Happy Thanksgiving 2009

Hello all, have a safe and happy holiday. Our son is now in his room enjoying solitude, a luxury he is denied while at school. He's watching his favorite shows and I just made him go shave his face. He doesn't run out of razors too much while gone. I think he has a nice face and I want to see it.

It's good to be home, I'll sleep so much better in my own bed tonight. Pies are almost done baking, tomorrow I'll do the muffins, then we'll go to Steve's brother's house to have Thanksgiving with them. They're excited to see Isaac, he's not been around much this summer. We haven't seen him since July, hard to believe it's been that long.

Pumpkin pie, Holiday and Thanks

I'll be off to get Sonny tomorrow.

I've baked Mike's pumpkin pie, I'll deliver it to him at work tomorrow along with a cool whip for topping. He enjoys getting one to share with the neighbors on Thanksgiving. I have made him a pie every year since we started working together (2001??) . He's always speechless and not very gracious. I mean that with all the sincerity in the world, you have to KNOW Mike to appreciate that remark. He's my most favorite person in the world to poke and pick at..........he takes it all in good stride. I've adopted him to be my brother. SHHH!! Don't tell him, we want him around to enjoy the holidays.

Here's my masterpiece, they always look best when it is a pie you aren't taking for your own family to allow them to see your pie making skills. (or so it seems)











While on our trip to Arkansas with my dear in laws Steve got me a Pandora bracelet. I just LOVE it, I've gotten birthstones for all the family members, Eeyore, a giraffe, my favorite animal on the ark, a snake because my grand kids love to chase them in the yard. A 'mother' charm because I think that defines your greatest accomplishment in this world, esp. if the children turn out good!!!! An owl for my baby girl who is such a 'hoot', a to go coffee mug because I am a fan of mochas, lattes and cappuccinos.

It has ballet slippers for my little 'performer' Miss O. It's a ton of fun getting charms for it, I've worn it almost daily since I got it. Thanks STEVE!!!!











I wish I could have gotten a better photo of Eeyore, he has a gold bow on his rear end, it cracks me UP!!!! I collect hearts so I have a gold heart on there, and a pumpkin, we were in Arkansas in Oct. so that one is to remind me the time we spent with Jim and Joyce, they are so special to us all the time. So happy we could spend a week with them on that bus trip.

Thursday we'll give a special "What/Who I am thankful for" prayer to Kim, Kevin, Pattye, Pete R, Sharon, Barry, Chadd, Linda, Betty, Scott, Mark, Marc, Paul and Lianne.

I am so thankful for healthy grand kids, Michelle and Wendy, Riles, the 3 Study kids, and most of all my good friends, they're the strongest of all because they put up with me for 3 days in Tucson many years in a row, Feb. 2010 included. Matt, Aimee and Sandy, I'm sorry......naw, not really!!! Let's don't forget Paula who endured all of our antics...she was the sturdiest of all because she was expecting her last little boy during that trip, we didn't make her sick ONCE!!!

Oh and my newest most delightful friend RUTH. I love her open honest personality. What I love most is she plays no games, shoots from the hip and leaves no question where you stand. Without all that you can get down to the business of enjoying each others company and becoming good fast friends. I adore her already and we've only known each other a short time.

Lastly my hubby and those 2 children I am most proud of, thanks for putting up with your crazy wife and your lunatic MOM.

If you're wondering why all this 'mush' is coming early, I'll be traveling most of tomorrow and Wed. When I get home I'll spend the rest of Wed. baking, Friday I'll be traveling again, I won't have time to post!!!

Thanksgiving recipes Nov. 23, 2009

Cranberry Delight Spread

1 8oz. package cream cheese
2 Tablespoons concentrated orange juice
1/8 tsp. cinnamon
1 Tablespoon sugar
zest of 1 orange
1/4 c. finely chopped pecans, optional
1/4 c. finely chopped dried cranberries

Town House Crackers

1. In bowl of electric mixer, combine cream cheese, orange juice, cinnamon and sugar on medium speed until smooth.
2. Fold in orange zest, pecans and cranberries. Refrigerate. Garnish with cranberries or zest of orange. Serve with Town House Crackers. Makes 1.5 c. spread

Thanksgiving recipes

Some things just bear repeating. I'll repost the cranberry muffin recipe, it's one of our best.

This has been a family favorite for 30 years, this recipe was found in a magazine when I first married. It's been a family tradition for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I generally place all the dry ingredients into a zip lock bag a week before the holiday, this allows all the seasonings to meld into the flour, giving the muffins a much better flavor. I also grind the cranberries, zest the orange, and then put them into a freezer container with the vanilla and orange juice. We like them fresh baked, so I grab it all, assemble and bake on Thanksgiving or Christmas day.....all I have to do is cut the shortening into the flour. It's so great to have all the work done ahead of time.










Cranberry Muffins

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup white sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons orange zest
1 1/2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 cup shortening
3/4 cup orange juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs, beaten
1 1/2 cups chopped cranberries
1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts

Cranberry Spread:


1 (8 ounce) can whole cranberry sauce
2 tablespoons brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup margarine


DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray or grease a 12 cup and 6 cup muffin tin. (I use the large muffin pans and double the recipe.)

Mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, orange peel, nutmeg, cinnamon and ginger. (I mix this all together in a zip lock bag a week before the holiday to let the spices flavor the flour. I leave out the orange peel as it can mold inside the bag.)

Cut in shortening; stir in juice, vanilla, eggs, cranberries and nuts. Pour into muffin cups and bake for 25 minutes or until brown.

Prepare the topping in a saucepan over low heat by whisking together the cranberry sauce, brown sugar and margarine. Cook until heated and smooth. Remove from heat and serve as a spread for the muffins.

Recipe Friday Nov. 20th Sweet Potato Casserole

This is a traditional casserole we cook every holiday, we don't do sweet potatoes with marshmallows on them since finding this recipe. It's the bomb.











Sweet Potato Casserole

3 cups mashed cooked sweet potatoes
1/2 c. white sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 c. melted butter
1/2 c. cold milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1 c. packed brown sugar
1/3 c. all purpose flour
1 Tablespoon butter
1 c. chopped pecans

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Spray one 2 1/2 qt. casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray.
2. In a large bowl, combine sweet potatoes, sugar, eggs, 1/4 c. butter, milk and vanilla. Pour into prepared dish.
3. Mix together the brown sugar, flour, butter and pecans, sprinkle over casserole.
   
4. Bake at 350F for 25-30 min.
   

Got the crud

I spent the whole day in bed today, I was up for about an hour to drink some hot tea and take some ibuprofen. I ache, my throat feels swollen, I can hardly swallow, and I have a ton of drainage. I just don't have time to be sick!!!

I'll be at work tomorrow at 0600..........the refrigerator there needs a good cleaning. Then I'll catch up on my work from today.........and then go see New Moon after work.

I am looking forward to that, I rarely go to the movies, but this one I can't miss.

I hate hospitals.........even if I work in one!!!

Little sis called me from an emergency room. She had some weird symptoms, told me they were admitting her, Steve and I went over to sit with Jason to see what was going on..........she had a test, will have more tomorrow.

When we left she looked like she'd been put through the ringer. She was ordering dinner when I left.

I'm praying for her to be ok, maybe just need a pill and nothing else.

Keep her in your thoughts, would you please????