Audrey - The Other House Princess

Just a random post, I don't have much to write about today so I wanted to share a couple of then and now photos of my German Shepherd puppy Audrey. I can't believe she was once so little and now she is so big I forget that she is still a puppy. I've had my gripes with this dog but I'm learning to be patient. The more she grows the more loyal and loving she becomes. Any guesses as to why I named her Audrey? :)

Decking The Halls

I managed to get a few ornaments on my main tree today and wanted to share a few favorites...

One of my first White House Ornaments. My sister started the tradition in the 90's and my mom used to give one every year after. I haven't received one since my mom's passing but may start the tradition again.

Ornament commemorating my son's First Christmas.

My favorite White House ornament.

Ornament commemorating my son's birth.

Found this cute little vintage ornament on Ebay. Paris and Poodles!

Ornament commemorating the birth of my millennium baby.

Gotta love Poodles :)

Given to me by my sister to commemorate the birth of my daughter.

Found these 2 cute little Dear Santa ornaments last year in Old Town Spring.

Ornament handmade by my mother.

Another beautiful handmade ornament.

Please excuse the crappy photography. I didn't have time to adjust the lighting. I leave you tonight with an excerpt from my Christmas Joys book by Susan Branch. I love all her little books; she is such a talented artist and what I would give to live in a house like her's on Martha's Vineyard.

Peace,
Ann

Recipe for a Happy Christmas

Fill a house with equal parts of Love, Hope & Peace
Add the joy of children & the strength of older people
Season with the music of laughter & some mistletoe kisses
Warm before a crackling fire & serve with tidings of comfort & joy!

My State of Calm is Blossoming Forth Into Hysteria or Something Like That.

The day started out a little rocky as I really needed a cup of coffee this morning and discovered to my dismay we were out of creamer. To add insult to injury in the midst of cleaning up the Thanksgiving aftermath I had to deal with two very tired, uncooperative, staying up too late the night before, cranky children and puppies fighting over a treasured bone. Mind you, there are 3 exact bones for each puppy child but there seems to be favoritism toward one bone? Maybe it has more teeth marks or oooey gooey? Who knows?! Needless to say I became a woman on the EDGE. It was not pretty I assure you. So, when the going got too tough, the tough went to Starbucks! My local Starbucks is inside our grocery store so I was able to pick up a few things I needed as well as coffee creamer in preparation for the next meltdown. My grocery store had a new creamer flavor called Vanilla Spiced Rum for the holiday and it is delectable. It's amazing how the little things can salvage a little bit of your sanity and allow you to keep going without missing a beat. I managed to get 2 Christmas trees up; one with lights and one without and organized my outside decorations. Hopefully if the weather cooperates tomorrow and cools off enough to put me in the Christmas mood I will tackle the exterior lights.

Alas, after refereeing 3 human child and 4 puppy child fights; the children (and puppies) are nestled in their beds sound asleep. I am finally able to gather my thoughts in the serenity of quiet, glance over at the sparkling Christmas tree (without ornaments), surf the internet with reckless abandon and turn on the TV to watch any show I want that doesn't involve action, violence or Spongebob! Life is good :)

Peace,
Ann

Christmas Favorites

I admit, I used to be an HGTV addict but lately not so much because I don't think their shows are as good as they once were. I do however love their Christmas shows and today kicks off the Christmas programming. i will be watching while decking the halls. My favorite is the White House Christmas. It is extraordinary the amount of work and detail that goes into decorating the White House. I would love to volunteer to do it one year but I'm sure there is a long list of people waiting in line for the privilege. What an honor it must be! The show doesn't air until December 17th but you can bet I will be tuned in!

Full Plates & Football

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope everyone had an enjoyable day with family and lots of good food. As usual I made enough food to feed an army! The upside is I won't have to cook for a couple of days! My menu consisted of sauteed wild mushrooms with spinach, stuffing with sausage (veggie sausage and no one suspected a thing!), green bean casserole, turkey and ham for the family carnivores and Tofurkey for me and the kids, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, potatoes gratin, wild rice and last but not least pumpkin & apple pies. My favorite dish was probably the mushrooms and spinach. Most of the recipes I found on Food Network or Epicurious.



Sauteed Wild Mushrooms with Spinach

• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1/4 cup minced shallots
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 cups mixed wild mushrooms (any combination of shiitake, porcini, chanterelle, oyster, portobello, and cremini)
• 3 tablespoons dry sherry wine
• 1 1/2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
• 2 (10-ounce) bags fresh spinach

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add shallots and garlic and saute 1 minute. Add mushrooms and cook 3 to 5 minutes, until mushrooms are tender. Add sherry and soy sauce and bring to a simmer. Add spinach (add spinach in batches if necessary), and simmer 1 to 2 minutes, until spinach wilts, turning frequently.

Ultimate Potato Gratin

• 1 head savoy cabbage, cored, cleaned, and shredded
• 1 (2-inch) piece slab bacon, thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for greasing the gratin dish
• 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 1/2 bunch fresh chives, finely chopped to 1/4 cup
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 pounds baking potatoes, unpeeled and thinly sliced (about 1/8-inch), see Cook's note*
• 2 1/2 cups heavy cream
• 2 cups grated Parmesan

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Finely shred the cabbage. Cut the bacon into 1/2-inch chunks. Place a small skillet over medium-low heat and fry the bacon, until crisp. Remove from pan with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Set aside.

Add 1 tablespoon butter to bacon fat in frying pan. When it has melted add 1/2 the garlic and give it a quick stir with a wooden spoon to soften. Add the cabbage and coat it with the butter. Slowly let it wilt. Add the bacon. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Remove from heat and add most of the chives, reserving a little for the garnish.

Generously butter the bottom and sides of an ovenproof casserole dish.

In a large bowl, combine the potatoes, 1 1/2 cups of cream, 1 cup of Parmesan, and the remaining garlic, Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Using your hands, place a layer of potatoes in the casserole dish. Sprinkle with Parmesan and repeat with 2 more layers. Spoon the cabbage mixture on top and spread it out evenly over the potatoes. Top it off with 2 more layers of potato and Parmesan. Pour the remaining 1cup cream over the dish. Sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan.

Cover dish with aluminum foil. Bake for 1 hour. Remove foil and bake for 30 minutes until golden brown. Leave for 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh chives.

Wild Rice with Dried Cranberries and Apples

• 4 cups water
• 1 cup wild rice
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 pound crusty white bread, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (6 cups)
• 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, plus 2 tablespoons melted unsalted butter or reserved fat from turkey
• 2 cups diced (1/3 inch) onion
• 2 cups diced (1/3 inch) celery
• 2 cups diced (1/3 inch) apple
• 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh sage or 1 1/2 teaspoons dried, crumbled
• 2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh marjoram or 1/2 teaspoon dried, crumbled
• 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh thyme or 1/4 teaspoon dried, crumbled
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 cup dried cranberries (5 ounces)
• 1 cup turkey stock or chicken broth

Bring water to a boil in a 2-quart heavy saucepan, then add rice and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Reduce heat to low and cook, covered, until rice is tender and most grains are split open, 1 to 1 1/4 hours (not all liquid will be absorbed). Drain well in a colander and spread out in a baking pan to cool completely.

Put oven rack in upper third of oven and preheat oven to 350°F.

Spread bread cubes in a shallow baking pan and bake in upper third of oven until dry, about 20 minutes.

Melt 1 stick butter in a large nonstick skillet over moderate heat, then cook onion and celery, stirring, until softened, about 8 minutes. Add apple and cook, stirring, until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in herbs, pepper, and remaining teaspoon salt and cook, stirring, 2 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl and toss with rice, bread, and dried cranberries.

Increase oven temperature to 450°F and butter a shallow 3-quart baking dish (13 by 9 inches).

Spread stuffing evenly in baking dish and drizzle with turkey stock and melted butter. Bake, covered tightly with foil, in upper third of oven until heated through, about 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake until top is browned, 10 to 15 minutes more.

NOTE: I omitted stuffing and added pine nuts. I also used vegetable broth instead of turkey or chicken broth.

I originally thought I was going Black Friday shopping tomorrow but decided instead to surf the internet for deals and start Christmas decorating. 27 days until Christmas! YIKES!

Until next time...
Peace & Love,

Ann

Traditions

Warning: This will most likely be a rambling post :)

Sometimes I think too much and probably too hard on myself. I strive for perfection but end up failing miserably when I can't live up to all the expectations and goals I set for myself. I've learned a lot the past few years to let go of those expectations and allow things to happen at will. There are many things you are unable to control in this life and we tend to beat ourselves up too much. When did life get so complicated? As kids in my generation we didn't have all the modern luxuries we have now and I truly think we were happier as a society. Life was simple and cherished. I try to set traditions that I hope my children will remember fondly when they get older. I think children really do love those simple moments with family reading a book, playing a board game, drinking hot chocolate by the fireplace, hanging a favorite ornament on the Christmas tree or just snuggling and talking about silly things. These are the memories they will take with them through their adult lives; not the latest trendy toy wrapped under the tree. I think in this economy we as a nation are having to make adjustments and starting to realize what we thought was important really wasn't after all. Priorities are shifting and people are simplifying their lives more.

Realizing this I've tried to shift more time away from TV and more time devoted to reading. Reading has become a favorite holiday tradition in our home as we are a family of book lovers. The teachers at our school encourage reading everyday as it is proven to make children more receptive to learning. I think they are on to something and I'm sure I am one of Scholastic books best customers! This year's book of choice (pictured above and purchased through Amazon) is A Little House Christmas Treasury. It is based on the Little House on the Prairie series. I always read the books as a child and was pleasantly surprised when my kids started enjoying Laura's adventures.

So, I hope my thoughts and ramblings didn't cause too many yawns. I am ecstatic to get a four day weekend, headed to the office tomorrow for a few hours and hope to get in one last post before Thanksgiving. Until then...

Peace & Love,
Ann

Look!

A bit of Autumn in Texas! I caught a glimpse of these gorgeous little trees in my neighborhood on my way home from work today. Grant it we are behind the northeast and it is not as pronounced but a little bit of Autumn nonetheless. It is a good day! :)

Dinner, Crocheting & A Movie

Doesn't he look thrilled? Poor thing, I woke him to model his sweater I made tonight in between dinner and watching Shrek with the kids. That's the beauty of crocheting, you can make progress really fast. The picture is not the best because I took it with my cell phone but the colors are blue and white. I didn't have a pattern and just used my judgment for the sizing and leg openings. I want to make a red one for Christmas and used this one for a practice run. He may not be too happy now interrupting his beauty sleep but I bet he will appreciate it when the weather gets a bit cooler.

Speaking of cooler weather, a cold front is moving into this part of Texas tonight so we should be in for Autumn like weather over the weekend. If I'm lucky I might just be able to sip a cup of tea in front of the fireplace.

Rain Rain Go Away

Despite the horrid weather outside, it's a bit cozy inside. Won't you step inside and see what I've been cooking up...



I adore these little pumpkin cakes. I have a mini bundt cake pan from Nordic Ware that I use and they turn out so pretty. The recipe in the picture above is from Country Living.

Pumpkin Spice Cake

From Country Living
This recipe has been tested by Country Living

We all know the pleasures of mixing pumpkin purée with eggs, cream, and sugar for the requisite seasonal pies, but don't overlook the joy of presenting a spectacular new dessert like our Pumpkin Spice Cake. Layers of cake cushioned with Pumpkin Cream-Cheese Frosting create a lasting impression even before you take the first bite. One taste of this moist cake and creamy icing, and the traditional pumpkin pie may have to make room on the sideboard for a new holiday favorite.

INGREDIENTS

3/4 cup(s)	(1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup(s)	firmly packed dark brown sugar
1 cup(s)	sugar
3 large	eggs
1 cup(s)	pumpkin purée
1/2 cup(s)	buttermilk
1 teaspoon(s)	pure vanilla extract
2 cup(s)	all-purpose flour
2 teaspoon(s)	baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoon(s)	ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon(s)	baking soda
1/2 teaspoon(s)	fresh-ground nutmeg
1	recipe Pumpkin Cream-Cheese Frosting

DIRECTIONS

1. Prepare cake pans: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly coat three 8-inch cake pans with softened butter. Cut three 8-inch circles out of parchment paper and fit them into the bottom of the cake pans. Lightly coat the paper circles with butter and set aside.
2. Make the batter: Cream butter until smooth in a large bowl with an electric mixer set on medium speed. Add the sugars and mix until smooth. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition, until the mixture is smooth and light. Set aside. Combine the pumpkin purée, buttermilk, and vanilla in a medium bowl and set aside. Combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, and nutmeg in a large bowl and set aside. In thirds, alternately add the flour mixture and buttermilk mixture to the butter mixture, blending well after each addition until smooth.
3. Bake the cake: Pour batter into the prepared pans and bake until a toothpick inserted into the middle of each cake comes out clean -- 35 to 40 minutes. Cool the cakes in the pan on wire racks for 30 minutes. Remove cakes from pans and return to the wire racks until completely cool.

I also love this scarf! It definitely has Autumn written all over it! It was in an email I received today from LionBrand yarn. I think I have to add this one to my LONG craft to-do list.

Gobble Gobble GULP!

Right as I was browsing through my latest issue of Vegetarian Times today I was informed we are receiving a "free" turkey for Thanksgiving. Wonderful. What's a non animal eating person going to do with a turkey? UGH. Everyone thinks I'm crazy when I tell them I won't be cooking a turkey for Thanksgiving this year. What will you eat they ask? Oh but they just don't know the abundance of goodies that don't involve our animal friends. Perhaps a pumpkin or butternut squash soup for starters. Or a stuffed squash with wild rice accompanied by a salad and smorgasbord of other veggie dishes. Or, this dish with a side of wine glazed brussel sprouts and cranberry chutney.

CRANBERRY-PEAR WILD RICE STUFFING 8 or more servings Wild rice adds a wonderful texture to this stuffing, and the slight sweetness of dried cranberries lends a delicious flavor. This is an ideal stuffing for winter squashes, and used that way makes for a dazzling holiday main dish.

• 2 1/2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth, or 2 1/2 cups water with 1 vegetable bouillon cube
• 2/3 cup raw wild rice
• 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium red onion, chopped
• 1 large celery stalk, diced
• 2 medium firm pears (such as bosc), cored and diced
• 4 cups finely diced whole grain bread
• 1/3 cup dried cranberries
• 1/4 cup finely chopped pecans or walnuts
• 2 teaspoons salt-free seasoning (like Spike or Mrs. Dash)
• 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme, to taste
• Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
• 1/2 cup apple or pear juice, or as needed

Bring the broth to a simmer in a small saucepan. Stir in the wild rice, then cover and simmer gently until the water is absorbed, about 35 minutes. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Heat the oil in a medium-sized skillet. Add the onion and saute until translucent. Add the celery and sauté over medium heat until both are golden. Combine the onion-celery mixture with the cooked wild rice and all the remaining ingredients except the apple juice in a mixing bowl. Stir well to combine. Drizzle the apple juice in slowly, stirring all the while, until the mixture is evenly moistened. Transfer the mixture to a lightly oiled, large shallow baking dish. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the top begins to get slightly crusty. NOTE: Whirl slices and chunks of whole-grain bread in a food processor until fine. This is a good way to use up ends and slightly dated pieces of bread.

The possibilities are endless and who likes turkey anyway? As I recall, turkey is probably the only meat part of Thanksgiving and for most of my life I usually skipped over it and went straight for the side dishes. Besides, it's better to save room for yummy dessert! So, Adopt A Turkey instead of eating one :)

Gotta Have

I picked up the December issue of Country Living today and had to share these cute little knit ballet slippers listed in the marketplace section.



I think I might have to have one of each! :)

Tea Time

Just had to share my latest tea obsession...

Holiday Tea - Candy Cane Lane®

What could be better than the delectable taste of an old-fashioned candy cane? Candy Cane Lane is an irresistible blend of peppermint, creamy vanilla and a dash of cinnamon and sweet blackberry leaves. Best of all, it's made with antioxidant-rich decaffeinated green tea, so you can enjoy health and flavor this holiday season.

About the Tea

100% Natural
This product contains all-natural ingredients and flavors, and no artificial colors or preservatives.

Ingredients: Peppermint leaves, decaffeinated green tea, orange peel, natural vanilla and mint flavors with other natural flavors, cinnamon, milk thistle, blackberry leaves, roasted carob, roasted chicory and vanilla bean.

Gluten free.

This product is naturally caffeine free.

Fredericksburg Continued....

As you can see Christmas is alive and well in this tiny Texas town.


The picture doesn't do this little creation justice.


Definitely a craft idea!


Pink trees with cupcakes seemed to be a trend.


A spot of tea anyone?


Loved this distressed table.


Vintage Halloween


The perfect color for my kitchen island


This would be lovely in my house :)


Visions of red.


These dolls were adorable and I regret not purchasing one.


A hodge podge of loveliness



A Victorian Christmas house


Splashes of Autumn


Hello Mr. Snowman, would you like to come home with me?


Another craft idea!


There is the pink again, very retro.


A pink Christmas tree would not be complete without a vintage pink tricycle!


And so the conclusion of eye candy :(

Trekking Through Texas

Two posts in one day! I had to share pictures of my recent trip to Fredericksburg, TX. It is a quaint little German town nestled in the hill country of Texas. A place where time sort of stood still. I have to admit the shops were a bit pricey but window shopping was eye candy!


A little bit of Autumn on a shop patio.


Main Street in Fredericksburg on a clear beautiful day.


Look at all the wine!


Getting ready for wine tasting. Choices, choices...



Wine and cheese tasting. Look at the lavender on the table. They grow this in the hill country.



Look at the pretty table all decorated for Fall.



A little beachy/shabby chic. I believe this had a price tag of around $1,500 YIKES!


Little jars of preserves made by Country Living Magazine. Tea anyone?



All decorated for Christmas. Look how pretty the embellished boxes are.


In the Christmas spirit yet?



Loved the green ornaments and the apothecary jar. The shops were loaded with great decorating ideas.

Stayed tuned for part II coming soon to a blog near you :)