Mom's been cooking ...

Ugh ... I don't think that I can physically stand another spicy thing. Mom has spent the last twenty-four hours making stuff for Christmas Eve dinner. Last night, she made Texas Eggrolls to store in the freezer. Mom copied the recipe from an appetizer that they have at the Roadhouse Grill.

Texas Eggrolls are very easy to make and feature one of my favorite things: cream cheese. Mom uses spring roll wrappers to roll up slices of cream cheese mixed with chopped jalapeños. She rolls them tightly, fries them in peanut oil, and serves them with a melted jalapeño jelly sauce. Yum. I like cream cheese that's all melty from being fried. Well, to be honest, I like anything with cream cheese. Don't all cats like cream cheese? Or is it just those of us with "Maus" in our names?

Fudgie wouldn't leave her alone because she was working at the diningroom table and he was hungry. She tried to get him to taste a jalapeño, but he wasn't interested.

Mom made more than seventy-five pieces in a little under an hour, so we'll be able to have a taste of the finished product on Sunday night.

Then, she and Grandma got ambitious and made TAMALES. They're not the authentic Mexican kind ... They're more of the "gringo" kind. Tamales with poetic license.

She and Grandma worked their way through nearly ten pounds of masa preparada, plus enchilada sauce, shredded beef roast, and corn husks. Everything's all steamy in the kitchen because Mom wants them cooked before she freezes them. There are over 100 tamales in the kitchen awaiting bagging and tagging so that they can be microwaved on Christmas Eve.

In this neighborhood, the local ethnic food store sells more than a ton of masa preparada each season. Mom and Grandma even made some sweet tamales with cranberries, raisins, coconut, walnuts, pineapple, and honey. The remainder of that mixture went into some breakfast muffins; the remainder of the enchilada sauce from the savory tamales made an enchilada dinner for tonight.

The best part? I got some!!! I like my shredded beef roast and I had a taste of the tamale, too. Who says that cats can't be multicultural? But a little taste is all that I need, 'cuz I'm not really fond of spicy. Fudgie, on the other hand, enjoys spicy food. He wanted seconds!

Still more of the Christmas Lights World Tour!

Mom said that she liked the way that this apartment building had lights around its "architectural features" ... Huh? I just like the pretty colors and the fact that there are lots and lots of lights. I'm not picky. Lights are supposed to be kinda tacky at Christmas time, right? I mean, we're not looking for "tasteful displays of holiday decorations," are we?


Hmmm ... Blow-up snow people. I dunno, Mom ... They lack a certain flair. The middle one looks a little "chemically-enhanced" perky while Tweedle Dumb and his brother have the slightly drunken look of the underinflated. Next ... !


This is a little better. I like the igloo very much. It's snowy and wintery without being too over-the-top, but it is a bit cliché.


Mom likes the looks of this little gift-shoppe slash real-estate-office. It does seem quaint, but in my opinion, it's out of place in a surf community like Imperial Beach. This little shop is on the main thoroughfare between Imperial Beach Boulevard and Palm Avenue. That's beach central! There should be palm trees decked out in Christmas bulbs n' lights and flamingoes wearing Santa hats.


Oooo ... I threw this one in as a tip-of-the-Santa-hat to my Aunt Toni. She likes those polar bears, so I wanted to be sure to include this particular Christmas light tableaux. Can't get more "night at the North Pole" than polar bears. Just lookin' at 'em puts a frosty chill on my buns. Brrrr ...

Wednesday Wishlist: What we want for Christmas this year ...

We've been noticin' that many cats have wishlists on their blogs for what they want for Christmas. Never wanting to be left out of what's current/cool/trendy, the Feline Americans and I have cobbled together our yuletide wishlist for 2006.

Since I'm the girlie and this is MY bloggie, I get to go first!

1. I, DaisyMae Maus, would like for efurryone to be healthy.

2. Fudge Ripple wants efurryone to get enough to eat including the occasional treat like his favorite barbecued pork from the Chinese place or a big bag of Temptations®.

3. Cocoa Puff wants efurryone to have a warm, quiet, safe place to sleep in a fur-ever home with humans who can be trusted.

4. Sparky Fuzzypants wants efurryone to feel valued and needed which includes new jobs for humans who want them, and brofurs and/or sisfurs where they're needed.

5. Pumpkin wants for efurryone to have at least one bag full of catnip each month because all cats need their "greens" to keep 'em healthy and active.

And ...
6. Lucky Charmz wants efurryone to have at least one new toy because toys are an important part of Christmas, too.

Mom speaking, "And I would like for everyone in the blogosphere to have some relief from the leaking eyes of late. There's been entirely too much sadness ...".

Merry Christmas to all and may all of your wishes come to pass.