BLOGMAS 2021 ~ DAY 4 ~ SOUNDS OF THE SEASON ~ MUSIC PLAYLIST

What are your favorite Christmas songs? Do you have a regular playlist?

I’m all over the place with Christmas music – it really depends on the day, the occasion, my mood, what food we’re eating – there are just sooooooooo many factors!

BUT, I do like to wait until at least the day after Thanksgiving!

I LOVE so many of the old standards, but I also love country Christmas and Mannheim Steamroller. I LOVE Christmas carolers, not that you see many these days. I was even part of the hand bell choir at church for Christmas programs many years ago.

As for some of MY favorite songs I have a few that top the list:

  • It’s Beginning to Look A Lot like Christmas
  • Silent Night
  • White Christmas
  • Jingle Bell Rock
  • Last Christmas 
  • Born on Christmas Day
  • Winter Wonderland
  • Frosty the Snowman
  • Little Drummer Boy the version with Bing Crosby and David Bowie
  • The Twelve Days of Christmas
  • Deck the Halls
  • Baby It’s Cold Outside
  • Hard Candy Christmas
  • Come All Ye Faithful
  • It Came upon a Midnight Clear
  • We three Kings of Orient
  • Joy to the World
  • Rudolph the Reindeer
  • Do You Hear What I Hear
  • The Most Wonderful Time of Year
  • It’s Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas
  • Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer

BLOGMAS 2021 ~ DAY 3 ~ CHRISTMAS MOVIE MUST WATCH LIST

Today’s category has ALWAYS been an easy one for me. It’s also one that really doesn’t change much from year to year either. I start taping Christmas movies on Lifetime, Hallmark and INSP as soon as they air so I can watch them ALL year long. I’m a sucker for a happy ending and let’s face it, Christmas movies ALWAYS have happy endings.

So this list could be reallllllllllly long, but I will just keep it to the top 10 (used to be 5) MUST watch each and every year movies.

It’s a toss up for me about whether White Christmas with Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, Vera Ellen and Danny Kaye or It’s a Wonderful Life with Jimmy Stewart, Lionel Barrymore and Donna Reed is my absolute favorite, but I think I’m leaning towards It’s a Wonderful life! As I believe the majority of people do.
Which Miracle on 34th street version (the original with Natalie Wood or the remake with Richard Attenborough) is the best? BOTH versions of course! But, the old version is getting REALLY hard to find.
The Santa Clause with Tim Allen quickly became a favorite – who could resist visiting the North Pole every year?
Now Home Alone is just silly, as is Christmas Vacation with Chevy Chase but, they never fail to make me laugh! A new favorite is the Christmas Chronicles with Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn.
In addition to those above, I also LOVE While You were Sleeping with Sandra Bullock and Bill Pullman.
Holiday Inn with Bing Crosby, Marjorie Reynolds and Fred Astaire and is also a wonderful nostalgic oldie.
Little Women (whether you watch the 1933 with Katharine Hepburn, the 1949 with June Allyson and Peter Lawford, the 1994 with Susan Sarandon, Winona Ryder and Kirsten Dunst or the 2019 version with Emma Watson) is also a fun movie for Christmas as is A Christmas Story.
And for my “11th” choice DIE HARD with Bruce Willis and Bonnie Bedelia is always good. I know there is A LOT of controversy as to whether it is a Christmas movie or not, but I like it – I’m diverse like that 😀

BLOGMAS 2021 ~ DAY 2 ~ ELF on the SHELF? GNOMES? NISSE?

The munchkins are growing up fast! 2 of 3 of them “KNOW”, but the youngest still believes so we are keeping the elf/nisse tradition alive at least one more year! 😀

I’ve discovered Julenisser, a Nordic tradition, this year to replace our previous Elf on a Shelf.   I can’t find that a Julenisser is actually given a name, but I’m winging it here. 😀 The nisse is one of the most familiar creatures of Scandinavian folklore. Last year we had Bailey, but this year we’re bringing back Annabelle and her pet reindeer, Alvin.

In Solvang, a Danish community, they actually do a Nisse Adventure like a scavenger hunt and Danish style JuleFest celebration throughout the month of December.

In Denmark there is a serious subculture regarding the Christmas elves and gnomes known as Julenisser. They live in forests and eat fruits and berries throughout the year before they come spend the month of Christmas with your family. They have BIG hearts and ARE magical! They love to play tricks on you and your family.

I know some people begin the day after Thanksgiving, but for us December 1st is always the beginning. For several years we did an Elf on the Shelf for the munchkins. Each year since we’ve done a “cousin” elf so it wasn’t the same elf every year. I know many parents are dreading that darned elf every year and having to come up with 24 DIFFERENT scenarios that are different from the previous year!

So when do you begin? Do you have unique names for your elf? Or do you have a Julenisser?

BLOGMAS 2021 ~ DAY 1 ~ WHEN DO YOU DECORATE?

This is day 1 of BLOGMAS 2021. We’ve all had ANOTHER stressful year and need some fun. I want this year especially to be relaxing and stress free. I’m STILL not going to do a linky. Just comment on my post and let me know you’re playing along and I’ll be sure to visit and comment on your post. Here is a list of the prompts.
I didn’t forget LOL 😀 But, I did get caught up in today’s topic so I’m running a bit late! So the question is when do you start decorating for Christmas?

I’m always raring to go before Thanksgiving, but restrain myself to wait until after dinner is at least cleaned up!

Our local (mom and pop – family run) Christmas tree farm opened today and we were there when they opened. Last year they sold out in 3 weeks flat and we missed out on a live tree, though we did get our traditional wreath. We used our tried and trued artificial tree and despite being there when they opened this morning decided on the artificial tree again this year because of the newly cleaned carpets and only went with wreaths and a spray for indoors for the tree scent.

This is my favorite wreath for today. I just love the buffalo plaid and little ice skates. Wreaths symbolize that loves comes full circle – especially at this time of year.

We had a few errands to run after the tree farm and then had lunch at a favorite haunt that was actually FULL of people who had just come from the tree farm. It was fun to see all the cars and trucks with their trees in the beds or tied to the top. 😀

I topped the day off with my appointment for the Family and Friends holiday open house. It’s a small boutique store so they are still doing the open house by appointment to meet the COVID requirements. I arrived a few minutes early for my appointment time and was rewarded with having the store to myself! 😀

Obviously I start as soon as I can to decorate, but it takes a few days and I take the time to enjoy it instead of turning it into a chore. We did get the tree up today, but will wait until tomorrow afternoon to do the lights and garland as well as maybe the ornaments depending on time. I’m starting tomorrow off with the REDISCOVER DOWNTOWN SHOP SMALL event and hopefully will finish off my Christmas shopping. But, if I don’t I will also be going to the annual Christmas Fair at the fairgrounds on Friday. I believe I have done my part for shop local with mom and pops.

So, when do you decorate?

HONEY LEMON (or ORANGE) PORK CHOPS

HONEY LEMON (or ORANGE) PORK CHOPS – serves 4

4 boneless pork chops
1 orange or lemon sliced ¼” thick
½ cup orange or lemon juice
¼ cup QUALITY honey
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon FINELY chopped thyme or rosemary
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper

  • GENEROUSLY season both sides of pork chops with the FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper .
  • Preheat sauté pan on medium heat, and add butter.
  • Once butter is melted, sauté both sides pork chops for 5 minutes per side.
  • Remove pork chops from pan and set aside.
  • Using the same pan, sauté garlic, thyme or rosemary and orange or lemon slices for 2 minutes.
  • De-glaze pan with juice and honey and simmer for 3 minutes.
  • Return pork chops and any liquid from resting period to sauté pan
  • Baste chops for 3 minutes, or until meat thermometer inserted into thickest part reads 145°F.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENU PLAN & RECIPE LINKS week 48 of 2021

Be sure to join us for Happy Homemaker Monday and link up
with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

How is everyone this morning? Number one question – did you take your turkey out of the freezer this morning to thaw in the refrigerator? 😀 Have you done your grocery shopping and are you ready to

I had a SUPER busy week around here preparing for the carpet cleaners that should be here around 9AM. Most of the furniture is in the dining room, kitchen or bathrooms as well as stacked on top of each other to clear a path and make their job easier! Hopefully, it will also make it go faster. I’ll go run errands after their done so I’m out of the house while it dries. A friend recently did her own and ended up sick from the chemicals so I want to be out while it’s drying.

Fortunately I have already done the grocery shopping so can avoid those stores!

I’m also working on My BLOGMAS 2021 list and am ready to dig in just after Thanksgiving this year. I’m so ready for Christmas!

It’s supposed to be a relatively mild week with highs in the 40’s and 50’s and lows in the high 30’s with a little rain starting on Thanksgiving.

Hot water and baby food squeeze

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING after everything dries this afternoon we have to “reassemble” the house 😀
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS some oddball errands, a pedicure, a doctor appointment…
  • PAPERWORK & PHONE CALLS nothing this week because of the holiday that won’t wait until next week.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING November is pretty much a wash, but I’m working on December dinner recipes, some cookies for a Christmas cookie exchange next month and some new gift mix recipes.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • Hallmark Christmas Movies, Christmas Baking shows. It’s A Wonderful Life…

I’m still working on some seasonal recipe magazines and tagging the recipes I’d like to make this winter. I also started a new series called Five Island Cove by Jessie Newton, Book number one is ‘The Lighthouse’.

I just LOVE this old one-lane bridge near us and someone (no one knows who) puts up a new seasonal decoration on both sides of the bridge each month.

AND A FUNNY THIS WEEK

I know I shared this last week also, but it bears repeating with Thanksgiving upon us.

with the links to last week’s posted recipes, featured party links for the week and upcoming recipes to be posted soon.
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
DINNER
FRENCH DIPS & TOTS
C.O.R.N.  clean out refrigerator night
CHARCUTERIE BOARD
THANKSGIVING see menu
THANKSGIVING LEFTOVERS
THANKSGIVING LEFTOVERS
*C.O.R.N.  clean out refrigerator night
DESSERT
CRANBERRY APPLE SLAB PIE

  • HONEY LEMON (or ORANGE) PORK CHOPS
  • MEXICAN STREET CORN CHOWDER
  • GREAT GRAN’S CHICKEN & NOODLES

CHESSE BURGER PASTA

CHEESE BURGER PASTA serves 4-6

1 pound QUALITY ground beef
1 SMALL onion, diced
½ cup QUALITY ketchup
½ teaspoon garlic powder
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste
2 cups elbow pasta uncooked
2 cup beef stock
1½ cup grated Havarti, cheddar or Fontina cheese, grated cheese
diced tomatoes, for garnish
diced red onion, for garnish
diced pickles, for garnish
diced jalapenos, for garnish
shredded lettuce, for garnish

  • Place a large lidded saute pan over medium heat.
  • Let pot heat up for 2 minutes before crumbling ground beef into pot.
  • Sauté ground beef for 2 minutes.
  • Add onions, garlic powder, salt and pepper.
  • Once beef is ¾ browned stir in ketchup.
  • Saute for 3 minutes, then add dry pasta. stirring together while gradually adding in the beef stock.
  • Cover sauce pot and cook for 20 minutes.
  • Remove lid and lower heat to medium low.
  • Add grated cheese and stir until melted.
  • Top with personal garnishes.
  • Serve and enjoy!

BUTTERMILK POBLANO GRAVY

We had a power outage the night I made this dish. The power went off and on so many times I lost count. It came on and stayed on for quite awhile so I actually started dinner as planned. Of course half way through it went off again making it difficult to get decent pictures. Fortunately, the power outage didn’t affect the flavor 😀

BUTTERMILK POBLANO GRAVY
2 LARGE poblano chiles
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup diced yellow onion
1 1/2 cups homemade chicken bone broth
1 heaping tablespoon WONDRA flour
2 tablespoons WHOLE buttermilk (not reduced fat)
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste

  • Using long tongs , blacken each chile over flame.
  • Add chiles to a bowl and cover with saran for 10 minutes to steam.
  • Using the plastic wrap or gloves, rub the chiles to remove the blackened skin.
  • Remove stems and seeds before FINELY dicing the chiles.
  • Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter over medium heat in saucepan.
  • Add onions and half of the chiles, cooking 3-4 minutes until onions are soft.
  • Add onion mixture to blender with 1/2 cup of the chicken stock and process until smooth.
  • Melt remaining butter in saucepan over medium heat.
  • Whisk in flour, reduce heat to low and cook 3 minutes until golden.
  • Increase heat back to medium and whisk in chile puree and remaining broth, cooking 2-3 minutes until thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
  • Stir in the buttermilk and heat gently 2-3 minutes allowing the  flavors to blend.
  • Season with FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper to taste.

NOTE:

  • Chiles can be prepared a few days in advance and refrigerated until needed.
  • In a pinch you can use a LARGE can of Hatch chiles.

PORK BELLY on CARAMELIZED PEARS

A couple years ago one of my favorite restaurants had a starter plate of Pork Belly Lollipops with sliced pears and gochujang caramel dipping sauce. I’ll tell you when you ate that it was like the scene in the deli with Meg Ryan from When Harry Met Sally because they were just that good! This recipe comes pretty close to being equally as good. Unfortunately, the picture could have been better 🙁 I guess I’ll just have to make them again.

PORK BELLY on CARAMELIZED PEARS adapted from So Delicious

When pork belly is cooked right it is so soft that it literally melts in your mouth. Add the perfect fruit and sauce, well you’re in heaven!

1 pound pork belly, thin slices
1/2 tablespoon avocado oil
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 + 2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons Bragg’s liquid aminos
1/4 cup water
1 pear, sliced thin
2 tablespoons gochujang
1 heaping tablespoon brown sugar

¼ cup QUALITY brandy

  • Heat the avocado oil and 1/2 tablespoon butter in a skillet and add the pork belly slices.
  • Season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
  • Add pork belly pieces fat side down.
  • When the pork belly pieces start to sizzle, add the liquid aminos. or soy sauce
  • Stir, cook for 1-2 minutes, then add the water.
  • Cook until the pork belly is cooked through and the sauce reduces.
  • Take another skillet and melt the remaining butter on high heat.
  • Add the pear slices, gochujang, brown sugar, and cognac, whisking together.
  • When the liquid starts to simmer, remove the pan from the flame and quickly (so the pears don’t absorb too much alcohol) light it using a long barbecue lighter.
  • Cook for 2 more minutes, then set aside.
  • Serve immediately drizzling extra sauce over top.
PORK BELLY LOLLIPOPS FROM MCMENIMANS

GRAN’S APPLE CAKE

Today would have been my dad’s birthday. In his honor I bake a cake each year. This year I chose this yummy apple cake because this is the perfect season for a spiced apple and sweet glazed simple apple cake that fits like your favorite sweater or boots. It also makes the perfect dessert for any fall gathering, church supper or just plain old comfort food for brunch that is sure to bring a smile to everyone’s face. A little spicy and a little sweet, but seriously comforting each and every bite.

GRAN’S APPLE CAKE

CAKE
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon kosher salt
2 1/2 teaspoons apple pie spice
1 1/2 cups avocado oil
2 cups sugar
3 LARGE eggs, room temperature
2 teaspoons PURE vanilla extract
1 teaspoon FRESH lemon juice
3 medium apples, peeled and thinly sliced
1 cup chopped toasted walnuts
1/2 cup shredded coconut, (optional)
1 cup golden raisins
1/4 cup rum

  • Preheat oven to 300°.
  • In a small bowl pour rum over raisin and set aside.
  • Spray bottom of a 10 inch spring form pan with non-stick cooking spray. I like my square shaped spring form pan.
  • Whisk together flour, baking soda, salt and apple pie spice. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, beat oil, sugar and eggs until pale and slightly thick, about 2 minutes.
  • Beat in vanilla and lemon juice.
  • Add dry ingredients; stirring just until moistened.
  • Drain raisins well.
  • Fold in apples, raisins, walnuts and coconut if using (batter will be thick).
  • Transfer to prepared pan.
  • Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 55- 60 minutes.
  • Cool cake in pan on rack.

GLAZE
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons FRESH lemon juice

  • Whisk together the powdered sugar and lemon juice until well blended and smooth.
  • Drizzle over cake.
  • ENJOY!

NOTE: Japanese pears or crisp red pears work really nice in this cake also.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENU & RECIPE LINKS week 47 of 2021

Be sure to join us for Happy Homemaker Monday and link up
with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

Can you believe we are half way through November already? And that Thanksgiving is only 10 days away? Have you bought your turkey yet? On that same line of thinking we’re only 40 days from Christmas. This year sure seems to be FLYING by!

Yesterday was gorgeous and today we’re back to 100% chance of rain. The pond that was near barren just 6 weeks ago has been refilled. There was also a rock slide last Friday from all of last week’s rain that blocked the highway a few miles from our house. I believe that is supposed to reopen later today, but now they’re sating Tuesday. They originally estimate 5-600 cubic yards of debris to remove so they could repair the road. Last I heard it was now over 7,000 cubic yards so it is taking more time.

PICTURE OF SLIDE ON THIS LINK

The rest of this week is supposed to be much cooler and quite wet which is fine by me since I’ll be home and inside working.

I’d like to say last week’s appointment with the chronic care manger went well, but it didn’t even happen… I got to the receptionist to check in and was told the chronic care manager is no longer with the practice and they’ll get back to me when they get a new one. They didn’t even call to tell me the appointment had been canceled! I cannot tell you how infuriated I am with this particular medical practice.

They did get me in with the nurse practitioner o Friday and she ordered my monitor and set into works the specialty referrals I need to go back to the endocrinologist and dermatologist.

I also have a last appointment with my primary care doctor that I love and is the one leaving. I’m hoping to find out what practice she’s going to and see about transferring even though it means it’s 65 miles away. Sometimes small town living is bad… when it comes to not enough decent medical.

So once again I’m having hot water and peach yogurt while waiting for new referrals and monitors to be ordered. The delicate balance between reactive hypoglycemia and dumping syndrome is like walking a tightrope as you move through your day – EVERY day 24/7 and it is absolutely exhausting!

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING I’m half way through deep cleaning the ledges and everything on them in the living room cathedral ceiling area. Whose bright idea was it to do those stupid decorative ledges? Probably some man that didn’t have to think about cleaning them! I’ll spend the week finishing the baseboards and cleaning door jambs and windows so I’ll be ready for the carpet cleaners next Monday.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS Hubby has a blood donation later today and I’ll drop him off and pick up the few groceries I need for the week. I have a blood draw on Friday, but no other errands as of now.
  • PAPERWORK & PHONE CALLS Most things are on hold this week as I do the physical labor to get ready for next week. I’ll concentrate more on this category next week.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING Everything is planned through November and I’m working on some new recipes for December and a cookie exchange I’ll be participating in.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • We’re “ALMOST” caught up on everything that was on the DVR during our trip and have been trying to watch all the new episodes as appropriate.

I’ve been reading some seasonal recipe magazines and tagging the recipes I’d like to make this winter. I also started a new series called Five Island Cove by Jessie Newton, but haven’t really gotten far enough into it to say whether I like it or not. Book number one is ‘The Lighthouse’.

I’ve also been reading up on the power of comfort food. I found a few Scandinavian recipes I plan to make over the winter. They say these recipes will brighten dark days 😀 Recipes like, Apple and Cinnamon Cake, Norwegian Cream Buns, Auntie Inga’s ‘Kladdaka’ aka sticky chocolate cake and Kanelbullar aka real cinnamon buns.

I’d really like to know the history, (no pun intended) of this billboard off the highway near where we live.

with the links to last week’s posted recipes, featured party links for the week and upcoming recipes to be posted soon.
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
DINNER
PAN SEARED CHICKEN with MASHED POTATOES & BUTTERMILK POBLANO GRAVY
LOADED HASH BROWN POTATO SOUP
ONE POT CHEESEBURGER PASTA
COMPANY CHICKEN & BROCCOLI SUN DRIED TOMATO RISOTTO
GRILLED PIMIENTO CHEESE SANDWICHES and BOOZY CREAM OF TOMATO SOUP
HONEY ORANGE PORK CHOPS and RICE PILAF
CAST IRON MEATLOAF and BAKED POTATOES
DESSERT
APPLE PEAR CAKE

We updated the Thanksgiving menu a bit – just decided there was too much food on it so we simplified to our favorite recipes. 😀

  • GRAN’S APPLE CAKE aka HARVEST CAKE
  • PORK BELLY & CARAMELIZED PEARS