SUNDAYS WITH CELIA VOL 71
Hello and welcome to Sundays With Celia Vol 71. Thanks for taking the time to stop in on this Sunday before Christmas, which has got to be a busy day for you.
The photo above put a big smile on my face when my daughter-in-law texted it to me earlier in the week. It’s a photo of my grandson trying on his new Straw-Glasses. He received them that day as his gift in the 12 Days of Christmas Countdown Calendar I sent to him and his sister.
It was a good week for this little guy, who got to have his daddy come to his PreK class and teach the kids how to make homemade ravioli.
Looking Back on Sunday
Have you finished your holiday shopping? If not my post this week offers up some great last minute gift ideas for the new parents or young children you may have in your life.
A Chorus of Music on Sunday
To get you in the holiday spirit I thought I’d share this lovely video of the U.S. Air Force Band singing the beautiful song, “One Voice”, inside the stunning Washington National Cathedral. I can’t believe what an incredible voice the soloist in the beginning has. It’s an important reminder that together we can create a better world. Watch until the end as one voice becomes a chorus of voices.
Becoming A Better Cook on Sunday
I’ve always said that cooking is a science and unless you approach it that way you will never be a good cook. Last Sunday I shared with you about a dinner party I had, when my friend and winemaker from Sycamore Winery came over for dinner with his sweet wife. He loved what I prepared and talked to me a lot about the basic nuances of the flavors of my food. He noticed how the balsamic vinegar upped the flavor profile in the soup I prepared. He noticed how just the right amount of seasoning in the Shepard’s Pie made it delicious. And, he even mentioned how the salt he could taste in the chocolate frosting of my Yule Log desert provided a perfect flavor balance. Who does that? Well, good wine makers do, and good chefs especially do, like the one I’m going to tell you about now.
You see, while on our recent trip to New York, my son & daughter-in-law told me about a Netflix show I had heard about but had not yet watched. They said I just had to watch Salt, Fat, Acid & Heat. It’s a 4 part series based on Samin Nosrat’s best-selling book, Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat, which is the essential guide to the 4 basic elements of good cooking. In the series Samin travels to home kitchens in northern Italy. She then goes to the southern islands of Japan, and then to the heat of the Yucatán in Mexico. Finally she returns back to Berkeley’s restaurant Chez Panisse, where she started her culinary career, to explore the central principles of what makes food delicious. She does it all in a sweet, folksy, unintimidating way that demystifies the science of cooking. I really enjoyed the series.
And I have just ordered her cookbook, which they say is destined to be a classic, and just might be the last cookbook one will ever need. She is being called, “America’s next great cooking teacher,” as her cookbook has become a New York Times Bestseller, and Winner of the 2018 James Beard Award for Best General Cookbook. I can’t wait until it arrives!
Here’s the trailer to her 4-part Netflix show…
A Little Winter Music on Sunday
I like to listen to NPR Radio when I’m driving, as I find its programing educational and interesting. Last week I had a long, 1.5 hour drive home from The OC, but was fortunate enough to be treated to a wonderful concert on NPR. It was a concert by acclaimed saxophonist, Paul Winter, who every year since 1980 has brought musicians from around the world together for his Winter Solstice Celebration. It’s a festive performance marking the passing of the longest night of the year and then the return of the sun. The annual concert draws thousands of visitors to the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in NYC. The concert was simply divine and was a wonderful way to spend a long drive in holiday traffic. If I lived near NYC I’d make it a tradition to go to that concert every year. But since I don’t I found last years concert on my computer and have played it while I wrap gifts. You too can listen to it by clicking below. ENJOY!
A Paul Winter Solstice Concert
Wrapping Gifts on Sunday
I take a lot of pleasure in wrapping gifts. I guess it’s the creative side that dwells in me. If you’re still working on getting your gifts wrapped I thought I’d remind you of two posts I published here in past years:
I love adding gift tie-ons to my presents too. Nice tie-ons can become a bonus gift as well. This week I wrapped a birthday gift for my friend Joy. How fortunate I was to find the perfect gift tie-on for this Christmas Birthday Girl.
I hope you enjoy a wonderful Christmas. Wishing you much love and happiness. I am grateful to you for following along here and thank you for another year together.
So there you have it: SUNDAYS WITH CELIA VOL 71
Happy Holidays!
Thanks so much for dropping in!
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All opinions expressed in this post are my own. Unless otherwise noted, all photos are the original property of Celia Becker @ www.AfterOrangeCounty.com and may not be reproduced without specific permission. This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. It’s what helps to make this blog possible. Thanks so much for your support.
