Christmas Time is Here.....and Gone!

What happened?  I blinked and not only is Christmas over, but it's 2012?!  I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas.  Our was busy with lots of family get togethers and traveling, but it was a very blessed time being with the ones we love.

Here's my two loves in front of the Christmas tree.....yes, C tends to be in pajamas an awful lot.

One of my favorite traditions is that each year when we decorate the tree, the kids each get a new ornament representing their favorite things, or something from that year.  This year, J got a Lego Star Wars Darth Vader (who would have guessed?), and C's was the Little Mermaid.  We also had a special ornament on our tree representing our littlest love/s in Ethiopia.  Although we don't know him/them yet, they hold a special place in our heats and can't wait for the day when we can celebrate Christmas with them in our family.

Ethiopian Cross

One of my goals for the New Year is to become a more active blogger again.....I have a few more posts in the works ..... as long as my children cooperate, they might even come today!  :)

Fall Food Favorites: Homemade Applesauce

Ahhhh......fall!  Cooler weather, soon-to-be-changing leaves, apple cider, pumpkins....I love it all!  One of the things I really love about fall, especially this month ~ apples!  We have fun apple picking at a nearby orchard, and enjoy tasting all kinds of apple treats.  I typically try out new recipes each year, but the one tradition we have that must happen every year is applesauce.
When you make homemade applesauce you not only save money, but you know exactly what ingredients you are using, and in this case it's only one ingredient:  apples.  It tastes much better than what you can buy in stores and it's really not as hard as you might think!  I can remember my grandma and mom both making applesauce over the years, but I didn't really learn how until after I was married, when Jon's grandpa taught me.  I'm a little biased, but I think this is the best applesauce ever.  :)

So here's what you do...
Get some apples.  This year I bought 1 1/2 bushels.  Following Gramps' advice, go for Ginger Gold.  To us they have the perfect taste, so you will not need to add any sugar.  We usually wait a few days and let the apples soften up a little bit.  Then wash them, and use an apple cutter to core & slice them.  (There is no need to peel them if you will be using something like a Victorio Strainer).  Fill a heavy duty pot about 3/4 of the way full, and add a little water - not much, just enough so the apples don't scorch on the bottom.

Cook on medium heat for a little while, stirring every so often (do you like my precise measurements?), until apples are mushy.

When the apples are mushy, dump them into the funnel of your strainer and crank that handle!  You will want a bowl to catch the peels, and also something to collect the actual sauce.  If you have added too much water, most of it will come out with the first couple turns of the crank, and you can dump it out so your applesauce isn't too runny.  **My son loves to help turn the crank, but it is important to have your child stand back when you are dumping your apples into the funnel....they are HOT and could easily burn you!**

When the applesauce cools, fill your containers.  I use plastic containers I buy from my local grocery store's deli.  I wash them out and and save them from year to year.  If I ever learn to can, I could can my applesauce, but since I am intimidated by the canning process, I choose to freeze mine.  Here's a glimpse of my freezer...

my fresh homemade applesauce nearly fills the top shelf!  (Yes, I know I need to defrost!)  We'll have plenty of applesauce and will be able to have a taste of fall throughout the year!

Linked to:  Remodelaholic Recipe Party, The Frugal Girls,

Carrot Cake: 2 Ways

Although I love to bake, I have to admit I am not a big cake person, and when I do make a cake it's typically from a box.  The exception to this rule is each year for my husband's birthday (which was a few weeks ago) when he requests his traditional carrot cake.  I have made this for him nearly every year since we have been married and it is always a hit!  I use the recipe from the much trusted Better Homes and Gardens Cook Book.

"Best-Ever Carrot Cake"
4 beaten eggs
2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking soda
3 c finely shredded carrots (lightly packed)
3/4 c cooking oil

1)  Allow eggs to stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.  Grease and flour two 9x1 1/2 inch round cake pans (**and layer with parchment paper!!**); set pans aside.  In a large mixing bowl stir together flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and baking soda.
2)  In a medium bowl combine eggs, carrots, and oil.  Add egg mixture to flour mixture; stir until combined.  Pour batter into the prepared pans.
3)  Bake in a 350 oven for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.  Cool on wire racks for 10 minutes.  Remove from pans and cool thoroughly on racks.
4)  Frost tops and sides with Cream Cheese Frosting (recipe follows).  Top with chopped walnuts or pecans.

"Cream Cheese Frosting"
 1 8oz package cream cheese, softened
1/2 c butter or margarine, softened
2 tsp vanilla
around 6 cups powdered sugar

Beat cream cheese, butter, and vanilla with electric mixer until light and fluffy.  Gradually add 2 cups of the powdered sugar, beating well.  Gradually beat in additional powdered sugar to reach spreading consistency.  Cover and store frosted cake in the refrigerator.

YUM, right?  Now, just in case you didn't see the subtle little note about parchment paper, or chose to ignore it....you may end up with a mess on your hands.  Last year I ignored it ~ parchment paper is for wimps, after all.... and when I tried to get the cake out of the pans, it was a major FAIL.  After stressing out for a little bit (there may have been some tears), I changed my plan and decided to make the cake into a trifle!  Super easy.  Just put a layer of cake chunks followed by a layer of vanilla pudding and then a layer of Cool Whip.  I think I might have mixed a little cream cheese in with that pudding too, I don't quite remember now!  Keep layering and top with some walnuts.  Refrigerate.  It wasn't the original plan but it was still delicious!

Have you and any food FAILURES that turned into SUCCESSES?

Linking up to some of my favorites!

The BEST Strawberry Pie (True Story.)

Oh my.  This pie is seriously so good.  My mouth starts watering around mid-April just dreaming of the upcoming strawberries and this very pie.  After we pick berries each year, this is the first dessert I make.  I only make it with fresh picked berries, because no other berries would do it justice.  It is a taste sensation!

I wish I could take credit for coming up with this recipe, but it's actually from Taste of Home.

Strawberry Lover's Pie

Ingredients ~
3 squares (1 oz each) semisweet chocolate, divided
1 tbsp butter
1 pastry shell (9 inches), baked
6 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 c sour cream
3 tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
3 to 4 c fresh strawberries, hulled
1/3 c strawberry jam, melted

1)  In a saucepan, melt 2 oz chocolate and butter over low heat, stirring constantly; spread or brush over the bottom and up the sides of pastry shell.  Chill.  (*I used chocolate chips and a little vegetable oil, and microwaved it to melt).
2)  Meanwhile, in a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, sour cream, sugar and vanilla until smooth.  Spread over chocolate layer; cover and chill for 2 hours.  (*I just realized that when I doubled this recipe, I forgot to double the amount of cream cheese, and it turned out just fine.....even cut out some calories!)
3)  Arrange strawberries, tip end up, atop the filling.  Brush jam over strawberries - this makes a pretty shiny glazed look.  Melt the remaining chocolate and drizzle over all.  Chill and serve.

Enjoy!

 

Linking to some of my favorites!

Thanks so much the feature!!!!

It's Strawberry Season!

My favorite thing about June?  Fresh strawberries!!!  Each year we love to go pick a bunch, and then I spend the next day making freezer jam.  I also freeze some strawberries whole, for smoothie making throughout the year, and also freeze some sliced, for strawberry shortcake or to eat over pancakes or french toast.  We save the rest and for the next few weeks I make a LOT of strawberry dishes.  Jackson and I met a friend at the strawberry patch last night and together picked 24 quarts of berries (at $1.75/quart).

We picked 2 kinds...can you tell?  The small dark berries are the best for jam!

Over the next week or so I'll be sharing a few of my favorite strawberry recipes, but for now the most important:  freezer jam.  Our family is pretty big into good ole PB&J, so we go through a lot of jam over the course of the year.  Nothing beats homemade strawberry jam, and it is very cost effective and easy!!

Here's the heroine of the story (or recipe, as the case may be)....

Ball Instant Fruit Pectin....the "no cook" version.  Grab a pack of this, mix it with 1 1/2 cups sugar.  Stir into a bowl of 4 cups of mashed strawberries for 3 minutes, and then ladle into jars.  Allow to set for at least 30 minutes before putting into the freezer.  Seriously.  That's it.  Repeat as desired, until you have a freezer full of jelly!

Coming up later this week.....the BEST Strawberry Pie EVAH.....hint:  it involves chocolate!

What are your favorite things to make with strawberries?

Traditional Valentine's Day Meal

Just wanted to put this idea out there early, in case you want to start the tradition yourself.  This one is from my childhood - the traditional Valentine's Day meal - a heart-shaped meatloaf!!  My mom made one of these every year and it was a tradition I just had to pass on to my own family.

The above picture was taken last year (obviously pre-cooking) - I made it in the crockpot with carrots and potatoes for something a little different.  I also made layered jello (alternating layers of red, pink, and white) and cut it out with heart cookie cutters.  Another great thing for the kiddos is to put a drop or two of red food coloring in their milk, or get the cranberry flavored ginger ale!

Do you serve anything special for Valentine's Day?

Click here for a list of parties I may have linked up to!

Countdown to 2011

Just when I'm finally getting used to writing 2010 on my checks....2011 sneaks up on me.  We have exciting New Year's Eve plans - putting the kids to bed and relaxing!  Seriously, at this point, it's my ideal night.  It's been a busy week - here's a little of what we've been up to:
On Christmas Eve, we completed our last Christmas project of the year, which was to make the melted snowman cookies that have been showing up everywhere in blogland.  I didn't have most of the cute decorating things I wanted, but with my only option being to head out to the grocery store for the billionth time, we went the "less is more"  (aka - grab whatever I can find in the pantry) route.  Jackson was super proud of them, so really that's what matters!

Later that evening we headed to church for the Christmas Eve service and then drove around to look at Christmas lights.  When we got back home, it was time for a new tradition - finding the pickle on the Christmas tree.  I have always thought this was such a cute idea (a pickle ornament is hidden and the first one to find it gets a special present) and this year a special friend gave me a pickle ornament!  We decided to hide it on Christmas Eve so it didn't get missed in the craziness of Christmas morning.  Jackson was very excited to find the pickle and wanted to pretend he was going to take a bite out of it for the picture...

His prize was the Yeti car from the Cars movie - to which he remarked, "If anyone else would have found the pickle, this present still would have been for me!"  Smartie pants.

Then the kids got to open their new Christmas jammies...

and then we sent them to bed!

Christmas morning was great, with J being thrilled over every new Star Wars toy and Carly loving on her new baby doll.  We spent most of the day at my in-laws, eating lots of good food and having fun with lots of family!  Unfortunately I forgot my camera :(

We had planned to leave for Western MD Monday, but when we woke up Sunday morning to get ready for church, we saw the weather predictions for a possible 6-10 inches of snow arriving later that day (as it turned out, we only got a dusting)!  Our plans quickly changed and we packed up and headed to Maryland to visit my family.  We spent several days there, exchanging gifts, playing in the snow...

and meeting up with extended family.  There were some bittersweet moments due to some life changes that happened in 2010 - my maternal grandmother moved to a different area, so we were only able to talk to her on the phone for Christmas this year (although we hope to go see her soon!), and my paternal grandmother moved into an Assisted Living.  It is becoming increasingly harder for her to get around, so this year for Christmas, we used the Nursing Home's Multipurpose Room for our family get-together.  We missed the coziness of being in a home, but it was great to see all the family who could be there, and every moment spent with my sweet Grandma is a treasure!
Since coming home, we've been finishing up some projects, playing with all our new toys, making some returns, checking out all the after-Christmas sales, and doing some freezer cooking.  The week has been jam-packed, so yes...now with the kids all snuggled in their beds, it is time to relax with my hubby to ring in the New Year!  Happy 2011!

How Many Kings?

As I have mentioned previously, I am a girl who loves traditions.  A few years ago, my in-laws started the tradition of getting each of us girls a new Christmas cd for Thanksgiving each year.  I love Christmas music and I love this tradition!  This year I picked Downhere's "How Many Kings?" and I am definitely not disappointed!  I have enjoyed Downhere since they first played at Cherry Glade Mennonite's Breakaway all those years ago in my tiny hometown of Accident (yes, you read it right), Maryland.  They sang the Mentos theme song and hung out with those of us in the youth group....laughed as group members were "measured for a coffin" by some of the youth group guys....which is a little initiation-type game that involves pouring water down the unsuspecting party's pants leg, making them appear as if they had a potty accident.
Anyhoo....the song "How Many Kings" has become my favorite Christmas song this year, and I think it pefectly captures the true meaning of Christmas. 



Follow the star to a place unexpected
Would you believe, after all we've projected,
A child in a manger?
Lowly and small, the weakest of all
Unlikeliest hero, wrapped in his mother's shawl -
Just a child -
Is this who we've waited for? 'cause...

How many kings step down from their thrones?
How many lords have abandoned their homes?
How many greats have become the least for me?
And how many gods have poured out their hearts
To romance a world that is torn all apart
How many fathers gave up their sons for me?

Bringing our gifts for the newborn Savior
All that we have, whether costly or meek
Because we believe.
Gold for his honor, and frankincense for his pleasure
And myrrh for the cross he will suffer
Do you believe?
Is this who we've waited for?

All for me...
All for you...

So thankful for Christmas and the gift of Jesus.

Our (Im)Perfect Christmas Tree

Our Christmas tree is probably one of the most "non-frugal" things we do... we insist each year on buying a real tree.  Every year after the holidays when the great sales are going on I am tempted to buy a prelit tree, which would end up saving so much money over the years....but I just can't bring myself to do it!  I love getting a real tree - love picking it, love the smell, love everything.  I especially love all the little imperfections that make it - perfect.  I just couldn't imagine having a cookie cutter perfect tree - no branches out of place, no dead needles, no bare spots.  I have wanted (for years) to start the tradition (i am a tradition-loving girl) of cutting down our own tree instead of buying it from a lot.  Finally, this was the year! 

We headed out a few days early to tag our tree.....

Poor Carly never makes it into the action shots - this is a picture to prove she was there.

Tagging our tree!

"Mommy, can we get this one?!  It's ORANGE!!"

Jon worked the day after Thanksgiving, so Saturday we went to pick it up!  We were glad we tagged it early because it was FRIGID, and we did not want to spend any more time there than we needed to.

BRRR.... borrowing Ellie's gloves.

We brought it home and after a quick run to KMart when we realized half of our lights no longer worked, the decorating began!  We love to go through all of our favorite ornaments - the kids get one as a present each year representing their favorite things or something special from the year.  Of course the little guy still needs some direction - "let's not put 3 ornaments on the same branch" - but overall things stay where he puts them - so yeah, we have some ornaments that are definitely too close, but again those imperfections are what end up making it perfect. 

Decorating was extra fun this year because we had special help from our Thanksgiving guest, Ellie, from England!

And here it is.... our perfect tree.