Merry Christmas

HO HO HO Merry Christmas....I'm going to be very busy the next few days so I'm going to wish you all a very Merry Christmas now. The kids will be here in awhile so I need to finish wrapping presents and finish the last minute baking. I hope Santa brings you all your dreams. May God Bless you and keep you safe during the holidays.

White Christmas

It's finally starting to like Christmas around here. WHOOOOHOOOO :-)
We've had rain all week and it finally starting snowing a little while ago. We have 3" so far and it's still coming.

The kids start coming in tomorrow so it will really start feeling like Christmas around here. I just wish all the kids could be here it would be fun to have all our grandkids at once. This year we get to spend Christmas with two of our 4 sons and thier families. We will miss the rest of them.

Stuffing Recipe

Anyone cooking a turkey for Christmas?

Here is a turkey recipe that also includes the use of popcorn as a stuffing -- imagine that. When I found this recipe, I thought it as perfect for people like me,
who just are not sure how to tell when poultry is thoroughly cooked, but not dried out. Give this a try.



8 - 15 lb. turkey
1 cup melted butter
1 cup stuffing (Pepperidge Farm is Good.)
1 cup uncooked popcorn (ORVILLE REDENBACHER'S LOW FAT)
Salt/pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brush turkey well with melted butter
salt, and pepper. Fill cavity with stuffing and popcorn. Place in
baking pan with the neck end toward the back of the oven.

Listen for the popping sounds. When the turkey's butt blows the
oven door open and the bird flies across the room, it's done.


Sorry lady's but I couldn't resit. I hope you had a good laugh ;-)

Have a great day!

Glitter Ornaments

Glitter Ornaments are very popular this year so I wanted to share with you how easy and inexpensive they are to make....all you need is

Clear Glass Ornament (I bought mine at Micheals)
Super FINE Glitter (I used Martha Stewart) I tried other types but SUPER FINE works the best
Liquid Hair Spray (I got mine at the dollar store)
Rhinestones
White Self Liner or color of your choice.

I embellished mine with rhinestones I found at Micheals. The names I cut out of with from dollar store white self liner using the cricut

I also made these cute little boxes from the cricut cartridge tags,bags,boxes and more to put them. If you make them be sure and use card stock weight paper. I used double sided so they were just as cute on the inside. I made them on a 12x12 mat. I used the largest setting I could and still stay within the cutting lines.

The little hat is for our newest grand daughter Eliana....isn't it adorable? I'm also making her a white one. Any ideas on what color to make the flower?

Have a great day!

Peppermint Mint Fudge

It's been Cold and Rainy here and we have no snow yet. I'm hoping for a White Christmas so hopefully we will get some soon. Christams Eve would be good then I won't have to worry about the kids driving in the snow to get here. Then it can go away until 2012 LOL. Most of the our kids are coming here for the Holidays. We wish they could all make it but that doesn't look like it's going to happen this year.


I've been busy finishing up Christmas presents,holding retreats,still trying to get unpacked from the move and get Holiday Baking done.

Today I am making Chex mix and Candy. Here is my recipe for

Peppermint Mint Fudge


12 ounce package vanilla chips
16 ounce can vanilla frosting
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
8 drops red food coloring if desired
crushed peppermint candies or candy canes or a smattering of peppermint sprinkles

Line an 8-inch square pan with wax paper. Melt the vanilla chips in the microwave, stirring until smooth. Mix in the frosting and peppermint extract. Spread the creamy goodness into the prepared pan. Drip the food coloring over the fudge and swirl decoratively with a knife. Sprinkle with crushed candies and chill until set.
I promise you won't be able to stop eating this :-) it is so yummy

GYPSY BUNDLE

I Love Love Love my Gypsy so I want to share this great deal with you. Over at Cricut.comThey have the Gypsy portable design studio, a chic gold/black silicone sleeve to protect and adorn your Gypsy, a stylus 3 pack (each a different color), and a vehicle power adapter so you can take the show on the road. All this for $109. This is a great deal for any of you who have been thinking of getting one or maybe you need to let Santa know where to pick one up for you!

Does your family like Rice Crispy Treats who doesn't right. Wells here is a recipe you are going to love.

TOASTED CANDY BAR RICE CRISPY TREATS

Ingredients
12 Cups Rice Crispy cereal
2 10.5 oz bags mini marshmallows
6 Tablespoons butter
1 Cup chocolate chips
3 Cups mini marshmallows
10 mini Twix candy bars, chopped
10 mini Snicker candy bars, chopped

1. Prepare rice crispy treats according to directions on the cereal box, make sure to DOUBLE the recipe. Press into a buttered 9X13 inch baking dish.

2. Preheat oven’s broiler and position top rack in middle of oven NOT the top (if rack is to close to the broiler, the marshmallows will burn). Sprinkle chocolate chips over rice crispy treats. Sprinkle 3 Cups mini marshmallows over top. Broil just until marshmallows start to puff and turn golden brown.

3. Remove from oven and press chopped candy bars over toasted marshmallows. Let cool for at least 1 hour before serving. Hope you enjoy! It doesn't last long aroung here so before and get some before it is gone!

Have a great day!
Bonnie

I saw this over at Cookies and Cupcakes and knew I had to make it for my grandkids for Christmas. Go on over to her blog for detailed instructions.

Hot Chocolate Cones

Another favorite are these cute stocking stuffer. They're great for the kiddo's both big and small! Who doesn't love hot chocolate!

Hot Chocolate Cones

Ingredients

Plastic Piping Bags, hot chocolate mix, chocolate chips or peppermint candies crushed, mini marshmallows, chocolate kiss


You need two bags per cone.

1. Add the drinking chocolate to one piping bag -- I put in about 4 table spoons. Tape or tie off the top of the bag with an elastic band and snip off the top of the plastic leaving about 1/2 inche of plastic above the tie.
2. Insert the drinking chocolate cone into your second plastic piping bag.Hold formally round the top so the chips don't fall down the side.
3. Add in chocolate chips (just as much as you think looks good).
4. Add mini marshmallows on top
5. Add a Chocolate on top of that. You could add a gumdrop, after dinner mint,crushed candy canes or peppermint candies ect. Then just tie it all of at the top with an elastic band.

6.Add ribbon, and tag and a little how to on the bag of the tag (snip of the end of the cone to empty the chocolate into a cup - add chocolate chips, milk and water. It's so so Easy, Hope you Enjoy!!!

These cones are also adorable filled with different size and colors of gumballs,jellybeans,skittles ect.

Christmas Stocking Tradition

Our stocking tradition started 32 years ago when I made these felt stocking for my boys.











Since then I have made over 20 more. Here are a couple of the others












My daughter-in-law Jessica is the one who started this. She wanted me to make one for her and then everyone wanted one. LOL I now try to have one done for each child on their first Christmas. After many years and stockings later we now have walls covered in felt stocking. The stockings all stay at our home. One of the first thing the kids do when they get for here for Christmas is look to see where their Stocking is hung. Even if they can't read they know which stocking is theirs :-)

We want to hear what are some of your families favorite Christmas Traditions?
Have a great day!

Swedish Cream Waffers

This has to be my all time favorite cookie recipe. I don't think I am the only one in my house either....they are gone before I can even get them frosted!

Swedish Cream Wafers
makes: 5 dozen

1 cup butter, softened
1/3 cup heavy whipping cream
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
granulated sugar
Combine the butter and whipping cream.
Add the flour.
Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 375F.
On a floured board, roll out 1/3 of the dough at a time to 1/8 inch thick.
Cut with 1-1/2 inch round cookie cutter.
Place lots of granulated sugar in a shallow bowl.
Coat cookies with the sugar on both sides.
Place rounds on ungreased baking sheets.
Prick each round with a fork about 4 times.
Bake 7 to 9 minutes.
Let cookies cool.

filling
1/4 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sifted powdered sugar
1 egg yolk, optional
1 teaspoon vanilla
food coloring, optional Make the filling by beating 1/4 cup butter, powdered sugar, egg yolk and vanilla together.
Tint with food coloring, if desired. I use red and green for Christmas and add peppermint instead of vanilla


When cookies have cooled make sandwiches by placing some filling between two cookies.

Kicked up Paper Christmas Tree

Do you remember making Christmas Tress out of Reader Digest or some other old magazine? I saw these on someones blog and I am so sorry I don't remember who's. If anyone knows please let me know so I can give them the credit they are do.

Anywhoo....Aren't they gorgeous? Click on picture to enlarge. Guess what I will be doing today....Yep. I already have my magazines ready so while I'm watching the News I will be folding my magazines. My DH brought me home spray paint last night so I'm ready to go :-)

For those of you who have never made these they are very simple. Take your magazine and break the spine now take the top of the first page and fold it into the spine then fold the bottom of the page up into the spine. See how it resembles a tree. Continue until all the pages are folded, decorate as desired. This is a great project for the KIDS!

Banana Stuffed French Toast

Over the next 25 days I thought it would be fun to share some of our families favorite recipes,traditions and gifts.

Here is a favorite breakfast recipe. I don't remember where I got this recipe but I've been making it for years now. It is one of my husbands favorites it's also a great recipe for Christmas morning since it can be made the night before and popped into the oven to cook while the kids are opening their presents. ENJOY!


Banana Stuffed French Toast
8 slices of texas toast
3 bananas
4 eggs
1 small can evaporated milk
1 tbl vanilla

Tear toast and put in bottom of 12x9 pan. Mash bananas add milk eggs and vanilla pour over bread and soak overnight.

Streusel Topping
1/4 cup butter melted
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup pecans chopped

mix together and pour over bread mixture just before baking. Bake at 350 for 30-45 minutes. Serve with powdered sugar or syrup


What are your families favorites? Let us know....we'd love to hear from you! Have a great day.