We’re having our annual holiday party tomorrow, combined with a book launch for Vegan Serendib and Alec Nevala-Lee‘s new Buckminster Fuller biography.
Locals, if you’d like to stop by (between 2-7) and didn’t get an invite, you’re more than welcome — just let me know! Buying a book is not required, but of course, it does make a lovely gift, esp. if signed and personalized to the recipient… Both of my cookbooks are also available at Carnivore, if stopping by there is more convenient!
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Speaking of book gifts, I’ve been watching Louise Penny’s Three Pines TV series on Prime while prepping — really fun seeing one of my favorite mystery series on screen! I hope she likes the adaptation. Six episodes are out so far; I think they’ve done a pretty good job of bringing beloved characters to life.
If you haven’t read the books, they start with _Still Life_ — highly recommended. There also seems to be a Still Life movie from 2013, which I guess I have to watch now, since I’ve caught up with the TV series. 
Going to be a little disconcerting seeing different actors, though.
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I’m trying to be reasonable with the menu-planning, doing a minimum of cooking and picking up things from the store that can be heated, etc. And yet, and yet, I have to cook a little, don’t I? (The starred items are from the store and just need heating up, setting out…) Per usual, it’s colonial-themed, with mostly a mix of British and Sri Lankan dishes.
* caramelized onion bites
* mini quiches
* mini samosas
* shrimp cocktail
* cheese and crackers
cucumber sandwiches
egg salad sandwiches
roast beef & horseradish sliders
Sri Lankan tricolor sandwiches?
chai spice star bread?
saffron rice
lentil curry
chicken curry
deviled potatoes
coconut sambol
cranberry-cashew milk toffee
pear & berry trifle
* fruitcake
* chocolate star cookies
* chocolate pretzel rods
* mandarins (possibly some of them will be cloved)
iced sugar cookies
many beverage options, alcoholic and non, hot and cold
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Oh, and Trader Joe’s has its hellebores in, locals. These can be planted out in the garden after the season is over, and there’s a reasonable chance they’ll come back year after year. I don’t remember the price off-hand, but I think they’re about half the price of hellebores normally.