By Amy Story

German Wintry Weather Snack

INGREDIENTS

Marble rye toast slices

Liverwurst to taste

Cream cheese to taste

Nutella™ to taste

Honey to taste

Molasses to taste

Butter to taste

Cayenne pepper to taste

Nutmeg  to taste

PREPARATION

> Toast bread, butter the slices, then alternate liverwurst and drizzle honey, then lightly sprinkle cayenne. Spread the cream cheese on the other slices, then drizzle with molasses. Additional slices can have the Nutella sprinkled with nutmeg. Arrange with the contrasting colors on a plate in triangle halves and serve.

Homemade Cocoa

INGREDIENTS

1 tsp. powdered cocoa

3 tsp. sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

Heavy whipping cream

Water

Pinch of nutmeg

Pinch of cinnamon

Pinch of salt

PREPARATION

> Heat a small amount of water and stir in cocoa, sugar, and spices. Pour hot water into your mug, about 2/3 full, then add in the remaining ingredients. Could be topped with whipped cream and garnished with nutmeg, sprinkles, colored marshmallows, mini chocolate chips, or cocoa powder.

Note: My sisters and I grew up on liverwurst and delighted in it as a snack. While many turn their nose up to this paté-like spreadable substance, I’d encourage them to give it a try. This combination of snack, with my own little twists (the drizzles and spices, paired with homemade cocoa) was a staple for those bitter-cold eastern Idaho days where we girls (no brothers) were compelled to shovel walkways and rooftops, or slide down the generous hill our family home sat upon, a hill so hilly it shot us out of the lawn and down the street well into two blocks down. Seeing a plate of my German mother’s idea of a snack was a welcome thing.

New Year’s Meat Loaf

INGREDIENTS

1 lb. ground beef

1 lb. chorizo meat

1 egg

1 c. crushed Ritz™ crackers

1 c. diced and sautéed onions and (optional) jalapenos

1 Tbsp. yellow mustard

1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

1 tsp. soy sauce

1 Tbsp. dried minced garlic

1 Tbsp. dried minced onions

1 tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp. oregano

1 tsp. marjoram

1 tsp. caraway seeds

1 tsp. thyme

1/2 tsp. cayenne

1 tsp. black pepper

1 tsp. Johnny’s Seasoning Salt™ to taste

PREPARATION

> In a bowl, mix together the first group of ingredients, down to and including the soy sauce.

> In another smaller bowl mix the remaining dry seasonings together, then pour it into the first bowl and blend well.

> In a prepared glass loaf dish, bake meat loaf mixture at 350 degrees for about an hour, but check after 45 minutes for done-ness.

Note: We’d been talking about meat loaf for a few weeks now, and I wanted to make one but alas, not enough ground beef, and I did not want to go to the store. Behold, there in the fridge was a tube of chorizo. Hmm. It turned out to be a unique and flavorful blend for that evening’s meal. We just might be onto something. We put garlic mashed potatoes and steamed buttery broccoli with the meat loaf and it was the epitome of a comfort-food meal.