This post is for you Heidi Hust! Thanks for the idea. And sorry for the delay.
So this holiday was different. I wasn't with the family this year, but I was with my work family. It was a little hard but I did much better than I thought. Some people hosted parties and gatherings. It was a lot of fun and it was a little comforting to know that we were all in the same boat.
On Christmas Day, I wanted to contribute to the Christmas gathering being held at Brett & Dan's place which is in the same apartment complex as mine. Everyone was bringing something, so I attempted to bring in a little Hust tradition to Aspen for the first time. Every holiday dinner Grandma Hust makes cheese bread. It is so so good! I try and sneak in two when I can.
So, I called up the fam and got the directions of how to make it because I knew it was going to be simple. Here are the main ingredients: french bread, sharp cheddar cheese, mayonnaise, and green onions. I could added a little garlic salt, but I don't think I needed it. (Some family members add it, and some don't.) There were no exact measurements. For every 2 cups of grated cheese, add 3 knife heapings of mayo, and half a bunch of green onions. I did follow those directions but added a little more mayo. Then you mix it all together and spread it on the bread. Broil it till it turns golden brown and cheese it melted. It was a hit and I made extra when I could. The only set back was that I did activate the fire alarm as some bread did burn a little. (It was my first time making it.) I can't wait to make it again.
So, as Grandma Hust makes her cheese bread, my Grandma Tangemann (my mom's, mom) always makes deviled eggs. My cousins, sister, and I look forward to them every year. To my surprise on New Years Eve, my co-worker and new friend Kristen pulls out her deviled eggs at a little dinner gathering before hitting the big party. They were so good with a hint of tangyness to them. I cant tell you all the stuff put in there, but they were awesome and brought me back to the family gatherings I had.
The holidays were great and I am just looking forward to new things this year. I am getting better at skiing each time I go, having fun with Skype, and concentrating at work while having fun at the same time.
Making that cheese bread made me feel a little like I was at home. So whenever anyone gets the chance, bring a little family tradition to some friends when your family isn't there. I know it made me feel a little toasty inside.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Chocolate Cake and a Turducken
Working in a hotel you come across so many things it's pretty ridiculous.
You'll get people with lots of money or who can only spend a certain amount. You come across people who are super nice or those guests who had a looong trip to the final destination. The people you meet are all different.
For someone who never turns down free food, it's always awesome when a guest gives you food. Not only is it thoughtful, but you know that you are appreciated. The other night, we helped a guest store a chocolate cake for his friend's birthday. Luckily I worked the next day and they didn't finish it. They gave it to the front desk and we finished it. It's almost like a tip to me. Not only did we receive a cake, but also a full box of these chocolate covered pecan caramel things from another guest. And this was all before 10 am in the morning. Most of the time, a guest can't bring the food with them on the plane or they have extra of whatever they are making, so they end up giving it to us. Other times guests will actually make things for us and that's just as sweet, if not more.
Where I work, it's not a normal hotel. It's a condominium resort and we get lots of families who want a little extra space on their vacation. I don't blame them. I love hotels but having an extra bedroom and nice kitchen and living area makes things a little easier. So many families are coming now to Aspen for the holiday season and with that, we are receiving so many packages. I give props to our bell staff and front office for dealing with all that is being handled and keeping their cool about it.
Very recently, we came across a perishable item that needed to be refrigerated. This was for a big family who are all coming out to celebrate the Christmas season. They had so many packages being delivered but the most important was the turkey. One of the family members kept on calling to make sure we had it. When it finally arrived it wasn't a turkey. No, it was a "Turducken" It kinda made me smile in that it was pretty unique and a little fun for the family who is from Louisiana. And for those who don't know what it is, it's a duck stuffed inside a chicken, stuffed inside a turkey. It's a little too much for me, but maybe it's a family tradition. Who knows, we got a kick out of it! I'm wondering how they are going to cook that thing and what is it going to taste like?
So whatever you are having for the holiday season or whatever you give to those at the front desk, I'm sure it's pretty awesome! We try to give memorable vacations and memories to families who stay with us. And thanks to those guests who give us memorable moments and memories we can cherish.
You'll get people with lots of money or who can only spend a certain amount. You come across people who are super nice or those guests who had a looong trip to the final destination. The people you meet are all different.
For someone who never turns down free food, it's always awesome when a guest gives you food. Not only is it thoughtful, but you know that you are appreciated. The other night, we helped a guest store a chocolate cake for his friend's birthday. Luckily I worked the next day and they didn't finish it. They gave it to the front desk and we finished it. It's almost like a tip to me. Not only did we receive a cake, but also a full box of these chocolate covered pecan caramel things from another guest. And this was all before 10 am in the morning. Most of the time, a guest can't bring the food with them on the plane or they have extra of whatever they are making, so they end up giving it to us. Other times guests will actually make things for us and that's just as sweet, if not more.
Where I work, it's not a normal hotel. It's a condominium resort and we get lots of families who want a little extra space on their vacation. I don't blame them. I love hotels but having an extra bedroom and nice kitchen and living area makes things a little easier. So many families are coming now to Aspen for the holiday season and with that, we are receiving so many packages. I give props to our bell staff and front office for dealing with all that is being handled and keeping their cool about it.
Very recently, we came across a perishable item that needed to be refrigerated. This was for a big family who are all coming out to celebrate the Christmas season. They had so many packages being delivered but the most important was the turkey. One of the family members kept on calling to make sure we had it. When it finally arrived it wasn't a turkey. No, it was a "Turducken" It kinda made me smile in that it was pretty unique and a little fun for the family who is from Louisiana. And for those who don't know what it is, it's a duck stuffed inside a chicken, stuffed inside a turkey. It's a little too much for me, but maybe it's a family tradition. Who knows, we got a kick out of it! I'm wondering how they are going to cook that thing and what is it going to taste like?
So whatever you are having for the holiday season or whatever you give to those at the front desk, I'm sure it's pretty awesome! We try to give memorable vacations and memories to families who stay with us. And thanks to those guests who give us memorable moments and memories we can cherish.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Me-n-Eds
This post is a little late due to my internet troubles.
Thanksgiving was a little different this year. You see, this was the first time I was away from home & family. This year I didn’t have my Grandma’s awesome cranberry sauce or her pumpkin pie. Don’t even get me started on the turkey and how good that is. I work in Aspen, CO away from my family. So, I couldn’t even have the leftovers. And I am not going to enjoy my dad’s really good turkey noodle soup he makes every year after Thanksgiving. That soup is so hearty and perfect for cold weather. It’s made with egg noodles, turkey, celery, carrots, and more. I spent the holiday at work as I started at 3 pm. Thankfully, my work provided a Thanksgiving meal for lunch, but the atmosphere wasn’t the same. I did have my work family though and the deep-fried turkey was so good. All the food was good!
Even though Thanksgiving is a day for family and friends to get together and be thankful for what you have, I sort of had an early Thanksgiving. I was home for my dad’s birthday in early November and we all gathered at our favorite pizza place, Me-n-Eds in Lakewood, CA. I’ve been going there since I can remember and my dad grew up there as well. The pizza is crispy & wonderful and my favorite toppings are sausage and mushrooms. When I was younger my cousins and I would also watch them make pizza through the glass case and I would always play pinball or the car race game. I’ve had several birthday parties there and a band plays every Friday and Saturday night.
So you could say that going to Me-n-Eds was my family Thanksgiving. My family was there and it was basically a feast. We all enjoy it and our stomachs get so full. And my Grandma made her famous carrot cake. I was thankful for everything and love that surrounded me.
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