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.

OLD POST CARDS CIRCA EARLY 1900S

DAVID LETTERMAN – 67% UNHAPPY WITH BUSH

Someone sent me this email – I have to share my feelings
Category: News and Politics

 

I was sent this email by someone and read it….I had to express my feelings about this…I simply had to add some things to what David Letterman supposedly said….my feelings are in parentheses following what he supposedly said.

David Letterman, on President Bush. (Surprising)

David Letterman wrote this; it’s the David we don’t often see….

‘As most of you know I am not a President Bush fan, nor have I ever been, but this is not about Bush, it is about us, as Americans, and it seems to hit the mark.”The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some Poll data I found rather hard to believe.  It must be true given the source, right?

The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of  the country is unhappy with the performance of the President. In essence 2/3 of the citizenry just aren’t happy and want a change. So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, ‘What are we so unhappy about?’

A. Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 Days a week? (I say, Yes, we do, and we pay for it by working 40 hours a week or more)

B. Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter? ( again, we pay for it, if we can afford to have it – you know some can’t - some elderly people have actually died in their own homes from heat exhaustion and frozen in the winter. How terribly sad that this is happening in our country).

 
 
C. Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job? (could it be they are making a pitiful minimal wage, but still getting up every morning to go to work and try to maintain their pitiful existence because they would rather not be on welfare)

D. Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time and see more food in moments than Darfurhas seen in the last year?  (no, it is the fact that we can’t really get what we would like because the prices are too high for middle class Americans – check the price of milk)

E. Maybe it is the ability to drive our cars and trucks from the Pacific Ocean to the   Atlantic Ocean  without having to present identification papers as we move through each state. (that is wonderful, if you can pay for the gas)
 
F. Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter?

G. I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough either. (I don’t know about you, but I hardly ever get to go out to eat – its too expensive – I work every day and live modestly in a simple home that probably costs less than these celebrities and rich politicians have spent on one of their cars).

H. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital. ( I went to the hospital in February by ambulance and I still had to pay $325.00 out of pocket to the ambulance service and over $3,000.00 out of pocket for what the insurance didn’t cover. Thank heaven I do have insurance where I work, but this, then, wiped out my little savings account, and I have been struggling ever since)

I. Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home.
 
J. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family, and your belongings. ( I am thankful for that)

K. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss. (my brother is a detective and I appreciate that – he is putting his life on the line every time he goes on a call – we lost one of our officers in a domestic situation 2 years ago)

L. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and  pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90% of teenagers own cell phones and computers.

M. How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world? (yes, and I am thankful for that)

Maybe that is what has 67% of you folks unhappy.

Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S.  , yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don’t have, and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.  (maybe it is because of our leadership in the past…and the fact that yes, these things are available, but still not all can afford them – some of us were brought up in a household where our fathers or grandfathers worked every day, but had jobs as painters, plumbers, factory workers, garbage men, worked in basket factories and didn’t have the money or opportunity the rich had…people who have had money in their families for years….my grandfather struggled and worked as a painter, worked hard every day to take care of us, and most of my clothes came from thrift shops or rummage sales)

I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks? The commander in chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me?
Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn’t take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad? Think about it……are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the ‘Media’ told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day.  (this paragraph just REALLY REALLY makes my blood boil)
Make no mistake about it. The troops in  Iraq  and  Afghanistan  have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn’t have to go. They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ”general” discharge, an ‘other than honorable” discharge or, worst case scenario, a ”dishonorable’ discharge after a few days in the brig. ( I admire and pray for these soldiers and their mothers and fathers and families every night, EVERY NIGHT…I am so thankful for our boys and girls who volunteer)

So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans?

Say what you want, but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds it leads and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells, and when criticized, try to defend their actions by ‘justifying’ them in one way or another. Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book about how he didn’t kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way……Insane! (The media – yes, they may instill feelings and emotions, but give me a break, the past cost of gas, our utility bills, the price of groceries, the loss of 1/2 of my retirement because of GREEDY WALL STREET, by the way, who is BAILING us out – and I assure you I didn’t have that much to begin with)

Turn off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as a country. There is exponentially more good than bad. We are among the most blessed people on Earth and should thank God several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative.’ ‘With hurricanes, tornadoes, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, ‘Are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?’ (ABSOLUTELY NOT – this really upset me when I found out about the poll to take GOD out of the pledge of allegiance).
 
-David Letterman

Now, I’m sure Mr. Letterman makes a HEFTY living as a talk show host.  I’m sure he has a car that cost as much as my house.  I’m relatively sure, he has never been hungry.  I’m sure he can go to the grocery any time he wants and buy the best cut of meat, and I would bet he doesn’t eat BEANS unless it is because he likes them and wants to.   I’ll be you could probably set my whole house in his living room…and that he doesn’t worry about paying his bills, where he is going to live when he gets old, how pathetic the amount of social security you get is, whether or not he can afford his prescriptions or go to the hospital, HOW DARE HE spank the middle classes behind or the people who are unhappy.  We are unhappy because the RICH just keep getting RICHER and the poor are driven 2 steps back for every step we think we have taken forward.

I have a pitiful little TSA (401K) where I work and have lost 41% of that in the last few weeks.  It is pennies to the millionaires, but a significant loss for me.  Who is going to bail me out?  As I see it now when I retire, I will have to go to the “Poor house,” subsidized living for the elderly.. apartments based on your income.  I know I won’t be able to afford the payments on my home.  Basically, I have worked for 28 years every day, hardly ever calling in sick, raised 3 children, sacrificed myself for them, and won’t be able to enjoy my old age…should I have been saving all my life for the future.. PROBABLY.  Should I have made better decisions – I know I should have, but most of the financial situations I made were because I was trying to feed, clothe and house my family, and NEVER seemed to have enough money.  The cost of living always outweighed my stipend raises. 

Anyway, I am thankful I live in the United States. I am thankful for my freedom.  But something has to give in the way the structure of the wealth in this country has been established.  If it wasn’t for the middle class working people, who get up every day, sick or not, and go to work, the RICH PEOPLE wouldn’t be so comfortable..because we are providing most of the services they use every day….

God bless America! and thanks for letting me vent…

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!!!!