Still making those lists, checking them twice!

Sorry, Dee. I know you probably didn’t want to see those words again!

I’m still making lists, one of the best ways to avoid missing something I must do for Christmas Eve. So there’s the gift list and the wrap list. One is done the other is slowly being whittled down.

There’s the food list which I haven’t even begun, but must do so that I can start the food shopping this weekend. Then there’s the Cuban food list because to get a lot of the things I need for Christmas Eve I have to head up to Union City, home of La Roca grocery store and El Fenix Bakery!

But while I am making all those lists and checking them often, I’m still taking time out to enjoy this holiday season. In spite of the cold, it’s one of my favorite times of year.

This morning I walked through Bryant Park where The Pond is open for business. Skating is free if you have your own skates. There are also a number of food and gift kiosks all around The Pond. Hope you enjoy this photo below or if you can’t see it, click here to see The Pond at Bryant Park.

Sexy Santa Lights

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, everywhere you go . . .

Including the website! We’ve decorated it a little for the holidays and I hope you like it.

So getting into the holiday mood this week in other ways. Spent all my day and evening yesterday decorating the house and moving around the tables in the dining room so we can fit in all the people that are coming for Christmas Eve. We’re expecting 27 people and am I’m so excited about it! It’s always nice to share the spirit of love and friendship at Christmas and at my house, there is always room at the inn for another person.

For today, however, we’re going to get naughty with our sexy Santa lights to help you get into the holiday spirit if you’re not already feeling it. Many thanks to my friends at the Writing Playground for originally introducing me to this wonderful man!

christmastree

Green Bean Casserole

Courtesy Campbell's Kitchen Used under Fair Use ProvisionsWith the holidays here, this is one of my favorite dishes to put on the table! Yep, it’s the classic green bean casserole. My sister gave me an alternate recipe to use this Thanksgiving which was really tasty, but I also like this creamier traditional recipe, but with a little kick of course!

For the Campbell’s Traditional Green Bean Casserole recipe, you can click here. But why not try this variation on the classic!

Ingredients:

    1 medium onion chopped
    2 cloves garlic minced
    4 tablespoons butter
    4 cups cooked green beans (frozen or fresh work best)
    1 can Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom soup
    1/2 cup milk (or for an even creamier taste substitute half and half)
    1 to 2 cups French’s Cheddar Cheese Fried Onions
    1 cup parmesan cheese grated
    1 cup grated cheddar cheese

Directions:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • If using fresh green beans, wash and cut into 2 inch pieces.
  • Steam/Microwave green beans until just tender. Set aside to cool in a large mixing bowl.
  • Saute onion and garlic in the butter over low heat until they are caramelized.
  • Add 1/2 cup milk/half & half and scrape all the brown bits off the bottom of the pan (this is much easier to do if you are using a non-stick pan.)
  • Add mushroom soup mix and stir until creamy.
  • Add onion/mushroom soup mixture to the green beans and toss. Then add 3/4 cups of both the parmesan and cheddar cheeses and toss. Also add about 1/2 cup of the French’s Fried Onions and toss.
  • Lightly grease 2 quart casserole dish. Place green bean mixture into casserole and top with the remaining French’s Fried Onions, parmesan and cheddar cheeses.
  • Bake in 350 degree oven for about 30 minutes or until bubbly.

For another variation, fry up some chopped red peppers and add to the mixture!

Thankful Thursday

thanksgivingWhile doing my weekly shopping, I’ve noticed that the commercial juggernauts of Halloween and Christmas are seemingly displacing one of my favorite holidays – Thanksgiving.

I love Thanksgiving. I look forward to going to my sister’s house and getting together with family and friends to celebrate the wonderful gifts we’ve been given. As we sit down to eat our delicious meal, replete with so many tasty treats, we all take a moment to express for what we’re thankful. Even though some of those thanks seem redundant – family and friends – there are lots of things in our minds which we may not have the time to express in that short Thanksgiving moment.

So this year, take a moment to reflect and be thankful on your blessings. No, not the new car, Wii or other material things. Be thankful for those things that can’t be measured, like the Liberty that’s safeguarded by our military men and the sacrifices of their families, the law enforcement officers and firefighters who keep our homes safe, good health, friends who’ve got your back and of course, the family that supports you in all that you do.

It makes me think of a saying that I’ve seen recently – The important things are not things.

So true. I’ll carry that thought over to Christmas and remember the reason why we celebrate on that day.

How about you? What will you be thankful for this Thanksgiving?

Also, if you’ve got the time, come visit with me and my friend and fellow author Chris Redding. I’m blogging there today! You can click here or cut and paste this link: http://chrisredddingauthor.blogspot.com

Fun Friday – Christmas Lights and Love

Wow! I’m back from a truly wonderful Christmas holiday! Lots of time spent with family and friends which is my favorite part of the Christmas season. We went and got the tree last Friday when my daughter got home from college, decorated it, put up the lights and decorations for the house and then prepped to have family and friends over on Christmas Eve and visit with more family on Christmas Day. All in all, it was terrific and I hope you all had a wonderful holiday with your family and friends.

This morning the TV anchors were talking about “toning down” Christmas and certainly I was more careful about spending, but not about the most important part of Christmas — sharing the holiday with my loved ones.

But there is one person who certainly didn’t tone down Christmas. Check out this amazing light display on a home outside of Cincinnati. My good friend and fellow author, Rayna, sent this clip originally and commented that this is what happens when you let your teen geek set up the holiday lights. LOL!

Have a truly wonderful weekend and see you again on Monday.