Greetings

Merry Christmas everyone!

We have had a nice messy morning of bags, tissue and wrapping paper, playing games, eating waffles with strawberry sauce, bacon, fruit and yummy hot tea! Oh and lots and lots of guitar music and cuddling with soft blankets.

I wish you all a blessed Christmas!

Cocktail Anyone?

We hosted a cocktail party for all of Bill's Financial Advisors last night.

I was delighted with the task of making appetizers for 15 adults (and my 4 little boys with huge appetites)

I chose 6 appetizers and 3 desserts. Chances are, if someone brings something, its usually dessert. I guessed right and Jackie brought yummy frosted brownies.

All the appetizers (not the desserts) are:

dairy free, yeast free, whole grain, and sugar free

These are delicious "Chicken Lollipops"

They are based on an Indonesian recipe that I found on my Dutch blog friend (www.kayotickitchen.com)

I served them with Peanut satay sauce.

Here's my take on tacos.

They are mini "pop in your mouth size" tacos. I used flat round tortilla chips, yellow and black sesame.

I spread some refried beans on them, layered on sliced grape tomatoes, shredded mexican cheese, homemade salsa and a tiny dollop of sour cream (I piped it out of a sandwich baggie with the tip cut off)

Next up we have Sage Turkey Sausage Bites with Balsamic Apricot Dip. I borrowed this one from Rachel Ray (off the Foodnetwork website).

I changed the recipe to Turkey sausage because it's nearly impossible to find sausage without sugar. I found fresh Turkey sausage at the little market near by house! I also used white Balsamic Vinegar instead of Black, it has a much milder taste.

This appetizer tasted much better than it looked. It's a Curry Chicken Pate that I made up. Basically a curried chicken salad that I pureed.

I had roasted 4 chicken legs seasoned with curry a few days before the party. The chicken was SO tender and fell off the bone. I threw the chicken, organic mayo, curry powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper in the food processor (my new best friend) and pureed it. It was SO delicious, fast and easy!

I served it on whole wheat crackers with a slice of cucumber.

Mini Vegetable Frittatas. These went quick (obviously)

These are simply broccoli, eggs, splash of water, paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Bake them in mini muffin tins. Oh, and pecorino romano, sheep's cheese.

Meringues dusted with cocoa powder.

Chocolate snowman, trees and stars drizzled with white chocolate and sprinkled by my boys.

Oh, and my favorite all time, I should really only make it once a year treat...

Trifle!

It's just a trifle too good.

I made a wreath!

Check out this great site! I'm linked up!

If you have sticks and an evergreen on your property, you can do this too!

Gather your greens.

I used greens from 3 different trees on my property. I think those are the only evergreen trees I have on my very wooded lot. Trees don't mind getting trimmed a bit each winter.
(A bit of overlapping of seasons, the pumpkins are still out!)

I also used some wire and a hot glue gun.


I cut some sticks to the size I wanted to make my wreath. I was going for a large rectangular look so I cut them quite big, about 3 feet by 1.5 feet. I didn't measure them with a ruler. Just eyeball it.

Overlap the corners

Take the wire and wrap it around sound it is secure.

Hot glue over the wire to re-inforce it and let it dry. It dries very quickly when it's cold outside.

Finish all the corners so you have a frame. You could also use an old frame if you didn't want to bother with the sticks.

Then take a branch and wrap wire around it to attach it to the frame.

You can also hot glue it, I found that the first branch had to be wired and then the rest could be hot-glued on top.

Mix up the greens if you have a variety.

There is no wrong way to do this.

I snipped pieces off here and there. I could have probably given it more of a haircut!

The wreath looked too big on my front door so....

I hung it on my garage

Precious had to get in the picture.

The next wreath I'm making will be a small square one to fit on the front door. Maybe I'll make two matching ones!

Best of all, it was free!

It's a PROCESS...

I just HAVE to share this "Lukie-ism"

(Wouldn't this make a great CD cover?)

We came home Saturday evening from a wonderful trip to CT and NJ. We had a great time visiting with friends and extended family.

L2 and L4 helped me empty the dishwasher. Lukie was almost finished with his task so I asked him to take the last 3 steak knives and put them away in the knife block.
(Yes, I allow him to handle knives, but only while supervised!)

Putting away the knives would entail walking across the kitchen...

So, I cautioned him...I was next to him, Daddy was at the stove...

"Lukie, be careful with those knives so you don't stab Daddy in the process"

Lukie said, "Where's his process?"

Cutie pie!

Daddy has been playing the guitar a lot lately. He's been composing lots of songs. Someone wanted to get in on the action.

Cuddling Lukie while he still can...

Friends....

The wonderful part of the Holidays is being re-united with old friends

The hoodlums...

How weird can they pose?

Oh wait... A normal picture?