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.

Store bought

I never did get around to making those easy no bake chocolate, peanut butter cookies last night. I’m going to be that person. I plan to leave early for work and stop by the grocery. Plan B; lots of miniature candies. How did I ever let myself sink so low?

Chocolate chip cookies

We all have a favorite chocolate chip recipe. For me, I love the Nestle Tollhouse recipe with semi sweet chocolate chips and real butter. However; my husband prefers a different cookie concoction. He likes his made with margarine and milk chocolate chips. I’m not about to make two batches of chocolate chip cookies, but a nice compromise would be welcomed. I have put off making one of my favorite cookies due to the dilemma mentioned above. I may or may not battle this today, but it’s crossed my mind more than I’d like to mention. I’d love some help on the matter. What is your cookie of choice?

My husband’s tuna salad

This one makes me laugh. I don’t know why, but it just does. Anyways, here it is.

1 can Bumblebee Albacore tuna in water, partially drained

4 hard boiled eggs, chopped

mayonnaise, enough to bind everything together

1/2 cup (or more)  shredded cheddar cheese

salt and pepper

Mix everything together. Serve on slightly toasted wheat bread.

Egg Salad

24 mini croissants

8 hard boiled eggs, chopped

1/2 cup Mayonnaise

1/4 cup mango chutney

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

1/4 cup minced red onion

1 TBS lemon juice

1/2 TBS red wine vinegar

dash of Tabasco

1 1/2 tsp cumin (I love the stuff so I always add more)

1/2 tsp coriander

1/4 tsp chili powder

salt and pepper to taste

Combine all and let the  flavors combine. Overnight works best, but not all of us have time for that. Serve on mini croissants.

Smoked Salmon

1 pkg smoked salmon of your choice

1/4 red onion, diced

1 1/2 Tbs. capers

3 to 4 Roma tomatoes, sliced

lemon juice

1 container of chive and onion flavored cream cheese

1 pkg of crescent rolls

Roll out crescent rolls to form a large rectangle. Bake according to package directions. Next, spread cream cheese all over. Then, top with capers and onions. Arrange sliced tomatoes in neat rows on top of the cream cheese mixture and then top each tomato with smoked salmon. Drizzle lemon juice all over and cut into squares with a pizza cutter.