Dec. 13…11 days ..count them!!!….until Christmas Eve! Where we live we are pretty much guaranteed a white Christmas since this week a snow storm came our way, with more coming this weekend! YES it’s cold out, but there is just something magical at Christmas time to have the white fluffy stuff on the ground! At night all the outdoor white Christmas lights just look beautiful against the snow!! Now ask me in January how I feel about the snow! LOL!
During all the hustle and bustle of Christmas, the shopping, cooking, baking, wrapping, parties, cleaning…..sometimes…well a lot…the true meaning of Christmas gets pushed aside. Try to take time to reflect on what this season is about…the birth of the Christ child, the complete and total love God had for us, to send His Son to us. He cares about us…ALL of us….you… and all that our lives are about. The joys, the struggles AND the pain. Take time to de-stress,..yes it’s okay to just sit, to ponder, to relax, maybe read a book, sip on coffee or hot cocoa. Wishing you and yours a season of love, and care and may you enjoy this season of Love.
A photo of our lovely town decorated for Christmas
Our house is all decorated inside and out! Both trees up and decorated, one is in our living room, but it can be seen from the kitchen and dining room which I love and the other is in our lower level where the fireplace is!
Our upstairs treeIn our living roomIn our Dining roomBy our living room and kitchen islandMy down-sized Christmas village. This year didn’t have room to set it all out.
Started my Christmas baking, some cookies and candy, but will save the cut-out frosted Christmas cookies to do with the 2 grand-daughters that live close. So miss having the CO grandkids here! Christmas time makes it’s especially hard, we miss them all so much!
Posting a few recipes!
First is Cake Balls….super easy!They have become a family favorite.
photo from kendrickworks.blogspot.com
1 box of cake mix, any flavor will work. I have used cherry, strawberry and this year trying spice. Make the cake by the instructions on the box.
1 – 16 oz container of frosting (again any flavor that goes well with your cake flavor) use ONLY 3/4 of the container, more than that makes the balls too moist.
1 package of candiquik melting chocolate I use only the milk chocolate flavor.May also be called chocolate bark.Bake cake mix (follow the instructions on the box). Cool
With your hands, crumble the cooled cake into large bowl.
Mix in the frosting, again not the whole container, usually just 1/2 to 3/4 will do it.
Refrigerate the batter to stiffen for a little while
Roll into one inch balls. Place on a cookie sheet or carefully put in bowl.
Place in your freezer, you want them very cold. If they are frozen they keep the ball shape better as you dip them into the melted chocolate.
Melt chocolate according to directions.
You can then dip cake balls into the melted chocolate with a toothpick or hold the ball and with a spoon cover the ball with the chocolate.
They can be dipped in sprinkles (I used different colors and shapes of sprinkles), nuts, crushed candy canes etc. and also you can drizzle them with a lighter color of chocolate or white chocolate. Have Fun!
The other recipe is Chicken Pot Pie (also VERY easy and oh so delicious)
*side note…as I’m writing this blog our Chicken Pot Pie is baking away in the oven!!
1 to 2 cups shredded or chopped rotisserie chicken
2 prepared Pie Crusts (Pillsbury)
1 bag Frozen mixed veggies for soup (the frozen veggies for soup contain potatoes, THAT you want!)
1/2 block of room temp cream cheese
1/2 cup cheddar cheese
1 can cream of chicken soup
Dried or fresh chopped onion
Garlic powder to taste
Pepper to taste
Instructions:
Set out pie crusts until room temp (1/2 hour). Line pie plate with one of the crusts, making sure crust goes up the sides.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Chop or shred the rotisserie chicken, set aside
In bowl, mix cream cheese and soup, Add the mixed veggies, cheese, onion, garlic powder and pepper. Mix
Add chicken to the bowl of mixture, mix until thoroughly mixed together.
Put one of the pie crusts in the bottom of the pie plate.
At this point, if you would like, you can bake just the bottom crust for about 5 minutes ( bottom crust will be fully cooked when whole pie is done cooking)
Take out of oven, fill bottom crust with Chicken mixture.
Top with the second pie crust. Crimp crust, then cut a couple of slits etc. on the top.
Bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes to 1 hour. Pie should be bubbly and top browned, but not too much!
Serve with a crispy salad, and/or fruit and you have a wonderful meal!
Our love story that began in 1974 when my husband and I married, a love story that still continues! It grew to include 3 children, a son-in-law and 6 grand children. We are thankful each and every day for the blessings we have experienced. A life we relish, we have grown through it’s hardships, and times of pain, and seek the sweetness of life. We love our children, our grandchildren, laughter, long walks, chatting over coffee, breakfast out, early mornings, sunrises and sunsets, roaring camp fires, traveling, board games and cards, watching movies, remodeling, working in the yard, sitting on the deck sipping fresh brewed ice tea with a splash of lemon. We love laughter, sarcasm, jokes, politics, learning, reading. Always pursuing and seeking, spiritual truth, knowledge, and growth through Christ.
Your message to remember what Christmas is really all about brought tears to my eyes. Let us not forget! Thank you Kathy.
Will email soon… Been especially busy. Your house decorations are gorgeous!! Love Cheryl
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