Elf

Christmas music has been added

to the playlist in the side bar

starting with song #51! :-)

illustration courtesy of www.allposters.com

It's the 1st day of Winter!

Is Jack Frost nipping at your nose? ;-)

illustration courtesy of www.allposters.com

"Winter Barn" by Michael Humpries

Supper Menus
December 21st-26th

Monday
venison jalapeno cheese sausage, white rice, homestyle cheese muffins
Tuesday
fried chicken tenders, mashed potatoes and brown gravy, fried okra, dinner rolls
Wednesday
poppy seed chicken, lettuce and tomato salad, dinner rolls
Thursday
hosting Christmas Eve dinner for friends
Friday
attending Christmas dinner at Mr. H.'s parents
Saturday
hosting Christmas dinner for my parents

Sweetest Gingerbread House Ever

Created by the sweetest 4th grader ever. :-)

Homestyle Cheese Muffins

Homestyle Cheese Muffins

12 servings

2 cups flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 cup milk
1/4 cup butter, melted
2/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Combine flour, baking powder and salt. Mix egg, milk and butter; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in cheese. Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake at 400° for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with crispy bacon and enjoy!

These are great to serve for breakfast, and I think they would also be really good along side chili as a change of pace from the usual cornbread.

I love these!

These are just so pretty.

When I saw them at The Inspired Room,

I knew they were just my style.

And they would be perfect to decorate

the tables for a company supper.

Simple, inexpensive and cozy.

One for the children's table.

And one for the adult table.

Love them.

Where has Mrs. H. been??

She's been a little busy...

making candy

to box up for teachers.

Making lots of Christmas chocolate pops

for classmates and attaching to gifts.

Doing some baking of course. :-)

Red and green m&m cookies!

Just a little bit of decorating.

And some simple entertaining.

The holidays have begun!

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Cinnamon Chip Scones

Cinnamon Chip Scones

(from Simple and Delicious magazine)

12 servings

3 1/4 cups flour
1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar, divided
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup cold butter, cubed
1 cup buttermilk
1 package (10 ounces) cinnamon baking chips
2 tablespoons butter, melted

Combine flour, 1/3 cup sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in buttermilk just until moistened. Fold in chips. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; knead gently 10-12 times or until dough is no longer sticky. Divide in half; gently pat or roll each portion into a 7 inch circle. Brush with butter and sprinkle with remaining sugar. Cut each circle into six wedges. Separate wedges and place on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 425° for 10-13 minutes or until lightly browned. Serve warm and enjoy!

A Christmas Story

Scenes from Old Fort Parker

My son's school took a field trip to Old Fort Parker.

I went along as a chaperone and enjoyed a wonderful time

learning some more history of the state of Texas.

from the website ~

Old Fort Parker State Historical Park is a reconstructed fort that pays tribute to the Parker family and other pioneers who paid a high price to settle in Texas.

The Parkers and other members of their church came to Texas from Crawford County, Illinois in 1833. In 1832, Daniel Parker, a staunch theologian, had gained permission to settle in Texas. After organizing those who wanted to go to Texas into the Predestinarian Baptist Church, they all left Illinois in July of 1833 in ox- drawn wagons. Daniel and the majority of his followers settled near the present City of Elkhart, where a replica of their Pilgrim Baptist Church still stands in their memory. Other members of the group preferred to settle farther west, near the Navasota River. Elder John Parker and three of his sons (Silas, James, and Benjamin) began in December 1833 to clear land and to construct "Parker's Fort."

On May 19, 1836, Comanche Indians attacked the fort; 5 were killed, 5 were captured, and the 21 survivors made their way to where Palestine is today. The most famous of the captives was Cynthia Ann Parker. She adapted to Indian ways and later married Chief Peta Nocona. Quanah Parker, the last great Comanche chief, who was involved in the Battle of Palo Duro Canyon, was the most famous of their three children.

Momma it's cold outside!

Let's just stay home!

There is no place like home...

What did I receive at the Ladies Christmas party?

This!

It made me cry.

One, because I loved it so much.

And, two, because we had put our house up for sale

only hours before I opened this gift!

I don't know where my next

~home sweet home~

will be,

but I'm ready for the adventure! :-)

No Cost Gifting

Our gift exchange gifts for the Ladies' Christmas party

I attended this evening had to be homemade, recycled or

less than $5 store bought.

And the gift couldn't be wrapped in store bought paper!

My gift was homemade from the kitchen and didn't cost me a dime! :-) I filled a jar with cowboy cookie mix, wrapped it in some red gingham fabric and tied it with a red bow.

Merry Christmas!

Hide it in your Heart Week of December 7th

~"Hide it in your Heart"~
"Your word I have hidden in my heart" Psalm 119:11 NKJV

"But the fruit of the Spirit is

love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,

goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control."
Galatians 5:22-23

"This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom

but in words taught by the Spirit,

expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words."

I Corinthians 2:13 NIV

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

...at least in the kitchen! ;-)

I always start my Christmas decorating

by putting out my holiday dishes. :-)

We enjoyed our first festive supper this evening!

A rainy, cold day had me in the mood

for tummy-warming Italian food!

A simple and easy to prepare meal

of tortellini,

caesar salad,

and garlic bread

left plenty of time to get the tree up

and ready for ornaments tomorrow!

The forecast for our neck of the woods is calling for chilly temps

the rest of the week and maybe even some snow!

I think the fireplace will stay pretty busy the next few days. :-)

Christmas Kisses

I visited a sweet friend of mine this afternoon.

She has downs syndrome

and with her sweet spirit,

she is a walking reminder of the truly important things in life.

I love her dearly.

I told her if she would eat one chocolate kiss each day,

when she got to the last one in the bag,

it would be Christmas day!

~December~

is here!

Gingerbread Scones

Gingerbread Scones
8 servings

2 cups flour
3 tablespoons brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup cold butter
1/3 cup molasses
1/4 cup milk
1 egg, separated
sugar

Combine flour, brown sugar, baking powder, ginger, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs; set aside. Combine the molasses, milk and egg yolk until smooth; stir into the flour mixture just until moistened. Turn the dough onto a floured surface; knead gently 6-8 times. Pat into an 8 inch circle; cut into 8 wedges and place 1 inch apart on a greased baking sheet. Beat egg white until frothy; brush over scones. Sprinkle with sugar. Bake at 400° for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pan to wire rack. Serve warm and enjoy!

This was my 100th baking post! :-)

Linked to Gooseberry Patch Recipe Roundup.