Merry Christmas to me from #GourmetGarden

My friend, Camilla of Culinary Adventures with Camilla, has put together an exciting event to be held in February, just in time for all of our readers to get some marvelous ideas for Valentines Day. Cam is calling her event Triple S Bites; Saucy, Spicy and Sexy Bites for Valentine's Day and Beyond.  We are all very excited about finding, trying and creating some great recipes for all of you to serve up to your Valentine this year.

I know, I know....it is Christmas Eve and here I am already talking about Valentine's Day...you must be wondering what the heck is wrong with me!!  Well, I wouldn't normally be talking about this event so early but yesterday, FedEx delivered a wonderful package sent to me by Gourmet Garden. Gourmet Garden has absolutely wonderful products and they are one of the sponsors of this event. I have been a big fan of Gourmet Garden for a long time and use their products frequently while cooking and creating but I have not yet tried their newest line of "Slightly Dried Herbs".  I was so excited when I opened the box and found not only all of my tried and true favorites but also a five pack of the new product.

I was very excited when the package arrived and waited impatiently eagerly for Frank to open it.

Do you use any of these products? If not, I reccomend that next time you are at the store, you pick up

a tube of an herb or spice that you use a lot and try it. I guarantee you will love them.   They can be found in the produce section of your favorite market.

They arrived in this nifty little 6 pack carrier. Won't this come in handy throughout the year?

These are the new "Slightly Dried Herbs" of which I was referring. They nestle together and stack so that they are easily accessible in your refrigerator without taking up much space. If your fridge is packed to the hilt, as mine quite frequently is, that is very important.

They came packed in this insulated bag that will be perfect for carrying a bottle of wine as a hostess gift. In fact, my mind is already swirling around the possibilities of an appetizer made from Gourmet Garden paired with a nice crisp white wine, that I can take to the next dinner party I am invited to attend. I will be sure to share with you what I decide.

12 Days of Christmas Swap....The Gifts and the Gratitude

Well the wonderful ladies at Chaotic Goddess Swaps have done it again!!!  They put together a wonderful 12 days of Christmas Swap for all of us to participate in.  We were each assigned another blogger and our mission was to get to know each other and then go and buy 12 things that we thought they would love and that we would love to recieve ourselves.  Each gift was wrapped individually and sent in one large package to your swap partner.  We each opened one gift a day for 12 days and now we get to share all of our goodies with you, our readers.

My partner for this party was none other than Wendy of The Life of Me.  I crawled through Wendy's blogs, she has 3 of them.  One about her life, one about cars and one about buttons.  Wendy collects buttons and what an interesting blog that is, with lots of creative ideas.  Wendy works at a library and loves to read.  She mostly enjoys non fiction.  I didn't bother buying her any books though because I imagine she has more than enough books at her disposal each day.  She collects owls, antiques and vintage buttons.  I live next door to Marine City, Michigan which is the antique capital of the world!! I don't know if that is true LOL but I do know that we have about 20 stores in town and most of them are antique stores.  We even have 2 antique malls in the area.  So that was an easy peasy job for me. Wendy's favorite colors are pink and purple and she has a hankering for fake flowers.  I was amazed at the ease with which I could buy this virtual stranger Christmas gifts when I agonize for hours over what to buy those people I live with and see each day.  I certainly hope she enjoys all the goodies I found for her.  I truly enjoyed picking them all out.  I packaged it all up and mailed it out.  A few days later, I recieved my packages from Wendy.

There were all these lovely packages and interspersed throughout were little bags of chocolates!!

On day 1, I got this adorable stocking.

Can't you just see Little Miss Melody's name across that snow drift?

Day 2 I unwrapped this wonderful corkscrew.

Day 3 was this recyclable Wine Bag

She has me pegged!!

On Day 4 I opened this awesome cross.

Now, Wendy, would have no way of knowing this but I collect crosses.

Perhaps Santa told her!!!

Most of them are in my prayer corner except for my Crucifixes that are above our entry doors.

This one will join the others in my corner.

Day 5, this cute little guy came to live at our house.

Day 6 I got 3 new ornaments for my tree.

Day 7 I opened a quartet of Snowmen.

Well the one on the right must be a Snowlady because she is named Wendy too.

What a coincidence!!

Had I not been convinced before, Day 8, proved that Wendy had done a thorough job of spying on me.

Pop on over to see more of my Nativity Collection.

This little soldier called Ghiradelli came to see my on Day 9.

Another beautiful cross depicting Christ's life was opened on Day 10.

On Day 11 when I opened this beautiful buttons and beads choker, I wondered if Wendy had created it.

And on the final day I recieved this wonderful ornament that I promptly placed upon the tree.

Thank you so much Wendy for all the time, effort and thought that went into the lovely gifts.  I wish a very Merry Christmas to you and yours and prayers that the New Year brings much peace and happiness to you.

I also want to call out to the ladies of CG Swaps, once again, for another great Swaparoo!!!!  You both rock!!  Merry Christmas.

The Simple Woman's Daybook on a not so Simple Monday

I enjoy taking a few minutes on Monday's to join Peggy, of The Simple Woman, in her Daybook entries. Many Monday's I pass because I run short of time but today I am setting aside this moment to share my day with you.  You can find links to other's daybooks on Peggy's page.

Outside my window:  The skies are blue, there is a gentle breeze and not a hint of snow.  We may not be enjoying a white Christmas this year.

I am thinking: that every year I worry about getting everything done and every year everything gets done.

I am thankful: for family and friends as I look forward to spending the Holidays with them.

I am wearing jeans, a long sleeved top and a little snowman pin that I received as a gift in the 12 Days of Christmas swap this year.

I am creating: A welcome and inviting home for our Choir Party tonight.

I am going: to finish my grocery list for Christmas day and hit the stores early in the morning tomorrow in an attempt to beat the crowds.

I am wondering: If I have forgotten anything.  It seems like after all that stress and turmoil, I shouldn't have 2 free days before Christmas LOL.

I am reading: 2 books right now.   A novel by Ken Follet that I am enjoying very much and I just picked up Sustenance and Desire for our Cook the Books club.

I am hoping: for a White Christmas

I am learning: that worrying never resolves anything.

Around the house: getting ready for the party tonight and wrapping more gifts.

In the kitchen: The turkey and dressing are in the oven.  That is my contribution for tonight.  Frank's contribution is the beverages as he is the bartendar extraordinaire and everyone else will bring something for potluck.

I am pondering: how to incorporate my many, many cookbooks into next years meal planning.

A favorite quote for today:

One of my favorite things:  Sitting with Frank after the hustle and bustle of the next few days and relaxing in our house that will continue to celebrate Christmas until January 6th.

A few plans for this week: choir party tonight, grocery shopping tomorrow, celebrating with Frank's family on Christmas Eve prior to singing at Midnight Mass, hosting open house on Christmas Day and having a get together for our son, Chuck, who is in from VA on Friday with all the family and friends that he did not get to see on Christmas Eve or Day.  Saturday, Amy and Chuck are taking me on a surprise outing and then Doug and Frank are meeting us for dinner afterwards.  Stop by my Cast Page so you are not at a complete loss here.

The Christmas Menu 2014

Snacks and Apps (2-5 pm)

Cheese and Meat Trays with Crackers

Crab Dip

Shrimp Cocktail

Veggie and Fruit Trays

Chicken Wings

7 Layer Mexican Dip with Chips

Chicken Fajita Dip with Chips

Dinner (5-7 pm)

Smoked and Fresh Turkey

Smoked and Fresh Kielbasa

Meatballs in Mushroom Gravy

Stuffing

Mashed Potatoes

Sauerkraut

Buttered Corn

Broccoli Salad

Cucumber Salad

Spiced Beets

Dessert Bar (7 pm)

Chocolate Fountain

(strawberries, marshmallows, pretzel rods)

Cookies

Candies 

Cheesecake

Relax everyone...you are not as behind as you think......

I listen to people.  I read their frantic posts.  I go back and read my posts and I listen to the words I speak to those I meet.

We are all in a tizzy here.  We are all freaking out because Christmas is 4 days away!!!  And we are not ready.  The gifts are not bought.  The house is not decorated.  The cookies are not baked.  The menu isn't decided.  And Christmas is in 4 short days!

And then I listen again.  I listen to the words of our Lord, whose birthday we are celebrating and I hear.  "Peace, my child".

And then it dawns on me....maybe this worry, this turmoil, this franticocity (?) is not because my house isn't ready or my presents are not bought.  Maybe it has nothing to do with the food for our bodies upon which I have not yet prepared or decided.  Perhaps it is my heart and soul that is not ready.  Maybe I need to breathe and prepare the way for our Lord.  Maybe I need to feed my soul.

Christmas is not over and done with in 4 days from now.  In 4 days from now we celebrate the birth of our Lord and then we (should) continue the celebration until the Epiphany on January 6th.  We are not behind!!!  We still have more than 2 weeks before Christmas is over.

So, I am going to remember....in between my shopping and cleaning and baking and cooking....to breathe.  To take some time each day to spend a few moments with my Lord and Savior, in prayerful gratitude that I have so little to worry about in my life that I can get stressed to the max over these minor little details.

I have no illness in my family to worry about this year.  I have not suffered any deaths of immediate family members this year. I have food on the table.  I have a new life to celebrate this year.  I have enough resources that I can buy things for people that they don't need because they have enough resources.  I have a wonderful husband that I admire, great children of whom I can be very proud, siblings that are always there for me and the best friends any person could hope to have in their life.

So, why then, should I allow Satan to insinuate himselp into my happy life?  Through media that tries to tell us that love is shown, not by how you treat people throughout the entire year but by how much money you spend on them this one day of the year.  Through fear and hatred as people argue over whether this should be Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy Hannukah, Happy Kwanzaa or any other greeting that is simply supposed to spread love and cheer.  Through insecurities and fear as we live (or refuse to live) with others who are of a different race or color or religion.  Yes, Satan is alive and strong but we can be stronger with the help of our Lord and that is what I am going to concentrate on this season.

As I finish this post I would like to wish each and every one of you that stop by here a Happy, Peaceful, Joyful Life. Regardless of which holiday you enjoy or if you don't acknowledge any at all. Regardless of where you were born.  Regardless of the color of your skin or the style of your dress. Regardless of economical and social standing.  Regardless if you wish the same for me.

Whew!! Glad this week is finally over...Here's the Weekly Menu

This has been a very crazy week but I got everything accomplished.  Today we will distribute the Christmas Baskets at the Food Pantry.  I will get there at 10 and distribution is from 12-3 and then I am done with the food pantry until next year.

I had the ham bone left from Mom's Birthday Celebration, so tonight for Soup Saturday we are having Split Pea with Ham.

Tomorrow we are singing at Mass in the morning and then we have our  Choir Advent Concert in the afternoon.  There is a reception following and we are each to bring a dessert.  I am bringing my Chocolate Chip Bundt that I made for National Bundt Cake Day and stored in the freezer.  After the concert and reception we will be going out for dinner.

Monday, we are hosting the choir Christmas Party at our house.  It is a potluck dinner.  I am making Turkey and Stuffing.

Try it Tuesday I am making something with whatever is left over from the party so make sure you come back to see what I decide.

Christmas Eve we are spending with Frank's family at his brother's house and then we will sing at Midnight Mass.

Christmas Day we host a large open house at our home.  I will be posting the menu early this week.

On Friday, Chuck has invited people over to celebrate Christmas with him while he is home.  I think we are just ordering a giant sub.  Perhaps I will make some salads if I am not too exhausted from our Christmas celebrations.

I would like to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas or Happy Holiday to those who celebrate something other than Christmas.  Please stop back during the week for photos and recipes and join up with us at MPM for many more Holiday Menus.

Saturday
Split Pea Soup with Ham

Sunday
Dinner out

Monday
Roast Turkey and Dressing

Try it Tuesday
I will be as surprised as you

Christmas Eve
Dinner at Dan and Rebecca's

Christmas Day
Menu to be posted

Friday
Ordering a Giant Sub for Christmas Gathering

Oh, Come Let Us Adore Him.

Today is 5 Minute Friday, hosted by Kate who asks us this week to take just 5 minutes out of our super busy schedules and breathe.....and write.  Write as if no one were reading it.  Write what is on your mind and heart.  Worry not about grammar or punctuation.  Just close your eyes, take a cleansing breath, think about the prompt and what it means to you.....and then....write.

Today's prompt is ADORE.

Start

Fall on your knees...oh hear the angel's voices...

These are the words that came to my mind upon the prompt adore.

It is Advent....in a few days it will be Christmas...

This is the time, given to us by the church, to prepare ourselves for the birth of our Lord.  To prepare ourselves to adore and glorify him.  This is the time given to us by the media and the businesses to prepare to stress out and spend lots of money.  I don't adore that and I don't know why we allow them to get in the way of our adoration of our Lord, Jesus Christ, who is born to us next week to redeem each and every one of us.  You know why??  Because He adores us!  He loves us more than we can ever imagine.  I a few short months we will celebrate just how much He loves us as we watch Him die for us upon that cross.

That, my friends, is the real reason we celebrate His birth.  A birth that would mean nothing if not for the death that is to follow.

Stop