Holiday Appetizers

If you are having lots of company for New Years or if you are in need of an appetizer to bring to a get together here is a list of some super yummy (and mostly super easy) appetizers.

Buffalo Chicken Dip

Greek Layered Dip with Pita Crisps

Creamy Crab & Artichoke Dip

Crescent Wrapped Brie

Meatballs with BBQ Sauce

Cheesy Spinach & Artichoke Dip

Sausage Pinwheels

Crab Puffs

Five-Layer Mexican Dip

Hot Crab Crostini

Shrimp Deviled Eggs

Crab & Shrimp Dip

Layered Italian Dip

Smoked Salmon Tarts

Beer Cheese Triangles with Zesty Cheese Sauce

Taco Dip

Maryland Crab Dip

For more New Year's Eve munchies, visit Ultimate Recipe Swap at Life as Mom.

January Eat From the Pantry Challenge

During the month of January, I will be joining Money Saving Mom & Life as Mom in an Eat from the Pantry Challenge. I have spent the last couple of months purchasing food at rock bottom prices and stocking my pantry & freezer. Since I meal plan Monday - Sunday, I am going to start the challenge on Monday 1/4/10 and go until Sunday 1/31/10. I will still go to the grocery store but my only purchases will be dairy, eggs & produce. I am going to limit my grocery shopping to once a week with a budget of $10.00 a week. We will still plan a few dinners out and my son's birthday is in January so we will probably make a few exceptions for that. I have never done this before so I am a little nervous. Over the next couple of days I am going to take inventory of my pantry and plan all of our meals for the month. Check back this weekend for a detailed list of breakfast, lunch & dinner meals for the month including lots of recipe links. I will still post my usual Menu Plan Monday each week during January.

Merry Christmas!

For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be upon his shoulders. And he shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

Christmas Eve

It is snowing outside right now and the wind is howling. Connor is sleeping, the cat is laying in front of the heat vent and Santa has delivered Christmas presents. We had a wonderful evening with a few changes due to the weather. We decided because of the weather not go to Waffle House for dinner. The Waffle House on Christmas Eve has been a tradition since my husband and I were dating, we ordered pizza instead this year. We had our traditional Birthday party for Jesus and Connor thought it was very fun to have a pizza party this year. We did attend the Candlelight Christmas Eve service at church and of course we had to sprinkle Magic Reindeer Food on the lawn. It is so nice to be home with a hot cup of tea and just enjoying Christmas with my family. Tomorrow will be a fun day of opening presents and playing in the snow. Have a Merry Christmas!

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.

Numbers 6:24-26

Christmas Traditions: A Birthday Party for Jesus

One of our Christmas Eve Traditions is to have a Birthday party for Jesus. This is a great way to help young children understand the true meaning of Christmas. We do not open or exchange gifts on Christmas Eve, we celebrate Jesus' Birthday!




For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16

Merry Christmas!

Here in Kansas City, the weather outside is frightful and it is only going to get worse! Hopefully, we will have a white Christmas. We are at home baking cookies (including the Buckeye Bars pictured above), doing some last minute gift wrapping and listening to Christmas music. I will be taking a blog break for the next couple of days to celebrate Christmas. I will be back on Saturday with the CVS & Walgreens deals for next week. Have a Merry Christmas!!

Our Christmas Dinner Menu

Usually for Christmas we have ham but this year I was out voted and we are having Prime Rib. I think the reason I have avoided having Prime Rib for Christmas is because I have never made Prime Rib before. I found a recipe that seemed simple enough and I purchased a Prime Rib for $5.99/lb. at a local grocery store (Sunfresh). I am very excited to see how it turns out!

Our Christmas 2009 Menu

Prime Rib with Au Jus



Creamy Loaded Mashed Potatoes



Green Bean Casserole



Pumpkin Dinner Rolls



Spiced Orange Cranberry Jell-O



Grasshopper Pie





For more Christmas Food Traditions, visit Ultimate Recipe Swap at Life as Mom.

Frugal Friday: Christmas 2010

Ok, I know we haven't had Christmas 2009 but I am done shopping & baking for Christmas 2009 and so I am starting to think about Christmas 2010. By starting the planning and shopping now, I will save a lot of money and not have the December financial crunch. I start shopping now and buy a little each month to spread out the cost of Christmas. Here are a few of the ways I start planning for Christmas 2010:

• Starting 12/26 the stores will start the mark downs! This is the perfect time to buy decorations, Christmas trees, Christmas lights, nonperishable gift sets, Christmas linens, etc.


• Start shopping thrift stores and garage sales for Christmas plates & cookie tins. I love buying a single Christmas plate (usually $1 or less) at a garage sale and using it to give baked goods. They are real plates that can be reused by the recipient and it is just nicer than a paper plate (and better for the environment).


• Start collecting FREE & cheap stuff from CVS and Walgreens to make into gift baskets next year.


• Shop the thrift stores and garage sales for baskets that can be used as gift baskets next year. My Target price for a basket is $.25-$.50 but always less than $1 (unless it is a really big basket).


• Many non-Christmas items will go on clearance after Christmas. I like to purchase things like PJ sets, perfume sets, blankets, etc. now. These items make great Christmas gifts next year and can also be used for Birthdays during the year.


• Start looking for recipes that would make great baked goods gifts. If you find the recipes now you can practice making them and not worry about major flops in December. Your family will not mind, trust me. My son and husband love it when I "practice" a new recipe because that means that get to eat all of it! You can also start purchasing mason jars or treat bags to package the goodies. Thrift stores and garage sales are great places to find mason jars and treat bags will be on after Christmas clearance.

The only items I don't buy ahead of time are toys because children change their minds so many times during the year and you never know what the HOT toy of 2010 will be. I do look for good deals on pajamas, slippers & stocking stuffers for kids. For all of the adults, I make a list and then during the year when I find the perfect gift I cross the name off the list. This helps to save money and I am not stressed-out in December!

For more frugal ideas, visit Frugal Friday at Life as Mom.

Hot Drink Mix Recipes

Homemade hot drink mixes make a wonderful and thrifty gift. Here are some great recipes for hot drink mixes. Thanks Money Saving Mom !

Vanilla Chai Tea Mix

Fireside Coffee Mix

Spiced Tea Mix

Hot Cocoa Mix

Grasshopper Pie Recipe

This is my absolute favorite dessert! The recipe is from my Grandma Morgan, she would make this pie for me almost every time we came to visit. This is a custard pie, so if you have never made custard it does take a little practice. The key to making custard is to stir it constantly. If you stop stirring it will scorch or become lumpy. I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do!

Grasshopper Pie

Crust:

• 16 finely crushed Oreo Cookies
• 1/2 stick of Butter
  
  

Filling:

• 3/4 cup Sugar
• 3 Tablespoons Cornstarch
• 1 3/4 cup Milk
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 Egg Yolks
• 1/2 teaspoon Mint Extract
• Green Food Coloring
• 1 cup Whipping Cream

To make the crust: Melt the butter and combine with the finely crushed oreos. Gently pat into a pie dish. Bake for 8 minutes at 375 degrees.


To make the filling: In a heavy sauce pan, combine the sugar cornstarch and salt. Stir in 1 1/4 cups milk and cook over medium heat stirring constantly until the mixture thickens and comes to a boil. Boil for 1 minute and then remove from heat. In a small bowl, beat together egg yolks and 1/2 cup milk. Slowly stir this into the hot custard. Return to heat and cook 2 minutes stirring constantly.



Remove from heat and add 1/2 teaspoon of mint extract and a few drops of green food coloring. Cover the custard with a lid or plastic wrap. Add cold water to a large bowl or sink and place the pan with the custard in the cold water to cool (do not let it cool too long or it will be lumpy).




In a bowl beat the whipping cream until fluffy.
Fold the whipped cream into the cooled custard mixture.



Pour the custard into the pie crust and chill for 2-4 hours. Top the pie with whip cream and decorate with sprinkles or add crumbled cookies to the top.



For more Dessert Recipes visit Ultimate Recipe Swap at Life as Mom.

Christmas Tour of Our Home

The Nester is hosting a tour of Christmas Homes this year. You can go here and see all of the bloggers that are paricipating. It is so much fun to see how everyone decorates for Christmas! Here is a glimpse into our home at Christmas.

Merry Christmas!!

Menu Plan Monday 12/14

Monday: Dinner Out!

Tuesday: Mediterranean-Style Chicken & Pasta, Fococcia Bread

Wednesday: Sloppy Joes, Hot German Potato Salad, Corn

Thursday: Crockpot Chicken & Dumplings, Green Beans

Friday: Rubio's Lobster Tacos, Chips & Homemade Salsa

Saturday: Spaghetti & Meatballs, Salad, Soft Italian Bread Sticks

Sunday Lunch: Olive Garden Toscana Soup, Salad, Soft Italian Bread Sticks

Sunday Dinner: Meatball (leftovers from Saturday Dinner) Sandwiches on Tomato Basil Bread, Salad

Breakfast Choices for the Week:

• Crockpot Granola, Yogurt, Fruit




• Pumpkin Bread, Yogurt, Fruit




• Cereal or Oatmeal, Fruit




• Homemade Bagels with Peanut Butter, Gloomy Day Smoothies
  

Frugal Friday: Gifts for Less than $10

Finding nice Christmas gifts for less than $10 is very easy but requires some planning. I start shopping for Christmas on 12/26 the year before. This helps to spread out the cost of Christmas over the year instead of over extending ourselves in December. I look for clearance items, FREEBIES at CVS & Walgreens, coupons for FREE or very cheap products at Bath & Body Works & Yankee Candle and more. I also look for nice and cheap baskets at thrift stores & gargage sales. Baskets are usually priced around $.25-$.50 each. I build-up a stockpile over the year and then in December I use these items to put together gift baskets. You can also personalize the baskets with baked goods, family photos, homemade Christmas ornaments and children's art work. Most of the baskets will end up costing around $5each!

(Sorry there are no pictures of the finished baskets, but many of my friends & family read my blog so I don't want to spoil all of the surprises!)

For more frugal Christmas gifts for under $10 visit Frugal Friday at Life as Mom.

Ultimate Recipe Swap: Easy Crockpot Sunday Roast

My family loves this recipe and it is so easy. Simply, dump all the ingredients in your crockpot and in 6-8 hours you have a delicious roast with gravy. Just add some mashed potatoes or rice & a veggie and you have a complete meal.

Easy Crockpot Sunday Roast

• 1 Roast or 1.5lbs. of Beef Stew Meat


• 1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup


• 1 soup can of water


• 1 packet Dry Onion Soup Mix or 4 Tablespoons Homemade Gourmet Grandmother's Sunday Roast Seasoning

Add all ingredients to Crockpot and cook on low 6-8 hours. Serve with mashed potatoes or rice.

This can be prepared as a Freezer Meal. Add raw meat, soup, water & seasoning to a freezer bag, seal and lay flat in the freezer. To prepare, run warm water on the bag until it breaks into chunks that fit in the crockpot. Cook on low for 6-8 hours.

Baking Day Results

Yesterdays Baking Day was a success. I finished everything on my list!

This is the first time I have ever made Fococcia Bread. This recipe was so simple and the bread is delicious! I will definitely be using this recipe again.

The Tomato Basil Bread also came out wonderful. It tastes just like Panera's. I did make a few modifications. I mixed it in the bread machine on the dough cycle and I baked it in a loaf pan instead of making a round loaf. I can't wait to have a turkey sandwich on this bread for lunch!

Finally, I made Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough. I used the Nestle Tollhouse Recipe. It is still one of my favorites. I have tried other recipes but I always come back to this one. I didn't bake the cookies, I formed the dough into balls and put them on a baking sheet covered with wax paper. Then I put them in the freezer overnight. This morning I put them in a ziploc bag in the freezer. This way, we just bake as many cookies as we want at at time and they are always hot & fresh from the oven.

Baking Day 12/9

I love snowy days! Today we are staying home in our comfy sweat pants & slippers and we are going to do some baking. Here is what is on our list today:

Tomato Basil Bread

Fococcia Bread

Chocolate Chip Cookies

It is definitely Winter in Kansas City!

Here is what it looks like outside in Kansas City today:

Here is what it looks like inside our house in Kansas City today:

Our cat Felix has laid in front of the heat vent all day. When it is on, he lays really close and when it is off he stares at it until it comes back on!

Today is Connor's first official school snow day and he is so excited! We have been having fun staying at home today. I think I will do some baking this afternoon. Check back later and I will post pictures & recipes.

Homemade Bagels as a Gift

I love giving Homemade food gifts. They are consumable, do not clutter your house, you don't have to dust or store them, are enjoyed by everyone including children and they are inexpensive. I think they are also thoughtful and personal because you took the time to make a gift. In the past I have made cookies and breads to give as gifts. This year I have started making Homemade Bagels to give as gifts. Bagels are fun and easy to make and most people are very impressed with Homemade Bagels. I use my bread machine to make the dough and then I boil and bake them. The original recipe is here and includes instructions if you don't have a bread machine. Here is my recipe:

Homemade Bagels

• 2 cups All Purpose Flour
  
• 2 1/2 cups Whole Wheat Flour


• 3 tablespoons White Sugar


• 1 1/2 teaspoons Salt


• 1 2/3 cup warm Water


• 2 tablespoons Butter


• 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
  

1. Mix together the flour, sugar and salt. Add all the ingredients to the Bread Machine pan according to the manufacturers instructions. Set to dough cycle.
   
   


2. Remove dough from Bread Machine when the cycle is complete.




3. Divide dough into 12 pieces. Roll each piece into a log and then connect the ends in a circle.

4. Fill a skillet with 1 inch of water and add 2 teaspoons of salt and 1 teaspoon white sugar. Heat water until it is simmering.

5. Add bagels (4-5 at a time) and cook for 3 minutes. Flip bagels over and cook for another 2 minutes. Flip bagels again and cook for 1 minute.

6. Remove bagels from skillet and place on a towel to drain.

7. Place bagels on a lightly greased baking sheet and bake for 20 -25 minutes at 375 degrees.

For more Food Gift ideas visit Ultimate Recipe Swap at Life as Mom.