Time To Put Away The Decorations

Yes, I'm working on putting away decorations and cleaning up the house today.  It's a little sad to see the holiday season coming to an end, but on the other hand we have a whole New Year to look forward to.  I want to wish everyone a Happy and Healthy New Year!

Here's one of my favorite photos from my Christmas celebration.  Love the wonder of children!

My grandsons, Dillon and Shawn.

Family Christmas Get Together

We had a wonderful family get-together at my daughter's house.  My brothers and their family members were unable to make it because of the threatening storm.  But we still had quite a large group to enjoy the excellent food and to exchange small gifts with each other.  The pot luck dinner is always something to look forward to. My sister made delicious homemade rolls using our mother's recipe.  We need to teach the next generation how to make these!  The food was scrumptious. We had baked ham, chicken pie, french pork pie, lasagna, smoked salmon and so much more.  We had a fun suggestion for this year's party.  It was requested that we all wear or bring silly socks.  Most everyone did and here's one of the photos I took.  Have a good week. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Enjoyed some fireworks last night in Alexandria. I took some photos with his new camera and Ronnie set the fireworks off.  It was freezing out and the wind was blowing.  I'd forgotten how cold winter can get!  But what a good time!

So far he's pleased with his new camera, I know I like it but I don't really need another one.  I can always "borrow" this one.

It's Time For Making Cookies!

I made a batch of cookies this week but today had to find time to make more.  I made Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies, one of my family's favorites so I'll share the recipe here if you would like to give them a try.
Very easy, pretty and delicious!  First picture is the raw dough with cherries waiting for the frosting on top before baking.  Second picture, they are cooling and almost ready to eat!  But have to save some for Seamans Family Christmas on Sunday!

Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies

Ingredients:

1 1/2 C. all purpose flour
1/2 C. cocoa powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda

1/2 C. Butter
1 C. sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
48 maraschino cherries (1 jar drained, save juice)

Frosting
6 oz. chocolate chips
1/2 cup of sweetened condensed milk, approx. 1/2 small can
5 tsp. cherry juice

Directions:

Stir together flour, cocoa, salt, baking powder and baking soda.
In another bowl, beat butter and sugar until fluffy.
Add egg and vanilla to butter/sugar mixture and beat well.
Gradually add dry ingredients to butter/sugar mixture and beat until well blended.

Shape dough into 1" balls and place on ungreased cookie sheet.  Push down center of each ball with thumb.
Drain cherries, reserve juice.
Place one cherry in center of each cookie indention.
Heat oven to 350 degrees F

For frosting, put chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk in a small saucepan.  Heat until chocolate melts.  Stir in 4 or 5 teaspoons of cherry juice.  Mix with spoon.

Spoon 1 tsp. of frosting over each cherry.  Spred to cover cherry.
Bake 10 mins and do not overbake.

Remove to wire rack and cool.
These cookies freeze nicely.

Makes 2 dozen

Happy Holidays Everyone!

A Fun Holiday Dinner

Craft Time!!!

I invited a few of my friends over for holiday dinner and craft.  Many thanks to Kathy and Donna for their help in the kitchen!  We all had a good time catching up on news and sharing stories from our adventures as youngsters.  I made my pork chop skillet dinner this year (recipe in archives) and a Lemon Trifle for dessert. My friends also provided appetizers, tea  and dessert.  It's my pleasure to do this and it's a great excuse for me to decorate for the holidays!!

Lemon Trifle Recipe

1 can sweetened condensed milk
12 oz. lemon yogurt
1/3 C. lemon juice and 2 TBS. grated lemon peel
Fold in 2 C. whipped topping

Angel Food Cake (home made is best) cut into 1" cubes.  Place half of the cake in a trifle bowl and top with half of lemon mixture.  Repeat layers.

Top with Fresh Fruit, I used Raspberries.
Cover with plastic wrap and chill in refrigerator 3 hours.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!

May Your Christmas Be Happy!

The time is here!  The last weekend before Christmas.  I'm having some friends come over for dinner tomorrow night and I'm very busy getting things prepared but not too busy to post this recipe I found on line today.


RECIPE FOR CHRISTMAS JOY




1/2 cup of Hugs

4 teaspoons Kisses

3/4 cup of Smiles

4 cups of Love

1 cup of Special Holiday Cheer

1/2 cup of Peace on Earth

3 teaspoons of Christmas Spirits

2 cups of Goodwill Towards Men

1 sprig of Mistletoe

1 medium size bag of Christmas Snowflakes



Mix Hugs, Kisses, Smiles and Love until consistent. Blend in Holiday Cheer, Peace on Earth, Christmas Spirit and Goodwill Towards Men. Use the mixture to fill a large, warm heart, where it can be stored for a lifetime (it never goes bad!). Serve as desired under Mistletoe, sprinkled liberally with Special Christmas Snowflakes. It is especially good when accompanied by Christmas carols and family get-togethers. Serve to one and all!

It's A Busy Time For Everyone!

Christmas is right around the corner.  I have most of my shopping done but now there's lots of wrapping to do.  I use gift bags for many of the gifts, but I have a few that will be best wrapped.  And it wouldn't be Christmas without wrapping a few myself.  This week is the Christmas Luncheon at work with a gift exchange.  I haven't purchased my gift to exchange yet and will probably do that just before the party.  I'm last minute with those kinds of things because I really don't have a good idea of what to get this year.

We have been busy making more jewelry and it's looking good!  We've had a good response to the necklaces and earings and have sold some of them to happy customers.  I hope the trend continues.  They are made with sterling silver, deer antler slices and genuine turquoise or gems.  I have listed some on my Etsy shop at www.etsy.com/shop/dsigns but I haven't sold any there yet.  When people see them in person and see how beautiful and original they are, that's when they sell.  This week we will have them available in some local shops.  More on that later.

I have taken some photos of the jewelry and since we have some new designs, I'll be taking a few more tomorrow to post in the shop.  I took some pictures of my amaryllis that is blooming like crazy!!  I paid only $3.89 for it in Lowe's and it's beautiful.  Three blossoms on it now with another bud almost ready to open.  Of course I'm offering it as a note card or photo for sale in my Etsy shop.  Stay warm, freezing weather is here, next to come SNOW!