No Place Like Home week 3 (recipes)

 Merry Christmas everyone! 

Last week I shared about our Christmas Day  Brunch.  We, traditionally, enjoy a Christmas Quiche,  Cranberry  walnut scones, fruit compote, various juices and coffee.

                                                         The recipes are as follows:

Christmas Quiche

(Quick Impossible Quiche)

12 slices of bacon, crisp and crumble, or sub. an equal amount  of cut up ham, sautéed with the veggies listed below in a small amount of oil.

1/3 c. Chopped onion

1/2 c chopped red pepper

2 c. Milk or half and half      4 eggs slightly beaten

1/2 c Bisquick ,   1/4 tsp. Salt,    1/8 tsp pepper,   1/8  tsp. Nutmeg

Grease a 9 or 10 inch pie plate, sprinkle the bacon,  and sautéed veggies ; or the ham with veggies on bottom of the pie pan.  Sprinkle the cheese on top. In a bowl, blend the eggs, milk , and dry ingredients,. If you like you can sprinkle in to the mixture a bit of Worcestershire sauce for zingy flavor. . Pour the mixture over the cheese in the pan. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes or until golden on top and the sides pull away from the sides of the pan. 

Another   brunch item  which is a huge hit with the family are my 

Cranberry Walnut scones!

 

3 c. Virginia's Best  self rising flour

1T. baking powder      1/2 c. sugar

 3/4 c. butter sliced into  small cubes  to make working in  easier

1 c. fresh  or dried,  fresh are best cranberries

1/2 chopped English walnuts or pecans

1 1/2 T. orange zest

1 c. buttermilk ( I usually make it by  adding 1 T. of vinegar to  milk)

Stir togetrher the dry ingredients.  Rub the butter into the mixture uintil only coarse crumbs form,  like cornmeal.  Incorporate the butter evenly... no  large chunks.  Stir in the cranberries, nuts and zest..

Add the buttermilk and mix with a fork until evenly moistened. Do not mix it too much..  you want to see it come together  then flour it out on a floured board.  this will be a wet  sticky  dough.  Flour ahnds to  gently    shape into a ball..   It whould be very pliable and  afgain  do not  mess with it  too muchl.  you want a tender dough.  but not sticky.  Pat dough into a3/4 inch thick circle.   Do not panic if you have  doughy fingers. I always do. SInce it is a moist  dough I incorporate just enough  flour to    til it isnt so sticky.  

Cut round with a biscuit cutter  and place on a greased sheet Brush tops  with cream or mmilk and sprinkle sugar on top. Bake at 400 for 14-16  minutews or until  beginning to  be golden on top.  I usually sprinkle  powdered sugar on top to  when I plate them.

 Cream Topping..

YUM!!

8 oz. cream cheese    I have used mascapone.. yum!

1 T. zest

2 T. honey   I have used orange marmelade. .yum

 Mix it all together and  serve in small dish  with scones for spreading 

Another side dish:

Brandied Fruit

Stick of cinnamon

4 lady apples (small)      4 pears sliced

Dried apricots

 orange juice  and   2 T.  brandy

dash of lemon juice

I take license with this recipe.  I add sugar, sometimes,  cloves,   butter.  whatever  I think will make this particular  batch better.  just  an idea..

I have also fried some apples  in butter and spices and  added  a can of cranberry sauce with whole berries  and no brandy..  the main thing is make it delicious and have fun!

Saturday 9

 

The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)

 Welcome to Saturday 9. Hosted by Samantha! 

Saturday 9: The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy) 1966

  Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) The bridge that inspired this song is The Queensboro Bridge in New York City. Are you near a bridge right now as you answer these 9 questions?  No.
  
2) Paul Simon says he "loathes" this song and only performs it because fans want to hear it. What's your favorite Paul Simon song?  I would have to say this song.  I always sing along!
  
3) "Groovy" is such a 1960s word. What common word/phrase from 2020 do you predict will sound just as silly and quaint some day?  “ socially distant”
  
4) Paul is a lifelong Yankees fan and was thrilled to meet his all-time idol, Joe DiMaggio. Mr. DiMaggio was, at first, less than thrilled to meet Paul because he thought the song "Mrs. Robinson" made fun of him. Once Simon convinced him it was an homage, the men got along fine. Do you have a celebrity encounter to tell us about?  One of my all time idols is Robert Fuller of Laramie.  I’ve probably shared this before, but I actually not only got to meet him , but spent about an hour with him and his promoter..  when I was 16.  At the end of our time together, he kissed me on the cheek.  Awesome!

5) Art Garfunkle was the other half of Simon and Garfunkle. Art and Paul met in sixth grade, when were both in a school production of Alice in Wonderland. Tell us about one of your school theatrical appearances. When I was about 10, I was chosen as the head angel for our church nativity at the Christmas chorale program.   I stood up high over the manger scene with my hands folded in prayer  for about 45 minutes. 

6) "Artie" used to love needling Paul about his height -- or lack thereof. He maintained he was trying to be funny, but Paul thought it was mean and says the constant digs hurt. Is there anyone in your life who similarly enjoys teasing?   In elementary school the boy I liked used to teased me about my last name.  I was told by everyone it was because he really liked me, but I did not like it at all.
 
7) Paul told NPR that his impulse to write new music has always come "in bursts." He'll go years without composing, and then he'll write every day for months. Do you often feel creative?  Yes, my blog has demonstrated this over the years. 

 
8) In 1966, when this song was popular, First Daughter Luci Johnson married Patrick Nugent. Their reception was held at the East Room of the White House. The couple had an 8 ft. tall wedding cake and when the bride threw her bouquet, it was caught by her sister, Lynda. Sure enough, Lynda married a year later. Tell us about a wedding you attended (or your own).  I married in 1972.. at that time most wedding receptions that I knew about were held in church fellowship halls. I wanted something different, but it was pretty expensive so to offset costs  we opted for a private wedding with two main beautiful flower arrangements, only very best friends and family were invited. Then we rented the Junior Women’s Club to do a large reception with everyone.  We moved our flowers to the new venue, which had a  lodge like atmosphere with a  stone fireplace, very cosy on a snowy night. We had a pianist play the most appropriate romantic songs.. he was very professional and many people danced.  The venue was beautiful, we opted for heavy hot and cold canapés, etc  and everyone had a lovely evening! 
  
9) Random question: Which do you regret more -- the times you were cautious or the times your were reckless?the times I was cautious. I know because of it I missed out on a lot in life.

Wednesday Hodge Podge

Hosted by Joyce!

1. Here we are entering the last month of the year 2020. 2020!! Every year The Oxford English Dictionary publishing team chooses a word that captures the general mood of the year we're leaving behind, or the one word that will leave a lasting impact on the world at large. This year they needed sixteen words in order to cover the whole enchilada. 

While two of the other major dictionaries selected pandemic as their word of the year, Oxford came up with a long list including-bushfire, impeachment, acquittal, coronavirus, COVID-19, lockdown, social distancing, reopening, Black Lives Matter, Cancel Culture, BIPOC, mail-in, belarusian, moonshot, net zero (read more about each word here)

Of the words listed which ONE would you say should be in the number 1 spot? Which word/phrase on this list would you be happy to never hear again? 

So many of the words had such impacts on lives it is hard to choose. I will definitely say that this has been a dramatic year, and most of it  bad!   Mainly, because we see so little resolution or moving toward positive culmination.  The one that I never want to hear again is social distancing. At this time of my life I can feel my age creeping up on me.  Sometimes I wonder how many good years are ahead of me.  So I am particularly eager to make the most of every moment.   

I hate the time I’ve missed being able to be with my small family.  They mean so much to us. 

2. What one word from your own list of words describing this year sums up/best reflects your 2020? Tell us why. My year has been so varied I cannot seem to come up with one summative word.  My first month was taken with knee therapy sessions, then I was laid low with shingles for 6 weeks, then a horrible intestinal infection followed by dehydration then a severe onset of crippling gout.  Then I had an impinged shoulder and was going shoulder therapy sessions through the summer.   All the while missing my dear family, friends , prayer sisters,  no one was meeting, but we sure were zooming! How does one incapsulate that into one word? The year of “YUCK”!

3. Do you like peppermint? Peppermint mocha, a candy cane, peppermint bark, peppermint tea, York Peppermint Pattie, peppermint ice cream...of the peppermint treats listed, which one is your favorite? Will you bake anything featuring peppermint this holiday season? Peppermint is not my favorite herb.  I’d say , “no”.

4. Besides Christmas, what do you associate the color red with? How about the color green?   Red makes me think Valentines, patriotism, and the blood of Jesus. Green is spring and new life!

5. Is your tree up? Real or artificial? Is your house decorated? Is your shopping done? Started? Wrapped? On a scale of 1-10 with 1 being Scrooge-like and 10 being Buddy the Elf, how's your Christmas spirit? Our artificial tree is up.  When Amanda was little a live tree was crucial, and also if the grands come, but for the two of us artificial suffices.the house is partially decorated, I’ve done  no shopping, and may not,   We decided to not give as many gifts and it seems a gift card kind of year.I have loads of Christmas spirit,  I’ve got one surprise gift box ready to mail to the grands and then another to go the next week.  Just little things to make Christmas special.. activities to keep them occupied!

6. Insert your own random thought here.I am so glad I chose to do Ann Voskamp’s  On-line study.  It helps me focus on what is really important!

Tuesday 4

Hosted by Annie!

 Welcome to Tuesday 4 the legacy of Toni Taddeo, kept in her honor and memory.

Let's discuss tea parties.

1. Do you invite people over for coffee or tea? Oh, yes,  especially tea parties..  I love them!!!

2.  Entertaining is a good way to serve others. The bible encourages it in talking about  how to be a good person:

Isaiah 58: "“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your ownflesh and blood? " 

 Do you entertain often?  I try to, even though  it hasn't been as often,  as I get older, as I'd like.  But  I am planning a get together for December.  I had a crowd one  Christmas... it was  wonderful!  We  had tables all over the house!!!

3. What kind of refreshments do you offer to guests?  Well,  in my tea parties  I like to  make  scones,  Devonshire cream,  tea sandwiches,   fruit of some kind , and of course various types of tea..  I prefer  leaf tea  strained  through  a strainer..   My very favorite  tea  was  held  with me and my sweetheart granddaughters!

I, also, love tea for me!

In December though I am planning a dinner for the two couples  with which we attend church... 

4. Do you enjoy tea and/or coffee? How do you take it?For a tea party, of course, we serve  hot tea, sometimes using tea bags  for variety but one leaf tea pot is always available. I have cream available,  but I prefer no cream in my tea.  For dinner  I serve iced tea,  and have coffee with  dessert. 

No Place Like Home Week 2

This was our  last Christmas table!

I am delighted to be  joining in on a blog party  hosted by Sandy at  No Place Like Home to share  the special things  we do to make our Christmas merry, and especially cosy!  This is week 2!

I  was raised to put family first at Christmas.  My mother and all her sisters and their families all gathered at Grandma’s on the farm for Christmas.  Traditions were important.  Grandma was famous for her Apple Brandy cake, chocolate cake and delicious boiled cream custard. All the aunts brought their favorite foods and a royal feast was enjoyed every Christmas Day.  The mid eighties brought an end to those days when it became time for us to take our holiday tradition to my mother’s home and the food changed .  Mother liked to have a Christmas Eve party.  She would serve Shrimp cocktail, potato salad,  cereal Chex mix,  fruit salad, and pecan tassies  We always had ham, sweet potato casserole, and green bean casserole for Christmas Day.  My daughter, Amanda, loved both! 

  When my elderly parents moved  to be closer to us, Mom still expected to do her Christmas Eve party, but I did a Christmas Morning Brunch, thus began my traditional  Yuletide celebration.  Number 1 on my list was Christmas Quiche!
 

Last year Hubs and I were on our own, so  here was our traditional brunch...

Christmas Quiche,  Cranberry walnut scones,   cranberry fruit salad,   coffee and juice!

The quiche  would be a little different  each year, for example,  starting about   5 years ago I stopped using   a crust and did a magic recipe  adding  bisquick to the mix.

The quiche ahs  become   a great  tradition and  Amanda in her own home  has  quiche  as her  traditioinal Christmas breakfast many times!

Well, I made a  variation of this  dish  this morning for breakfast and it was  really very good..  yet super simple..

  I  was able to clean out a few things in the fridge.. I used  1/2 a vidalia onion and  half a yellow pepper.  For Christmas I like to use red pepper...more festive!

For Christmas I use   coun try ham becasuse I love  the savory  value of it,  but today I used up 3 slices  of deli ham from the fridge.  I   chopped  the onion, pepper and ham up and  sauteed it in my  baking pan.  If it was  Christmas morning I would have  then moved it to my pretty  red baking dish..  to this mix I had added  seasoning to taste..  including salt, pepper,  garlic powder,   onion powder,   and  nutmeg.

Meanwhile, I had  my  5 eggs and   about a 1/3 cup  of half and half  seasoned and ready to go.    Whish together and pour  on top of the  mix in the pan.

Before I put in a 375 oven, I sprinkled about 1/2 c. of shredded  swiss cheese on top.

Hubs took it out and had it cut up  before I could take a photo but it was  delish and note I didnt even have to use any bisquick.  It still  somes out and less  carbs  for me!!!  But  a  pastry or  bisquick recipe is  nice for  a Christmas  quiche!
 I baked it  for  about 35 minutes  or until the side  come away from the side of the pan and it gently golden on top!
                                            

You might like to   experiment and make your own breakfast  quiche..  so  easy...   of course my Christmas quiche was larger and  had  8 servings. I will  put the  true recipe up soon!  Check back and  have a great time this week    getting  all set for  your Merry Christmas!

Happy Homemaker Monday

                                                                  Hosted by Sandra!  

     ♥♥The Weather♥♥

Mon

54°

34°

Tue

40°

30°

Wed

50°

29°

Thu

54°

38°

Fri

53°

36°

Sat

51°

35°

Sun

51°

33°

Looks a littlke more seasonal now.

♥♥How I am feeling this morning♥♥

Except for  allergies,  all is  bright and bushy tailed!

♥♥On my mind♥♥

It was so great to get back to face to face church yesterday.  Our church is  pretty small which I love, although we are always hoping for more  new  Christains,  but  our  body has  more  older follks than   younger and  the older  ones  havent been coming this year..  We see them on zoom, thankfully!

So  we onl have about a dozen faithful  ones who  brave coming out  so  social distancing isn't a problem.  Our pastor is so wonderful, brilliant, caring,  we  just want  everyone to be blessed like we are!

https://vimeo.com/480308394

Paste this url in the  bar    for a lovely short sample.. one of his  encouragement videos

♥♥On the breakfast plate

No breakfast yet...

♥♥On my reading pile♥♥

We are doing a study on Jen wilkens' book  in Sunday School and I am doing

another  study on Ann Voskamp's book,

This online study is  very good.. I had read the book years ago,  but now I am getting a fresh perspective!

  Charis- Eucharisteo-    Chara

Grace-Thanksgiving- Joy

♥♥On my tv♥♥

Youtube videos, Laramie, Hallmark movies,HGTV  The Create channel,  (a PBS station)

I  started watching Fairyland Cottage and Cottage Girl vlogs on Youtube on Tv..  oh,  that is  so  fantastic to watch them on  the big screen!!!

I will add another  great vlog.. Jeri Landers of Hopalong Hollow.  Her  posts  are   amazingly  beautiful.  Such talent and  hominess! I am hooked on these blogs..so much better than regular tv! 

The Crown and Virgin River 

♥♥On the menu this week♥♥

Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and  biscuits

♥♥From the camera♥

♥♥Looking around the house♥♥

  Most of the house is decorated now.. The dining room table    needs  some  more   work. I may need to shop a bit more for my  centerpiece theme 😜

♥♥New recipe I tried last week, or one that we really enjoyed♥♥

nothing

 ♥♥Something I want to share♥♥

I want   to watch The Queen's Gambit.. I saw on facebook yesterday  it is a great  hit with many folks.  I hope it is on Netflix.. Any    reviews on it from anyone?

♥♥On my prayer list♥♥

Dear  God,  nothing takes you by surprise. You know everything that has transpired in the last  few years in  our nation..  I won't your time reminding you    but please  know  that our hearts are wrenching from the  knowledge that our nation  has  fallen beyond the pale into the  hands of an evil entity  that has been brewing for  a long time  but  who has  reared its ugly head  mightily  in the last   few weeks. Deception,   deception deception!!!   You know best   what is to be done,  so  we wait patiently for your help!   Thank you for your peace  that passes all understanding.

Devotional::

No Place Like Home week 1 (part II)

In my opinion the Christmas season has officially  started  and I am delighted to be  joining in on a blog party  hosted by Sandy at  No Place Like Home.   We are asked   to share  the special things about home that make life special and cosy...

This is Thanksgiving Saturday and if you are like me,  your home is  sort of ravaged with  boxes, and  decorations of all kinds   everywhere..  I  have sort of  gotten the parlor back into  a presentable state,  but everything else is  hectic with activity!  But this is what makes  our home...home!

My style here at home is   dictated by  our house style.  We live in a Tudor  home, and since I am an Anglophile, I choose decor   that has a bit of Olde World look..Just like the music that has played all morning is  from an Olde English Christmas!

So here are  few areas that are   ready  for  the Yule!

Yesterday I did share the tree and  arrangement, but  now   the area  around it  is   set for  the Yule!  They will look better this evening...  Check in below!

  Today the mantel is finished! 

  Now I wonder.. Does anyone else have a staging room.  Right now mine is the Dining room.  I vow to have this finished and  cleaned up  by this evening!

I share this photo to  show that the little tree is  done and    giving me tons of  holiday cheer!   Now,  I'm off to the  dining room!   More in about any hour!!

Well,  the dining room  is    almost finished.,,.  but we are both pooped!!

So  we move into the dining room!

The table is   almost there...   I  have a theme in mind    that incorporates  red  trucks and Christmas trees!  But more about that later!

So I took a bit of a rest   by  my cosy fire!  Although   it is pretty warm here today... But Monday  ...brrr!!!

  Hubs view from his chair!

My view from mine!!

I love the mantel from my vantage point!

  And then there is poor hubs!     I've worked him pretty hard today...

WHew!  It does feel good to be this far along  in  the decorating process...  We will enjoy sitting by the fire tomorrow   while we do our  church zoom!

Good tidings to all!!!  And  God bless!!