Where did the year go?

Somehow I lost an entire year of blogging and don't know where it has gone! I have missed checking in with all my blog friends and hope to be up and active now.

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and a year filled with many joys and blessings.

Merry Christmas!

May you be blessed this Christmas week.

Our family is rejoicing the good news of Isaiah9:6,

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called Wonderful Counselor,

Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. "

Tuesday Tutorial

Over at Oops I Craft My Pants Off is a tutorial for yes, Modge Podge shoes! What a great idea to customize a pair of plain slippers especially if you are having a difficult time finding the perfect pair for an outfit. These are adult shoes but think of all the fun ideas for little girls!

http://oopsicraftmypants.blogspot.com/2009/09/mod-podge-monday-shoes.html

Anyone there? Recipe Monday

I have been so out of touch the last two months and I feel I have lost all contact with the cyber world. Fall is always a hard time for me physically. I have asthma and allergies and my worst time is when the leaves start falling on the ground. Mold sets in and I start wheezing and coughing and getting congested. And then my immune system lowers and I catch anything that is going around. Right now, I have the old typical cold. But enough about that...I am happy to be back and plan to keep this blog current. :)

We tried a casserole recipe last week that can only be described as solid, comfort food. Which is perfect for cold winter nights. We all enjoyed it with a garden salad. I did try and make it in a lower fat version.

Hamburger Casserole

2 lbs. ground beef (I used very lean)
5 medium potatoes
1 large onion, chopped
2 cans cream of mushroom soup (I used low-fat, low-sodium)
1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese

Peel the potatoes, cut in to small pieces and boil until nearly done. Cook onion and meat until brown. Drain off excess fat. In a 9 x 13" sprayed casserole dish, layer potatoes and then meat. Spread the mushroom soup on top of the meat mixture. Sprinkle cheese on top. I used a tad more cheese and I do not use low-fat cheese. Cook 30 minutes in a 300 degree oven or until cheese is melted and casserole is bubbly.

This is great served with a side of green beans or peas or a garden salad and some crusty bread.

30 Days of Christmas

Over at How does she...there is a running daily post for quick, easy and inexpensive Christmas gifts for neighbors or casual friends. Some would definitely be a great teacher or hostess gift. Go http://www.howdoesshe.com/category/decorate-for-the-seasons/christmas/30-neighbor-christmas-gifts-ideas/to to check them all out.

A Date With Dad

Our daughter, a junior at College of Charleston, was inducted in to Psi Chi. Psi Chi is the National Honor Society of Psychology. It has a pretty strict policy for induction and our daughter made it! Yes, I am proud. The night of the induction she was allowed one guest and she chose her daddy. An excellent choice I might add! We are both so proud of all Hanna's hard work.

Hanna and Stan at Hanna's room before the induction ceremony.

Hanna after the ceremony.

Recipe Monday late

My friend, Tamara, has a wonderful recipe for Cheddar Olive Balls. They are quite delicious and are an easy-to-take dinner party appetizer. I have even thought, if you are not an olive fan, you could substitute a pecan half in place of the olive.

Cheddar Olive Balls

2 cups sharp shredded cheddar
1 stick butter, room temperature
1/2 cup flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. paprika
dash cayenne pepper
40 green olives (pimento stuffed)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In large mixing bowl, mix cheddar and butter until creamy. Add flour, salt, paprika and cayenne. Blend well. Using heaping teaspoons of dough, surround each olive with a ball of dough. Bake 13-15 minutes or until golden brown. It helps if the olives are dry.