Christmas is a time to reflect on the gift of Christ and enjoy time with family and friends, not a time to be overwhelmed by a crazy to do list that never ends. This was the most stress free Christmas that I have ever had. I want to share with you what made it easier this year. Make sure you do the things that are most important to you and your family. Don't feel pressure from someone else to do something, just because. Like the Christmas card. If it is too much to get it out before Christmas, do it around the New Year, or even Valentine's Day. Here's what helped me this year:
Focusing on Christ - Our gifts to teachers were very Christ centered. We put together a book of 12 stories that they could read before Christmas. We also did a scripture chain, I printed out a scripture and then a question to go with it, or an act of service that the kids were suppossed to do. We also played with the child friendly Nativity Scene a lot (too much, they figured out how to take it apart and catapoult the figures all over the front room. So much for reverence.)
The Christmas Card- This year over Thanksgiving, my Dad was in the hospital in Las Vegas with some heart problems. I put my stress to work and ordered our Christmas cards on line at Shutterfly. It was really easy, took about as much time as it would have in the store, and I did it in my PJ's. I got free shipping, pluse 35% off. (You can google coupons for Shutterfly, it saved us an extra 5%). Then I wrote and printed our letter. I also took the time to get all of the addresses off of the hundreds of scraps of paper in my Christmas folder and entered them into the computer. Now I have them for labels instead of having to hand write everything.) So, I had the letter and envelopes addressed before the cards got here. If you don't get it done before Christmas, don't stress, do a New Year's Letter.
Make a list and On-line Shopping - My mom had a knee replacement in early November, so she got her shopping done in October. This forced me to get a list together. I knew what she was getting the kids. Then I gave a list of 2 or 3 things to Mike's parents, his mom let me know what she was getting them. I had my wish list made up at Amazon.com, so on Cyber Monday, I ordered everything and was done. (I only had to pay shipping on 2 items) When my dad told me to shop for him for the kids, I still had my wish list and did it all on line again. We became friends with the UPS man.
Have a "Battery Night"- My friend, Em in WI, and I started a Christmas tradition of "battery night". Pick a night close to Christmas, call your girlfriends, and go out to dinner. Then go shopping for batteries for the toys your kids are getting, and stocking stuffers. The stores are usually open insanely late, and we would ususally stay until closing. I remember a few nights when they started turning the lights on and off as a signal for us to check out. I guess we missed the "We will be closing in 10 minutes" announcement.
Wrapping - It is no secret that this is my least favorite part of Christmas. I remember one Christmas we were up until 3 AM wrapping, I was not too happy the next day. I enlisted my husband for help, he is good at wrapping, but not very fast. We started wrapping mid-December this year and finished Dec 22. I have to admit by the last 5 presents my pieces of tape were 4 to 5 inches long and the gifts looked like my 4 year old had wrapped them. I stopped writing who presents were from, because I was too tired to remember if it was us or Santa giving them. Oh well, they loved unwrapping them.
Christmas Treats - something I love to do at Christmas is make treats. This year I did 2 or 3 things that produce a lot of treats. I made cranberry bread, which I need to post, it was really good. I also did caramel popcorn, and my favorite new cookies. I will post links to this later. I had them ready or in the freezer too. When someone stopped by with something, I had a treat for them. I had to deliver a few, but it was nice to just have them ready.
Hope these suggestions will be helpful to someone, and I will certainly do this next year. Hope you all had a Merry Christmas.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Mexican Chicken Stew
I will add a picture of this later. We have had this every week since I found the recipe tucked away in my arsenal of recipes that I want to try. My friend, Erika, in Madison brought me dinner one time when I was sick. It was called "Mexican Pot Roast" and it was REALLY good. I didn't have beef, and I did some different things with this recipe to make it what is published below. My kids love it and I always hope there are left overs. This is a great meal to sneak veggies into. I have used onion, red pepper, sweet potato, butternut squash, and tomatoes in this one. I love that they can get 5 different veggies in this meal, plus protein and whole grains.
Chicken, you can have it cut in chunks, or the whole breast
1 to 2 cups salsa (start with 1 and then add more if you want)
1 onion, diced (or in chunks if you are roasting and pureeing)
1 red pepper cut in chunks
Extra Virgin Olive Oil, salt and pepper, about 1 Tablespoon sugar
(Other optional veggies - butternut squash sweet potato -peel, cut in chunks, and roast with other veggies)- You will puree them to avoid picky kid detection)
1 hot pepper or jalapeno (totally optional, you could also use some cayenne pepper if you want it a little hotter)
1 14 oz can tomatoes, undrained
2 cloves garlic or 1 teaspoon minced garlic
2 Tablespoons vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon oregano
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 cup to 3/4 cup water as needed (I use chicken broth)
cilantro (optional, but tastes great and looks pretty too.)
Lime Juice (I use at least 2 to 3 Tablespoons. This really adds flavor and it is really good)
If I had some fresh limes I would use lime slices as a garnish and then everyone can add more lime juice if they want. We just have the bottle of lime juice at the table, really classy, right?
1/2 cup slivered almonds (optional, but gives it a really nice crunch)
brown rice, cooked
You could also serve this over a baked potato.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine onion an red pepper (and other veggies if using). Drizzle with EVOO and put veggies in a greased 9 by 13 pan. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and sugar. Roast in oven 20 min and stir, roast another 10 minutes. Combine all veggies,vinegar and salsa in food processor or blender and puree. Pour into crock pot or large pot. Add spices and chicken. Cook until chicken is done. (Low or High depending on how fast you want it to cook) Serve over rice or baked potato.
Chicken, you can have it cut in chunks, or the whole breast
1 to 2 cups salsa (start with 1 and then add more if you want)
1 onion, diced (or in chunks if you are roasting and pureeing)
1 red pepper cut in chunks
Extra Virgin Olive Oil, salt and pepper, about 1 Tablespoon sugar
(Other optional veggies - butternut squash sweet potato -peel, cut in chunks, and roast with other veggies)- You will puree them to avoid picky kid detection)
1 hot pepper or jalapeno (totally optional, you could also use some cayenne pepper if you want it a little hotter)
1 14 oz can tomatoes, undrained
2 cloves garlic or 1 teaspoon minced garlic
2 Tablespoons vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon oregano
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 cup to 3/4 cup water as needed (I use chicken broth)
cilantro (optional, but tastes great and looks pretty too.)
Lime Juice (I use at least 2 to 3 Tablespoons. This really adds flavor and it is really good)
If I had some fresh limes I would use lime slices as a garnish and then everyone can add more lime juice if they want. We just have the bottle of lime juice at the table, really classy, right?
1/2 cup slivered almonds (optional, but gives it a really nice crunch)
brown rice, cooked
You could also serve this over a baked potato.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine onion an red pepper (and other veggies if using). Drizzle with EVOO and put veggies in a greased 9 by 13 pan. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and sugar. Roast in oven 20 min and stir, roast another 10 minutes. Combine all veggies,vinegar and salsa in food processor or blender and puree. Pour into crock pot or large pot. Add spices and chicken. Cook until chicken is done. (Low or High depending on how fast you want it to cook) Serve over rice or baked potato.
"Can Someone, Anyone, Spare a Square????"
I love that Seinfeld episode where Elaine is in the public restroom and her stall is out of TP, so she asks the lady next to her to "spare a square." The woman refuses, and ends up being Jerry's date. Love that episode, as well as the one where George's dad celebrates "Festivus for the rest of us", and the Soup Nazi, I could go on and on. Anyway, my point...
My friend and I went out shopping and I had to use the potty before the 1/2 hour ride home. I finish my business and look to my right... to my alarm there is NO TP. NOT A SINGLE SHRED. And I had left my purse with my friend outside of the restroom. WHAT'S A GIRL TO DO??????????
Do I waddle to the next stall and hope no one comes in and is blinded by my huge white behind?
Do I drip dry, no that is too gross.
In the midst of my panic I see a way out of this mess. Below the wall of the stall to my right was a square. I pulled on it, and more came out. Thankfully, a mess and huge embarrassment was avoided that evening, I got some squares.
So, if you are ever stuck (I usually check if there is TP before I go, but I forgot, of course) in this situation, if no one is in the stall next to you, you can reach up into the next stall, discretely, and get a few squares. If someone is next to you, that would be creepy, so don't do it.
My friend and I went out shopping and I had to use the potty before the 1/2 hour ride home. I finish my business and look to my right... to my alarm there is NO TP. NOT A SINGLE SHRED. And I had left my purse with my friend outside of the restroom. WHAT'S A GIRL TO DO??????????
Do I waddle to the next stall and hope no one comes in and is blinded by my huge white behind?
Do I drip dry, no that is too gross.
In the midst of my panic I see a way out of this mess. Below the wall of the stall to my right was a square. I pulled on it, and more came out. Thankfully, a mess and huge embarrassment was avoided that evening, I got some squares.
So, if you are ever stuck (I usually check if there is TP before I go, but I forgot, of course) in this situation, if no one is in the stall next to you, you can reach up into the next stall, discretely, and get a few squares. If someone is next to you, that would be creepy, so don't do it.
Sorry, My Name Is Mom Too
This weekend Mike took the older 4 kids to go see "Megamind" at our realtor's client appreciation day. (He rents out the local movie theater and invites all of his clients, it is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!). This left me a chance to go to the store to buy some essentials that were on sale for SUPER CHEAP (brown sugar and powdered sugar for 99 cents a bag) without the older kids who beg me to buy things that would totally eliminate the money I save buying something on sale.
So, I am pushing my 2 year old and 4 month old in the cart and my 2 year old is babbling about something. I hear someone say, "Mom, can I get this...plEASE?????????" (you know, the please that starts out low and then gets louder and higher pitched at the end as they beg for you to get something for them.) I hear myself reply, out of habit, "Sorry honey, we are not going to get that today, it isn't on sale." I look up at the kid, he is looking at me as if to say, "Who on earth are you?" and I am totally embarrassed. I apologize and say, "Sorry, buddy, Mom is my name too."
And then I push my cart away as fast as I can. Seriously, I need to change my name.
So, I am pushing my 2 year old and 4 month old in the cart and my 2 year old is babbling about something. I hear someone say, "Mom, can I get this...plEASE?????????" (you know, the please that starts out low and then gets louder and higher pitched at the end as they beg for you to get something for them.) I hear myself reply, out of habit, "Sorry honey, we are not going to get that today, it isn't on sale." I look up at the kid, he is looking at me as if to say, "Who on earth are you?" and I am totally embarrassed. I apologize and say, "Sorry, buddy, Mom is my name too."
And then I push my cart away as fast as I can. Seriously, I need to change my name.
Friday, December 10, 2010
My New Favorite Cookies
These have become my new favorite cookies to make. They are VERY tasty, easy to make, and look really cute too. I never used mini-muffin pans a whole lot, until now. I love them. I think I found some for $4 at Walmart. This is a great time of year to buy Hershey Kisses too, all of the special flavors go on sale. I remember getting them in WI at Walgreens 5 for $5 and I can get them here for 65 cents a bag. My personal favorites are the Candy Cane and Mint Truffle flavors. Other flavors work, those are just my fav's. These are great because they make a lot in a short amount of time. (I have 4 pans, can make 8 dozen at a time.) You can use refrigerated cookie dough or brownie mix for these. I am including my favorite sugar cookie recipe. I found it at allrecipes.com and added more sugar, it just wasn't sweet enough. It is really good. Click here for some awesome Chocolate cookie dough recipe (double for 6 to 8 dozen mini muffin cookies, you can omit the extra chocolate chips, but why would you want to do that?), and Click here for some awesome brownie batter (double for 6 to 8 dozen mini muffin cookies).
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups butter
2 1/2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon almond extract (Optional, but very good, especially if you use hershey kisses with almonds in them. Not sure how it tastes with the mint kisses, but will find out today.)
5 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
Hershey Kisses
M & M's
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray mini muffin pans with non-stick cooking spray. Cream butter and sugar together. Add eggs, vanilla. Mix flour, baking soda, and salt. Add to butter mixture. Spoon batter into mini muffin pans. Bake for about 7 to 9 minutes, keep checking. While they are baking, unwrap Hershey kisses (I have the kids help by doing this, so that I can hurry up and make the batter without too much "help"). When they are done top the cookies with the kisses as soon as you get them out of the oven. After the kisses soften, top with an
M & M and push it down softly. Allow them to cool completely before you store them, otherwise the candy will smear. They are sooooo good and look so pretty. Enjoy. Merry Christmas!
Creamy Potato Soup (with Cauliflower, Carrots, and Onions snuck in)
I seriously have a problem. I am overcome with urges to see how many veggies I can sneak into one meal so my kids get enough vitamins and nutrients (they don't exactly like Total cereal or eating veggies, so this is how I do it.) This potato soup is really, really good, easy to make and has some great vitamins in them for the kiddos. No one guessed what "the secret ingredients" were either, they couldn't even tell.
Ingredients:
1 pouches of instant potatoes (prepared according to directions), or 4 or 5 potatoes cooked (I peel and boil them, but you could also use left over mashed potatoes)
1 cup pureed cauliflower (I cut up a large head of it, steam it, puree it, then freeze it until I am ready to use it again)
1 cup evaporated milk
8 oz. cream cheese
3 carrots, cut in chunks(or 1/2 bag of baby carrots)
1 onion, cut in chunks
4 cloves garlic
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
4 to 6 cups chicken broth (depending how thick you want your soup)
salt and pepper to taste
Bacon (optional)
Cheese (optional)
Parsley (optional)
In food processor, chop up carrots and onions (this gets them small enough so that they can't be picked out). Heat EVOO in large pot, add carrots and onions and saute for a few minutes. Add garlic. Saute for about a minute longer. While this is sauteing, prep potatoes. Add, potatoes to carrot/onion mix. Add cauliflower, chicken broth, milk. While this is heating up, cut up cream cheese and add to soup. Continue to heat, stirring often to break up pieces of cream cheese. Add salt and pepper to taste (it will need salt, for sure. Unless you use a flavored pouch of instant potatoes). If soup is too thick, add chicken broth. If it is not thick enough, add some instant potatoes. Add parsley (I don't know that it actually adds flavor, it just looks pretty). Top with Bacon and cheese.
Ingredients:
1 pouches of instant potatoes (prepared according to directions), or 4 or 5 potatoes cooked (I peel and boil them, but you could also use left over mashed potatoes)
1 cup pureed cauliflower (I cut up a large head of it, steam it, puree it, then freeze it until I am ready to use it again)
1 cup evaporated milk
8 oz. cream cheese
3 carrots, cut in chunks(or 1/2 bag of baby carrots)
1 onion, cut in chunks
4 cloves garlic
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
4 to 6 cups chicken broth (depending how thick you want your soup)
salt and pepper to taste
Bacon (optional)
Cheese (optional)
Parsley (optional)
In food processor, chop up carrots and onions (this gets them small enough so that they can't be picked out). Heat EVOO in large pot, add carrots and onions and saute for a few minutes. Add garlic. Saute for about a minute longer. While this is sauteing, prep potatoes. Add, potatoes to carrot/onion mix. Add cauliflower, chicken broth, milk. While this is heating up, cut up cream cheese and add to soup. Continue to heat, stirring often to break up pieces of cream cheese. Add salt and pepper to taste (it will need salt, for sure. Unless you use a flavored pouch of instant potatoes). If soup is too thick, add chicken broth. If it is not thick enough, add some instant potatoes. Add parsley (I don't know that it actually adds flavor, it just looks pretty). Top with Bacon and cheese.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Minty Double Chocolate Cookies, A Taste of Heaven!!!!!!
I made these for Joe's scout pizza party. Oh, Baby, they are so good.!!!!!!!I originally found this recipe at http://www.marthastewart.com/ under "Double Chocolate Cookies". I changed it a bit and like it even better. It calls for the cookies to be baked on parchment paper, so I have always done this. You can also use cookie sheet liners, I have seen them at Target in their bargain section around Christmas time for $2.50. They work well too. I only make these when I am giving them away because the are so good.
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Preheat oven to 325. In a bowl mix flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt, set aside. Melt butter and 1 cup of chocolate chips in a heat safe bowl in the microwave (I put it in for 45 seconds at a time and mix each time I take it out, until the tow have all melted together). Lick the bowl clean. Put butter/CC mixture in a mixing bowl. Add sugar, mix well. Add eggs and vanilla. Add flour mixture and then the minty chocolate chips. When well mixed spoon in Tablespoons onto cookie pan liners/parchment paper lined cookie sheets. Push on dough to make it a little bit flatter, they will cook more evenly. Cook about 15-17 minutes, the cookies will be soft, but that is how you want them, done on the outside, but chewy on the inside. Pour yourself a glass of milk and dunk a warm cookie. Enjoy.
Ingredients:
1 cup flour
1/2 cup cocoa
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cups semi sweet chocolate chips
1 cup Nestle mint and dark chocolate mix of choc chips, or Andes Candes chopped up.
1/2 cup butter
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Preheat oven to 325. In a bowl mix flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt, set aside. Melt butter and 1 cup of chocolate chips in a heat safe bowl in the microwave (I put it in for 45 seconds at a time and mix each time I take it out, until the tow have all melted together). Lick the bowl clean. Put butter/CC mixture in a mixing bowl. Add sugar, mix well. Add eggs and vanilla. Add flour mixture and then the minty chocolate chips. When well mixed spoon in Tablespoons onto cookie pan liners/parchment paper lined cookie sheets. Push on dough to make it a little bit flatter, they will cook more evenly. Cook about 15-17 minutes, the cookies will be soft, but that is how you want them, done on the outside, but chewy on the inside. Pour yourself a glass of milk and dunk a warm cookie. Enjoy.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Meanest Mom Ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Last night older two kids were bickering at the dinner table and I warned them 3 times if they didn't stop they didn't like what was going to happen (it took 3 warnings because I had to think of something). So, finally I announced that I would tape them together while they did chores.
After dinner I got out the packing tape and taped a leg of each of them together, like they were in a 3 legged race. At first they were mad and the bickering got worse. But in the end they were both laughing.
It worked for a little while at least. There was little bickering tonight at the dinner table.
I know, I am the "Meanest Mom, Ever". Can I get that on a T shirt or something?
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