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NYC – day 3

So very cold today – a high of 39 – with a strong wind. Perfect for a ferry ride to Liberty Island – NOT.

Great view of Lady Liberty as we approached.

Looking back at Manhattan, New Jersey buildings are just behind Lady Liberty.

The museum was very good.

Next stop, Ellis Island.

On the way back to the hotel, we took FDR Dr.

Our evening activities included a subway ride to Greenwich Village,

a walking tour,

dinner at Pesce Pasta (yum),

a stop at Murray’s Cheese Shop – Curt was our very entertaining tour guide –

and cannoli at Rocco’s for dessert.

There was more sightseeing as we headed back to the subway.

After the tour, we went to the Top of the Rock which was just a few blocks from our hotel.

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NYC – day 2

Breakfast at The Red Flame Diner.

A stop at Central Park near Strawberry Fields where two guys were singing Beatles songs.

On to Grand Central Station.

During our free time in the afternoon, we went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Dinner at Churrascaria Plataforma – a Brazilian restaurant where you start with various salads and sides from a buffet. Then come “the meats” threaded onto skewers and sliced off. Here the server is handing Kathy her tongs to grab the slice as the server finishes. There were about 6 different meats: sausages, chicken, and several cuts of beef.

After dinner, we walked to Radio City Music Hall to see the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular: 36 Rockettes plus a cast of 140, three real camels, several sheep and a donkey. It was spectacular. Chandelier in the lobby:

A 6000-seat theater:

Long day. We are all quite tired, especially our feet.

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NYC – day 1

Thank you Kathy, Linda and Ann for indulging me and going to my #1 place to shop: Mood Fabrics:

We walked to Bryant Park:

The gold-lit swags and lights were much more dramatic than this picture:

St Peter’s Cathedral:

A long back to Macy’s but so worth it. Nothing like the Macy’s in Sacramento area:

Rockefeller Center:

Lots of walking today – just shy of 20,000 steps. My feet hurt.

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Food prep

My focus for at least the past two weeks has been getting ready for two big food events. Thanksgiving: mashed potato casserole and 3 dozen from-scratch rustic dinner rolls. One week later: the 4th annual Bicycle Interest Group party. I enjoy making all the food and choose things that can be made ahead.

The savories: pineapple cheese ball, toasted walnut hummus, curried white bean dip,

ham and green chile mini-quiches and artichoke nibbles.

The sweets. Candied walnuts: Mexican mocha and orange brandy. Cookies: German walnut shortbread, maple walnut, espresso walnut shortbread.

On the day of the party, I only reheated two items. And .. “thank you” to all the people who have told me they like seeing food pictures.

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Walnuts stored

I went out to Justin’s to sort through the last two 55-gallon barrels of walnuts that Justin picked up before the recent rainstorms. I ended up with 16 bags in my car ..

which were added to the rest already stored.

Lots of cracking and shelling ahead.

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Thanksgiving

at Thais and Lenin’s.

I laughed when I heard several of the boys say the mashed potatoes (my contribution) was a favorite. Amazing what butter, cream cheese, and sour cream can do to a simple potato. And Thais make the best BLT salad – everything from scratch.