a NEW type of gift “basket”

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tingiftbasket

I wanted to show you a VERY clever idea!  This is a gift “basket” which my husband received from some co-workers at Christmas-time.  Sometimes baskets are just as expensive as the items you put into a gift basket, right?  So I thought this was a GREAT NEW idea!  The silver ribbon coordinates really well with the tin-foil and obviously the “basket” didn’t cost much $$!  I’m going steal this idea soon!  The items inside where sugar waffle-cone bowls, ice cream toppings and sprinkles etc.  The tag said, ‘Just Add Ice Cream”.  Clever! I love it!

Variations on a ROLL theme

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uncooked cinnamon rolls

Hi all!  You know, when I make rolls…see recipe in previous post (you’ll want to…because it’s a GREAT recipe!), I typically make rolls and bread sticks, or rolls and cinnamon rolls, or rolls and monkey bread etc.   Over the weekend I made this batch.  I added raisins to my cinnamon rolls, and when my sister came over, she was THRILLED!  She mentioned that she loves raisins and hardly anyone puts raisins in cinnamon rolls anymore!  On the other hand, one of my sons wouldn’t touch them because of the raisins.  YOU JUST CAN’T PLEASE EVERYONE ALL OF THE TIME!!! Right?

What is your preference? (I’m taking a non-scientific poll)  Raisins -OR- No Raisins?

Also, I wanted to let you know of a variation for bread sticks.  I usually sprinkle this on my bread sticks:

saladsupreme

Yup!  McCormick’s Salad Supreme!  Who knew it would be so yummy on bread!  Here’s a pic of my last batch:

breadsticks

The seasoning makes the bread sticks more colorful and adds a yummy flavor.  Try a NEW variation with your rolls next time you bake!  Have a great day!  (And don’t forget to comment and let me know whether you prefer raisins or no raisins! )

Gift Giving – a skill to cultivate this NEW year

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gift

I’ve added a NEW goal to my long list of goals!  I recently had a birthday, and I decided I want to be more like my dear friend Jill.  She is a MASTER gift giver!  She is so thoughtful, and I want to cultivate that characteristic in myself!  For years, she has always remembered by birthday….always given me sweet, thoughtful gifts.  I want to be JUST.LIKE.HER!!!   She is just as busy as anyone else I know…yet she must make it a priority in her life to be a kind, loving person and show that kindness by being a master gift giver!

Like any skill or habit I try to cultivate, I typically first research ideas on the internet….so that’s what I’ve been doing today.  So, of course, I thought I’d share a few links with you.  The first thing I’ve done is install a NEW app on my phone especially for reminding me about the birthdays and other special days of the people I love.  Next, I read a great blog article entitled ‘The Art of Gift Giving’ at Reeve Writes.  Highly recommended!  Good stuff. Another article I found was HERE…basically I think master gift givers are really good listeners  (with good memories too…or else they write down their gift ideas).

I’m excited to cultivate this NEW skill in my life!  Do any of you have any great advice to help me with this endeavor?  I’d love to hear from you!

{photo source}

13 NEW cheese ball recipes for 2013

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cheeseballsHappy NEW Year!!!  We are implementing a NEW tradition from my husband’s side of the family in our home this year.  When my husband was growing up, on New Years Day, (as they lounged around watching football games), his mother had cheese balls and crackers laying out for them.  Well, after my successful cheese ball attempt recently, I thought I’d try more recipes and implement that tradition in our family.  So I’ve been researching recipes and thought I’d share 13 of them with you for the NEW year of 2013!!!

1

Chef In Training

 2

Paula Deen’s Fisher Nutty Bacon Cheese Ball

3

Amanda’s Cookin’

4

Annie’s Eats Lemon Cheesecake Cheese Ball

5

The Whimsical Princess Pepperoni Cheese Ball

6

The Recipe Critic Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball

7

Cinnamon Freud Cheese Ball

8

Tasty Kitchen’s Favorite Cheese Ball

9

Cooking on the Side Cheese Ball Pops

10

Tracy’s Culinary Adventures Bacon Jalapeno Cheese Ball

11

Forkful of Comfort’s Buffalo Chicken Cheese Ball

12

WebMD’s Nutty Pimiento Cheese Ball

13

An Edible Mosaic’s Cheddar Cheese Ball Appetizer

NEW Photo of my week #11

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quail

Cute little quails, right?  Ha!  You know back in Photo of my week #8, where I wondered if I was turning into a whimpy photographer?  Well, it’s official!  I’m whimpy!  This is how I got this capture:  I looked out my window and saw these fellas…so I grabbed my camera, opened the front door (didn’t even step out onto the porch because it was soooo cold)….snapped the photo and promptly shut the door as quickly as possible!  Maybe come spring I’ll actually venture out and not be so whimpy!

Linking at:

Camera Critters Meme

Ni Hao Yall

Simple As That

 

a NEW split pea soup recipe

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peasoup2

Hi all!  So here is pic of the fixin’s of a NEW recipe I’m going to try today.  Split Pea Soup! I’ve never made split pea soup before….mainly because I just remember a watery-green, gross looking soup, which I had no desire to make.  But since I had left-over ham and this recipe at Angela’s Adventures looked so yummy and soooo easy, I’m going to try it!  I’ll add an additional review tomorrow.  We have out-of-town guests staying at our house, so I’m hoping it’ll be a hit.  Again, I’ll let you know.  Have a great Saturday, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

REVIEW:  My house guests liked it!  My husband liked it!  I kind of liked it…it reminded me a little bit of the baby food peas I use to feed my babies :o).  I couldn’t get my teenage boys to touch it.  Overall, I’m glad I tried it.  (I can say I’ve done it now!)  But it probably won’t be a regular recipe of ours.

a NEW tip for your tablescape endeavors

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christmas tablescape

Merry Christmas Eve!  I wasn’t really planning on posting today, because….well, it’s Christmas Eve, and I didn’t think I’d take the time.  But!…as you can see, my table is all set and waiting for dinner to be served.  The hubby is out shoveling snow (for the 2nd or 3rd time today), the boys are involved in a game and so, here I am!

We don’t get the fancy tablecloth and real napkins out too often..because with a house full of boys, well, they really just DON’T CARE!  Yes, the food they care about, but the tablescape, not so much :o)  So I got the fancy Christmas china out today for our traditional Christmas Eve dinner…took a pic of the fancy table…and noticed the  WRINKLED  table-cloth!

wrinkles

Ideally, I’d have taken the time to iron the cloth before I set the table…but (obviously) I didn’t.   It’s then, that I remembered a little trick I saw a very experienced tablescaper perform last year.  We were setting up for a Senior Citizens Christmas brunch last year and after getting the tablecloths out of a bin, and onto the tables, this lady proceeded to spritz all of the tables with a little water from a spray bottle.  It immediately made sense….and I wondered why I’d never thought of this trick or seen anyone else do that!  (Am I the only one this ‘trick’ is NEW to?????)  Ha!   I don’t think I’ll ever really iron a tablecloth ever again….even if I do think about it before I set the table!

spraybottletrickcollage

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

Linking to:

The 36th Avenue

Snowflakes for Sandy Hook Elementary

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snowflakecollageGood morning! I haven’t posted anything about my thoughts and feelings regarding the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary until today, because….well honestly, there were just no words to describe them.  There STILL are no words, but I wanted to share one little (actually, tiny) thing I did to perhaps brighten the days of the children who will be returning to school in January.  You’ve probably all heard of the Snowflake Project for Sandy Hook Elementary, so I quickly made a snowflake garland that I’ll send to Connecticut for their PTA members to put up in the hallways and make it look like a Winter Wonderland.  I served as a PTA President for my son’s school a few years ago, and I’m happy to send my very small contribution to them to help with that project.

I’ve seen multiple addresses where we can send our snowflakes.  If you are interested in sending some and need an address, you can check on Pink Polka Dot Creation’s blog.

Take care, and Happy Holidays to everyone!