Fun New Year’s Meal idea!

December 30, 2007 in Food and Drink

  Thanksgiving was delicious and special – but our Christmas Day meal was fun and a lot easier. PIZZA!! Lynn went to a local pizzeria and purchased ready made pizza dough (freezes well!). I cut up every kind of topping you could think of and everyone got to make up their own little personalized pizzas. Lynn brought her pizza stone – which we kept heated up in the oven and it made for a delicious crust. Robert and Dallas showed off by tossing our pizza dough in the air. (I failed as an action photographer – we hooted and hollered when the dough flew in the air like a couple of UFO’s!) If you’re struggling for ideas for New Year’s – Pizza may be your answer. 

My holiday is extended this year – my mom and sis are here now for our Family Christmas. “It’s the most wonderful time of the year!”

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Best Gift Ever!

December 27, 2007 in Christmas

Merry Merry Christmas! I’ve been on holiday from “blogsville” over Christmas – but wanted to share with you my most wonderful Christmas moment and my funniest gift too.

 

My so-sweet 18 year old son had three gifts for me (which just that in itself, was quite impressive). One was an envelope which he requested that I open last. I opened it up to find two pages of college rule paper filled with his handwriting. He had written no less than a small essay about his Mom and all the reasons he was proud of me and why he respected me. He let me know that he appreciated how I had handled the transition to college and that he had found a new level of gratitude for being at home with me (serving him homemade soup!). If this wasn’t enough, he also said he aspired to share my qualities. Wow! Naturally, I had to go find myself a Kleenex to get through the letter and respond. I told him that most parents will go a lifetime without ever receiving such a wonderful gift from their child. Everything else this holiday, has just been the “Icing on the Cake.”

My friend Robert gave me a Home Tool Kit along with an hysterical Diva Tool Belt (which I am modeling here).  The belt, hammer, screwdriver and tape measure are decorated with black fluffy boa feathers and studded rhinestones!  I love it! And believe it or not, I’ve found occasion to use them already. Makes me feel like a handy “broad!” Anna’s Mom made Murphy and Anna neck scarves out of DM fleece from JoAnn’s. Wasn’t that sweet – and aren’t they cute! 

More Holiday Memories to come!

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Christmas Pageant

December 20, 2007 in Christmas

I just attended my little friend Lena’s Preschool Christmas Pageant. She was obviously the star of this performance!

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Elfing Around!

December 17, 2007 in Holidays

You have to check this link out – it’s quite hysterical.  A friend of mine did this with our photos. You too can try this and “crack up” your friends and family. If you’ve forgotten to have fun this holiday season – this will instantly remind you.   

www.elfyourself.com

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Christmas Party Recipes - Part 2

December 14, 2007 in Christmas, Recipes

Hot Crab Dip - Oven: 375º

Makes about 2 1/2 cups dip

1 pkg (8 oz.) Cream cheese, softened
1/4 c. Grated parmesan cheese
1/2 c. Green onions, thinly sliced (1/4 c. for mixture; 1/4 c. for garnish)
1/4 c. Mayonnaise or salad dressing
1/4 c. Dry white wine
2 tsp. Sugar
1 tsp. Ground mustard (dry)
1 clove Garlic, finely chopped
1 can (6 oz) Crabmeat, drained, cartilage removed and flaked
1/3 c. Sliced almonds, toasted
Paprika
Assorted crackers or sliced raw vegetables for dipping

Heat oven to 375º.Mix all ingredients except crabmeat, almonds, and crackers in medium bowl until well blended. Stir in crabmeat.
Spread crabmeat mixture in ungreased 9" pie plate, or shallow 1-quart casserole. Sprinkle with paprika, almonds, and green onions.
Bake uncovered 15-20 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Serve with crackers, veggies, or a sliced baguette.

Peach Cobbler - Oven: 350º

Melt 1 cube butter in loaf pan.
Stir in 1 c. flour and 1 c. sugar
Add 1 c. milk and stir well.
Add large can of drained peaches.

Bake 1 hour at 350º.
Let set for a few minutes.
Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream sprinkled with cinnamon.

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Christmas Party Recipes - Part 1

December 12, 2007 in Christmas, Recipes

Whenever I plan a menu for a group, I strategize about how I can get it all done and not wear myself down for party time. I like to choose some recipes that can be made ahead of time – so I can spend several hours before the party doing all the last minute preparations and put my make-up on! My strategy for this menu was to make the Chicken Divans and Brown Bread the weekend before the party and put them in the freezer. (Just remember to start thawing the day before!)

I baked the Hot Crab Dip right before guests arrived, but put it all together the night before so I just had to slip it in the oven. I mixed up the Cobbler before the guests arrived – but then put it in the over right after the Divan came out of the oven. Here’s the Divan recipe and Brown bread recipe that I’ve been using for years.

Bob's Brown Bread - Oven: 350º
2 1/2 c. Whole wheat flour
1/2 c. White flour
1/2 c. Powdered Milk
1/2 c. Brown Sugar
1 tsp. Salt
2 tsp. Soda
2 c. Milk

Heat oven to 350º.
Grease and flour two medium-size loaf pans.
In large mixing bowl, mix together all dry ingredients.
Add milk and mix until well blended.
Bake at 350º for 30-35 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center of loaf comes out clean.

Chicken Divan - Oven: 350º
Serves 8
4 Whole boneless, skinless chicken breasts (generally packaged chicken breasts are 1/2 of the breast so use 8)
   Cook in salted water one hour
Chop chicken into chunks and place in buttered casserole dish with 2-3 cups of chopped broccoli.
Mix together:
    2 cans Cream of chicken soup
    1 c. Mayonaise
    1 tsp. Lemon juice
    1 tsp. Curry powder
Pour over chicken/broccoli.
Top with:
    1 c. Shredded cheddar cheese
    1/2 c. Buttered bread crumbs
    Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
Bake at 350º for 45 minutes; longer if refrigerated.

Friday, I’ll post the Hot Crab Dip and Peach Cobbler Recipes.

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Christmas Party

December 10, 2007 in Christmas

This last weekend, I had my annual Christmas party when I have my staff over for dinner. It was a lovely evening and I believe a good time was had by all. Everyone brought a gift for our exchange. I asked Kris if she would come up with an idea for how to conduct our exchange. It's fun to mix it up every year. Her idea was to read from our book, "Mummford's Home for the Holidays." Kris did the reading for us, and everytime she said "Mummford" we passed our gift to the right and everytime she said "Crystal," we passed the gift in our lap to the left. At the end of the story, we opened the package that we ended up with. As always, the game and gift exchange brought us many laughs. When I entertain, I try to keep my menu easy and I try to prepare everything that I can ahead of time. This year my menu was:

APPETIZERS:
Hot Crab Dip with Baguette bread
Boursin Cheese and Multi-grain Crackers
Celery & Carrot sticks
Chips 
Assortment of Olives

DINNER:
Chicken Divan
Brown Rice
Bob's Brown Bread
Green Salad & dressing

DESSERT:
Peach Cobbler
Vanilla Ice Cream

(Recipes to follow throughout the week)

I wish you calmness and a few extra hours every day for your Holiday Entertaining! (not to mention - decorating, shopping, baking, wrapping and writing cards!) We must be nuts to do all this.

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Video how-to: Holiday Decorating

December 6, 2007 in Television

My recent appearance on KXLY's Good Morning Northwest demonstrating Holiday Centerpieces, Gift and Decorating Projects.

Snow Daze Table Runner and Polka Dot Napkins
Fleece Throw and Pillow
Fabric Covered Gift Boxes

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Thanksgiving Shenanigans

December 4, 2007 in Holidays

I just received this photo of some of our Thanksgiving Day shenanigans. I'm imagining some possible captions that go with this photo:
   

"Outta my way Debbie - this turkey is all mine!"

"If I whack her in the chin - surely she can't eat my drumstick."

"I'm gonna read this thermometer, even if it kills her!"

Thanks for your sense of humor, Dallas. 

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2007 Block of the Month Project...in Miniature!

December 2, 2007 in Quilting

Thank you Jaqueline of Porto Alegre-rs, Brasil for showing us the progress on your Miniature version of our 2007 Block of the Month Project. I see you are ready for the final December Block! Nice work and thank you for sharing.

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