Expressing Gratitude

"As we express our Gratitude,

we must never forget that the

highest appreciation is not to

utter words, but to live by them."

~ John F. Kennedy

 

I have been thinking about gratitude and Thanksgiving a lot this week.  I am so lucky to live in a free country.  To be surrounded by people who love me and who I love.  I pray that I never take any of my rights, or privileges for granted.  I love the month of November because it naturally draws us to think of the things we are thankful for. 

It may be silly, but I am thankful for this little blog.  It has gotten me crafting and being a little busier than I was before I started the October blog-post-a-day.  I have always been crafty and love to cook and garden, but I needed the boost from October :)
 

Book Club

This past Tuesday I hosted our monthly book club at my house.  I decided on fondue (no pictures...) as the main food item.  It was delicious!!!  Really, how can you go wrong with melted cheese?  I added artichokes and chopped spinach, too.  Look on Pinterest for ideas.  I would post the recipe, but I just mixed and matched several recipes, and unfortunately didn't write down what I came up with...

Black Bean and Corn Salsa

I almost always make this recipe when I have a party at my house - it is very good!

 

Black Bean And Corn Salsa

2 cans black beans - drained and rinsed

1 1/2 cups corn (I use frozen and just barely cook in the microwave, to un-thaw)

3-5 chopped tomatoes

2-3 chopped jalapenos (to taste)

1/2 cup chopped cilantro

1/4 cup fresh lime juice (use fresh - much better)

salt and pepper to taste



This is about 1/2 of the recipe.  I thought to take a picture after we had been eating a while.

 

Oh my goodness....this cake was beyond delicious.  I wish I had gotten a better picture.  I doubled the icing recipe...  And, trust me, you will be glad you did!!!  I'm not sure that I can put the recipe on my blog since I didn't come up with it myself, or change anything (it doesn't need changed..).  So go to hersheys.com and look under their recipes.  I need to get more savvy on links....  New Year's resolution :)

 

More Sugared Cranberries

 

I posted my recipe for Sugared Cranberries on 11/11.  I got the idea to put some in my sparkling water the other night.  Well, it was delicious!! 

I made a little "bar" scene to show you how pretty the cranberries look!!

This is my first glass :)

I had several...

Aren't these Ralph Lauren glasses delightful?  I got them at an antique store back in the summer.  There were 5 for $20!!!  I saw them at Macy's last week, and they were WAY more than that.  I can't believe I got such a good deal!  They are nice and heavy and really pretty. 

 

Sheep Nativity

I collect sheep, and Nativities!  My sweet husband gave me this precious Sheep Nativity as a surprise this week.  When I came into the living room, he had it waiting on me.  I was SO excited.  I will be putting all of my nativities out this weekend, I think.  I am really trying to wait until after Thanksgiving to decorate for Christmas.  But, I am not sure.  I just love my Christmas things.  I'm thinking I have waited long enough!!

 

Cooking Today

I got up this morning hankering to make a batch of raspberry/cranberry jam.  It is beyond delicious!!

It is a very thick jam, and I find it turns to "sugar" quickly.

You may need to share with others to use it all up :)

Cranberry Raspberry Jam

1 cup chopped unsweetened cranberries (fresh or frozen)

3 cups whole raspberries (fresh or frozen)

2 Tablespoons lemon juice

1 package powdered pectin

8 cups sugar

Combine cranberries, raspberries, and lemon juice in a large nonreactive pot. Bring to a boil.  Add the pectin.  Return to the boil.  Add the sugar slowly, stirring constantly. Bring to a boil again, and boil for 1 minute, or until the jelly sheets off the spoon.  When ready, pour into hot sterilized jars.  Cover with new hot clean hot caps.  Put in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes.  Remove from boiling water bath and let set on counter for 24 hours before storage.

Aren't they gorgeous??  So yummy.  I'm having jam and toast for dinner tonight :)

One of the best uses is with brie.  Way, yummy!!!

 

Cooking Mood Continued

I went with some of my stamping/ card making friends to Houston last week.  I kinda wanted to go to IKEA, but we didn't.  So, that got me to thinking about the IKEA meatballs.  My daughter loves them.  I "like" them, but love my own meatballs (ha ha).  Well, I saw a recipe on pinterest for IKEA meatballs.  Well, me, being me, couldn't follow the recipe exactly. 

So here is my version:

 

 

Meatballs and Mashed Potatoes

 

1 1/2 pounds ground beef (I used sirloin)

3 mild Italian sausages (from a package of 5 - Johnson Bros.)

1/4 cup of fresh herbs (I used - thyme, rosemary, oregano, and basil) - Ones I had in garden

1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs (I used progresso)

1 egg

dash of nutmeg and cinnamon

salt and pepper to taste

Squish together with hands and roll into small (golf-ball) size balls.

Place on a cookie sheet.

Let meatballs set until your oven broiler heats up.

The broil (with rack about in the middle of oven) for 11 minutes.

Turn over meatballs, and broil an additional 7 minutes.

You may need to adjust your times, based on your oven.  You want them slightly browned - but not too dark.

 

I mashed potatoes with butter and cream (I know...getting ready for Thanksgiving already...).

 

Gravy -

1 1/2 Tablespoon butter

1 Tablespoon all-purpose flour

Cook over medium heat to make a roux.  Cook for 2 minutes.

Add 2 cups beef broth

Stir and stir (I use a whisk to make sure its smooth).

Add 1/2 teaspoon of Italian seasoning (or save some fresh herbs from above - use more if using fresh)

salt and pepper to taste

When it was "done" I added a teaspoon of my fresh Cranberry/Raspberry Jam!  It was a really good addition.

 

I hope that your week has gone well!  Pause a few minutes right now, or this weekend and think of things you are thankful for. 

 I promise it will make your day and weekend better!

~ Joeby

Looking forward to Thanksgiving!

Last night I was thinking about Thanksgiving and how thankful I am that it is drawing near!  Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.  All about eating, visiting, and family!!

I thought I would post a few pictures of my last year's Thanksgiving table and decorations.

 

 

Only 4 of us last year for the Thanksgiving meal.

 

I love bittersweet...  I had some bittersweet plant, saved from the year before, that I cut into pieces and put in some of my turkeys that have openings in the tops - probably old floral arrangement containers.

A couple of my favorite turkeys are the black and white salt and pepper shaker above.

It is easier to decorate a larger table, but I really thought these items were a pleasant addition to our little kitchen table.

It remained warm last year right up to Thanksgiving.  The herbs you see pictured above are from my garden.  It has already gotten chilly in the North Houston area and has even frosted this year, and my herbs aren't looking so good right now.

 

I hope that your Thanksgiving plans are coming along nicely.  I am so excited for Thanksgiving!  I LOVE the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and then the dog show that comes on afterwards!  I love to watch those while cooking and puttering around the kitchen. 

May we all pause this year to consider those things which we are truly thankful for. 

~ Joeby

Busy November

November is the pause with which

We set our minds adrift...

 

I had such a fun time blogging each day in October!  It was fun to try to be creative each day and look forward to thinking of things to make and things to do, and then to blog about.  I must admit, I kind of miss it....  But, I have been busy since October!  I had friends come to visit me and to go to the Quilt Festival in Houston.  We had such a great time!  And, last weekend was the Nutcracker Market in Houston and my sweet husband took me back downtown for the Harry Connick, Jr. concert on Saturday night (it was fantastic!!!).  I have gone into Houston more in the past week, than I had in months and months!!

Around the House

Sweet Potatoes taste so much better when you grow them  yourself :)

I love it when it is time to bring out part of my

Turkey Collection!!

I got this pretty little Turkey recently.  I also love putting bittersweet around during Thanksgiving.  I got a great bunch of it in Houston last weekend.

I have been collecting Turkey salt and pepper shakers for a few years.  I have added other "Old" Turkeys when I find them.  The two salt and pepper shakers in the front (both have black on them), are my oldest antique turkeys.  I got both of those, at different times, in Round Top, Texas during the big antique weekends held each fall - so much fun!!

 

Gardening Around

Okra and green beans from my garden.  I made a big pot of vegetable soup, that included

these veggies, last week.

Cabbage, Broccoli, Cauliflower

Lantana and Sweet Potato Vine are happy that the weather has cooled off!!

Green Beans - I was hoping the green beans would be ready for Thanksgiving...doesn't look like it has

enough time...

Pretty little eggplant.

Sugared Cranberries

Last year my friend Paula and I taught a canning class at the Houston Arboretum.  It was SO much fun!!!  One of the ladies in the class told us about these sugared cranberries.  Apparently, a restaurant in Houston makes these as a little appetizer for the tables while you are waiting.  She said they were fabulous!  Paula went there and agreed they were fabulous.  Well, Paula made some last year for Thanksgiving (or Christmas...) and gave me a sample when I was visiting her one day.  A week or so ago, I noticed fresh cranberries at the grocery store and picked up a couple of packages.  I love to make cranberry bread, but haven't had the energy (sinus infection) or the time to make it.  Yesterday I got to thinking about the sugared cranberries, and decided to give it a go!

I made the sugar syrup yesterday and let the cranberries soak overnight.  Tonight while I was watching TV, I coated the cranberries in raw sugar and a little regular granulated sugar.

Lots of little cranberry sugar jewels :)

While I was trying to take a picture of the cranberries to show you how pretty they are, my husband suggested putting a little mint on for contrast.  He braved the dark garden to pick me a little mint

(he is a sweetie!).

 

Sugared Cranberries

2 cups regular sugar

2 cups water

* Bring sugar and water to a simmer in a sauce pan over medium heat.  Heat until the sugar melts (just a couple of minutes).  Remove from heat and allow to cool (this is simple syrup).

* After it cools add one bag (12 oz). washed and picked over cranberries.  Discard any that look soft or not right.  You need to wait until the syrup has cooled or the berries will burst.  Refrigerator over night.

* The next day, drain berries from sugar syrup (but do not rinse).

* Coat a few berries at a time with turbinado sugar (raw sugar).

Then dust with regular granulated sugar - this helps them not be so "wet".

* Let dry for a couple of hours.

Enjoy!!

 Going to Houston

Arkansas Black Apples

It is fun to go downtown into Houston.  It is amazing that we live so close, but really seldom go downtown.  The traffic is terrible....

When I do go, I love to go to the big HEB Central Market grocery store.  Lots of fun hard to find grocery items.  A great bakery and fabulous produce department.  I found these fabulous Arkansas Black Apples there.  I love them, and not just because I am from Arkansas, but because they taste good and make great apple sauce.

Nutcracker Market Craziness!!  But, so much fun :)

More shopping of every kind than you can imagine in a huge building.  Hundreds and hundreds of vendors.  This was about the 10th year in a row that I have attended.

Across the street from the grocery store is an upscale shopping area.  I love the big red bow :)

Macarons!!  Heaven in a bite :)

Both of our favorites were goat cheese and honey - you wouldn't think that would be a good combination, but it is beyond delicious.  It did take us several days to eat them all....

The Harry Connick, Jr. concert was fabulous!!  We saw him last year, and I really wanted to go again.  It was a much different show than last year,

and I loved them both!

 

 

My sweet Cocker Spaniel - Trixie.

She is full of love and my constant companion.

 

I hope that your November is off to a good start!

~ Joeby