First Night in Hazleton

Ryan Welsh, 10, of Hazleton takes a seat in chair made of ice that is also an ice sculpture created for Hazleton's "First Night" celebration on New Year's Eve.

Benton Antiques Inc.

Eagles clinch playoff spot on Sunday

Asante Samuel celebrates after snagging an interception.

Sheldon Brown (24) of the Eagles strips the ball from the arms of Niners' Delanie Walker.

Tis the season at the Linc

Shoveling out the seats

Hmm..a gift wrapped cheesesteak perhaps?

A present for me? And I didn't get you anything!

Snow shower!

Let it snow! Swoop sprinkles snow over Stacy.

Christmas Card 2.0

My cat Willis returns again to appear on this year's Christmas card!

Beer Tap Cake

The fine folks at the Arena Bar & Grill are celebrating their 7th anniversary in business this week. The cake creating gurus at Charm City Cakes in Baltimore, MD (perhaps you are familiar with their acclaimed television show "Ace Of Cakes" on the Food Network) made an anniversary cake in the fashion of a beer tap for the ABG's upcoming anniversary party (I believe it was Dec. 12). The beer tap cake will be featured in an upcoming episode of "Ace Of Cakes" but not sure when that is? Possibly not for several months is what the owners of ABG tell me. Stay tuned! Here are a few shots of the cake.

Cornish Rock Game Hen

Made this for dinner Thursday night. Stuffed with lemon wedges, garlic and rosemary. Goat cheese under the skin. Roasted in oven for an hour, maybe a smidge over. 2/3 the way into cooking at 375 degrees then the last 10 minutes upped the temp to 400 to help brown up the skin. Served with smashed red skin potatoes and fresh steamed green beans. Meal turned out GREAT!

Eagles 27, Redskins 24

That's gotta leave a mark!

First round of the PIAA Class A football playoffs between Southern Columbia and Northwest Area on Friday night. Above photo, Northwest Area running back Bret Rutkoski has his helmet turned around when Southern Columbia's Alex Fidler grabs hold of Rutkoski's face mask. Southern Columbia went on to win the game 60-7.

Redheads

Irish Setters in West Pittston, PA

Penn State-Indiana Football Game

Penn State 31, Indiana 20

Eagles 16, Cowboys 20

Eagles 40, Giants 17

Halloween in Lambertville, NJ

October Snow

It's official. Winter has arrived.

Hazleton,PA

"Mother Hen" Toast: Gallina De Madre

Ingredients

• 8 thick-cut slices country bread
• Extra-virgin olive oil
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

• 16 slices shaved serrano ham
• 8 eggs

Bechamel:

• 1/2 stick unsalted butter
• 3 heaping tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 cups whole milk
• 1/8 teaspoon grated whole nutmeg
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Make the bechamel sauce: Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour and stir constantly to incorporate - you do not want any color. Gradually pour in the milk as you stir, and whisk out any lumps. As the mixture thickens up continue to stir until it reaches a boil - this ensures that the flour is cooked completely. Using a microplane or a fine grater, grate nutmeg into bechamel and season with salt and pepper. Set aside and keep warm.

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Yield: 2 cups

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Lay bread out on a sheet tray and drizzle with olive oil, season with salt and pepper and toast lightly. Spoon a dollop of bechamel onto each toast. Arrange 2 slices of ham on each slice of toast and nestle it into a nest shape so the egg will rest in the center. Crack egg and drop into nest on each toast. Bake in oven until eggs are just cooked but the yolk is still slightly runny, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, if needed.

Baez Performs At Misericordia University

Folk singer/songwriter of more than 50 years Joan Baez performs on July 25 at the Wachovia Amphitheater on the campus of Misericordia University in Dallas.

Kickin' Back Around The Fire Bowl

Last Friday hangin' around the ol' fire bowl smoking stogies. Tom (top photo) sports a new doo, The Coolio, whilst smoking a Romeo & Juliet.

Ji Wins U.S. Womens Open

Eun Hee Ji of Korea wins the 2009 U.S. Womens Open on the 72nd hole with a birdie. Ji finished the tournament at EVEN par. Candie Kung of Taiwan finished second at +1 over par. Once again Saucon Valley Country Club hosted another brilliant major tournament. Look forward to another visit to this gem of a golfing mecca! Hopefully as a guest of a member!

Ji on Friday.

Kung on Saturday.

My pick for fan favorite was Suzann Pettersen from Norway. I found out that she has a relative living in Bethlehem! Perhaps she'll visit the Lehigh Valley more often? On my mother's side of the family are Peterson's (unlike Pettersen; minus the extra 'T' and 'son' instead) but we're Swedish! Anyway, Suzann finished T6 place. Nice playing SP!

Saucon Valley CC Hosts 2009 U.S. Womens Open

Saucon Valley Country Club (Bethlehem, PA) plays host to the 2009 U.S. Womens Open: July 6-12, 2009. This is the sixth time, going back to 1951, the club has hosted a USGA event on the Old Course. Other courses on the premises include the Grace Course and Weyhill, plus a 6 hole practice course.10th tee on the Old Course. Clubhouse in the background.

LPGA players Cristie Kerr, left, and Morgan Pressel get ready for their Monday practice round.

LPGA player Lorena Ochoa blasts her drive off No. 1 tee, a 546yd. par 5.

RAIN!

Page 1A of Saturday's paper. The kid had the whole street to himself and having a grand ol' time. One gigantic wading pool. I wouldn't go in there without a tetanus shot first!

Take Your Dog To Work Day

Take Your Dog To Work Day (other household pets apply to)-- Times Leader employee Nick Delorenzo of the composing room walks with his dog Nika, a Chihuahua/Boston Terrier mix, through the newspaper's advertising department on Friday. It was Take Your Dog To Work Day.

Baked Chilean Sea Bass With Onions & Bacon

My brother-in-law picked up this recipe from his fish monger friend. Chilean Sea Bass smothered with onions and bacon. Hmm. Can't be bad if bacon plays a prominent role in the dish? Anyway, take one Chilean Sea Bass (yes the whole fish..this one weighed in about 7 or 8 pounds). I suppose you could just use the filets (with skin on) if a whole sea bass isn't available? Anyway, make sure to have the monger at the fish market remove the scales if it isn't already done. With a sharp knife make deep scores along the body of the fish. Depending upon how big your fish is, make 4 to 5 scores per side spaced a few inches apart. This is where the bacon plays its starring role by being stuffed into the score marks! Season the bass with pepper and kosher salt or sea salt. Using a deep baking sheet with high sides, scattered and spread out a few cups of sweet onion (Vidalia or red onion works fine) on the baking sheet, drizzle olive oil down over the onions, lay fish on top of the onions, drizzle olive oil over fish, add a few more onions with stuffing some in the cavity of the fish as well as on top. As a topper, several slices of roma tomatoes over the fish and a sprinkling of fresh chopped Italian flat leaf parsley. About a 1/4 cup. Place fish into a 400ºF oven for 25 minutes. I thought only 25 minutes for an 8lbs. fish? But the fish monger assured my brother-in-law it will turn out just fine. Well my brother-in-law's oven runs at a "cool" 400ºF, so we ended up cooking the fish for like 20 minutes longer and everything did turn out just peachy! It came out perfect! And de-boning the fish was a breeze to!

Crescenzo's Opens at the Woodlands

The Woodlands Inn and Resort on Friday night celebrated the opening of several new features. Guests viewed Crescenzo's Brick Oven Eatery & Espresso bar, Shogun Japanese Steakhouse, Hibachi & Sushi Bar, Alexander's in the Woods Spa & Salon and Club Havana Cigar Bar. Pictured below Crescenzo Bassolino, left, and Brian Gallagher make pizzas as bartenders Stephanie Shirmer, left, and Bekah Nulton make a bevy of drinks behind the bar for Crescenzo's patrons.