Susan and I filmed and uploaded another video to The Gathering Place podcast. In it we share how to make a new drink— ‘A Pistachio Moment’. Pistachios have become a favorite, especially in winter and early March. It is used in perfumes, colognes, other fragrances and even mixed with coffee and served as lattes. So I made an orginal drink the other evening. My wife Susan said, “You can make this anytime!”
Another popular thing is Charcuterie (pronounced char + que + ter + ee). Charcuterie is often a combination of meats, fruits, nuts and cheeses and etc. served as appetizers on a wooden board. To really make something even more special, I added pear wood chips and cinnamon and smoked both ‘A Pistachio Moment’ and our charcuterie.
We will be sharing with you original recipes from the Gathering Place cook book I’m writing. This includes entrées, soups, salads, side dishes, garnishing, butter molds, plating, table settings and even napkin folding. Of course there will be deserts like pies tarts and ice cream and drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), and even roasting your own coffee. This is all designed to turn you into a 5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Chef from your own 5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ restaurant (your home).
Come Gather with us and bring everyone you know. It does not cost anything, but your time. You might enjoy it and learn something? Don’t forget to like it here and on YouTube. Subscribe for free. Much more to come!
In the ‘The Gathering Place Cookbook,’ There will be over 200+ original drinks, homemade liqueurs and simple syrups, recipes for salt and sugar rims for your cocktails and smoked cocktails. Yes, cocktails with real smoke flavor.
Come share share ‘Sips’ with us so you too can, ‘Carpe Drink-em’ (seize the drink). 😂
Susan and I filmed and uploaded another video to The Gathering Place podcast. In it we share how to make a new drink— ‘Aperol Spritz’. This is a favorite drink in Italy. Its unique bittersweet taste is derived from a secret and original recipe. It is a fusion of orange, herbs and roots in a perfectly balanced combination. It’s alcohol content is abouts 11%, which is lower than most spirit drinks, but very close to that of wine. It has a bright orange color. The classical Aperol Spritz is traditionally made as follows:
Fill a white wine glass with ice
Pour 3 parts of Prosecco (I do not like prosecco, so I use another sweet white wine)
Followed by 2 parts of Aperol
And 1 splash of soda
Garnish with an orange slice
In this video, I also make what I call, ‘Ham Slam Sammichs’ (sandwiches). It uses ham, cheese, nice hearty bread, horseradish, fresh spinach leaves or spring mix and the real secret is red currant jam. Grill it and have an Aperol Spritz beforehand or while makimg it and why not, when you eat and enjoy it!
We will be sharing with you original recipes from the Gathering Place cook book I’m writing. This includes entrées, soups, salads, side dishes, garnishing, butter molds, plating, table settings and even napkin folding. Of course there will be deserts like pies tarts and ice cream and drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), and even roasting your own coffee. This is all designed to turn you into a 5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Chef from your own 5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ restaurant (your home).
Come Gather with us and bring everyone you know. It does not cost anything, but your time. You might enjoy it and learn something? Don’t forget to like it here and on YouTube. Subscribe for free. Much more to come!
In the ‘The Gathering Place Cookbook,’ There will be over 200+ original drinks, homemade liqueurs and simple syrups, recipes for salt and sugar rims for your cocktails and smoked cocktails. Yes, cocktails with real smoke flavor.
Come share share ‘Sips’ with us so you too can, ‘Carpe Drink-em’ (seize the drink). 😂
Rather than disturb your two days of Christmas official 12/25 and observed 12/26 with having to think about much I waitied to share this. But consider some of the things we were taught even as children. For one thing, what if Snow White was with seven gnomes and not seven dwarfs? And instead of the tall pointed eared elves from J.R.R. Tolkien, what if Santa Claus had gnomes?
Norman Rockwell 1922 and his elves look like gnomes to me
I am from Missouri originally. The following was posted in the Springfield Leader & Press which was published from 1933-1987 in Springfield, MO. This article first appeared on November 29, 1935.
MO is the Show Me State by the way. If anyone is convinced the following is true, Missourian are. Check it out for yourself.
“Beginning November 10, 1935, the Springfield Leader & Press began a campaign to assure Springfield children that Santa really does exist. The newspaper started with a letter to Santa contest and then proceeded to hire Captain F. E. Kleinschmidt,an arctic explorer, to travel to the North Pole”.
“Captain Kleinschmidt sent in-depth descriptions of his travels, complete with photographs, to the newspaper. Once he and his wife reached the North Pole, he gave an exhaustive account of all the wonderful, magical things in Santa’s workshop. This culminated in Santa visiting Springfield by train and an appearance at the Electric Theater (later known as the Fox Theater) and a movie by Captain Kleinschmidt. The following article is edited due to its length.”
Santa’s Fairies Busily Working — Explorers are Admitted to Palace and Workshop Where Toys are Made.
Springfield Leader & Press, November 29, 1935, page 4
. “After a difficult and dangerous journey on behalf of child readers of the Springfield Newspapers, Captain and Mrs. P. E. Kleinschmidt, have actually reached the true and magic home of Santa Claus in the far, far, white north.”
“Here is another report by wireless from Captain Kleinschmidt, describing their adventures in Santa’s castle:”
“We traveled what seemed miles and miles through the gigantic gift shop, but never grew tired looking for there is always something new and marvelous in the toys Santa invents for every Christmas.”
“Finally, Santa said ‘Now let us start at the bottom,’ and he led the way to a moving stairway. Descending we had glimpses of floor after floor of all kinds of rooms where armies of gnomes and fairies were working, shaping wood and steel, assembling, molding, painting and packing things.”
“At last we came to the bottom. The chief gnome and all his fellow-workers wore engineers’ uniforms.”
“This is my great power house,’ Santa explained. ‘You know about the axis of the earth which points to the Polar Star and on which the world spins around. I have connected my machinery with this axis, and the power that spins the earth drives all my machinery, the lathes and saws and drills, for you know it takes a lot of power to manufacture toys for over 50 million children every year…”
“We went up again, this time on an elevator, and as we passed one floor after another, we noticed instead of numbers the names of different countries. On the top floor we read ‘United States’ and at a sign from Santa the gnomes stopped the elevator.”
“Here was a large room with countless desks on which gnomes were writing in books, like a huge library. But they were not story books. They were ledgers numbered and alphabetically arranged. The room was divided into sections and each section bore the name of a state…in which the deeds of children are recorded from year to year.”
“You are sent from Missouri; and here you are,’ Santa laughed and sure enough we found Missouri labeled.”
“Now let’s see,’ said Santa, and he took a book, turned over the pages and to our amazement there was written ‘Springfield Newspapers want to make boys and girls happy in the Ozarks. Send out an expedition to Santa Claus land?’ And there were the names of the boys and girls who had written letters in the Santa Claus contest…I glanced over some of the books marked Missouri and there saw the names of hundreds of Springfield children.”
“The world is increasing in population and getting better all the time, and my work grows larger and larger every year,’ Santa said. ‘It makes me happier the longer I live, but you know,’ and Santa’s eyes twinkled, ‘the children who give me more work and who keep the pens of gnomes the busiest in chalking up good deeds, are the Boy Scouts. Look at that row of books all marked ‘Boy Scouts’. Ever since that organization started, I have had to put on a thousand extra gnomes each year.”
“We were getting tired and our eyes and minds were getting sleepy from all the wonderful sights. Mrs. K. wondered where we were going to sleep for the castle certainly never had expected any guests, and the beds we had seen were so tiny no human being could possibly be in them. But Santa had already provided for our needs.”
“Gnomes and fairies had prepared fairylike bedrooms and our Eskimos stood gaping in wonder when they beheld their quarters…All at once she [Mrs. Kleinschmit] gave a gasp and sat down on the bed laughing until she could not speak. I could not see anything to laugh at but a beautiful eider down blanket covered with silky lace, until she pointed to the foot of the bed. I examined it closely and above all things the beautiful wrought iron legs were thick colored candy sticks. The bed panels that looked like polished bird’s eye maple were taffy full of nuts. What looked like a wonderful mahogany dresser was made of chocolate and the knots were nuts. The mirrors were rock crystal candy. I recalled the fairy tale of Hansel and Gretel and the witch who lived in a gingerbread house, but I never, as a grown up man expected to live in a similar house.”
How to make cocoa bombs for kids of any age and a treat for me or thee” 🙂 for the holiday season.“
We will be sharing with you original recipes from the Gathering Place cook book I’m writing. This includes entrées, soups, salads, side dishes, garnishing, butter molds, plating, table settings and even napkin folding. Of course there will be deserts like pies tarts and ice cream and drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), and even roasting your own coffee. This is all designed to turn you into a 5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Chef from your own 5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ restaurant (your home).
Come Gather with us and bring everyone you know. It does not cost anything, but your time. You might enjoy it and learn something? Don’t forget to like it here and on YouTube. Subscribe for free. Much more to come!
In the ‘The Gathering Place Cookbook,’ There will be over 200+ original drinks, homemade liqueurs and simple syrups, recipes for salt and sugar rims for your cocktails and smoked cocktails. Yes, cocktails with real smoke flavor.
Come share share ‘Sips’ with us so you too can, ‘Carpe Drink-em’ (seize the drink). 😂
Susan and I filmed and uploaded another video to The Gathering Place podcast. In it we share how to make our grandmother (Nanny’s), seasonal cranberry sherbet or ice for Thanksgiving and Christmas and what to do with any you might have leftover.
We will be sharing with you original recipes from the Gathering Place cook book I’m writing. This includes entrées, soups, salads, side dishes, garnishing, butter molds, plating, table settings and even napkin folding. Of course there will be deserts like pies tarts and ice cream and drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), and even roasting your own coffee. This is all designed to turn you into a 5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Chef from your own 5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ restaurant (your home).
Come Gather with us and bring everyone you know. It does not cost anything, but your time. You might enjoy it and learn something? Don’t forget to like it here and on YouTube. Subscribe for free. Much more to come!
In the ‘The Gathering Place Cookbook,’ There will be over 200+ original drinks, homemade liqueurs and simple syrups, recipes for salt and sugar rims for your cocktails and smoked cocktails. Yes, cocktails with real smoke flavor.
Come share share ‘Sips’ with us so you too can, ‘Carpe Drink-em’ (seize the drink). 😂
Susan and I filmed and uploaded our second or The Gathering Place podcast #2 ‘Molecular Cocktails’ on 10/28/2022. Yesterday, 11/4/2022 we published our #3 podcast, ‘Grenadine & Stuff’ to our YouTube channel. We will be sharing with you original recipes from the Gathering Place cook book I’m writing. This includes entrées, soups, salads, side dishes, garnishing, butter molds, plating, table settings and even napkin folding. Of course there will be deserts like pies tarts and ice cream and drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), and even roasting your own coffee. This is all designed to turn you into a 5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Chef from your own 5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ restaurant (your home).
Come watch podcast #3 three and make your own homemade grenadine, raspberry/pomegranate spread for rimming glasses, pancakes, waffles and toast and more, and a couple of what I call ‘Floaties’ or ‘Floatables’, layered drinks with your grenadine.
Come Gather with us and bring everyone you know. It does not cost anything, but your time. You might enjoy it and learn something? Don’t forget to like it here and on YouTube. Subscribe for free. Much more to come!
In the ‘The Gathering Place Cookbook,’ There will be over 200+ original drinks, homemade liqueurs and simple syrups, recipes for salt and sugar rims for your cocktails and smoked cocktails. Yes, cocktails with real smoke flavor.
Come share share ‘Sips’ with us so you too can, ‘Carpe Drink-em’ (seize the drink). 😂
The following images show anyone How to subscribe to our podcast on YouTube. You will also, find a tutorial slide show there as well.
We, (Susan and I), will be sharing with you original recipes from the Gathering Place cook book I’m writing. This includes entrées, soups, salads, side dishes, garnishing, butter molds, plating, table settings and even napkin folding. Of course there will be deserts like pies ,tarts and ice cream and drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), and even roasting your own coffee. This is all designed to turn you into a 5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Chef from your own 5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ restaurant (your home).
First, go to: YouTube.com/@the_gatheringplace
Once there, either click on the subscribe button top right or sign in bottom left if you are already a subscriber
Next either search for the playlist: The Gathering Place or click on The Gathering Place bottom left.
Finally you are here. This is a playlist; The Gathering Place playlist. Podcasts are in order from the first to the latest, by date published.You can view them in order, any order, start to finish and anytime you like.
Gather with us and bring everyone you know. It does not cost anything, but your time. You might enjoy it and learn something? Don’t forget to like it here and on YouTube. Subscribe for free. Much more to come!
In the ‘The Gathering Place Cookbook,’ There will be over 200+ original drinks, homemade liqueurs and simple syrups, recipes for salt and sugar rims for your cocktails and smoked cocktails. Yes, cocktails with real smoke flavor.
Come share share ‘Sips’ with us so you too can, ‘Carpe Drink-em’ (seize the drink). 😂
Susan and I filmed and uploaded our second or The Gathering Place podcast #2 on 10/28/2022 to our YouTube channel. We will be sharing with you original recipes from the Gathering Place cook book I’m writing. This includes entrées, soups, salads, side dishes, garnishing, butter molds, plating, table settings and even napkin folding. Of course there will be deserts like pies tarts and ice cream and drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), and even roasting your own coffee. This is all designed to turn you into a 5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Chef from your own 5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ restaurant (your home).
Just in time for Halloween today, come and watch the making of ‘Molecular Drinks’ and more. like a Witch’s Cauldron, ‘Weird Science’, “Vampire’s Cocktail,” “Green Goblin,” and “Bat Juice”???? Y’all just gotta’ show to know.
Come Gather with us and bring everyone you know. It does not cost anything, but your time. You might enjoy it and learn something? Don’t forget to like it here and on YouTube. Subscribe for free. Much more to come!
In the ‘The Gathering Place Cookbook,’ There will be over 200+ original drinks, homemade liqueurs and simple syrups, recipes for salt and sugar rims for your cocktails and smoked cocktails. Yes, cocktails with real smoke flavor.
Come share share ‘Sips’ with us so you too can, ‘Carpe Drink-em’ (seize the drink). 😂
Once upon time and only once a year Mysterious; quite strange, it will appear Buildings and skyscrapers will move and give space As if by magic, but to most, an invisible place But some unseen force, draws them and they come and came And an old gaslight lantern, illuminates the name
‘Old Fezziwig’s Christmas Spirits & Cheer’ Festive to the restless, in the dark and the drear
Old Fezziwig’s
No ghosts of future, present or past to one’s birth Just The Wise Guy that serves the mirth Lively libations and custom made cheer For what ails yah’ and what casts out every fear
And they came and come, the lost and alone in profusion The tossed whose drinks were sore woes and confusion Some, with shorts too tight that pinches The grumpys’ the scrooges and grinches
Music and dancing Clinking and prancing Observations And conversations Libations and custom-made cheer And all are welcome here
Up to the bar they sit sat and wait and waited With dim slims of hope, to be sated
Old Fezziwig
No demands or judgement, just a voice Just the asking each, to make a choice Frozen hearts like glaciers and icebergs calve “How may I serve you, what will you have?”
And often the reply is just a request, “My dear sir, what would you suggest?” “What would you recommend, most affective?” And he said, “That all depends on your perspective!”
“I could fill your glass half empty or I could fill it half full Only you can decide, the push or the pull I can pour all that glows and glitters I just don’t and won’t pour the bitters
I can fizzle and I can dazzle I can drizzle, but never frazzle No down memory lane or ‘Auld Lang Syne’ Just spirits and drinks of cheer and life’s “fruit of the vine”
“I can pour you something that would make you want to be warm and in the pink I can make your want to smile, but I just can’t make you think”
“But to tell you the truth, all these suggestions are, to try and get you to think Because I only, only, just make one, special drink”
“It’s ‘The Golden Heart’, neither solid nor broken
‘Gold Heart’
Just edges, no center and just a token You decide and with one swig or swallow Your heart will be open or it will be hollow”
And drink they all up and down the hatch And in an instant, like striking a match The scene is quickly gone to—disappear And all to wonder, were they really here?
This was no dream, but a lesson of life An open heart is fraught, full and rife A solid heart can be dented, damaged, frozen and broken apart But flowing out and flowing in that’s…
…an open heart
Note: “Old Fezziwig” was a fictional character ‘in ‘A Christmas Carol’, by Charles Dickens
From the collection: The Uncollected Collection’ by the same author
Old Fezziwig’s Gold Heart
Fezz
(‘Old Fezziwig’s Gold heart’)
Note: four letter name change (Fezz), suggested by sister Carol Lee
Libatious’ #130
bonus drinks beyond 100
By Dahnini or Dahnitini Spirits Alchemist Bon Devant
Rim martini glasses 🍸🍸 with lemon 🍋 and use a paint brush and brush on a little little edible gold dust
4 jiggers vodka 2 jiggers of orange liqueur 🍊 juice of 1 fresh lemon 🍋 ½ jigger of honey 🍯 and finely chopped crystallized ginger pieces 2 egg whites
Combine all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker and dry-shake (no ice). Add ice 🧊 and shake again in Hand Shaker until well chilled
“Shaken not stirred!” -007, Bond, James Bond- 😀
Strain into chilled martini 🍸 🍸 glasses Shake edible gold dust into the center of your ‘Fez’
Makes two lovely libations. One to share and one for you. 😀
Not too much is free anymore nor is there a place to feel free much anymore, except from thewindshield of life.
There was a time when where I’m going, I could probably get to Hometown Columbia, MO and back Home again in Macedon, NY, for about a $20 bill. I probably could have and would have driven straight through, for about 14 hours. And did the same on the way back. It would have even taken less time, when you could drive without being pulled over at 76 mph, on most highways, where the speed limit was 70 mph.
Tolls? I would have and will avoid them.
Even if I did stop due to poor weather or I was tired, to where they leave they “light on for you”, (Motel 6 or some other), it would have only cost around $20-25 dollars. Food, 🥘 maybe a couple of bucks and coffee ☕️ 15 cents?!
Turn your radio on or play a tape, a CD, 💿 a DVD, 📀 and now, some playlist from your media device. Play what you want, when you want and as loud as you want. That was and still is, freedom in the ears, from thewindshield of life!
Weather then and now (soon), could be about the same as it ever was or ever will be? Take care, know how to drive in inclement weather; how not to tailgate. Don’t be rude and stay far enough away, from unknown others. Watch your own windshields of life; not theirs.
Prepared then and now with maps, emergency kits, cash, water and warmth; something to eat and be prepared to wait, for the traffic to move again or help to arrive.
All in all, you prepare for the worst, but why else leave, unless expecting the best?!
My expectation then and now remains the same, Freedom to think 🤔 and if the music 🎼 is not on or is not too loud, actually hear my own thoughts. It’s free-time magnified, when the imagination is fired up like the vehicle’s 🚗 engine, tuned like the radio; humming and purring on all cylinders. What shapes and things in motion like the clouds, ☁️ will I imagine, coming through, the windshield of life?!
Free Peace to turn off and tune-out the daily news and the daily do’s, in the windshield of life.
Free to speak my mind! Free to be silent, quiet and still! Free to hear and to listen and to take heed of common sense, my own inspiration, or that still small voice of God, which draws near to, the windshield of my life!
Free to Resolve and Move On, into the future that’s seen in, the windshield of life, before your eyes.
Free Adventure! What new or old things in new ways will find me, in the windshield of life?!
Free Expectation! To bond with those who really matter that you are with and to bond with those who really matter that you are traveling to see. Their faces and lives seem to be, all superimposed, on the windshield of life.
Free Control! Free to the things you can control and free to change with what you cannot, in the windshield of life.
Free in the USA! 🇺🇸 There are no border guards from state to state, checking papers, no ID required to show; no purpose of your travel to declare or how long you will stay. None of these are seen nor demanded, in the windshield of life.
Free to Be! None to care, or ask, criticize or condemn me, for what I believe or don’t, in the windshield of my life!
Free to change! Free to take an exit and get off my planned trip to, whatever attracts me; calls out to me, from the windshield of my life!
Free adventure! While the destination is purposed, planned and important, the journey Is equally important and it builds the excitement after every mile in getting closer, in the windshield of life.
The costs paid then or now, cannot even begin to compare with the graces of the journey and the joys at the destination!
Free New! Free new of those things and friends I have not yet met, and free new news, of those friends and family, I have not seen in a time or a long time or a very, very long time!
Free Thanks!🙏 How apropos, with Thanksgiving coming and towards Thanksgiving I am preparing to be going, through the windshield of life. There is always something(s) and someone(s) to be thankful for!
Not much may be free anymore and not much freedom perhaps? But there’s still Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness, and we are still FREE to experience these, from the Windshields of Our Lives!!!
It is about time for some Steppenwolf, “Born to Be Wild”, some John Barry, “Born Free”, and some Willy Nelson, “On the Road Again”!!!
I’ll not be posting on FB (Facebook) or Twitter until perhaps, after 11/26/2018? But Until We Meet again, I would you each and all, a Very Happy Thanksgiving!🦃 I would for you each and all, a wonderful road trip from the windshield of your life, even if it is just, from the windshield of your mind and heart!
Live FREE at—
The Windshield!!!
I leave you now with a big and hearty; warm and friendly, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans—
“Happy Trails…Til’ We Meet Again!!!” 🙂
From the Windshield of My Life at— The Gathering Place,
gatheringplace.blog 