Merry Christmas, to You!

We’re down to the wire now!  Are you excited?  Overwhelmed?  I’m a bit of both, to tell you the truth.  I am attempting to squish my natural Mary personality, and trying to follow Martha’s example instead! 

I’m really into decorating for Christmas this year!  I can’t stop!

For this go round, we have a full sized tree and another small one in our foyer, a full sized one in our “music room” and the largest in our family room. 

Do you wonder why there aren’t any gifts under our trees?  Because I haven’t wrapped any yet!  More on that later…

 
This is the mantle in our family room, which came from a home built in the 1800’s.  I often wonder what were Christmases like for those who gathered around it in olden times.

Mostly, I keep the decorating classic, but there are a few whimsical touches. 

I placed several odds and ends on a mirrored tray that used to sit on my mom’s dresser - a glass container of brightly colored Christmas bulbs, a lighted Christmas village house, a Yankee Candle, and a snowman snow globe, warms the foyer powder room in an unexpected way.   
 

A mohair teddy bear makes us girls happy.  He’s all nestled inside a Christmas stocking hanging on French doors which open up to our Christmas memory tree.  It’s full of keepsakes that we hold dear from many past Christmases.

One year when my youngest was outgrowing toys, but at that in-between age, we gave her a large collection of Christmas village items, which graces our kitchen this year.

 
She delights in setting it up each December, and it all gets more special to us with each passing Christmas.

Thus far, the moments spent relaxing with the family, or curling up with a cozy Christmas book and a stack of Christmas cookies have been the most special.

Now about those unwrapped presents - we’ve ordered a good many gifts online for each other, so a pile of shipped packages have arrived.  Trouble is, none of us can sort through or open them without potentially ruining surprises because we don’t know which belongs to who…  We didn’t think of that, but obviously should have!  :) On the bright side, the laughs about our predicament will add to our memories! 

And on the brightest side, not the packages or decorations, not the traditions or lights, not even the fond memories could compare to what we are celebrating – who He is and what He did.

 “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”

Well, dear reader, “although it’s been said many times, many ways,” 

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU!!

Cheater’s Grilled Chicken, Pasta, and Veggies Dish

 

Laziness, on occasion, can generate invention. :) And this dish is definitely a way that you can be lazy about cooking, and yet have a yummy meal. 

You will need a box of Pasta Roni Angel Hair Pasta, 

grilled chicken nuggets from Chick-fil-A, a large onion, bell pepper, mushrooms, milk and butter.  Now your all set. 

Directions:

1. Cook pasta with milk and butter, according to package directions. (Careful not to cook too long because pasta continues to cook even off of the burner.)
2. Sauté chopped onion and bell pepper; salt and pepper to taste.  Remove from skillet and set aside.
3.  In the same skillet, sauté mushrooms.  Add to onions and peppers.  

Dish up pasta, and top with the grilled chicken nuggets and veggies.  Garnish with a little parsley, if desired, and then dig in ‘cause that’s all there is too it! 
 
For those RARE days that I behave myself eating low carb, I just forgo the pasta and it still makes for a tasty and satisfying meal.  Zucchini, or barely sautéed sliced tomatoes make good additions, too.  A sprinkling of red pepper flakes add a nice kick.   
 

Special Occasion Ranch Crackers and Pimento & Cheese Tea Sandwiches

On my last post, I told about my dad’s birthday party.  On this post, I would like to share with you a couple of things that I made for the heavy hors d’oeuvres that we served.

First up, tea sandwiches, southern style, with pimento and cheese.

Pimento and Cheese

2 cups medium cheddar cheese, coarsely grated. (Do not use store bought pre-grated cheese as it is coated to prevent sticking together and won’t make for a good texture of pimento and cheese.)
2 TBS pimento
1 TBS kosher dill pickle juice
1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
2 – 4 TBS mayonnaise

Combine all, adding mayo 1 TBS at a time to control how creamy you want it to be.  Consistency matters, so pay close attention to how much you stir so that you won’t over mix, as well.

For the bread, I cut each piece with a cookie cutter.  Begin with frozen bread. 
1.  Press cutter firmly onto center of bread slice. 
2.  Keep cutter in place and pull edges of bread away from cutter.
3.  Gently push shaped bread out of the cutter.
4.  Immediately cover each piece as you go.

Once sandwiches are made, cover with a layer of slightly damp paper towels and seal well with plastic wrap.  This will keep bread soft until ready to serve. 
(For the party, I didn’t serve the sandwiches open faced, but pictured it that way so you can see the pimento and cheese.)

These Ranch crackers are addictive munchies and work nicely for a special occasion.  They don’t need a thing, but would be good with dip, cheese, or even with pimento and cheese.

 

Ranch Crackers

1/2 box saltine crackers
1 envelope of dry ranch salad dressing mix
3 tsp. ground red pepper (3 tsp. gives a slight kick, but use more or less if desired.)
1 cup oil

In a bowl, stir together dry salad dressing mix, red pepper, and oil.  Pour mixture into a 1 gallon size storage bag.  Add crackers and seal bag.  Gently coat crackers well.  Lay out in a single layer (semi-single works ok), and allow crackers to dry out before serving.  (I let them dry for an hour or two.) 


I’m glad that you came by today.  I hope that you will stay a while and browse around! 

Linking up today at: Miz. Helen’s Country Cottage
                             Joyful Homemaking
                             Saving for Six
                             What’s Cooking Love
                              Six Sisters’ Stuff

Sugar Cookies

I love recipes that are handed down, and this one is from my dear Aunt Agnes, who celebrates her 94th birthday this week!  (She is my husband’s aunt, technically, but I claim her!)

These are thin little cookies, with crisp edges and soft middles when baked just until the bottoms and edges turn slightly golden.  Enjoy their simple goodness, or dress them up with pecans, white chocolate chips, or a sprinkling of cinnamon and sugar, etc.

Sugar Cookies

2 sticks of butter, softened (no substitutes)
1 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla 
2 cups plain flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
pinch of salt

Cream butter and sugar together in a bowl. (Doing this by hand works fine.)  Add egg and vanilla. (A capful of vanilla = 1 tsp.)  Stir well.  In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, soda, and salt.  Add dry ingredients to butter mixture and stir just until combined.  Chill 2 hours.  Roll in small balls, flatten with a fork or jar dipped in sugar.  Bake 350 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes.

Thank you for stopping by for a visit today!  I am so glad that you did!

Carefree Summer Days Embroidering

Pictured is a table runner that my grandmother made along with a portrait of her, my mom, and my mom’s brother, which is also her cousin.  Another story, another time. 

My mom says that the table runner was used as long as she can remember, so we know that it is at least 75+ years old.  My grandmother even made the lace for it.  A great deal of work, skill, diligence, and patience must have gone into it!

When I was about this age, one summer my grandmother got me started embroidering, but my stitch kick lasted just a short while.  I was more into traipsing in the woods, or riding my green banana seat bike, or playing Monopoly with my cousins on warm and cozy rainy days in my grandmother’s house. 

I still have my unfinished pillowcase with red and pink cross stitches – my first and last embroidery project. 

Until now…

The embroidery bug has bitten again! 

What has especially captured my interest is redwork.

Embroidery with a history – now that’s my kind of embroidery!  Embroidery where simple stitches were generally used.  That seemed doable for a gal like me that can hardly sew a button on.

 

Redwork fits nicely with my Victorian decorating theme, to boot.  It seems that most of what I like of that era tends to be from the 1880’s, which is an odd thing that I keep discovering, and redwork is no exception, since that is when it peaked in popularity. 

Readily available “Turkey red” thread was used, which was a high quality colorfast cotton thread acquiring its name because it was made in Turkey.

Around the turn of the century, preprinted square blocks of muslin were sold for a penny, which became know as “penny squares.”  When I look at penny squares from those times, I get caught up in wondering who stitched them.  I wonder were they were and what was going on around them as they sat stitching…

By the 1930’s, redwork lost its popularity, but it is making a comeback.  With me, anyway!

I’ll tell you something else I like about redwork – I tend to like whimsical patterns and stitching in red helps those patterns not look like they belong in a nursery. :) 

If you are interested in this free embroidery pattern, I found it here.  DMC #304 is the floss that I used, since it is a good match for “Turkey red.” It has a pretty, slightly burgundy red tint, which works perfectly with the color scheme in my decor.

I backstitched the girl, fireplace bricks, and fine details of her dress, since it is a thin stitch.  For her clothes and fireplace, I used an outline and stem stitch because it is thicker, goes rather quickly, and follows curves well.  A satin stitch made her bow and shoes pop.  If I had it to do over again, I would have used less strands of thread for the picture on the wall.  My lazy daisy stitches and French knots are too thick.  But I love the imperfections in vintage handwork as much as the precise stitches so I will just leave it be…I think…  I’m not sure which I did more – put in stitches or remove stitches!  I am ready to move on to another project. :)  And I discovered, I need stronger reading glasses!     

How are you filling your summer days?

            

4 Ingredient Simple Fruit Crisp

Have you ever thought about that if you reverse the spelling of stressed, you get DESSERTS?

I’m up for reversing stress, how ‘bout you?

I came up with this crisp when I needed a quick sugary fix and didn’t want to spend much time in the kitchen.  Turns out, we love it, so I keep making it!

Fruit Crisp

2 cans fruit pie filling, any flavor (pictured is cherry)
1 box yellow cake mix
1/4 cup sugar 
1/2 cup butter or margarine

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Coat a 9 x 13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray and place pie filling in dish.

In a separate bowl, stir together sugar and cake mix; then spread evenly on top of pie filling.

Drizzle melted butter or margarine on top of cake mix evenly.  Do not stir.

Bake 325 degrees for 50 – 60 minutes.

It’s yummy alone, or served with vanilla ice cream!  I have also made this with blueberry muffin mix.  Blueberry and cherry together make a delicious combination! 

                   

Simple Southern Peach Cobbler

“Not like that,” my son replied when I told him that I wonder how to capture a good picture of peach cobbler. Oh well, I was way more interested in diving in than snapping again… Besides, a rainy day isn’t the best day for lighting pictures inside my kitchen, I rationalized, but it’s an excellent day to bake and eat a cobbler… 

There’s something homey and cozy about cobblers, don’t you think?  I’ve made this year after year, but it has evolved and changed over time into the way that we like it best. 

There is a secret to it turning out good - using an extra large baking dish – which makes a BIG difference with this recipe.  The dish that I use is about 15-inch by 1o-inch, which really gives the crust room to become golden yumminess.

Simple Southern Peach Cobbler

1/2 cup butter or margarine

1 cup self-rising flour
1 cup sugar 
1 cup milk

2 –16 oz. packages frozen peaches
cinnamon (optional and amount to taste)
3/4 cups sugar

1. Melt butter and spread evenly into large baking dish; set aside. 

2. In a bowl, mix flour, 1 cup sugar, and milk, stirring or whisking  just until blended (batter will be slightly lumpy). Spoon batter over butter, but do not stir.

3. Layer frozen peaches (no need to thaw) evenly over top of butter and batter.  Do not stir.  Sprinkle peaches with cinnamon if desired, and 3/4 cup sugar.  (Be brave with the sugar - it looks like a lot as you put it on but frozen peaches will come out too tart if you skimp.)  No stirring here, either.

Bake at 350 degrees for an hour or so (my oven takes a little longer than an hour), aiming for crust that is lightly golden.   

*This can easily be a dairy free cobbler.  I use almond milk and Blue Bonnet Light margarine, which makes batter a little thinner so I add an extra TBS or two of flour.

*If you would like a double crust cobbler (although not necessary), you can make recipe just as written and then layer a prepared pie crust over top.  Dot with a little butter, and a sprinkling of cinnamon and sugar. (Pictured is without the pie crust.)

                  

Steak and Vegetable Stir Fry

Healthy—delicious—full of flavor, and tastes like it came right out of Chinese restaurant takeout box! 

Mrs. Smith’s Steak and Vegetable Stir Fry

3/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
1/4 cup merlot
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, peeled and grated
3 tablespoons brown sugar
3 tablespoons cornstarch

1 1/2 pound flank steak, cut into thin strips against grain

3 tablespoons oil
1-2 white onions, chopped  
1 package fresh sliced mushrooms
1 bell pepper, cut into pieces  
8 oz. fresh snow peas, ends trimmed
4 zucchinis, cut lengthwise in strips (about 2 in. long and 1/2 in. thick)

jasmine rice, cooked according to package directions (using salt sparingly)

Mix ingredients for sauce together and toss with meat to marinate while you are preparing vegetables and rice.

Cook rice according to package directions, using half the amount of salt that the package calls for.

Meanwhile, add oil to a large skillet or wok and heat.  Cook each set of vegetables separately, until desired tenderness, and set aside on platter.  (Add more oil if needed.)

In hot skillet, cook beef and marinade in two batches, until no longer pink.  (Cook quickly, keeping your skillet hot.)

Once the second batch of beef is browned, leave it in skillet and add to it the first batch of beef, and all of the vegetables.  Stir and fry just until hot.  Serve over rice.

*  Soy sauce has a high sodium content so you definitely want to use low sodium soy or the dish will taste way too salty.

*  Carrots and green onions make a nice addition too.  For a quicker meal, use just one or two vegetables. (You may need to adjust amount of marinade down to about 3/4 cup instead of 1 cup.)

*  If steak is slightly frozen, it will cut easier.  It is convenient to cut it ahead of time, then freeze in a freezer bag for later use.

*  You can freeze ginger for later use also.  Just wash, peel,  and chop into useable size pieces.  Store in freezer bag.

Baked Potatoes, Steakhouse Style

I love potatoes and this is my favorite way to bake them, especially when piled high with lots of yumminess!  

Steakhouse Baked Potatoes

Idaho Potatoes

Canola or Vegetable Oil

Kosher Salt

In a baking dish, pour enough oil to lightly coat potatoes on all sides.  Roll each spud around in oil until skin is well covered.  Generously sprinkle Kosher Salt all over potato skin.  On middle oven wrack, bake uncovered at 400 degrees for 1 hour. 

Load it up with all your favorites and enjoy!     

Bakin’ Bacon

“Well, of course,” you might think, but just in case you haven’t thought of it, you can put away that frying pan and make it easier on yourself.

Baked Bacon

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

2. Arrange bacon in a single layer in a large baking dish or cookie sheet with raised edges.  

3. Place pan on middle wrack and bake 20-30 minutes or until browned and crispy.

4. Immediately remove from pan with spatula and pat off excess fat with paper towels.  (I save grease to season other dishes.)

Quote from my mom—“My daddy lived to be 91 and he ate bacon and eggs for breakfast every day of his life.” (Still, a daily diet of bacon might not be the best plan. )

Glazed Apple Cake

I love apple cake, and this is my go to recipe that I like to use. Enjoy it fresh from the oven, but it is even better the next day!

Glazed Apple Cake

4-5 peeled, diced apples (I use Granny Smith apples)
2 cups sugar
1 cup chopped pecans, optional

1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
3 cups sifted all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

2 eggs, beaten
1 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla

Glaze:

1 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
2 tablespoons apple juice

In a large bowl, mix diced apples, sugar, and nuts. Let stand for one hour, stirring often so that the mixture makes its own juices.

Preheat oven 325 degrees.

Sift flour with other dry ingredients in a medium sized mixing bowl.  Set aside.

In a small bowl, beat eggs with a wire whisk.  Then add oil and vanilla with eggs and whisk until mixed well.

Add egg mixture and dry ingredients to apples.  Hand stir cake batter just until combined.

Pour into greased and floured 10 inch tube or fluted pan. Bake 325 degrees for about 1 hour, or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Pour glaze on cake as soon as it comes out of oven.

Cool 15 minutes on wire rack.  Loosen edges from pan with knife and turn out onto rack.  

When completely cooled, transfer to cake plate with glazed side on top.

I hope you are enjoying some delightful fall weather!  As always, thank you for visiting!

Simply Chatter: Summer Days Dawn

I’ve heard it said that it is so hot the hens have laid hard-boiled eggs—that pretty much sums up our temps lately!

We’ve been helping my mom move to an apartment, and bidding our goodbyes to my childhood home. My kids are grieving as much as my mom and I are.

There is just something about a grandmother’s home, isn’t there?

Meanwhile, back on our home front,

I never know what I might find on my memory card when I pop it into my computer….

My oldest. . . .He’s always entertaining!

At least he still has all of his toes.  I may lose a few, because of

my new little friend“Bubbles” - a Chinese Crested Powder Puff.  She is sweet, but mistakes me for her chewy toy!

Don’t you just love mornings?  We have finished up our homeschool year, so they have been especially quiet and peaceful.

I snapped this one morning as I walked around our yard filled with heavy fog,

delighted over some blooms,

spent some quiet time with the Lord, and enjoyed a God breeze.

Back inside and up the stairs to check on the kids,

this was the scene from my oldest daughter’s room.

For us today, it is off to town we go, hoping to get my mom on the internet at her apartment.  She is like us and miserable without her window to the world!

Hope that your day is blooming with joy!