Good Thursday...
SO, we figured we would kill two birds with one stone and turn the THURSDAY THIRTEEN into my "What THE COUCH Did Over The Holiday Week" Post.
SO, without further ado....Let's crank up the music and jump right in...
- Arrived at mom and dad's (aka Joan & Vince) in Florida at about 12:30 on Thursday morning after an uneventful flight.
- Picked up Matt & Allyson at the airport later that day.
- Aunt Adele and Ruby came over for dinner on Thursday...mom made excellent Veal Stew
Italian bread and wine.
Dessert was...oh my goodness yummmmy Pignoli Cookies
and Sesame Cookies
for dessert. - On Friday we all climbed in the car and drove over to A1A. Stopped at the beach and I got to stand there for about 20 minutes, my eyes closed listening to the waves and the wind; breathing in the salt air. Could have stayed there for hours.
- Went to the CityPlace in West Palm Beach. This is one of those shopping/restaurant/residence areas that are cropping up all over the country.
- That night we went out to dinner at the Atlantis Grill. I opened the menu and my choice was made. I don't eat it often but the Calves Liver with bacon and onions and mashed potatoes was staring at me... Man it was excellent
- Christmas Eve helped with dinner...shucked 3 dozen clams, and ended up with a couple of blisters...outta shucking shape!
- Parents had invited two couples they are frends with. Reat nice people. We had cocktails and then sat down for dinner...First course, baked clams
then Mussels Fra Diavolo
(with hard bisquits you put into the gravy and let them soak and get soft and oh my....yum), then Linguine with clam sauce
then stuffed calamari 
and a shrimp dish.
One of the couples brought a great salad 
with blue cheese dressing and of course some nice crunchy Italian bread.
I was about to get up and bread and fry the Grouper and Flounder when everyone surrendered. Of course, there was wine!
So we never even ate that. The dessert, more of the cookies, homemade Cheese cake
and homemade cookies that came with our guests. - Christmas morning we all woke up and decided to eat breakfast before we opened presents. A real "adult Christmas". Homemade French Toast with the leftover Italian bread.
- I wrapped all the fish for mom and kept kidding that if she had a Vacuum Sealer it would be better - running joke, dad bought one for her a few years ago and she said she would not use it so it went back. Then I went online and found the Vacuum sealer for dad...he told mom he was getting one and he would use to, since so many things in their freezer has freezer burn.
- Cousin Denise and Steve came over for dinner. Antipasto
with salami and prosciutto and olives and cheese and homemade roasted red peppers and artichoke hearts and anchovies...my favorite thing to do is take a slice of genoa salami, put a roasted red pepper in the center and then on or two anchovie filets. Roll it up and OH heavenly! Then we have a teriffic tenderloin 
with horseradish sauce and Potato Gateu (mashed potatoes with ricotta cheese and mozzerella cheese and romano cheese and topped with bread crumbs) 
and bread and a great salad Denise brought 
and asparagus and wine
. Dessert was the cheese cake and cookies and espresso and sambuca... ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh watching football and enjoying family. - Tuesday morning, dad and I went to the Boynton Beach mall to exchange my gift they gave me. It was too tight (funny that!). Two days before someone had been killed at the mall. I told dad if I got killed I would not forgive him. He said well i would be dead, so i said I would come back and haunt him. his response "You have been haunting me for years!" bwahahahahahahaha he is one funny guy!
- They took me to the airport. My flight was late arriving and late leaving. When we landed in Atlanta, I had 10-minutes to get from Gate B17 to A28. That involves going down a 2+ story escalator (why doesn't anyone walk on an escalator!),
a 350 yard sprint to the up escalator and then a hustle to the gate, where the door was closed and no gate agent visible. Then a crew member comes with his little snack...no, he can't let me on but will send the gate agent up. Stand and wait a few minutes getting nervous. Then the door opens and gate agent lets me on. Sweating, huffing I jog down ramp and find my seat. Cellphone is in my hand and flight attendant comes over and says "You can make a quick call, we heard we were trying to wait for a runner." She was very nice the whole flight coming over to joke about my "OJ through the airport!" Landed and ...you guessed it...
checked bag is not there!
So, anything strange happen on your holiday?
All in all.. had a great time visiting with mom and dad, getting to see Aunt Adele and cousin Denise and Steve and spending time with Matt and Allyson.
And hey dad... 6 days and we were still talking! LOL Love you and mom both ... thanks for making it happen!
St. J - P.B.U.A.B.W.A.BLight A Candle For The Innocent Victims Of Online Child Pornography HEREFIND AN OPPORTUNITY TO PAY IT FORWARD
Remember .. Nets For Malaria - UNFoundation.org/malaria - find the big SI's Nothing But Net logo ... Or call 202.887.9040. Every cent goes to buying nets to place over the beds of children in Africa to stomp out Malaria. PLEASE HELP.
Keep that spark of insanity kids...It helps keep you an individual.
SONG INDEX: Source: ALLMUSIC.COM
FAMILY: Composer: Frankie Beverly
Oh my the food!
My holiday was fantastic. Luckily no airports were involved.
Welcome home!
My god, I haven't seen that much food since my parents were alive and we would gather for Indonesian food fests/feasts.
As we say in our family, "Smakelijk eten!"
Sounds like you had a wonderful time. So glad your bag showed up -- in one piece no less!
Sounds like you had a lovely time. Beach time ... wonderful. Did it feel good?
It's criminal how hungry you just made me! :P Sounds like you had a wonderful time! :)
Delicioso Bond, now I'm salivating...really enjoyed the food pics and descriptions!
So sweet of you to thank your parents, I see the apple doesn't fall from the tree!
I'm so happy you got your luggage back!!
Kisses
Tisha
LOL--Your parents' place is near my Aunt TL's place in Boynton Beach!! LOL
Awesome food Bond. No wonder the gift was 'tight'.
did you find time to eat????
:)
*D*A*M*M*D*I*A*N*A*R*A*T*
MY NAME IN LIGHTS!!!!
:( or as close as i'll get.
Double D Rules!
Great TT
Happy New Year
An authentic Italian-American Christmas! Woooo!
Busy week! Lots and lots of food! :) Sounds like a good holiday, except for the sprint through the airport and the late luggage!
Wow - sounds like a hell of a feast!! Sounds like my place too - nutting like good seafood on Christmas eve (those mussles fa diavolo look fantastic - can I get the recipe? Dad's is getting OLD).
Glad to hear you had a great holiday.
Be safe over New Years ok?
Oh, man, you're killing me with all that delicious food! Happy TT and Happy New Year!
Joely
p.s. the canadian judge is on the take
What a YUMMMY holiday!!! That's what I love best about visiting the coasts...the seafood. Sooooo good. (I know you didn't eat ALL seafood, but that's still the best part)
I wish I lived closer to the beach. It's so relaxing.
My 13 are up. I moved my blog so this is the first 13 in my new digs.
Sounds like you had a great holiday. I feel stuffed and exhausted after reading about it. LOL :-)
Veal Stew, the Beach, wine and dessert - heaven!! Sounds like you had a great time sweetie. HSGR!
Sounds like you had an awesome week! So, how do we arrange to have you and yours cook for us?
TRAV: THAT is my family.. and we are not "large" folk!
SONGBIRD: Family joke is when we are away, as we are eating breakfast we decide what to eat for lunch and dinner!
COCO: Short ... but felt great...
TIGERPRR: The door is always open... I love to cook for people.
TISHA: ooooooooo you said salivate!
hehehhe
TURN: Snarky comments allowed today!
DAMM: We squeezed in the meals! LOL
MAGGIE: Same to you.
BUSY: Yup food, some food and more food.
CAYLYNN: Not my first sprint... thankfully I did not drop from a heart attack!
ANGELL: It is all in the gravy... will send it to you dear. I can eat that all year long.
JOELY: I had fun putting this one together...
DAMM: get over it ..and notice, we did not have DUCK L'ORANGE but we could!
CHICKADEE: Yes, I wish i could have eaten the shrimp...yummm and mom did not make lobster for fear of cross-contamination, but I told her I cook it for others...
TWYLA: I did.. and so glad you did also.
MARY: Come to memphis.. i will make oyu the Veal Stew... so yummmmy
SHE; Two choices.. come to memphis and i will cook up a storm.. or fly me to your home, first class...
Well cousin the only thing perhaps better than the food was seeing you. It is far to long between visits. I do hope one day we all live closer. I regret not having that much time to spend with you but I did get to see Matt and Ally again so that was great. Wow how Matt has grown like a weed. He is also so handsom no surprise their.Keep up the good work you have raised a great young man. Keep in touch cousin.
Glad you enjoyed your time with the ones you love dear. It is precious.
Wear gloves to shuck next time...
So relieved about your luggage.. cause you know how I feel about luggage..
TT is up.. yes.. you've created a monster.. LOL!!!
*snarf* OJ..
*Duckie...Follow the rules you big POUSSIN!*
I have done that sprint in Hartsfield!
Calamari AND Cheesecake? You are a lucky man.
Dang, now I am hungry....
Sounds like you had a great Christmas with friends and family!
Happy New Year!!
Okay, you guys put pictures up of all these rich foods. I have to go hit the gym just looking at the pictures!
Wooooooooooooooooooooo! Glad you had a great Christmas! I'm also glad you managed to survive the sprint across the airport...especially after you stuffed yourself like the Christmas goose! LOL Death by gluttony! What a concept! LOL
Um, liver and shellfish???? Eeeeeeeew!!!! Me no likee liver or shellfish! You can have it all! LOL
darn canadian can't tell the difference between a chicken and a duck....
That sounds lovely - YUM YUM YUM. If I wasn't already groaning having stuffed myself with Mum & Dad's food I'd be salivating all over.
Thank you for the hug. Much appreciated x
All the food is getting me hungry, it looks delicious! Sounds like you had a great holiday week. All the best for you and yours for the new year!
My TT is about my new year's resolutions.
Bond-
It did not work out with Bud & I. Your blog made me sooooo hungry. Perhaps we can share 13 meals?
Yours,
Debbie0415
COUSIN: IT WAS tremendous seeing you and Steve and yes, you are correct...much too long. Love you.
ANNDI: I almost cursed the luggage gods butthought that might offend you!
STARRLIGHT: NEVER want to do it again... ugh.. two of my favs also...
SOBEIT: TY and welcome to THE COUCH
DIANA: HA... virtual pounds... if only!
MERI: More for me then ... bwahahahahahahaha
DAMM: You two wanna take it outside.... LOL
TC: HA another one stuffing themselves! I hope all worked out today.
TINK: I certainly did... thanks for coming by again.
DEBBIE: huh? wha? Ummm.. Bud you got some 'splainin' to do....
Sounds like you were busy!
My TT13 is up :)
well fancy that bond. we live in west palm beach and i can see city place from my terrace! wish i had known you were coming! bee and the old sarge....
TEENA: Thanks for stopping by....
EMPRESS: Ah ha.... Well next time I will remember and let you know...
Wow! Maybe that run through the airport burned off all the calories that you consumed!
Sounds like a wonderful time, Vinny!
What? You were right here in the Sunshine State and didn't even pop up to my island? (smile)
Sounds like you had a great time with your parents and relatives. And the food....whew! But I imagine that jaunt through the airport took care of all those extra calories...lol
Wishing you a very Happy New Year and all the best in '07.
JULIE: Thanks it was
TERRI: I knew I forgot to do something!
I have to say...I normally am a well fed, culinary-satisfied being. But reading your list makes me truly jealous of your holiday feasting.
Happy TT...and Happy New Year!