Post-Turkey

I have good news on the job front. Steve has a new contract in another Microsoft group beginning on December 1. He will be working in the legal department working on software documentation in compliance with the Department of Justice order in settlement with the European Union. It is for at least 6 months and as all of them, could go blue badge (become an MS employee). However, we are also waiting on the final word for a permanent full-time Technical Writer position at Lynx Medical Systems. Steve had to do a little homework assignment, to give them a sample of what he can do. We’re under the impression that they want to hire him as long as he can prove he can do the work (end-user documentation, not something he has focused on in the past). It’s possible he might get an email over the weekend with a job offer. The salary is 9% less but with the full benefits package of holidays, vacation and sick pay, and 401k too, then it will be equal to or better than what he is getting now.

We had a break in the rain this morning so Sophia and I stopped at Fort Dent Park and took a 45 minute walk – in part to work off that chocolate cake filled with peanut butter mousse in the middle and frosted with chocolate gnauche that my friend Tracy brought for dessert yesterday. I am happy to say my 4 side dishes from Martha all turned out fabulous (although the whipped sweet potatoes topped with caramelized apples could have had less ginger in it). We roasted a 3.5 pound turkey breast, glazed with maple syrup and basted in chicken stock. I did use a Rachael Ray trick with Martha’s stuffing recipe and made “stuffin’ muffins”. You scoop the uncooked stuffing into muffin tins (I used the Texas size…) and bake it. That way it is pre-portioned and has lots of crunchy goodness to it. Good stuffing recipe, too. I am looking forward to eating leftovers and also sharing them with my girlfriend Katie and her husband. This is the last weekend we will be providing a dinner for them since their baby girl was born in the middle of October. I have enjoyed the challenge of planning ahead and making nice meals for Steve and I that I double and take to them the next day.

I am taking a break from work and listening to the holiday music channel on Sirius Satellite Radio (online). We’re going to cut our Xmas tree in the morning. Crazy early, but the tree farmer says we’ll get the best selection and it won’t be as crowded. Oh, Casino Royale, the new James Bond movie, is pretty good!

Recipes:
Chestnut and Apple Stuffing
http://tinyurl.com/y8s7gc

Whipped Sweet Potatoes with Caramelized Apples
http://tinyurl.com/yfsrbm

Cauliflower Gratin with Endive
http://tinyurl.com/y9zurj

Cranberry and Grape Compote
http://tinyurl.com/yatn54