Was Christmas Just Yesterday?

Wow…I really think it was! It seems a blur…it seemed to drag on forever being that my shop has been decorated since the first week of November. And then, as if that wasn't bad enough…we bought our tree the day after Thanksgiving! I know, I know…people do that all of the time..but not me! However, it was nice to have Miller and Brad at home to help Jim with the tree and me not get sap all over my hands!

And now here we are….it's the day after Christmas and Holly and I are here alone! We treated ourselves to a day of shopping…well…we didn't see anything worth being out for but when we came home and finished up the last few details of cleaning Christmas decorations up we sat down to watch Steel Magnolias! 
Ok…maybe I wanted a good cry…maybe I wanted Holly to see a movie that I've always loved. I am not sure but what I do know is that our dinner was quite yummy! We had leftover Ham Delights from last night and I had a craving for Potato Soup since I've just gotten this lovely virus that Holly and Brad brought with them from New Orleans! 

I simply had to share this chowder recipe with you!

I hope your Christmas was extra special! After watching Steel Magnolias for about the 10th time…I am reminded once again the importance of family and friends! 
Life is precious!

Potato Corn Chowder

5-6 Cups diced, red potatoes ( peeled and rinsed well)

1 medium onion, diced

2 T unsalted butter

6 Cups low sodium Chicken Broth

1/2 T salt

1/2-1 T dried Thyme

1 t pepper

2 C frozen corn kernels

1 small can chopped, green chilies

1 2.5 oz package Pioneer Pepper Gravy mix

(yes, I do love steps that make it easier!)

2 Cups 1% milk

shredded cheddar cheese

dice onion and sauté in 2 T unsalted butter. add 6 cups chicken broth and bring to a simmer…add potatoes and cook for 25 minutes covered. Add corn, salt, pepper, thyme and green chilies. Let simmer for 30 minutes or until potatoes are soft. Mix the gravy mix with the milk and heat in microwave just to warm….add slowly to the simmering soup and stir until blended. Let thicken for about 10 minutes. Serve in individual bowls and top with shredded cheddar cheese.

The Ham Delight sandwich recipe is below!

This truly was one of my newest favorites! Hope you will try it! It was a nice change from all of the usual Holiday food!

Hope all of you enjoyed the best Christmas ever! 
Looking forward to a wonderful 2014!

xoxo

Ham Delight Sandwiches

2-3 lbs. shaved deli style ham ( honey maple by Boar's Head is what I use)

3 packages shredded Swiss Cheese

1 medium onion, quartered

2 sticks butter, softened

3 T yellow mustard

1 1/2 t Worcestershire Sauce

1 1/2 T poppy seeds

3 packages Hawaiian Rolls or Pepperidge Farm Party Rolls ( small square size)

In a food processor, chop onion finely and add mustard, softened butter and worcestershire sauce. Process until well blended. Add poppy seeds and stir or blend well. Slice rolls horizontally while all stick in tact. Lay top side over and place bottom side on a foil pain or thick foil. Layer 1/3 of the  ham and then 1/3 of the swiss cheese on bottom halves of al of the rolls. Spread butter and onion mixture over top halves of all of the rolls. Place top halves on to the sandwiches and then slice along lines of cut rolls…so as to make it easier to cut the sandwiches apart. It is very difficult once they are hot! Trust me on this one!) Cover tightly with foil all the way around the pan and bake at 325-350 for 30 minutes or until completely hot! So good!!! Everyone loves these!!! Enjoy!!

"Twas The Night Before Christmas"

A very old post I just came across...

So, my mom asked me to "re-write" Twas the Night Before Christmas so that her Discovery Club girls could learn it and recite it for their Christmas program.... sounds easy! so I thought.... it was fun, it was challenging.... and then a bit discouraging when my own daughter asked me if I had googled it!!!! I was highly insulted!!! ha ha!!! There is no limit to what we can google these days!!! However..... because I didn't want to know how much better everyone else's versions were.... I can honestly say... " I didn't google a darn thing!" Maybe I should have.... I don't know!!! But here it is!

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS AND ALL THROUGH THE LAND,

NOTHING WAS STIRRING.... NOT EVEN THE SAND!

THE STALLS WERE ALL SWEPT AND THE ROPES HUNG WITH CARE,

BUT NONE COULD IMAGINE WHAT WOULD SOON HAPPEN THERE.

THE CAMELS WERE NESTLED ALL SNUG IN THE HAY,

WHILE A STAR SHONE SO BRIGHT, IT LOOKED LIKE THE DAY!

THE INNKEEPER'S WIFE GOT READY FOR BED , AND HE WAS SO GLAD

TO JUST REST HIS HEAD

WHEN A KNOCK AT THEIR DOOR CAUSED SUCH A CLATTER,

THEY LEAPT FROM THEIR LOFT TO SEE WHAT WAS

THE MATTER!

THEY OPENED THE INN DOOR AND PEERED OUT TO THE STABLE;

AND SHOOK THEIR HEADS SADLY AND SAID,

"WE ARE NOT ABLE!"

THE MOON SEEMED SO BRIGHT THEY TOOK ANOTHER GLANCE,

TO SEE WHAT IT WAS THAT BROUGHT THEM HERE BY CHANCE!

BUT WHAT TO THEIR WONDERING EYES DID THEY SEE,

JUST A MAN AND HIS WIFE.... SOON TO BE THREE!!

ON A DONKEY MARY RODE AND TO ME SHE DID SMILE,

AS JOSEPH, HER HUSBAND ASKED TO STAY AWHILE.

I SHOOK MY HEAD SADLY AND SAID "WE'VE NO ROOM IN THE INN"

THEY GAVE ME A NOD... AND IT HIT ME THEN!!!!!!

THE STABLE WAS CLEAN, I HAD WORKED TILL IT SHONE,

HOW COULD I KNOW THIS WOULD BE HIS FIRST THRONE?

THE SKY THAT WAS LIT BY THE MOON SO I THOUGHT,

WAS BETHLEHEM'S STAR... AND THE WISE MEN IT BROUGHT!

THEY KNELT AND THEY BOWED AND THEIR VOICES DID SING,

AS THE GIFTS THEY HAD BROUGHT WERE BESTOWED

ON THE KING!!!!

THE SHEPHERDS ARRIVED AND THE ANGELS AS WELL,

"GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST" WAS THE SONG THEY DID TELL!

HE WAS SWADDLED IN CLOTHS AND THEIR HEARTS LEPT WITH JOY

AND THEY LEFT TO TELL OTHERS ABOUT THIS SPECIAL BOY!

A BABE IN A MANGER SURLEY DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT....

BUT HE HAD GIVEN US CHRISTMAS ON A COLD WINTER'S NIGHT!!!!

thank you, Jesus. You are the best Gift of all!!!! I love You!!!!

Merry Christmas 2013!

Moving Right Along…..

While we had such a great time together for Thanksgiving…and we definitely did!

 (It was one of my most favorite Thanksgiving celebrations ever!) My mind can only focus if it's moving ahead! I wish it wasn't that way! I want to learn to "stop and smell the turkey!"

But... after making my contributions of Broccoli casserole and Pumpkin Cheesecake for our Thanksgiving dinner….my brain could only focus on all of the yummy things to make for our Iron Bowl Celebration with all of our kids! And what a celebration it was!

 In that one second…we saw a second miracle take place! And boy was it glorious!

 As was this incredible Caramelized Onion Dip that I got from my favorite publication…Cuisine At Home. 

I'm so glad my mother gave me this subscription! It is truly my favorite cooking magazine ever! 

Give this yummy dip a try for your next holiday party! It will definitely be a hit!

Caramelized Onion Dip

Cook:

4 Cups onions diced…about 2 large onions

Large pinch of salt and sugar

2 T olive oil

1/2 T dried thyme

2 tsp. minced garlic

2 T brandy

Cook onions with salt and sugar in the olive oil until well browned and soft, about 30 minutes on medium heat. Stir often…add thyme and garlic and cook until fragrant…about 1 more minute. Deglaze with the brandy, scraping up any browned bits. Let onions cool slightly.

Combine:

1 pkg. cream cheese, softened

1 Cup sour cream

1/2 C mayo

1 T lemon juice

1-2 t Worcestershire sauce

1/2 C sliced green onions

Tobasco sauce to taste

Combine the cream cheese, sour cream, mayo, lemon juice and worcestershire sauce. Add cooled onion mixture, 1/2 C green onions and season with salt and tobasco if desired. Garnish dip with additional green onions. Serve with favorite chips or veggies.

Let sit at least 24 hours before serving for best flavor!

I hope you enjoyed a wonderful time with family and friends for Thanksgiving! I can hardly wait for all of the Christmas festivities to begin! ( I just need to get organized!) 

Let me know your thoughts on this dip! It will be a huge hit!