Aunt Faye and Menu Monday (Tuesday?)

My sisters and I went to visit our Aunt Faye today. She is 89. She and Aunt Betty are the only remaining members in that generation of my mom's family. They were married to two of my mom's brothers.

She is such a fun lady. She gets forgetful which is to be expected since there is no one around her regularly to talk about the family. She kept thinking my older sister was my mom, then would correct herself and asked if mom was still living. When we would say no she would say "I thought she had died". One time she said she knew that, she had been at her funeral.

We took her a quilt from Quilts for Seniors, an online charity group that I belong to. They make quilts for senior citizens. The quilts are made with cross-stitch squares and all but 2 of the stitched squares on Faye's quilt were done by family members. She was so happy to get it and we went over each square and who stitched it. I left her a list of the stitchers and how they were related so she could 'digest' it (as she said). Here is Aunt Faye with her beautiful quilt.



The square I stitched is near the lower right corner of the photo. It is a teddy bear made to look like a hairdresser with a blow dryer in one hand and a comb in the other. Aunt Faye was a hairdresser. She would often bring along her scissors and cut Mom's hair when they came to visit.

The top row of the quilt is photo squares that Aunt Faye's granddaughter made for the quilt. One photo is of Aunt Faye's only child, my cousin Dean, who died several years ago. The other two pictures are of Aunt Faye's great-grandson, Ryan, who turned one earlier this month. He was born about 3 months premature (less than 3 pounds) and was in the neonatal intensive care for a couple months but was able to go home to mom and dad close to the original due date.

Well, I did not post a Monday Menu - so here is a Tuesday menu. This week will be a little different with all the leftovers from our family get-together and the holiday mid-week. I need to get back to cooking regular meals but at least I have not gained a lot of weight over the holidays. I had even lost 0.5 pounds when I weighed this morning. Of course, with going to Bandanas for lunch today (delicious Granny Smith apple pie!) and then having guests on New Year's Eve I may not be able to say the same thing next week.

Monday - leftovers

Tuesday - Potato pancakes ( I make these like my mom used to with leftover mashed potatoes. The recipe is below)

Wednesday - Sandwiches and party food

Thursday - Crock pot chicken (So you forgot to defrost!)
Honey grain rolls
Pasta House salad

Friday - Salad
Rolls
Ham and asparagus lasagne - ( I use a 9 x 13 inch pan with 9 lasagne noodles and double the rest of the ingredients. I make 2 layers of everything starting with the noodles and ending with the mozzarella cheese. I also put just a tablespoon or so of the sauce in the bottom of the pan before placing the first layer of noodles. I cut mine into 12 servings. I like this when I have leftover ham. I have made it with only ham and no asparagus and with only asparagus when I did not have the ham and they are all good.)

Saturday - Philly Steak Pizza
Carrots and celery

Sunday - Italian beef on roll (I have some in the freezer)
Ramen cole slaw



Potato Pancakes - the amounts of the ingredients will depend on how many
leftover mashed potatoes you have to work with. The amounts listed below are approximately what I used tonight.
2 cups mashed potatoes
2 eggs
1/4 cup flour (more or less - see directions below)
1/2 cup leftover corn, drained (optional)
Leftover ham or pork sausage link (optional)
Salt and pepper to taste

Mix together the potatoes, egg and flour until well blended. Use enough flour to make a thick batter, similar to muffin batter. Stir in corn and/or meats if available. Most times we had these without the corn and meat. They are good either way.
Spray large skillet liberally with cooking spray. Heat over medium heat until hot. Spoon a couple tablespoons of potato batter in circular mounds in the skillet. Let brown (edges will appear dry) and then flip and brown the other side. Serve warm - my family likes ketchup on them but I like them just as they are.

Since I added the corn and sausage tonight this was a meal-in-one. Usually these are served as a side dish.

Random

Here are just some random comments and photos -

We re-decorated the hall bathroom which the girls and our guests use. It was a creamy yellow and the previous owners had gotten paint on the ceiling and trim when painting so we have been wanting to repaint anyway. One weekend in November DD17 was away at a youth retreat and since DD19 was at college I suggested we work on the bathroom since they would not have to share our master bath.

I 'sort of' knew what I wanted so went to the local Walmart and looked at shower curtains. I found one I liked and went from there. I matched the paint (Gray Lilac) to a flower in the curtain. I purchased towels and rugs to match the stems in the curtain.
We added the cabinet above the toilet, a towel bar near the tub and the knobs on the vanity - plus replaced the plain flat panel mirror with a framed mirror.
The weekend project took a week but we love it and got lots of compliments from the family yesterday. DD17 did not like it (she doesn't like unexpected changes) but DD19 loves it.

Here are a few pictures from Christmas morning. DH is trying to decide what he will do with an air compressor- I have a few ideas for him.


Buddy is calmly watching while DD17 opens a present.


DD19 opens her camera.

DD19 and boyfriend display their new hoodies (presents to each other).


We had a great time yesterday- 37 people and 3 were under 2 years old. We had LOTS of food and especially LOTS of desserts. After the meal we played games and just visited, getting caught up on family members and getting to know some of the recent additions. We sure have a good time joking around and teasing each other.
Eight of the family members spent the night so they could play games until after midnight. There were several new games received as Christmas presents so we had to try them out and there were some old standbys. One that I like is "What If" ( it is easy to play with any number of people - plus you only need paper and pencils)

"WHAT IF" directions.

Each person takes a small square of paper and writes a "What if" statement. Then fold the paper twice and hand them to the player who is designated as the leader. The leader passes the folder paper back to the player. If a player gets her own paper, she should hand it back to the leader and get another. The players now write a response to the "What if" question. Once again the paper is folded and handed to the leader. The leader hands a paper to each player. This time it doesn't matter if a player gets a paper on which she has written a question or answer. Player One reads the "What If" question from the paper, Player Two reads the answer (which most likely does not match up with the question but can be very funny. Play continues around the table with one player reading the "What If" question and the next player reading the response for a different question.
Some times the answers actually make sense - but usually they are just silly.

Family Get-together

Today is our family Christmas gathering. This is for my siblings, their children and grand-children - and tag-alongs like DD19's boyfriend. I am one of 7 children (6 are living).

A tradition that started in 1977 is to make ornaments for everyone in the family and any 'guests' that celebrate with us. This year we made ceramic stars, stamped with the City of David Stampin' Up stamp using Staz-on ink. Here is a picture of the whole group or 40. Potentially 39 of the 40 recipients could be here today.

Here is a closer shot showing all the colors. We had blue, green, orange, sepia and blazing red (which was more hot pink when we used it on the ornaments.

I chose to not hang them on the mantel or tree since we have marble tiles in that area and one little slip would mean a broken ornament. This was one of the easiest projects we have done. Our previous ornaments can be viewed at Webshots. The three sisters are 'in charge' of this and usually do the work. Several years other family members have helped out with their individual talents. Everyone looks forward to this little 'surprise' when we gather together.

My sisters and I made this over a "Sisters' Weekend" in Chicago. Here are my sisters working hard. One is stamping the ornaments and the other is inspecting them to make sure there are not smudges or blurry spots. Some of the ornaments had little dimples in the glaze which made the stamping a little more challenging.

This shows the ornaments drying before we packed them away.



These were by far one of the simplest ornament projects. This only took a couple hours so we had plenty of time to play games and watch movies.

Some years we spend the whole 12 months stitching in order to complete the ornaments in time. The only 'easier' years were when someone else took a turn. We already have plans for the next 2 years and both will be something we can do on a "Sisters' Weekend" (But I can't post anything here as some family members might read it and that would spoil the surprise)

Card-making

What a fun day! We 'girls' met at my niece's apartment and my sister, Jane, taught us some new tricks using the scallop punch and the Sizzix. She is a Stampin' Up 'enabler' and I sure want to buy a Sizzix. Of course, being a non-conformist and also getting ahead of myself I usually come away with different cards than anyone else. I don't always take my time and miss a step so then I have to improvise :-)

Here are photos of the prototype and my 'variations' on each one. The protoypes are on the right in the photos.
Actually, the 'prototype' for this one was made by DD17. I didn't even make one like it.
On the center top card, I used the new punch/embosser that I got at Michael's with a 50% off coupon (of course, I spent much more than I saved on the punch :-)


On this one I just used a different color on the love birds- this is a valentine.


I love the heart stamps and coordinating punch. I stamped the word LOVE inside my variation.

I kept forgetting to add the ribbon before taping the card front to the card- so had to pull it off - on the second one I just improvised instead of trying to pull it off. I like it too.




We also made little boxes using an envelope Sizzix die-cut that has a pretty scalloped edge. I wanted to use some of my own ribbons for 2 of them so they are not completed.

I can't wait to get busy making some more cards of my own now :-)

Christmas Day

We had a good day - the girls loved all their gifts, even the 'surprise' ones that were not on their lists. DH likes the air compressor - just a little uncertain about what all he can do with it. I'm sure he will find all sorts of uses for it once he learns the ropes.

We went to DH's parents and had a good time. I took the bread pudding - quite a story there. I doubled the recipe and after I got it all mixed up in the crock pot was jotting down the recipe so I could post it here. I realized I did not double the milk - so stirred in 2 more cups. Then noticed the melted margarine was still sitting on the stove - so had to add that also. I turned on the crockpot and after about 1 1/2 hours checked it (was to cook on high for 1 hour then on low for 3-4 hours). I had turned it on Warm instead of High originally - so now what??? I turned it up to High and left it there for at least an hour. The recipe said to let it cook until it reached 160 degrees. So I kept checking that. I turned it down to Low after about 2 hours as the edges were getting too dark. When we had to leave it was around 150 degrees but after it sat in the trunk on the hour long ride it was close to 160 so we called it done. Everyone liked it - especially DH's brother who had never had it before and wanted to try it - that was the whole reason I made it today. Oh- and while making the syrup for it I couldn't remember if I put all the water into the pan either. It looked like I did (1 cup versus 2 cups) so DD19 and I figured I must have. Must have had way too much on my mind this morning - it certainly was not on cooking :-)

Here is the recipe:

8 slices bread (raisin bread works well)
4 eggs
2 cups milk
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup melted butter or margarine
1/2 cup raisins (1/4 cup if you use raisin bread)
1/2 tsp cinnamon

Spray the crockpot with vegetable oil spray. Cut bread into cubes or tear into small pieces and place in crockpot. Mix together remaining ingredients and pour over bread. Stir to mix. Cook on High for 1 hour and then on Low for 3-4 hours until thermometer placed in center reads 160 degrees.

Sauce:
2 Tbsp butter or margarine
2 Tbsp flour
1 cup water
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla

Melt margaring in saucepan. Stir in flour until smooth. Gradually add water, sugar and vanilla. Bring to a boil. Continue to boil, stirring constantly, until thickened (about 2 minutes). Serve over warm bread pudding.


I had to leave the in-laws early to run back home then to the airport to pick up my sister who is visiting for a few days. I stopped at home and threw together some soups from mixes- Tortilla Soup and Creamy Wild Rice Soup for a light supper tonight. My sister's plane was actually early so I parked, walked into the terminal, walked right back out with her and then took off again. We had soup and salad for supper- which was just right after the big meal earlier.

DD19's boyfriend and 2 sisters are here playing Sing-It which was a gift for DD17. It sounds like a fun game - I'll have to try it when they are not around. You sing along to a song and it 'scores' you based on whether you are on key or not. Sounds like a good way to train your ear and voice. Of course, I don't want an audience when I try it. :-)

Snow Village and Christmas Tree

Here are some pictures of my snow village and our Christmas tree.
Hope you enjoy looking at them.

Christmas morning - the stockings were stuffed!
Our ornaments are a group of handmade ones from the girls school and Girl Scout days, dated Hallmark collections and the family ornament tradition (I'll post about that after the 28th as I don't want to spoil the surprise for any family members who read the blog) DD17 put the ornaments on this year. I tried to leave some room for DD19 to add some of hers but she thought it was already full. I did manage to squeeze a few of hers on the tree too. I may have to put up a second tree somewhere else in the house just to be able to use more of our ornaments. At least when the girls move out and take their ornaments we will have plenty of our own to use. I'll have to post about our dated Hallmark ornaments too - another day!


My snow village is an eclectic set of houses. Three are from It's A Wonderful Life, one is a hand finished piece that my mom purchased from a friend of hers as Christmas presents for all the children one year, and one is just a cute pastry shop I found at Walmart many years ago. The figurines are mostly Department 56 Snow Village. Some are gypsum figurines that I painted long before marriage and kids. I got most of the Department 56 items on E-Bay. This year I am adding 2 pieces - one has not arrived yet as I just found it a couple days ago.


Above is the pastry shop (Maria's) and the Christmas pageant figurine.


Next down the street is a lady and 3 girls going to ballet class. Behind them are 2 boys - the older is pulling the younger on a sled. And we continue down the street to Gower's Drugstore.



In front of Gower's we have a little boy and his mother taking his piggy bank for his first deposit (some day maybe I will have the Bailey Savings and Loan building to go with this figurine). There is also a child in a sleigh yelling "Skate faster, Mommy!" The man on the park bench in front of Gower's is a new piece this year. He is actually from the Heritage Village and is a little smaller than the others but I fell in love with him - it is called "God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman".

And on down the street is 320 Sycamore - the home of George and Mary Bailey. The huge snowman is actually a Christmas ornament that I added to the snow village before I had so many figurines and now he just stays there. To the right is a man and child snow-blowing - I chose that figurine because my dad's business which is now owned by a brother sells snow-blowers and lawn mowers.

Here we have the Hatch home from It's A Wonderful Life. The couple kissing is also one that I painted. Maybe it is George and Mary ? The paper route figurines ( 2 boys and the dalmation) were a must-have since we all grew up delivering papers. We would deliver the Globe in the morning before school and the Post in the afternoon. We either rode our bikes or Dad took us and we stood on the running boards of the truck (you don't see those any more). Later he drove the car and one of us (usually the girl) would sit between him and the driver's door and the other child would sit in the passenger seat. The person sitting on the side of the car where the paper was being delivered would get out and toss the paper on the porch - except weekend papers were too thick to be folded so we had to walk up to the porch with those.

And this is the church that started the whole village. The fugurines to the left are "Here We Come A-Caroling" The tree is part of a set of three (the other two are by the Hatch home and Gower's drug store) that I painted. So is the snowman and tree on the end.

I hope you liked your walk through my village. It changes every year!

Christmas Morn

Instead of A Christmas Carol we wound up watching A Christmas Story last night and I dozed on and off throughout so went to bed at 10:30. Woke up at 3 a.m. and was still awake at 4 a.m. (thinking about how we are going to arrange all the card tables and chairs on Sunday to seat 30+ people - it always works out so why do I fret :-) - so I got up. I cleaned out the freezer in the kitchen to make room for the slush (recipe below) that the nieces are all wanting me to make for our gathering on Sunday. Now I have room for that AND the peppermint ice cream for sister Carol.

I filled the stockings, took some pictures (which I will post later) and put on my Mannheim Steamroller Christmas CD's. (I got one in my stocking - Morning Frost) I am just sitting here in the light of the Christmas tree listening to their beautiful music. How peaceful!
Buddy (our beagle) is curled up on the couch asleep. He is usually gated in the kitchen so it is a real treat for him to be out. Louie (our cat) is in the basement and must be sound asleep. Usually as soon as he hears someone up and about he is meowing at the basement door wanting his food. If you saw him you would see how much food means to him. He weighs 22 pounds! He was up to 25 and the vet put him on a diet. He doesn't like that - he really likes his food.

I have 2 Butter Braids thawing for breakfast. If you have never had Butter Braids you should try them. They are wonderful pastries that are sold as fundraisers. They come frozen - hard as a brick- and you thaw them overnight then just pop in the oven. There is a small packet of icing that you drizzle over the top. We love the cream cheese one but DD19's boyfriend doesn't care for cream cheese and prefers the cinnamon one so we had to try it last year. So now we have one of each :-) On the website they show a bavarian cream with chocolate icing that looks wonderful! I may have to order one of those the next time someone is selling them. Usually someone at work brings in an order form for their child's fundraiser. I don't buy many things that way but never pass up the butter braids - yum yum!

I will make a fresh fruit salad (well fresh for the most part) using a can or two of mandarin oranges and adding bananas and apples. I strated making that when the girls were little. They loved mandarin oranges and if we had some apples and/or bananas that had been around a while I would mix them in. It is still a favorite for the whole family. I'll fry up some turkey bacon and I found some frozen sausage patties in the freezer when I cleaned it. Some time in the past, I had a pound of pork sausage and went ahead and made it all into patties and cooked them all at once - freezing what I did not need - thinking I would grab one every now and then for a quick breakfast sandwich on a slice of bread. But they were under other things in the freezer so forgot they were there.

SLUSH RECIPE:
1 large can pineapple juice
2 cups Tang instant drink powder
3 quarts water

Mix all together in a 5 - 6 quart container (the large plastic ice cream buckets work well - I don't think a gallon would be large enough though). Place in freezer. Take out and stir well every hour or so. When slushy serve in cups - kids love it!
If left in the freezer too long it will freeze into a huge popsicle. You can still serve it but scraping - but I hate that so I make the kids (most are in their 20's now) scrap it themselves.
If you have an ice shaver you could also freeze some in the smaller containers and shave it to make a flavored snow cone.

We first had this slush at sister Jane's wedding (1980). It was so popular that Mom made it for many family gatherings. Whenever we gather for some event at our house the nieces and nephews (mostly nieces) beg me to make it. One year we took a picture of all the kids with their orange tongues and lips - a side effect of eating the slush.

You can also make it using kool-aid in place of the Tang. Use a 2 quart size packet of sweetened Kool-Aid in place of the Tang. We made seafoam green one year for VBS - the stories were based on Jonah and we used an ocean theme. By substituting Blueberry Kool-Aid for the Tang it made a nice bluish-green color.

Now I am getting sleepy again - but it is time to get started on the bread pudding! The girls plan on getting up at 8 a.m. to open presents - but I know one will be up long before that :-) I'm surprised DD17 has not ventured down yet. She usually is not a sound sleeper and wakes if anyone else is up. She gets so excited about checking her stocking and opening the presents. I love her child-like joy!

Joy to the World - the Lord has come! May you have a blessed Christmas Day!