LEONARDO DA VINCI WAS A WEDDING PLANNER!

Leonardo had a background in the food industry!  His stepfather was a pastry chef, who got him hooked on marzipan.  Leonardo’s nickname at age 17 was “Fat Boy.”

At age 20, he apprenticed in a restaurant called Le Tre Lumache (The Three Snails).  Poison sickened and/or killed most of the kitchen staff, and da Vinci was put in charge.  He completely revised the menu to feature more sensible, lower calorie meals.  However, since the establishment primarily was a tavern, no one really cared, and the restaurant went under.

Next, he took a position as Master of Feasts & Banquets, or in other words, a wedding planner!  He coordinated the wedding of Duke Giovanni Galeazzi and Isabella of Aragon.  His production included a display of the heavens and revolving planets.  As the couple walked through the display, each planet opened to reveal a person dressed as the deity of that particular planet, and the newlyweds were treated to the recitation of a Bernardo Bellincioni poem.

His biggest event, however, was for the Duke of Milan.  Da Vinci created the menu, the entertainment, and the outfits for each guest to wear.  The dining room layout included long tables with the diners all on the same side, which incidentally, was the style he used when he painted The Last Supper.

Not everything Leo “catered” was a success.  For one wedding, he created an edible 200-foot altar, complete with chairs.  Unfortunately, an infestation of rats got to the site before the guests did, and they had to postpone the wedding until he could bake a new altar.

Over time, his interests turned to designing military weaponry, and eventually to other endeavors to pursue his continuous quest for life-long learning.   If ol’ Leo were alive today, he would make a great addition to our City Barbeque team!

A Partridge in a Pear Tree

$280.18 (+25.8%)

While the price of a partridge is unchanged, continued growth in the cost of its tree, due in part to higher fertilizer costs, means an overall price increase for the first gift in the 2022 index.

Three French Hens

$318.75 (+25.0%)

Feeding hungry hens is no small – or cheap – chore. You’ll pay more for the French Hens in 2022, primarily reflecting the price it costs to feed them.

Five Gold Rings

$1,245.00 (+39.1%)

Sharply rising commodity prices in the early part of 2022 made for an expensive line item on this list. The price of gold rings grew by nearly 40 % in 2022, the highest increase in this year’s index.

Seven Swans-A-Swimming

$13,124.93 (+0.0%)

If swans are your fancy, let’s hope you’re swimming in cash. They’re back with a big price tag again in the 2022 index at $13,124.93. At least it’s unchanged from last year.

Nine Ladies Dancing

$8,308.12 (+10.0%)

Leading the lineup of performers in 2022, the Nine Ladies Dancing twirled out of the pandemic to the tune of a 10 percent raise.

Eleven Pipers Piping

$3,021.40 (+2.6%)

Live music is once again tuned up after its pandemic lull. The Eleven Pipers grew in cost by a modest 2.6 percent – reflecting rising compensation in 2022.

Two Turtle Doves

$600.00 (+33.3%)

Thanks in part to the rising cost of feed, you will be paying more for Two Turtledoves in 2022. The cost of the birds themselves were a marginal increase.

Four Calling Birds

$599.96 (0.0%)

If it’s consistency you’re after, the Four Calling Birds have delivered once again. They’re still expensive, just no more than they were in 2021.

Six Geese-A-Laying

$720.00 (+9.1%)

The geese are laying down another large tab in 2022, demanding nearly 10 percent more than in 2021 - if you’d like to gift them to your True Love.

Eight Maids-A-Milking

$58.00 (0.0%)

Where were you on July 24, 2009? The Eight Maids-a-Milking were fresh off of their last pay raise. The Federal Minimum Wage hasn’t changed since that date and neither has the cost of this gift.

Ten Lords-A-Leaping

$13,980.00 (+24.2%)

If fancy gift giving is your thing, nothing tops these lords of the dance. The Ten Lords-a-Leaping top this year’s index with a $13,980 price tag – the most expensive gift in this year’s index.

Twelve Drummers Drumming

$3,266.93 (+2.6%)

The 2022 Christmas Price Index sees the Twelve Drummers marching to a very similar beat as in 2021. A tight labor market drove their price up slightly this year.

SO, FOR 2022, THE FINAL Cost of Christmas ‘in Song’ is $197,071.09 (+9.8% VLY)

This represents the total cost of all the gifts bestowed by True Love, when you count each repetition of the song, totaling 364 presents. Spreading cheer throughout the year in 2022 costs 9.8% more than in 2021.

For more details, visit these sites - https://www.pnc.com/en/about-pnc/topics/pnc-christmas-price-index.html   and/or    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_Price_Index

FUN FACT: Rumor has it that the origins of this song actually included only birds and people as the gifts. So the 5 gold rings really were golden ring-necked pheasants! And, as a side note, the calling birds were colly birds (common blackbirds).

1. Colorless Yule

  7. Far Off in a Feeder

4. Righteous Darkness

  6. Loyal Followers Advance

    9. Bantam Male Percussionist

      20. The Dozen Festive 24-hr. Intervals

  13. Red-suited Man En Route to Borough

  15. Proceed and Enlighten on the Pinnacle

    5. Arrival Time: 0000 hr.  Weather:  Cloudless

19. Give Attention to the Celestial Beings’ Melodies

(answers at end

  10. Monarchy Triad

    8. Array the Corridors

  18. Delight for this Planet

  11. Nocturnal Noiselessness

  14. Frozen Precipitation Consent

  12. Jehovah Retire Blithe Chevaliers

2. Castaneous Seeds Cooking in a Blaze

  17. Query Regarding Identity of Descendent

  16. The Quadruped with the Vermilion Proboscis

   3. Singular Yearning for the Twin Anterior Incisors

of the newsletter)

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all thru the Joints, not a Brisket was stirring, not even its point. Holiday orders were hung by the smokers with care, in hopes that St. Rick soon would be there.  

The teammates were nestled all snug in their beds, as visions of hams, turkeys and OLO orders danced in their heads. And Mike in his Georgia Bulldog sweatshirt and I in my Butler cap, just settled down to watch football and soccer before taking a nap.

 When out on the patio rose such a clatter, I sprang from my chair to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash, to find Diane with her budgets looking for cash. 

 And what to my wandering eyes would appear, but a host of Market Leaders and RCD’s with Greg, Justin, and Scott trying to steer. With Bryan, Annica, and Keith there, too, our teams were engaged for another successful year anew. 

 Then out of the smoker popped the friendliest of faces, it was St Rick and brother Frank with extra brisket cases. Oh my heart warmed to see Frank in all his glory, his smile reminded me of our special story. To Serve and Create Happiness he said as he left, that’s our purpose for each other, teammates and guests. 

 So, as you celebrate the holidays at work and at home, embrace your family, friends, teammates and guests. Those relationships are most special and make us the best. You are what makes the City Barbeque engine run. We appreciate each of you with all your will and might, to serve and create happiness far into the night. 

 Blessings to you, your team and family. Can’t wait to see you in 2023. 

~ RONNIE BERRY, CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER

Kali Mavuleti / IT - Business Intelligence Reporting Manager

Diwali or Deepavali is the Hindu festival of lights, celebrated every year in autumn in the northern hemisphere (spring in southern hemisphere). Apart from India, it is an official holiday in Fiji, Guyana, Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar, Nepal, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and recently Sindh Province in Pakistan. One of the most popular festivals of Hinduism, it spiritually signifies the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, knowledge over ignorance, and hope over despair. Its celebration includes millions of lights shining on housetops, outside doors and windows, and around temples and other buildings in the communities and countries where it is observed. Hindus celebrate the festival with lights, sweets, and firecrackers, as well as visiting temples.

SEAN SMITH / DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Some of my best memories:  Having my grandmother stay with us (overnight) for Christmas when I was a kid.  Visiting my other grandparents during the holidays (when I was a kid) and how they always had a big fire going in the fireplace – we’d sit around, the adults would tell stories and my brothers & I would often take naps on the floor in front of that fireplace.  Nowadays I love to play Nat King Cole’s song “The Christmas Song” (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) on Christmas eve with my wife & kids around me – it gives me the best feeling.

MARIE GRAHAM / ACCOUNTS PAYABLE

One of my favorite holiday traditions was making dessert with my grandma.  There were many years I’d drag a chair into the kitchen with her and measure out and mix the ingredients (read as: make a mess).  When I was very little, I reportedly would sing, “bake-bake grammy” while trying to drag her to the kitchen with my chair.  While she was never known for being able to cook – her desserts were always amazing.  The rest of my family claims her egg nogg dip to be her best recipe.  I always thought her cookies were better.  I’ll share the egg nogg recipe with everyone, but I’m going to have to keep the cookie recipe to myself.  I’ll certainly be sharing it with everyone at the cookie exchange!

Grandma Paula’s Egg Nogg Dip

• 12 oz. cream cheese

• ¼ cup of egg nogg

• ½ cup powder sugar

• ¼ cup brown sugar

• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon

• ½ tsp. ground nutmeg

• 1 tsp. vanilla extract (or you know however much your heart decides to add)

Mix well - can be done by hand but a blender is easier. Serve chilled with your favorite gingerbread cookies!

JILLIAN ARMSTRONG / HR Director – Teammate Experience

I don’t have a very big family.  We don’t have much contact with my dad’s side of the family and while my mom’s side is emotionally close, we are physically distant.  It was extremely rare that we could all be together for the holidays. Some of my holiday traditions may seem unconventional to some. I have spent many holidays with friends rather than family and when it was just my parents, brother, and me, we often went to the movies on Thanksgiving or Christmas day. 

 The most important tradition I have is baking cookies with my mom because it is something we have done together every year since I was a child.  We only make one cookie (an iced cut-out sugar cookie) and we make A LOT. We give the cookies to others as gifts every year.  I’m sorry, I won’t share the recipe. I like to believe it’s unique and special and since it’s so important to me, I like to pretend that it’s a secret family recipe.

ALISA WOLD / Financial Planning & Analysis

My husband, Jeff & I had just purchased a home in Port St Joe, FL and decided to spend the holidays there. We were taking one of our first beach walks when a couple of young girls came up to us to ask us if we knew anything about ducks.

They had found a duck in some vegetation next to the beach, not doing well. We weren’t duck experts, but we are animal lovers, so we went and took a look at him. He was breathing, but not much more than that. It was getting cold and starting to rain, so we were afraid he wouldn’t make it through the night. Being Christmas Eve, we couldn’t get any local animal rescues on the line to come help.

We went back home and got a towel and Jeff carefully scooped him up. We carried him back home where we lined a storage tub with old towels and laid him in it with some water and the package of spinach we had brought for Christmas dinner. We felt that, if he didn’t make it, at least he wasn’t out in the cold & rain, vulnerable to other critters. We set the tub in a corner of the carport out of the wind and rain, next to our beach path, and said what we thought would be the only good night to the little creature we impromptu named Duck Sauce.

The next morning, we were out on the deck with Christmas coffee, watching the sun come up. We planned to go after breakfast and check to see if Duck Sauce had made it through the night. While we were drinking our coffee, we heard a clatter and commotion underneath us – where we had left Duck Sauce. We jumped up and raced down the stairs to see if something had gotten to him.

We came out the door and saw that the storage bin was knocked over. But then Jeff exclaimed, “Hey! Is that Duck Sauce??” Sure enough, there was a duck, awkwardly waddling down the path towards the beach. After a few more steps he launched to the sky in a flight I could only describe as a possibly drunk duck. However, he was airborne and after a couple of messy loops, turned towards the sunrise and flew away.

We still don’t know what happened to him before or after, but we hope that he found his way to family and friends to tell them, “You will NOT BELIEVE the Christmas Eve I just had!” But for us, it made for the start of a beautiful Christmas Day, a day in which we now always raise our coffee cups to Duck Sauce!

My recipe is actually kind of funny.

When I started out on my own as an adult, my Mom made me a recipe book of all of our favorite recipes. She hand wrote every page.

There is a whole section on cookies – growing up, holiday baking was a MASSIVE tradition in our house. We made piles of treats for gifts and for all of our events. We had a list of annual favorites that always made the list.

One of those is Date Pinwheel cookies – they are light, crunchy, sweet & savory and are super easy to make because you roll them into logs and cut them into slices to bake. They make for easy transport to other places, and you can bake a few or a bunch at a time.

The first year I ever did baking without my mom, I was actually a little sad. It was my first holiday without my family and I was missing them a lot. I wanted to bake as much to cheer myself up as to have sweet treats around. I made my list of cookies and Date Pinwheels were one of the first I decided to tackle.

I opened up the recipe book and started assembling ingredients… which caused me much confusion. There are 2 components – the cookie dough and the date filling. The date filling ingredients made sense. But the cookie dough? Well, the recipe was missing the dry ingredients. ALL of them.

I started to laugh… HARD. After a few minutes of hysterics, I called my Mom. I told her I was getting ready to make Date Pinwheels, but, um, shouldn’t there be FLOUR in these things? She had made a copy of the pages she had written, so she went and got her book and started laughing too. After we calmed down, she offered to send me a new page, but I told her absolutely not, because every year we don’t get to bake together, at least I will have something to make me laugh.

So here is the recipe! Enjoy!!

ALISA’S DATE PINWHEEL COOKIES

Source : Dottie Jane Compton (grandmother) + Linda Rose Austin (mother)

Yield : 4-6 dozen (depending how thick or thin you slice them)

For best results, cookie rolls will need to chill 6-8 hours before baking.

Date Filling

Combine and cook over low heat until thick, ~10 minutes:

• 2 ¼ cup chopped dates

• 1 cup granulated sugar

• 1 cup water

• 1 cup chopped nuts, ie Pecans or Walnuts (a small crunchy cereal like Grape Nuts can be substituted in case of tree nut allergies)

• Set aside to cool.

Cookie Dough

Cream together:

• 1 cup shortening

• 2 cups brown sugar

In a separate bowl, combine dry ingredients:

• ½ teaspoon salt

• ½ teaspoon baking soda

• 4 cups (!!!) flour

Add to creamed mixture and mix well:

• 3 eggs, beaten

• Dry ingredients

Roll dough into a ball and chill for at least 1 hour.

When ready to make cookie rolls, divide dough into 4 parts. Roll dough into a rectangle ~1/4 inch thick. Spread with ¼ of the date filling and roll up into a roll. Wrap in plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Refrigerate for at least 6 hours.

Baking

Slice rolls into 1/2” thick cookies ~ place on greased cookie sheet.

Bake in pre-heated oven at 375° for 10-12 minutes (until golden brown).

JESSICA BOGRAD / Sr. Director Culinary

Here is one of my favorite holiday recipes: Pumpkin Roll. Nothing fancy, but super delicious.

Cake Ingredients

• ¾ cup All Purpose Flour

• ¼ tsp Kosher Salt

• 1 tsp Baking Soda

• 1 tsp Cinnamon

• ¼ tsp Ground Coriander (gives it a brightness!)

• 1 cup Granulated Sugar

• 3 each Large Eggs, whole

• 2/3 cup Canned Pumpkin Puree

• 1 tsp Vanilla Extract

 Filling Ingredients

• 8 oz Cream Cheese, softened

• 2 TBSP   Unsalted Butter, softened

• 1 tsp Vanilla Extract

• 1 ½ cup Powdered Sugar

• Pinch Salt

1.  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a jelly roll pan (15 x 10'') with parchment paper, leaving an extra inch of parchment sticking up on both long sides of the pan so that you can easily lift the cake out after baking.

2.  In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon and coriander. In a separate bowl mix the eggs, sugar, vanilla and pumpkin until smooth.

3.  Add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir just until combined.

4. Pour the batter evenly in the prepared pan.

5.  Bake for 14-15 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

6.  Immediately lift the payment paper and hot cake out of the pan and onto a flat surface. 

7.  Place the cake horizontal in front of you. While the cake is hot, roll the long end up. Use your hands to gently and slowly roll the cake (and parchment paper!) all the way up. Allow it to cool completely.

8.  While the cake roll is cooling, in a bowl, mix the cream cheese, butter, vanilla, powdered sugar and pinch of salt together with an electric mixer until it is fluffy and smooth.

9.   Once the cake roll is cooled completely, unroll it very carefully. Gently smooth the filling in an even layer over the cake.

10. Roll up the cake without the parchment paper. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, before serving.

A favorite holiday recipe from my family is Potato Candy.  We only make this during the holiday season.  It was popular with my family in West Virginia as all of the ingredients were easy to find and pretty cheap during the depression.  It is made with Peanut butter, Russet Potato, and Powdered Sugar.  We would often tint the potato/sugar batter with food coloring (red and green) to make it more festive during Christmas.

Ingredients:

• Creamy Peanut Butter

• Confectioner’s Sugar

• 1 Russet Potato

• Waxed paper

 Directions:

Peel and cut your potato into small chunks and cover it with water.  Bring water to a boil and cook until tender. Drain your potato water well and place the cooked potato into a mixing bowl.  Use a fork to crush the potato up into mashed potato consistency. Add confectioner’s sugar a little bit at a time (don’t worry if it becomes a liquid mess, it will thicken up as you add more sugar!)  Keep mixing in sugar until you have the consistency of cookie dough.

On your counter, lay out waxed paper and sprinkle with confectioner’s sugar.  Take your dough and start rolling it out until it is about ¼ inch thick.

Smear the dough with peanut butter (go with your gut!) until the dough is covered. Roll up the dough log-style, like you’re rolling up cinnamon rolls, then place dough in fridge until it is chilled. 

Once chilled, take it out, unwrap the waxed paper and slice into inch-thick slices.

AMANDA BEEBE / STAFFING SPECIALIST

Ever since I married into my husband’s family, we have made these traditional sugar cookies for Christmas. Last year I inherited the recipe to pass down to my children when they get older. We now have these cookies with every holiday. So many fun different cookie cutter shapes, my personal favorite is the new turkey shapes this year .

DAVID SKERL / Director of Strategic Implementation

My favorite recipe:

Apple Pie Martini

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. Fireball whiskey

• 1 oz. Sour Mix

• 4 oz. Strongbow Original dry cider

 Procedure:

• Coat martini glass rim with sugar/cinnamon mixture

• Mix all ingredients and shake with ice

• Strain ice and pour into rimmed martini glass

• Garnish with a cinnamon stick

 Enjoy responsibly!!

MIKE MULDOON / CHIEF EXPERIENCE OFFICER

This is a recipe from my mother-in-law, Carlene Kelly. I’ve never been a cheese ball fan, but I love this one!

GRAMMY’S CHEESE BALL

Ingredients:

• 2 - 8oz. Philadelphia Cream Cheese

• 1 - 8oz can of crushed pineapple

• 2 Tbsp. Chopped Onion

• 1.5 Tbsp. Seasoned Salt (Lawry’s)

• 1.2 to 2 cups Chopped Pecans

 Mix first four ingredients, plus 1/4 cup of the Chopped Pecans. Shape into a ball and roll in Chopped Pecans on waxed paper. Cover with Saran Wrap and chill at least 2 hours before serving. Goes great with Triscuits!

CITY BARBEQUE CRYPTOGRAM PUZZLE

Each letter in this phrase has been replaced with a random letter. Try to decode the message. (Answer at the end of the newsletter.)

L R O M R O M L P B F P Q L P B O S B X K A Z O B X Q B E X M M F K B P P.

L R O J F P P F L K F P Q L P B Q Q E B P Q X K A X O A P L Q E B O P C L I I L T.

I want to start by wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. I hope you look back and reflect on the year and are happy with where you are now and how much has been accomplished. Man, we’ve been through some tough stuff together this year, so I’d like to use this chance to tell you the top five obstacles we have overcome that I personally won’t miss for a second…

1. Portion Control sauces FINALLY were manufactured

2. Brisket prices changing every single month

3. Pickle shortages

4. Foil pan gauges being lowered

5. Worst potato harvest the USA has seen in years

 In all seriousness, you guys are all rockstars and I’m blessed to call you all teammates. Cheers to making 2023 AMAZING!

~ RACHEL DEMERS, DIRECTOR OF SUPPLY CHAIN SERVICES

Here’s a list of Fun Things to do over the Holidays:

As we end another year of firsts, promotions, New Joint Openings, and so much more, it's very comforting knowing we are ending it with those we are lucky to work with. 

We get up and make a genuine choice to work and grow here with the City Barbeque team, which is very special to all of us. We spend a great deal of time with fellow teammates; they play an integral part in our everyday life, from working in teams, seeking assistance, and sharing memories and stories. Our jobs are so much more rewarding and fun working with and supporting all of you. 

 Our Wish for You: 

Take time this holiday season to focus on the most important things in your life. That may be slowing things down. In our world, things can move very fast while having us forget to take time for ourselves and our families. Think about the things you always want to do but never have time to do. Relax, celebrate, spend needed time with loved ones, watch your favorite movie, build a snowman, or enjoy an uninterrupted cup of hot cocoa. Make what warms your heart a priority, and have some fun. No matter what it is you do this holiday season, do it with intention and with an open heart.  

 A Very Sincere Thank You:

Thank you for your hard work and dedication this year. We are so grateful for you and your efforts. Whatever your holiday plans, we wish you all a safe and relaxing time with those nearest and dearest to you—wishing you and your family a very happy holiday and best wishes for the new year.

 ~ALETHA DAWSON, DIRECTOR OF TRAINING