by Jena on December 24, 2010
art credit
Merry Christmas to you! I sure hope that your holiday is rich in love, warm and cozy, and a day of celebration. I am including the a few lines from one of my favorite Christmas songs. Enjoy and God bless!
Oh Holy Night
O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour’s birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!
by Jena on December 7, 2010
As I opened my plethora of Christmas decor boxes and tried to decide where to begin decorating the other day, I realized that much of what I have is a tad outdated. Sometimes I think that is fine, as with some of the treasures I have kept from my own childhood that are proudly displayed each year. But other times I think some things just need to be taken for a little trip to the donation shop or even to the trash bin, if they are truly past their prime. As with any type of decorating, a little editing and fine-tuning can’t hurt! The great thing about updating your decor these days is that a few simple and inexpensive items can easily give your home a very current look.
In the spirit of updating in a somewhat frugal manner, here are a few ideas I think are swell:
photo credit
I can never get enough of the look of simple ornaments in a bowl. The addition of fresh greenery in this shot earns it a little extra credit. This is genius because you probably already have a zillion extra ornaments hanging around, and if not you can pick up a box fairly cheaply. The pine cuttings can come from your own Christmas tree, or perhaps you can charm a friend into sharing some cuttings with you.
image from Good Housekeeping
Who doesn’t love candles and candy? This is lovely to behold and tasty…..all at the same time! My grandmother always has a version of this during Christmas and it is a favorite of mine now just as much as when I used to sneak candies from her display when I was a child. I think it’s great that you can re-purpose a tray and candles you probably already have and just add some colorful sweets to create such an amazing look.
image from kidspot
Who doesn’t have access to a branch and some Christmas cards? I am loving this! I think you would need to display just a few of your Christmas cards this way in order for it to be an effective display. Too many would just look busy. This is so sweet and the little red birds are the perfect pop of color.
I’m off to make my house more merry!
by Jena on November 11, 2010
“When eating bamboo sprouts, remember the man who planted them.” – Chinese Proverb
Thank you, veterans past and present and all of those still serving our great country!
by Jena on November 11, 2010
Word of the day:
discombobulate, verb – to upset, disconcert, or confuse
Our dog ran through the bedroom and discombobulated all of the freshly folded sheets which were stacked on the bed.
This word is one of my favorites because it is so fun to say. Dis-com-bob-u-late…..see? Fun! Plus, as a little bonus, it is easy to spell being that is completely phonetic.
The president appears a little discombobulated in this photo.
by Jena on November 10, 2010
I love using my slow cooker all year, but it really earns its keep during the chillier months. It’s so comforting to come home to a warm and delicious meal that is already prepared and just waiting to be enjoyed! The downside, if there is one, to most slow cooker recipes, is that they usually involve opening congealed cans and cream-of-something soup and dumping all the ingredients in unceremoniously. I have a few of these types of recipes in my rotation, but they aren’t exactly cuisine, are they? I have purchased numerous slow cooker cookbooks in the past, and most have been a big disappointment. I wanted my trusty slow cooker to be employed for loftier purposes and I finally met a cookbook that could help me achieve that little culinary dream: Not Your Mother’s Slow Cooker Cookbook
by Beth Hensperger and Julie Kaufmann.
I have yet to work through the entire cookbook, but what I have tried has been quite impressive. The recipes call for healthy and non-processed ingredients, and many require prep-work that traditional slow cooker recipes may not. I do not consider this a big drawback, but some may. One thing I do see as a big bummer in this volume is the lack of photos. In a prefect world, I’d like to see each recipe teamed up with a lovely photo of the dish in all its completed glory.
Some of the recipes I found to be yummy include:
- Tuscan White Bean Soup
- Hungarian Beef Stew with Paprika and Marjoram
- Carrot Soup with Honey and Nutmeg
- Parmesan Risotto (Seriously, in a slow cooker! Isn’t that amazing?)
I am very excited to try the Braised Beef in Espresso, which the authors have offered on their website as a “free recipe”. (Sadly, not free from fat and calories but rather from having to buy the book for this particular recipe. Whatever….)
Braised Beef In Espresso
3 pounds beef stew meat, such as boneless chuck, trimmed of fat, cut into 1 1/2-inch chunks, and blotted dry
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Pinch of salt
Pinch of freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 medium-size onions, chopped
3 carrots, cut diagonally into 2-inch chunks
4 new red or white potatoes, diced
6 small turnips, peeled and quartered
1 cup strong coffee
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 cup dry red wine
Instructions
- In a zippered-top plastic bag or a bowl, toss the beef with the flour, salt, and pepper, shaking off the excess. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, warm 1 1/2 tablespoons of the oil until very hot. Add half the beef and brown on all sides, about 5 minutes. Transfer to the slow cooker. Repeat with the remaining oil and beef.
- Add the onions to the skillet and cook, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes. Transfer to the cooker and add the carrots, potatoes, and turnips. Add the coffee and thyme to the cooker. Pour the wine into the skillet and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly and scraping up any browned bits stuck to the pan. Pour into the cooker and stir. Cover and cook on LOW until the meat is tender, 7 to 8 hours. Taste for salt and pepper, and serve.
I am thinking this would make a lovely gift for the upcoming holidays. Maybe even a really nice gift if paired with a brand new slow cooker. Or I may be out of touch with what most folks would enjoy because I personally collect cookbooks the way others might collect Lladro or Hummel figurines. One can never have enough, no? You can get a copy here.
