Souper Croutons To Top Them All

Instructions

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   herbs of choice fresh ground pepper Toss bread in plastic bag with garlic, herbs and pepper. Saute in olive oil. Remove from heat and dust with Parmesan cheese while still hot. Spread in single layer on baking sheet to cool and crisp. Serve in side dish with soups and salads See also: Bulllwinkle and Boris’ Borscht Hearty Fish Soup (Greek) South of France Fish Soup

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   Holiday Memories I have to admit to being real goofy about Christmas. Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve always loved the festivities of preparing for the Holiday Season. And decorating the Inn is one of the best times of the year, in anticipation of guests joining us for the festivities. The main hall is one of the most important rooms in the Inn, and yet we seem to use it more in the Winter than at any other time of the year, probably because of the large stone hearth on the North wall. The previous owners had covered in all of the fireplaces in the Inn and had used them only as decor to hold planters of ferns. We felt that such beautiful cozy fireplaces should be used so we opened them up again. In front of the fire sits one of our first, and favorite, antique purchases, a coffee table made from a well-used farm sleigh. My father recalled using just such a sleigh to haul logs from the woods in the Winter to heat the my great-grandmother’s farmhouse. It still has its original steel runners and the wood struts have been refinished to a mellow dark wheat sheen. A modern top of half–inch thick plate glass has been added, so you can still see the whole frame and the Axminster carpet below. On either side of the fireplace are matching Hunter Green sofas and green–and–gold striped wingbacked chairs. I have to admit I chose the Hunter Green decor especially because I love how it looks at Christmas when we add pine boughs, red bows, and all the red, green and gold trimmings we’ve collected over the years. In an alcove behind one sofa we put up the tree. For years we’ve collected tree ornaments from around the country. All old-fashioned, Currier-and-Ives looking, and nostalgic. We try to find ornaments that are made from wood or cloth, and that enhance a remembrance of Christmas past, Christmas of our childhood. The main hall is really important to us for another reason. Michael and I married just before Christmas one year, and moved immediately into a large, empty house. We had nothing in those first days and months except a big house with wood floors, a fireplace and a few boxes of stuff. Our bed was borrowed twin beds that sat in a corner of the living room. We went out and bought a barbecue so we could cook our first Christmas turkey.

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   But we had a tree. Our first tree. It had only one set of lights, a few ornaments and I made popcorn “snow” for the branches. But on Christmas Eve, we lit the fire and put our sleeping bag and blankets on the floor beneath the tree and slept on the floor that night. We kept the fire going all night and the tree lights on. We lay there watching the shadows flicker around the bare walls and wondered how we would ever fill up the big empty house. Four years later, the house was so full we started having “yard sales” to eliminate the obsessive clutter! In the morning we drank eggnog for breakfast and opened our presents. Michael gave me a bird feeder and some Classical music tapes to replace the ones I had lost. I gave him warm gloves and underwear. He’s the romantic, obviously! We’ve slept on the floor in front of a fireplace every Christmas Eve since then. Even the year we were 9½ months pregnant and had just hosted a Christmas Eve dinner party. The guests went home, the furniture was pushed back and down went the quilts...and the three cats...and the dog...and us, Michael, me, and what was to become our son, Geoffrey. Christmas Eve is also when I decide what to add to my Christmas quilt. I have a quilt that will take me twenty-five years to complete. It has twenty-five Christmas wreaths on it and in the center of each wreath I embroider something that represents a significant event for the year. The first was the year we married, so naturally our wedding rings are entwined with the date. I’ve also added decals and embellishments that are mementos of meaningful events, like teddy bears and baby blocks on the wreath for the year Geoffie was born. Christmas Eve is the time when we talk over the past year, and remember. It’s when we look forward to the coming year and a shiny new future. 2 cups onions, chopped 2 cups celery, chopped 1 apple or pear 1 clove garlic, minced 3/4 cup butter

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   4 tsp. sage 1 tsp. marjoram 1 tsp. thyme 1 tsp. savory 1/2 tsp. ginger 14 cups torn bread pieces 1/2 cup walnuts 1/2 cup currants, raisins, dates, prunes or dried apricots 1 cup fresh parsley, chopped 1 cup chicken stock or apple cider Heat butter over medium heat. Add onion, celery, garlic, apple, marjoram, thyme, savory and ginger. Cook for 15 minutes, stirring frequently until tender. Combine bread, nuts, dried fruit, parsley and onion mixture. Season with salt and fresh ground pepper to taste. Toss with chicken stock to slightly moisten if necessary. Normally a turkey will hold around 1/2 cup of stuffing per pound of bird. Don’t pack it in too tightly or the stuffing will come out dense and soggy. No matter what you do, you always seem to be left with too much stuffing for the turkey. Place the rest in a lightly greased casserole, sprinkle with water (or wine) and cover. Place in oven along with turkey for the last 45 minutes cooking time and you will have extra stuffing for dinner or for adding to turkey sandwiches the next day. Spinach and Rice Stuffing