Wishing you all the peace and joy  of this beautiful season.

We thank all who have reviewed our recipes and blog during the year.  It has been a delight to put each newsletter together and a challenge as to what will be the next recipe and topic.

,Time out for a vacation week.

My apologizes for not have anything out the last 2 weeks.  We went on a week vacation to Texas; it was a good train trip from Chicago to Mineola, Texas and back home.  The fun event when traveling by train is meeting different dinner companions assigned to sit with you at each meal.  It is like opening a Christmas present to discover new and interesting  people to become part of your  world.

I, the cook and designer of this blog fell down and fractured my sternum.  Other than “OUCH!!” get up and  keep going, there was not much else to do.  After getting home, some resting,  there was some teaching cookbookinabox partner, husband, how to cook for us. He did a fantastic Slow Cooker  Beef Pot Roast with Vegetables.  I did get an orange jello salad together.  There isn’t much to prepare on celery and carrots and Cinnamon Apple Sauce for dessert.

 

 

A time for Birthday Celebration too.

Birthday Celebration for my husband rated his favorite Netta Belle’s Choice ®Chocolate Cake. No candles, didn’t want to set off the fire alarms.

That went pretty well, so the next day I made the Butternut Squash, Chicken and Pecan Tart. I can’t even use my own recipes without making some changes; I used ham cubes instead of chicken and a Honey Crisp apple.  I baked the squash first, but did not bake it long enough, so baking the tart took much longer to get the squash tender. 

Menu ideas for the Holidays ahead.

Now I am thinking what to have for the holidays of Christmas and New Years.  It has been a tradition to have Potato and Crab Meat Soup on Christmas eve and fruit salad and crusty French Bread.

One of our favorite Christmas menus have been: Cornish Hens, risotto, Brussels Sprouts with Sesame Seeds, Cranberry Orange Salad, Hot Dinner Rolls, American Apple Pie with Vanilla Ice Cream.  We like a nice white wine with dinner and a nibble of Skillet Chocolate Fudge.  A few  years ago we had pan fried lamb chops with herb pan sauce, acorn squash filled with butter and brown sugar, Stir-Fried Cauliflower, cranberry, apple, cherry jello salad, Sweet Whole Wheat Bread and pumpkin pie. Check out the Holiday Menu 104 for another celebratory suggestion.

What traditions have you started with your Christmas meals and festivities?  Starting out as a new couple, usually it is bringing traditions from each extended family and the desire to make your own traditions.  Then the children come and soon you have many ideas you want to carry over each year:  food, decorations, family dinners, friends visiting and the joy and excitement of the Christmas, Hanukkah or your special holiday celebrations.

Wishing you and your loved ones many moments to warm your heart and home through the holidays.  Blessings into the New Year, 2016.

 

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