Tipsy Tuesday: Serve Wine as a Beverage!

The good book [The Good Housekeeping Cookbook (c)'63] really has some stellar ideas when it comes to wining and dining. Did you know that -

- Wine adds a decided zest to cooking?
- Wine adds the master touch, the "French atmosphere" to many desserts, especially cut-up fruit?
- Soups such as oxtail, lentil, etc. taste better if dry or medium sherry is added?
- Wine is as easy to serve correctly as tea or coffee?
- It's perfectly correct to serve any wine any time you wish? [to which I absolutely concur!]

Can you imagine the test kitchen getting tipsy deciding which vino is worthy of the coveted Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval? Undoubtly, slim cigarettes were being smoked in tandem, and some Esquivel was spinning on the record player.

Here, have a listen - and a cocktail - I insist!

In lieu of a recipe, I offer up GH's parings for your "more formal" holiday feasts - so you can swill in style:

With oysters: Chablis or champagne
With soup: pale sherry or dry Maderia
With fish: champagne or dry white table wines
With entrees: claret
With roast or game: Burgundy
With sweets: champagne or sweet sauterne
With cheese: port, sweet sherry or Maderia

Or, if you're more like me, you're more likely to uncork some three-buck chuck. Cheers!

Holiday Housekeeping

Ready to wow a crowd? Provide nibblers and dippers for fabulous friends and corrupt coworkers? Find out what the elusive - and savvy - Susan would construct in her kitchen on such occasions?

Me, too. That's why I picked up a copy of the Good Housekeeping Cookbook {c}'63 for a dollar on my antique/flea pilgrimage [hey, it was just Thanksgiving] on 'First Friday' this weekend in Kansas City.

I'll be back as soon as I page through - promise.

Go forth. And Gobble.

That's an order from Pilgrim John.

Shepherd's Pie. In Technicolor.

Nothing holds color like frozen mixed vegetables. And nothing brings out their Technicolor dream of bold orange, yellow and green like a generous helping of ketchup.

And - as I learned the hard way - nothing brings Ben and Margie's gag reflexes forward like the trashy American-style "traditional" shepherd's pie.

I believe the entire Roy G Biv spectrum is represented in this casserole. Don't you agree?

Next time, I'll opt for herding the family to McDonald's.

WTF?!? Friday: Loafing

Wow.

What's sandwiched between these albino slices of, um, bread? And what is serving as the fluffy insulation? The purity of this luncheon loaf is questionable - without question. I wouldn't pull this out at the bridge party until the ladies had polished off a pitcher of Long Island iced tea.

Tipsy Tuesday: Ouch!

This swell swill is the bee's knees!

"Come on, Danny. Grab the brandy and get jiggy with that outta-sight shaker!"

Stinger
Combine in a cocktail shaker:
1 cup shaved ice
1 jigger brandy
1 jigger white creme de menthe


Shake. Strain. Pour, honey! Drink until there's some swizzle in your stick.

WTF?!? Friday: Sweeney Todd-Style

Wow. WTF?! is nestled inside this leafy lettuce cup?! It's like Mrs. Lovett's mystery meat --- salad. Thanks for this one, Benjamin Barker. It's definitely the demon salad of WTF Friday.