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!!

Baby, It's Cold Outside! "So Let's Cook!"

I don't know about you, but when it's cold or when it's raining, I get the urge to cook up a storm!

( Ha! no pun intended!)

I like to picture myself in deserted areas like this…remote farms that are snowed in for weeks, or areas where we would actually have to hunt, kill and cook our meals!

 And then it hits me…like a cold, cold gust of air!

 WHAT?? You can't do that! You have a generator…you HATE cold and you don't like to be in deserted areas! Well, ok…you do …for a day, a DAY!! That's it!!!

Ok, end of my day dreaming….however, I do love any excuse to cook for you!

If you were at the Open House at my shop this year then you got to enjoy some of my all time favorite sandwiches! I've already started my next cookbook because I've been realizing all of the recipes I forgot to put in to the first one!

If you want the recipe for Ham Delights….just check in HERE!

If you want the recipe for this divine Chicken Tortilla Soup that I made for the first time to go with our left over Ham Delights, then just check in here! ( soon to come, I promise! It was so, so good!)

If you want to taste what "Fall" tastes like…then stay tuned, baby!!

It's Cold Outside!!

Which can only mean a few things….

It's time for an Autumn Dinner Salad done differently….

Done differently because I did some double roasted Walnuts that were too die for!!! Check that out when you can right HERE!
Just scroll down a bit!

Baked Sweet Potatoes, Simply!

(It really is so simple…wash and dry sweet potatoes and place in a greased dish. Pierce several times with fork…bake at 400 degrees for 1 hour or until tender. Split open and add 1-2 T unsalted butter, a dash of Kosher salt and pepper to taste…so good!!!)

Unsalted butter just makes the world go round in my opinion!

And good old Chicken Spectacular! Done Spectacularly!!!

Jim and I were in heaven and I hate to say that we polished our plates clean! Just don't ever refer to us as Jack Spratt and his lovely wife…. from the nursery rhyme!

 I might have to kill you! Seriously, this was a "fairly" healthy version of this meal and boy did it hit the spot!!!

The only thing better would have been to be dining in this covered bridge, snow falling all around, me in a long white dress and Jim in a tux…oh, wait! That's what this picture looks like! How fun!!

Just call me Ginger and call him Fred!

Anyhoo…we had a great dinner! Just the two of us Empty Nesters!

Still praying for our friends and family in the Northeast! Hope you are doing well, too! Please send us an update when you can!