The Twelve Days of Christmas Cookies: Raspberry Ribbons

Photo credit: Amy Johnson - AllHabs.net

by Amy, HabsTweetup.com (AllHabs.net)

PHILADELPHIA, PA -- 'Tis the season for sweets and treats! If there's one thing I look forward to the most during the holidays, it's Christmas cookies. Chocolate chip cookies made from scratch and homemade fudge are December staples in my family. Gee, I wonder where I developed my sweet tooth?

In the spirit of the most popular baking season of the year, we present a special edition of Game-Day Meal called "The Twelve Days of Christmas Cookies". Every day from now until Christmas Eve we'll feature a new cookie recipe for you to bake and share, if you don't eat them all first!

To kick off the series, we begin with a recipe from one of our All Habs team members, Kathy (@czechtacular). She says that her Raspberry Ribbons are "the first Christmas cookies I made all by myself". These rich, buttery cookies are a bit like a piece of shortbread biscotti with a scrumptious jam filling. Try them and I bet you can't eat just one!


Raspberry Ribbons
Recipe courtesy of AllRecipes.com

Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

COOKIES:
1 cup butter, softened (no substitutes)
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup raspberry jam (I used black raspberry jam & apricot preserves)

GLAZE:
1 cup confectioners' sugar
2 tbsp. evaporated milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

1. Place softened butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl.



2. Cream butter and sugar mixture on medium speed until fluffy and smooth.

3. Beat in egg and vanilla.

4. In a separate bowl combine the flour, baking powder and salt. Gradually add to the butter mixture and continue mixing until soft dough forms.

5. Divide dough into four portions and shape each into a log, press down on the top to slightly flatten. Make an indentation down the center of each dough log. Place on a foil-lined cookie sheet and bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees.

6. Spoon jam into indentations in dough.

7. Return trays to the oven and continue to bake at 350 degrees for another 10-15 minutes, until cookies are golden brown. Cool for 2 minutes, then transfer cookie logs to a cutting board. Cut logs into bite-sized pieces and transfer to a wire rack.

8. In a small bowl, whisk together the ingredients for the glaze until smooth and glossy.

9. Drizzle glaze over warm cookies (I recommend placing wax paper under the wire rack for easy cleanup). Allow cookies to cool completely, and enjoy!

        

Be sure to check back tomorrow for our next delicious cookie recipe - Almond Kisses!

photo credits: Amy Johnson and Kathy K.

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A Habs Fan's Survival Guide (Part 2): Making Friends in Leafs Nation

by Dayes, HabsTweetup.com (AllHabs.net)


Chapter Two – The Company We Keep

You’d think it’d be a lonely life here in Leafs Nation as a Habs fan, but not so. I’ve lived in Toronto approximately five times longer than I lived in Montreal (but Montreal is still my hometown), but I can say I definitely have no shortage of friends.

So how does a Habs fan survive in Leafs Nation? In Chapter One, I describe my means of dealing with mouthy strangers. But you can only dish it out for so long. Eventually, you have to make friends. Here are a few basic guidelines on how to maintain a healthy social life in the Tdot.


Leafs-Habs diplomacy 101
If you are always around diehard Leafs fans, I strongly suggest you add a fine tuning control knob to your expression of Habs love. I’m not saying you should censor yourself (especially since Chapter One was all about not censoring yourself). But I am saying that you don’t have to be obnoxious and in-your-face about it when you’re around die-hard Leafs fans, especially since you are in enemy territory. Make friends with them based on other similar interests/common ground (food is usually a good one – more on that later) and limit your trash talk to when you watch games together.


Bribery
Toronto is a great food city. There are so many options in all price ranges and all cuisines. BUT there are two things that Toronto does NOT have that we Montrealers can use to bribe Leafs fans into submission. Very few of them are ever able to resist the gloriousness that is Montreal smoked meat and Montreal bagels. Everyone knows my family worships at Schwartz’s Deli, but Torontonians can’t be so selective.

They’ll take what they can get. And the places in Toronto that claim to serve Montreal smoked meat or Montreal-style bagels are just so substandard, that no one has ever rejected my offer to bring back food from Montreal. Who wouldn’t want to be friends with someone who has regular access to Montreal smoked meat and bagels? I know you’re going to say vegetarians and those with gluten sensitivities, but I have another tactic for them.


Everyone wants to be like you
You need to be fun to hang out with. I don’t care what team you love, if you’re not fun, I don’t want to hang out with you. BUT, if you’re a lot of fun, even *Leafs fans* will want to hang out with you. They’ll be willing to suffer the cost of admission, which is trash talking the Leafs. Be the life of the party. If you’re the most awesome person they know, they won’t care that you’re a Habs fan. In fact, some of them can be converted.

But don’t tell them I said that.


Make friends with other Habs fans
This obviously seems like a no-brainer, but it’s not as easy as it sounds. It’s not because Habs fans are hiding, but there are just *so* many people from all over, that sometimes you find yourself surrounded by people who love a non-hockey sport (I know, shocking, eh?). However, do not despair. The birth of Twitter and other social media has made finding people with similar interests so much easier that all you need to do to find awesome Habs fans is come out to a Habs Tweetup. I have Habs fan friends that I met prior to Twitter, but meeting many diehard fans has become much easier. So come out to our next Toronto Habs Tweetup event!! You won’t regret it!!

Follow Dayes on Twitter: @cokeaddict

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Habs Tweetup in Montreal: 2011-12 Season Kickoff

by Robyn, HabsTweetup.com (AllHabs.net)

MONTREAL, QC -- Despite the fact that the Habs lost 2-0 to the dreaded Toronto Maple Leafs, spirits were high last Thursday night at Mclean's Pub for the first Montreal Habs Tweetup of the regular season.

Amidst the many fans packed into the pub to cheer on the Canadiens in their the season opener, it was easy to spot our enthusiastic group.  With our tables adorned with Habs balloons, our section added even more cheerfulness and fun to an already energetic atmosphere. The wait is over, friends; hockey is back!

Several familiar faces turned up to cheer on the bleu, blanc et rouge, along with a few new ones (like mini-@ladyhabs, @__flynn! She was very excited to attend her very first Habs Tweetup!)

Our lovely waitress extraordinaire, Adrienne, once again took care of our large group with her regular ease, and the pub's several televisions made watching the game a cinch, no matter where you were sitting.

The famous Habs Tweetup trivia was just as challenging as ever - prizes were well-earned!  @TheAbraxasCo walked away with a fun set of Habs socks, @EP31 took home a Habs prize pack that included several Habs-themed goodies, @HabsWatch made off with a Habs wallet, and @theactivestick & @HeyMyNameIsWill both scored a Habs Stanley Cup banner plaque and Habs stickers.

The next Habs Tweetup events take place in Toronto on October 22nd for the Habs vs Leafs game and then back in Montreal again on October 27th when the Habs take on the Bruins. Don't miss out on your chance to win great prizes, meet other Habs fans and have a good time...RSVP to reserve your seat today!

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Game-Day Meal: Chilly Outside? Chili Inside!

by Amy, HabsTweetup.com (AllHabs.net)

PHILADELPHIA, PA -- It's that time of year! School is back in session, Habs training camp has begun (be sure to follow @All_Habs for all the latest camp updates!), football rules the TV on Sundays, and temperatures have started cooling off.

Time to start breaking out the hearty fall recipes we all find some comforting...and what's better for a day of watching sports than a big bowl of chili, topped with a little sour cream or shredded cheddar cheese. Oh yeah, a side of tasty cornbread of course!

This dish can be quite a controversial one - there's the traditional red chili, chile verde (a spicier Mexican version using green chiles), white chili (which uses white beans with turkey or chicken), or vegetarian chili. Then there's the debate over what ingredients are the "proper" ones to be included...beans or no beans? Ground beef or beef cubes? Cincinnati style over spaghetti noodles and topped with onions, beans, and cheese?

There are countless variations to this frontier-style stew, but my favourite is the original red version with ground beef, beans and plenty of seasonings. And I love how one batch of it makes lots of leftovers!

Chili con Carne
Recipe courtesy of "Betty Crocker's New Cookbook"

Prep time: 25 minutes
Cook time: 2 hours

Ingredients:
1 lb. ground beef
1 large onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 tbsp. chili powder
1 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. cocoa
1 can (28 oz.) crushed tomatoes, with liquid
1 can (15-16 oz.) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup water

1. Cook beef, onion and garlic in large stockpot, stirring occasionally until beef is browned.
2. Stir in remaining chili powder, cumin, salt, oregano and cocoa; allow to simmer for 1 minute.
3. Add remaining ingredients, stir until combined.
4. Heat until boiling, reduce heat to low.  Cover and simmer for 1 - 3 hours, stirring occasionally.
5. Serve immediately, topped with diced onions, shredded cheddar cheese or a tablespoon of sour cream.


Do you have a favourite recipe you'd like to share with HabsTweetup.com readers?  Email amy@allhabs.net to be featured in a future edition of Game-Day Meal!

photo credit: www.slowcookertipsandrecipes.com

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A Habs Fan's Survival Guide: Living in Leafs Nation

The All Habs team is happy to announce another addition to our Habs Tweetup crew! Please join us in welcoming Dayes (@cokeaddict) as an Event Coordinator for Toronto.

She knows how hard living in the land of the Leafs can be - so Dayes has written a series of articles to help Habs fans survive when they find themselves in Tdot. First up? A set of witty comebacks...

written by Dayes, HabsTweetup.com (AllHabs.net)

TORONTO, ON -- Here we are, in the heat of August. The 2010-11 hockey season is long over, and the July summer has melted away the pain of a post-season disappointment. As we gear up for the next season with training camp only a few weeks away, I thought I'd put together a little survival guide to help Habs fans trying to survive in Leafs Nation.

Chapter One - Talking Back
In case you don't already know, I hail from Montreal. My family moved to Toronto when I was very young, so I've spent the greater part of my life living in the big smoke of the Tdot. Hockey aside, I must say that do love the city of Toronto. But, that love does not extend to the Leafs. I am a devoted Habs fan! GO HABS GO!

Here are three scenarios in which you may find yourself when living in Toronto. Below each are phrases you may encounter (all have been real encounters of mine) and rebuttals that I suggest using (one that I have used, and two suggested alternatives).

The Direct Approach

Some Leafs fans have no shame. They don't know you. They don't know if you're a visitor or a resident. But they have no problem just coming up to you and mouthing off if they spot you with Habs swag.

"You have to be pretty brave or pretty stupid to wear that on the streets of Toronto>"

• "No, I'm just pretty."
• "Why do you say that? Are Leafs fans so barbaric that they'd attack random strangers?"
• "But I love hockey. All of May and June I couldn't find a single Leafs game. And I've been checking every year since 2006!"

"Why do you cheer for the Habs? You should cheer for a real team."

• "Clearly, your real team knows where it's at. Longer vacations! Damn, they're so smart!!"
• "But my fake team wins more games than your real team."
• "Hmmm...cheer for a real team that doesn't get into the playoffs, or cheer for a fake team that does...tough choice."

How can you be proud of a team that whines like the Habs?"

• "Because it's harder to be proud of a team that loses like the Leafs."
• "Because I can't bring myself to buy waffles to throw at the Leafs. Wasting food is wrong."
• "It's easy because the Habs actually win once in a while."

The Trash Talk

Inevitably, if you go to the bar to watch a game you will encounter trash talk. Personally, I don't like any sort of trash talk. You want to cheer for the Leafs, go ahead - go nuts! But I'm not going to come over specifically to rub it in your face if you're losing. 

However, not everyone subscribes to my method of watching entertainment sports. So don't go to the bar unarmed (figuratively speaking, I don't endorse weapons). You will need to be prepared with a couple of quips to defend yourself.

"Don't bother wiping the TV screen. It won't change the fact that your team is losing."

• "I'm cleaning it so that bad hockey doesn't look worse."
• "I like seeing the Leafs score fluke goals on TV. It's cheaper than going to see David Copperfield." "But I want to be able to see the Leafs' goals more clearly. They're so rare. I don't know when I might get another chance."

"The Price is Wrong!"

• "Still a better deal than Komisarek."
• "And Riem time is right?" (pronounced "rhyme")
• "And the Leafs had yet another smashing season of stellar goaltending! It was Johnny Bower's last season, but that's a minor detail."

"Your stupid team traded away the person [Halak] that carried them into the playoffs! We would never have done that."

• "But even if you had Halak, your team still wouldn't have gotten into the playoffs."
• "Well thank gawd you didn't trade away the star that got you into the playoffs...oh...wait...what playoffs? *whispers* Do the Leafs have any star players?"
• "That's right. You would've waffled him instead."

The Pickup Line (only applies to female Habs fans) T

his is Toronto. When you and your girlfriends are at the bar, waiting to order drinks, guys will inevitably try to impress with their connections to the Leafs. I'm guessing it works on girls who are Leafs fans.

"Oh, so you like hockey? Well, I have a box at the ACC."

• "When I said I liked hockey, I meant I like to watch professional hockey."
• "Awesome. I'll bring waffles."
• "They play hockey there? It doesn't look like real hockey."

"I don't like to spread it around, but you know [insert Leafs player name here] is my best friend's cousin."

• "You know, it's actually more impressive to name drop with players from teams that actually win." "Too bad my 6-year-old nephew isn't here. He's probably the only one who might care."
• "You're right. You shouldn't spread that around. It's like telling someone you have herpes."

(After buying a round of drinks for a group of seemingly uninterested girls...) "Do you know who I am? I'm Mats Sundin. Captain of the Leafs?"

• "Oh!! *faux awkward pause* I'm a Habs fan."
• "Leafs? Oh, honey! Let me buy *you* a drink. It must be so hard, losing games so frequently. I can buy you a pity drink."
• "Cool!! Have you ever been to the Hockey Hall of Fame? That might be your only opportunity to see the Stanley Cup in Toronto."

Stay tuned for my next chapter: The Company You Keep!

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Game-Day Meal: Brazilian Treat

MONTREAL, QC. -- Game-day meal. For athletes, the formula for the fuel that propels them to peak performance is often one-third nutritional science and two-thirds superstition or lucky-charm. Fortunately for fans, it's much more rudimentary -- something simple, tasty and manageable without disturbing one's gaze from the action.

At Habs Tweetup, we're all about the social side of the game. That can mean connecting you with other fans who are getting together at one of our All Habs approved venues, or providing tips to improve your viewing experience at home. Our series called Game-day Meal will feature meals and snacks that are easily prepared when you're expecting a few friends for the game or watching alone.

Today's suggestion is truly international originating in Brazil with a touch of old Italy. It comes from one of our South American correspondents. Keep in mind that our sister site AllHabs.net has original content articles written in Brazilian Portuguese, Spanish, French and English. 

São Paulo, BR. -- This treat is called Palha Italiana. Despite the name, roughly translating to Italian Straw, the origin of the candy is unknown -- many, however, believe it was created right here in Brazil. It is told that the idea came from the preparation of the chocolate salami, a typical Italian recipe, that is prepared with the mass of Palha Italiana.

It's one of those simple desserts, but everyone loves to eat, and during a game, can't stop eating! The recipe mixes plain biscuits, chocolate, cream and condensed milk. Just looking at the ingredients, we can see that the sweet is a delight, can't we?

Palha Italiana

Ingredients

200ml sweetened condensed milk
100ml heavy cream
30g dark chocolate
50g plain biscuits

Preparation

1. In a saucepan, whisk condensed milk, cream and chocolate. Heat over low heat, always stirring, until is possible to see the bottom of the pan, the mixture won't be sticking to the pan. Remove from heat and let cool for 10 minutes
2. Coarsely chop the biscuits and fold in the warm chocolate mixture. Pour in a greased 15cm square pan. Level with a spoon and let cool completely in room temperature.
3. After the fudge is cooled, cut into squares.


Tip: You can add chopped pecans, hazelnut or Brazil nuts.

(photo credit: Jon Keen)

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Home Cooking with Habs Tweetup: Summertime Sangria

by Amy, HabsTweetup.com (AllHabs.net)

PHILADELPHIA, PA -- Hello Habs fans! If you're like me you're enjoying beautiful weather, summer sunshine, and BBQs....and missing hockey! (Is it October yet?) Of course our friends at AllHabs.net have been keeping our hunger for hockey satisfied with regular news and updates on trades, free agency and development camp. Be sure to visit them regularly!

The warm weather might leave you a bit reluctant to do any heavy cooking indoors, but we've got the perfect way to beat the heat with a refreshing glass of sangria! These days sangria comes in almost every flavour and variety you can imagine: white sangria, mango sangria, peach sangria, sparkling sangria, strawberry sangria...the list is endless. It's easy to get creative with the ingredients once you've got the basics - which is what today's recipe features.

Traditional Red Sangria can be made with almost any red wine and just a few simple ingredients. Invite a few friends over and mix up a pitcher for your next gathering!

BASIC SANGRIA RECIPE
Recipe courtesy of about.com

Prep time: 5 minutes
Total time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:
1 bottle of red wine (Cabarnet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, Shiraz)
1 lemon (cut into wedges)
1 orange (cut into wedges)
2 tbsp sugar
1 oz. brandy
2 cups ginger ale or club soda

1. Pour wine into a glass pitcher and squeeze the juice from the lemon, lime and orange wedges into the wine as well.
2. Add the wedges to the pitcher, being careful to remove any seeds first.
3. Add sugar and brandy, stir well.
4. Chill overnight.
5. Add ginger ale (my preference) or club soda just before serving.


This recipe sounded so tasty I had to try it for myself with a bottle of merlot...the photo above depicts the result. Very tasty, quite refreshing...a guaranteed party pleaser!


Do you have a favourite recipe you'd like to share with Habs Tweetup readers? Email amy@allhabs.net to be featured in a future edition of Home Cooking with Habs Tweetup!

photo credit: Amy Johnson

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