Don't worry baby, we're golden

I finished the bulk of my work Friday evening with my stomach still in knots. A dreadful virus had knocked my son and me out for about five precious, pre-holiday season days and I'd been trying to cram all the missed time into one day.

"Are you done?" asked Lane.

"Mostly. Could you get me more eggs?"

"Could you try and relax?"

"No. I need help."

He returned with scotch. One batch of Christmas cookies iced and sprinkled I sat down on a bench in the kitchen, listening to Bing Crosby croon The First Noel, surrounded by a mess I couldn't quite face. In one hand, a broken sugar cookie glittering with white sanded sugar and gold powder; in the other hand, a sifter of golden Islay. My golden-haired son stumbles into the kitchen Michael Palin-style and gets into my face to say "It's..."

It's Adriana Velez's Flying Circus. It's the night I bake a few more cookies for teachers we love plus some egg frittatas for the class party tomorrow. It's the night I ease into the holidays, relax, and have some roast chicken. It's time to claim time for pleasure.

Happy holidays to you all.

Scenes from a Thanksgiving Dinner

Tortilla Soup

No recipe--just chicken stock, tomatoes, leftover salsa, cabbage, limes, cilantro, radishes, and tortillas sprayed with olive oil and toasted in the oven.

Chicken Challenge Week 3: Beautiful Feet

Aside from being remarkably flavorful birds, Bo Bo chickens are also splendid because they come with their feet. Oh chicken feet! You make my stock richer. You create a light gelatin that gives stock an almost velvety texture. Feet, I love you.

We don't get the Bo Bo heads at the food coop. I don't mind.

Chicken Challenge Week 2: Soup

With watercress and mushrooms. Mmmm, gaze into the green, steamy depths!