What’s next in the scope of things-----

Oh Fall, the colors the smells------the Christmas???
Well, Halloween is a recent memory now, and Fall is in the air, but what is this creeping on the store shelves-------Christmas??? I walk in to our local store I can’t say the name but it begins with W and ends with t or is it z------any way, the shelves and aisles that were stocked full of Halloween candy, and fun things are now sporting, (nice word), just wonderful items like Christmas globes, tinsel, little Christmas scenes, towels, candles, and I can’t believe a large blowup Santa Clause, you name it. Even if you go to the local Mom and Pop stores you know it. Christmas candy! And most of these owners are Middle Eastern. What is going on? Are we missing something here like fall, and I think in three week the next holiday is called Thanksgiving. What do you do for Thanksgiving? Amazingly the commercialism of Thanksgiving hasn’t happened yet. You don’t see any decorations, no pilgrim hats laying around or Indian headdresses poised in the windows of stores, no turkey running around the stores, with a crazed look in their eyes, waiting for the final hours and the “The day of Infamy” Well, for one of the most important days of they year it is practically snubbed. The only saving grace is that we know the prices of everything, like gas the airplane tickets, (next to Christmas one of the most traveled days of the year), give it away. I remember when I was in school, many centuries ago, that we used to cut out turkeys that had those movable legs and the pilgrim hats and collars, with those rounded point (safe) scissors and ooh the taste of that glue, wasn’t it great? (I think we should all walk around like that), what a hoot! We were taught all about the peaceful, lovingly and tranquil name of thanksgiving. Another century ago I worked in retail, and our policy at the time was nothing in the store Christmassy until the day after Thanksgiving. The display staff worked all night and dressed the windows the shelves and the counter tops above the cash register with Christmas delights. What ever happened to those days??? The Christmas rush was on. Then it made sense, but, what didn’t back then. Well, to make anatomically correct Santa Clauses stay away a little longer I am gong to dedicate November’s recipes, (and thoughts), to fall and Thanksgiving and then the day after Thanksgiving I’ll bring up, maybe, Christmas!

Zesty Fall Vegetables

Ingredients:
5 med Carrots, peeled and sliced ¼ “ thick
½ lb Fresh brussel sprouts

½ cup Mayonnaise
2 Tbs Finely chopped onions
1 Tbs Prepared horseradish
¼ ts Salt

½ cup Dry bread crumbs
1 Tbs Butter or margarine, melted

1 Tbs chopped parsley

Directions:

In medium sauce pan place carrots and boil in salted water for 10 minutes, add brussel sprouts and boil for another 10 minutes, until tender crisp. Drain reserving ¼ cup of liquid. Place vegetables and reserved liquid in 2 quart dish. Combine in small bowl and spoon over vegetables the mayonnaise mixture. Combine and sprinkle over all the bread crumb mixture. Baked uncovered in a 350 F. oven for 20 minutes or until heated through. Garnish with parsley.

Makes 10 servings.