I've never been a fan of stews. Over my lifetime I've occasionally had a stew that was delicious. But typically, I'm just not a fan of the flavor. I never knew what the difference in flavor was and I never thought to ask. Now I believe that I know the answer: Herbes de Provence! I am a fan of Herbes de Provence.
What is Herbes de Provence?
I'd never heard of that seasoning blend until recently. While searching for a recipe for venison stew I found a young lady that uses Herbes de Provence in her recipe. I listened to why she recommended it and I looked it up.
Herbes de Provence is a blend of herbs that were used in the Southeastern region of Provence France. These herbs were widely used because they were widely available in that area. The blend began to be bottled in the 1970s and became more widely available. The bottled version that I have contains:
Thyme
rosemary
basil
parsley
oregano
tarragon
marjoram
lavender flowers
I was a bit hesitant when I learned that lavender was included. In my opinion, lavender has become one of those scents and flavors that is becoming too widely used. And used with a heavy hand. But I decided to give a try just once. It turns out that the hint of lavender with the other herbs in a stew adds a wonderful flavor.
How Did I Make Delicious Tender Venison?
Venison is a very lean meat making it a healthy choice. Because it is so lean it can be overcooked and become rubbery. I have made the mistake of overcooking venison. This is why searched for tutorials on making venison stew. I wanted something other than a roast made in the crockpot and I wanted to attempt a flavorful stew.
I decided to use the recipe from Miss Allie's Kitchen, Her recipe includes venison, celery, potatoes, onions, and carrots. Her recipe is also how I heard about Herbes de Provence.
I seared the chunks of venison and removed them from the pan. I placed the other ingredients into the pan for just a bit to aid in softening them. I didn't realize that I didn't have diced tomatoes. So my first attempt did not include that ingredient but the stew turned out great despite that omission. I then removed the vegetables from the pan, added the venison back into the pan with a sprinkle of flour as other recipes suggested to thicken the stew. I added the remainer of the ingredients and closed the pressure cooker.
Because venison is so low fat, I used a small pressure cooker. I prefer a stovetop pressure cooker although my son is trying to convince me to purchase an Instapot. I am accustomed to the stovetop style pressure cooker and get good results. But there are several ways to cook this stew and you can choose what works best for you.
(note: The brand shown in the Amazon link is the brand I use and prefer. However, at the time of this writing, the product listed on Amazon is double the price of the same product in local stores)
Related Links:
Watch Miss Allie's Kitchen Classic Venison Stew video tutorial here.
Find the ingredients and Miss Allie's Kitchen written recipe here.
I recently began baking popovers which are perfect with venison stew! You can see my review of popovers here.
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On behalf of the Contributors on ReviewThisReview, we send you good wishes for a peace-filled holiday season.
It's been a challenging 2022 for many. Thus, our Christmas wish for everyone is a kinder, gentler 2023.
A quote to be guided by for the new year:
"You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete" - by Buckmister Fuller (1895-1983)
Here's to a wonderful year ahead for everyone...maybe with a helping hand...
"I believe there are angels among us, sent down to us from somewhere up above; they come to you and me, in our darkest hour, to show us how to live, to teach us how to give, to guide us with the light of love."
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This is the story of a magical baseball season with an unlikely coach in a small town in Illinois.
Synopsis
The year is 1971. The town is Macon, Illinois, a very small rural farm community in central Illinois. The team is a rag-tag high school baseball team in a school population that is so small that the boys have to play every sport in order to have enough players to make a team (football, basketball, baseball). The unlikely coach of the baseball team is the school's English teacher with no coaching expertise.
This is a charming true story of a small-town baseball team, playing in hand-me-down uniforms, who emerged from a field of 370 teams to make an improbable run to the State Final.
The boys of Macon renew our understanding of why baseball matters.
Lynn Sweet arrives in Macon in 1966. He's a long-haired hippie, a dreamer and an intellectual who brings progressive ideas to a town stuck in the 1950s. The son of a hard-driving Army Sergeant, Sweet is the opposite; fond of bucking convention and convinced the world is full of good people who occasionally have bad ideas. The students love him; the administration not so much!
Call me 'Sweet' he tells his students on the first day of school. This in a school who wants and expects proper behavior, such as calling their teachers by Mr. & Ms/Mrs. His classroom has four round tables instead of desks. There are posters on the walls and rows of bookshelves. The bookshelves have novels and short stories unlike any before seen in Macon. There are also magazines and comic books. But there are no grammar textbooks. Sweet teaches with unconventional assignments and tells the students “Have fun with it.”
Summary
When Sweet takes over the baseball team (because no one else wants the job) he becomes intent on teaching the boys as much about life as baseball. Inspired by coach's unconventional methods, the undersized Macon Ironmen embark on a postseason run that amazed everyone, infuriated rival coaches, and buoyed a little town that was suffering from a damaging drought and the shadow of the Vietnam War ~ a town in desperate need of something to celebrate. They became the smallest school in Illinois history to appear in the championship game, and that distinction still stands. The experience would change the lives of this high school baseball team forever.
Author Chris Ballard
Chris Ballard is a senior writer at Sports Illustrated where he specializes in the narrative. One Shot at Forever is delightfully written in a gripping narrative as it tells the story of the members of that special 1971 team, and its coach. A true story well worth reading.
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Daniel Lissing, once again, charms his way into our hearts in the movie,
A December Bride. This Hallmark movie is sure to be a favorite
on the list of many Hallmark romance fans.
Jessica Lowndes, another beloved Hallmark actor, joins Lissing to create a
love story just in time for a December wedding. The movie takes a
difficult situation and turns it into a fun, romantic and even humorous
story.
This movie was released in 2016, but I only recently discovered it. Turns
out, it is one of my own favorite Christmas movies for this year.
A December Bride (2016) Hallmark Movie
Layla O'Reilly is right on track, following in her mother's footsteps, to
be a December bride. It has been her life-long plan to have her own
wedding in the month of December, just like her parents. However, her
plans are shattered when a casual friend, Seth Murphy, introduces Layla's
fiance, Jack, to Layla's cousin, Jessica.
A December Bride Available on Prime Video or DVDCheck PriceIt is pretty obvious that it is love at first sight for Jack and
Jessica. Not only does Layla lose her fiance, but she loses her
opportunity for an upcoming December wedding. Now, she must decide if
she is going to attend her ex-fiance's and her cousin's wedding. Of
course, this wedding is important to her family, just as her wedding would
have been. She is hesitant to accept the invitation, but decides she
really should make peace and go, but she does not want to go alone.
When she sees her neighbor, Cooper in the hall, she decides to ask him to
attend the wedding with her. He initially agrees, but when he ends up
with the flu, he is unable to attend. Desperate to find a "date" for
the wedding, she asks Seth to go with her. After all, they are both
attending the wedding.
Things are made even more "interesting" when Seth tells everyone at the
wedding that he and Layla are engaged. He meant to make Layla feel
more at ease around Jack and Jessica, but that created more uncomfortable
situations, and humor for the those of us watching.
Seth also gets roped into adding his home to the Holiday of Homes charity
project by his bosses wife. Since Layla is an interior decorator, it
seems logical to ask her to decorate his home for the tour. Plus, Layla
would love to land a job staging homes for a big realty company and Seth is
friends with the owner of Malcolm Realty. That means spending a lot of time together over the next 3 weeks.
One thing all Hallmark fans know, it doesn't take long for romance to develop. Much less than 3 weeks! In fact, in less than 2 hours, these two actors can create the perfect love story.
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Nativity sets and scenes are a wonderful part of my Christmas decorating. They point us to the true meaning of Christmas. I think they are a wonderful item to pass down to future generations. In my house I have several nativity sets: one from my grandparents, one that my mother made and another that my daughter purchased on a trip to Bethlehem. I also have a nativity scene within a cross that I believe is a wonderful reminder of the purpose of Christmas. It shows the Jesus is the reason for the celebration. That cross is depicted in the beginning photo of this article.
Nativity Cross on Amazon
I found a nativity cross similar to mine on Amazon. I think it would be a great gift for grandchildren.
Nativity Sets Passed Down to Me
My Grandparents Nativity Set
The photo above depicts the nativity set that was my grandparents. They would have it under their tree each Christmas. When they passed away it was given to me, the oldest grandchild.
Mom's Nativity Set
This is a nativity set that my mother made in ceramics class. She displayed it in her house each year and when she died, I got it. It now is on my fireplace mantle each Christmas. It is very special to me since Mom made it.
Right above my fireplace mantle is a window with a shelf, on it I display angel figurines that have been given to me over the years. I think they make a good addition to the nativity display with the angels all above the manager scene.
My Bethlehem Nativity Scene
When my daughter was 10 years old my parents took her on a trip to the Holy Land. When they were in Bethlehem, she bought us a nativity scene. It is very special to us and we display it each year.
Nativity Sets on Amazon
If you are looking for a special gift for a grandchild or godchild or a special person in your life, you may want to consider a nativity set. Here are a couple I found on Amazon that I thought would make great gifts.
The set above was made in Bethlehem from Olive wood. It is a modestly priced set that is still very nice. There are many other sets from Bethlehem that are listed on Amazon in a variety of sizes and price ranges.
The set above is a beautiful traditional set that comes with a stable and 10 figurines. It is just one of the many to choose from on Amazon.
May you and your Family have a very Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!
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Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris is an absolute gem of a movie. I
discovered it while perusing American Airlines' in-flight entertainment
selections during a recent flight home from California. This comedy/drama was
released earlier this year and received enthusiastic positive reviews from
film critics and audiences alike. However, likely because it wasn't promoted
heavily or well, it had only a short run in theaters and I hadn't heard about
it before. (Such a shame to stint on the marketing for such a terrific
picture!) It deserves a much wider audience.
I am delighted to share my review of this wonderful, delightful, inspiring
movie, which is available to purchase or rent via DVD or streaming media.
Based on the First of Paul Gallico's Bestselling 1958 Novel
Mrs. 'Arris Goes to Paris
Paul Gallico started his career in the 1920s as a sportswriter, sports
columnist, and sports editor of the New York Daily News. After
switching to writing fiction in the late 1930s, the prolific author wrote 41
books, numerous short stories, 20 theatrical movies and 12 TV movies and had a
TV series based on his Hiram Holliday short stories. Two of Gallico's most
famous works were the short story The Snow Goose (1941) and
the novel The Poseidon Adventure (1969), which was also
adapted for the big screen.(Source)
Mrs. 'Arris Goes to Paris (1958) was the first of Gallico's four
novels about the adventures of Mrs. Ada Harris, a war widow and hard-working
charwoman for London aristocrats. Mrs. Harris's adventures continue in the
subsequent books in the series, Mrs. 'Arris Goes to New York (1960),
Mrs. 'Arris Goes to Parliament (1965), and
Mrs. 'Arris Goes to Moscow (1974).
Mrs. 'Arris Goes to Paris has been adapted multiple times for stage and
screen:
A 1958 American TV episode for the television series Studio One starring
British comedian Gracie Fields.
A 1982 West German TV film, Ein Kleid von Dior (A Dress by Dior) starring Inge Meysel.
A 1992 television movie starring Angela Lansbury, Diana Rigg and Omar Sharif
(produced by Lansbury's production company and directed by her son, Anthony
Shaw).
A 2016 musical-theatre adaptation, Flowers for Mrs Harris (the
Gallico novel's UK title) produced by Sheffield Theatres in May 2016, with a
new production mounted in 2018 at Chichester Festival Theatre, which was
streamed online in April 2020.
The 2022 feature film adaptation I am reviewing, Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris (note the tweak to the title).
A Fabulous Cast of Characters
Here are the main characters of this charming movie set in the mid-1950s:
Ada Harris (Lesley Manville), a charwoman in London who cleans up the
messes of her well-heeled, arrogant clients. She learns that her beloved
husband, Eddie, a soldier who had been missing for seven years, was killed
in action.
Violet Butterfield (Ellen Thomas), Ada's best friend, who also works
"in service." Vi encourages the grieving war widow to try to enjoy herself
and get on with her life now that she finally knows Eddie's fate, taking her
out to a dance club in the evening and to greyhound races on their day off.
Archie (Jason Isaacs), another friend and bookie who takes their bets
at the races. Although he fancies Ada, she thinks it's too late for her to
love again and makes it clear their relationship is strictly platonic.
Giles Newcombe (Christian McKay), a womanizing bachelor and house
cleaning client.
Pamela Penrose (Rose Williams), another of Ada's clients, is a
beautiful but spoiled, scatterbrained, pouty and self-centered actress who
is also a slob, tossing and leaving her clothes and accessories all over the
floor for Ada to pick up and put away.
Lady Dant (Anna Chancellor), another client who spends lavishly on
parties and clothes (including a one-of-a-kind, beaded and sequined
Christian Dior dress that Ada falls in love with at first sight), yet
repeatedly deflects Ada's requests to be paid her long-overdue wages.
Christian Dior (Philippe Bertin), the world-famous
haute couture fashion designer whose first collection under his
own label in 1947 was dubbed "The New Look" by the editor-in-chief of
Harper's Bazaar.
Claudine Colbert (Isabelle Huppert) is the directrice of
the house of Dior and guardian of its refined, elegant, exclusive image. She
is offended and supercilious when an English charwoman invades the hallowed
halls of Dior, mistakes Madame Colbert for a shopgirl and naïvely assumes
she can purchase one of the master's iconic, one-of-a-kind
haute couture creations just because she has brought enough
money to Paris with her to pay with cash.
Marquis de Chassagne (Lambert Wilson), a wealthy, aristocratic
widower whose late wife used to enjoy attending the exclusive Dior couture
shows. He continues to attend in her honor and, when Ada is rebuffed by
Madame Colbert, the marquis invites her to attend as his guest. He
subsequently buys her roses and invites her over for tea.
Natasha (Alba Baptista), Dior's top model with an Audrey
Hepburn-eque, waif-like beauty. She would rather be at home curled up on a
couch, wearing a plain black sweater and reading Sartre than parading around
as a fashion model.
Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris is a story about how kindness, courage,
honesty, hard work, a willigness to dream big and a single-minded commitment
to achieving your goals can, indeed, make your dreams come true.
It's a modern fairy tale grounded in some historical fact. Director Anthony
Fabian takes some liberties with Gallico's story. In an interview for a
July 22, 2022 article in Town & Country magazine, Fabian said, "The key to this story is that it is magic realism, so it has
to have an equal dose of magic and reality. If you go too far into magic, you
won’t believe it; if you go too far into the realism, it wouldn’t have that
uplifting fairy tale quality."
Check Out the Official Movie Trailer
If you are reading this on a mobile device and the video player doesn't
display, you can click on this line to watch the MRS. HARRIS GOES TO PARIS Trailer (2022) on YouTube.
Stream, Rent or Buy This Heartwarming and Inspiring Film
There are multiple options for watching this movie, including:
This wonderful story encourages us to dream big but also keep our priorities
straight. I definitely plan to rent or buy the movie so I can watch it again
and plan to get the audiobook as well. Both the movie and the book would make
a lovely gift for any occasion, as well as a great stocking stuffer.
Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris: A Wonderful, Delightful, Inspiring Movie — Reviewed by Margaret Schindel
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For today’s post, I thought I would rework an old post and offer up a bit of Christmas cheer in the form of a review of an event that a Canadian airline sponsored in 2013. Here's my story.
We were at a Christmas party when someone said, "You have to see this." They turned on the television and pulled up a video on YouTube. We all watched with amazement as the passengers from two planes scanned their boarding passes and visited with Santa Claus. What happened next, was truly unexpected.
TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS REAL TIME GIVING (2013)
See for yourself what happened in this video called WestJet Christmas Miracle: Real Time Giving or Twas the Night Before Christmas.
Quite a video, isn't it? It must have been totally unbelievable at first. The passengers on that plane will never forget that flight with WestJet and nor will I. Not that I was there, of course. I was a participant via the video, just like you will be if you watch now.
SANTA'S BLOOPERS (2013)
And don't miss the Santa's Bloopers video. I love a good blooper reel!
FLASH MOB (2012)
But it turns out that the Christmas 2013 was not the first time Westjet 'performed' for Christmas for in 2012, the employees performed as a flash mob at the Calgary airport:
With over 50 million views of that 2013 video, Westjet definitely scored a public relations coup with their Santa Claus project 'Twas A Night Before Christmas and they made a pretty memorable day for all of the passengers involved. According to one newsreel that I read at the time, Westjet was planning for the next year right away.
MIRACLE MILES (2022)
Fast forward now with me to 2022 when I discover that WestJet has another Christmas Miracle video, this one called Christmas: Miracle Miles.
A quick peek on YouTube shows that WestJet may have done a similar video throughout the intervening years. I won't share them all here with you but I will smile at the kindness displayed in these videos.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
Winter in the northern United States is well, just darn cold. After the
favorite electric throw had met it's demise it was time to hunt for a
replacement. This heated throw which can double as a blanket was highly rated
and deservedly so!
Auto Off Feature
This is an essential feature! Automatic shut off after 3 hours.
Three Levels Of Heat
Also essential is the ability to regulate the temperature. Three level
of warmth are available to regulate.
Machine Washable
Absolutely! Especially if you have fur babies (and the war will be on as to
who scores the blanket to cuddle). Simply remove the cords and controller and
the throw can be washed. The throw also comes in a solid color vs one
side solid/serpa.
Micro Fabric
I like the soft, plush and cushy micro fabric for the cold northern months.
Flannel is nice and works well also, but there is something about a cuddly
plush throw on a cold winter night. The throw is 50 by 60 inches.
Warranty
Five year limited warranty is included. As always, carefully read the
directions when using an electric heated throw/blanket for the safety
directions.
Reviews
This electric throw/blanket has over 10,000 positive reviews!
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
In searching for practical, affordable, and creative gifts, I recently decided upon two items I know will be enjoyed: a glow-in-the-dark blanket and a Galaxy Star projector.
Why Choose a Glow in the Dark Blanket
Most likely, the recipient doesn't have one
It's not too expensive
It's a warm and cozy way to add ambiance to a room
It's easy to order online and have it shipped directly to the recipient
It's something that can be used any time of the year
It makes an excellent accessory for any room in the home
It's a great way to add subtle nighttime light
Various designs and styles; some have stars, words, and characters. This particular blanket offers a combination of words and stars; it's very nice, comes in multiple designs, and is available in pink and grey.
Gifting blankets is one of my favorite things; however, it becomes challenging when I've given too many to come up with something different. This year is the first year I have selected a glow-in-the-dark blanket.
What is a Galaxy Star Projector?
There are two of these in our home at the present time. My son uses his nightly, providing his room a lovely, other-worldly feel.
Although a Star Projector is relatively inexpensive (at least not the one my son has), it provides a gorgeous ambient lit-up ceiling filled with stars.
You'll notice there are many to choose from, and they come in various price ranges.
I recently selected this Galaxy Star Projector as a gift. The star projector my son has is very similar to this particular model.
Make this a Dual Gift for Someone Who Loves Ambient Light and a Room with a Magical Touch
These two items, in combination, make a lovely, thoughtful gift. With the blanket, you'll be gifting warmth and light; with the projector, you'll be giving the magic of the universe in the bedroom.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
If you are a comic book fan or enjoy Marvel comic books or Marvel's Deadpool, then you probably already know Fabian Nicieza, the Argentine-born comic book writer and editor. He's known for creating such characters as Deadpool, Domino, Shatterstar, and Silhouette. He's also well known for his work on X-Files, X-Force, and other Marvel Titles.
What you may not have known is that he is now also a novel writer. This is a review of Fabian and his first two novels.
Fabian Nicieza has written two mystery novels to date, published in 2021 and 2022. The novels have continuing characters, who are very interesting. The locale for these stories is New Jersey. As Nicieza states in his Author's Note in Book 1:
“West Windsor and Plainsboro are real towns in New Jersey. Unlike the snarky description in the book, it's a pretty good area to live in... I mean, as far as New Jersey goes....”
But, he states, all the characters are pure fiction. Fiction means it is not real!
Nichieza's descriptions of places and people are often 'tongue-in-cheek' or, as he says, “snarky”. This makes for a very enjoyable read. The books are Suburban Dicks and The Self-Made Widow.
The Two Main Characters
Andrea Stern: She solved a missing person murder in high school and helped catch a serial killer while in college. She planned to become an FBI profiler, but an unexpected pregnancy changed her plans. She has always wanted to answer her calling: finding redemption for the dead and justice for the living.
Journalist Kenny Lee, Andrea's childhood friend, broke a story for his college paper that brought down the crooked governor of New Jersey. The story earned him a Pulitzer Prize at the young age of 22. But his journalism career has since stalled and, 10 years down the road, he is now relegated to working for a weekly local paper. Kenny's calling: to become rich and famous!
When the series begins, Andrea has four children under 10 and a fifth one due soon. When she accidentally stumbles upon a murder scene, Andrea becomes obsessed with the case. She's back on the trail of a killer, this time with kids in tow. Needing help, Andrea enlists the aid of her friend, Kenny Lee, who naturally is interested in writing another award-winning story to redeem himself and his career.
Unusual occurrences – and body parts in for form of old bones – surface around this affluent suburb. As Andrea and Kenny continue investigating, they uncover simmering racial tensions and a decades-old conspiracy. But, as we find out, the crimes of the past are only the beginning.
After solving a murder in Suburban Dicks (Dicks, as in private investigators – LOL), both the police and Andrea's husband hoped she would set aside her 'crime fighter' tendencies and go back to changing diapers, carpools, and lunches with her 'mom' friends. But when the husband of one of her friends, the 'Queen Bee' of the group, dies, supposedly of natural causes, Andrea suspects that there is more. She digs into the case and risks more than she bargained for.
Meanwhile, Kenny Lee, who is enjoying a new surge of popularity with his coverage of the story of the murder and conspiracy in Book 1, is busy with a Netflix series based on that story. Then he receives an anonymous phone call tipping him off that Molly Goode killed her husband.
Once again, Andrea and Kenny team up to solve another 'suburban scandal'.
Summary
Having now read both Suburban Dicks and The Self-Made Widow, I am a big fan of Fabian Nicieza and his outstanding and humorous writing. Two mysteries, two murders, two fantastically interesting main characters make for a very enjoyable new series by a comic book writer turned novelist! I highly recommend these books.
*A new mystery series of novels by Fabian Nicieza. Review written by Wednesday Elf.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
