This time of year, it is just one of my most favorite things to get in the kitchen, bake and watch all the Christmas movies on Lifetime. I cannot help but tear up at each and every one of them. They seem to all have a story that is trying to show us that what is important is our relationships with our family and friends. This year, because we are moving, I am unable to have decorations out. We don’t have a tree for the second time in my life. The first time was when we had sold our house at Thanksgiving and was living with relatives during the Christmas season and I promised myself I would never do that again. It was just too hard watching all the programs with decorations, friends houses putting up lights and sitting around their trees. But….once again, here I am, during the Christmas season, without all the “things” that normally help get us in the Christmas spirit. But for some reason, I am not sad. Randy and I said goodbye last week for a month, for him to go to California and me to head back here to pack up the house. God is growing me up and continually giving me gifts of His presence. In fact, this morning, it dawned on me that the 3 weeks I was out in California was just preparation for this month. When I was at the corporate apartment, unless I called someone or they called me, I was alone for about 12 hours a day. I realize now that God was getting me used to being by myself since He knew that I would be here in Dallas without Randy. It is those things that cause me to remember that Christmas isn’t really about the decorations, the trees or the shopping. Yes, those things make it pretty, bring back so many memories as we place ornaments on the trees and shop for those we love, but it is a time to reflect on what God gave us; His Son, to carry our burdens, to come along side us when we are lonely, to save us and to perfect us as He grows us up, both, spiritually and physically. I heard an expression today on one of the movies while making a carrot cake. “Christmas reminds us that we should be grateful of Friends who are like Family, and Family who are our Friends” God has truly blessed our family with just that. We might have our little differences, but most everyday, we would pick them as friends, if they were not already our family. We are truly blessed. Merry Christmas to each of you and remember to make each day count for honoring the Christ Child, who is our reason for this most precious time of year.
Chicken Cobbler Casserole
This is so great for the Christmas season. It is quick, easy and perfect for family and friends who drop by.
6 tables melted butter, divided
4 cups cubed sourdough rolls
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tables chopped fresh parsley
2 medium size onions, sliced
1 (8 oz) package sliced fresh mushrooms
1 cup white wine (or use chicken broth)
1 (10 1/4 oz) can cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup drained and chopped jarred roasted red bell peppers
2 & 1/2 cups shredded chicken
Toss 4 tables melted butter with next 3 ingredients; set aside.
Saute onions in remaining 2 tables butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat 15 min or until golden brown. Add mushrooms and saute 5 mins.
Stir in wine or broth and next 3 ingredients; cook, stirring constantly, 5 min or until bubbly. Spoon mixture into a lightly greased 9 in sq baking dish. top evenly with bread mixture.
Bake at 400 for 15 min nor until golden brown.
Avocado Pesto-Stuffed Tomatoes
Being in Florida for Thanksgiving has allowed Christi and I to look through magazines looking for different meals, quick and easy, since she is now the proud mom of a 2 month old precious little girl. We came across this one and it is a winner:
30 cherry tomatoes ( about 1 1/4 pts)
1/2 of a medium avocado, seeded, peeled and cut up
2 oz cream cheese, softened
3 tables basil pesto
1 teas lemon juice
Snipped fresh basil
Cut a thik slice from the top of each tomato. If desired, cut a thin slice from the bottom of each tomato so it stands upright.
Using a small spoon or small melon baller, carefully hollow out tomatoes. Linve a baking sheet withh paper towels. Invert tomatoes onto the towels. Let stand for 30 min to drain.
Meanwhile, for filling, in a food processor, combine avocado, cream cheese, pesto, and lemon juice. Cover and process just until combined.
Place tomatoes, open ends up on a serving platter. Spoon filling into the tomato cups. If desired, cover loosely with plastic wrap and chill for up to 4 hours. If desired, sprinkle with snipped basil before serving and serve on basil leaves. Makes 30.
Black Friday and Sparkly Saturday
We did it, we took Kenley (2 months old) and went to the mall yesterday for her first Black Friday. We were so proud of her. She shopped like an old pro and bought her first coat, her first pair of mittens and some winter hats. She will be going to the Panhandle of Texas for Christmas and will need this items. So Pops and I had a ball looking at all the cute little pink dresses and socks. It made Black Friday for us Pink Friday. So today, Sparkly Saturday, we are headed to Disney to see a life size carousel made completely our of chocolate with 35 hidden Mickey Mouses in it. Plus a life size gingerbread house. So what a fun day this will be. I am just like a little kid when it comes to Disney. I could live there. The lights and sounds, the music and rides, they make it easy to forget the problems in our everyday lives, which we all have sometimes. So this year, because we won’t be moving, we won’t be able to even have our Christmas decor out, as it is all packed and ready for the truck to come pick up. Being able to see all the lights and Disney characters will add so much to help us get in the Christmas spirit. This Florida visit has been so good for us to reconnect with Christi and Tim and get to know precious little Kenley. It is one of the best Christmas gifts we will be receiving.
The Almond Joy Chocolate Cake that I posted a few minutes ago is amazing. I got it from one of Christ’s recipe books she brought to Florida from Lubbock, which proves once again, that Texas is the home of the best desserts…..I am headed back to Dallas on Tuesday. It will be so great to sleep in our own house, cook in my kitchen and have people dropping over. It will be the season of sharing, I am more than ready for that. As I learn more new recipes either from California or Texas, I will be sharing them with you, my friends and family who visit this site…you are all such an encouragement to me. Let’s begin this Christmas Season with a determination to keep Christ in Christmas. Share your story of what He has done in your life with someone. What a blessed gift you will be giving.
Almond Joy Cake
1 chocolate cake mix
1 12 oz can evaporated milk
2 1/2 cup sugar
24 large marshmellows
14 oz sweetened coconut
1 stick butter
2 cups chocolate chips
1 (3 oz) slivered almonds
Bake chocolate cake mix according to directions and bake in a 9 x 13 pan, which you have sprayed with Pam.
In a saucepan, comine 1/2 of the milk (6 oz), 1 1/2 cups sugar and bring to a boil. Pour over mashmellows and stir until they are melted. Add the coconut. Pour mixture over the baked chocolate cake.
In a saucepan, mix rest of sugar and milk. Bring to a boil. Remove and add chocolate chips and butter. Stir until chocolate chips are melted. Add almonds to chocolate mixture and then pour over top of cake. Chill for at least 2 hours before serving.
Thanksgiving Feast
We just got up from the talble and went for a walk. We are in Florida with Christi, Tim and Kenley and when Christi and I went to the store, we found two new recipes, so we decided to venture out and try some new things. Now Randy had already decided that he wanted pecan pie instead of pumpkin and Tim and Christi wanted chocolate pie. We also wanted a new squash casserole and a new dressing recipe, so that is what we did. We made a dressing with articoke hearts, parmesean cheese and sausage. It was delicious. We also made a squash casserole with corn chowder, shredded carrots, cheese, garlic-herb butter, croutons, bacon, onion and yellow squash. It was so good. So we have decided that not only is it the traditional green bean casserole, or turkey/gravy or ham that make the day. It is the laughter that you have, everybody in the kitchen, each one putting their own spin on their favorite food to cook. Rememer this, it is not the breaths you take that make your life, it is the moments that take your breath away that makes your life. Thank you Christi and Tim for inviting us and for the sweet memories we will have this Thanksgiving Day….we love our sweet little new princess. It was a very special Thanksgiving Day. We love you, Honey and Pops
LowFat Chicken Tostado
We are in Florida for Thanksgiving visiting our daughter, Christi and Tim and precious new grandbaby girl, Kenley. We are already preparing for the big day of turkey and talking about maybe trying new recipes we have both seen on Food Network.Com, but some recipes are just so traditionally that we cannot steer away from them, such as Green Bean Casserole. So we are compromising and trying the new Green Bean Casserole we saw on Throw Down with Bobby Flay, at a meal on Saturday. In the mean time, we are trying to eat healthy, with low fat meals, saving our calories for Thursday.
Christi cooked me the best chicken Tostado yesterday and I wanted to share it with you. You could use left over turkey in place of chicken.
4 flour tortillas
1 cup shredded chicken or turkey
1/2 cup tomatillo sauce (we used Frontera Brand)
1/2 low fat cheese
1/2 cleaned zucchini squash, shredded
olive oil
Spray each tortilla with olive oil or spray oil. Place on baking sheet and bake at 425 and bake 4 to 6 minutes, until crisp, and lightly browned.
Take out of oven and set aside. Mix chicken or turkey, squash and tomatillo sauce in saucepan and cook for about 3 to 4 min, or until heated throughly. Season with salt, pepper and a little garlic powder.
Divide and spoon meat mixture over the 4 tortillas. Sprinkle cheese over each one and place in oven for about 4 to 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.
Best Ever Chocolate Cake
3/4 cup butter
3 eggs
2 cups flour
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
1 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups sugar
2 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cup milk
Allow butter and eggs to stand at room temp for 30 min. Lightly grease bottoms and sides of 3 8x 1 1/2″ cake pans, floor each pan lightly and discard any flour that does not stick to pan. Preheat oven to 350. In medium bowl, stir the flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
In large bowl, beat butter with mixer for 30 seconds on medium speed. Gradually add sugar, about 1/4 cup at a time u till well mixed. Scrape side of bowl and beat for another 2 min. Add eggs, one at a time, beating about 1 min per addition. Alternantely add flour mixture and milk to egg and butter mixture beating for about
20 seconds per addition. Spread evenly into prepared pans.
Bake for 30 to 35 min or until cake is done in center when a toothpick is inserted.
Prepare chocolate frosting, fill and frost cake. Store cake in fridge.
Chocolate frosting:
In large saucepan, combine one 12 oz. Package (2 cups) semi-sweet chocolate chips with 1 stick butter. Heat over low heat until melted, stirring often. Cool for 5 min. Stir in one 8 oz. Carton sour cream. Gradually add 1 lb box of powdered sugar, beating until mixture is smooth. Add 1/2 teas vanilla and beat until blended. Fill and frost cake. If desired, sprinkle chocolate curls on top or crushed pecans over cake.
An Apology to My Children
I have learned something since moving to California. I admit that I have watched a little more television than I normally do since being here the last 3 weeks, and because I had not seen this certain commercial before, it was just unknown to me that my children were probably hiding resentment toward me for taking potty breaks during those most important days in their lives. After watching the commercial where the daughter looks at her mother with this horrid look on her face for having to go to the bathroom while she, the daughter, was trying on her wedding dress for alterations, and, if the mom would have taken a certain medication, would not have had to miss one minute of this momentous moment, I, with tears in my eyes, began to think of all the memories I probably ruined because I had to take a minute to go
to the bathroom.
So this is my public apology, to Jason, Jamin and Jodi, Christi and Cameron, for the
time I might of been in the bathroom when, in fact, you might have been in line,
along with 300 other children waiting your turn to walk on that stage to get your
diploma from school, or when I left the waiting room during your 12 hours of labor,
just to go potty, never knowing that while I was gone for 3 min, that you, or your
wife, were going from being dilated from a 3 to a 4. Just remembering the time I
left the gym to go to the bathroom, during the 4 hour band and choir concert when
you were 9, well, the lists just goes on and on. It’s just almost to painful to think
about, knowing that all these years, you were holding such painful memories of your
mom, thinking that she didn’t care about you during those special times. The good
news is that at this day in time, if you cannot forgive me, there is a drug for that, and a drug for me to help me forgive you for not forgiving me. Gotta close, it is time
for me to go take my pill that helps me adjust to the change of time of rolling back
the clock.
Pumpkin Cream Cheese
Ok, my daughter, Christi, just asked me if I had tried the new pumpkin flavored cream cheese? I have not seen it yet, but since I’m in a corporate apartment, with no baking pans, I have not been down the grocery isle, other than the frozen food isle. But if you are able to buy it, do so. You could use it in place of plain cream cheese for frosting on carrot cake, spice cake cupcakes, cream cheese pound cake. Wow, this will open up a whole new world of cream cheese flavor in holiday recipes. Write in and let us know of any recipes you are using it in place of regular cream cheese. Caramel-apple cream cheese dip, yum…..
