December update
Quote for the Day:
“Do good and good will come to you.” - Aman Mehndiratta
According to Mehndiratta, we are living in a world where helping others is not usual. People often give help to those with whom they have some vested interest or selfishness. One can barely find someone who is willing to give without any selfish intentions. But some people act like a blessing in disguise. Yes, we are about the person who never fails to help, the man with a golden heart (Goodreads, 2021).
Promotional Sale on Lulu.com
Effective December 16, 2021 through January 15, 2022, on Lulu.com, the eBook version of Silent Freedom: A Memoir of 101st Airborne Division Air Assault in Iraq will be on promotional sale for $4.99 only. This would make a great gift to family and friends. Buy now while it lasts!
Holidays
The first year of deployment in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom was tough. Everything was tough. Moving from one place to another was tough. No running water, no PX, limited communications, we ate with mess kits, such as the Meal Ready-to-Eat (MRE), and one hot food a day. That’s how we survived during the early days of the deployment. The MRE helped us to sustain while engaged in heavy military operations during OIF when normal food service facilities were not yet available. Finally, things improved and the dining facilities opened. They were open for breakfast, for brunch, lunch, dinner, and at midnight. And we enjoyed the midnight chow the most because the environment was quieter than usual, no long lines, just a few people. To top it all, the food was great. Holidays were also of course difficult.
During the Holidays, we treasure sharing food with family. Some people want to avoid the crowd, and cook at home. Here is a super easy Christmas small gathering menu, perfect for before Christmas dinner, and traditional Christmas recipes. Let’s enjoy our silent freedom of cooking. Let’s join hands and share our recipes! Let’s start with a variety of different appetizers.
1. Crostini with goat cheese.
Crostini Appetizer with goat cheese. Crostini are small slices of grilled or toasted bread, such as baguettes because they make the perfect little bites, with a sturdy crust all the way round. You can either start from scratch or an already made crostini from the grocery store. Top it with any spreads and cheeses. For toppings, you may use a variety of different cheeses, meats, vegetables, and condiments. Or simply brush with olive oil and herbs or a sauce. Mix the cheeses with garlic, rosemary, and pomegranate and voila! Top it on your crostini and it’s ready to serve, as simple as that.
2. Bacon-wrapped Water Chestnuts.
Bacon-wrapped Water Chestnuts. The water chestnuts’ sweetness and nuttiness will remind you of an apple. When wrapped in bacon, the chestnuts are enhanced and so delicious. Try brushing these with a touch of BBQ sauce for extra flavor and broil for five minutes. Easy and crowd pleaser!
3. Butternut Squash Noodle Cakes.
Ingredients:
• 1 lb. Wegmans Butternut Squash Noodles, cut in 2-inch pieces
• 2 Wegmans Organic Large Brown Eggs
• 1/2 cup Wegmans Whole Wheat Panko Breadcrumbs
• 1/2 cup Wegmans Organic Raw Pumpkin Seeds
• 2 Tbsp Wegmans Pan Searing Flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/3 cup Wegmans Pure Olive Oil, divided
How to cook:
• Add butternut squash noodles, eggs, panko, pumpkin seeds, pan-searing flour, and salt to large bowl; mix well to combine. Let rest 10 min.
• Heat half of oil in 12-inch nonstick pan on MED-HIGH until oil faintly smokes. Divide half of butternut squash mixture into 3 cakes; add to pan. Flatten with spatula; cook 3-4 min on each side until browned. Drain briefly on paper towel. Repeat process with remaining oil and butternut squash mixture (https://shop.wegmans.com/recipes/27)
This is all for now. Stay tuned for more Holiday recipes. We’ll feature main course recipes next week. Feel free to contribute recipes in the chat box and share with others. It will be fun! Stay warm and stay safe everyone!
-Aurea
