Countdown To ThanksgivingBy Susan Bush
12:00AM / Monday, November 20, 2006
 | | Sharon Leary works at the Northern Berkshire Healthcare REACH Community health Foundation. |
Welcome to iberkshires.com Countdown To Thanksgiving, a daily feature launched Nov. 13. Each day until and including Thanksgiving Day [Nov. 23], iberkshires will highlight a Berkshire/Southern Vermont region individual and a specific review of the things that generate thanks. At the end of each interview will be a "family-style" Thanksgiving dinner recipe. Here's to the holiday that is very much America's own!
North Adams - Sharon Leary's circle of thanks includes many unique acknowledgements of things near and dear to her heart.
Family and friends make the list but there are a wealth of other blessings as well, she said.
It's All About Jon Stewart, George Strait, And Daniel Craig
"I'm thankful for The Daily Show, how can you not be thankful for that?" she said during a Nov. 20 interview. "And I'm thankful for the new James Bond, personally, I think he's handsome."
And there's more:
"I'm thankful that in yesterday's newspaper, there was a coupon for a free Hershey's Special Dark bar. I'm just thankful for chocolate in general, aren't you? And I'm thankful George Strait has a new CD out, that's a plus."
Leary's pets are included in her circle of thanks.
"I'm thankful for Remy, the Rem-dog, she's my little girl. And Leo is a parakeet and he's my little boy."
Mom's Stuffing
Her niece Baye, nephew Ruari, godson Zack and goddaughter Anaje are special sources of pleasure and thanks, she said.
She is looking forward to spending the holiday with her parents in Springfield, she said.
"I love my mom's stuffing," Leary said. "I don't know what she does to it but I love it. And I love cranberry sauce.'
Leary's best friend, who is Anaje's mother, recently married and Leary said her thanks extends to her friend.
"It was very, very gratifying to see her so happy."
The ABC television network has fallen out of her circle, however.
"I am not happy that [television show] 'Lost' is off until February," she said.
Non-Alcoholic Eggnog
12 eggs
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 quart cream
vanilla to taste
dash of nutmeg
Separate eggs at room temperature. Beat egg yolks with 1/2 cup sugar until creamed. Beat egg whites until peaked and add remaining sugar. Beat cream until stiff, fold all ingredients together. Remember that vanilla is a strong flavor and a little goes a long way.
Pour mixture into container or containers and refrigerate for a minimum of 24 hours. Shake before serving
Alcoholic Eggnog
[read through before beginning]
12 egg yolks
12 egg whites, stiffly beaten
1 cup sugar
2 quarts whole milk
1 1/2 cups Amaretto
4 teaspoons vanilla
nutmeg
In a saucepan combine egg yolks,sugar and milk. beat until smooth. Sit in Amaretto. Stir over low hear until mixture thickens slightly and coats a metal spoon. Cover and chill, usually overnight. Stir in vanilla and 1 cup of the cream. Pour mixture into punch bowl. Beat remaining cream until stiff. Fold cream and beaten egg whites into milk mixture. Sprinkle with nutmeg.
Susan Bush may be reached at suebush@iberkshires.com or at 802-823-9367.
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