Super Fine Menu at Season 4 Arrested Development Party.

Deviled Eggs
Pulled Chicken Sandwiches topped with Lime Cilantro Cole Slaw 
Strawberry Basil Lemonade
Chocolate Covered Frozen Bananas
Strawberry Shortcake

Lime Cilantro Cole Slaw
Grate or fine chop together: 1/2 head of cabbage; 2 carrots; 1 red onion; 
1 big jalapeno, seeded.
Add juice of 1 1/2 limes; 3/4 Giant Eagle package of cilantro; 1 Tbsp olive oil; a sploosh of cider vinegar; 
a little bit of minced garlic; S&P; and
1 tsp sugar. Mix. 
Adjust seasonings to taste.

Strawberry Basil Lemonade
Simmer 6 minutes: 1 C water; 
2 C fresh lemon juice; 1 C sugar; 
1 lb. strawberries, sliced; 
1 Giant Eagle container of basil, rough chopped. Let brew 5 minutes. 
Strain into pitcher.
Add 10 - 12 C cold water. Stir. 
Serve over rocks in a tall glass 
with 1 shot vodka and seltzer to fill.
Decorate glass with lime slice, strawberries, and a couple of whole basil leaves.



Everything was so tasty.
Bethany Jo Trenk is an amazing cook.

Peep Vodka = Bad Idea

For some reason, Peep vodka seemed like a good idea.

It wasn't.

We can't be held completely to blame for not realizing, as we were mislead by this article.  The article doesn't really say that Peep vodka is awesome but it makes it sound fun and springy and happy.

Initially, we were excited about the process:

The peep jars were kinda cute, kinda creepy.... Peter Cottontail meets Nightmare Before Christmas.

After a few days, most of the color (and some of the peep eye spots) had dissolved.  The peeps themselves molded together into a squishy, jiggly mess.

Unfortunately, the peep goo was the best-tasting result of this experiment.  Somehow, the addition of color, sugar and marshmallow flavoring actually made the semi-cheap vodka that we started with taste even worse.  It made us feel like this:

Grapefruit Mimosas

Pirogi's Grapefruit Mimosas
Add 1/4 cup champagne and 1 oz triple sec to a medium wine glass with ice.  Top with grapefruit juice.

Happy New Year!

Derby!

Now, you might think that the Kentucky Derby is an event celebrated only by those in the South, those interested in horses or gambling, or those with TVs who can actually watch the event. But you would be wrong! Derby Day can and should be celebrated by anyone with a love of goofy hats or delicious minty cocktails.

To the left you will see an example of an acceptable hat for Derby Day celebrations.

Now, when Pirogi and I do celebrations, we generally have to go all out--make a day of it. We also needed to clean out my fridge, which had an inordinate amount of meat in it. Normally, I buy/eat meat once or twice a week. In my fridge, I had chicken, kielbasa, steak, and bacon. The bacon and steak were both from farms near where Pirogi's parents live and pretty delicious.

So, Derby Day began with a proper breakfast.

French toast with strawberries, bacon, pineapple, coffee. I have never succeeded at making french toast before, so this was super exciting.

Dinner was barbecue chicken,
asparagus, onion, and biscuits. But, of course, the highlight of the evening, the entire reason for Derby Day (besides the horses, I suppose) was the mint juleps.

First step: minty syrup (my job)
1 cup white sugar
1 cup water
1/4 cup chopped mint

Boil until sugar is completely dissolved, then remove from heat and let steep for 1 hour. Strain and cool.

Second step (Pirogi's job)
bourbon
mint syrup
Mix and serve over crushed ice with mint sprig garnish.

Chester P. Greenwood and Milk Punch

Yesterday was a day of celebration in Farmington, ME: Chester P. Greenwood Day, celebrated yearly on the first Saturday of December. This year, C.P.G. Day also happens to fall on Chester's birthday (born in December 4, 1858).

Chester famously invented earmuffs while breaking in a new pair of ice skates. He got sick of his ears freezing in the bitter wind, and after little success with wrapping a scarf around his head he had his grandmother sew some wool to ear-sized wire loops.

Greenwood's Champion Ear Protectors were worn by U.S. soldiers in World War I, making them Chester's most famous invention, but he also patented a whistling tea kettle, a steel-toothed leaf rake, an advertising matchbox, and a machine for making wooden thread spools.

The most important aspect of the Chester Greenwood Day celebrations is always the parade. Everyone wears earmuffs, what could be better? A few highlights from this year's parade, in order of appearance: