#82

11/24/2010 - I tried the first of the ten new recipe's I need to try in order to complete my Day Zero Project. Josh made an Apple and Onion Roaster with Orchard Country Gravy! YUM :) I wish we would have taken a picture of it (my sister took a pic. with her phone but not her camera), but I'll just share the picture from the website, along with the recipe.

Ingredients
1 PERDUE® OVEN STUFFER® Whole Roaster

1 tablespoon butter, melted (alternate: margarine)

1/2 teaspoon poultry seasoning

1 apple, cored and cut into quarters

1 onion, peeled and cut into quarters

1 small rib celery, cut into quarters

Salt and ground pepper, to taste

.

Orchard Country Gravy Ingredients:

Pan juices from Roaster

4 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1/2 cup cream or half-and-half

1 tablespoon apple jack brandy or frozen apple juice concentrate

Salt and ground pepper to taste

Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Remove giblets. Rub bird inside and out with butter, poultry, seasoning and salt and pepper. Place apple, onion and celery inside body and neck cavities.
Place roaster, breast side up, in a shallow roasting pan in oven. Roast 2 to 2 1/2 hours or until PERFECT ROAST® Thermometer pops up and a meat thermometer inserted in thickest part of thigh registers 180°F.
Remove and discard Thermometer before carving.

Gravy
Pour pan juices into heatproof measuring cup or bowl. Skim off 4 tablespoons clear drippings from top and return to roasting pan. Skim off and discard remaining drippings, reserving degreased pan juices.
Add flour to roasting pan and cook, stirring over medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes, until flour mixture is lightly browned. Stir in reserved pan juices and enough water to make 2 cups of liquid. Add cream or half-and-half and brandy or apple juice concentrate.
Cook, stirring, until gravy is smooth and thickened. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

#30

11/20-21/2010 - I have officially completed #30 on my Day Zero list! :) Me and my boyfriend, Josh took a weekend trip down to Virginia! I used to live in Harrisonburg while attending James Madison University, and it just so happens that Josh's Dad lives in the apartment complex right behind mine! We also to a trip to Lynchburg/Brookneal where Josh's dog is currently residing. Her name is Mika and she is the cutest thing ever! I also made another friend, Fred. Fred is a yellow lab and the funnest dog. We stayed the night in Lynchburg and then made our way from there to Fredericksburg, making a small stop in Louisa on the way. In Fredericksburg I met Josh's older brother and his family. Overall, it was an awesome weekend! It was good to get back to VA and to just have a mini-vacation! I look forward to many more!Josh and his doggy reunited

Me, Josh and James Madison

#39 - P.S. I Love You

11/19/2010 - I finished the second of the 75 books I need to read for my Day Zero Project. I read the book "Interview with the Vampire" by Anne Rice. It wasn't bad but not exciting enough for my taste. I could only read about 10 to 15 pages at a time before I started day dreaming. However, it was a very well written book and a good story.

As of today I will be starting my third book, "P.S. I Love You" by Cecilia Ahern.

#23 - Carrie Underwood!

11/16/2010 - I went to the 3rd of the 10 concerts on my list. I saw Son's of Silvia, Billy Currington and Carrie Underwood! Our seats were pretty good and it was an awesome show!!! :) Carrie Underwood is amazing live! Sons of Silvia, one of the openers

Carrie Underwood!

33 & 90

10/31/2010 - I attended the "Autumn Wine Festival" at Boordy Vineyards with Kristin and Josh. We got to do a free wine tasting during which, Kristin and I decided that we had to have a bottle of Wassail! The description Boordy gives of the Wassail is: "Derived from the Old English meaning "good cheer," Wassail is a hearty sweet red wine blended with a mixture of natural spices. Gently heat to warm the soul through winter, or chill to refresh the spirit in summer."
After the tasting, we got a chance to go on a tour of the Vineyard! During the tour they told us about the history of the Vineyard and taught us how the wine is made :) Boordy Vineyards in Maryland's oldest family run Vineyard; it was established in 1945!

The wines we got to taste

Josh and the Grape Man

On the Wine Tour