Jan, since I can't have the tipple anymore :-( I put a tiny little driblet of rum flavoring in my cuppa nog (if it's not my breakfast drink), and plenty of fresh nutmeg. We have this awesome hand-cranked nutmeg grinder so there's no grating your fingernails into your eggnog. LOL Promised Land must be a regional brand. I haven't been really jazzed by anything from Walkers the last few years - it's all seemed just the littlest bit stale-tasting. The mincemeat in jars is, for the most part, very good (Crosse & Blackwell's is too sweet IMO, but Nonesuch and Grandmother's are quite good) and I admit that I quit making my own piecrust several years ago in favor of the Pillsbury - basically when they started rolling the dough instead of folding it, so you couldn't tell it was premade! I don't want to "spend my spoons" on making piecrust! Usually if someone in the family's bagged a deer for winter food my grandmother will make venison mincemeat, which makes awfully good tarts/pies. I have these adorable little 4" tart pans (the sort with the loose bottoms); I cover the bottom with a circle of parchment so I can slide the tart off, pop the whole pan into the fridge to cool off for a few minutes, and make the next batch. But yes, usually I just use the jar stuff rather than a premade tart. Their shortbread is usually stale IMO but it is so absurdly easy to make - flour, salt, sugar, and the best butter you can get your hands on - I just can't imagine buying it. I never roll it out and cut shapes, I am far too lazy! I like to mash it into those tart pans for individual cookes, or for a gift I like to use my big removable-bottom 10" tart pan and mooch small pizza boxes from our favorite pizza joint, dividing the shortbread into wedges with fork perforations before baking.) Fruitcake Day is on the schedule for next weekend, but we haven't decided whether to go rum or brandy... I'm pondering Drambuie for a change but wondering if it'd be too sweet. I think I need to get a "nip" bottle to taste. ttodd - I wouldn't waste eggnog on the unappreciative. Put it in a pretty pitcher and have cups available for those who wish to partake, but if no one is going to drink it there's no point in putting a cup at every place setting. Natal - Yeah, the HFCS is a drag. I know there are a couple of brands that don't have it (and are probably local/regional anyway) but I admit that I pretend I don't see it on the labels of the ones we get (Hood and Oakhurst). There's always Silk Nog, which I hear is pretty good, but I haven't tried it.

Today I had a burger at a local place I've never been to before, it was pretty good. I've been craving my black bean soft taco recipe all week though so I made them yesterday with homemade tortillas and they hit the spot! Mhmmmm good! I feel like a Campbell's commercial! ;) Slow cooked black beans with seasonings in the Crock-Pot all day, make the rice, combine rice and beans with some homemade salsa, pile on a homemade tortilla with shredded cheese, sour cream and pico if you like...delicious!

I went to a monthly picnic potluck in the park. We had salads, tacos, chips and little smokies in sauce along with cupcakes and mini cinnamon rolls. It's true potluck and you might have only 4 people show up or twenty. It was a good turnout with a lot of variety. There have been times when it was only desserts. DD met me there with the grand kids when it was toward the end so we could spend some time together. DGD entertained us with a song and dance she performed on top of an empty table. The world is her stage and she loves to rock out. LOL. She's 4. She wanted her 2 year old brother to take a turn but he was busy passing out Cheetos to everyone so we would be orange like him. ;-) Spent the rest of the day with DD and kids. Before I came home I drove another 12 miles to a diner I like. They have an extra special turkey club. it comes with avocado and cheese in addition to the turkey, bacon. lettuce and tomato. It's huge and the turkey is fresh roasted and cut thick. That was dinner with fruit on the side (watermelon, strawberries, bananas and cantaloupe.

Today I spent the day at an amusement park. I don't eat park food so my friend and I stopped at a local family restaurant. I had a French Dip made on their special house bread instead of the usual roll. Their bread is similar to a Dutch Crunch. Once they ran out of rolls and made my sandwich on a hunk of that bread they cut into a roll. I have requested it that way since. I brought half home and it's reheating in the toaster oven as I type. For dessert I stopped and had a a strawberry ice cream cone, again at a local mom and pop place that carries Marianne's Ice Cream from Santa Cruz Ca.