Winter Solstice

Winter Solstice, the shortest day, and longest night, have come and gone.

This year we took our Winter Solstice celebration very seriously. We have acknowledged the Solstice in the past, but this year being what it is, a BIG celebration was needed. Every celebration we can think of helps us along this isolated path through the Pandemic.

Homemade food is how we celebrate almost everything. The day began compliments of Attila, who created a delicious Fruit Salad, made from Apples, Clementines, Seedless Grapes, and Pineapple Tidbits. Leftovers from some our favourite dishes provided us with lunch. Dinner was quick and easy. Corn chips, salt free for me, were prepared as Nachos, and were accompanied by homemade Salsa Verde, and a dip made with sour cream and roasted garlic and red peppers.

The highlight of the day was the dessert: Cherry Cheesecake Brownies. For our celebration the chocolate brownie base represented the longest night of the year, the cream cheese layer the shortest day, and the cherry pie filling was the “cherry on top”.

This is the fussiest, least healthy dessert I can remember ever having made. It called for five eggs, cream cheese, tons of sugar and butter. This dessert is a debacle of unhealthy choices. But my oh my oh my, it is so very delicious.

I managed to scrounge a semblance of the ingredients called for from our existing stores. The lactose free cream cheese was purchased long ago, and stored in the freezer. I had been waiting to use it for something very special, as it has been years and years since I’ve been able to eat cream cheese. I reduced the called for sugar, almost 3 cups, to just over 1/2 cup of sugar, and 1/2 cup of erythritol crystals, and the results were sweet enough for our tastes. Since I am lactose intolerant, butter was out of the question, so salt free margarine it had to be. The cherry pie filling was made from some frozen sour cherries purchased last year.

We enjoyed our Solstice dessert tremendously. It was a wonderful way to usher in the winter.

The recipe made quite a bit, more than we could or should eat within a few days. A portion was frozen for next week. Tonight we enjoyed it for our dessert after dinner tonight. I have made a happy discovery in regard to sweet chocolate desserts. A dollop of plain sour cream heightens the flavours and the sweetness at the same time.

So here we are, winter has arrived in style!

Covid-19 Situation as Of The First Day of Winter 2020
So far Attila and I have no Covid-19 symptoms. Attila is home until the New Year, using his last vacation days, and taking advantage of allowed unpaid time off. We will gladly remain in isolation throughout the Holiday Season.
Here in Ontario, Canada, our Covid-19 cases are increasing rapidly.
Ontario is going into a Pandemic lock-down, beginning Boxing Day. I hope it slows the advance of the virus. It would be wonderful if those who get the vaccine manage to gain immunity before the lock-down ends.
The supply of the vaccine for Canadians is small, very few will receive a vaccination in the next few months. Health care workers and the elderly are to receive vaccinations first. After that it isn’t clear who will be offered the vaccine. Neither of us will receive a vaccination any time soon. We remain vigilant.

Worldly

Weather

-2°C
Date: 7:00 PM EST Tuesday 22 December 2020
Condition: Partly Cloudy
Pressure: 101.9 kPa
Tendency: Rising
Temperature: -2.1°C
Dew point: -8.5°C
Humidity: 62%
Wind: WNW 21 gust 42 km/h
Wind Chill: -8
Visibility: 24 km

Quote

“Rudeness is the weak man’s imitation of strength.”
Eric Hoffer
1902 – 1983