Merry Little Christmas

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.  And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,  Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."  ~ Luke 2 :8-14

 

Merry Christmas!

 

I hope that your Christmas is full of

love and happiness.

~ Joeby

Winter Time

Short Days

Warm Attires

Crackling Fires

Low Lights

Early Nights

Love & Care

Crisp Air

Snowy Hopes

Winter Time

 

It is hard to believe that it is only 3 days until Christmas!!  I love the days leading up until Christmas.  We have several traditions.  A couple of my favorites are riding around to look at Christmas lights in our pajamas, and eating popcorn in the car.  I also love making home made candy to give to friends.  I have been busy making candy in the last couple of days.

Fantastic Fudge, Cookies & Cream Fudge,

and Pecan Pie Balls

The Pecan Pie Balls are a new addition to the candy making day (I found the recipe on Pinterest, and it is fabulous).  I have been making the Fantastic Fudge since I was a teenager!! 

Fantastic Fudge

4 cups sugar

1 (13 oz) can evaporated milk

1 cup butter

2 cups marshmallow cream

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 tsp. vanilla

1 cup pecans, coarsely chopped

 

Butter sides of a heavy 3-quart saucepan.  Add sugar, milk, and butter.  Cook over medium heat to a soft ball (236º on a candy thermometer) stirring constantly.  Remove from heat; add chocolate chips, marshmallow cream vanilla and nuts.  Beat until chocolate melts.  Pour into a buttered 13 x 9 inch pan.  Score while warm.  Cut when cool and firm.

 

Savory French Toast

I was at the doctor a couple of weeks ago and ran across a recipe in the magazine in the waiting room.  I was there a good while, had little to no cell phone reception, so I looked at a germy magazine while waiting.  I usually do not touch the magazines, because, I mean, you are in a doctor's office, so people are sick there....  But, I looked.  And, found this great looking recipe.  I unfortunately do not remember which magazine it came from.  I also had to "invent" the recipe.  I should have taken a picture of the recipe with my phone, but didn't do that either.  But, this recipe came out great, so all is well :)



I made this for dinner a couple of Sunday's ago.  My husband and daughter LOVED it, and so did I.  I made extra so my husband could have it for breakfast or lunch at work the next day.  We love having "breakfast" for dinner at our house.  We do this most Sundays, and really enjoy looking for new recipes to try.  This one is a keeper. 

I am thinking about making this recipe and a sweet French toast, as well, for Christmas morning.  We will see.  I will have to take a survey from my family and see what happens. 

 

Joeby's Savory French Toast

Serves 4

8 Slices of bacon (or more if you're like me and nibble while cooking...)

1/2 onion chopped

10 cups fresh baby spinach

salt and pepper to taste

3-4 eggs (3 if large, 4 if medium)

1 cup milk (or 1/2 cup milk, 1/2 cup cream)

1/2 cup freshly grated nice-quality parmesan cheese (go ahead and get the good stuff)

4 (1-inch) slices of challah bread or sweet rolls (such as Hawaiian rolls)

1 Tablespoon butter

 

Fry bacon in nonstick skillet unil nice and brown.  Remove from skillet, and pour off all but 1-2 tablespoons bacon grease.  Add onions and saute until nice and soft and a little browned.  Add spinach to the skillet, add 1 tablespoon water.  Cook spinach with onions until the spinach wilts.  Salt and pepper to taste. (you may not need salt since you are using bacon grease).  Remove spinach from skillet and keep warm alongside the bacon (I usually put my items to keep warm in the microwave).

Whisk eggs and milk (cream) then add parmesan and mix.  Pour milk mixture over bread slices and soak about 1 minute on each side.  (If there is extra milk mixture when you are done, go ahead and soak extra bread for a quick lunch or breakfast the next day).

Melt 1 tablespoon butter in skillet. Fry the bread until golden on each side. 

To plate - put one slice of bread on each plate and top with 1/4 of the spinach-onion saute, and 2 slices of bacon!  It is very...very good!!!

Christmas Around the House

 I usually force paperwhites each year.  I love the smell and the tradition of doing something

from year to year. 

Lovely red amarillis this year!!

 

I hope that the days leading up to Christmas have been pleasant for you.  My husband, daughter and I attended the Houston Symphony Handel's Messiah performance last evening.  It was lovely.  We ate at a fabulous Italian restaurant - Nino's - on W. Dallas in Houston before the performance last night. Highly recommend it :)

I hope you have a great evening!

~ Joeby

December 20

"Christmas is not a time nor

A season, but a state of

Mind.  To cherish peace and

Goodwill, to be plenteous in

Mercy, is to have the real

Spirit of Christmas."

~ Calvin Coolidge

I can't believe today is December 20th...and it is almost over, at that!

December has flown by for me.

I have been crafting and cooking around my house pretty busily this past week.  Today, I made a coconut pound cake.  It is a great recipe.  I got it years and years ago.  About 25 years ago or so, I believe.   I wish I could remember who the recipe originated from....but, I do not. 

Delicious Coconut Pound Cake

The cake is incredibly moist and delicious!  I love coconut, and this is very coconut-y and fabulous.

Coconut Pound Cake

2 cups sugar

1 cup butter (2 sticks)

4 eggs

1 cup buttermilk

½ tsp. baking soda

3 cups flour

½ tsp. baking powder

¼ tsp. salt

1 Tbs. coconut flavoring

1 cup pecans

1 cup coconut

Cream butter and sugar.  Add eggs (one at a time).  Mix soda in buttermilk.  Mix all other dry ingredients together and mix alternately with buttermilk mixture to butter mixture.  Mix well.  Add flavoring, nuts and coconut.  Bake in greased and floured tube pan for 1 hour and 20 minutes at 350°.  About 10 minutes before cake is done, mix 2 cups sugar, 1 cup water, 4 Tbs. butter and 1 tsp. vanilla.  Cook for 5 minutes.  When cake is done, punch full of holes (I use a wire skewer).  Slowly pour sauce over cake (this takes a while).  Continue until all sauce is used (this may seem like a lot, but the cake is well worth it).  Let cake set in pan over night.  Next morning, run a knife around the sides of cake and around tube in middle and remove from pan.

 

Crafting

I need 10 little gifts for a party that I am attending tomorrow.  It is my card making club.  We are playing a dice game that involves the rules similar to dirty Santa, were you can steal from each other :)  Well, we have a $2 limit on each gift, so I decided to be creative and make most of mine.  I decided to make these little picture frame pin cushions.  I think they are very cute.  I am keeping the purple one, and taking the orange for one of my gifts.

 

I also made this little nativity from some supplies that I already had.  I think it is precious!!  I have enough materials to make myself one.  So, I will be adding to my nativity collection this year after all :)

 

I also made this coaster from wool scraps and an IKEA cork coaster.  I love how it turned out.  I am planning on making myself one :)

 

I hope that your Christmas plans are coming along well.  I have made several other things and plan to share some more recipes tomorrow if I have a chance.

I hope that the Spirit of Christmas is filling you with Peace and Goodwill towards yourself and others.

~ Joeby

 

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Ev'rywhere you go;
Take a look in the five-and-ten, glistening once again

With candy canes and silver lanes aglow.

 

I can't believe that it is so close to Christmas!

I am VERY behind...

We had a death in our family over Thanksgiving, my sweet father, and I am having a hard time getting into the spirit of Christmas...

My husband, daughter, and I started our decorating this past Saturday.  I am determined to be filled with the Christmas Spirit soon...

 

Winter Gardening

 My garden is coming along.  It has been really cold (for the North Houston area) this past week, and several of my more tender vegetables have died (green beans, eggplant, and tomatoes).

 

The cold-hearty Swiss chard is looking fabulous!  The colors are fantastic, and adds happiness to my garden.

 

Big pot of lettuce!  I love these little greens.  I snip off a salad with sissors, and the lettuce regrows!!  It is fabulous!  Mixed greens.

 

I brought in some lettuce (the larger leaves are romaine) to have for dinner the other night.

The lemon tree only had 2 lemons on it this year....It had over 500 last year!!! 

 

Raw Brussel Sprout Salad

 

Shaved raw brussel sprouts (very thinly sliced - I used a mandoline).

 

I got this recipe from my good friend, Paula.  She had it at a resturant in Houston (and even took me there :), and then found the recipe.  I pretty much keep this in my refrigerator to nibble on at all times...

 Finished salad - ready to eat!!!

 

Raw Brussel Sprout Salad

1 pound of shaved brussel sprouts

1/2 - 1 cup of toasted walnuts (chopped finely)

1/4-1/2 cup grated parmesan or Pecorino Romano cheese

2-3 Tablespoons olive oil

1 lemon - juiced (can add a touch of grated zest, too)

salt and pepper to taste

Mix together and refrigerate an hour before eating.

(I used more nuts and cheese than the original recipe - and those amounts are listed above - feel free to play to suit you tastes).

 

Decorating for Christmas

 

It is beginning to look like Christmas around here!!!  I love all of our decorations, and really love to add to the collection each year.

 

Darling Texas Nativity made by a friend - love it!!!

My trees!  I collect bottle brush trees, and love to mix and match with other trees. 

Pretty bird ornament from my wildlife tree that I have in the dining room.

Sweet hand made bird house ornament that we got in Juneau, Alaska in September.

I collect nativities.  (After blogging, I realize that I collect many things...hmmm). 

This little nativity is only about 2 1/2 inches tall :)

Beautiful snowflake ornament (from Pottery Barn - a few years ago).

 

I am sitting here watching Monday Night Football with my husband, but I have watched several Christmas shows today.  I love Christmas shows, and have a nice collection of Christmas movies.  I think my favorite is "The Homecoming" the first Walton's movie that the series originated from.  Poor Gramps (my husband's father - who lives with us), has had to watch it like 3 times in the last couple of weeks :)

Where ever you are, what ever your circumstances, I hope that you are beginning to get in the Christmas Spirt like me.  I know the sweetness and goodness of the Christmas Spirit can bring us happiness regardless of your personal beliefs, troubles or griefs.  May goodness touch your lives this day!

~ Joeby

 

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