::: Menu Plan Monday :::

Christmas Day is a sweet and lingering memory now, but the celebrating and playing continue on here in Mid Coast Maine. We've been quite busy enjoying the season and the same is true for this week. Which means that our menu plan is a little bit all over the place. You've just gotta love this time of year ...


Some Breakfast Staples:

• Homemade Granola with yogurt
• Morning Glory Muffins
• Krusteaz Coffee Cake and fruit salad
• Homemade Strawberry Jam and Everyday Bread
• Holiday Gingerbread Muffins


Some Lunchtime, Dinner and Party Fare:

Monday: Breakfast For Dinner

Tuesday: -- Lunchtime Play Date -- Homemade Pizza with Veggies and Dip

Wednesday: -- One Last Christmas Party -- Peppermint Bark

Thursday: -- New Year's Eve -- Buffalo Chicken Ranch Dip and Cranberry Salsa

Friday: Crock Pot Italian Wedding Soup (new recipe!) and Honey Wheat Outback Bread

Saturday: No Fuss Night

Sunday: Chicken Potato Bake and Squash-Apple Bake

::: For more menu inspiration, click here :::

May your days be merry ...

... and bright enough to need shades.

Wishing you all a wondrous, memorable, and very Merry Christmas! I'll be back when all of the merriment and merry-making is but a memory ...

Another Nebraska-Style Christmas Surprise

Although this week is often one of the busiest of the year with all of its preparations and planning, it's also one of the sweetest. Especially when an early Christmas surprise from far away arrives at the door. Just when it's needed most.

Kindra gifted us all with such wonderful handmades and goodies. Some to enjoy now and some to savor all winter long. As many of you know, she is an especially sweet, talented, kind, and big-hearted lady.











And so amid all of the hustle and bustle, we enjoyed the gift of sweet surprises and friendship ... all the way from Nebraska. Thank you, Kindra!

And a very Merry Christmas to one and all...

Christmas Week Memory Making and a Sugar Cookie Secret Weapon

Well, friends, we're in full-on Christmas mode now for sure!

Today's happy distraction was a cookie decorating afternoon with friends, thanks, in part, to my trusty sugar cookie secret weapon. Oh, how I love a good shortcut! Especially three days before Christmas -- when the elves are restless and in need of some good, old-fashioned memory making fun. A good -- and sugary -- time was had by all ... just in time to fill a plate for Santa.

I hope you're finding time for some sweet Christmas Week memory making fun as well...

::: Menu Plan Monday :::

Christmas week is here! Can you believe it? Is your shopping done? Are you cards mailed? Are you ready?

We're in pretty good shape here, though I have had to let a few things go this year to save my sanity. We've got a few more treats to make, a few more movies to watch, and one more cookie day to enjoy with friends before we dive headlong into our many little Christmas celebrations with family and friends. The excitement (and exhaustion!) is building.


Which brings me to my first-ever Menu Plan Monday. Here's what's on our list this week. I hope you'll find something new and tasty to try...


Some Breakfast Staples:

• Homemade Granola with yogurt
• Autumn Oatmeal
• Pumpkin-Butterscotch Muffins
• Homemade Strawberry Jam and Everyday Bread
• Cranberry Banana Bread


Our Dinner/Christmastime Menus:

• Monday: Creamy Chicken with noodles and carrots
• Tuesday: Make-Your-Own Pizza Night
• Wednesday: Chicken Divan with rice
• Thursday: Christmas Eve Dinner --> Seafood Lasagna, Romano's Macaroni Grill Rosemary Bread, garden salad
• Friday: Christmas Day Brunch --> Homemade Cinnamon Rolls, Ham & Cheddar Breakfast Bake, fruit salad
• Saturday: Chocolate Crinkles for a family gathering
• Sunday: Candy Cane Fudge for another family gathering

::: If you'd like to see some other inspiring menus, check here :::

If I'm not back before the big day, I hope you will all have a wonderfully merry and memorable Christmas. Enjoy your many blessings and know that I so appreciate your visits here, whenever you have time to stop by. If you're visiting for the very first time, I sure hope you'll be back!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

::: Homemade Holidays :::

Welcome to the final installment of our Homemade Holidays Recipe Swap! Come join the fun... and let the recipe swapping begin!

(I plan to continue hosting a weekly recipe swap here every Friday after the holidays are over. We'll just have to come up with a new name for all of this food-related fun...)



Well, friends, the countdown to Christmas is most definitely on ... at least at my house. Todd and the kids will officially start their Christmas vacations this afternoon (yikes!) and we're all gearing up for a good many long-awaited Christmastime festivities and activities. We're also hoping that the waiting doesn't get the best of some (or all) of us. And we're trying to plan enough simple fun to make the next week easy-going and enjoyable. Because, as we all know, the waiting is so very hard to do, especially when you're five, eight, or two.


And since Christmas is such a hot topic this week, I thought I'd share the main dish that will be making its way to our table on Christmas Eve:

::: Seafood Lasagna :::
(based on a recipe from Recipezaar)

1/2 cup butter, plus 2-3T for cooking seafood
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1/2 cup flour
1/2 tsp. salt
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups milk
2 cups chicken broth
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 T basil
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
15 uncooked lasagna noodles
1 cup cottage cheese
1/2-3/4 cup each: bay scallops and shrimp, cut into bite-sized pieces
2 cans crab meat (reserve juice for cooking seafood)
1/3 cup white wine
1/2 cup Parmesan

Melt 2-3T butter in a large saucepan. Sauté onion until softened and then cook shrimp and scallops in some of the reserved crab meat juice for just a few minutes. Mix with crab meat and set aside in a medium-sized bowl.

Melt remaining butter in the same sauce pan. Add garlic and stir in flour and salt. Cook, stirring constantly, until bubbly. Remove from heat. Stir in milk, broth, wine, and any crab meat juice that may be left. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil for one minute. Add mozzarella, basil, and pepper. Cook on low until cheese is melted, stirring constantly.

Spread 1 1/2 cups sauce in the bottom of an ungreased 9x13 pan. Top with enough uncooked lasagna noodles to cover bottom of baking dish, overlapping as needed. Spread cottage cheese on top of noodles. Top with another 1 1/2 cups sauce and five more noodles. Spread seafood over this layer and top with another 1 1/2 cups sauce. Cover with the last five noodles and remaining sauce. Top with 1/2 cup grated Parmesan. Bake uncovered at 350º for 45 minutes. Allow to rest 15 minutes before cutting.

Have a wonderful It's-Almost-Christmas weekend!

Whatcha Working on Wednesday and a Sweet Surprise

Happy Whatcha Working on Wednesday, friends!

Though Christmas baking has been my most pressing project of late, I have managed to finish up a few craftier items as well. Many of them have been shipped off to friends and family for the holidays, but a few little reminders remain for us to enjoy here at home:

::: Some whimsical gingerbread men made using this recipe :::

::: And some smaller gingers made using this recipe for Cinnamon Salt Dough :::

And then there's today's project: Twenty-one salt dough stocking ornaments for Connor's class Christmas party on Friday. (Because he asked so nicely.) The kids were asked to bring in twenty-one small items for the class gift bags. That way, everyone goes home with the same thing. And, as he so earnestly pointed out, "Ornaments are on the list, Mumma. And everyone believes. And ornaments are better than stickers or pencils. Especially at Christmas." I melted immediately, as you can see:

Don't forget to check in with Leslie for more Watcha Working on Wednesday fun.

And now for the sweet surprise ...

Sarah/All Roads Lead Home sent me the most wonderful package today! What a thrill it was to find a little surprise waiting for me beside the mailbox:



As some of you may know, Sarah recently made a bunch of salt dough bowl fillers using this tutorial I shared before the holidays. Well, she sent me a sweet selection of her handmades, along with more Christmas-themed cookie cutters to play and create with. (I am especially excited about that Santa cookie cutter!) And she made my day. No doubt about it.







Thanks again, Sarah, for warming my heart today. As you can see, I am already enjoying your festive creations ... right here in the kitchen:

Thanks, as always, for stopping by, my dears. I'll be back on Friday for one last installment of our Homemade Holidays Recipe Swap. After that we'll have to come up with something else to call our weekly Friday fun....

A Tisket a Tasket ... It's Christmas in a Basket

Well, friends, I'm positive that we are all largely in the same boat these days. I've been up to my eyeballs in baking and making this last week ... and that trend is still going strong. Which is a wonderful, crazy, and enjoyable kind of chaos, especially with such little (and eager) helpers around. Everything is getting done, often in five to ten minute stretches, in between and among the everyday busyness. And set to Christmas music.

Todd and the kids will be on vacation once the bell rings Friday afternoon, so there have been a lot of food and food gift requests coming my way. Here's a little peek at what Todd brought into school today for his Math Department colleagues ... just in case you're in need of a little easy-to-make food gift basket inspiration:

And here are the cast of characters, complete with links to my recipes:

Pumpkin-Ribbon Bread**
Ranch Dip Crackers
Pretzel Treats
Candy Cane Fudge
Chai Tea Mix

{**Makes five 3x5 mini loaves that bake for about 45 minutes.}



::: What do you like to include on your food gift-giving roster this time of year??? :::

Thanks, as always, for making some time for a little visit. I hope to be back soon with more Christmas decorating photos. In the meantime, enjoy the magic and beauty of the season if you can. Especially if you have little ones underfoot...

::: Homemade Holidays :::

Welcome to another installment of our Homemade Holidays Recipe Swap! Come join the fun... and let the recipe swapping begin!

Though it's true that Wednesday's snow day derailed my original plans big time, the good news is that I was able to try out a new recipe. And so ... if you're wondering what to do with all of that leftover eggnog, wonder no more! This new-to-us recipe was definitely a huge hit at our house. The kids especially enjoyed it. I hope you will too...

::: Christmas Eggnog Bread :::

(based on a recipe from Recipezaar)

1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 large egg
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 1/2 cups eggnog (I used the light version)
1 tsp. vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 T baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 --1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1 cup dried cranberries

Beat sugar and egg in a large mixing bowl. Stir in melted butter. Add eggnog and vanilla. Mix well. Sift flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg over the eggnog mixture. Stir until moistened. Gently fold in dried cranberries. Pour batter into greased 9x9x3 loaf pan. Bake at 350º for 60-70 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool before eating.

(click here for printable recipe)


::: This post has also been linked to the Grocery Cart Challenge Recipe Swap :::

As always, I hope you'll have a wonderful weekend, my friends...

We're getting ready to host our annual mini Christmas with some dear friends tomorrow afternoon. Which is always a lovely way to jump start the holiday season. Food, friends, festivity, and fun. It doesn't get much better than that, does it?

Here's hoping you'll have some of that in your neck of the woods this weekend as well...

Olde Fashioned Christmas Swap Goodies

Happy Monday, friends! I hope everyone had a lovely and festive weekend...

As you can see, Christmas came just a little bit early here in Mid Coast Maine. At least for me. My Olde Fashioned Swap goodies from Lottie (Sweetpea's Primitives) arrived on Friday ... and what a treat they were! All of them.

It truly felt (and smelled!) like Christmas morning as I opened each and every lovingly wrapped package to find all of these wonderful treasures and treats:

I am so pleased with everything ... and it's all slowly finding a new holiday home:

Thanks again, Lottie, for such a fabulous treasure trove of Christmastime goodness!

If you'd like to take a peek at the goodies I made and sent, just click here ... and make sure to leave Lottie a little love while you're there. She's a real sweetheart. No doubt about it.

And now I'm off to tackle more totes and Christmastime decorating. I'll see you all back here on Wednesday! Thanks, as always, for stopping by...

::: Homemade Holidays :::

Welcome to another installment of our Homemade Holidays Recipe Swap! Come join the fun... and let the recipe swapping begin!

Are there any peppermint and/or white chocolate lovers out there? If so, then this week's recipes are for you! After all ... what's not to like?

::: Peppermint Bark :::
(based on a recipe from Recipezaar)

12 oz. chocolate chips
1 lb. white chocolate chips
1/2 tsp. peppermint extract
1/2 cup peppermint candy, crushed


Preheat oven to 250. Line a 9x13 pan with foil, letting it hang over the sides. Spray foil with Pam.

Pour chocolate chips in an even layer on top of foil. Place in oven for 5 minutes or until almost melted. Remove from oven, smooth with spatula or knife and place in refrigerator until cold and firm, about 20 minutes.

Melt white chocolate chips in a double boiler or in a metal bowl over simmering water until chocolate is almost melted. Remove bowl and stir until chocolate is completely melted. Stir in extract. Allow to cool a bit (so it doesn’t melt the hardened chocolate layer). Pour white chocolate on top of the first chocolate layer, and, working quickly, spread to cover. Sprinkle with crushed candy.

Chill until both layers are firm. Lift foil out of pan and shake off excess candy. Trim edges. Cut into 2” wide strips. Peel bark from foil and cut each strip as desired. Chill in covered container. Makes about 2 pounds.

::: Candy Cane Fudge :::
(based on a recipe from Recipezaar)

2 (10 oz.) packages white chocolate chips
14 oz. sweetened condensed milk
3/4-1 tsp. peppermint extract
1 1/2 cups finely-crushed candy canes
red food coloring


Line an 8x8-inch square baking pan with aluminum foil. Lightly coat the bottom of foil with butter.

In a medium sized saucepan, combine the chips and the sweetened condensed milk. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the chips are melted.

Remove pan from the heat and continue to stir.When chips are completely melted, stir in peppermint extract and crushed candy canes.

Spread the fudge mixture evenly in the bottom of the prepared baking pan.

Dot the top of fudge with several drops of food coloring. With a butter knife, cut through the fudge and food coloring, making a swirling pattern throughout.

Chill for 2 hours. Remove fudge from the baking pan by lifting the foil from both ends. Transfer fudge to cutting board, and cut into 1-inch squares.

(click here for printable recipes)

Have a wonderful weekend!

Whatcha Working on Wednesday: Christmas-Style

Well, friends ... it's beginning to look at least a little bit like Christmas around here. (What a lovely feeling!) I still have a ways to go yet, but I thought I'd share just a peek or two with you all today. I'll share the rest some time soon ... or at least soonish. You know how it is.

I have to say that decorating with a two-year-old underfoot is an interesting adventure. Brendan was very effusive with the "oohs" and "aahhhs" and he must have uttered the phrase "Wow! Dat's nice, Mumma! Like it!" at least a dozen times yesterday. Which totally makes up for the fact that I tripped over him (and his ever-present stool) at least that many times as well. He's just so into the twinkle and sparkle this year ... which is such fun.



Here's my one little project for the week: a gingerbread Christmas tree -- complete with a small strand of rag-tied lights that I finally finished up yesterday. Now all it needs is a home ... near an outlet. Decisions. Decisions.

And now for a peek at the rest of Christmastime so far. Enjoy! And thanks, as always, for making time to stop by... I love having you all here!