SECRET SANTA –

Each year at my office we do a little secret santa thing.   You find little gifts and decorations on your desk each day for a week or so.   On the last day we have a unveiling and pizza party.   My secret Santa gave me the new Rachel Ray cookbook as my final gift@!@@@  Yeah!!

These are some of the other gifts from my secret santa!!!   Tommy loves the Santa mug.  It is his new favorite to drink hot cocoa!

She decorated my cube with printed out recipes from the Food Network!!

Here it is…my home away from home!!   My cube!!  This is the outside of my cube all decorated by my secret santa.  I had a very nice secret santa!

Hello Everyone –

Sorry I have been missing in action.   I haven’t felt like blogging.  I have been hanging out a bit on facebook, etc.   I do have many pictures from the holidays to share later!!!  But for now…..look at the changes in our house from when I went to work, until I came home.

Back Door – Before Work……

After Work…….

The Entryway before work……….

The Entryway after work……. 

New Picture Window….I forgot to take a before pic.  Sorry!!!  

The crew is not done, but they have all the windows and doors installed.  Tomorrow they will return and finish wrapping the outside of the windows and finish the trim in the house.  They will also be putting the glass block windows in the basement.   They should be all done tomorrow. 

So we are almost done with all the remodeling we will be doing.  The only thing left is for the electrician to finish up their work.  I called them this morning and added one more job.  We decided to get recessed lighting put in the living room so we will also have overhead lights in the living room.   They still have work to finish in the garage and some things I want changed in the basement.  The windows and driveway installers were very professional and easy to work with, these electricians are driving me nuts!  

I am trying to be patient as I know in the end it will be very nice.   With everything getting upgraded and looking so nice, now I want to repaint the living room, kitchen and our bedroom.  ARGH!!!  It will never end!  I still am not done with Tommy’s murals either.   I need to get painting, maybe this weekend. 

I hope all is well with you and I will catch up with everyone soon.

Jen C

23^rd

Wed – Christmas Eve

Pizza Dip

Shrimp Cocktail

Oriental Wings

Cheese Sticks

Little Wieners

Thursday – Christmas Day

Crab Legs

Parmesan Potatoes

Veggie

Friday–

Crab Chowder – leftover crab legs!

Rolls

Sat

Ribs

Oven Fies

Veggie

Sun

Meatloaf http://weblog.xanga.com/WVCountryRoads/686043776/our-favorite-meatloaf.html

Mashed Pots/ Veggie

MON-

Ravioli

Tuesday

Turkey Loafs

Baked Rice http://jasmine1931.tripod.com/Cooking/vegs%20&%20sides.htm#BAKED_RICE__

Veggie

Wed

LEFTOVERS

Thursday – Jan 1

http://thematzats.blogspot.com/2008/01/chicken-enchilada-soup.html

Friday – (Grocery)

Creamy Chicken Noodle Bake

 http://confessions-of-a-psychotic-housewife.blogspot.com/2008/06/recipe-creamy-chicken-noodle-bake.html

“Christmas rituals are like anchors in our lives. Doing the same things together, year after year, assures us that even in a changing world, some things never change.”

I can’t tell you how true the above statement is!!   I am very big on traditions with my family.   I honestly don’t remember a whole lot of rituals with my family growing up.  They might have happened, but I don’t remember them.  I am hoping we have had enough consistency with ours that my children remember them when they are older. 

Right now they remember them from year to year and ask for them.   We start with putting up the tree the day after Thanksgiving.   Josh came over and participated in this with us as well.  It is hard having any tradition with him gone.  I think about it and find it so sad.  This is our first Christmas without Josh living under our roof.   I know I am lucky that he lives near and comes to visit frequently, but it is still a noticable difference to me. 

We dig out our Holiday movies and start setting the DVR to record some new ones!  We try to watch a holiday show each night together.  

A great tradition I started about 2 or three years ago after reading about it on Heartwomb’s site is to wrap Christmas books for each night before Christmas as a advent count down.  This is a great tradition and I hope to continue it with my grandkids some day.  

Last night was my annual cookie exchange party.  It was funny as Erik was pretty excited about it.   I think for him it is just the beginning to the holiday parties at our house.  He likes when we have parties.  

On Saturday we will have our family Christmas party.  We counted last night and we will have about 25 people in attendance.  We will have 3 new comers to the party.  We try to have a present for all new guests and children that come to our house.  We usually don’t exchange gifts between the adult siblings.  One year we drew names, but we haven’t been able to coordinate that since.  We always have a Italian theme meal.   Living in a family with aspergers syndrome , we thrive on things always being the same!   But honestly I like it that way too.

Hubby, the children and I have already started talking about what appetizers each person wants for Christmas Eve.   And we will be scouting the price for crab legs for our Christmas Day meal.   Our once a year crab meal!!   I am looking forward to it just thinking about it. 

On Christmas eve we open our presents from each other and attend candlelight service.  We always get new pjs for the children.  Then they wear them to bed so they look nice for pictures on Christmas morning.   I try to buy the boys each a book as well each Christmas. 

Santa does come to our house.  And if you believe in him, he leaves you gifts in your stocking and a family gift under the tree.  Amazingly enough everyone in my house believes in Santa.  Christmas day is spent at home enjoying our new gifts together!  We usually have brunch and an early crab supper. 

What memories/traditions do you have in your home???

Argh, I truly am not a morning person.  I am suppose to be at church by 7:00 to help set up the school fundraiser that starts at 7:30.  It is about 6:20 and I am starting to come to life.   I need to jump into the shower and get ready.   I am setting up the bake sale and will work the tuition bucks table until about 10:30.  Then I will go to church and come home.

Today I plan on staying home.  I do have to make the cookies and food for my cookie exchange tomorrow night.   I forgot to call everyone to tell them how many cookies to make.  ARGH!!   I will have to do that today, plus I will see some people at church this morning as well.   Then the rest of the week should be easy.  All my Christmas gifts are made and ready.  I don’t have any extra gifts this year so I hope no more unannounced people are coming to my house for Christmas.  I suppose I should at least have a box of candy on hand just in case.   My houe is always open to anyone for Christmas and my neices and nephews frequently bring significant others or friends.   We should have a hosue full this year.   So our big family celebration will be on the saturday before Christmas and the week of Christmas will be quite family time with our children.   I reall do like it that way.

Later!!!  Hope you have a wonderful day!!!

Jen C

I made four kinds of chex mix to be given as Christmas Gifts.   I am giving many of my nephews a movie rental card and a bag with four kinds of chex mix.   I made the following kinds:

These look like fun to make.  I think I will try and make them with Tommy on the week I am home with him for Christmas.  

http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Snowman-Treats?pmcode=QC8C1VH13M&_mid=10800&_rid=10800.9800.54754

I can’t believe it, I am getting sick.  ARGH.   I have absolutely no time to be sick.   Once I make it through this week, it will be an easy month.  Last week wasn’t anything too exciting.  I worked 40 hours in 4 days and took Friday off.   I went to volunteer in Tommy’s school on Friday.  I sorted papers for the kids to take home and hung up some new projects in the hall.   Then the Kindergarten and 1st Grade classes made holiday house.  I would call them gingerbread houses, but there was no gingerbread involved.   The house was made out of rice crispy bars and decorated with frosting and candy.   I helped with the houses and then headed home to clean up a bit before my dentist appointment later that afternoon.

The weekend went fine.  Friday night we watched the new Chronicles of Narnia movie.  It was good, but a bit too scary for Tommy.  While watching the movie I made my shopping list and menu.   Saturday we went to Sams and grocer y shopping.   Once Steve got home from work we went to the library and then to visit my in-laws and take them a poinsettia.  We drove around a bit and looked at holiday lights on the way home.   Josh came over on Saturday night and highlighted my hair.  

Sunday we skipped church again!  Argh…bad, bad.  I cooked up the hamburger and chicken we had bought.  Then I packed up my clothes and things and headed to Duluth for work.   I took the material for Tommy’s blanket with me.   It was a terrible drive to Duluth.  It was snowing and the visibility at times was not good.  I took hubby’s truck so I just took it nice and slow.  I had no trouble but shortly after I got on the freeway a car next to me spun out.   I hit my breaks and they swung in a circle in front of me and hit the median.   I hit the shoulder and missed having them hit me.  I was freaking out!!   I calmed down and they walk back to where they were.   Another woman and I were just missed.   The car stopped when it hit the median.  It was driven by 3 teenagers.  They had called for someone to come and were ok.   Once i was sure they were fine, I continued on to Duluth.   It took me a bit longer than usual to get to Duluth, but if you drive slow it was fine.  Every car I passed in the ditch was driven my teens or very young drivers.  

I checked in my room in Duluth and ordered some food.  Once I ate, I fell asleep.   I could tell I was starting to get sick and really need the rest.  I woke up later that evening and started working on Tommy’s blanket.  I had found some really cool pirate fleece.   I stayed up late and finished the blanket.  Now all my gifts are done, except for some chex mix I want to make.  

This week is crazy!!   As always I volunteered for a few too many things.  But what can I say,  I like to help.  I need to bake 20 dozen cookies by Friday.  I also need to bake a few loaves of mini berry bread.   I am the volunteer coordinator for the Holiday Cookie Sale for Tommy’s school.   I have all the shifts filled for selling the cookies, but I also volunteered to bake cookies.  So I have to have all the cookies done by Friday.  I have tomorrow off as Erik has a school assessment meeting in the morning and his CADI worker will be coming in the afternoon. So once home I will be baking for the afternoon.  I will put a roast in the roasting oven and get busy baking. 

A Glance At Jen’s Week:

MONDAY – Jen coming home from Duluth

TUESDAY – Off of work – Baking Cookies

WEDNESDAY – Working

THURSDAY – OFF – Baking Cookies – Jen has a Dr. Appointment – Tommy’s School Christmas Program

FRIDAY – Packaging cookies at the school

SATURDAY  – Wrapping Party at Work for my Project Christmas Wish

Wish me luck in all my baking adventures.   I can’t believe I am getting a cold when I have so much to do.  Isn’t that always how it goes!!!!

Menu December 6^th – December 21^st

6^th – Homemade Chicken Soup x 2 (Rotisserie Chickens to the Rescue Cookbook Pg 99) and Grilled Cheese

7^th – Chili x 2 (sour cream and Cheese/ green Onions)

http://jasmine1931.tripod.com/Cooking/crockpot.htm#VERSATILE_SLOW-COOKER_CHILI _

8^th  – Dad Cooking –

9^th     Crock – 

Chicken and Wild Rice Soup with Mushrooms

Yield: 6 Servings **If you would like to substitute the canned mushroom soup for a healthier version, check out this site:http://www.menus4moms.com/kitchen/weeklymenu/notes.php#creamsoup

2 cups chicken, shredded                                    2 1/2 cans cream of mushroom soup**

2 cans chicken broth*                                          1 cup milk

1 onion, chopped & sauteed (from freezer)     1/4 cup cooking sherry (optional)

1/2 cup wild rice blend                                         Adobo seasoning

8 oz sliced mushrooms                                        4 tbsp flour

2 tbsp butter

Combine first 4 ingredients in slow cooker on high. Sauté mushrooms in butter until tender. Add to slow cooker. Once soup is hot, add cream of mushroom soup, stirring until well blended. Season to taste with Adobo. Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6-8 hours. One hour before serving, mix flour with 1/3 cup hot water until dissolved and add to soup to thicken. 30 minutes before serving, add milk and sherry. Per Serving: 373 Cal (35%

10^th   Fast – Wed – Slow Cooked Pot Roast, Mashed Pots and Carrots

Slowcooked Roast

1 (10 lb) Roast, cheap cut is fine

1 (10 oz) can cream of mushroom soup or homemade equivalent

1 large onion, sliced

Place roast in a roasting pan. Spread soup on top of roast and place onion on top. Cover tightly with foil. Bake at 250 degrees for one hour and then turn oven down to 225 degrees and cook all day (8-10 hours) or until cooked through. Serve 1/3rd of the roast tonight and save the rest for dinner on Thursday and Friday.

11^th    -School Prog – Thurs – BBQ Beef Sand, Cole Slaw

BBQ Beef Sandwiches

1/3rd of the beef roast cooked yesterday 1 bottle bbq sauce 6 hoagie rolls

Add all ingredients except rolls into a slow cooker, set on low and allow to cook 8-10 hours or until done. As it cooks shred meat with a fork. Serve on hoagie rolls.

12^th   Off – Cookie Day – FRIDAY – Beef, Bean and Cheese Burritos

Beef, Bean, and Cheese Burritos

Last 3rd of the roast

1 package taco seasoning

Water

1 can refried beans or homemade equivalent

2 C. shredded cheddar cheese

6 burrito size flour tortillas

Place meat in a saucepan, add taco seasoning then cover with water. Bring to a boil, then turn down and simmer about 5 minutes, stirring often and shredding meat as it warms. For serving if there is any liquid left in the meat drain it off. Heat refried beans while meat is cooking. When everything is warmed assemble as burritos.

13^th   – Wrapping Party – Appetizer   *******

14^th   – Selling Cookies – Honey Glazed Chicken Drumsticks Mashed Potatoes

Honey Glazed Chicken Drumsticks

12 chicken drumsticks 1/2 C. honey 2 cloves garlic, minced fine 1/2 C. soy sauce 4 Tbsp. vegetable oil Remove skin from chicken and cut off all fat. Combine sauce, honey, oil and garlic. Coat chicken pieces. Refrigerate for 2 hours to marinate. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line pan with foil. Place chicken on foil and bake 25-45 minutes or until cooked through.

15^th     Cookie Party – Appetizers  *****   Frozen Pizza*

16^th   – Mom Cooking – 2^nd – Chops and Rice (ranch)

http://thematzats.blogspot.com/2008/11/creamy-ranch-pork-chops.html

17^th   -Wed – –  Grilled Cheese and Chicken Noodle Soup

18^th     – Book Group – Dad Cooks – Tater Tot Hot Dish

19^th   – Friday – Rochester – Pizza

20^th   – Coymas – 7 Layer Salad

21^st   – Sell Cookies – Mom Cooks – – Chili x 2 (sour cream and Cheese/ green Onions)

http://jasmine1931.tripod.com/Cooking/crockpot.htm#VERSATILE_SLOW-COOKER_CHILI _

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Recipes to try next week

Chopped Chicken:  http://confessions-of-a-psychotic-housewife.blogspot.com/2008/06/recipe-creamy-chicken-noodle-bake.html

http://thematzats.blogspot.com/2008/01/chicken-enchilada-soup.html

http://artisanrecipes.blogspot.com/2008/11/chicken-and-rice-casserole.html

Whole Chicken-

http://artisanrecipes.blogspot.com/2008/10/bbs-chicken-and-dumplins.html

Pork Chops:

http://thematzats.blogspot.com/2007/12/yes-its-another-new-one-for-me-this.html

http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Pork-Chops-Over-Rice

Prok Ribs

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/BBQ-Pork-for-Sandwiches/Detail.aspx?prop31=3