In more upbeat news...I am reading a fantastic book right now. "Fannie's Last Supper" by Chris Kimball (of America's Test Kitchen and Cook's Illustrated) is the perfect holiday read and I can't wait for those moments during the day to curl up under a quilt and read a few pages. The book chronicles Chris' journey re-creating a 12 course Victorian meal from Fannie Farmer's 1896 cookbook.
Not only is this book a great read for a foodie, but the historical detail about life in the late 1800's is so captivating. And its not everyday you can find a recipe for mock turtle soup detailing instructions like these:
"Split calf's head in half, remove the brains (reserve for the Crispy Brain Balls recipe) and eyes (discard), cut out the tounge, and clean well, including the nostrils. Cut the head into pieces, sok for one hour in a 30-quart stock pot in slightly salted water."
To take your mind off Crispy Brain Balls, I'll turn your attention to the homemade peppermint marshmallows from The Marshmallows Company that we hand dipped in chocolate and sprinkled with peppermint candy canes. Utterly spectacular, delicious and great gifts for the neighbors.