THANKSGIVING DINNER

HERE ARE THE RECIPES FOR MY THANKSGIVING DINNER – TRIED AND TRUE.

Now, most people I know do not favor sweet potatoes.  I, myself, was not a fan until I found this recipe years ago, wrote it down and tried it.  For 30 years, it is an expected, and most requested, dish at Thanksgiving, and my family wants an encore at Christmas dinner.  To my surprise and delight, even the children ask for more.

HOLIDAY SWEET POTATOES

1/2 cup margarine

6 sweet potatoes, cooked, peeled, and sliced (in a pinch you can use canned yams or sweet potatoes – drain them)

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp ground cinnamon

2 eggs

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup buttermilk

1/4 cup chopped pecans (optional) – but really set it off

Marshmallows for topping

Add margarine to hot potatoes. Combine with next 6 ingredients in blender or with a mixer.  Stir in the pecans, if desired. Put the mixture in a 2 quart greased casserole dish and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.  Put the marshmallows on top during the final 10 minutes of cooking.  This recipe said it would serve 10-12, but EXPECT 2ND HELPINGS

The next dish is the dessert/salad:  This is so good, and even people who don’t like cranberry sauce love this.  It goes perfect with the turkey  I am sorry.  I had to take this one off because my granddaughter wants to keep this recipe to herself to pass down.  No one else ever makes it but me, and I gave my daughter the recipe for her Thanksgiving Dinners, and she shared it with my granddaughter, who absolutely loves it, and will be taking some back to college with her.  My daughter said she would have a fit if I shared it with the world.  She didn’t even want to give it to one of her teachers who asked for it…that is so funny.  “That’s my grandma’s “secret” recipe, and I’m not giving it to anybody.”  This is quite sentimental to me, so I took it off. 

Since I am from what I call the south, we love dumplings and that good ol’ turkey broth just can’t go to waste.  Some people have trouble with getting their dumplings to come out just right, but this recipe is simple and has stood the test of time, except for an error on my part once.  We all make mistakes, and believe me, when it comes to cooking, I’ve made a few.

A favorite story my children tell on me is about the time my dumplings were a total mess. I accidentally grabbed the powdered sugar container instead of the flour.  Hint – Don’t set these containers close to each other when you are making dumplings –  I just kept adding it and adding it, and couldn’t figure out what was wrong…I had a big pot of rich turkey broth going, and the dough just wasn’t right.   I was dropping it into the turkey broth, and the dumplings just kept disappearing as fast as I put them in.  I finally figured out what was wrong, and I had ruined all that good broth.  The kids still laugh about this and tell that story to anyone who will listen.  They love to get one over on old mom, and sweet turkey brother just don’t get it.

DUMPLINGS

This is so easy, and they always come out great. Provided you don’t use powdered sugar LOL

2 cups sifted all-purpose flour 

1 tsp salt

2/3 cup shortening

5 to 7 tbsp cold water

yellow food coloring

Sift flour and salt together.  Cut in the shortening. (Tip – I use a potato masher. You want the consistency of little peas).  Add the water a little bit at a time, and continue using the potato masher, cutting in the shortening.  Add flour if it seems to moist.  Add a little water if it seems to dry.  Once you have reached the consistency of small peas.  Add a few drops of yellow food coloring.  This is simply to give the dumplings a nice color without using eggs.  Roll the dough into a nice ball (or 2).  Flour your rolling surface, plop the dough down, and start rolling out the dough with your rolling pin.  You can judge for yourself how thick you want the dumplings.  Stop rolling when you reach that point.  Take a sharp knife and start cutting the dough into strips according to the size of your dumplings.

Hopefully, you have your nice rich turkey broth still simmering (you can add chicken broth if you like). Bring it to a rolling boil.  Place your dumplings in the pot.  Bring to another boil.  Put a lid on and simmer about 15-20 minutes.  Try to leave your lid on to keep your dumplings tender.  ENJOY!!!!!

 

MASHED POTATOES

I used about 3 pounds of potatoes for this recipe.  Wash and peel your potatoes.  I cut mine into 4ths before I put them in the boiling water. They seem to cook faster.  When they are soft, drain them.  Add about a stick of softened butter or margarine (butter makes it better).  Get out your potato masher (you really need one of these – remember grandma always had one) and mash away, until all the lumps are out.

Now for a twist, have a package of softened cream cheese, and I used about 1/2 of the stick for 3 pounds of potatoes – for 5 pounds, I would use it all….add this to the mashed potatoes.  Pour in your milk (or half and half), start with 1/3 cup, you can add more if needed, and mash all this together again.  Add your seasonings, salt, pepper, and stir it all up.  You can add more milk if needed.  If you don’t want to try the cream cheese, just skip putting it in.  They will still be good, but the cream cheese just makes them so CREAMY…A little tip..if you don’t want to bother with these on Thanksgiving day, butter an oven safe dish, put the potatoes in there, slide a knife across the top to make the dish pretty.  Now, you can slice some butter pats on top, cover the dish with foil and keep in fridge for a day or two…when you are ready to serve them set them out for about an hour before popping them in a 350 degree oven for about 20 – 30 minutes, still covered with the foil. and there you have your mashed potatoes.

THE TURKEY

There are a lot of recipes for cooking your turkey out there, and you can be as fancy or as simple as you want.  I go for simple, but it has never failed to produce a delicious, moist, picture perfect turkey.

Let’s see, your TURKEY….I usually put mine in the oven late the night before, set the alarm to get up around 6:00 a.m. and check  the turkey.

Preheat your own to 225 degrees, because your are going to be cooking this turkey while you sleep.

Put it in a clean sink and get rid of the wrapping.  When you handle poultry, wash your hands often if you are touching anything else, and be mindful of your utensils.  

Wash your thawed turkey (if you buy it frozen, its going to take 2 or 3 days to thaw it out..in the refrigerator – don’t thaw at room temperature or in cold water – that isn’t really safe).

Remember to look for the giblet pack and the neck and remove these (My first turkey, I was young and didn’t know anything about that, so I baked the whole turkey, bag and all).

Then, I rub the turkey down with salt and pepper.  I have my roasting pan out and ready to go in the oven.  I use olive oil and rub the whole turkey down with that.  I put butter in the cavity, whatever you feel comfortable with.   I usually put some chicken brother or turkey broth in the bottom of the roaster and set the turkey on a rack, breast up, wings tucked.  I cover the pan with foil and pop it in the oven. Mind you, I’m doing this really late at night because I’m up late Thanksgiving Eve cooking.  This is the last thing I do before I go to bed.  I set the alarm for around 6:00 a.m. and get up and check the turkey.  It is usually looking good.  I baste it, taking a big spoon and pouring the broth over the turkey.   I replace the foil and usually go back to bed a while longer.  When I get up, I remove the foil so the turkey can brown.  I check it very frequently about every 15 minutes and baste it every time.  It will get a picture perfect brown. You can pull on the turkey leg, and if it is loose, this is a good sign your turkey is done, but check the temperature with a meat thermometer.  You want it at least 170 degrees.  When you take it out of the oven, it still cooks a little while longer.  Don’t go any less than 165 degrees.  You can tilt the turkey and check out the juice in the cavity, if it is pink at all, cook it some more.  When you got the loose legs and wings and the right temperature, you can take it out, let it set a little while and carve.  Take a picture, it will be pretty.

CORN PUDDING

Ingredients 
1 15 oz can whole kernel corn, drained
1 15 oz can cream corn
1 stick butter
1 8 oz container sour cream
2 beaten eggs
1 box Jiffy corn bread mix

Directions 
Preheat oven to 350F
Melt butter in small casserole dish
mix corn and sour cream and beaten eggs well, add to melted butter and mix again
Sprinkle corn bread mix over corn and stir together. Bake for 45 minutes

You can buy your dinner rolls, but if you want to go the EXTRA MILE

COTTAGE CHEESE ROLLS –

Don’t knock it, till you try it.  They might sound YUCKY, but TRUST ME…if you don’t make them for Thanksgiving, make them some time and see…DELICIOUS!!!!!

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup boiling water

• 1/2 cup mashed potato flakes
• 1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
• 1/4 cup warm water (105 degrees to 115 degrees)
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 cup small curd cottage cheese
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• DIRECTIONS:

1. In a bowl, combine the boiling water and potato flakes; mix well. Cool for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, in a mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Beat in the sugar, salt, 1 egg and oil until blended. Stir cottage cheese into the potatoes; add to yeast mixture and mix well. Beat in 3 cups flour until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough.
2. Turn dough onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
3. Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface. Divide into 24 pieces; shape each into a ball. Place 3 inches apart on a greased baking sheet. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 45 minutes. Beat remaining egg; brush over dough.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 16 to 18 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans to wire racks.

DESSERT

In a pinch, you can buy a pumpkin pie.  This saves time and energy.  Buy some whipped topping to put a dollop on top of each slice, and you’re done.  Pecan pie is a favorite and also peanut butter pie.

If you want to make a dessert and don’t want pie – Try this:

PUMPKIN SPICE CAKE WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Easy

1 box Duncan Hines spice cake mix
1 – 15oz. can Libby’s pumpkin
1 cup Miracle Whip
3 eggs

Frosting: 1 – 8oz. Philadelphia cream cheese (softened), 1 stick softened butter, 1 TBSP milk, 1 tsp. vanilla, 2 cups Domino’s powdered sugar

In a mixer add cake mix, Miracle Whip, and eggs, beat. Add your pumpkin and beat until smooth. Pour batter into a greased 9 x 13 cake pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes.  Test with a toothpick to make sure it is done. Cool it completely.

Frosting: in a mixer add the cream cheese, beat this, and then add the butter and mix this all together. Add your milk and vanilla, and mix this, slowly add in the powdered sugar, a little at a time, and mix. If too runny add more powdered sugar–if too thick add a little milk.  Put the frosting in the refrigerator for ten minutes.  Then frost the cake.  YUMMY!!!!

If you want to go all out and make a pumpkin pie – here you go:

PUMPKIN PIE

Ingredients:

• 1 can (30 oz.) pumpkin pie mix
• 2/3 cup (5 fl.-oz can) evaporated milk 
• 2 large eggs, beaten
• 1 unbaked 9-inch (4-cup volume) deep-dish pie shell

 

 

 

Directions:

MIX pumpkin pie mix, evaporated milk and eggs in large bowl.

POUR into pie shell

BAKE in preheated 425°F. oven for 15 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350° F.; bake 50 to 60 minutes or until knife inserted near center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack for 2 hours. Serve immediately or refrigerate.

CHESS PIE : My mother-in-law, years ago, who was from Arkansas, turned me on to CHESS PIE, and it became a tradition.  I couldn’t imagine a pie with cornmeal in it, but was I surprised when I tasted it. It is almost a custard pie.

 

 

INGREDIENTS:

• 4 ounces butter
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1 tablespoon vinegar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 tablespoon cornmeal

Preparation:

Melt butter; blend with sugars. Add eggs and other ingredients and stir until blended. Do not beat. Bake in unbaked pie shell for one hour at 350°. 

Okay, well, this should give you some idea of a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, southern style, and some idea of what to cook.  Maybe you have tried these recipes before, maybe not, but these are recipes I have used and lived over 30 years, at least, and this is what my family wants me to cook EVERY Thanksgiving. 

ENJOY AND HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARE WE GOING BACK TO THE TIME OF THE HOBO’S

I was taken back to my childhood today in a very sad, sad way.  We lived near a railroad track when I grew up, in fact, right in front of one.  I remember occasionally a hobo would come to the door and ask for food or a drink.  My sweet grandma would always, always, fix them a sandwich.  It was funny, though, if she gave them a drink, she would throw away the glass.  I would watch the raggedy man bless my grandmother as he went on down toward the floodwall talking to himself, eating his sandwich. 

Today, my door bell rang, but I was napping, and I didn’t get up. No one comes to my door except the Avon man who rings the bell.  Then, a minute or two later, I heard knocking on my glass patio door.  I figured I had better check this out.  There stood a young man and a toddler.  The toddler was busy trying to eat a big green apple, his yellow hair tousled, his clothes mismatched.  The young man was holding a yellow bag. I thought he was delivering phone books.  I looked at them both through the door, and the young man said, “Maam, would you happen to have some work I could do.  I have a 1 year old and a 2 year old, me and my wife, and we are hungry, and the babies don’t have any diapers.”  I looked at him standing there in sweat pants and a tee shirt in this raining cool weather we were having, looking like it was going to storm.  He said, “I came up and don’t have any family in the area.  I’ll do any kind of work.”  I was so touched, but then, again, I have been burned many times throughout my life.  I have always been a soft touch.  I have always been for the underdog and tried to help people, and, so far, I don’t see the rewards on this earth.  I am waiting for them in heaven. On this earth, it seems the people who are out for themselves, who lie, cheat and steal, come out better.  I told the young man, “Now listen, this is a one time only deal.  I can’t trust anyone anymore because of things that have happened to me.  I don’t need any work done.  I’m old and don’t have much myself.  My mom paid my way to bingo last night and I won a hundred dollars.  She paid my way because I was flat broke.  Now, I want you to take this 20 dollar bill and get those babies some diapers, and if there is anything left go down and get some bread and milk and cheese.”  The young man genuinely said, “Maam, I don’t want a hand-out.”   I looked at him and said, “Please, bless your heard, take it.  I won it when I needed money.  Maybe you are the reason I won it so I would have this to give you today. No, take it,” and, as he took my hand with the money in it, he kissed the back of my hand, and looked at me with tears in his eyes.  My eyes were teary, too.  I told him to please call the Salvation Army or check out the food pantries around here since he was new to the area, and I turned away, as he walked off.

What a sad state of the economy:  Number one that I work every day and still am broke before payday comes around again in 2 weeks.  That I work every day and can’t have any pleasurable activity like going to a movie or playing bingo unless someone pays my way.  That the utility bills can charge you to “deliver” the gas to your house.  That groceries are so high, milk over $4.00 a gallon.  I don’t even know what diapers cost, but I’m sure they are way up there now.  That people are struggling so they have to go door to door to ask for work, and in most areas, if someone called the police, they would probably arrest them and take their children away. 

My heart grieves for this young man and his family, and those like him.  There isn’t any work around here.  I feel sorry for myself sometimes, but at least I have a job.  I feel for this young man and his kids who may have empty bellies and be sitting around hungry.  I know how that feels, and I remember my grandma, what she told me when I was a child, and a picture she had….it was a picture of Jesus knocking on a door with someone opening it…it was a beautiful picture….and my grandma said, you never know when Jesus might knock on your door.  He might even come as a stranger asking for help…so I helped this young man.  I could have been being duped.  He could have wanted money for drugs or something, but I didn’t get that impression from his eyes.  I think he really was hungry, and from the way that child was dressed and chewing on that apple trying to eat it, I believe he was sincere.   Anyway, I fell for it.  Luckily, I had the money from winning at bingo because I, myself, didn’t have any food in the house I could give him.  I couldn’t go to the store lately and was running low. 

I just had to write this because I have been upset about it all day, and I had to get it off my chest.  Why did he choose my door?  I live in a poor neighborhood.  Maybe he just started walking down a street close to where he lives.  Anyway, I’m trying to put it out of my un-trusting mind, all the alterior motives as to why someone would do this. 

It is a sad state of the economy when we begin seeing hobo’s and people knocking on people’s door asking for work and for food.

INAUGURATION DAY

I write this as tears roll down my eyes. I truly have had my soul touched and my spirit lifted today. As I watched the inauguration on television and saw the multitude of people, the smiles, the flags, the hope, the tears, as I witnessed Cicely Tyson speak from the crowd, like an ordinary person, when Obama gave his inauguration speech, I felt such a rise in my spirit for this country that I haven’t felt in many years. The benediction was a gift to me to be able to hear it. I know Martin Luther King was standing beside President Obama as he gave his speech and when he walked down the street, he and First Lady Michele, waving to the people. This is what I am watching as I sit here and write through my tears. I haven’t felt this way since a child when John Kennedy was president. I loved John Kennedy and Jacqueline. He was a great president, and there was just “something in the air,” back then, a Camelot. President Obama and First Lady Michele gave me back a little of that feeling I had when I was a teenager, that there is hope, people can see people instead of race and get to know a person for his heart not his skin color. This was a dream we had when I was young in the 1970s. Treat everyone equal. Our parents were not so ready to change, but after many years, it seems we babyboomers did make a difference, not only the babyboomers, but the younger generation now who have had enough and I believe the long-awaited Change Has Come To America.

God Bless President Obama and God Bless the United States of Amerca.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

MAMA’S LAST CHRISTMAS

A Christmas Story By Me

It was Christmas time again. Everyone hustling and bustling about. The time for gift giving, friends and family, baking, candy making. Times were tough this Christmas. There would be more homemade gifts. There seemed to be less homes decorated with lights, fewer trees in the windows, and she noticed fewer cars in the shopping marts, as she went for groceries. It was a sad statement of the current economy. She was trying her best to bake everyone something for Christmas, make special candy, because money was tight. She had been stricken with an illness that kept her from working this year for months and never quite getting back up to snuff. Her pay checks got slimmer and slimmer, so there wouldn’t be the money she usually had at Christmas time for gift giving. She was a mother, though, and it was hard for her to come to terms with the fact that she couldn’t give good presents for Christmas. She had always wanted Christmas to be more…it never seemed as though she had given enough. Times had been rough before, but she would go to work without lunch money so her kids could have theirs. She would use her Christmas bonus every year for her family, taking none for herself. Her family was all grown up now. They had their own homes and families.

It was Christmas Eve. She had made lots of goodies for gift giving, only to find out no on wanted them. They didn’t want candy or cookies. They were fat enough. Thank heaven she would have a little Christmas bonus this year. She was one of the lucky ones to even have a job, let alone get a bonus. She would split the money up between her children, grandchildren, and their spouses. It wouldn’t be a lot, but it was all she had to give.

She heard from her friends that some of their kids didn’t even want to exchange gifts with them. One of her friend’s said that was fine, but why did they pick her to say this to and not their mother-in-law, who always seemed to get a present. Well, maybe she did more for them. Maybe she was more available. Maybe she came around more. Maybe she was more a part of their family.

Another friend had told her that her child wanted a really expensive gift, and that she felt bad she couldn’t get it for him. She just wasn’t going to have enough money.

Another friend had said her children never asked for anything, but of course knew they would get something. All children, young or old , will…as long as they have a mother.

It was a sad fact of life she was getting older now. She had not always made the best decisions in life. She didn’t have a big house or live in the nicest neighborhood. She didn’t even get to see her children but maybe once or twice a year…sometimes on Thanksgiving, and Christmas, occasionally through the year. She wanted them to come to her house, and she was always there, but they were busy. They worked. They had families of their own.

She vowed this year she would not run around trying to find a time they weren’t busy to deliver their Christmas gifts and would make them have to come to her house to see her to get them, but as it got closer to Christmas, she knew she would have to go. She hadn’t heard anything from them. Every time there was a plan made, it fizzled out.

So, she tracked them down, one by one, and in between their comings and goings, their busy social lives and the other people they had to visit, she went to deliver her meager Christmas gifts.

It was Christmas Eve, and she had called her children and wished them a Merry Christmas, and let them know she would cook a ham and have food to eat if they would stop by and see her on Christmas Day, as she hoped they would.

Time was passing by quickly. She lit her little table tree and got out her box of pictures. There were no presents under the tree. She had gotten them all delivered. She turned on “It’s a Wonderful Life,” and began to sort through her box of pictures. Christmas trees, presents under the tree, children with smiling faces as they opened their presents in their pajamas. Tears came to her eyes. Those were most CHERISHED Christmas memories.

Before she knew it, the clock had struck midnight, and she knew no one was coming Christmas Eve. She still had hope for Christmas Day. She was sitting in the chair holding a Christmas picture of her and all her children.

Christmas night at 10:30, she got a call from her daughter, but she couldn’t answer it. She was no longer of this world. She had passed on to the next. Her daughter figured she had gone to bed and didn’t investigate further. She was found by a neighbor, sitting in the chair by the window, clutching her picture to her heart.

I hope if you read this, you might remember your mother…think about what she did for you…you may not know the whole story…you may not know everything your mother went through for you to have the best Christmases she could give you.

If you can’t visit her, you could call her before she calls you on Christmas day. You could be the first one to call instead of her. That in itself would tell her you were thinking of her on Christmas and that even though she is not there with you, you haven’t forgotten her. You could play some childhood Christmas music and call your mom and let her know you are doing this. That will make her heart happy.

You never know…no matter what her age, this could be her last Christmas….you never know, it could be yours….remember, no one will ever love you like your mother, and when you get old it is a lonely time anyway, especially at Christmas and around the holidays. Don’t leave your mother sitting alone on Christmas with a box of pictures of Christmas PAST to look at. Give her a Christmas PRESENT.

Memories of Christmas Past

Once upon a time I was crafty.  I wanted to do something special and came up with look-alike dresses for Christmas for my daughter and I.  I was quite proud of the result.  This is one of my fondest Christmas memories.

CHRISTMAS DINNER

Well, sometimes, we don’t have a sit down dinner at my house.  I just fix a meal, and, as friends and family come and go, there is food prepared should anyone desire to have a bite to eat.  This year, it will be the following:

CHRISTMAS HAM

Easy way to honey glaze your ham

5-6 lb. fully cooked ham
1/4 cup whole cloves
1/4 cup dark corn syrup
2 cups honey
2/3 cup butter
1/8 tsp. white pepper
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Place ham cut side down in a foil-lined roasting pan. Using a sharp knife, score the surface of the ham in a diamond pattern. Place the whole cloves in the scored intersections. If you don’t like the cloves taste, leave this part out.

Combine corn syrup, honey, butter, and pepper in the top of your double boiler, and heat until the butter melts and the mixture is smooth, stirring occasionally. Let the glaze sit in the top of the double boiler, over the hot water, while your ham bakes, for extra basting glaze.

Brush glaze over ham, cover with foil. Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes at 325 degrees, basting the ham every 10 to 15 minutes with the warm honey glaze.

During the last 5 minutes of baking time, remove the foil and turn on the oven broiler to caramelize the glaze. During the broiling time watch the ham carefully because it is easy to burn the glaze on top of the ham.

Remove ham from oven, cover with foil, and let sit for 10 more minutes before serving.

A 5 to 6 pound ham should serve 10-12 people.

POTATO SALAD

Ingredients
4  pounds  potatoes (about 8 big potatoes)
3  hard-cooked eggs, chopped up, diced, cut into 8ths, however, you like it.
1  cup  mayonnaise
1  tablespoon  spicy brown mustard
1 1/2  teaspoons  salt
3/4  teaspoon  pepper

Preparation

Cook potatoes in boiling water, covered, about 40 minutes, till tender.  Drain and let potatoes cool down. Peel the potatoes, and cut into 1 inch cubes.

Sometimes I bake the potatoes, let them cool in the fridge and then peel and cut them.

Stir together potato and egg.

Stir together mayonnaise and next 3 ingredients; gently stir into potato mixture. Serve immediately.  I think it is best left overnight in the fridge.
Sweet Pickle: Add 1/3 cup sweet salad cube pickles or relish.

2 celery ribs, diced, and 1/2 small sweet onion, diced, to potato mixture.

Light Potato Salad: Substitute 1 cup low fat mayo.

DEVILED EGGS

6 eggs (makes 12 deviled eggs, duh)

1/4 cup mayonnaise

1/4 tsp salt

one or two shakes of the pepper shaker

2 tsp prepared mustard (plain old yellow mustard)

a pinch of sugar (then to taste)

Remove egg yolks. Mash them up with a fork.  Add the remaining ingredients.  Some people add sweet pickle relish – I personally don’t like them that way.  This is simple and tasty.

BAKED BEANS

SIMPLE – Just buy a couple cans of baked beans – doesn’t matter – If you can still find BIG JOHN’S – these always worked great.  If you want you can fry up some bacon, just don’t let it get too crisp, and add this to your baked beans.  But bacon or not, add some brown sugar to taste, put in some molasses or dark corn syrup to taste – I find TASTING is a big part of cooking – maybe that is why I am never hungy when it comes time to eat…I watch everyone fill their plates and sit down to eat while being asked, “where’s your plate,” and I find, I’m just not hungry for a big old plate of food… wonder why?????  Cook this a while on top of the stove or go all out and stick it in the oven just to heat it all up. That’s the end of that.

So you have ham, potato salad, baked beans, deviled eggs, and just buy some little dinner rolls, preferably from a good bakery around your house, and you can serve this meal up all day long.  Of course, refrigerate any food after it has sit out about an hour and a half. 

For dessert, you have all those cookies and candies, I just know you have already made, to sit out on the buffet or counter-top if anyone has any room left for dessert. 

Grab a plate, go sit down, enjoy each others’ company.  Thank your higher power for bringing everyone together once again this year.  Share memories of Christmas past.  Remember our loved ones who aren’t with us and the joy and happiness they brought us.  First and foremost,  remember we are celebrating the birthday of our beloved Jesus Christ.

Childhood memory of Christmas

A Patty Playpal doll/my brother got a cowboy outfit complete with gun

Carol of the Field Mice

Kenneth Grahame (1859-1932)
from The Wind in the Willows

CAROL

Villagers all, this frosty tide,
Let your doors swing open wide,
Though wind may follow, and snow beside,
Yet draw us in by your fire to bide;
Joy shall be yours in the morning!

Here we stand in the cold and the sleet,
Blowing fingers and stamping feet,
Come from far away you to greet—
You by the fire and we in the street—
Bidding you joy in the morning!

For ere one half of the night was gone,
Sudden a star has led us on,
Raining bliss and benison—
Bliss to-morrow and more anon,
Joy for every morning!

Goodman Joseph toiled through the snow—
Saw the star o’er a stable low;
Mary she might not further go—
Welcome thatch, and litter below!
Joy was hers in the morning!

And then they heard the angels tell
‘Who were the first to cry NOWELL?
Animals all, as it befell,
In the stable where they did dwell!
Joy shall be theirs in the morning!’

——————————————————————————–
The above carol appears in chapter five of The Wind in the Willows where it is sung by the field-mice to Mole and Rat.
Grahame, Kenneth. The Wind in the Willows. New York: Charles Scriber’s Sons, 1908.
It can also be found in:

Harrington, Mildred P., and Josephine H. Thomas, eds. Our Holidays in Poetry. New York: The H.W. Wilson Company, 1938.

CHRISTMAS IS COMING – MUST WATCH HOLIDAY MOVIES

With Thanksgiving almost over, it is on to Christmas.  I’m looking over my Christmas recipes now trying to find my old recipes for the candy I usually always make, providing I am feeling well, and looking for my favorite Christmas movies to put in while I am baking and candy making.

Nothing gets me in the Christmas mood like the CLASSIC – CHRISTMAS VACATION.  This movie has it all, the unexpected visiting relatives, the mishaps with the tree, the MUCH AWAITED CHRISTMAS BONUS, and the classic “quotes” from Chevy Chase that I have used many times at Christmas – although, there is one I sometimes use from BEETLEJUICE – “I’m going crazy, and I’m taking you all with me!!!!!” 

Another movie that is wonderful for Christmas Time is the TIMELESS CLASSIC -” THE BISHOP’S WIFE,” starring Cary Grant, as the angel, and the beautiful Loretta Young, as the Bishop’s wife. 

I love to watch “BORROWED HEARTS,” “EBBIE,” “A CHRISTMAS STORY,” who can forget Dolly Partin’s “SMOKY MOUNTAIN CHRISTMAS.”  BIll Murray’s “SCROOGED,” is a MUST watch CLASSIC. A “DIVA”S CHRISTMAS CAROL,” is also a great update of the original CHRISTMAS CAROL.   The old, “MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET,” with Maureen O’Hara and John Payne, is a must see. 

I’ll post more, as I find them.  These are the ones that come to mind right now.

Also, you MUST have Gene Autry’s Christmas songs, with “Rudolph the Red Nose Reinder, Frosty the Snowman, Here Comes Santa Claus,” playing in the background when children are visiting at Christmas time.   It’s also good to play while baking.  I love to listen to Manheim Steamrollers Christmas music. also. 

All this said, I better get busy.  I need to get my mind on Thanksgiving…2 days away. I know, I’m getting ahead of myself, but they are already putting the Christmas shows on TV, that’s all it takes for me. 

Better check my turkey breast, hope it is getting thawed out.

A little bit about me

I’m a 57-year-old, still working, mother and grandmother, aspiring writer.  I love finding new recipes, reading, movies, time spent with my children and grandchildren. I believe in good old southern hospitality, so I hope you feel at home here on my blog.