wishful thinking.: PhEW!

09 December, 2006

PhEW!

What a relief! the Christmas dinner thing is now over, and went quite well...everyone loved the appetizers, which was great, as I was a little concerned. the cheeseballs were 3 cone shapes in a group, rolled in 3 different green herbs - rather forest-looking, and everyone thought it was so neat. The bruschetta turned out great, and the sweet ladies at church helped me slice all of the bread - yahoo!! The decorations were a hit, as well, but everyone else was so tired, they began to take it all down before I could go around getting pictures! I wanted some more, but felt funny photographing my own work in front of the crowd, and, you know ladies...they will stand around and talk for 17 hours, really!

My darling husband came and helped me load up all 11 tubs of garland, teacups, toys, wrapped "gifts", candles, candleholders, and everything else I owned that could set on a table. then he said GO TO BED, and DO NOT GET UP BEFORE I DO. so I did, at 11 pm. and I did not get up today until 9 am. phew. it is a good thing there are no handcuffs in my bedroom, or I may have waken up at 4 am and found I could not move.

now, on to Christmas, and programs at church, and a cookie exchange next week, and 3 birthdays! oh - and it is our 15th anniversary on the 21st - which is the day the kids get out of school for vacation. wonder how we will work that, as I would like to go AWAY.

so...thank you to all my dear friends who are so encouraging and help me keep going. (although I am not going to far today with my poor crashed car) i love you all!!

1 comment:

Sarah said...: How's Life Treating You Today??; December 12, 2006 at 6:17:00 AM MST

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RECIPES

Chicken Spring Rolls 1 package spring roll papers. 2 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded. 1/2 head cabbage, chopped fine. 2 large carrots, shredded. 1 handful fresh, chopped spinach. 1 T chicken soup base. 2 T soy sauce. 1 T brown sugar. 2 T hot asian mustard. 2 T Red or rice wine vinegar. 3 cloves crushed garlic. 3 T finely chopped onion. 2 t creamy peanut butter. 2 t chili powder. Vegetable or peanut oil heated to 400 degrees, about 1 1/2 inches deep. Cook the chicken in liquid, preferably with some soup base, garlic, and soy sauce, until it falls apart easily. this can be done a day or two ahead and kept in fridge. Reserve 3/4 cup of liquid. Chop all veggies quite fine, shred carrots with food processor or on large cheese grater, and cook along with chicken and all seasonings/spices for 5-6 minutes over high heat - until all are just tender. place a shallow plate or bowl in the bottom of your sink, and fill with hot water. Run spring roll papers through the water for 6-10 seconds just until pliable. Place 2-3T of meat/veggie filling onto paper, just below center. fold bottom up onto mound of filling, then the two sides in, the roll it up to the top, setting aside to dry a bit. Continue with remaining papers and filling...you will probably have papers left over. Fry in oil for 3 minutes on first side, turn, 2 minutes on second side. transfer to paper towel-lined plate, allow to cool a bit and serve warm with your favorite sweet and sour sauce. Enjoy!

Chicken Curry ~ serves 10 ~ 3 Chicken breasts 3 cups long-grain brown rice, cooked (see below) 1 can coconut milk'; return true;" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 3px double; TEXT-DECORATION: none" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;" href="http://www.serverlogic3.com/lm/rtl3.asp?si=22&k=coconut%20milk">coconut milk Curry seasoning Orange juice concentrate Onion powder Lemon pepper Cayenne pepper Turmeric Dried basil Chicken soup base Salt, to taste Fresh spinach Cook rice with 1 T curry powder, generous dash of lemon pepper, ground black pepper, and water - to desired texture. Meanwhile, slowly cook chicken breasts in large pot with 2 cups of water, 1 can coconut milk, 2 T curry powder, 2 t turmeric, 2 T dried basil - crushed in palm of hand, 2 T frozen orange juice concentrate, and salt and pepper to taste. Cook the chicken thoroughly, and shred or cut into bite-size chunks. Add cooked rice to pot, and cook in liquid from chicken, adding 1-2 cups of water with 2T soup base if needed. more water and soup base would make it a soup, and we like it that way as well. Sprinkle on generous helping of ground cayenne pepper - to taste. Just before serving, stir in 2 large handful of finely chopped fresh spinach, serve with garlic bread.

SOFT GINGER COOOKIES makes 30 or so cookies 3/4 c shortening 1 c sugar 1 egg 1/4 c molasses 2 tsp. ground ginger 1 tsp. baking soda'; return true;" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 3px double; TEXT-DECORATION: none" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;" href="http://www.serverlogic3.com/lm/rtl3.asp?si=22&k=baking%20soda">baking soda'; return true;" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 3px double; TEXT-DECORATION: none" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;" href="http://www.serverlogic3.com/lm/rtl3.asp?si=22&k=baking%20soda">baking soda 3/4 tsp cinnamon 1/4 tsp cloves 1/4 tsp salt 2 1/4 cups flour 1/4 c sugar Blend shortening and sugar together til creamy, then add in other ingredients one at a time. The dough should be at a consistency that you can roll with your hands into balls. If your home is humid, you may need to add more flour. Roll into 1 inch balls, then roll the balls in sugar. Place cookes 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 8-11 minutes. Do not brown! The cookies should be almost underbaked in the middle. Let, cool 2 minutes and transfer to a cooling rack. Store in cookie tins. they stay nice and soft!

BRUSCHETTA serve with sliced baguette 1 loaf Italian bread, cut into 1/2-inch slices4 cloves garlic, sliced in half 1/3 cup olive oil 1/8 cup chopped fresh basil or 1/2 tsp. dried 4-5 medium, ripe tomatoes, peeled, coarsely chopped and drained in a strainer for 20 min. pinch of freshly ground black pepper freshly grated Parmesan cheese, if desired Directions:Combine oil, basil and pepper in a large bowl and whisk together. Add drained tomatoes to the dressing and toss to coat. Allow to marinate for at least 15 minutes, maybe 30. Toast bread slices on both sides under the broiler. When toasted, rub the cut side of the garlic on the top of each slice. Top each with some of the tomato mixture. You may serve this now or, if desired, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and return to the broiler until it melts...it doesn't take long. (This is also good with freshly-baked warm baguette - not toasted!

CHEESEBALL 1 8-ox block Cream Cheese 1 - 1 1/2 lbs. sharp cheddar cheese 3 T worcestershire sauce 3 T minced onion 3 cloves crushed garlic 1 T lemon pepper seasoning 1/2 t. liquid smoke or smoke flavoring generous! dusting cayenne pepper Mix all together well, turn out of bowl onto saran wrap. Place another shet of wrap on top, and mold like play-dough into any shape you can imagine. Christmas trees are pretty in an upright cone or a flat triangle at Christmas time...press on dried bay leave, basil, parsley or cilantro all around to make it green. Chopped pimientos pressed in at random resemble Christmas balls. I have also made a little baby carriage'; return true;" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 3px double; TEXT-DECORATION: none" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;" href="http://www.serverlogic3.com/lm/rtl3.asp?si=22&k=baby%20carriage">baby carriage, with a slice of thin corned beef hanging over the edge as a "blanket". Or, a ball with grooves pressed into the side with a knife and some clean silk ivy leaves tucked into a deep indentaion in the top to make a pumpkin. A heart coated with paprika is cute for Valentine's Day. and, you can make the shape of anyone's initial on a platter for their b-day or other special occasion.

wishful thinking.

09 December, 2006

PhEW!

1 comment:

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