Our Tree 2009 Style

Our tree is up and it’s glorious! Instead of dragging out the giant box of ornaments, I picked out a few of my favorites and used candy canes to fill in the rest. Um, hello! Talk about easy! When it is time to take down the tree, clean up will be a cinch. Not only does the tree look great, but it tastes great too.

This year our tree is decorated in colored lights. Can I tell you how happy this makes me? I know, I know… a lot of people out there find colored lights tacky. I, on the other hand, do not. I love them!! Multicolored lights remind me of Christmas when I was a kid.  I want this Christmas to feel like it did when I was a kid. No stress. Only the anticipated joy of Christmas morning.

So much for setting limits…

There goes my three dish rule. I’m up to four and counting. The good news is that I have the day off from work on Wednesday. That should allow plenty of to bake/cook my four plus items. Geez! Who am I kidding? Most certainly myself. Even my husband laughed when I told him that I was only making three dishes for Thanksgiving. Here is what I have so far.

Butternut Squash Gratin

Strawberry Pretzel Salad (back by popular demand)

Southwestern Corn and Tomato Bake

Pumpkin Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting (courtesy of Bon Appetit)

Possibilities:

Baguettes with Goat Cheese and Roasted Grape Tomatoes

Smoked Salmon Dip

Green Beans with Shallots, Butter and Lemon (easy, but a must if we don’t have enough greens)

I had such a fabulous weekend. Not only did I get all of my grocery shopping done, but I managed to conquer Christmas shopping as well. I have all but three gifts purchased. I have a good feeling about this holiday season. Peace is definitely in the air.

 

Setting Limits

This year, I’m going to limit myself to making three dishes per holiday. I always start off with intentions of making two or three dishes and end up making double that amount. I get carried away and I want to make every holiday recipe imaginable.  There is an arsenal of recipes just dying to be tried. I have family traditions begging to be spruced up. Nope, I’m sticking to my guns. Three dishes and I’m done. Hey, maybe I’ll even have time to throw in a movie. My husband sure would love that.

Buttermilk Pie

It’s probably my favorite comfort food/dessert. It goes perfect with my morning coffee. It makes a great afternoon snack and tastes splendid after dinner. I guess this goes without saying. I made buttermilk pie on Saturday. Oh how I love me some buttermilk pie. Now that it’s almost gone I have a new dilemma on my hands. What am I to do with a half gallon of buttermilk?? First to be made is another buttermilk pie. Next, I’m thinking Ranch dressing, buttermilk mashed potatoes, but what else? I need some sweet ideas.

The Strawberry Patch

Okay, so we all know that I love my coffee. And I don’t just love my coffee. I LUUUUUUVVV my coffee! I have found my coffee soul mate. It’s the Salado blend from a little known place called The Strawberry Patch in Salado, TX. Lucky for me and you, their coffee as well as other products are available online. You could make a weekend out of Salado, TX and stay at the Stagecoach Inn. Get a little R&R along with your favorite coffee or enjoy it like I do in front of the computer.