Happy Holidays!
December 24, 2008 in Christmas, Holidays, Quotes
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Christmas Cards — The Easy Way!
December 18, 2008 in Christmas, Holidays, Technology, Weblogs
Even if you are one of the organized ones who mailed Christmas Cards this year you can still send an extra little Holiday Greeting using easy to send e-cards. The beauty of e-cards is that it takes just a few minutes, they’re FREE and you can say Happy Holidays to anyone (even work associates or Facebook friends) as long as you have their email address. The cool thing is you can send multiples at one time too. Remember, the greatest gift is spreading kindness.
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Last Minute Gifts
December 11, 2008 in Christmas, Creativity, Quilting
Still looking for some quick ideas to finish up your list with some real Christmas creativity? Anyone would appreciate keeping the chill off their neck with a colorful fleece scarf.
And if you’re budgeting your time and dollars (who isn’t!?)
– you can make four scarves out of one yard of fleece! (we wear them in the office whenever the temperature drops) And if you’re in the mood to work with fleece,
try our new twist on a fleece throw. Keep peace in the family by making everyone their own personal cozy blankie. (No fighting over the fleece!) Gift baskets are always a favorite, and just to change it up a little we put a colorful collection of winter goodies in a bright, shiny bucket embellished with scrapbooking letters. And, don’t forget your favorite quilter. Our new book, “Cuddle Quilts for Little Girls and Boys” is now available. Good luck pulling it all together. Please click on photos to view the instructions.
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Best Gift Ever!
December 27, 2007 in ChristmasMerry 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 ChristmasI just attended my little friend Lena’s Preschool Christmas Pageant. She was obviously the star of this performance!
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Christmas Party Recipes - Part 2
December 14, 2007 in Christmas, RecipesHot 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, RecipesWhenever 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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The Christmas Recap
January 1, 2007 in ChristmasMost of us seem to have survived the biggest bulk of the Holiday, by now. How
ever, there may be a few Visa Cards out there that are just simply wore out...... Mine is well trained. Actually, I think it has a mind of its own..... it sits up on my shoulder (with those devil ears and tail) and whispers in my ear - "Debbie - Look over there - it's a sale on those sweaters that you like. Since they're half price - you'll regret it if you don't get it in a couple of colors." It seems to have this power over me - because then I end up getting new jeans to go with the sweaters. I must say, it is fun getting those good after-Christmas deals!
My visit in Seattle was fun and went as planned. We truly are a disciplined group - before any gifts are open - we do every combination of photos we can come up with - all the ladies, all the boys, the boys with Grandma, etc - I know you get the idea. I just can't seem to help myself - I turn into a "hambone" and am possessed by trying to crack up the poor innocent people that are genuinely trying to pose for the photo. When Mom and Julie and I were in position - I commented that most ladies suck in their stomach - but for our group - I said, OK, ladies, "Hold in your boobies!" 
Poor mom, lost all composure and we couldn't stop laughing!
Enjoy our big laughs here! - if nothing else, at lea
st our boobies were in control.
Also, please enjoy a photo of my dear, old friend Gayle snuggling with her newest baby, Florence. Aren't they cute!! Oh, and Murphy and his girlfriend posed with Santa.....it's been a lot of years since he was willing to get any where near Santa....must be love!
Are we up for New Year's celebrations???? It's a wait and see.....
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Merry Christmas!
December 25, 2006 in Christmas
It's here, it's Christmas! Last night we celebrated my friend Neil's birthday in addition to singing a few carols and one more round of Lasagna. Today we fly off to Seattle to spend Christmas with my family. Hopefully, the airport will not be busy. This year will be a little different.......Murphy's girlfriend is coming with us and my Mom's new significant other will be with us too. My family is so small, I'm looking forward to expanding the family celebration to include them. My mom's relationship with Paul has been going strong for the last year now - so it's not really new - but new to have him at Christmas.
Murphy's girlfriend (Anna)is a vegetarian (fish and dairy are OK), so my sister, Julie, has kindly planned a Crab Lasagna for us. (Lasagna seems to be big this year!) And Uncle Ray (her husband) makes us his delicious Smoked Salmon every Christmas. In fact, it wouldn't be Christmas without that tradition. Ray caught both the crab and salmon (the Seattle advantage!). Sorry, I think his recipe is secret - but I really think it's his "touch" and years of experience that makes his the best I've ever had.
Tomorrow we've planned to see the new Ben Stiller movie (A Night at the Museum) and since I grew up in Seattle - I get to party with several old friends on the evening of the 26th. OK, well enough of my plans - I need to get to the airport and I better leave now!
Merry, Merry Christmas!
Love Debbie
