Menu Plan Monday 11/30-12/6

We need a little structure this time of year, don't you think? Meal planning helps SO much, saving time and money.

Monday (puppet ministry night) - Turkey Pot Pie and salad
Tuesday - Teriyaki Chicken w/Green Beans & Bacon
Wednesday (Choir Festival) - Crockpot Peanut Chicken Thighs
Thursday (Christmas Dessert at church) - Crockpot Navy Bean and Ham Soup
Friday - homemade Pepperoni Pizza
Saturday - Lowfat Cheese Manicotti, Broccoli
Sunday - Crockpot Beef Stew and Hillbilly Housewife rolls

Thanksgiving Firsts

Well, this was a Thanksgiving full of firsts for me.

My dear husband loves to cook and has made Thanksgiving dinner for us every year he's been home. I help with the menu, shopping, prep work, coordinate the table, and act as sous-chef. The years Mikey wasn't around to cook, I would haven eaten dinner at my parents (when they were alive) or at Mike mom's Karen's house. We've even had Thanksgiving on a different day to allow Mike the pleasure of cooking - that was the plan this year, too, but that didn't work for the girls' schedule this year.

NEVER have I had to cook the whole dinner, since Mike's work schedule did NOT have a window of time where we could eat as a family. So, all the kids came and then we ended up meeting his city bus and brought him a plate full of dinner during his 2o-minute break at a bus stop.

Here was the menu:

Golden Roasted Turkey with Maple Glaze, Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove Cookbook
Mashed Potatoes made with cream cheese
Apple and Sausage Stuffing
Green Bean Casserole
Butternut Squash Casserole
Green Salad
Deviled Eggs
Tuna Cream Cheese Dip
Cranberry Orange Relish, blend of my mom's recipe and the Cedar Cove Cookbook
Yeast Rolls, Hillbilly Housewife
Chocolate Delight

Wow, I did it! I didn't realize how much food there was until I wrote it out. I also didn't realize exactly how much WORK it is. I told the kids they had to be sure their dad knew his cooking was better ! (No way do I want this job regularly!)

Anyhoo ... this was the very FIRST time I made a yeast dough. Were they perfect? No, but I did it! I wish I'd let them rise longer but I have this really bad habit of following the recipe exactly the first time and the recipe said to have them rise for one hour. Next time, I'll wait for them to double.

The turkey .. I've known how to make one but never actually done it myself. It was delish, too. I was severely tempted to put a foil bikini on ours but resisted. Only Mike would have appreciated it, anyway.

The relish ... my mom made homemade cranberry sauce every Thanksgiving. I didn't appreciate it as a child (so tart) but I really like sauce now. And, I was sad because I didn't get the recipe from my mom before she died. So, I found a recipe I liked in the Cedar Cove cookbook, tweaked it some and it tasted really good. Then, when we served it again today at our second Thanksgiving (that Mike DID cook - but both girls had to work and couldn't come home), Karen told me Mom gave the recipe to her and it's actually in the self-published Kastrup family cookbook that we're getting as Christmas presents. I just looked it up and it's different than I expected. I might stick with my new version.

Shawnee's Cranberry-Orange Relish
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup fresh squeezed orange juice
Zest of one orange
1 12-oz bag fresh cranberries
1/3 cup dried cranberries, cherry flavored
1/4 cup Grand Marnier or orange juice
1/4 cup roasted hazelnuts, chopped
Pinch salt

In heavy saucepan, combine sugar, water, orange juice and orange zest. Bring to simmer over high heat until sugar dissolves. Add cranberries; reduce heat and cook at gentle simmer until cranberries begin to pop. Smash the cranberries with the back of a wooden spoon. Remove from heat and stir in dried cherry-cranberries, Grand Marnier, hazelnuts, and salt. Transfer sauce to medium bowl; let cool. Cover and refrigerate until cold.


Cedar Cove Cranberry-Orange Relish
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup orange juice
1 12-oz bag fresh cranberries
1/3 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup Grand Marnier or orange juice
Pinch salt

In heavy saucepan, combine sugar, water and orange juice. Bring to simmer over high heat until sugar dissolves. Add cranberries; reduce heat and cook at gentle simmer until cranberries begin to pop. Remove from heat and stir in dried cranberries, Grand Marnier or OJ, and salt. Transfer sauce to medium bowl; let cool. Cover and refrigerate until cold.

Mom's Cranberry-Orange Relish
2 oranges
2 cups fresh cranberries
2 cups sugar
1/4 cup walnuts

Grind all in a blender, including the peel of the oranges. Refrigerate.

Cookie Cutter Swap Reveal

I regularly stalk Jenna's SwapDex and recently found a simple little Cookie Cutter Swap hosted over at Country Pleasures. Quick too - signed up on the 20th, send by the 27th, spend no more than $10 before postage.

Here are the cutters I received in this cute box. All my Christmas favorites.
I'm thinking I might make a cookie cutter wreath this year. Directions from Better Homes and Garden are HERE.

I pulled together a fun little package and sent it off to Iowa. I found some great deals at Joann Craft and really maximized my $10. My partner requested small Valentine cutters so I found an adorable red cookie scoop, a set of six romantic shapes, two additional hearts and a Holiday Favorites Cookies cookbook. Hope she likes it!

So, the season begins!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Baking Gals - Sign Up NOW

Here are some pictures from the last Round (and still blurry from a cell phone - sorry). We made it a family baking day with me, my husband and 10-yo daughter baking our hearts out.


This first picture is of cookies that we determined too fragile to ship - Chocolate-Cherry Bar Cookies with Hazelnuts. Quite delicious! The recipe is from America's Test Kitchen.

For our box, we made Chocolate-Chocolate Chip Cookies, Peanut Butter cookies, and Chocolate Chip Biscotti - about 10 dozen total.

Here's our goodie box, all packed up!

I hope you decide to join a team and cook for a member of the military this Christmas!

Aprons Made / Aprons Received

I neglected to share pictures of aprons that I both made and received in the Passionately Pink and the Hot for Chocolate Swaps.

Irma made me this adorable apron in colors that I really like together. I let T wear this one when we baked for the troops. (sorry for the blurry pictures) I also received some yummy chocolate and other goodies that I will be using this week for Thanksgiving!

I made this Kitschy Corset Apron (pattern by Brassy Apple) for my Hot for Chocolate partner using Robert Kaufman's Confections Cherry Cupcake Dot in blue with Chocolate Confections accents.
My sweet friend Lana created this amazing Mermaid pink apron for me (I'm posting her picture, too, because mine is so blurry), so I wore this in my baking marathon. She made a matching hand towel AND potholder in the cute mermaids. WOW. She has great stuff in her Etsy store, too -- think of her if you run out of time to sew something special this year.

I made a second Kitschy Corset Apron, this time in Zebra with Hot Pink accents. PERFECT for a Passionately Pink apron, don't you agree??

Sickness Reigns

Oh, illness has hit the household, again! My sweet husband became violently ill on Monday and was transported via ambulance to the hospital. He ended up staying until yesterday. Unfortunately, we're not quite out of the woods yet. His flu symptoms are all but gone but we were shocked to find last night that his right lower leg is bright red, angry looking and on the verge of erupting into those open wounds he is susceptible to. I'm so disappointed, I could cry! Just praying we can stop any breaks in the skin from happening. All prayers appreciated.

Mama's Cauliflower Spaghetti

Last week, I made a recipe from my childhood that I haven't eaten in years. My mama was raised in an Italian neighborhood of New York, and she picked up lots of yummy recipes that I managed to learn through osmosis. It's a simple, vegetarian meal that I loved more and more the older I got.

Cauliflower Spaghetti:

1 large or two small heads of cauliflower
small yellow onion, diced
2 cloves/2 tsp minced garlic
1 lb. spaghetti (I used multi-grain)
olive oil
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon salt

Preheat oven to 400. Rinse and divide the cauliflower into flowerets, place on a silpat-lined baking sheet, brush with olive oil and put the pan in to roast (around 20-25 minutes. (If I'm in a hurry, I've also just boiled the cauliflower and pasta at the same time, veggie first, but roasted tastes better.)

While waiting for the cauliflower, fill a large stockpot with water, then add the salt and glug of oil; prepare pasta as directed. DO NOT overcook noodles. Next, in a large skillet, saute the onion and garlic in olive oil. Add one or two ladles of the pasta water to the skillet; drain the spaghetti and add pasta to the saute. Remove the roasted cauliflower and add to the pan, too. Mix in the Parmesan cheese and more olive oil if dry, and ENJOY!!

Proud Wife of a Veteran

Here's a picture of my sweet husband while he was in the middle of advanced Army training. We got married very young, on his 20th birthday. Within a few years, we had two kiddos and realized that we couldn't afford to raise them on high school degrees. Mike decided a great way to earn money for college would be to join the military; he did and then we found out we were pregnant with Child Number 3 while he was in basic training!

Michael spent two years training for his military intelligence career and then was stationed in West Germany. The three little darlings and I flew over to finally live together after a long two years. Of course, his unit was very busy and gone on lots of border patrols ... yes, the border between East and West Germany. We were living in Nuernberg, Germany when the wall came down. Due to the sensitive nature of his work, we never did make it to Berlin. Actually, we didn't get to travel much since he was low-paid E4 and we had such a large family.

I recall our family being such an oddity since most German families only had one or two children. We lived "on the economy" - in a German neighborhood instead of on-base with other American families - and they were as fascinated by us as were with them. We tried to learn the language where most didn't, so most locals were tolerant if not kind. My darling worked long hours, was away from us A LOT, and then his unit was one of the first ground troops that crossed the border into Iraq during the first Gulf War. So many other American families went "home" while the guys were deployed, but I couldn't afford four airline tickets to the US so we stayed put during those dark months, banded together with other remaining families, and lifted our soldiers up in prayer constantly. We had to go past armed guards to shop at the Px, our cars were checked for bombs whenever we entered and exited base, and there was barbed wire and more armed guards outside Trevor's elementary school.

The lack of communication was hard. There was no internet or Skype back then; we had to settle for notes hand-carried by someone visiting the unit and those treasures were few and far between. I worked briefly at our regimental headquarters as a civilian, and I think more of my letters went through than most. My husband saw and endured things I can only imagine, all for his family and our country.

Thank you to all who have served and are serving. Your sacrifice means so much. Especially, thank you, darling. You're my hero.

White Christmas Flirty Apron Swap - Christmas Carol Creations

H
i friends! I'd like to invite you to join my Christmas Flirty Apron Swap!! I love everything about Christmas ... the lights, decorations, parties, special church pageants and plays, how everyone is just a little nicer, and I especially love the sounds of the season. So, in this year's winter swap, participants will put on their creativity caps and create an apron representative of their partner's favorite carol! I hope you can join in the fun.

(click on an image to register)

Deadline to Register: November 15
Partners Sent: November 17
NEW Swappers: mail to Shawnee before November 30
All Others Mail After: November 30
But Mail Before: December 6

Create a handmade "White Christmas" apron - an apron created based on one of your partner's favorite Christmas carols - and include a note about how you spend Christmas along with $15 worth of gift-wrapped goodies to round out your special package.

If you have anything you'd like to donate for a giveaway, just let me know and I'm happy to highlight your shop or blog in exchange. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!

Here's a button that you can put on your blog to help spread the word. the more people involved in the swap, the more fun it will be!

you gotta hop out of your reader to get the code!
<a href="http://flirtyapronswap.blogspot.com/2009/10/holiday-gift-swap.html"><img border="0" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2566/4088058451_347192a1aa_o.jpg" /></a>

so get out there spread the word and let's have some fun!!

AFTER YOU REGISTER, jump over to the Flirty Apron Swap Blog and comment so we can see who's IN!!

National Tie One On Day - November 25

PUEBLO, Colo. – Of all the special days throughout the year, Thanksgiving is the most personal. A time when we feel thankful for the joys and blessings in our lives, for many of us, words of thankfulness can be difficult. National Tie One On DayTM offers a unique expression of gratitude when words fail us.

Celebrated on the eve of Thanksgiving – November 25 this year – National Tie One On Day is an opportunity to share our bounty by wrapping a loaf of bread or other baked good in an apron, along with a note of encouragement tucked in the pocket; then “tie one on” (an apron, of course!) and deliver the wrapped bundle to someone in need of a kind gesture.

“What with technology replacing face-to-face communication, the act of writing a note and hand delivering it with an offering, is an expression of kindness in itself,” says EllynAnne Geisel, creator of National Tie One On Day, “and bread is the ultimate expression of this, because it is the basic comfort food.”

“Give us this day our daily bread isn’t just a prayer,” says Geisel. “The words are also a reminder that to have more than daily bread is to be blessed.”

Bread Machine Challah

Place ingredients in machine pan in this order (water first, yeast last)

1 cup warm water

2 eggs, beaten

½ cup vegetable oil

4 ¼ – 5 ¼ cups bread flour (reserve ¼ cup)

2 ¾ teaspoons salt

1/3 cup sugar

1 tablespoon dry yeast

Process on Dough/sweet program. As dough forms into a ball, add additional flour if it seems wet/sticky.

Divide the dough into *three sections and braid into a loaf. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Put bread on sheet. Allow to rise until about double in size. Brush with egg wash (1 egg + 1 yolk, beaten).

Bake at 350 degrees 30-35 minutes, until crust is nicely browned.

*For 2 smaller loaves, divide into 6 sections


For additional information about National Tie One On Day™ visit Geisel’s website www.apronmemories.com.

Recognized by Chases Calendar of Events, National Tie One On Day™ is sponsored by Mom Bloggers Club, American Sewing Guild, The Women’s Museum, McCall’s Pattern Company, Stampington & Company, Aunt Martha’s Colonial Patterns, Inc., Simplicity Pattern Company, National Association of Baby Boomer Women, Creative Machine Embroidery, SewNews, Apron-iCity and The Fabric Shop Network.

It's a Zoo Here

My house is bursting at the seams with animals and I can't take it tonight! We have a tabby cat and our mastidane puppy. However, our middle daughter needs us to watch HER tabby cat for a couple of weeks. Which is okay even though he doesn't really like our cat; he's not afraid of the dog who just wants to play with him. The final straw, though, is that our oldest daughter needed us to watch her puggle while she's out of town for four days ... Evil Sadie is baaa-aack!
That dog thinks she's the head of every house. It's sad, really, to see her standing over Apollo, growling, while he's flat on his back ... he's three times as big as she is!! But he's just a sweet puppy who wants to play, and she wants to be in charge. So, I have to spend all my time refereeing them, locking them in their kennels (and listening to whining), or taking them for a walk - which is HILARIOUS as I'm being pulled in two different directions. And, they're both SO STRONG.

I really need to sew tonight but I'm so distracted! Hurry up Sunday night (Tara's flight is at 5pm)!

Shawnee's Menu Plan Monday

It's a strange week in the Halligan household this week, but having a menu planned will certainly keep us grounded a bit.

Monday (T at a puppy practice): leftover chili and quesadilla
Tuesday (T at scouting event): Pinwheel Flank Steak**, potatoes, salad
Wednesday: Three Cheese Tortellini, salad
Thursday: Cheesy Chicken Bites**
Friday (T at puppet performance): Three Packet Pot Roast**, veggies, rice
Saturday: French Dip Sandwiches, veggies
Sunday (community group): Navy Bean Soup

** meals from Chill MAMAs supper swapping group

For more menu ideas, visit OrgJunkie.com!

Back to Future Trivia Answer

Yep, the date Marty first went back in time is also the date in 1985 the rest of nation was turning back their clocks, the end of daylight savings time for the year. We ALL went back in time. =)