A Cylindrical Yuletide Heart Attack. Workaholic parents and a hectic December schedule combined to dictate that a fourteen-year-old boy was once asked to prepare and cook the family Christmas Cake. Drowning in a sea of uncertainty, the boy did the wisest thing possible, and telephoned his Gran. Armed with a 'secret' recipe, the freedom of access to the drinks cabinet dawned on him, and a creeping rictus grin spread slowly across his face as the light of inspiration burned in his eyes. Somewhere, Strauss' 'Also Sprach Zarathustra' (real audio) played in the background. Whatever had his parents had been thinking? They were asking for trouble. The facts become more than a little vague here... The real story, however, is the reception the resulting cake received. Not only were the boy's parents ecstatic with the result, but were beseiged for days with requests for the recipe from friends and guests alike. Even people with tenuous connection to the family mentioned having heard of the gastronomic monstrosity in question. Unwittingly, the lad had hewn a millstone for his own neck. Despite being no better than 'mediocre' at cooking most dishes, he has since been the 'designated baker' of Christmas cakes, both for the family and others, sometimes for pay (the cheap whore...), for well over twelve years. Experience and natural selection have honed the 'product' into something that, in a soft light, vaguely resembles the slightly uglier and calorifically-unchallenged second cousin of Perfection. I was that boy and, yes, this is that cake... [kuro5hin.org]

6:03:40 AM    

the Official Kwanzaa Website http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/
"All about the holiday, its origins, its symbols, and its significance."

[Neat New Stuff]

6:02:41 AM    

Joy of Soup http://www.joyofsoup.com/
A soup recipe blog, with a recipe archive.

[Neat New Stuff]

6:02:08 AM    

Gamer Dad: Gaming with Children
http://www.gamerdad.com/
"Game reviews from a parental perspective." Includes a holiday shopping guide, as well as articles, interviews, previews of upcoming releases, a message board, and more.

[Neat New Stuff]

6:01:52 AM