In Italian-American families, many celebrate Christmas Eve with the Feast of the Seven Fishes.  Their dinners would include fish in a variety of courses and recipes.  One could have antipasta, soup, salad, and main courses  consisting of multiple dishes containing fish.

I am not Italian, but I was reminded of this Christmas tradition when I served smoked salmon jerky  for lunch and remembered that I was frying fish for dinner tonight.  Fish with chips (french fried potatoes) with peas are a popular English meal.

 

I have always wondered what a “rasher” of bacon was.  I didn’t know if it was a single slice, a serving (2-3 slices) or a whole pan.  Bacon was never referred to in these terms in the time and place where I grew up, so when I heard the term in popular culture or in cooking references (I love to read cookbooks) I really didn’t know what it meant.

A rasher of bacon (orig. English) is either a single slice of bacon or a serving (2-3 slices).  Both definitions are commonly used in England and Ireland.  The word is thought to come from an old word “rash” meaning slice.  It makes sense to me!

So if I ever visit England or Ireland, I will probably not order a “rasher” of bacon- I’ll just say bring me lots!

 

It is not the same, waving a paper tissue as a bon voyage.  I am going to add to my Miss Marple lifestyle experiment and start carrying a proper fabric handkerchief.

I imagine one would need a fair supply of these dainties, in order to have one constantly clean and ready for use.  I draw the line at reusing germy ones.  Where do I put a used one until I get home to launder it?  You fold it so the used part is wadded into the middle!

I will definitely need to purchase more than the two hankies that I do own, I see.  I think I would buy white cotton ones that can be bleached.

 

I did receive the wool cloche that I ordered before Christmas.  I made several discoveries after wearing it for the first few times.   The first discovery was how important the size of the hat is.  In everyday America, I think I can safely say that the baseball cap is the “National Hat.”  It is usually size adjustable, washable, and easy to store.

Felted wool hats are usually not size adjustable, although my particular one is.  They must be ordered by head size, which require the use of a sizing chart.  Wool hats are not washable- they must be tidied with a dry brush and must be air dried thoroughly if gotten wet.  It is also designed to maintain a particular shape- not crumpled or stuffed into a coat pocket.   Yes- this hat is a lot of trouble !

What to do with the hat when not wearing it is another dilemma.  One choice is to wear it all the time- in the shops, at a restaurant, at a piano recital, etc.  But wool hats are hot when worn indoors.  If I take it off- where do I place it?  My only choice for said restaurant and recital was to keep it on my lap the whole time.  Most places no longer have coat/hat checks as in the past.

When arriving home, the hat must be stored somewhere where it will not get dusty (or covered with cat fur), not be crushed, and in a dry place.  So now I must decide on a hat box, a hat brush, acid free  tissue paper to help it dry and keep its shape, and possibly a hat pin or two!

I am running late already this year!  Twelfth night was Friday night, the “twelfth day of Christmas”, when the greens are taken down (traditionally burned in a bonfire).

I have not started taking down Christmas and am not in a particular hurry to do so.  This Christmas was very special to my family and myself because exactly 1 year ago I was diagnosed with Leukemia and spent a month in the hospital- Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, etc.   Having my house full of the regalia of Christmas will forever remind me of that time and how my family went above and beyond to bring happiness  to me in the scariest ward of a hospital.

So don’t mind me if I enjoy my Fifteenth Night or even longer!  I will, of course, make a cake and bake a bean in it- whoever gets the piece with the bean will be the “King or Queen of the Bean,” and will be boss for the day!

 

I stopped into a shop in the next town over, and discovered that they sell crumpets!

I’ve never eaten a crumpet, but I did know they are cousins to the English Muffin.  I grew up eating english muffins – my favorite was cinnamon and raisin.  I loved way the butter melted into the little holes that appeared after it was split.

Crumpets are a lighter texture due to being made with yeast, and have one side toasted and the nooks and crannies are on the top.  Of course, they can be  topped with all manner of goodies like butter and jam, devonshire cream, honey, and more.

I must get a set of muffin rings and try my hand at this English treat.

 

 

I am a big fan of soup.  It is wonderful on a cold day, and simmering it for hours on the stove heats the kitchen, too.

Making vegetable soup is easy if you have leftover or surplus vegetables.  I make mine tomato juice based due to a vegetarian in the family, but beef or chicken broth is also good.    I don’t follow a recipe and it’s always good.

Hot toasted cheese sandwiches or even cheese and crackers are great served with this soup.   I have plenty of pecans left over from Christmas baking, so I might make a pecan pie.

 

Today I visited my father and we took time to look at old family pictures.

We saw a Christmas picture taken at his grandparents and noted a large wood console radio in the background.  Dad stated that he actually had that very radio in storage!

It will be fun to talk to him some more about it- and maybe this spring dig through his stored memories and see it for myself..

Yes, that is my dad with his cute smile in the picture!

 

In my mind, Miss Marple is sitting in a wing chair by the fire, no doubt wrapped in a wooly cardy and shawl, covered with a lap robe and drinking hot tea.

Perhaps her bed is already warming with a hot water bottle and a feather bed in place.

Like Miss Marple, I am readying myself for a cold winter’s night- the windchill where I live is -17 Fahrenheit.  A cup or two of hot tea is in order and then to bed between flannel sheets and to read a good book.  Currently hubby and I are reading They Came to Baghdad (of course, written by Agatha Christie).

In the book What Mrs. McGillicuddy saw, Miss Marple calms down her friend Elsbeth after she witnesses a murder.  The logical thing for Miss Marple to do is to ply her friend with homemade cowslip wine in old Waterford glasses.

I like Waterford crystal (and own a few bits), so I investigated and discovered that the “old Waterford glasses” of Miss Marple’s era were Extremely Old.  Waterford had a 100 year hiatus in manufacturing starting in 1851, so her glasses, noted as being old, were dated prior to this time!

I think this was an exciting little adventure, and I almost forgot that Miss Marple wasn’t real.