Candy Cane Cups for Thanksgiving

Love getting up early… but, not at 4:30 am…

My right hip has been hurting…

Don’t mention…”How old are you?”…

so… I get up and it actually goes away…

I then… get so sleepy… that I have to return to bed… and get up later than I like…

I hate wasting time except when doing something fun!… and then I just don’t care…

After breakfast… I made a pot of chili…

to have whenever anyone wants it… because I had some things I wanted to do…

One… was to get one of my desserts made for taking to my son/daughter-in-laws house for Thanksgiving…

It is frozen… so making it today won’t matter…

I found this mix and it says Holiday for sure…

and tweaking a recipe on the side of the box it became mine…

and simple like me!…

My Santa Clings on my kitchen windows encourage me…

and make me smile…

These Jell-o No Bake Desserts are really good…

and after finding “Candy Cane”  with Oreo Crust…

I knew it would be part of my desserts to take …

Beating Cool-Whip and Dark Chocolate Pieces together… (after melting)… for the topping…

It was suggested for the “pie” recipe on the box but…

I thought I would add it to the “Frozen  Candy Cane Cups” recipe…

that was on the box too…

Add melted margarine / butter to the crumbs…

 which happen to be “OREO” crumbs…

blending with a fork…

Another Santa saying… “Hi!”

Spoonfuls of crumbs in baking papers…

Mine happen to be foil… can be paper also…

I press down the crumbs with a glass… so easy…

and you know I like that!

Pressed down and ready for filling…

Mix filling mix that comes out of package looking white…

then turns pink… when mixed with milk…

and the smell of Peppermint (candy cane)  radiates from it…

Add some of the Candy Cane Sprinkles to it…

folding in with spoon…

Spme of the Sprinkles are reserved for the top…

Spoon over Oreo crumbs …

Spoon on Chocolate Topping and…

Sprinkle with some more Candy Cane Pieces…

Santa and I wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving…

as I check to see if any snowflakes are falling…

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Sunday Gratefuls: November 24, 2013-Turkey Roasting Pan

We frequent Horseshoe Casino in Indiana across the River… playing penny slots every now and then… or eating lunch or dinner…

So, sometimes we get FREE OFFERS from them…

Like a gift card for a turkey two weeks ago…

A gas card last week…

and today a Roasting Pan to bake the turkey in…

I didn’t have a Roasting Pan… and was grateful to be able to go and get this one…

I remember Mom having her big pan… but, then she had a lot of “mouths to feed”… as was said…

The smell of baking turkey  wafting upstairs to my bedroom… was the best smell… and I knew she was getting everything ready for all of the company we were going to have…

Family… relatives and friends…

She made most everything herself… for a long time…

as we set the table with the white and lace tablecloth… “good” dishes… silverware and napkins…

Turkey / Gravy

Dressing… ( Stuffing )- 3 kinds… Regular bread/ Cornbread /Oyster

Slaw

Mashed Potatoes

Cranberry Sauce

Sweet potatoes ( Candied Yams) …

Fordhook Lima Beans

Green Beans

Corn

Hot Rolls / butter

Cranberry Relish

Stuffed Celery – Pickles

5 – cup salad

Pies…Cakes…Cookies…Cobblers

As she aged we all pitched in to bring the sides and desserts…  but, she still made the Turkey – Dressing – Gravy…

Although she passed in 2007 at the age of 98… the smell of the house remains with me… and her devotion of cooking all of us that wonderful Thanksgiving Dinner…

Thanks Mom…

and although I have been invited out to eat Thanksgiving Dinner for so many years…

sometime I’ll have to put my Roasting Pan 

  to use and make a big dinner… and see if my house smells as good!

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October Gives Way to November

The calendar has changed once again… from

October     

to November…      

We set our clocks back tonight and gain an extra hour of rest…

Don’t know how many times I’ve forgotten this… and arrived an hour early to church…

Halloween disappeared today… put away until next October… but, Thanksgiving arrived with a few “Gobble Gobbles”… sitting around…

My things I sit out are quite old… Some I’ve had several years… but, still enjoy deciding where to put them…

I picked these Fall Kitchen Towels up last year after Thanksgiving…

Coffee Table Centerpiece… will look better with tapers… orange, brown, gold???

Isn’t he the cutest… Just sitting there waiting and hoping not to be eaten for Thanksgiving dinner!

 

Found at the thrift store I visit… “Candle Holders” with Horn of Plenty , Turkey and Fruit/ Veggies… to adorn my kitchen table…

My Fall Salt/Peppers in shapes of Squirrel / Acorn and Turkeys…

Cracker Barrel always has the cutest seasonal Salt/Peppers!

I just love these little birds sitting on an apple and pear… 

I save them for this time of year…

My Pilgrim Pair…

My metal Turkeys are just unusual…

Fall Leaves Candle Holder in bathroom… reflects light so pretty…

Leaves become Fan Pulls…

Autumn Flag blowing in the cool breeze…

My Orange Glass Turkey Candy Dish holds leftover Halloween Candies…

My wooden WELCOME Pumpkin Sign given to me by my daughter-in-law… ( a few years back )…

Welcomes all who wish to stop by…

 

I usually adding one new item… Haven’t got it yet!… and also I need to purchase a few candle tapers for my centerpiece… and votive candles that smell of Hot Apple Pie or Cinnamon…

My Senses Are Being Tantalized!

My senses are aware of the coming change of seasons..

I feel the cooler air… touch of a warm sweater…

I smell the smoke from burning wood in our fire pit… Cinnamon wafting in air from hot cider…

I see the leaves slowly starting to let loose of the branches of the trees… colors changing to yellow… orange and red…

Children heard outdoors… trying to get in those last moments of playing outdoors… cooler wind picking up and blowing the leaves across the lawn…

Tasting that first piece of pumpkin pie…

The flowers are dieing… Their last blooms looking spindly…

The fields are turning brown and golden…

                 

Apples, Pumpkins and Dried Indian Corn tied together…

Gourds to decorate with…

Beautiful Mums in shades of orange, yellow, sienna, some almost a burgundy color…

My anticipation of Autumn is…

Going to Fall Festivals…

Cooking more soups / chilis…

Baking more…

Sipping hot chocolate and apple cider…

Pumpkin… cinnamon… apple smells…

Leaves rustling underfoot…

Crisp cool air…

Baking Pumpkin Seeds…

Stores full of Holiday decorations and ideas…

Sun setting earlier… and rising later…

Yes!… my senses are aware of the changes being made… and I intend to enjoy …

Before another Season starts tantalizing my senses…

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Holy Alphabet…

Gift…

Sent to me by a friend…

A lthough things are not perfect

B ecause of trial or pain

C ontinue in thanksgiving

D o not begin to blame

E ven when the times are hard

F ierce winds are bound to blow

G od is forever able

H old on to what you know

I magine life without His love

J oy would cease to be

K eep thanking Him for all the things

L ove imparts to thee

M ove out of ‘Camp Complaining’

N o weapon that is known

O n earth can yield the power

P raise can do alone

Q uit looking at the future

R edeem the time at hand

S tart every day with worship

T o ‘thank’ is a command

U ntil we see Him coming

V ictorious in the sky

W e’ll run the race with gratitude

X aulting God most high

Y es, there’ll be good times and yes some will be bad, but…

Z ion waits in glory…where none are ever sad!

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“Cornucopia Bread?”… Yes, I’ll Bring It Again!

Keepsake:

I’ve made this neat “cornucopia bread“ for quite a few years now… I don’t even know where I read the recipe…

I looked up the directions… where you could have clearer instructions … Just in case you want to try it…

It isn’t that hard… Just don’t expect perfection… Relax!… It will turn out!…

This year I couldn’t find bread stick dough … so I improvised with crescent dough …

Just pressed it together in sheets… cut in strips… and rolled with fingers a little into longer strips…

The wrapping around the cone is the hardest part… but, just keep pressing dough together as you attach each piece…

The cone is filled with balls of loose foil to keep the shape…

Bread before baking…

Bread brushed with beaten egg…

  

Finished Baked Cornucopia…

They will be easy to remove along with the cone shape after bread cools… I Promise!

I cut up yellow squash, carrots, celery and cucumbers into sticks…

and add a few slices of tomato for color and some broccoli florets…green onions…green pepper… I put the raw veggies  into the opening of the cornucopia and on the plate surrounding  it … Add a pretty bowl or glass filled with your favorite dip…

Makes a really nice appetizer as well as a pretty centerpiece for your guests to munch on before sitting down to Thanksgiving Dinner!…

Instructions

1. Cut a heavy-duty piece of aluminum foil to 30 by 18 inches. Fold it in half to 18 by 15 inches, and roll it into a hollow cone shape about 18 inches long. The open end of the cone (cornucopia) should be about 5 inches in diameter.

2. Fasten the ends of the aluminum foil with clear tape. Fill the entire cone with crumpled up aluminum foil. Bend the tail of the cornucopia up, then down at the end.

3. Spray with cooking spray, and place the aluminum cone on a large baking sheet. Beat the egg and water to make the glaze for the bread cornucopia.

4. Open the can(s) of breadstick dough. Separate the breadsticks, and start by wrapping the first breadstick around the end of the cone.

5. Use the glaze as a glue. Brush the end of the next breadstick with glaze and overlap it with the first breadstick end pressing the two together. Wrap the second bread stick further up the cone slightly overlapping the first.

6. Repeat using all breadsticks. Brush each end with glaze, and press to the previous breadstick making sure there are no open spaces until the entire cone is covered. Leave 3 breadsticks to make a braid for the end.

7. Pinch the ends of the three breadsticks together. Braid them like hair. Glaze the opening of the cornucopia and press the braid around the end, stretching to make it fit the end.

8. Bake at 350 degrees F for 45 minutes until the bread is golden brown. If some areas start to get to dark, cover them with foil until the rest brown.

Tips & Warnings

• Dough will be pretty slippery, so work quickly and get help if you can.
• Fill the cornucopia with fresh fruits or vegetables.
• Add a dip to the side, and don’t forget to eat the cornucopia too.

http://youtu.be/tc5-JeezRo8   Another way to make the foil cornucopia…

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“Mystery Solved!”

Halloween is all packed away … What few Thanksgiving items I have are placed throughout the house… My husband comments, “Why so much Christmas? … and so little Thanksgiving?”…

The reason he says this is because I have lots of boxes of Christmas items tucked away… and he’s the one who gets the boxes out for me… Then I surprise myself with what I have each year… because I tend to forget what I bought the year before…

I just love Christmas like so many others… and pack away each old item  like it’s a treasure… and add something new  to give me a surprise the coming year…

I really love all Holidays and I wonder myself why I don’t have very much Thanksgiving… Maybe it’s because I feel Thanksgiving is more about what and who we are thankful for and the dinner  has always been our special time as family…

Then I thought… Some of my Halloween items stay up for Thanksgiving too… anything that is Autumn  … remains for my Thanksgiving decorations also… so I  already have them out…

The mystery is solved!     

My little Pilgrim Man and Lady candle holders…

 My funky Turkey… love his long legs…

My orange glass Turkey Candy Dish…

 Another Turkey…He’s quite colorful…

Metal Turkey Votive Candle Holders… I just loved their details …

Centerpiece for Kitchen Table…

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“My Grateful’s!”

As Thanksgiving is upon us… I feel an urgency to put down on paper my list of “Grateful’s”…

 

1. My Lord… who leads me with every thought, feeling and action I have… be it small or big…

2. My Husband… who gives me all of his Love and Strength… the most honest, hard-working, caring, faithful man I know… knew it when I married him and still have it to this day…

3. My Two Son’s… so different in make-up and nature… both showing their love of family … having good hearts, a faith foundation, strength to endure and care for others…

4. My Grandchildren… who are my light, my happiness and my loves…

5. My Sister… my sharing person, my get me through the day, my laugh for the day…

6. My Extended Family… of daughter-in-laws, in-laws, nieces, nephews, brother, sister-in-laws, brother-in-laws, cousins… who make such an outstanding family… with each giving a part of themselves to make our family interesting, funny, awesome, outstanding and mainly loving…

7. My Passing Family… Mom, Dad, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Nieces, Nephews, Brother and Sister, Sister-in-laws, Brother-in-laws, Mother-in-law… God has you now… Bless Them Dear Lord …

8. My Friends… so faithful, so kind, so “always there”, sharing their families and friendship as only they can do…

9. My Neighbors… old and new… a friendly wave, a little conversation, sharing thoughts… troubles and joys… enough to keep us a part of their lives…

10. Myself… for being born into a loving family… for being given a talent that I love… for being lead to my Lord… for letting me continue to grow and learn every day… for meeting all kinds of people … for acceptance…for the love shown to me…

Blessings to all this Thanksgiving Day of 2012… and may all remember “their grateful’s” !

If this sounds familiar it was my list from last year…

My “Grateful’s” are still the same…

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“Thanksgiving… a Labor of Love”

I thought I’d let my thoughts wander to my Mom and Dad‘s home for a moment… It is Thanksgiving Day …

Actually, I’ll have to back up a few days before… maybe weeks…because my Dad was the shopper   and bought all of the ingredients for our wonderful Holiday Feast of Thanksgiving … From the moment I could remember… I watched him slowly begin to bring in all the ingredients   a little at a time… not knowing then, how expensive a big dinner like we were about to have cost… anything my Mom needed to cook our meal for this glorious day! … About a day or two before the big day my Mom would start to thaw the turkey … It was placed in water sometimes to thaw…

Usually not enough room in the refrigerator … with all the goodies for baking pies   or making salads… especially 5-cup Salad… pineapple, mandarin oranges, sour cream, coconut, and maraschino cherries   … I woke up to the smell of the turkey already baking  wafting through the air …enticing my nose with the anticipation of homemade dressing with lots of celery and onions…not just one kind but, three … regular, cornbread and oyster… I tasted all of them! … sweet potatoes with marshmallows melted  and browned in the oven … mashed potatoes with extra butter sitting right in the middle of them oozing down … the colorful salad with those wonderful cherries only bought on holidays … I, hoping there were some left for me to eat right out of the jar … Green beans, Ford Hook Lima-beans   and corn for our vegetables… Mom’s homemade Mashed Potato Rolls… the aroma was scrumptious… wonderful turkey gravy made from the “drippings”... Cranberry relish made from fresh cranberries, sugar and oranges …YUMMY! … besides the traditional jelly type… There would be pumpkin pies, pecan pies , a cake or two… I set the table with a pretty tablecloth, napkins, the “good” dishes/silverware and glasses… many years later… paper plates, but not in this memory!… I iced the glasses…cut the cranberry jelly in rings and placed in the pretty relish dish… sometimes there would be celery stuffed with pimento cheese… because of left overs from making dressing… The table was so crowded and just sumptuous! … We waited for all to arrive… My two brothers/wives/kids…my two sisters and their families … and friends and relatives who were invited…  Never enough room at the big dining room table…although at least a dozen would crowd around… Extra places in the living room sufficed for the little ones and whoever was running late… Grace was said  by whoever volunteered to thank our Lord for the abundance of food and family that we shared…

I remember all talking at once, much laughter and lots of “yums” as the food was passed and tasted… My Mom had outdid herself again … and now I wonder how she pulled it off… So much to do…So many to prepare for… and not one complaint… I can only believe it was done with the help of Dad, a good provider… and the LOVE  she had for all who entered their home … a true blessing!

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“My Kids”…

I just recently heard that two of my favorite teachers, a Ms Mantooth and a Ms Grubbs are thinking of retiring… They were the leaders of a team of students at TJ called “The Shooting Stars”

… Every other October this team held what was called “Muster Day“… Some would call it “Pioneer Day“ … The kids mustered together like they did so many years ago and planned a big event for the Fall Harvest …

Included in this tradition was a roasted pig (BBQ) , fried bacon, homemade apple cider , corn on the cob, beef stew

, pumpkin pie, corn bread and butter making … Pioneer games, jewelry, corn husk dolls and square dancing … Displays explaining many aspects of pioneer life… A wonderful event enjoyed by the students, teachers , friends and families… Soon after these same teachers and students held a Thanksgiving Luncheon complete with turkey and all the trimmings for all the participating students and their families… And since our little group of Special Ed Kids provided the beef stew , corn bread   and pumpkin pie   (“Pioneer”- Patriot Bake Shop) for Muster Day…we were included…  Tablecloths were spread on the tables, handmade center pieces arranged on each table, food set out in long rows with great care… The students greeted everyone that was invited and then enjoyed the fruits of their labor just like the traditional Muster Day people   … The LOVE  these teachers showed through this event was truly a blessing!  ...They will surely be remembered.

Happpy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Candy Corn Cravings!

I’ve decided on what my next blog will be… but, it’s a “Secret!” ... I will begin it on January 1, 2012… Maybe even a new title since “My First Blog 2011” will be obsolete …no more 2011… I’m really excited , now that I have thought of it… I needed that… something to be excited about… Great!…

Now, I will tell you what else I’ve been thinking about…

Candy Corn! … One of my favorites during the Fall months…especially Halloween time! … I love the original… It seems to taste different, although the ingredients are the same… “Original” meaning the Yellow, Orange and White tipped kernels … Love those little imitation look-alike ears of corn… Because that’s what they represent… Introduced back in 1880’s by George Renningen by the Wunderle Candy Co. in Philadelphia… Now called Brach’s ... Farming of course was the main way of making a living …so this candy was geared toward this customer, the farmer and his family … Made of sugar, corn syrup, coloring and binders…I found that “binders” are like marshmallow cream or calcium acetate (food additive) for stabilization… Makes them creamy! … The colors of yellow, orange and white were chosen because of the closeness in color to an actual corn kernel … brighter of course to appeal to the public’s eye… Originally made by hand  … and now automation has mechanized the process … Another company, Goelitz Confections in Cincinnati started making Candy Corn in 1898…now called the “Jelly Belly Co.” … I always seem to taste honey when I’m eating this neat candy… must be the flavoring and along with a bowl of salty popcorn …yum!… Other colors have emerged…brown and orange for Thanksgiving … green and red for Christmas …pink and red for Valentine’s Day and Easter comes in different pastels … A low-fat candy…3.5 calories per kernel, 9000 tons ( 20 million pounds) made annually…I believe I will buy me a bag today… I need to help them out… maybe add a pound or two to their statistics… and being low-fat , won’t add to my pounds… That would be scary! … even if it wasn’t Halloween!

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“My Kids!”…

Oh No!… Halloween was here and our Patriot Bake Shop was in full force… Jack-o-lantern Cakes, Cupcakes , Brownies... Everyone giving us orders for all of their parties… and treats for the students… Our cakes were so cute with triangular eyes and noses… jagged cute smiles … a green stem  with curly leaf hair… of course all edible made from cake and frosting… Our cupcakes were decorated with sprinkles of orange, purple, brown and yellow with Candy Corn accenting each one… The brownies were either plain or chocolate frosted and also an addition of a Candy Corn atop each square… Candy Corn also became teeth for our Jack-o-lantern cakes at times… The trick was to keep little fingers out of the bowl and several adult ones also… Oh what fun!… If I had known the recipe for Candy Corn  as I do now…we would have had to try it… along with the cute Candy Corn Cookies  I’ve read about… I seem to be on the look out for new crafts and recipes still… can’t take the teacher out of me yet!