Holiday Spirit | Florida Keys Girl

I’m Back… and the July 4 Recap

By FL Keys Girl, on July 11th, 2012%

Did you miss not seeing a post on Monday? Sorry about that. I had some technical difficulties. (Of course, by “technical difficulties” I mean “had a nasty spill all over my laptop and was awaiting a new one. Fortunately had a Square Trade warranty to cover my stupidity.”) At any rate, I am back and happy to be recapping the 4th of July. Continue reading I’m Back… and the July 4 Recap

The Passover Seder

By FL Keys Girl, on April 9th, 2012%

The Seder Plate (after the charoset has been eaten)

I think this post should really be titled “Just Because We Aren’t Eating Bread Doesn’t Mean We Are Feeling Our Ancestors Pain“. The Passover Seders are probably the two meals a year that require the most preparation. The cleaning, the shopping, the cooking. It all sounds like a normal meal until you take into account that when it is all kosher it becomes infinitely more work, and more expensive. Fortunately, we go to family for these big meals, so I exert none of the effort, yet reap all of the benefits. Continue reading The Passover Seder

Thanksgiving: The Photos

By FL Keys Girl, on November 25th, 2011%

As promised, here is a recap of the great meal we had last night. The food was delicious, the company superb and the best part? Not tons of leftovers.

Florida Keys Guy shows off mad turkey carving skills.

After.

Guacamole… not so traditional, but delicious. And with multi-color chips. Racial harmony in the chip basket. . . . → Read More: Thanksgiving: The Photos

Happy Thanksgiving

By FL Keys Girl, on November 23rd, 2011%

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, a time to reflect, to gather with family and to eat. Some people watch football, too, but I will pass on that particular tradition. Tomorrow evening will bring twenty people to my house for an assortment of good eats. The menu includes:

To start we will have potato knishes, pigs (really kosher hot dogs) . . . → Read More: Happy Thanksgiving

If Only Flying Were Still Fun

By FL Keys Girl, on April 22nd, 2011%

Airlines have made flying unpleasant. From the climbing ticket prices to the nickel-and-diming (Spirit is charging for carry-on luggage now), it all just makes you want to jump into your car and drive. I often have clients ask if a particular airline is “good”. Here is what I tell them: Any airline is good if your flight is on time, but you will be highly annoyed by even the best if you are delayed. Continue reading If Only Flying Were Still Fun

Happy Passover, Happy Easter

By FL Keys Girl, on April 18th, 2011%

Tonight begins Passover, the annual celebration of the Jewish people’s exodus from Egypt. We have two seders, or as I like to call them, “The big meal”. Family and friends gather (fortunately not at my house) and eat charoset (it reminds of the mortar used in brick-building, but is presumably much tastier), horseradish root (and clear . . . → Read More: Happy Passover, Happy Easter

New Years Eve

By FL Keys Girl, on January 3rd, 2011%

Long considered amateur night, I can’t remember the last time I went out on New Years Eve. The thought of being on the street with thousands of people to watch a drag queen lowered in a shoe (although I am a bit jealous of her abs), a pirate wench lowered at the harbor or a big conch shell drop is enough to push me over the edge. I don’t like being that close to people, especially thousands of drunk people. Which is not to say that my New Years Eve is not over the top, because it always is. Continue reading New Years Eve

Christmas 2010

By FL Keys Girl, on December 27th, 2010%

As one would expect we did not have a white Christmas in Key West (fortunately), but we did have a perfect weather day with bright blue skies, no clouds and no humidity. My day started with a few sets of tennis, followed by a potluck picnic with the tennis crowd at Bayview Park. There was ham, potatoes, stuffing, salads, smoked fish and more. That is all before we got to the dessert table – multiple key lime pies, brownie cupcakes with peanut butter frosting (made by yours truly), gingerbread cake, cookies and more. FKGuy did some noshing then went back for more tennis. Me? I played tennis, worked up an appetite and never got myself back on the courts after lunch.

Continue reading Christmas 2010

Three PM

By FL Keys Girl, on December 20th, 2010%

At three o’clock on Sunday afternoons, I am often taking a nap or doing laundry. Yesterday, however, I was invited to a holiday party which started at, you guessed it, 3 PM. This progressive party started at one house where we had sangria, crab wontons and stuffed mushrooms (which were a little messy and a lot delicious). We rode our bikes a couple of blocks to the next house for some onion canapes (clearly not from the hostess’ Weight Watchers cookbook), pate and bubbly. Back on my bike for a few more blocks, we arrived at another really lovely home where we indulged in stinky cheese – I’ve never met a stinky cheese I didn’t like – and several glasses of Quinta do Crasto Touriga Nacional. Continue reading Three PM

Tis the Season

By FL Keys Girl, on December 8th, 2010%

I have a love-hate relationship with the entire month of December. I love celebrating my birthday (December 24). I love that there are a million things to do and events to attend. I love baking cookies and boxing them up for family, friends and clients as if they were an extravagant gift. However, I hate the pressure of making 1,000 perfect cookies. FKGuy is not a big fan of assembling said boxes, either. I hate the guilt of not going to certain parties. So, what’s a person to do? Continue reading Tis the Season