Christmas and an Etsy Sale 2!!!!

Hi there everyone...hope your Christmas festivities are going well and you are getting all you want done. I just have a few more things to accomplish and then I can sit back and enjoy. As you see in my title I also had an Etsy Sale....wow that was neat surprise (does anyone still use that word?)

The lady wanted the cards for framing and Christmas giving....so it was important to get the cards out in a timely manner (gosh, the lines were long at the Post Office.) As it is, she will receive them on Monday....just in time for framing, I hope.

Here is Kylie....she is none too happy with me....I found the deer antlers in one of the Christmas boxes and put them on her....she sat there looking at me....like..."Please take this strange thing off me...Please!!!" Finally she shook them off and was happy again.

So here is my Christmas Village and Manger Scene. Didn't put the manger scene up last year, JP took over the space that the manger scene went....so with no place to go, it did not get put up last year. As you can see, this year I got the bright idea to put it under the Village....why did I not think of that space before????? 

"Oh Christmas Tree, oh Christmas tree." I had this tree already trimmed and lighted....but the top strand of lights burned out.....so I stripped it and bought some new lights and redecorated it.

Here it tis....all decorated....cute huh? Bought some new ornaments and the stringed beads were hidden downstairs for a couple of years....found them and strung them on the tree. See my little elf in the tree....he stays there most of the time.....I have heard of some elves getting themselves into a little bit of mischief during the Christmas season....this one has been good....so far.

I am done with all my food and gift buying. Don't have many to buy for. Sent Pops his gift of Chex Mix and a big candy bar. Also made a devils food cake and mixed pudding with it....gosh was that good. Gave a little muffin cake to the Schwan's man tonight...he was thrilled, said when he gets home that will be the first thing he eats. Another little muffin cake will go to the Pastor, plus it's his birthday too.

I made a really delicious soup last night....Zucchini Sausage Soup.
Here is the recipe with a few of my changes of course.
Start to finish - 30 minutes and makes 11 servings.
1 lb. bulk Italian sausage or pork sausage (add Italian seasonings)
2/3 cup chopped onion
5 cups of water
1 medium zucchini, spiralled or chopped
1 can (14 1/2 oz.) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 jar (14 oz.) pizza sauce (yes, pizza sauce....very good)
3/4 cup uncooked orzo pasta
1 envelope au jus gravy mix (did not use)
1 Tablespoon dried basil
2 teaspoon dried oregano
In a Dutch oven, cook sausage and onion over medium heat until the meat is not longer pink; drain. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10-15 minutes or until pasta is tender. Dish up a bowl and top with mozzarella cheese.

Well time to close...hope you are having a good night and a great  Saturday!!! Hooray for Saturdays. Keep looking up!!!
Cheers ~ Louise

Comfort Food....Yummmmm!!

Hello everyone....how you all doing today??? Well, this is the last day of January, now where did this month go??? Onward and forward to February and possibly a bit of a warmer month???

In the midst of all this cold and snow and stuff, I made some "Comfort Food" today. Don't ask me why this is comfort, but it is something that was made alot when I was growing up. Mostly in my teen years, when my mother married into a Ukranian family. Not even sure what this is called....but I sure did like it, and now it tastes even better.

Umm....I will just call it "Fried Bacon and Hot Cabbage Slaw" So today, this is the way I made it: (I say today, because the recipe changes from time to time, but this is the basic recipe.
1 Tablespoon bacon grease (or fry some bacon and use that for this dish)
2/3 cup broken up pieces of bacon
1/2 head of shredded cabbage
1 small onion sliced (this can be optional)
1/2 cup marinara sauce (I used the rest of my left over vegie marinara sauce)
1/4 cup of water

So I fried the bacon and grease in a Dutch Oven. When hot added the cabbage and onions and mixed with the bacon and grease. After the cabbage is cooked down a bit add the marinara sauce and water (you can also omit the marinara sauce and just do the bacon and cabbage alone and it is goooooood). Turn down the heat to simmer and cover. The heat from the dutch oven will keep the cabbage cooking. Ready to serve right away. It didn't take long to make cause I was dishing it up for JP's lunch in no time, along with fish and potatoes and a smoothie.

Boy this was a good recipe. Yummy and very comforting. I am not sure what the calorie content is, but it is good and filling. Well, I am going to close now and go finish my dishes. Tonight I am going to make some cards for my Etsy store....maybe a set of 6 birthday cards. Talk to you later and keep warm and cozy with some of your favorite comfort food. Cheers ~ Louise

Merry Christmas Blessings

Here is a Christmas card I made and sent out to friends. Colored her in with pens, H2o's and sprayed her with glimmer mist and placed her in a pre-made card. Wa-La a pretty lady wishing you Merry Christmas Blessings.

Almost done with preparing for Christmas.....which is only 5 days away. Where in the world did this year go? So much has happened and what have I learned throughout this whole year? I am not sure, will have to sit down and write everything out, month by month, day by day. Shall give myself two weeks to reflect and maybe I will come up with a blog report after it is finished.

I received my Christmas present plus birthday present from my Step father. He gave me $100 to spend for whatever. I bought a Mini NuWave.....oh gosh is it ever a neat little appliance. I made a whole chicken in it the other day, was it ever delicious. Last night we finished up the bird and then I turned it into chicken soup. Yummy!!!!

My Christmas present........... finally got a Dutch Oven!!!! Only paid $30 for it compared to even Walmart's Dutch Oven which was $60, the brandmark is "Better Homes and Garden" I guess you are paying for the name. So in this case, cheaper was the way I went and still have a nice pot. I have made a few things in it. A vegetable soup that was out of this world. And a stew that came very close to being out of this world!!!!!!

I am thinking that for Christmas I want to make that lovely Beef stew that Julia Childs made...Boeuf a la Bourguignonne. I found the recipe so, if I make it, I shall take a picture and give the recipe right here on this blog!!!!!

Well, I shall close for now, as sometimes I can get pretty wordy at times, so you have a great day and talk to you soon.
~Louise~

Thanksgiving and Black Friday

Happy Thanksgiving to you all that might be reading my blog today. Our thanksgiving was small (JP and I) and quiet, but a very good day. A new vegetable was added to the turkey menu, and that was swiss chard. I hadn't used swiss chard since the 80's when I planted it in my garden. Saw a recent cooking show with Curtis Stone using swiss chard and thought, now that looks fun, even down to the cutting of the chard, quick and easy and healthy no doubt!!!

We had turkey, with the potatoes and carrots thrown in with the turkey the last hour of cooking, dressing, pumpkin souffle', swiss chard, gravy, real cranberry sauce, relish dish, and pumpkin pie! All for just two people...........did not know anyone that needed a meal, guess we are out of the loop of important people to invite or something. That's okay though, we enjoy each other's company......good thing after 39 years. I have already turned some of the left overs into turkey soup, so meals today will be easy and then tonight....turkey dinner again.

Today being Black Friday, I shall be one of those that "stays home". Never was interested in venturing out and fighting the crowds of people........no, don't think so, not today. Plus a big factor would be "no money"!!! My next investment for December will be a "Dutch Oven" which I have been wanting since I first saw the movie "Julia and Julie". A bigger pot has been on my mind for making soup for quite a long time and a "Dutch Oven would fit the bill. Of course I am saving for one.....so it will be awhile before I get the one I want, which sits at Walmart, a red one for $70. That will be my Christmas present.

Well, time to close this blog for the day..........and get something done around this house, have a good day and Happy Thanksgiving to one and all.
~Louise~