Cranberry Yams Recipe

November 26, 2006 in Recipes

Cranberry Yams (from Tamy, my hairdresser)

1 package fresh Cranberries
1 large can sliced Yams
1 cube butter (softened)
1 cup oatmeal
1/2 cup brown sugar (packed)
1/4 cup flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Butter or Pam a medium size casserole dish.
Toss together the yams and cranberries in the casserole dish
Mix separately the butter, oatmeal, flour, brown sugar and cinnamon
Mix half the mixture in with the yams and cranberries
Spoon the rest on top, dot with butter
Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 35-40 minutes

Enjoy!

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My Idaho Thanksgiving Adventure

November 26, 2006 in Family, Food and Drink, Friendship, Holidays

I just have to tell you about my fun Thanksgiving.  I have a very special group of friends that I consider "family."  In fact we call ourselves "Ohana" which means extended family in Hawaiian.  So, as tradition has it, we spent the holiday together.  This year we went to Lynn and Neil's who live on Hoodoo Mountain in Idaho.  Packed with pies and all the ingredients to make a new Cranberry Yam recipe, my son and I drove up right after work on Wednesday.  All 14 of us decided to spend the night (just because it's so much more fun).  Big, huge, silver dollar size snowflakes started to fall just as I was starting to drive up the mountain.  And they never stopped.  It was fun to watch them coat the ground, the trees and the power lines.  You get where I'm going now, don't you?  (Power lines was the clue)  Early (like 4 am) on Thanksgiving we lost power.  The 26 lb turkey was suppose to go in the oven at 6:30 am for dinner at 2:00.

We never feared that we'd starve, but our Turkey dinner was in jeopardy.  (Oh, and the pump that keeps the plumbing working is electric - so, no water or facilities either!)  Of course, being on a mountain in Idaho, they have a wood stove.  So we huddled around that in our jammies for a few hours.  On the stove we heated a ration of water for coffee.  Mary even managed to cook some chicken apple sausage and scrambled eggs on the stove for us.  Much to our relief (and a touch of disappointment) the power was back on by late morning.  And the turkey went in the oven. I managed to stay in my jammies until about 3:00pm when it was my turn to use the shower.  What a great day.  Dinner was about 4 1/2 hours later than planned - and what a feast it was.  Much to all our surprise, my 17 year old son asked if he could cook up the cranberry sauce. My pies were gone long before dinner and the new recipe for Cranberry Yams got rave reviews and we decided it was a keeper. Debbie 

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Off and running....here I go!

November 22, 2006 in Christmas, Decorating

Hi out there in blogsville!  I feel a little awkward about writing to you in such a casual forum. I know it will take a little getting used to.  I'm set up just how I need to be.  It's after midnight, I have a glass of wine, I'm in my jammies, snuggled in my bed with my laptop. Well, at least I'm snuggled with "something" in my bed!  Really, I'm exhausted and I should be sleeping instead of blogging. Sometimes you're too tired to sleep. 

Ok, so you'll never believe what I did last weekend.  It's not even Thanksgiving and I put up my Christmas decorations!  I was getting stressed and trying to imagine how I was going to get it all done - and I said to myself, "Why don't you chill a little, and just get a start on putting up the decorations!"  And now I feel so much better - I got it pretty much done.  No, I didn't do the tree, and no, I didn't put up the outside lights.  My neighbors would roll their eyes if my lights went up this early. I don't want to appear to be an over-achiever.  This year I'm not having guests on Thanksgiving - so I thought I could get away with this plan!

I love pulling out the decorations - it's just like Christmas....hmm, I guess it's almost like Christmas.  I have a personal goal to put things in different places every year.  That way it looks different and fresh to me even if it's the same stuff.  Well, I do add a few new things every year.  I just can't help myself.  There are so many wonderful decorations to choose from. 

The Christmas to-do list is a big focus right now.  Planning the calendar for a few parties and get-together's, making the gift list, figuring out if I can sell anything on eBay to raise shopping funds!  Ha!  The problem with Christmas shopping is I always manage to find more things for myself than the people on my list.  I'm always real clear when I see something that I want - but a little fuzzy when it comes to picking things out for people on my gift list.  Maybe we'll make it a gift card year.  Those gift cards aren't particularly "romantic" - but they sure are easy!  We'll see how it goes...........

Nighty-night!  Debbie

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Dancing with the Stars

November 14, 2006 in Diet, Television

So, tonight was a big night, for sure.....the finale of the Dancing competition!  Mario (my favorite) and Emmit (my next favorite) are neck and neck after competing tonight. It's such a nail biter.  I must admit, I rarely vote on these competitions - but it is so close - I thought I should follow through with my duty and call in my five allotted votes.  (for Mario!)  He had me from the very beginning.  I spent the first forty minutes on the treadmill while watching - I never have to feel guilty about watching when I'm multi-tasking and getting a "work-out" done at the same time. 

Tomorrow is a big day too and not just because we'll find out the winner of "Dancing with the Stars," but because I'm going to meet with someone at Jenny Craig tomorrow morning. I've been thinking about it for at least a couple months now - and I've made the decision to act on it. 

Hopefully, they won't tell me that I'm beyond help.....My mom and my friend Lori have both done with program with success.  It sounds like an easy system since they provide you with the food.  I'll let you know what I think.

Night all, Debbie

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Look at me, I'm blogging!

November 11, 2006 in Movies, Pets

Hi Friends out there in Blogsville.  The first question I have to ask is, "What do I say, how much do I say? What is going to be interesting to you, What will be boring?" For starters, a little about my day today -   I worked at home this afternoon.  I love everyone I work with - but there is nothing like the peace and quiet of my basement studio.  I put slippers and my comfy (albeit, not so attractive) sweats on.  I put on an old movie called "The Apartment" with Jack Lemmon and Shirley McLaine to play in the background.  I love to play old movies in particular while I do art.  Today  I'm drawing Santa's.  What a life I lead that I can say the main focus of my day is Santa Claus.  Christmas is a year ' round activity for me.  Luckily, I love Christmas. 

I understand part of blogging is sharing your pets. So, let me introduce you to my cat.  Her name is Callie.  She's not one of those cats that is stand offish and independent.  She loves to holler.  And when she's not hollering, she's whining.  So, I never feel alone in the house when I'm working.  Even when she's two floors away, I hear her. 

When I spend all day at the drawing table, my favorite form of relief is to bring a glass of wine with me and soak in the tub.  If you're like me (getting older by the day!) and your neck and back get sore - try putting Epsom salts in your bath.  It's great for your muscles.  Of course, the wine really helps too!  I'm into Pinot Grigio these days.  It's light and doesn't give me a headache like red does sometimes.  Ok, enough about wine!  (for the moment, anyway) 

Ok, well this one was pretty boring....maybe I'll get better at this. 

Good news - tomorrow's Friday!  Love the weekend. 

My best to you,

Debbie

PS -Let me know if you have any good remedies for sore muscles.  I'm always looking for new remedies!

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