CHRISTMAS 2015

[Jolly O'Leary]

For your Christmas viewing pleasure:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93A0D_5yX3g

Thanks. We're spoiled in the USA: NBC has already shown It's A Wonderful LIfe twice and will repeat it Christmas Eve. It is the perfect movie, next to The Nativity, for after candlelight communion. So glad you were able to watch it again.

Well today would be day 5 of the pre Christmas flu so hopefully turning a corner here. The strange thing is that illnesses that would last one week in Texas lasts three weeks at the North Pole. I thought it was just me, but a friend from China said the same thing. Today is cleaning and shopping day. Too much time in bed has reactivated the sciatic nerve in my hip, so we shall see how much I get done. I am thinking of it as pre-cleaning. When I first came to the North Pole, the stores closed at noon on the 23rd and did not reopen until the 27th. You could work retail and still have a life. We try to keep the "tradition " by not shopping during that time even though nowadays they are open some part of each day. In case of dire "emergency" we go to the local Arabic grocery for milk, bread, eggs. It adds to the fun.

[Jolly O'Leary]

For your Christmas viewing pleasure:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93A0D_5yX3g

Thanks. We're spoiled in the USA: NBC has already shown It's A Wonderful LIfe twice and will repeat it Christmas Eve. It is the perfect movie, next to The Nativity, for after candlelight communion. So glad you were able to watch it again.

I have it on DVD somewhere. I have at least 50 Christmas DVD's, YouTube is just convenient since I do most of my watching on the Kitchen computer while I Cook or do dishes. White Christmas is my next Classic I want to Watch.

[Jolly O'Leary]

Having our first peanut butter Christmas this year.

https://www.majestymusic.com/promotiona ... drama.html

I highly recommend that for adults and kids alike. It's great fun. December 23rd is considered "Little christmas eve" in Sweden because the family gathers to put up the tree and have a pre-celebration. Well, if Perky puts up the Swedish tree (which I doubt this year as he has continued to work while being sick), it takes all of 20 minutes, plus I never know what to Cook since we don't really want to get into the party food and most restaurants are closed (found that out the hard way two years ago). So, when we Heard Peanut Butter Christmas, we said "perfect". It might not be as barebones as the CD version but here is what I Think we will have:

http://www.smuckers.com/recipes/pbj-with-banana-8494
served with celery and peanut butter "ants on a log" which Perky had for the first time a few weeks ago.

That smuckers site has some great snack ideas too. Swedes don't understand PB & J but Perky was asking about the "Elvis" sandwich, and we only have raisin bread at Christmas (we freeze a loaf for Christmas in July) so it is a perfect 'Peanut Butter Christmas sandwich. We have some frozen peanut butter cups, not sure how well they will unfreeze, but we shall see. It's light, Quick, does not require the oven which might be needed to Cook the Christmas ham. I Think I see a new tradition here. It beats Seinfeld and the Festivus meatloaf. ;-)

[Jolly O'Leary]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1c1BPykxgeE

For your Christmas listening pleasure:

I just noticed we passed 3000 Woohoo!

[Jolly O'Leary]

Jolly a cousiin of mine found what she believes to be the original fudge recipe my Dad used to make! Now there were two copies and slightly altered by hand. It is not my Dad's scribble but one of his brothers. I am sharing it with you as you mentioned last year, and this year again, that you too loved your father's fudge. If I remember correctly he told you the recipe was on a 'tin'. And we both remarked how they would 'beat' the fudge mixture for 10 plus minutes. DH is going to try it before Christmas. Enjoy!

Old Fashioned Fudge

1/2 Cup Cocoa
4 Tablespoons butter
2 Cups white sugar
1 Cup milk
1 Teaspoon Vanilla

Grease or waxpaper an 8x8 inch square baking pan. Set aside.

Combine sugar, cocoa and milk in a medium saucepan. Stir to blend, then bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce heat and simmer. Do not stir again.
Place candy thermometer in pan and cook until temperature reaches 238 degrees F(114 degrees C). If you are not using a thermometer, then cook until a drop of this mixture in a cup of cold water forms a soft ball. Feel the ball with your fingers to make sure it is the right consistency. It should flatten when pressed between your fingers.
Remove from heat. Add butter or margarine and vanilla extract. Beat with a wooden spoon until the fudge loses its sheen. 8-10 Minutes. Do not under beat.

pour into pan and set on window ledge until completely cooled. Cut with warm knife.

Thanks, Saved into a Word document for future study. Maybe we will make some next year in Texas for Christmas. I remember the thermometer, but not the beating, but then my parents kitchen was not the "hang out" type family kitchen some people have.

[Jolly O'Leary]

My family has also reduced the formality here in Arizona. For one thing it has been as hot as 87F on Christmas Day! Christmas Eve, or Easter, is like my Sunday attire: slacks, blouse, dress shoes, earrings -- and a vest in a colder winter like this year. My attire is always a Christmas top and earrings. If we are going to my sister's house we dress casual in jeans/slacks, christmas sweatshirt or teeshirt, tennies. There will be big dogs to play with and more than a few stray cat hairs to bring home with us!

I had to Think back. When I was growing up my grandparents were the hosts. The Church we Went to did not have extra services in those Days (but they never cancelled either!) So we only Went to Church ON Christmas Eve or Christmas Day if they fell on a Sunday and then they were considered very "inconvenient". My grandparents worse something other than their weekday clothes but not necessarily "dressed up". Adults wore informal clothes. As kids we sometimes dressed up because you outgrow your clothes so fast at that age and they Always look better in the Christmas pics. When we were in TExas for Thanksgiving last year, I put on a Brown peasant skirt and top on Thanksgiving and my aunt said "Why are you dressed up?" "Because it's thanksgiving". "That just mean's a wear a nicer top". Families, gotta love them. Then again, in San Antonio all you need are jeans, your Spurs t shirt and black tennis shoes and you are "dressed". The only other family christmas I have personally experienced Before Sweden was the ex's and they were a mix. His parents, the usual hosts were dressed decently, but not well since they were the Cooks, etc. His brother's family was dressed up because they had been to Church Christmas Day. Swedes usually try to wear something red, but I want to save my nice red blouse in case we go to Church Christmas Day.

[Jolly O'Leary]

Well my Christmas melt away cheese rounds have turned into one big nice hard Christmas baseball..............hm........something Went wrong there.

Tomorrow's experiments are the Dr Pepper ham glaze and pimento and cheese with White cheddar and hand chopped pickled paprikas. Reconsidering the carrot raisin salad.

[Jolly O'Leary]

I should change my tag line to cooking at the North Pole is one Christmas adventure after another.

[Noel+]

For your Christmas viewing pleasure:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93A0D_5yX3g

Thanks. We're spoiled in the USA: NBC has already shown It's A Wonderful LIfe twice and will repeat it Christmas Eve. It is the perfect movie, next to The Nativity, for after candlelight communion. So glad you were able to watch it again.

I have it on DVD somewhere. I have at least 50 Christmas DVD's, YouTube is just convenient since I do most of my watching on the Kitchen computer while I Cook or do dishes. White Christmas is my next Classic I want to Watch.

Classic Christmas movies are my favorite!

[Noel+]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1c1BPykxgeE

For your Christmas listening pleasure:

I just noticed we passed 3000 Woohoo!

You almost missed the beet Christmas news before the 23rd!

[Noel+]

I should change my tag line to cooking at the North Pole is one Christmas adventure after another.

That happens to most of us when ill Jolly. That tag line would be borrowed more than once.

[Jolly O'Leary]

I should change my tag line to cooking at the North Pole is one Christmas adventure after another.

That happens to most of us when ill Jolly. That tag line would be borrowed more than once.

After 2 hours the baseball thawed enough to be pliable. Never had that problem in Texas. My butter, flour, cheese ratio maybe off..........converting recipes is Always a Christmas challenge. If they do turn out decent. I might try a second batch with poppy seeds.

[Jolly O'Leary]

Christmas cheese melts a success after all! Woohoo! Lunch then a second batch with poppy seed.

[Jolly O'Leary]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkHoXvCrn4g

It's not Christmas but it's Beautiful.

[Jolly O'Leary]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0cVsXgnvFw

Never Heard of this Rankin Bass Christmas special.

[Noel+]

Christmas cheese melts a success after all! Woohoo! Lunch then a second batch with poppy seed.

You go Christmas girl baker!

[Noel+]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0cVsXgnvFw

Never Heard of this Rankin Bass Christmas special.

Oh wow Jolly. I haven't seen this special in decades. Thanks.

[CandyKane]

A closer Christmas village view.

Your Christmas village is awesome Kiwi. I love how it's not all level. More realistic that way.

[CandyKane]

I got the neatest Christmas present. A Rachel Ray red stoneware egg holder. It looks fabulous in the refrigerator holding my farm fresh eggs.

[Noel+]

I got the neatest Christmas present. A Rachel Ray red stoneware egg holder. It looks fabulous in the refrigerator holding my farm fresh eggs.

My sister has one & what a great gift!