Holiday Hor D'euvres

Hello, Friends!

Most of us are entertaining at some point this holiday season. I find it fun to offer a lot of finger foods. Below are some of the ones I will be serving either on Christmas Eve, or on a night of fun finger foods with just my family. They are originally from allrecipes.com.

Artichoke Spinach Dip


4 cloves garlic
1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
1 (14 ounce) can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1 (10 ounce) container Alfredo-style pasta sauce
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Place garlic in a small baking dish. Bake in the preheated oven 20 to 30 minutes, until soft. Remove from heat. When cool enough to touch, squeeze softened garlic from skins.
3. In an 8x8 inch baking dish, spread the roasted garlic, spinach, artichoke hearts, Alfredo-style pasta sauce, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese and cream cheese.
4. Cover and bake in the preheated oven 30 minutes, or until cheeses are melted and bubbly. Serve warm.

Double Tomato Bruschetta

6 roma (plum) tomatoes, chopped
1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, packed in oil
3 cloves minced garlic
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup fresh basil, stems removed
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 French baguette
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Garden Veggie Pizza

1 (8 ounce) package refrigerated crescent rolls
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 (1 ounce) package Ranch-style dressing mix
2 carrots, finely chopped
1/2 cup chopped red bell peppers
1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
1/2 cup fresh broccoli, chopped
1/2 cup chopped green onions

1. Preheat the oven on broiler setting.
2. In a large bowl, combine the roma tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, vinegar, basil, salt, and pepper. Allow the mixture to sit for 10 minutes.
3. Cut the baguette into 3/4-inch slices. On a baking sheet, arrange the baguette slices in a single layer. Broil for 1 to 2 minutes, until slightly brown.
4. Divide the tomato mixture evenly over the baguette slices. Top the slices with mozzarella cheese.
5. Broil for 5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.
6. 1 (8 ounce) package refrigerated crescent rolls
7. 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
8. 1 (1 ounce) package Ranch-style dressing mix
9. 2 carrots, finely chopped
10. 1/2 cup chopped red bell peppers
11. 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
12. 1/2 cup fresh broccoli, chopped
13. 1/2 cup chopped green onions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

1. Roll out crescent rolls onto a large non-stick baking sheet. Stretch and flatten to form a single rectangular shape on the baking sheet. Bake 11 to 13 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden brown. Allow to cool.
2. Place cream cheese in a medium bowl. Mix cream cheese with 1/2 of the ranch dressing mix. Adjust the amount of dressing mix to taste. Spread the mixture over the cooled crust. Arrange carrots, red bell pepper, broccoli and green onions on top. Chill in the refrigerator approximately 1 hour. Cut into bite-size squares to serve.

When Christmas Came Again - A Christmas Story

Friends, I'm still under the weather, but I promised another Christmas story, so here goes...

Frank Hinnant had no use for Christmas, and few of his friends knew why. It had nothing to do with expense. Frank was a wealthy businessman. It had nothing to do with frugality. Frank was generous and gave his employees a large bonus at Christmas.

But whenever his wife Adele suggested Christmas decorations, a tree or exchanging gifts, Frank would mutter brusquely, "Christmas is for children." That was why he'd locked Christmas out of his heart - children.

One brisk December morning last year Frank decided to walk to work. He did that occasionally, and this day as he passed Leeson's department store he noticed a cluster of people outside, looking at the Christmas window displays.

One was a manger scene. Frank looked at the creche: Mary, Joseph and the shepherd in colorful costumes, the donkey, cow and sheep - all were life-size. And there was the Child.

Frank turned away. Then a sign across the street caught his attention. HOLY INNOCENTS HOME - huge golden letters framed the arched doorway of an old brownstone surrounded by a forbidding iron fence. Frank had only half noticed the building before. He stood there staring at the orphanage, remembering something he had learned many years ago. Miss Raymond, his Sunday school teacher, had told them about how King Herod had feared this new Baby Jesus so much that he was determined to destroy Him. So he ordered his men to kill all male children under the age of two in Bethlehem and the surrounding district. Tradition suggests there may have been as many as 20. This Holy Innocent Home had obviously been named after those tiny martyrs.

Frank's mind pictured the grief of their parents. And for the millionth time he remembered the desolation of the day his son David had died. David had been 18 months old. In the 22 years since, Frank had been unable to mention his son's name.

Frank's feet moved across the street toward the sign - slowly at first, then faster.

"You know the bastille of an orphanage across from Leeson's," Frank told Adele that night at dinner. "Really a dungeon, dear, cramped and dismal..." Bit by bit the story emerged.

"It made me realize how little I really know about kids. When I went in, they stood around looking at me as if I were a movie star. I'll never forget this one little boy. He came up and he stood there and stroked the sleeve of my coat."

There was a long pause. Adele looked at him so intently that Frank became embarrassed. But he continued, "You know what I've always said about Christmas, that Christmas is for children?"

"Yes, you've always said that."

"Well, it's about time people started doing something for them. Today I gave that place some money. They're going to build a wing with it. And - and they're going to name the wing for David."

It was the first time in 22 years that Adele had heard Frank mention their only son's name. It made her do something she never did when Frank was around. She wept.

And as Frank held his wife in his arms, he saw again something he had envisioned for the first time that afternoon. He saw a room full of children, 20 of them playing in the a bright new wing at Holy Innocents. Then suddenly as he watched a new boy entered - and now there were 21.

~ Dina Donohue

Love,
Elizabeth

A Family Christmas Dinner

Sunday evening, we had some family over for a Christmas dinner. It was my sister-in-law, Cathy Gibson, and her children: my nephew, Jared, and my three nieces, Emily, Kelly and Rebecca..and the star of the evening, the new grand-niece, Willow Kate.

Here are Emily, the new mom, Cathy, with the grandbaby, and Kelly. Aren't they all beautiful? Rebecca got cut out of this picture. :(

Below is a horrible picture of me, but I'm including it because it's a great one of Kelly. I was actually feeling very sick on Sunday and have been in bed all of today

Here is the new grand-niece, Willow Kate. We all love her to pieces!!!!

Below are Sarah, Mark and Rebecca!

Here is Jared, Emily and Cathy, after food and presents. We were all really tired.
A sleepy, proud uncle and mama.
One last picture of my precious grand-niece, with the new little hat I made for her (Teri, from Joyful Liberation taught me how to knit!! ~ Thanks, Teri!)
Thanks to my wonderful family for coming over.

I should be feeling better tomorrow and will add more recipes and a Christmas story.
Love,
Elizabeth

The Erector Set - A Christmas Story

Like many small brothers we were sworn enemies. I'd ride his bike, he'd touch my train and war was declared.

Christmas was a temporary truce for Herb and me.

Our family celebrated it in Old World fashion - on Christmas Eve. Returning from church services, our parents would usher us through the darkened parlor past the tree, unseen but pungently there, to the kitchen where we'd excitedly wait while dad went out to help Kriss Kringle find our house. The doorbell's ring would signal our burst into the parlor. And there Santa would be in full costume - the tree now aglow and the furniture sagging with uncles, aunts and grandparents.

After Santa heard our lies about being "good boys," we'd plunge into our gifts. For Christmas was for us - its joy measured by what we got.

I was seven the Christmas I'll never forget.

Amid my spoils I came across a clumsily wrapped little package. Unopened in my hand, it already had a strange quality about it. Instinctively I knew it wasn't from my parents.

I turned to my brother; he was watching me.

"It's from me," he said in awe.

Stunned, I slowly opened it.

It was a 25-cent erector set.

Herb had spent all Saturday afternoon picking it out. It represented a half day's work delivering groceries.

His face was aglow with a strange new light of eagerness and concern.

I've long forgotten the other things I got that Christmas Eve. But I'll never forget that little erector set.

For along with it, I'd been given a first vision of God's great gift - that Divine joy which floods the heart of the giver.

~ Richard H. Schneider

Have a wonderful Sabbath...And check back next week for more recipes, stories and sundry thoughts.
Love,
Elizabeth

Look What I Found!

Kelli, at There Is No Place Like Home, is once again hosting Show&Tell Friday. I wonder how many of us will be showcasing Christmas items?...I found this wonderful, huge snowman painting at my favorite thrift store, yesterday. It is hand-painted on an old door!
Aren't they jolly?

This one is carrying a Christmas Tree...
...and here is a snowwoman!

My husband hung my wonderful find over our stairs and it looks very festive and seasonal.

Don't forget to keep checking back. I will be posting more Christmas stories, like this one HERE, as well as seasonal recipes.

Oh! And when you have a free moment, please check my daughter's poetry blog, The World And It's Roses. She has published new poetry!
God bless,
Elizabeth

Dear friends,

Throughout this month, I will be sharing recipes that may be considered for your holiday meals or used anytime. My first recipe this month was shared with me by my friend, Teri, over a Joyful Liberation. It is extremely tasty!

Ingredients
2 packages of chopped broccoli
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1/2 c. mayonnaise
1/4 c. milk
2 eggs
1/4 c. onion
1 heaping c. of grated sharp cheese
1 stick of melted butter
2 slices of bread, torn, for the top.

Steam broccoli. Then, mix first 7 ingredients together. Put in greased casserole dish. Layer bread pieces on top. Drizzle with melted butter. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

Some suggested changes to this recipe is to steam fresh broccoli, which gives the dish an added crispness. And/or add cooked bacon pieces - Ooooh, this is yummy!

Enjoy!
Love,
Elizabeth

Case of the Missing Tree

The manger scene outside St. Aloysius Church in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, wasn't much different from other displays that Christmas Eve some years ago. Life-size figures depicted the Holy Family, and the farm animals bordered the stable. And one especially beautiful pine tree plus a few small trees framed the scene in living green.

On Christmas morning parishioners coming to early Mass stopped at the tableau for a moment. The children especially crowded close to look at the Baby. Suddenly someone out, "What happened to the big tree?"

Sure enough, during the night their beautiful, evergreen tree had disappeared. At first there was consternation, then there was anger. Who would steal a tree from the church?

A parishioner sought out Father Thomas Monahan, St. Aloysius's compassionate pastor, whose constant care of the poor had become a byword, even though he worked in secret. The anger of the people quickly turned to understanding - Father "Toby" had indeed been the culprit.

Late on Christmas Eve, Father Toby had heard of a poor family - not even of his own faith - who had no Christmas tree. The stores were all closed and so he had given the family the big tree from the manger scene - not the smallest or scrawniest but the most beautiful.

The empty space near the manger suddenly because beautiful - representing another gift of love on Christmas Day.

~ Lillian Gardner

May we all look about us for those whom we could similarly bless this Christmas Season.
Love,
Elizabeth

A New Meme

Alexandria has tagged me for a meme.
According to the rules, I have to post six things that make me really happy ... and pass it on to give six more people a reason to be thankful!

So six things that make me happy....

1. Living my faith
2. Visiting Loved Ones
3. Time spent with the children
4. Thrifting and yard saling
5. Writing, blogging
6. Taking long walks in lovely weather and so much more....

I need to choose six other blog friends.....
Cindy
Sandy
Kelli
Kelly
Beth
Annie

God bless,
Elizabeth