Alum, Vicky, who was a member of the St. Matthew’s Church youth group of fond memory 😊. I had included her in one of the Team mailings about Carols & Cocoa and she wrote to let me know she is now living in Toronto and engaged to be married. I had not heard from her for over a year so it was special to catch up a bit.
This week I catered 2 dinners for my dear friend Jenna and her husband. She usually comes once a month to pick up 2 pre-made meals one ready to eat that evening and the other frozen to heat up at another time. With Christmas approaching we arranged for her to come earlier this month as, despite COVID restrictions, they will probably be having some festive meals nearer to the holiday and so these dinners will come in handy now.😊
Another friend asked if I could sew some fabric gift bags so yesterday afternoon, while on a FaceTime chat with Gillian in Nova Scotia, I cut out 16 bags ready to begin sewing today. Since I did some baking midweek ,while catering, I’m not do any today although this morning included Mandu’s quarterly bath, an activity she is none too fond of!, and later on I shall be watching the Week 2 Advent Program videos and making some art in response. Everyone who participates is supposed to be sharing photos of their art each week but I think I need to do some extra badgering because so far nothing has turned up on my Instagram feed. We decided to create an Instagram account accessible to Team Alums so I’ve set up mrsphilmoreschickens and hope to get some “Followers” soon 😊
Although Christmas Baking will be pretty minimalist around here this year I still have a few items on my “to-do” list including gingerbread cookies, mince pies and porcupines. Since next Saturday will be occupied with Carols & Cocoa the plan at the moment is to bake next Friday instead, but we shall see what else the coming week brings!
Right now it is time to set up my sewing machine and make some progress on the gift bags so we had better wrap up with a recipe.
My fruit paniers have recently included small organic watermelons that are just perfect for making a real favourite-Watermelon Curry
Watermelon Curry
- 1 small watermelon, cubed (about 4 cups of fruit)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ tsp. each turmeric, cumin & coriander
- ¼ tsp. cayenne
- ½ cup fresh cilantro leaves
- 2 Tbsps. sunflower oil
- Cooked Basmati rice
Purée enough melon cubes to make 1 cup of liquid, set aside. In a large frying pan heat the oil, add the garlic and sauté briefly, until fragrant. Stir in the spices and sauté for 2-3 minutes. Add the puréed melon and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until the sauce is slightly thickened. Add the remaining melon cubes and cook just until they are heated through. Do not overcook or the melon will be mushy, it should stay crisp. Serve immediately over Basmati Rice, garnish with cilantro leaves.
Serves 2